The sword seller, dressed in red, deserves applause for the prankster.

"Master?"

Chi Miao was stunned for a long time after hearing this.

Some people may appear to be perfectly fine on the surface, but in reality, they've already passed away peacefully.

This is the Heavenly Compassionate Immortal! The only immortal who survived the cataclysmic upheaval in Miaohua Continent. How could someone like him call her Master?!

That's not how you show off!

But then she thought about it again. She had been reincarnated as an immortal countless times, and even beings like the "Sin of All Living Beings" would stop at nothing to kill her.

It's not hard to understand why the Immortal of Sorrow was her disciple in her previous life.

Moreover, before becoming an immortal, Tianbei Immortal was one of the four disciples of Tantric Buddhism, and in her previous life, she was known as "Jiangyue," and she was the first Holy Maiden of Tantric Buddhism. Rounding up, it's possible that Tianbei Immortal was Jiangyue's disciple.

Reasonable.

Chi Miao let out a breath, looked at the man in front of her whose eyes had become deep, quickly calmed down, and asked:

"So... what is your lineage?"

The Heavenly Sorrow Immortal pursed his lips, spread his hands, and a blue booklet suddenly appeared in his hand.

"This is my manual. It records everything I know, my method to become an immortal, and also... the true appearance of Miaohua Continent."

"This booklet contains a lot of information. Before you read it, try to be mentally prepared, because it may very well contradict all your previous knowledge of the world and everything else. Of course, I will also answer your questions."

The Heavenly Sorrow Immortal spoke very gently, and he kept his eyes fixed on Chi Miao as he spoke each word, as if this conversation was their last meeting and they would never see each other again.

So he wanted to remember Chi Miao's face and every expression she made.

However, Chi Miao's attention was completely drawn to the manual, and his mood became tense under the introduction of the Heavenly Sorrow Immortal, causing him to break out in a cold sweat.

"I want to read... I came here to know the truth."

"I understand, I will help you."

"Thanks."

After saying thank you, Chi Miao took the manual by the edge of her fingers and quickly skimmed through its contents using her speed-reading skills.

The manual is roughly divided into three parts:

The secret to becoming an immortal, the secret of Miaohua Continent, the mission of Tantric Buddhism.

The three parts each occupy a great deal of space, as if they could not be fully explained in just a few words.

After making full mental preparations, Chi Miao began reading the first major part—the secret to becoming an immortal.

The very first sentence of this piece shattered Chi Miao's common sense, leaving her mind blank and unable to recover for quite some time.

There is no such thing as a tribulation period in this world!

The moment one enters the Tribulation Transcending stage, one is completely cut off from the path to immortality!

Those few words were enough to strike Chi Miao like a thunderbolt.

She stared stiffly at the Heavenly Sorrow Immortal, her eyes reddening: "In this world, there is no such thing as a Tribulation Transcending Stage? Entering the Tribulation Transcending Stage means you have no chance of becoming an immortal—what does that mean?"

So what's going on with these tribulation stages now?

They are all top-tier combatants in Miaohua Continent, and are the closest to immortals!

The Heavenly Compassionate Immortal nodded and explained, "The Tribulation Transcending Stage, as the name suggests... involves being constantly struck by lightning and tempered by tribulation lightning. Therefore, they possess far greater overall strength, a strength that has already transcended the mortal realm, allowing them to have a lifespan of at least one thousand years, and at most several thousand years!"

"But the world is constantly evolving, energy is cyclical, and the cycle of life and death is inevitable. The Mahayana stage only has a lifespan of five hundred years, while the Tribulation stage breaks this rule and becomes endless... almost as long as the heavens."

"What kind of creature on earth do you think could have such a long lifespan?"

Chi Miao's face tightened as he racked his brains.

Even the turtle clan, known for its longevity, only has a lifespan of about two thousand years during the Mahayana stage.

After breaking through to the Tribulation Transcending stage, lifespan and power will soar to such a level that they almost transcend the essence of living beings, undergoing a fundamental transformation.

In other words, the moment one breaks through the Tribulation Transcending stage, a tremendous change actually occurs at the level of one's life!

As for the result of this change in the level of life, Chi Miao could only think of one word.

"Immortal?"

Tianbei Immortal laughed: "Indeed... Immortals, rather than calling them Tribulation Transcending Stage, I have a more fitting term to describe this realm—Earth Immortal."

"Because the Great Dao is incomplete and there is no immortal position to bless him, he took a crooked path and was eager to break through the level of life... making him neither extraordinary nor immortal, and allowing him to roam the mortal world. But this transformation is only superficial... in reality, he has already rotted inside."

"The so-called becoming an immortal is nothing more than a transformation of one's life level from the inside out, evolving into another kind of being that lives as long as the heavens, shares the power with the world, and masters a unique set of rules."

"As a terrestrial immortal during the Tribulation Transcending stage, how does an immortal become an immortal? The ascension of body and mind must occur simultaneously, because the opportunity only comes once."

"Immortals cannot interfere in the mortal realm because the power of the mortal realm is simply insufficient to support such a level of life. Once an immortal descends to the mortal realm, the power of the mortal realm will inevitably become unbalanced and violent, causing great chaos. This... is also the reason why the sins of the common people cannot personally deal with you, and it is also the reason why we suspect that you have been reborn in the mortal realm countless times."

"Earthly immortals are still immortals, even if they are worlds apart from true immortals!"

"In the mortal realm where power is limited, the emergence of each Earth Immortal means that tens of thousands of beings in this world will lose the right to cultivate, or even to live. Isn't this a violation of the mortal realm's rules and an disruption of its balance?"

Upon hearing this, Chi Miao's face turned deathly pale, and even her fingers trembled slightly.

"So the reason why those in the Tribulation Transcending stage are constantly struck by lightning is not because they might ascend at any moment, but rather..."

"They've violated the natural order and moral principles, and the world itself has been punishing and trying to destroy them?!"

The Heavenly Compassionate Immortal smiled slightly and nodded: "You are still so intelligent, all-knowing, and quick to understand."

Chi Miao immediately gasped.

This really shattered her understanding of the world!

If those "Tribulation Transcending Stage" cultivators who are eagerly awaiting the path to immortality knew this truth, wouldn't their Dao hearts shatter on the spot?

They have persisted in living until now, all for the sake of becoming immortals! To gain an endless lifespan.

But the truth is that they have already squandered their chance to become immortals! Wouldn't this drive all the Tribulation Transcending cultivators in Miaohua Continent insane?

If this news gets out, the world will be in complete chaos!

Chi Miao suppressed the tingling sensation on her scalp, her emotions a complex mix.

Because she also knew many beings at the Tribulation Transcending stage.

But she was also very fortunate, fortunate that she received this news when she was in the Nascent Soul stage.

She suppressed her inner turmoil and read the manual again.

What follows is a record of why the Heavenly Sorrow Immortal slaughtered half of the cultivation world and then ascended to immortality.

In fact, Chi Miao had guessed about this, and he was half right.

But now that she has seen the whole picture, she finds it terrifying to think about.

Only then did I realize that this cultivation world is a cannibalistic place!