First Immortal of the Sword

Chapter 1298 - The Secrets of Transcendence

Su Yi took a deep look at Wen Bofu, but didn’t pursue this any further. Instead, he changed the subject.

“How much does the Wen Family know about the Path of Transcendence?”

Wen Bofu thought for a moment. “Just a few odds and ends. We’re fairly certain that the path connecting Heaven’s Ascension and the Immortal Dao is divided into three major realms: Nascent Divinity, Dao Integration, and Cloud Soaring.

“The first realm requires grasping good fortune, using the physical body as a root, the soul as a stalk, and one’s power of the Grand Dao as a spring to forge a Nascent Divinity. The better its quality, the stronger one’s foundations on the Path of Transcendence.

“The Dao Integration Realm requires one to fuse nine supreme Laws of the Grand Dao. This realm is the most important, as it lays the foundation for the Cloud Soaring Realm and everything that comes next.

“The Cloud Soaring Realm, as the name implies, precedes an ascent into immortality. Thus, it’s also known as the Heavenbound Realm.

“Collectively, these three realms are known as the Path of Transcendence. Before the End of the Dharma, they were considered the strongest, unparalleled in this world!”

Here, Wen Bofu’s voice filled with emotion. “In the eyes of the masses, they were already no different from true immortals.”

Zhuang Bifan couldn’t help but look impressed. This was his first time hearing these secrets regarding the Path of Transcendence.

Su Yi stroked his jaw. “The Zhong Family’s Zhong Tianqian and the Skyfire Spirit Race’s Xu Tiangang have supposedly already stepped onto the Path of Transcendence. What about your Wen Family?”

“Uh...” Wen Bofu hesitated, then grimaced. “It’s hard to say.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Su Yi’s brow furrowed.

Wen Bofu sighed. “Fellow Daoist, Zhong Tianquan and Xu Tiangang might well have stepped onto the Path of Transcendence, but that means they’re every bit as trapped as the revenants. They cannot return to the outside world anytime soon. If they do, they’ll suffer an inevitable backlash from the Laws.

“To the best of my knowledge, both of them are still in the Flying Immortal Forbidden Zone.” Wen Bofu paused, then scratched the back of his neck. “If all goes well, our Ancestor Wuyuan will find the Path of Transcendence within the Flying Immortal Zone too. Perhaps he already has. It’s just that we’ve yet to receive word from him, so we cannot confirm whether or not he’s truly stepped onto the Path of Transcendence.”

In the conversation that followed, Su Yi learned several other secrets regarding the Path of Transcendence.

For instance, the Flying Immortal Forbidden Zone was the only place with confirmed opportunities to step onto the Path of Transcendence.

Furthermore, within three years, great chances were sure to come, and Transcendent cultivators would re-enter the world. Similarly, the revenants trapped in the stars’ forbidden zones would also break free and wander this world once more!

Despite himself, Su Yi’s eyebrows rose.

Three years!

That same timeframe, again!

Within three years, the Domain Boundary Battlefield would return, but that wasn’t all. The Path of Transcendence would re-enter this world as well!

That aside, people like the mysterious spearwoman, the Illusionist, and Luo Yao, the owner of that skeletal hand, would return!

All of this combined told Su Yi that these developments would bring unpredictable changes to the entire Eastern Profound Star Domain!

“There’s really a lot to look forward to...” Su Yi’s heart filled with eagerness.

They said that “reaching one’s limits leads to change, and change leads to growth.”

That was true for people, but it was true of worldly affairs, too.

The End of the Dharma had long since severed the Path of Transcendence. Now, the Immortal Realm was the Immortal Realm, and the Human Realm was the Human Realm. The two were completely separate.

It was for this reason that countless magnificent experts of the World King Realm failed to transcend even after searching bitterly for a higher path. Even the Temple Master had been left with no choice but to reincarnate and cultivate anew. All of this happened because their path had been severed!

But things were different now. Within three years, unprecedented changes would befall the Eastern Profound Star Domain!

Just like the Zhong Family and the Skyfire Spirit Race, Wen Bofu had come to the Impermeable Demon Ocean to capture intelligent revenants.

Apparently, numerous developments had recently arisen deep within the Impermeable Demon Ocean. More and more revenants were awakening, and this was when they were at their weakest. So long as people made ample preparations, it was possible to capture them!

Not long ago, experts of the ancient Yun Family joined forces to capture an intelligent revenant. When word of their accomplishment spread, it took the world by storm.

The Yun Family was another of the Ancient Guardian Clans of the Dao. Who could fail to realize that their success at capturing an intelligent revenant meant they’d acquired good fortune relating to the Path of Transcendence? And who wouldn’t be tempted? Thus, of late, numerous other top factions sent their experts to the Impermeable Demon Ocean to try and replicate the Yun Family’s success.

Revenants were scary.

Especially those with intelligence—despite their highly weakened state, they’d been mighty Transcendents in their past life. They presented a lethal threat to even Cosmic Enlightenment World Kings. Attempts to hunt them were fraught with peril, and even Cosmic Enlightenment powerhouses risked instant annihilation.

“For instance, the revenant we saw just now was an extremely terrifying existence, terrifying almost beyond imagination. I suspect that the modern era’s Cosmic Enlightenment World Kings are no match for him.

Here, Wen Bofu smiled and said to Su Yi, “Of course, that doesn’t apply to you, Fellow Daoist.”

Zhuang Bifan, Wei Shan, and the others agreed completely. They had watched as Su Yi came close to seizing that revenant’s bronze fragment. He was just ridiculously domineering. Had the Xu Family experts not interfered, he could have taken that revenant down with ease.

After chatting a while longer, Wen Bofu bade farewell and left.

He’d already spent days in the Impermeable Demon Ocean, and he’d faced lethal danger more than once. He dared not stay any longer.

Before he left, he advised Su Yi not to venture any further into the Impermeable Demon Ocean. It was too perilous and strange; he suspected it was the revenants’ base, and that some of the intelligent revenants had established territory there!

“This Wen Bofu person sure knows how to handle himself,” sighed Zhuang Bifan.

“Those who shared an era with the young master know better than to underestimate or disrespect him,” said Wei Shan. “Those guys who died earlier might have been top experts by today’s standards, but compared to the young master, they were nothing but a pack of juniors."

“Don’t underestimate Wen Bofu,” interjected Su Yi. “He hid himself and watched that whole battle. He was planning to watch tigers fight from a safe distance, then reap the benefits.”

The group was briefly stunned, their hearts solemn.

Earlier, Su Yi said it was not yet clear who was the oriole, who was the cicada, and who was the mantis.

That was indeed the case. The revenant, the presumed cicada, had fled early on.

While Wen Bofu hid himself the deepest of all!

“He showed himself earlier because he knew he had no hope of reaping the benefits, and he was afraid I’d noticed him. Thus, he stepped forth to smooth things over; he was afraid I’d hold a grudge otherwise,” Su Yi said casually. “That aside, although the Xu and Wen Families are both Ancient Guardian Clans of the Dao, they’ve been at odds both openly and in secret for who knows how long. Their relationship isn’t exactly good. I’m sure he was delighted to borrow our hands to kill three Xu Family experts.”

The group was stunned.

And here they’d initially assumed Wen Bofu just happened to be passing by.

Now, it turned out he’d hidden his true intentions!

“But that doesn’t really matter. Wen Bofu ought to know full well that I’ve seen through his petty schemes. That’s why he shared those secrets of the Path of Transcendence as an expression of sincerity,” said Su Yi. “In short, old-timers like Wen Bofu are each more meticulous than the last. There’s a reason for everything they do. Don’t ever think they’re acting purely out of altruism.”

As the Temple Master, he’d interacted with the Six Ancient Guardian Clans of the Dao on numerous occasions. He was naturally well aware of how deep and unfathomable—and how terrifying—these ancient factions were

When interacting with them, it was critical that you looked beneath the surface. Otherwise, they’d devour you before you knew what hit you.

Zhuang Bifan sighed. “This is reality. When you’re strong, they’re delighted to add flowers to brocade and lift you even higher. But the moment you fall from grace, you can forget about them sending coal in a blizzard. For them, refraining from kicking you when you’re down is compassion.”

“Let’s go,” said Su Yi. He was already shooting into the distance.

The others followed.

......

A stretch of ocean swathed in mists.

Wen Bofu stood atop the corpse of a fallen star, waiting in silence. A long time passed before he sighed in relief and relaxed completely.

He might have seemed relaxed while laughing and chatting with Su Yi, but in truth, his nerves were taut the entire time.

He knew full well that the Temple Master’s reincarnation had already seen through him, and he knew that this might well enrage him. If things came to blows, the Temple Master wouldn’t show mercy.

Thus, even after bidding Su Yi farewell, Wen Bofu never lowered his guard for fear that the Temple Master would chase after him and cut him down.

Fortunately, none of this came to pass.

The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind. Alas, this time, I failed to become an oriole, and I only narrowly avoided getting myself killed, sighed Wen Bofu.

After pondering for a while, he took out a talisman. He’d decided to inform his clan and warn them not to get involved in the Temple Master’s affairs anytime soon.

He might ‘just’ be a reincarnation, but his power is enough to slay Cosmic Enlightenment World Kings with ease. He’s as strong as he was back then, if not even stronger. Wen Bofu’s eyes flashed. Until Transcendents start wandering this world, anyone who thinks the Temple Master is a has-been they can trample as they please will soon realize just how deeply wrong they are. Those three muppets from the Xu Family just paid for that very mistake with their lives!

...

Meanwhile, deep within the Impermeable Demon Ocean.

Silver lightning interwove, and flying immortal light drifted onto a desolate little island floating amidst the waves.

The black-robed, red-eyed revenant Su Yi and his companions met earlier knelt and kowtowed to the fragment of bronze hovering before him.

“My lord, your subordinate was inept. I let them startle you.”