Cultivation: Being Immortal Chapter 779

Haigang City, Quiet Room

The serene expression and steady tone from Lin Jiang caused Xia Qingshan to appear somewhat stunned. Moments passed before he uttered slowly once more, "You truly are the wisest individual in existence."

"I’m honored, yet regarding intelligence, I wouldn’t place in the top thousand across Huaxia."

Lin Jiang responded, and this remark wasn’t mere humor. When it came to smarts, even a basic researcher from the Spiritual Energy Research Institute surpassed him. Forget the top thousand; stacking another thousand wouldn’t include him.

"Then, do you understand the reason for my visit to you?"

"I do, or perhaps not entirely, but I’ve been eager for this encounter. Why not engage in a straightforward discussion?"

"You lack the authority for that."

"Intimidation tactics won’t faze me. Perhaps others on this world might yield to your influence, but not me. You get it."

"Indeed, traveler from another realm, you remain beyond my grasp, so my initial query is this: from where do you originate?"

"I’m not Yang Luo; such deceptions won’t work on me."

Xia Qingshan shook his head, while Lin Jiang grinned. Ages back, he’d employed this ploy on Yang Luo, yet this fellow was aware of it.

"Transparency and candor form the basis of any pact between us. Refuse this, and you’ll gain no insights from me; plus, I’m certain you can’t confine me. Despite your attempts to disrupt on the spacecraft, should I genuinely ascend to the cosmos, your interference would fail."

"You have no intention of departing."

"Does this mark the onset of our zero-sum confrontation, where masks shatter and mutual defeat ensues?"

Lin Jiang chuckled, prompting the opposite Xia Qingshan to lapse into quietude, uttering nothing further.

"I’ll yield a bit. I hail from Blue Star, though not this one. I selected that title to pay tribute to my origins."

"Where exactly is Blue Star located?"

"What manner of entity are you?"

Lin Jiang declared firmly, determined to compel reciprocity and extract sufficient details from him.

"I embody what resides in your innermost thoughts."

Following extended quiet, Xia Qingshan relented at last.

"As you perceive within, so you are Xia Qingshan, the embodiment of heaven’s path, a divine being?"

"Correct, I am Xia Qingshan, the authentic one. Simultaneously, I’m a cultivator akin to yourself, a heavenly entity. Moreover, I represent the way of heaven. In scientific terms, I serve as this planet’s awareness."

"That sounds quite intricate."

"It’s simpler than it seems. Trade responses, and I’ll provide the knowledge you seek."

"Laniakea Supercluster – Virgo Cluster – Local Group – Milky Way – Lake Arm – Gould Belt – Local Bubble – Local Interstellar Cloud – Oort Cloud – the third planet of the Solar System."

"·······"

Upon Lin Jiang disclosing the precise cosmic position of the genuine Blue Star, Xia Qingshan plunged into profound stillness, akin to demise. He even consulted the AI’s cosmic data, yet uncovered zilch, merely sensing utter disarray.

Lin Jiang smirked inwardly. Naturally, he couldn’t locate it, since the universal details about Blue Star, encompassing numerous foundational labels, stemmed from Western origins, employing their tongues and conventions for designation. Lin Jiang hadn’t imparted such lore, making discovery improbable.

"What place is this?"

"Now it’s your move. I’ve shared the crucial elements already."

"Fine, I am Xia Qingshan, the true Xia Qingshan. I possess blended human and demon lineage, termed a Demon Human by you. Thankfully, in my realm, Demon Humans face no prejudice."

"I began cultivation from Qi Refining and Building Foundation, advancing steadily to the Transmigration Stage. There, I confronted the Heavenly Tribulation. Amid the ordeal, I unveiled the planet’s grandest mystery: attaining immortality proves a grand deception…"

"Hold on, your realm isn’t this world, is it?"

"Negative."

"Thus, in your domain, is immortality likewise a ruse?"

"Affirmative."

"What? That can’t be!"

"No impossibility exists, for any world permitting immortality hosts entities like ourselves."

"Proceed, but take it slow; I must process this."

Lin Jiang massaged his temple; the influx of revelations proved staggering, challenging his acceptance.

"Allow me to rephrase: every world allowing immortality harbors beings such as us. Label us immortals, heavenly figures, or planetary will—as you prefer."

"The planet’s rules and doctrines are all our creation, encompassing the spiritual veins we’ve nurtured…"

"And what of sustenance, life forms?"

"Better termed resources; souls represent our finest delicacy and power source, much like spirit stones for a cultivator."

"Thus, the loftier the cultivation, the tastier and more nourishing for you?"

Lin Jiang remarked icily, "Doesn’t this resemble Cthulhu?"

"You may view it so, yet for me, souls prior to Tao Achieving offer naught; solely post-Tao Achieving do they benefit me."

"This stems from Tao Achieving cultivators grasping the Great Way, distinct from the paths you’ve devised."

"Precisely, you deem us the Heavenly Way, but in truth, we aren’t the authentic one; we’ve merely comprehended more of the Great Way than you."

"What follows the Transmigration Stage?"

"I’ve disclosed plenty; your turn. Describe the authentic Blue Star: its might, the count of Tao Achievers, its vast chronicle?"

"Prior to arriving here, I was an ordinary denizen of Blue Star. I’m unaware of Tao Achiever numbers, but I can assure you, our history terrifies."

"How so?"

"My nation brims with myths and tales. I can’t discern fact from fable, but within those legends lies the Heavenly Court, home to the Heavenly Emperor, Queen Mother, Thirty-Six Heavenly Stars, Seventy-Two Constellations, Three Thousand Six Immortals, and exceeding one hundred thousand Heavenly Soldiers. Should these mythic immortals equate to cultivators, their realms surpass Tao Achieving…"

Lin Jiang persisted in his account, and Xia Qingshan’s complexion drained further, particularly upon learning the Jade Emperor endured over one hundred thousand tribulations, spanning countless years. He teetered on breakdown; such a timeline overwhelmed.

Chiefly, Lin Jiang’s demeanor, alongside myths echoed on this Blue Star, suggested no falsehood. This might shook him deeply.

"I’ve concluded; your response now."

"At present, I yearn to obliterate you."

"Had obliteration been your true desire, you’d have acted by now. Slaying me presently feels overdue."

"Indeed, it is belated."

Xia Qingshan conceded, aware Lin Jiang had dwelled in this realm for exceeding forty thousand years (factoring dormant periods), rendering intervention tardy.

"Then continue; don’t you crave further details, such as Blue Star’s potency?"

"The Transmigration Stage’s lightning tribulation embodies heaven’s true intent evolution. Even I can’t halt it, though survival proves arduous; merely one in a hundred prevails. Each fallen cultivator in the trial ultimately furnishes our resources. Hence, we somewhat desire planetary flourishing and abundant cultivators."

"What if one unexpectedly survives?"

"They’d emerge as my comrade…"

"Hehe, do you take me for a toddler?"

"Very well, beyond Transmigration Stage lies no further tier. The fabled Mahayana Stage is mere illusion. Should a cultivator triumph over the tribulation, they discard mortality and may claim a planet, ruling as its sovereign and heaven’s will incarnate, akin to our current state."

"Would you permit their flight?"

"Why not? They become fellow seekers of the Dao…"

Lin Jiang endured his fabrications. If benevolence truly defined him, why the prior anguish? Why require Demon Emperor Feng Jiu to amass forty-nine Tao Achievers for his vital surge?

"Now, elaborate on Blue Star’s prowess."

"Quite feeble. At that era, Blue Star’s folk had scarcely breached the heavens. Their inaugural space station stood less than fifty years old, devoid of Space Bases. They couldn’t even exit their stellar system."

"That frail?"

"Yes, precisely that frail."

Lin Jiang affirmed with a nod. He omitted the timeline, as mentioning it would invite skepticism.

As anticipated, Xia Qingshan’s visage turned grave. This Blue Star’s space station had existed some seven or eight centuries, whereas Lin Jiang departed his Blue Star over forty thousand years prior. That implied Blue Star’s progress spanned over forty thousand years post-departure. Utterly daunting.

"My inquiry next, correct?"

"What more do you wish to probe?"

"You’ve discerned it—I harbor a profound mystery, haven’t you?"

"Affirmative, your spirit eludes my sight; under normal circumstances, that defies possibility. Even as an otherworlder, I ought to perceive you clearly, yet your spirit remains veiled."

"This constitutes my opportunity and enigma, surpassing your wildest conceptions. After all, as such an entity, even you must evolve, no?"

"True, though I’m rather nascent, unable to attain that superior state yet."

"Spot on; you’re not the sole one in existence. Else, why refrain from seizing my form?"

Lin Jiang grinned and addressed Xia Qingshan, "Doesn’t the allure of superior secrets intrigue you?"