Absolute Destiny Game.

Chapter 518 The Chosen One

At this moment, Xiao Jie felt both joy and lingering fear.

He surveyed his surroundings. Lonely Cloud State was composed of many broken islands, and this one, located on the very edge, was not very large.

Ahead lay a desolate plain, beyond which grew dense weeds and trees. The fact that there was still vegetation on this Lonely Cloud Prefecture made Xiao Jie feel much more relaxed.

What made Xiao Jie even happier was that the Storm Thunder Eagle could also fly in this Lonely Cloud State.

Xiao Jie took out his Mind Compass, which immediately pointed in a certain direction.

Xiao Jie did not linger. He sat down to meditate and replenish his mana and internal energy. Then, he transformed into the Storm Thunder Eagle once again and embarked on the path to immortality.

Flying in the sky, Xiao Jie observed the scenery on the ground.

Compared to the Nine Provinces, this Lonely Cloud State presents a completely different scene. Although the land has been shattered, forming a series of floating islands scattered in the void, the exotic flowers and plants on them still grow tenaciously. The outer areas of the islands are still relatively desolate, but the closer you get to the center of the islands, the more vibrant life becomes. From time to time, you can see flashing lights, which are markers indicating that the plants can be picked.

But Xiao Jie had no time to collect materials; he was focused on flying in the direction indicated by the Mind Compass.

He quickly flew over the island, then the second, then the third, until he arrived at the largest island in Guyun Prefecture. A magnificent immortal mountain appeared in his field of vision, shrouded in clouds and mist, over a thousand feet high, its majestic and magnificent scenery leaving people in awe.

What amazed Xiao Jie even more was that the top of the mountain was faintly visible, revealing the corners of some pavilions and towers.

And the direction the compass was pointing was right here.

Xiao Jie suddenly flapped his wings and flew up the mountain.

As Xiao Jie flew to the top of this majestic mountain, the map markings changed once again.

[System notification: You have discovered the Immortal Mountain of Abbot]

Soon, a vast palace complex nestled among the mountains came into Xiao Jie's view. This palace complex covered an area of ​​almost one-tenth of the island's total area, with hundreds and thousands of palaces stacked one on top of another, perched on mountain peaks and in valleys, covering the entire Fangzhang Mountain.

[System notification: You have discovered the Cloudy Immortal Palace]

However, when Xiao Jie got closer, he found that these palaces looked particularly dilapidated. Some were broken, while others looked quite intact at first glance, but strange charred marks were scattered all over the ground and eaves, as if someone had splashed black ink everywhere.

There was also some faint black mist drifting in it. Although Xiao Jie was not sure what it was, his intuition told him that it was definitely not a good thing, and it was best not to land easily.

The entire palace complex on the mountaintop was bathed in a somber and dark hue, and the empty buildings added to the eerie atmosphere.

It's a pity that, if it weren't for these dilapidated scenes, this palace would have had a certain air of a celestial palace amidst the clouds and beyond the void.

At this moment, as Xiao Jie flew above the palace complex, the Mind Compass began to spin wildly.

It seems that this is where the immortals live in seclusion. However, Xiao Jie was puzzled when he looked at the palace complex below. There are hundreds and thousands of palaces and buildings here. Where can he find them?

As Xiao Jie soared through the air, he pondered that if he were to search each one slowly, it would take forever. Moreover, the immortals were hiding, so even if he found their hiding place, how could he be sure?
Moreover, there might be dangers lurking within these palaces; that black mist doesn't seem too ominous.

Suddenly, Xiao Jie realized something. "Hey, why does that mountain look so familiar?"
It was an unremarkable mountain peak. There were no palaces or pavilions on the top, only a platform built of bluestone, surrounded by carved railings and painted pillars. A waterfall flowed down from the adjacent peak, creating a very beautiful scene.

However, such beautiful scenery is not particularly special in this fairyland-like place. What caught Xiao Jie's attention was the composition of the painting, which gave him a strange sense of familiarity.

It's like I've seen a dead person somewhere before.

He suddenly remembered something, opened his backpack, and clicked on the Hidden Immortal Map to take a look.

He would take out the Hidden Immortal Painting from time to time and was already familiar with the scenery depicted on it. At this moment, upon comparing it with the painting, he suddenly realized that it was indeed the palace in front of him.

The painting depicts a group of immortals drinking and making merry, with a background of fairy mountains and flowing water, palaces and pavilions, auspicious clouds and dancing cranes...

Xiao Jie slowly landed on the platform, constantly searching for the right angle and comparing it with the scenery in the painting.

Yes, this is it. Xiao Jie looked around. This was the place where the immortals in the painting drank and made merry.

The water flows on as before, and the palaces and pavilions are in the same location, only the immortals drinking wine and the flying cranes are missing. Moreover, the palaces and pavilions in the painting are very complete, while those in front of me are somewhat dilapidated. But it is certain that the place depicted in the painting is the same place I am standing here.

It seemed as if fate had ordained that this Hidden Immortal Map fell into his hands and led him to this place.

The Mind Compass, the Hidden Immortal Diagram, the Dragon Transformation Technique, the Corpse Language Technique, the Beast Language Technique… every link in his path to immortality was now connected. If even one element were missing, he might not have been able to find this place.

Am I really the chosen one?
No, to be precise, it should be the person chosen by the nameless Taoist?

Was all of this just a coincidence, or did the nameless Taoist priest really have foreseen everything...?

Xiao Jie originally only used this theory to fool Shenjizi and arouse his vigilance so that he could help himself. He didn't really believe it much. But at this moment, he had a feeling that all of this was the will of Heaven.

"So... I'm sure I can find the place where the immortals are hiding!" Xiao Jie muttered to himself, his eyes searching around, when suddenly his gaze focused.

On the grass beside the waterfall, a small thatched hut stood out.

Although small, the thatched cottage was exceptionally clean and tidy, a stark contrast to the dilapidated palaces around it. The cottage was situated under a peach tree, its branches and leaves lush and vibrant. Green grass surrounded the cottage, and a ray of sunlight shone through the waterfall onto the cottage, making even the light seem exceptionally pleasing to the eye.

This scene looks like a corner of paradise in this desolate, post-apocalyptic world.

Xiao Jie had a feeling; this was the place!

He strode into the thatched hut, which contained tables, chairs, benches, a wooden bed, and bookshelves. It was simple yet elegant. On the wall of the living room hung an ancient painting.

Xiao Jie approached the ancient painting and examined it closely.

The painting depicts a vast sea, within which sits a celestial mountain covered in exotic flowers and rare herbs, surrounded by swirling clouds and mist. Palaces and pavilions are nestled among the mountains, while cranes fly around, creating an atmosphere of ethereal beauty and otherworldly grace.

Looking at the ancient painting, Xiao Jie wondered if it was another world within a painting.

These immortals are really not very creative; are they just hiding in paintings?

So, how do we unlock this painting?

Xiao Jie clicked the mouse, and the ancient painting was immediately enlarged to the center of Xiao Jie's screen. What Xiao Jie noticed in particular was that the painting was missing a corner.

[System prompt: This is an incomplete painting. You can try to complete it.]

Then a calligraphy brush icon appeared on the screen. Xiao Jie moved the mouse, and the calligraphy brush started moving as well.

Holy crap... does this mean I have to finish this painting before I can unlock the painting's realm?
I don't know how to do that either! Wait a minute... there seems to be something...

Suddenly, Xiao Jie had a flash of inspiration. He opened his backpack, searched for a while, and finally found what he was looking for at the bottom of the trunk. It turned out to be a fragment of a painting.

Fragments of the Landscape Painting (trash)

Item description: A fragment from the edge of an old painting, seemingly nothing special.

It was dropped after Xiao Jie soloed the Puppet Master in the game "Heroic Warriors". At the time, he didn't think it was of any use, so he just asked for it casually.

At this moment, Xiao Jie was surprised to find that the fragment of the painting actually matched the missing part of the ancient painting in front of him perfectly.

Xiao Jie right-clicked on the fragment, which instantly transformed into a beam of white light and landed on the ancient painting. The missing corner was instantly filled in, and the scene on the ancient painting came to life.

The sea roared with the sound of waves, the cranes cried out softly, and even the clouds in the painting seemed to drift gently.

Looking at the ancient painting that seemed to come alive like a three-dimensional artwork, Xiao Jie felt a surge of emotion.

"Okay, now I'm starting to believe it. I'm fucking the chosen one," Xiao Jie muttered to himself.

The next second, a soft white light suddenly emanated from the ancient painting, and Xiao Jie was instantly sucked into the painting.

(End of this chapter)