Chapter 1051: Senior Brother Dai, I Became an Immortal

In the mists of antiquity, the Immortal of Eras rarely tasted defeat, a grace born entirely from his power to glimpse the future, discerning whether the tides of battle leaned toward his triumph or his ruin.

This gift was once lauded by the Immortal Fairy as the Grand Pill of Invincibility.

Yet, as the Immortal of Eras surveyed every looming thread of fate, cold sweat drenched him, and he silently cursed Ming Yu for her utter unreliability.

The true sect master of the Seeking Dao Sect, indeed—with a cultivation so staggering, it would be far closer to the truth to call her the sovereign ruler of the Great Xia itself.

With this realization, a smile bloomed across his face; possessing the countenance of a Buddha by nature, his grin only deepened his air of benevolent charity.

"I have known the Immortal Fairy for ages. How could I ever doubt her words?"

"If she says you are the strongest of this age, then you most certainly are!"

The Immortal of Eras had altered the tapestry of tomorrow with mere words, entirely undetected—a testament to his formidable power.

"So it is also true that I am to be the strongest of the future?" Lu Yang pointed to himself, brimming with excitement; though the future was a vaporous thing, an endorsement from the deity who governed time lent it immense credibility.

"Of course, young friend Lu Yang is bound to be the strongest of the future," the Immortal of Eras declared with absolute certainty, ready to fly into a rage at anyone who dared suggest otherwise.

"You possess the embryonic form of the Immortal Dao Fruit, and you command the body of an immortal; you are no longer a simple Spirit Severing cultivator, but have forged an entirely new realm—the Immortal Severing Realm!"

"Conjuring something from nothing, bringing forth a new realm of cultivation—this is a feat reserved only for the grand sages of the remote past!"

Lu Yang drew a sharp breath; was he truly so magnificent?

The Eldest Senior Sister was equally curious about the three hundred thousand years the Immortal of Eras had endured, leaving him with no choice but to recount once more his centuries of leaping through the streams of time.

"The methods of Senior Immortal of Eras are marvelous indeed."

Met with Yun Zhi's praise, the deity could only offer an awkward, self-deprecating smile.

"In that case, would Senior Immortal of Eras care to visit our Seeking Dao Sect?" Lu Yang invited.

"No, the Western Sky Temple has just weathered a great battle, and there is no telling what further mishaps may arise; I shall remain in the Mahavira Hall to serve as a measure of security."

"Please also keep my existence a secret for now, lest any unexpected variables occur."

"Then, what of Senior Immortal Ying Tian..."

"There is no need to see him, nor to speak of my presence; among Ying Tian, Jiu Chong, and Qilin, I trust no one at present."

Saying this, the Immortal of Eras paused briefly: "However, this Sky Cleaving Axe may be returned to him. Having borrowed it for three hundred thousand years, it is time it went home."

Lu Yang replied with a touch of awkwardness: "Uh, Senior Immortal Ying Tian forged a new weapon for himself, so he does not seem to have much need for the Sky Cleaving Axe."

"Is that so? Then I shall continue to keep it safe on his behalf." The Immortal of Eras took back the weapon Lu Yang held out.

Should another crisis strike the Western Sky Temple, this axe would serve well to shroud his presence once more.

"One more thing, how fares the child, Tang Chuanwu?"

"We worried he might meet with further misfortune, so he is currently residing at our Seeking Dao Sect."

"I recall he possesses no spiritual roots." The Immortal of Eras reached onto the altar, plucking several distinct spiritual fruits.

These were offerings within the Mahavira Hall, each bearing an inestimable worth.

"Have him consume these fruits in this exact order, and they shall help him forge a postnatal metal spiritual root."

"I thank Senior on Chuanwu's behalf."

"A trifling matter."

The trio bade farewell to the Immortal of Eras and departed the Mahavira Hall, the deity waving them off as they went.

Having escorted the three away, the Immortal of Eras looked out over the devastated ruins of the temple and murmured softly.

"Young friend Lu Yang truly blew this place to pieces. Heaven knows when the Western Sky Temple will ever be rebuilt."

...

"Will the Heavenly Venerate never return?" In the dead of night, Xin Ding tossed and turned upon his wooden bed, his thoughts entirely consumed by the day's battle.

Amidst the chaotic frenzy of the clash, no one had noticed the Azure Peak Sword flying out from behind his own back.

After that battle, the Heavenly Venerate had vanished, never to be seen again.

Suddenly, motes of golden light flickered to life within his tent, coalescing into a shimmering golden silhouette.

"Little monk, still awake at such an hour?"

"Heavenly Venerate!"

The Tofu Heavenly Venerate stood with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the sky with eyes worn by centuries: "The Western Sky Temple was ultimately reduced to rubble because of my return to the world, yet through this battle, my karmic debts are severed. I have no further reason to tarry."

"Heavenly Venerate, may I go with you?" Xin Ding looked upon the deity with deep reluctance; though they had journeyed together for a mere few months, he had long regarded the Tofu Heavenly Venerate as his master.

The Heavenly Venerate shook his head: "Little monk, you are born with an innate affinity for the Buddha. Entering my lineage would only hinder you; remaining here at the temple is your truest path."

"Cultivate with diligence, and a day may yet come when we meet again."

With those parting words, the Tofu Heavenly Venerate dissolved back into golden starlight and vanished.

Lu Yang arrived at the gates of the Western Sky City, reuniting with his Eldest Senior Sister and Second Senior Brother.

"All settled?"

"All settled, let us head back."

Ye Zijin circled Lu Yang with deep curiosity: "Little Junior Brother, did you truly become an immortal?"

Even now, he could not fathom how his junior brother had achieved such a state.

"It is confined only to the Buddhist Kingdom, and it is not a true immortal form," Lu Yang replied modestly.

When he departed the Buddhist realm, he would leave the immortal body along with the embryonic Dao Fruit behind; should he return, he could step into that immortal mantle at a moment's notice.

Though a lingering reluctance pulled at him, he could not stay tethered to the Buddhist Kingdom forever.

"Back to the sect!"

Lu Yang spoke with his chest puffed out, exuding an air of great triumph; this venture into the Buddhist Kingdom had yielded bountiful rewards. They had recovered the Sky Cleaving Axe, found the Immortal of Eras, attained an immortal form, and captured the Star Deity. To call him the great savior of the realm was no exaggeration.

Then, Lu Yang slipped stealthily across the border, returning to the Great Xia.

He had been carried out of the empire by the Nian Beast, leaving no official record of his departure.

As Lu Yang stepped back into the familiar domain of the Seeking Dao Sect, a wave of ease washed over him.

The Buddhist Kingdom was grand, but nothing matched the comfort of home.

"Eldest Senior Sister, I shall see you in a while!" Lu Yang called out as he parted ways, sprinting directly toward the Mission Hall.

With a crisis of such magnitude unfolding in the Buddhist Kingdom, and having captured the Star Deity himself, how many contribution points would this bounty command?

Inside the hall, Dai Bufan sat stroking his chin, frowning over an intelligence report, when a familiar knock sounded at the door.

"Senior Brother Dai, are you in?"

"Ah, Junior Brother Lu, come in."

Lu Yang pushed the door open, radiating a breeze of sheer contentment, a stark contrast to the brooding, contemplative figure of Dai Bufan.

"You have come at the perfect time, Junior Brother Lu." Dai Bufan gestured for him to approach.

"I have just received word that the Star Deity of the Great Qi launched an assault upon the Western Sky Temple, only to be vanquished by a mysterious immortal who appeared out of nowhere. Eldest Senior Sister mentions you have quite a fate with immortals; do you happen to know who this hidden figure might be?"

"I do."

"You actually know?" Dai Bufan gasped in surprise. He had only asked in passing, holding onto a shred of faint hope, yet Junior Brother Lu genuinely possessed the answer?

"Who is it?"

Lu Yang pointed to himself, his chest swelling with pride. "It is I."

"Huh?" Dai Bufan’s mind filled with questions, utterly failing to grasp the meaning behind Lu Yang’s words—or perhaps, within the bounds of his own reality, such a claim was simply incomprehensible.

Seeing that Senior Brother Dai remained unconvinced, Lu Yang produced a phantom recording orb, which vividly displayed a first-person perspective of the clash against Lord Sichen.

With a face radiant with smiles, Lu Yang delivered the grand tidings to his esteemed senior brother:

"Senior Brother Dai, I have attained immortality."