The scroll slowly unfurled, slowly sketching flowing light, then transforming into hills, into trees, into ancient paths.
When the complete painting appeared on the scroll, Jian Guixu and Gu Tianxing, who had rushed over, were deeply shaken. Their hands couldn’t help but tremble.
What shocked them wasn’t the artistic style, but the vast aura emanating from it.
At that moment.
Jian Guixu and Gu Tianxing’s souls seemed to be forcibly pulled in. They stood as if physically present within the scene in the painting, their state of mind and spirits achieving some degree of elevation.
Not just the two of them.
Jun Changxiao and He Wudi were also in the painting.
Jian Guixu and Gu Tianxing’s current mood was beyond description, while the other two were relatively calm, even casually observing their surroundings.
“Whoosh—”
Suddenly, the righteous light shone upon the earth.
Jun Changxiao and He Wudi, in soul form, all raised their arms to block the dazzling light. After gradually adapting, they discovered a golden path appearing beneath their feet, winding forward.
Everyone looked along the path—it seemed endless.
Only when reaching the limit of visible distance did they discover that area was blocked by distorted and ethereal spatial barriers, with the four characters ‘Land of Eternal Life’ rippling like water on the surface.
Hum!
In an instant, Jian Guixu and Gu Tianxing’s heads felt like they were exploding.
Land of Eternal Life!
That place was… the Land of Eternal Life!
The two forcibly suppressed their shocked state of mind, then both looked down at the path beneath their feet, saying in nearly hoarse voices: “Could this be the Path of Eternal Life? Its end leads to…”
“Land of Eternal Life.”
“Idle persons, stay out.”
Suddenly, a majestic and resonant voice rang in their ears.
Jian Guixu and Gu Tianxing were horrified. Their soul bodies instantly collapsed, and they returned to reality, then staggered backward several steps.
“Wa!”
Unable to suppress it, both coughed up blood.
Their faces were pale, fear rising in their eyes.
The voice that suddenly rang in their ears just now gave them the feeling of a deity controlling life, death, and reincarnation!
Jian Guixu was at the peak of Heavenly Secrets Realm.
Although Gu Tianxing was relatively ordinary, he was also a famous figure in the upper universe.
Such powerful beings, merely hearing eight words caused them to cough blood. How terrifying must the power contained in that voice be?
“Wait!”
Jian Guixu said in shock: “Those two haven’t come out?”
Jun Changxiao and He Wudi, who were closest to the scroll, still stood dumbstruck. From this, their souls should still exist within the painting.
That’s right.
The two hadn’t been forced out.
The reason was that when the voice rang out, seven-colored light instantly condensed around their bodies, dispelling the energy that could shatter souls.
The resonant voice rang out again: “You two have actually comprehended the Qixuan霞光破.”
From the tone, clearly very surprised, very unexpected.
“…”
He Wudi’s expression was fierce.
Although his soul body wasn’t shattered by the voice, the pain he endured was indescribable. He thought to himself: “This person’s strength is probably no less than mine!”
Note: This “no less than him” referred to before his level was reset to zero.
In other words.
The speaker’s strength should be at the Holy Sovereign level.
“Senior.”
At this moment, Jun Changxiao gritted his teeth and spoke: “Who are you?”
“A guardian.”
“Guarding what?”
“Guarding the universe and the entrance to the Land of Eternal Life.”
“Can we enter?”
“Following this Path of Eternal Life, you can enter the Land of Eternal Life at any time.”
Jun Changxiao was delighted.
“However.”
The guardian promptly threw cold water: “With your current cultivation levels, stepping into the Land of Eternal Life will cause your physical bodies to collapse and your souls to scatter on the spot.”
“…”
Jun Changxiao’s mouth twitched.
“Return.” The guardian said impatiently: “This place is not yet somewhere you are qualified to enter.”
Jun Changxiao shrugged and smiled: “Having come all this way, how can we bear to leave.”
The four characters ‘Land of Eternal Life’ ahead contained enormous magic. Gou Sheng definitely wouldn’t just leave like that. What if he could never enter again—wouldn’t that mean missing a tremendous opportunity?
He Wudi wouldn’t leave either.
Because as long as he passed through the spatial barrier at the end, he could go home!
“Sigh.”
The guardian sighed: “Since you two don’t want to leave, first experience the feeling of physical collapse and soul scattering.”
“Whoosh!”
Suddenly, vast pressure bore down from all directions.
Jun Changxiao and He Wudi’s facial expressions became more fierce. Their bodies felt like they were being crazily squeezed by two forces. The pain their souls brought was indescribable, and their bodies felt like they could collapse at any moment.
“Ah ah!”
“Ah ah ah!”
The two cried out in pain.
Find a master to edit this—perfect material for ghost videos.
Before, there was no song Yan Xiaoliu couldn’t play. From now on, there’s no song Jun Changxiao and He Wudi can’t wail.
Going to die!
Going to explode!
Going to split!
Suddenly, the mountain-and-sea-like pressure abruptly withdrew.
The guardian said in surprise: “Little one, your body already shows signs of entering sainthood. Could you have entered the Land of Eternal Life before?”
Who was he talking to?
To He Wudi.
“Entered before?”
He Wudi’s pain gradually dissipated as he smiled with difficulty: “I’m originally from the Land of Eternal Life.”
Saying this brought myriad bitterness.
Once, he had lived carefree in the Land of Eternal Life. Later, pursuing higher martial dao realms, he went to search for the Qixuan霞光破, only to end up with his level reset to zero and his holy body degraded.
“…”
Jun Changxiao fell silent.
To be precise, he felt somewhat ashamed.
Because He Wudi’s current predicament was inseparable from his purchase of the incomplete scroll.
Fortunately.
That guy was still in the dark.
“So you once entered sainthood?” The guardian said.
“That’s in the past.”
He Wudi’s words also acknowledged he had once entered sainthood.
Of course, this sainthood was vastly different from the Wusheng realm of Xingyun Continent. The former not only entered sainthood in level but also in body. Using professional terminology, it was a holy body.
“Those who enter sainthood are honored as Sovereigns.” The guardian’s tone warmed: “This old one, though guarding the entrance between the universe and the Land of Eternal Life for a million years, has some understanding of the Holy Sovereign realm experts inside. May I ask what your sovereign title is?”
Jun Changxiao perked up his ears.
Regarding He Wudi’s matters, he only knew he came from the Land of Eternal Life. As for sovereign titles and such, he hadn’t heard of them.
“Past matters.”
He Wudi said: “Better left unmentioned.”
A Holy Sovereign from the Land of Eternal Life, forced to descend to lower realms with his level reset to zero—that wasn’t exactly glorious.
Moreover, he had just obtained the Qixuan霞光破 not even a hundred years ago. The people inside definitely wouldn’t have forgotten. If word accidentally leaked today, wouldn’t he be blocked at the entrance when he went up?
“Wudi.”
Jun Changxiao said seriously: “A dignified seven-foot tall man doesn’t change his name when walking or his surname when sitting. Tell him your sovereign title loudly!”
He Wudi immediately collapsed.
Actually, Jun Changxiao’s meaning was that if he revealed his sovereign title and the other party happened to know him, there might be a chance to enter the Land of Eternal Life.
“Please rest assured.”
The guardian said: “I guard this place without leaving even a step. No need to worry about word leaking out.”
“…”
He Wudi’s gaze filled with conflict.
At this moment, he urgently wanted to enter the Land of Eternal Life, urgently wanted to return to the home he’d been away from for so long. But he was still an Eternal Sect disciple.
His fellow disciples had killed so many of the Heavenly Demon Emperor’s adopted sons. The grudge had developed to a fight to the death. If he left them now, wouldn’t that be deserting in battle?
Jun Changxiao seemed to understand He Wudi’s thoughts, so he walked over, patted his shoulder, and said: “Having finally found a path, you must seize it. I can handle upper universe matters.”
“Go ahead.”
“Go home.”
Saying the last three words, Jun Changxiao’s demeanor became extremely serious.
Honestly, He Wudi was very strong, one of the sect’s powerful combat forces. He would definitely be a steel blade for dealing with the Heavenly Demon Emperor in the future.
However, having discovered the bronze cauldron’s secret this time and found the path to the Land of Eternal Life, if he missed it, he might miss it for a lifetime.
No need to consider.
If you can go home, go home.
No matter how difficult upper universe problems are, I’ll lead the sect to tough it out.
Jun Changxiao was usually very cheap and lacked propriety, but in major matters, he was never ambiguous.
Actually, from ordering disciples to carefully care for Xie Lingyao, it could be seen he had long been a Sect Master with responsibility and vision.
Cheap.
Shameless.
These were just personality traits deliberately displayed. Actually, he was very mature inside.
“Go home… go home…”
These two words kept echoing in He Wudi’s ears, gradually stabilizing his conflicted emotions. Then he lifted his foot and walked on the Path of Eternal Life.
Outside.
He Wudi’s body leaned toward the bronze cauldron, toward the scroll.
“Could it be…”
Jian Guixu exclaimed in shock: “He’s going to enter the Land of Eternal Life?”
“Didn’t expect the bronze cauldron to not only contain the secret of the Path of Eternal Life but also allow entry into the Land of Eternal Life!” Gu Tianxing’s state of mind couldn’t calm down. Shock still hung on his face.
…
One step, two steps.
He Wudi approached the spatial barrier carved with ‘Land of Eternal Life’ step by step.
“Swish!”
Suddenly, he raised his right hand, fist clenched tight.
This gesture seemed to contain some kind of power, infecting the disciples who were cultivating or busy in the sect. Their movements became uniformly coordinated as they turned around, raising their right hands in the same manner to respond.
At that moment.
There were no courtyard separations, no mountain peak separations.
The Eternal Sect disciples and He Wudi seemed to exist in the same parallel space, seeing off this youngest disciple as he went home.
“Junior Brother He.”
Li Qingyang said: “Bon voyage!”
Su Xiaomo, Xiao Zuiji, and the others stood on the training ground, brilliant smiles appearing on their faces.
Very regrettable.
Ye Xingchen wasn’t at the sect.
No!
Though he was outside, he seemed to sense it. He stopped on a certain mountain peak and slowly raised his fist.
“Step.”
He Wudi stopped at the spatial barrier.
One more step would take him into the Land of Eternal Life.
Jun Changxiao rubbed his slightly sore nose and smiled: “You go ahead first to find a good foothold, waiting for me and the sect to arrive.”
“Sect Master, how long?”
“Should be soon.”
How long, Jun Changxiao wasn’t clear.
He might not even be able to enter the Land of Eternal Life in this lifetime.
“Wudi.”
Jun Changxiao said: “No matter how long, you must remember—you are my youngest disciple!”
“Disciple understands.”
He Wudi took a deep breath.
Honestly, his current state of mind was as uncomfortable as the Sect Master’s.
Although they’d only been together less than a hundred years, which wasn’t much in the long span of time, but…
Can’t think about it.
Thinking more would make leaving impossible!
He Wudi suppressed various emotions. Without looking back, he said: “These years, thank you Sect Master for your cultivation, thank you fellow disciples for your care. I, He Wudi, will remember it in my heart.”
“Wuu wuu wuu!”
Liu Wanshi buried herself in Yao Mengying’s shoulder, crying tears like pear blossoms in rain: “Junior Brother He is leaving. Who will close the doors in the future?”
That’s right!
He Wudi suddenly turned around and said: “I’m leaving—who will close the doors!”
“No!”
“I can’t leave!”
“I must stay to close the doors for my senior brothers and sisters, to shelter everyone from wind and rain!”
Saying this, he retreated step by step, then stood before Jun Changxiao with an extremely serious expression: “The Eternal Sect is this disciple’s home. I beg the Sect Master to allow this disciple to stay and close doors for my senior brothers and sisters, to shelter everyone from wind and rain!”
“Are you certain?”
“Certain!”
“Whoosh! Whoosh!”
The two soul bodies returned to their physical forms.
The scroll unfurled above the bronze cauldron gradually dissipated. Everything returned to normal.