Immortal of the Ages

Chapter 473: A Stranger From Beyond!

"Still, that's just speculation... Life is a complex weave, so intricate that not even you can be sure whether the person you were at twelve and the person you are now are truly the same," Blue Star said.

"You're right." Yun Xiao nodded. He took the stone in his hand and held it under the candlelight, watching it flicker and dance. "That's why I choose to believe that this stone is not a separate soul but a memory imbued with emotion."

Blue Star broke the silence again. "There's a strong chance you're right. But have you noticed? Faced with the same event, they made different choices... Chen Xi clung more to her mission, while Lian Xi placed you on the same pedestal as her mission."

"The first occurrence happened at different times. My encounter with Chen Xi was more straightforward; we were still strangers then. Lian Xi now has memories of both reality and dreams," Yun Xiao explained.

Blue Star's response came with a meaningful smile. "That's a sound explanation. Then it's time to turn those dream memories into real ones."

Yun Xiao's grin was wistful. "I'd like that, but we're at an impasse. She doesn't want to harm me, so I must wait until my strength surpasses hers again."

"Wow, you're really something!" Red Moon exclaimed, having listened quietly until now.

"What do you mean?" Yun Xiao asked, puzzled.

"Just think about it. With your idea, countless incarnations of transcending calamity, in their dreams, encounter you again and again. It's as if you have an endless supply of beautiful twins, each one new, offering endless first times. This must be that old witch's retribution!" Red Moon marveled.

Yun Xiao, momentarily stunned, smacked the little black creature on the head. "That's a twisted way of thinking!"

"I'm just laying out the possibilities. You're the one making plans!" Red Moon chuckled.

"Why hit me?" Blue Star protested, rubbing his head.

The trio, a man and two beasts, descended into a playful bickering.

Clutching the stone, Yun Xiao spoke solemnly, "Lil Xi, the answers I seek... They're within this, aren't they?"

The stone's light twinkled, offering no reply.

After a moment, Yun Xiao's expression darkened, and he turned to Blue Star with a grave question. "If the Three Immortals were to die, resolving the crisis of the Heavenly Decay spreading across the myriad world, and her mission were complete, will she choose to end her own life again?"

Blue Star ceased his playful scuffle with Red Moon, adopting a tone of grave sincerity. "From the outset, you should have understood that every incarnation of transcending calamity is ephemeral. Regardless of victory or defeat, death is her destined path."

"No!" Yun Xiao protested fiercely.

"It's not for you to decide. The prerogative belongs to the Primordial Mother of the Dao, who relieves the myriad sufferings," Blue Star intoned.

Yun Xiao fell silent.

"Cherish the time with her, for who knows where the next incarnation will be found?" Blue Star sighed.

"I understand," Yun Xiao murmured, his head bowed, weighed down by a heavy heart.

"Oh, I also want to remind you of something," Blue Star suddenly said.

"What is it?" Yun Xiao looked up intently.

"The Primordial Immortal Ancestor is the ruinous being intent on your destruction. Enjoy the game, but don't take it to heart. Even if you ascend to the pinnacle of the Dao Realm, you would still lose to her," Blue Star sighed deeply.

Yun Xiao's brows knitted together.

"Yun Xiao," Red Moon chuckled mischievously, "Actually, Senior Sister Zhao is quite wonderful. She truly is your home."

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As an azure light pierced the heavens, Yun Xiao passed through the breach, entering the Nine Hells.

He first visited the Sword Ruins, only to find that even the Sword Cultivators there were lost in the illusions of the Dreamsea Abalones, forgetting themselves and sinking into oblivion day after day.

Fortunately, the Sword Warden and Netherworld Emperor remained obedient, spreading their teachings in the Divine Continent and so avoiding this calamity.

The situation at the Sword Ruins underscored the urgency of resolving the conflict with the Three Immortals and Dreamsea Abalones for Yun Xiao.

"Three days!" Yun Xiao muttered. Lian Xi was unwilling to harm him. So, he also wouldn't force the situation either and steal her cultivation.

"It's time to look for other methods." Yun Xiao mused to himself. "The Human Zenith Immortal might have returned to the Primordial Ruins. I'll take a look."

Alone, his movements were unencumbered, so he summoned his Sovereign Sword and soared into the sky.

As the winds and clouds swirled around him, the vast divine ark of heaven and earth appeared before him, its overlaid sun and moon casting a stronger radiance that illuminated the land below.

The people of the Primordial Ruins either continued to endure their suffering or practiced the Ascension Technique, living as blissfully as Immortals.

Every moment, the weight of his quest pressed upon Yun Xiao, a constant, unyielding force.

"Even after slaying the Mystic Earth Immortal and the 100,000 descendants, nothing has changed!" Yun Xiao muttered in frustration.

As he dwelled in silence, an anomaly arose. Yun Xiao spun around suddenly and saw a platinum streak of light flash in the horizon—a meteor, its brilliance blazing as if a mighty sword had fallen from the heavens, piercing the void with a screaming descent.

"Could the power this object carries be so immense?"

What was it? Without further thought, Yun Xiao chased after it on his Sovereign Sword.

Whizzing through the air, he pursued for two whole hours, indicating the meteor's initial distance was vast.

"Such a commotion from afar signifies this is no ordinary object!"

Fortunately, as time passed, it seemed to slow, quieting down to a mere platinum point of light floating above the fabric of numerous universes.

"Does this light also contain the power of a Celestial Sourcecore?" Yun Xiao felt it immediately upon drawing near—a force distinct from the sun and moon of the Primordial Ruins.

He accelerated once more, rushing toward the light. Finally, just as the point was about to extinguish, he caught up to it.

"A coffin?" At first glance from afar, Yun Xiao was stunned.

Upon closer inspection, he realized it was not a coffin but a gigantic platinum sword, about ten feet long!

Yet, it was neither a treasure nor a weapon.

"Is this a divine vessel shaped like a sword?"

Divine vessels were commonly used by cultivators for long-distance travel across the heavens and earth.

Yun Xiao was certain this was a divine vessel because inside the sword, a man lay resting. The man was shrouded in darkness, discernible only as male.

Even through the barrier of the sword-shaped divine vessel, Yun Xiao could feel the exalted power of the Immortal Dao radiating from him.

But this was not what shocked Yun Xiao the most.

The core power of the sword-shaped divine vessel was a mini Celestial Sourcecore!

It was platinum in color, about a foot in diameter, suspended above the man's head like an infinitely massive golden fireball.

Though only a foot across, Yun Xiao knew the power it contained could affect dozens of worlds.

"A divine vessel powered by a Celestial Sourcecore? Who could have crafted this?"

With curiosity, Yun Xiao searched the vessel for clues.

Soon, he found several inscriptions.

"Skyruler Sword Vessel?"

This had to be the name of the sword-shaped divine vessel.

Before Yun Xiao could react, Blue Star urgently said, "Hurry! This man is gravely injured, and the vessel is damaged. The formation of the Celestial Sourcecore within is fracturing, and it's about to explode. Open the vessel and save him!"

Looking closely, Yun Xiao saw the normally spherical Celestial Sourcecore violently trembling, its surface runes cracking, releasing terrifying power.

"How do I open it?" Yun Xiao asked, frowning.

"From the outside, only a sword strike might work! Try it!" Blue Star exclaimed.

"Alright!" Yun Xiao cast one last glance at the man, whose face was hidden in the shadows, teeming with insects...