Chapter 964: Later Generations Spreading Rumors Is Truly Detestable

A terrifying explosion of an immortal soul erupted above the small world of the ancient ring. Though immense in momentum, under the intentional control of the Immortal Fairy, the scope of the explosion was tiny—so small that only Immortal Yingtian was caught in the blast, leaving Lu Yang and Jing Hong completely untouched below.

“Cough cough—cough cough—” Immortal Yingtian coughed violently, feeling as though his very soul were about to fly right out of his immortal-metal body.

Just moments ago, the clone of the Emperor of the Central Heaven had devoured his soul for a long time, yet it hadn't carried even half the power of this single blow.

In the blink of an eye, the Immortal Fairy’s soul restored itself to its original state, and she asked with great enthusiasm, “How about it? Do you believe me now? If not, I can blow myself up a few more times.”

His mind dazed from the soul self-detonation, Immortal Yingtian snapped back to consciousness upon hearing those words. He waved his hands frantically, terrified that a slow response would trigger another explosion: “Don't, don't, don't! I believe you, I believe you!”

This was absolutely not the Immortal of Extinction; that sort of self-detonation method was something the Immortal of Extinction couldn't imitate even if he wanted to.

“Are you truly Immortal...” Immortal Yingtian asked subconsciously, but suddenly realizing this phrasing might lead to a misunderstanding, he quickly corrected himself, “Immortal, so you actually revived at this point in time.”

Having met the future Immortal through a time-space tunnel back in the ancient era, Immortal Yingtian had never known exactly when this future would be. It turned out to be four hundred thousand years later.

Seeing her long-lost friend, the Immortal Fairy was also delighted: “This immortal has been revived for several years already, but I’ve been looking for the four of you without any luck. Xiao Ling, Lian Yi, and the others didn't know where you went either. This time I’ve finally run into one. Where have you all been all these years?”

“Sigh, it is a long story.”

“If it’s a long story, then don't tell it just yet. Come, come, come, let me introduce you to the person who revived me.”

...

Although Jing Hong had not been harmed by the explosion of the immortal soul, she was thoroughly shocked awake by it. Returning to her senses, she found herself within the small world of the ancient ring, with Junior Brother Lu Yang standing beside her, while her master was in the sky conversing with a young celestial maiden.

Jing Hong felt somewhat bewildered: “Why does it feel like Master's way of speaking is a bit different from usual? And how did Master take human form?”

“Hasn't he always been human?”

“How could Master be human? He said he is the Great Venerable Ying Dragon... Wait, Junior Brother Lu Yang, you know Master?” Jing Hong explained subconsciously, but then it clicked. Hearing Lu Yang's calm and unruffled tone, it seemed as though he had known her master for a very long time.

Lu Yang: “...”

So, Immortal Yingtian, you’ve always faced Senior Sister Jing Hong in your Ying Dragon form?

Lu Yang sighed: “By a stroke of happenstance. I’ve heard some of Master's past deeds and chanced upon him a few times, though not his true body.”

“Master's past deeds? Like the stories he told about proving his dao through strength, opening the heavens with a single axe, controlling myriad tribulations, subduing time, and suppressing the Qilin?”

“Or perhaps how he split mountains with his axe to forge a broad, bright avenue for the human race? Or how he used yin and yang as a chessboard to comprehend the grand dao, transcend the death tribulation, and play a game against the Qilin Immortal, only to find a hundred years had passed when he finally came to?”

Lu Yang thought about it. These last two matters likely corresponded respectively to Immortal Yingtian being destitute in his youth and blocking mountain paths to extort toll money from passersby.

And the other was his hundred-year game of Gobang with the Qilin Immortal just to avoid a dinner party hosted by the Immortal Fairy.

“Uh, pretty much.”

“Let me tell you, it was Lu Yang who called out my name and brought me back to life. I think very highly of this boy; he is now the second-in-command of my Immortal Lineage...”

The Immortal Fairy flew down with Immortal Yingtian to introduce Lu Yang.

“Greetings, Senior Immortal Yingtian,” Lu Yang said hastily. Although Immortal Yingtian was described by the Immortal Fairy as an immortal who wasn't quite right in the head and had rather poor luck, he was still one of the world's topmost powerhouses and could not be treated with disrespect.

Especially since Lu Yang knew quite a lot of his embarrassing history, he hoped Immortal Yingtian would return good for evil and not hold a grudge against a junior like himself.

“Hahaha, why must young friend be so courteous? You revived Immortal, and the four of us immortals cannot thank you enough. It is I who should bow to you.”

With that, Immortal Yingtian clasped his hands and bowed, performing the most authentic ancient etiquette, and said solemnly, “My thanks to you, young friend Lu Yang.”

“Master, who is this?”

“This is the Immortal I told you about. I didn't expect her to be revived in this era.”

“Greetings, Senior Immortal.”

“This is the disciple I took in, you should both know her, Jing Hong. Though her talent is ordinary, her temperament is excellent. Under this immortal's guidance, she cleansed her marrow and shed her mortal body, making her one of the most brilliant geniuses of this world.”

“It's just that I felt a tall tree catches the wind, which might invite unnecessary trouble. So I told her to keep a low profile in her daily life, which is why she has remained unknown to the world.”

“You actually took a disciple?” The Immortal Fairy remembered that Immortal Yingtian had never taken any disciples before.

“Explaining the cause and effect of this matter is rather troublesome. Let's put that aside for now; I will first take action to help the outside world deal with the cultivators of the Great Gan.”

Immortal Yingtian had not forgotten that there were still the two True Gods of Demon Subduing and Demon Exterminating outside. Since they were cultivators of the Embers Dynasty, it was clear they were of the same stripe as Lord Ghost Fiend. If Lord Ghost Fiend was staying here, then those two ought to stay behind as well.

“Are you going to leave the small world of the ancient ring?”

“No need for that, I have other methods.” Immortal Yingtian smiled proudly.

...

“People of the Celestial Palace, your attacks are neither painful nor itchy, is this all the power you have?” True God Demon Exterminating laughed loudly to bolster his own courage, secretly cursing Lord Ghost Fiend for not taking action yet, considering how much time had passed.

If this dragged on any longer, it might attract cultivators of the Great Xia to aid the Celestial Palace.

Sure enough, not a single one on their side could be relied upon.

Facing the joint attack of the three from the Celestial Palace, True God Demon Exterminating could only defend passively. However, the Celestial Palace side lacked an offensive method capable of breaking through his defense, and True God Demon Exterminating also lacked the means to escape the Celestial Palace.

The battle fell into a stalemate.

Just as True God Demon Exterminating was still muttering about Lord Ghost Fiend not making a move, an explosion echoed from the depths of the Celestial Palace.

“It's done!” True God Demon Exterminating rejoiced in his heart, thinking it was finally time to wrap things up.

Wait, the sound of the explosion did not come from the Ancestor Laurel Tree!

A streak of crimson-gold flame erupted from beneath the alchemy room, remaining brilliant even under the sunlight.

The crimson-gold flame transformed into a long spear, charging directly at True God Demon Exterminating. A sense of crisis loomed over his heart, and he crossed his arms over his chest. Yet, the crimson-gold spear ignored his defense, piercing right through his arms and chest.

Then, the long spear softened, turning into a fiery rope that bound True God Demon Exterminating. The scorching flames burned his body, bones, and soul, making him scream in agony.

“Is this the immortal fire passed down from the ancient era?” Daoist Chuiyue was astonished. No one had ever been able to refine or move this pile of immortal fire, so why had it actively attacked this time?

“Has it developed feelings for the Celestial Palace, stepping in when the palace faces a crisis of life and death?”

...

“Isn't this the immortal fire left over from my barbecues? You can use it too?”

“It is naturally yours, Immortal. It's just that ever since the mastermind erased your existence, many of your belongings became masterless objects, and this immortal fire was one of them.”

“Jing Hong needed this wisp of immortal fire for her cultivation, so I secretly refined it.”

“Speaking of which, the Mother-Child River was also a masterless object. But for some reason, rumors are spreading outside that I created the Mother-Child River, claiming my motives were impure, that I am lecherous by nature, fond of married women, and enjoy making countless women pregnant.”

“If I ever find out where this rumor originated, I will certainly let him know what the wrath of an immortal truly means!”

Immortal Yingtian was absolutely furious when mentioning this matter. The image he had worked so hard to shape was utterly ruined in this era, a grudge no less bitter than that of blocking someone's path to the dao.

“Fabricating rumors in later generations is truly despicable.” The Immortal Fairy and Lu Yang shared a common hatred for the enemy, filled with righteous indignation.