Immortals As Sparring Partners

Immortals As Sparring Partners

. . .

Di Tian ventured forward, step by cautious step, through the illusory door. What lay ahead was a realm of mountains and waters, a stark contrast to the desolate burial grounds. The distant voices still resonated in his ears, although they seemed distant, like echoes from another realm. He walked for what felt like an eternity before finally spotting a human figure.

A red-haired old man, wild and unkempt, stood not far away. His large, imposing eyes fixated on Di Tian with a terrifying intensity. As Di Tian met the old man's gaze, he felt like he was being engulfed by a world of flames, the heat searing through his body.

"Curses!" Di Tian struggled, his vision clearing only after a prolonged moment of torment. He stared at the red-haired old man, his heart pounding with astonishment.

The old man, also gazing at him, remained passive. Di Tian soon noticed the old man's body was tightly bound to a colossal ancient tree. Runes of strange and wondrous energy circulated around the tree, binding the old man in place, rendering him immobile.

"Senior, do you require my assistance?" Di Tian inquired.

The red-haired old man was taken aback, then broke into a grin. "What an intriguing young fellow. Assistance? Give it a try."

Di Tian stepped forward, emanating a formidable sword qi as he slashed at the thick vines entwining the ancient tree. To his astonishment, his sharp sword left no mark on the resilient plant.

"So resilient. It's no wonder you're bound by it."

"Bound by this thing? Do you believe this is merely a tree?" The red-haired old man cast a brief glance at Di Tian before muttering, "Ignorance."

Di Tian scratched his head awkwardly. "I... Uh."

"Proceed and take a look," the old man suggested. Di Tian nodded and continued his journey. He soon came across another person pinned beneath a mountain exuding potent spiritual energy. The figure, hair disheveled and obscuring their features, looked up and grinned at Di Tian. "It's been ages since anyone visited. It's so lonely here."

"Kid, be cautious. Most of these folks have gone insane. They'll toy with you until you're utterly drained," a voice resonated directly in Di Tian's mind, startling him. He turned and glanced at the red-haired old man with gratitude in his eyes.

Di Tian continued his exploration and reached a lake where a long-haired woman of extraordinary beauty dwelled. Her deep, ocean-like eyes appeared captivating, but they held no light. She moved gracefully in the water, creating ripples, yet remained confined to the lake.

"Such grace, perfection," Di Tian admired her. Though she couldn't rival Qing'er or Mo Qingcheng in looks, her allure was striking, like a celestial beauty. But her eyes lacked vitality, resembling those of a lifeless person. This sight sent shivers down Di Tian's spine, and he felt as though he were staring into the eyes of the damned.

Imprisoned for 80,000 years as an immortal, enduring such torment – who could withstand it? Di Tian, who had embarked on the martial path at sixteen and aspired to reach the pinnacle, felt a profound surge of empathy. He gazed at the immortal woman with a mixture of deep emotions and compassion. However, she remained oblivious, her eyes vacant.

Returning to where he had encountered the red-haired old man, Di Tian inquired, "Senior, are all your movements and cultivation sealed?"

"Hmm?" The old man shot him a glance, and scorching heat emanated from him. "Yes, they are all sealed."

Di Tian couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by the daunting task before him. "How can I break the seal?" he asked, genuine curiosity in his voice.

"Break the seal?" Suddenly, uproarious laughter echoed through the space. It was the immortal pinned beneath the mountain, cackling in a manic manner. "You're clueless, aren't you? Wanting to break the seal? First, you must defeat every one of us. You'll have to journey to the end, overcoming an immortal at every step, before you can claim the inheritance of that old thief and master his art. Talk of breaking seals can wait until then."

Di Tian turned to the red-haired old man for guidance. "Senior, is there truly a way to achieve this?"

The old man observed Di Tian's sincere and clear eyes and responded, "Do you genuinely wish to help us break our seals?"

"Yes," Di Tian affirmed with a calm nod. "Regrettably, my strength is still lacking."

"Why?" The old man inquired further. "You've made it this far. Once you obtain the inheritance, you can control us all. We would become your most formidable assets. Why break the seals?"

Di Tian hesitated for a moment, then replied with a warm smile. "The path of cultivation is arduous. I've overcome countless trials to reach my current level. I aspire to become an immortal one day, to be carefree and unrestricted, to love and hate as I please, free from any bonds. As immortals, you should have the freedom to explore the world, follow your hearts' desires. Yet, some of you are bound by trees, suppressed by mountains, or trapped in lakes with empty eyes. I bear no ill will toward any of you. Even if I were to obtain the inheritance, why would I wish to imprison you further? This is not the path I seek. My journey is one of freedom, where I dictate my destiny, unshackled by the heavens and the earth."

The red-haired old man gazed deeply into Di Tian's eyes and saw unwavering determination, free from any pretense. He couldn't help but burst into hearty laughter, causing the entire space to tremble. "Of all the participants who've reached this point, none were as ruthlessly determined as you. They were willing to step over our corpses to reach their goals, relentlessly pursuing the inheritance at any cost. You're the first to question the old thief's actions and express compassion. It would be quite interesting if you truly inherit his legacy."

Silence descended upon the space for a moment. Then, a resounding voice filled the air. "How can we be sure this person isn't exceptionally cunning? We've encountered manipulative characters in the past."

"If he's that cunning, then I must be blind. It's been 80,000 years, and if he can deceive and influence my judgment, then I've nothing more to say. Even if we extend our assistance, it ultimately depends on his abilities. If he doesn't measure up, I'll personally end him," the red-haired old man declared. He then turned to Di Tian and said, "Though our cultivation is sealed at the pinnacle of Heavenly Dipper, you must still defeat each of us, beginning with me, to earn the chance to inherit the old thief's legacy."

"Keep in mind, our memories and intellect weren't sealed like those buried immortals in the graveyard. Therefore, we possess intelligence many times greater than those beings. You may begin now, and we won't hold back, though we won't kill you either," the old man warned.

"This junior will give his all," Di Tian nodded resolutely. He locked eyes with the red-haired old man, allowing the true intent of his Mandate to flow freely, enveloping the space with the essence of Dreams.

In an instant, Di Tian found himself transported to a fiery world, surrounded by a sea of flames. He had entered a dreamscape.

But this wasn't a dreamscape of his making; it was one created by his adversary.

"True intent of Dreams? I've mastered that too," the red-haired old man declared. Chains made of vines, which bound him in reality, materialized in the dream and ensnared Di Tian. Then, a blazing red halberd materialized in the old man's hands, thrusting it through Di Tian's body.

"AHH!" Di Tian's agonized scream echoed through the space as he writhed in torment. His face contorted in pain, realizing he was trapped in a nightmarish world controlled by his opponent's true intent of Dreams, with no escape in sight.

After enduring the intense onslaught of the red-haired old man's true intent, Di Tian was left drained, his body drenched in sweat. He felt weaker than if he had engaged in an extended battle. In this place, any of these immortals could easily end his life with a mere gesture, and he had no way to resist.

The red-haired old man, somewhat dismissively, commented on Di Tian's use of true intent. "Your command of true intent is still shallow," he remarked. Di Tian nodded in acknowledgment, fully aware that while his strength would be considered formidable in the outside world, in the presence of these immortals, he was insignificant.

Taking a moment to catch his breath and steady his mind, Di Tian then made his way towards the lake. There, he beheld a beautiful figure and bowed respectfully. "I humbly seek the guidance of the celestial maiden," he spoke with reverence.

Suddenly, the lake's waters began to churn, surging towards Di Tian with a bone-chilling cold that seemed to corrode his very being. Despite soaring into the skies, the water pursued him, spiraling like a serpent attempting to envelop its prey.

"BOOM!"

Di Tian unleashed his true intent, propelling himself higher into the air. Yet, the water had not relented. It encased him, then flung him mercilessly towards the lake's shore, causing him to crash onto the ground.

The celestial maiden remained in the lake, as though nothing extraordinary had occurred.

Undaunted, Di Tian pressed forward, encountering a figure seated atop a stone platform. This opponent wielded a long spear and seemed to command the true intent of lightning. Each strike delivered a jolt of electricity that left Di Tian's entire body numb. Then, the spear transformed into a bolt of tribulation lightning, carrying the essence of the Mandate of Lightning, narrowly missing Di Tian's head. If the opponent had intended to kill him, Di Tian would have perished countless times.

It was abundantly clear that these immortals were vastly superior in strength. Di Tian sensed the immense gulf between them but remained undeterred. Immortals possessed a mastery of true intent that far surpassed that of Heavenly Dipper Realm cultivators. And these were merely casual exchanges; if they were to unleash their full power, their might would be unfathomable.

Di Tian subjected himself to this relentless self-improvement. Remarkably, these immortals displayed mercy, refraining from delivering fatal blows. Facing different opponents daily, he honed his skills and gained invaluable experience. His relentless training and introspection paid off, as within a month, his mastery and control over his true intent had grown significantly.

In the parallel realm, Qin Wentian kept his eyes closed, immersed in deep contemplation. As Di Tian battled, he absorbed insights. They were two aspects of the same individual, and this synergy accelerated their growth. Qin Wentian, too, had begun experimenting with the fusion of true intents, inspired by his experiences in the grass hut. By melding true intents into a new form of power and infusing it into innate techniques, he could unleash unprecedented levels of might, exponentially increasing his combat prowess.