Volume One: Youthful Encounters in Subtle Times Chapter 134: The Immortal Appears at the Celestial Gate

After being rebuked by the Jade Bone, the Path of Returning Ruins receded like a tide. Its behavior was so lifelike and conscious that it was both amusing and intriguing.

From within the Jade Bone, a phantom of an immortal drifted out. Though it lacked a concrete form, everyone present could feel that the phantom was scrutinizing them with a searching gaze.

Whether intentional or otherwise, the Taoist silently stepped in front to shield Li Yu. Yet, as an immortal, how could he be prevented from seeing the truth hidden behind someone?

The immortal’s gaze first fell upon the Nether Beast. "A Nether Beast, of all things," he remarked with a hint of surprise.

He then shifted his gaze to the Taoist, his expression turning curious. "You are even more rare. To possess the cultivation of the Dao Source Realm and yet not ascend—that is truly remarkable."

The Taoist ignored him, and the immortal did not mind. He turned his senses toward Li Yu, who stood behind the Taoist. This time, he did not sigh; he was filled only with confusion and bewilderment. He murmured to himself, "He was clearly born in the mortal realm, so why does he carry the aura of the Immortal Realm?"

Of course, he did not voice this aloud. Instead, he commanded the Taoist, "Step aside."

The Taoist did not know how much the immortal had discerned about Li Yu, but he knew one thing for certain: he could not allow anyone else to learn of the secrets Li Yu carried.

"No," the Taoist replied, shaking his head.

This refusal only piqued the immortal’s curiosity. His inquisitive gaze pierced through the Taoist to look at Li Yu. "I was merely curious to see who he was and had no other intentions. But the fact that you are hiding him so desperately only makes me feel that he is truly extraordinary."

The Taoist showed no signs of discouragement at these words. He smiled and said, "Precisely because I know he is unique, I will never expose him to an immortal's eyes. Though I have not undergone the heavenly tribulation to become a true immortal, I am well aware of the methods you immortals possess. If I were to leave him completely exposed to you, I fear his origins and his past would be laid bare."

The immortal had not expected such a response. A suspicion crossed his mind, and he realized with a start, "So, you do not fully understand his origins or his true identity either, do you?"

The Taoist smiled without answering, but the implication was clear.

The immortal continued, "Since you know I am an immortal and you are, at best, a pseudo-immortal—even if we are both merely spiritual projections and not our true selves—an immortal spirit tempered by the heavenly tribulation is far beyond the reach of a half-baked pseudo-immortal like you. There is nothing I wish to know that can remain hidden from me."

After throwing down this gauntlet, he attacked. The Taoist braced himself, sensing that this was far more dangerous than facing the Five Sages.

The immortal’s attack was devoid of any flashy techniques. He wielded power that transcended ordinary cultivation—the power of an immortal, recognized by the Heavenly Dao after surviving the tribulation. Even without infusing it with his own Dao, that vast, boundless force could reduce an entire city to ashes in the blink of an eye.

Seeing the attack, the Taoist did not choose to meet it head-on with his own cultivation. He could not risk it, not when Li Yu—the one in whom he had placed all his hopes—was behind him.

The Taoist traced a circle with one hand, forming a Taiji diagram. As it manifested, it expanded exponentially, radiating an aura of ethereal stillness. When the immortal's power struck the diagram, it vanished like a stone cast into the ocean, leaving no trace. The Taiji diagram then gradually dissipated.

Watching the diagram, the immortal asked himself with some surprise, "It resembles the Dao of Taiji, yet it is not."

In that brief moment, he pondered the diagram extensively, but could draw no conclusions. Unable to suppress his curiosity, he asked, "That is not the true Dao of Taiji, yet it is very similar. Where did you learn it?"

Indeed, the Taoist was not using the true Dao of Taiji; that was the domain of another. What he knew was the Dao of Taichu, one of the five primordial states. Initially, he had intended to use the Taichu Dao to counter the attack, but he did not want to reveal his ultimate trump card. He did not yet know the full extent of the immortal spirit's power, and revealing his greatest strength would only put his opponent on guard. Fortunately, he knew a little of the Taiji Dao; though he had not achieved enlightenment through it, he could still utilize its manifestations.

The Taoist chuckled, "I won't tell you."

The immortal was not angered; he merely felt that the Taoist harbored many secrets. A young child, a Great Dao that should not exist in the mortal realm—it all made the situation increasingly enigmatic. This only intensified his curiosity: who exactly was this Taoist, and who was the child he protected?

"Since you won't tell me, I shall continue to test you. I do not believe you can keep your true path of enlightenment hidden forever."

With these words, the immortal unleashed another technique—or rather, a true Immortal Art.

"Watch closely. This is an Immortal Art—a technique from the true Immortal Realm," the immortal said with haughty disdain.

A gust of wind erupted from the immortal’s hand, growing larger and more intense until even the surrounding Path of Returning Ruins began to stagnate, unable to flow freely.

Sensing the power and aura contained within, the Taoist did not dare to be careless. He calculated how to counter it, and in a heartbeat, he used the Taichu Dao to analyze the force completely.

It was the Wind of Annihilation, a power derived from the Dao of Destruction. To be struck by this wind was to see not just one's body, but one's very own Dao, rendered into nothingness.

This power shared similarities with the Path of Returning Ruins, which also contained the Wind of Annihilation in its depths. However, the wind within the Ruins was pure and innate. The wind the immortal used was merely an imitation, conjured by using immortal power to manifest his comprehension of the Dao of Destruction. While weaker than the true innate wind, it was still enough to scatter the soul and dissipate the essence of an ordinary fourteenth-realm mortal cultivator in a single breath.

The Taoist did not hesitate. He simultaneously unleashed his own techniques: "Universe in the Palm" and "Heavenly Heart Infinite." In an instant, the Taoist established his own independent world within the current space.

The Wind of Annihilation blew inside, as if disdaining a mere barrier, intending to blow the world apart. Yet, it failed to realize that the Taoist had already become the very heaven and earth of this realm.

The immortal saw this clearly. His brow furrowed as he thought, "Who is this person? How can he wield techniques more profound than Immortal Arts?"

The Taoist had never received formal training in Immortal Arts. "Universe in the Palm" and "Heavenly Heart Infinite" were his own creations, formed by fusing everything he had learned and practiced into his own unique神通 (supernatural powers).

These two techniques, along with his "Divine Spirit," were the crystallization of his many years of cultivation and the combination of all his wisdom. He did not realize that, unknowingly, he had already created his own Immortal Arts.

When the wind failed to shatter the small world, the Taoist slowly gathered it, condensing it into a ball of wind in his palm.

He looked at the Wind of Annihilation in his hand with interest. "It is somewhat similar to the Buddhist concept of Nirvana (Annihilation), yet it is fundamentally different."

Hearing this, the immortal sneered. "The Buddhas of the past had a deeper understanding of the Dao of Annihilation. But those who attained Buddhahood later? Forget it. Their Nirvana speaks of a state of mind—empty of all things—but they forget that the world itself experiences cycles of creation and destruction. The Dao of Annihilation is trivial compared to the true Tribulation of Annihilation."

The immortal did not shy away from sharing secrets of the Immortal Realm with his opponent.

The Taoist seized the opportunity to ask, "What, then, is the true meaning of 'world'?"

The immortal did not explain further. He laughed, "What good would it do you to know? Looking at your state, I suspect your true self has long since perished. Even if you knew, could you ascend?"

The Taoist was not bothered by having his condition exposed. He laughed as well, "True, it is useless to me. But my young disciple is different! Perhaps he will ascend to the Immortal Realm one day. Knowing a few things now certainly won't do him any harm!"

As he spoke, the Taoist kept Li Yu firmly behind him. The immortal said, "Since you say he will ascend, why not let me see him? Looking at him through you makes it difficult to see clearly. Let me help you determine if he will succeed."

"Still no," the Taoist said with a smile. "I am certain he will ascend, but if you look at him, it might no longer be certain."

The refusal was polite, but both understood the implication. The Taoist feared that if the immortal discovered the truth about Li Yu, his very existence would become a question mark.

No one understood Li Yu’s uniqueness better than the Taoist. A being like Li Yu had never appeared before, and might never appear again. If an immortal were to learn of such an existence, the outcome was predictable: either death or possession.

Yet, the Taoist’s behavior led the immortal to another conclusion: Could Li Yu be the reincarnation of some great power from the Immortal Realm?

It was no wonder the immortal thought this. In his time, top-tier figures in the Immortal Realm would sometimes choose to reincarnate and start anew when faced with special circumstances.

This was different from mortal reincarnation; it was more like a selective possession. But the reincarnation of an immortal meant truly scattering one's cultivation and returning to the mortal realm, with their Dao imprinted upon their soul to protect it.