Life and Death Unknown

Life and Death Unknown . . .

Upon their arrival in the immortal realms, the members of the Battle Sword Sect found themselves settling in the modest confines of Worryfree City. Their daily existence was a relentless struggle for survival, leaving them with little opportunity to establish connections with influential factions such as the Thousand Transformations Immortal Sect. Worryfree City, by all measures, was a small and inconspicuous locale within the vast expanse of the Cloud Prefecture. Its residents could only dream of affiliating with a prestigious sect like the Thousand Transformations Immortal Sect, an entity that seemed worlds away.

Qin Wentian grappled with how to explain this situation. He couldn't divulge the enigmatic secret of the Heavenly Talisman Realm, and, strictly speaking, his ties to the Thousand Transformations Immortal Sect were tenuous at best. The connection he held was with the Heavenly Talisman Realm rather than the sect itself, with the Thousand Transformations Emperor Lord serving as an intermediary.

"You'll understand once you arrive there," Qin Wentian offered with a smile. "Sis Lingshuang, the strand of immortal sense I'm leaving with you can be activated at any time. However, it merely serves as a conduit for my will and consciousness and possesses no offensive capabilities. I'll be aware of everything you do... will that be alright with you?"

Ye Lingshuang blushed faintly and rolled her eyes at Qin Wentian. "Alright, but you better not pry into things you shouldn't see."

"Of course, I won't," Qin Wentian replied with a nod. This particular strand of immortal sense lacked any offensive potential and had a limited duration. He intended to leave it with her as a means of communication. If the situation in their particle world escalated beyond his capabilities, he might require assistance from the Thousand Transformations Immortal Sect. This was also the reason why he instructed the Battle Sword Sect to journey to the Thousand Transformations Immortal Sect. According to what he had learned from Lou Bingyu, the situation in their particle world was exceedingly dire.

Ye Lingshuang agreed, saying, "No problem, go ahead and leave your immortal sense with me." Qin Wentian then closed his eyes, radiating an aura of immortal light that enveloped Ye Lingshuang, seeping into her being before dissipating entirely. It was an unusual sensation for Ye Lingshuang, causing her cheeks to flush. However, given her close relationship with Qin Wentian as foster siblings, she didn't find it overly discomforting.

Qin Wentian reopened his eyes and summoned several immortal-ranked weapons with a wave of his hand. He presented them to the Battle Sword Sect's old ancestor. "Old Ancestor, please accept these immortal weapons."

"Very well," the old ancestor of the Battle Sword Sect replied without hesitation, accepting the offered weapons.

Qin Wentian's voice resounded with urgency as he imparted his final instructions to the experts of the Battle Sword Sect. His eyes bore a hint of gravity, emphasizing the importance of their mission. "Remember, make haste to the capital of Jiangling Country and seek an audience with the country's king. Persuade him to facilitate your journey to the Thousand Transformations Immortal Sect. While you're on your way, please exercise restraint. In the immortal realms, you may encounter situations similar to today's incident, so it's crucial to avoid unnecessary conflicts." He clasped his hands in farewell. "I shall return to our hometown first. We will reunite at the Thousand Transformations Immortal Sect in due time. Farewell."

With those parting words, Qin Wentian swiftly ascended into the sky, Purgatory trailing closely behind.

"Farewell!" Even Little Rascal, the mischievous canine, waved its paws in a final farewell gesture to Ye Lingshuang. Then, with a gust of mighty wind, it transformed into a majestic golden-winged roc, soaring into the heavens at incredible speed. In no time, it positioned itself beneath Qin Wentian and Purgatory, and they mounted the powerful creature.

The members of the Battle Sword Sect stood there, struck by astonishment. Even Little Rascal had attained immortality?

Ye Lingshuang's beautiful eyes sparkled with a radiant smile. "This rascal... he's become a dragon in the immortal realms."

"As one progresses on the Dao, even the most ordinary can achieve greatness," mused the Plum Mountain Sword Sovereigness, her heart heavy with nostalgia as she watched the three figures ascend into the sky. Her gaze shifted to her disciple, Lou Bingyu, contemplating whether she had inadvertently hindered Lou Bingyu's potential. If only Lou Bingyu had chosen to follow someone like Qin Wentian, her achievements might have reached even greater heights.

"Let's prepare to depart," urged the old ancestor of the Battle Sword Sect. "Qin Wentian left his immortal sense with Lingshuang because he must be deeply concerned about our particle world. We shouldn't tarry. He may require reinforcements from the Thousand Transformations Immortal Sect."

"Understood!" The members of the Battle Sword Sect nodded in unison, well aware of Qin Wentian's intentions.

...

As Qin Wentian soared higher into the sky, he felt the weight of overwhelming law energy bearing down upon him. These omnipotent laws sought to restrict his movements, their binding force a reminder of the constraints of this realm. Riding atop Little Rascal, now transformed into a majestic golden-winged roc, they soared upward, breaching through the clouds. As they ascended further, Qin Wentian cast a glance downward, only to find that distinguishing between up and down had become an impossible task, much like his initial journey to the immortal realms under Li Mubai's guidance.

The boundless expanse of the immortal realms stretched endlessly, a realm without confines. With each passing moment, they ascended further, their view expanding to encompass an ever-increasing number of celestial bodies.

At last, a resounding crack pierced the air as the golden-winged roc tore through the final layer of restraining forces. Instantaneously, the oppressive grasp of the law energy dissipated, and they found themselves amidst a star-studded void. Countless luminous points, like distant fireflies, floated in this cosmic expanse. Deceptively close yet impossibly far away, these tiny specks of light were, in reality, entire worlds.

Qin Wentian turned to Little Rascal and inquired, "Can you sense it?"

Little Rascal nodded in response, unfurling its wings and darting off toward a specific direction. Amid the multitude of particle worlds, a stellar martial cultivator's perception was exceptionally keen, a quality that was further heightened upon ascending to immortality. They could intuitively discern the coordinates of their native particle world, and Qin Wentian and Little Rascal shared this innate sense.

As the trio soared through the cosmos, Qin Wentian observed other figures traversing the vastness of space. These were likely experts en route to different particle worlds.

Qin Wentian couldn't help but wonder, in the boundless sea of stars, how many realms akin to the immortal realms existed? It was probable that only a rare few held this knowledge.

Journeying among the stars induced a sensation of minuscule insignificance when compared to the grandeur of the celestial constellations.

After an extended period, several figures materialized from the depths of space, descending into the atmosphere of the Royal Sacred Region. The golden-winged roc reverted to its original form and leaped into Purgatory's embrace. Qin Wentian surveyed their surroundings; they had arrived in a city within the Royal Sacred Region. The bustling city's inhabitants cast curious glances toward these newcomers. They sensed an aura of extraordinary power but remained ignorant of their identities or origin.

Qin Wentian alighted on the ground and extended his immortal sense across hundreds of miles, swiftly discerning their location—they were in the Grand Zhou Empire.

"We shall make our way to the Royal Sacred City," Qin Wentian declared before stepping forward, vanishing from view. Onlookers gawked in astonishment at the breathtaking speed. Who, they wondered, was this remarkable young man?

While the Royal Sacred Region stretched out in all its vastness, it paled in comparison to the boundless expanses of the immortal realms. For Qin Wentian, now an immortal, the journey from the Grand Zhou Empire to the Royal Sacred City was a mere blink of an eye.

The Royal Sacred City, once a thriving hub of activity, buzzed with life just as it had in times gone by. A steady stream of people flowed through its streets. Qin Wentian recollected the events of the past, when the Medicine Sovereign Valley had relocated to this city and locked horns with the then-dominant force, the Royal Sacred Sect, for supremacy. Subsequently, Di Tian had led a group of immortals in the annihilation of the Royal Sacred Sect, paving the way for the Medicine Sovereign Valley to ascend to the pinnacle of power in this realm.

In theory, the Medicine Sovereign Valley should have stood as an unassailable symbol of grandeur. Yet, as Qin Wentian gazed upon the scene before him, disbelief coursed through him. The destruction that lay in plain sight defied belief; buildings had crumbled, and the once-majestic landscape had been reduced to a desolate wasteland, a place now shunned by all.

Perched atop a mountain peak, Qin Wentian surveyed the desolation, a place that had once been a sanctuary shared with Qingcheng. The ancient trees, once verdant, now lay toppled, leaving naught but ruins in their wake.

Though his visage remained serene, Qin Wentian's heart brimmed with a chilling emptiness. The Medicine Sovereign Valley had been razed to the ground.

There existed but one power capable of such destruction, a force foreign to the Royal Sacred Region.

Beyond the valley's confines, a cadre of formidable figures, all at the Celestial Phenomenon Realm, stood watch. Those observing from afar kept their voices hushed in trepidation as they regarded these experts.

"They're affiliated with the Star River Association. Who are those two individuals daring enough to venture into the Medicine Sovereign Valley? They're practically inviting death."

"The Star River Association has already issued an edict to hunt down any surviving members of the Medicine Sovereign Valley. Those who dare set foot there will be shown no mercy. Who would have thought there were still those audacious enough to enter? They must be weary of life itself," murmured onlookers from a distance. Their hushed voices carried to Qin Wentian's ears.

Without delay, Qin Wentian strode out from the Medicine Sovereign Valley and confronted the group of ascendant-level experts. He cast his gaze upon them, his eyes closed, and then asked, "Are you affiliated with the Star River Association?" The experts exchanged puzzled glances but before they could answer, Qin Wentian continued, "Where is the Medicine Sovereign now?"

"You are courting death," one of the experts replied icily. Yet, at that very moment, Qin Wentian's eyes snapped open, emitting a bone-chilling aura that swept forth. In an instant, an oppressive pressure descended upon them, causing the countenances of the ascendant-level experts to twist in fright. They found themselves immobilized, unable to move. Trembling with fear, they could only implore, "Who are you, sir?"

"I am the one posing questions here," Qin Wentian declared firmly. Stepping forward, as his foot made contact with the ground, a piercing scream pierced the air. The individual on the left writhed in agony as their heart was instantly crushed. An expression of sheer terror contorted their face as their body, devoid of life, tumbled from the sky.

The others, their visages drained of color, quaked in fear. Once more, they heard Qin Wentian's unwavering inquiry, "Is the Medicine Sovereign still among the living?"

"I... I don't know," stammered one person as Qin Wentian fixed his gaze upon them. Fear gripped the individual, rendering them incapable of resistance. "The Medicine Sovereign fled for his life after sustaining grave injuries. No one can ascertain his fate," they added in a trembling voice.

"What about his disciple, Mo Qingcheng?" Qin Wentian pressed further.

"I have no information," replied the individual, shaking their head. "Sir, who are you exactly? The Star River Association now holds dominion over this realm. Even if you are an immortal foundation existence, you cannot hope to prevail against us. Sir, I implore you not to recklessly throw away your life."

Aware that his life hung in the balance, the person attempted to dissuade Qin Wentian, while invoking the name of the Star River Association in an effort to exert pressure.

"Within our ranks, experts abound like the clouds. The Star River Association acknowledges that the Medicine Sovereign Valley once dispatched a contingent of immortal foundation experts to vanquish the Royal Sacred Sect. Nevertheless, an army of immortal foundation experts would still fall short against the might of the Star River Association. None can challenge our esteemed reputation," the individual persisted, their tone growing increasingly unyielding.

Yet, Qin Wentian remained resolute, emanating an aura of unyielding resolve. He pivoted and took a step forward. "Annihilate them."

As the echoes of his command subsided, the young woman standing behind him exuded an aura of immortal might. Countless resplendent feathers streaked through the heavens, descending mercilessly. The members of the Star River Association trembled in the face of this onslaught, with no time to react. Their lifeblood poured from their wounds as their lifeless forms plummeted to the earth below.