Cultivating with Top Enlightenment Chapter 1014 - 438: Immortal Door Ranks

"Are you truly me?"

A bewildering echo resonated within the Sea of Realms.

Upon hearing this, Ning Qi and his two companions felt a prickle of fear.

One visage of the Mountain Ancestor's Dharma Aspect, the one bearing scars, seemed to shrink and vanish as if absorbed by the other face.

These two were not merely an avatar and the primary self, but rather existed in a state of equal yet opposing duality.

During their brief exchange, the concepts of a past self and a future self had been touched upon.

Ning Qi's mind raced as he connected the dots; it appeared the Mountain Ancestor, after obtaining the Buzhou Mountain inheritance, had subsequently bifurcated himself into past and future Dharma Bodies.

It turned out the Mountain Ancestor's ambition extended beyond devouring the two realms and all their inhabitants; he also intended to consume his own past self, all in his relentless pursuit of becoming an Immortal.

The moment the Mountain Ancestor's past self was assimilated, Ning Qi and the others felt the oppressive force binding them abruptly weaken.

The Mountain Ancestor's future self, seemingly unable to exert dominance over the trio for the time being, allowed Ning Qi and the others to seize the opportunity and break free, reappearing within the Sea of Realms.

Before them, the future self of the Mountain Ancestor, manifested as a colossal Dharma Aspect, stretched across the vast expanse of the Sea of Realms.

"Haoshan?"

The Sea Ancestor exclaimed, his voice laced with shock and disbelief.

Despite their animosity, the Sea Ancestor yearned to know if the being before him was still the Mountain Ancestor he once knew.

With eyes like burning embers, the Mountain Ancestor surveyed the three, his appearance now somewhat radiant after absorbing his past self.

His form was cloaked in a shimmering, seven-colored Immortal Dao Aura, and behind him materialized an indistinct vision of a grand gateway.

The Saint Ancestor, his gaze fixed on the hazy portal, could not help but utter, "That is the Immortal Gate!"

Both he and the Sea Ancestor harbored profound aspirations of achieving immortality and were well-acquainted with the portents of such an ascension.

For a Harmonization cultivator on the cusp of immortality, faint wisps of Immortal Dao Aura would first emanate from their being, subsequently summoning an ethereal, illusory gateway known as the Immortal Door.

The origin of this door remained shrouded in mystery, though legends spoke of it being a celestial pathway to immortality constructed by the Heavenly Court in ages past.

This gate served as the divide between the Immortal and the Mortal; beyond it lay eternal life, while before it stretched the cycle of mortality, an inescapable fate akin to the existence of ants.

Even beings of the caliber of the Mountain Ancestor, the Saint Ancestor, and the Sea Ancestor, having reached the zenith of Harmonization, were naught but insects in the eyes of an Immortal.

Their existence was merely prolonged, their power amplified compared to other beings, making them akin to fleeting phantoms in the perspective of mortals.

The reason for this distinction was simple: they were still in the process of cultivating towards immortality, and thus, were not yet Immortals.

Though countless millennia, perhaps even eons, had transpired since ancient times, the path to immortality, once forged by the Heavenly Court, endured.

Every cultivator who sought to attain immortality was destined to tread this very path; avoidance was impossible!

For it represented the most unambiguous route to immortality, the sole discovered way by the Ancient Immortals.

Only through securing the recognition of the ancient Heavenly Court could one manifest the Immortal Gate and, in doing so, achieve true immortality.

As the spectral gateway materialized within the Sea of Realms, all onlookers, Ning Qi included, found themselves captivated.

After all, the dream of immortality was the ultimate ambition of every cultivator.

Within this Sea of Realms, across the unfathomable expanse of time since its very inception, not a single soul had ever truly crossed this ultimate threshold.

"It is your great fortune to bear witness to my ascent upon the Immortal Path and my crossing of the Immortal Door."

Having absorbed his former self, the Mountain Ancestor’s demeanor became one of serene composure.

At this precise moment, his focus was so entirely consumed by the prospect of achieving immortality that any intention of harming Ning Qi and the others seemed to have vanished.

Even though Ning Qi and his companions had managed to escape the clutches of his past self, he no longer seemed concerned.

Ning Qi unleashed two torrents of Realm Power, enveloping both the Saint Ancestor and the Sea Ancestor.

In that instant, the trio intended to bypass the immense Mountain Ancestor Dharma Aspect and make their escape back to the True Martial Spirit Realm.

Given the precariousness of the current situation, Ning Qi deemed it prudent to first retreat to the True Martial Spirit Realm with the two Ancestors.

Yet, the moment the three initiated their movement, they were forcefully repelled.

Even when Ning Qi shifted his approach, utilizing the power inherent in the Sea of Realms, they remained incapable of traversing the Mountain Ancestor Dharma Aspect that loomed before them.

Or, to be more precise, they were unable to pass through the Immortal Door that had manifested behind the Mountain Ancestor!

The Immortal Door, the very barrier separating the Immortal from the Mortal, upon its appearance, effectively sealed the surrounding vicinity.

Whether one was within the confines of the world or beyond the Sea of Realms, any being not yet Immortal was barred from passage.

A flicker of astonishment registered on the faces of Ning Qi and his companions.

The Mountain Ancestor declared with chilling finality, "I permitted your escape, did you truly believe I would not anticipate your attempt to flee?"

With the inherited method of the Ancient Saint, the Saint Ancestor possessed a profound comprehension of achieving immortality, holding Ning Qi back.

"Youngster, cease your actions for now. Once the Immortal Door materializes, we won't be able to traverse it," he stated.

The Sea Ancestor inquired of the Saint Ancestor, "Are we to simply stand by and witness him attain immortality? Is there no other recourse to prevent this?"

Her question mirrored Ning Qi’s own thoughts.

The Saint Ancestor shook his head, gesturing towards the Immortal Door behind the Mountain Ancestor. "When the Immortal Door manifests, it shields the one ascending. Our only path would be to make the Immortal Door dissipate..."

Ning Qi’s Spiritual Sense extended to its utmost limit, scrutinizing the ethereal gateway.

Initially appearing somewhat illusory, the door seemed a mere shadow formed by the Mountain Ancestor’s Immortal Dao Aura.

However, this shadow was now progressively solidifying. It resembled two Han Baiyu pillars, intricately etched with myriad patterns, each pattern, when perceived by Spiritual Sense, seemed to contain boundless Dao.

The Mountain Ancestor sneered, "You are not entirely unaware. Once I pass through this Immortal Door, I shall settle matters with you!"

With his declaration, the Mountain Ancestor shifted his focus from his companions, his colossal Dharma Body turning around to face the Immortal Door.

"A Han Baiyu Door, is it? Do not attempt to fool me with some lesser Immortal Door!"

Ning Qi and the others were even more bewildered by this pronouncement.

Could it be that Immortal Doors possessed a ranking system?