I became an immortal in the mountains

Chapter 803 The Great Hao Dynasty's Schemes

Gu Yuanqing's words were very calm and gentle.

But to Ling Yi, it was like a thunderclap from a clear sky, and a sharp light flashed in his eyes.

These words seem to be directed at the previous emperor of the Great Hao Dynasty, but in fact, they are also directed at him.

Although the three major sects are relatively independent, they all have intricate connections with the imperial court and, to some extent, respect the Great Hao.

There was a momentary pause in breathing.

Ling Yi didn't know how much of Gu Yuanqing's words were true or false, especially the part about not necessarily staying in this world, which was enough to make one ponder.

As a sword cultivator at the level of a Void Immortal, although he was besieged by Heavenly Demons, it did not mean that he was unaware of what was happening outside the realm.

In the vast void, even he was not confident that he could leave this world unharmed.

This cultivator, whose origins are unknown, seems to possess a unique kind of confidence.

Ling Yi slowly said, "Fellow Daoist Gu, confidence is a good thing, but too much rigidity is easy to break. After all, this is the Nine Domains Divine Continent. What you said, 'It is not necessary to stay in this world,' may be true, but to come and go freely in this world, especially to go deep into the Demon Land to hunt down Heavenly Demons, is probably not an easy task. You should have personally experienced the power of the Xuan You Demon Lord."

Gu Yuanqing smiled slightly: "Therefore, I followed you to the Nine Domains Divine Continent and to the Nine Heavens Sword Sect. I believe that Sect Master Ling is a trustworthy and benevolent person. I want to hunt down the Heavenly Demons, and the Nine Domains Divine Continent has been plagued by them for generations, making them enemies of the Heavenly Demons. This provides a basis for cooperation between us. However, this basis does not mean that I want to join the Great Hao. To put it more bluntly, although I am not a Void Immortal and my cultivation level may not be comparable to yours or the Emperor of Great Hao, I have no intention of being subordinate to anyone."

Ling Yi paused for a moment upon hearing this, then smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist, you've probably misunderstood. His Majesty of Great Hao is simply curious about Fellow Daoist Gu, and has no other intentions."

Gu Yuanqing gazed at Ling Yi and chuckled, "Is that so? Then I was overthinking it. However, Yujing is too far away, so I will not go. Please convey my apologies to Sect Leader Ling."

Ling Yi said, "Very well! So, what are Fellow Daoist Gu's plans next?"

Gu Yuanqing said, "Entering the human realm is for the purpose of cooperating in demon hunting. We'll have to see if Sect Master Ling has any suggestions or plans. If not, then I might as well try my luck in the demon land."

Ling Yi asked, "Fellow Daoist, aren't you afraid that the Demon Lord of Xuanyou will come looking for you again?"

Gu Yuanqing smiled: "I still have the ability to protect myself."

Though his words were soft, they seemed to carry an unspoken confidence.

If Ling Yi hadn't personally witnessed this person's battle with the Xuan You Demon Lord, anyone else would probably have thought he was talking nonsense.

Ling Yi naturally didn't think Gu Yuanqing had lost his mind, but believed that Gu Yuanqing must have other reliance. However, he still reminded him, "Fellow Daoist Gu, do not underestimate the Demon Lord. There is a world of difference between the clone and the original body."

Gu Yuanqing nodded slightly and said, "Thank you for the reminder, fellow Daoist."

Ling Yi paused for a moment before slowly saying, "Could you give me three more days?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Yuanqing pondered for a moment and then nodded in agreement: "Alright, then I will wait for three more days. However, during these three days, I would like to travel around and explore the Nine Domains Divine Continent. Is that permissible?"

Ling Yi nodded and said, "Of course. Since Fellow Daoist Gu has come, he should experience the scenery of our Divine Continent." He continued with a slight apology, "I should have accompanied you personally, but there are some important matters in the sect that need to be dealt with urgently, so I really can't get away."

As he spoke, a thought flickered in his mind, and a telepathic sword talisman was quietly sent out. He said, "I will have an elder from the sect accompany you, fellow Daoist, so that he can explain the local customs and products to you."

Gu Yuanqing smiled and nodded: "Sect Leader Ling, you are too kind."

He knew perfectly well that the accompanying elder, besides being a guide, naturally also had the intention of monitoring him.

After all, he was an outsider of unknown origin, yet his strength was comparable to that of a Void Immortal. Even if Ling Yi personally found him trustworthy, the safety of an entire realm was at stake, so no amount of caution was excessive. Gu Yuanqing didn't care about this; it was perfectly reasonable.

A moment later, a sword light swept down from a sword peak below and landed on the platform. The light faded, revealing a middle-aged cultivator in a green robe with a lean face. His sword intent was perfectly balanced and restrained, clearly indicating that he was another great cultivator at the Chaotic Undying Realm!
"Sect Master." The elder in the green robe bowed respectfully to Ling Yi.

“Elder Nangong, there’s no need for such formalities.” Ling Yi introduced the two parties, “This is Fellow Daoist Gu Yuanqing, a distinguished guest of my Nine Heavens Sword Sect. Fellow Daoist Gu, this is Elder Nangong Xun of my sect, who will be accompanying you for the next three days in my place.”

Nangong Xun turned his gaze to Gu Yuanqing and cupped his hands, saying, "Nangong Xun greets Fellow Daoist Gu."

Gu Yuanqing returned the greeting with a cupped hand: "Thank you for your trouble, Elder Nangong."

A slight thought crossed his mind. Counting Di Feng, whom he had met before, and another Hun Tian Realm aura that he had vaguely sensed within the Sword Sect, plus the Nangong Xun in front of him, the Nine Heavens Sword Sect now had three known Hun Tian Undying Great Cultivators!
This is just one sect; there are probably many more that haven't shown themselves yet. Judging from this small glimpse, the strength of the top cultivators of the human race in the Nine Domains Divine Continent seems to be even stronger than he expected.

This may be an important reason why they were able to hold onto the Nine Domains even when the Heavenly Demons had an absolute advantage. At the same time, this is also why so many high-level Heavenly Demons were born in this domain.

Ling Yi gave Nangong Xun a few more instructions, and then personally escorted the two to the edge of Giant Sword Mountain.

Leaving the core area of ​​the sect, Nangong Xun rode a streak of azure sword light, carrying Gu Yuanqing as they flew above the sea of ​​clouds.

He turned to the side and asked, "Fellow Daoist Gu, where would you like to visit first?"

Gu Yuanqing's gaze swept over the faint outline of the city in the distance, and he smiled calmly: "I'll just wander around casually, there's no specific destination. Elder Nangong, do you have any recommendations?"

After a moment's thought, Nangong Xun said, "If you want to see spectacular scenery, you can go east to Wanzhang Cliff to watch the sea of ​​clouds and the sunrise; if you want to experience the hustle and bustle of life, you can go south to Jinxiu City, a bustling metropolis on the edge of our human race, where merchants from all directions gather; if you are interested in ancient sites, there is an ancient sword sect site 30,000 miles to the west, left by an ancient sword cultivator sect. Although it is dilapidated, it has a unique charm. Many cultivators from my Nine Heavens Sword Sect often go there to comprehend the sword's secrets."

After listening, Gu Yuanqing nodded and smiled, "It all sounds good. Then I'll trouble Elder Nangong to lead the way."

Nangong Xun calmly replied, "Fellow Daoist Gu, you're too kind. It's my duty."

He was summoned by the sect leader to receive Gu Yuanqing, and naturally learned about Gu Yuanqing's background and deeds from the sect leader. A visitor from another world, a sword cultivator who could fight against the Xuan You Demon Lord, made his heart far less calm than he appeared.

If Gu Yuanqing weren't also a guest of the Sword Sect, he probably would have already sparred with him to experience the swordsmanship of this other world.

……

Inside the inner hall of the Great Hao Imperial Palace.

This place is not as grand and solemn as the main hall, but it is even more dignified and profound.

The walls were lined with bookshelves made of dark spirit wood, on which jade slips and silk books were arranged in an orderly fashion. The faint scent of ink mixed with the fragrance of spirit wood, which was refreshing and pleasant.

Xuan Hao, dressed in casual clothes, sat in the main seat.

On the left, seated in the first seat, Li Yanshen, the Venerable of the Heavenly Pivot Palace, sat calmly and composedly. This master of the Void Immortal realm possessed an aura as deep as the sea. Although he was before the Emperor, he maintained a composed demeanor, simply sitting upright to show his respect for the Emperor.

Seated at the head of the right was the eldest prince, Xuan Mingjin. This prince, who was at the Chaotic Undying Realm, had a sharp and piercing aura between his brows, and his body was faintly surrounded by a blazing and domineering fire elemental energy.

The second seat on the right is occupied by the Second Prince, Xuan Mingrui. He has a relatively reserved and calm demeanor. Although both of them are at the Chaotic Undying Realm, his aura is as gentle as water.

The atmosphere in the imperial study was tense. A jade slip containing a message from Ling Yi lay quietly on the desk in front of Xuan Haoji. "Arrogant!" The eldest prince, Xuan Mingjin, spoke first, his voice filled with suppressed anger, his aura rising slightly, raising the surrounding temperature. "An outsider from who-knows-where, whose cultivation is merely at the Undying Realm, dares to defy imperial authority! Such behavior is utterly rebellious! I believe we should request Sect Master Ling to suppress him and send him back to Yujing. If he dares to resist, then kill him on the spot as a warning to others!"

Prince Xuan Mingrui frowned slightly and said, "Father, what my elder brother says is absolutely right. The Demon Lord Xuan You has now awakened, and the Heavenly Demon Calamity could erupt at any moment. We cannot afford to make any mistakes. If this person disobeys orders and acts recklessly, and disrupts the plans of our Great Hao, the consequences will be unimaginable."

Moreover, the Great Hao Dynasty governs the Nine Regions and gathers the strength of the world to fight against the Heavenly Demon, relying on strict discipline and unity from top to bottom.

If this matter becomes public, what will become of the court's prestige? Public unrest will ensue, and the overall situation will inevitably descend into chaos. Therefore, I believe that this person should be dealt with swiftly and decisively.

Xuan Haoji remained calm, turned his gaze to Li Yanshen who had been silent, and said, "Minister Li, what is your opinion of this person?"

Li Yanshen bowed slightly and said in a steady voice, "Your Majesty, what the two princes say is not without reason. Gu Yuanqing's existence is always an uncontrollable variable, and it is indeed possible that it could endanger the overall situation. It is only right to handle it with caution."

However… this old minister believes that we should not underestimate this person. Although he only possesses the cultivation of the Undying Chaos Realm, he dared to venture alone into the void, pursuing the demon's trail to our realm. He was able to fight the avatar of the Demon Lord of the Netherworld without defeat, and openly stated that he was not afraid to leave or stay. He must have something to offer. What his trump card is remains unknown. Rashly using forceful means might lead to unforeseen consequences.”

Li Yanshen lowered his voice slightly and said, "Xuanyou has awakened, and the remnants of the Eclipse Moon Sect have already shown their tracks, almost causing a major upheaval. If we clash with Gu Yuanqing and fail to subdue him, we can't guarantee that these villains won't take advantage of the situation. At that time, we will face internal and external troubles, and the situation will become even more difficult."

Xuan Haoji nodded slightly, tapping his fingers lightly on the imperial desk. After a moment of contemplation, he slowly said, "Fellow Daoist Ling mentioned in his letter that this person once said that he doesn't necessarily have to stay in this world. This means that he may know the way back to his original world, and I am very interested in this."

Upon hearing this, a strange light flashed in the eyes of Xuan Mingjin and Xuan Mingrui, and even Li Yanshen was slightly moved.

Xuan Haoji continued, “Our Nine Domains Divine Continent has been trapped here, fighting the Heavenly Demon for millions of years, suffering countless deaths and injuries. The Heavenly Demon sees us cultivators as resources, and the road ahead is uncertain. If we can find a way out to other worlds... perhaps, this will be the hope for our Great Hao, and even for all humankind in this world.”

He finally made his decision, his gaze falling on the Second Prince, Xuan Mingrui: "Mingrui."

“Your subject is here.” Xuan Mingrui immediately stood up.

"Take my imperial edict and go to the territory of the Nine Heavens Sword Sect to meet with this Gu Yuanqing," Xuan Haoji commanded. "Since he wants to hunt down the Heavenly Demon, then let's try cooperating. More importantly, find out his background and the situation of his original realm, and... whether he has a way to return."

"Your subject obeys the decree!" Xuan Mingrui bowed.

……

Gu Yuanqing followed Nangong Xun on a tour of this world, not only admiring its exotic scenery but also observing its inhabitants.
He was a great cultivator of the Chaotic Undying Realm, possessing the Heavenly Eye of Void Insight. With a casual glance, he could naturally obtain many things and confirm many of his suspicions.

The path of cultivation in this realm is indeed very different from that in the spirit realm. Cultivation in the spirit realm is centered on the world of celestial beings, while the power of this realm is based on the primordial spirit, which is rooted in the divine soul.

Therefore, when comparing cultivators from the two realms, the cultivators of the Nine Domains Divine Continent are far less powerful than those from the Spirit Realm, and their physical bodies are also less robust.

The two realms have been vastly different since the celestial changes began.

The Spirit Realm and the Exquisite Realm have been subject to heavenly tribulations since the beginning of the celestial upheaval, but this realm has not experienced such calamities; instead, it is only subject to the constraints between different realms.

After achieving success in cultivation, this difference is most evident in lifespan.

In the Spirit Realm, cultivators undergoing celestial transformations live for three thousand years, while those at the first level of Yin-Yang attain ten thousand years. However, even cultivators at the Void Immortal level in the Nine Domains Divine Continent find it difficult to break through the ten thousand-year lifespan limit!

Therefore, they also have the Heavenly Transformation Realm and the Yin-Yang Realm, but the division of their minor realms is completely different from that of the Spirit Realm.

Of course, cultivators in this realm are not without their merits. Their powerful souls make it easier for them to comprehend the Great Dao, and their cultivation progress seems to be faster. This is why there are far more high-level cultivators in this realm than in the Spirit Realm.

In this world, the refinement of the physical body is merely to enhance one's affinity with the Great Dao and to bear the power of the divine soul. This may also be the reason why the methods in this world do not have the technique of creating clones.

Their souls pursue perfect unity and ultimate purity, which contradicts the principle of creating multiple bodies.

Before we knew it, three days had passed.

Gu Yuanqing accompanied Nangong Xun to Jinxiu City.

This city truly lives up to its name, with wide streets, towering buildings, bustling merchants, a constant flow of people, and countless cultivators. Even under the shadow of demonic calamity, it remains prosperous and splendid.

As Gu Yuanqing toured the area, he continued to explore the intricacies of this world.

Upon arriving at the main hall and study, select a few books about the region and spiritual practice.

Suddenly, a message sword talisman flew over. Nangong Xun scanned it with his divine sense and said to Gu Yuanqing, "Fellow Daoist Gu, His Highness the Second Prince has arrived in the city and has set up a banquet at Yunshui Yaotai to invite you to a chat."

Gu Yuanqing remained calm and nodded, saying, "Since the prince has invited me, then I shall go."

As evening fell, Nangong Xun led the way, and the two of them took to the air, flying towards the brightly lit Yunshui Yaotai, which resembled a celestial palace.

"Yunshui Yaotai" is a renowned place in Jinxiu City, a magnificent palace that floats in mid-air using the power of an array.

Based on spirit jade and with glazed tiles, surrounded by swirling clouds, it overlooks the entire city's night view and is usually a place only royal family members or top-level cultivators can set foot in.

Attendants were already waiting respectfully at the entrance of the Jade Terrace, and led the two into the main hall.

The interior of the hall was decorated with extreme elegance and luxury, and a faint fragrance permeated the air.

The Second Prince, Xuan Mingrui, was already seated in the main seat. He was dressed in a simple black robe embroidered with dark gold dragon patterns, which made his handsome face and dignified demeanor even more striking.

Upon seeing Gu Yuanqing arrive, he revealed a perfectly gentle smile and rose to greet him: "This must be Fellow Daoist Gu? Indeed, you possess an extraordinary bearing. Please have a seat."

Gu Yuanqing's gaze remained calm as he stepped forward, simply bowing slightly in greeting as is customary among cultivators: "Greetings, Second Prince."

A fleeting sense of displeasure flashed through Xuan Mingrui's mind.

As a prince of the Great Hao Dynasty, he held a prestigious position and possessed a cultivation level of the Chaotic Undying Realm. Even the elders of the sect had to show him respect and courtesy.

Gu Yuanqing's ordinary demeanor was almost considered impolite in his eyes.

However, he was extremely shrewd. Although he was displeased, his smile remained unchanged. He warmly invited Gu Yuanqing to sit in the seat of honor to his left, while Nangong Xun sat down in the lower seat.

As the banquet began, delicacies were served in a continuous stream, and the aroma of fine wine filled the air. Beautiful dancers gracefully performed in the hall, accompanied by melodious and enchanting music.

After several rounds of toasts and pleasantries, Xuan Mingrui casually got to the point, raising his glass and saying with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Gu's cultivation is profound, and his ability to fight against the avatar of the Xuan You Demon Lord is truly admirable. Seeing you today, I can confirm that your reputation is well-deserved."

Gu Yuanqing took a sip from his cup and smiled calmly, "You flatter me, Second Prince."

Xuan Mingrui's smile remained unchanged as he continued, "Fellow Daoist is too modest. A realm capable of producing a figure like you must be an extraordinary world. I wonder how your homeland compares to my Nine Domains Divine Continent? It must also be a land of outstanding people and abundant resources, producing many great beings?"

(End of this chapter)