Chapter 962 - 954: Merit Immortal

Chapter 962: Chapter 954: Merit Immortal

“I didn’t expect even he would come.”

The Evil Suppressing Immortal Monarch spoke with a complicated expression. His voice was soft, yet still heard by the Red Dust Supreme squatting not far away in the herb field.

“Jiucang Heavenly Monarch is also an Immortal God?” asked the Red Dust Supreme. He had left the Celestial Court for far too long. Beneath the Celestial Dao Venerable, apart from a handful of Immortal Gods, there were few he recognized.

The Evil Suppressing Immortal Monarch gazed toward the horizon, his expression growing solemn as he said, “He is a Supreme Immortal of the Celestial Court.”

To him, as an Immortal Monarch, a Supreme Immortal was an existence high above. He had only met Jiucang Heavenly Monarch a handful of times, but each left a deep impression.

At the mention of Supreme Immortal, the Red Dust Supreme instantly lost interest and went back to his work.

But soon, he suddenly felt something was wrong.

How many years would he have to tend these flowers and herbs?

The Red Dust Supreme realized he might truly be trapped in endless mundane life. Aside from labor, they had nights to rest; as long as the Blood Prison Great Saint didn’t come, no one would bully them. Yet after so long, such days felt worse than death.

He plunged entirely into a low mood, sinking deeper into despair the more he thought.

The oppressive aura of Jiucang Heavenly Monarch appeared quickly, but disappeared just as fast.

Compared to the Red Dust Supreme, the Evil Suppressing Immortal Monarch still held onto hope—hoping Jiucang Heavenly Monarch could fight his way through this evil continent. Even if he couldn’t withstand those wicked existences, at least he might bring word back to the Celestial Court.

An Immortal God of such stature imprisoned here—The Evil Suppressing Immortal Monarch thought far ahead. He believed the force behind this continent was not as simple as just deceiving the Mortal Spirits; there had to be an even greater conspiracy at work.

The more he thought, the more chaotic his mind became, feeling he was caught in a truly terrifying scheme.

Was it the Dark Heavenly Court, or some other Chaos Force?

How could Central Heaven hide such a massive problem?

Just as the Evil Suppressing Immortal Monarch became increasingly uneasy, the Ghost Mother of Ephemera appeared, instantly drawing both his and the Red Dust Supreme’s attention.

The gazes of the two Immortal Gods couldn’t help but shift from the Ghost Mother of Ephemera to the black panther at her side. Around the panther’s neck hung a golden collar.

“From now on, you will take care of it.”

The Ghost Mother of Ephemera tossed down these words and turned to leave.

Facing the black panther, the two Immortal Gods sank into a strange silence.

The black panther stood still, gaze vacant. Though not in human form, the look upon its face strikingly resembled the two Immortal Gods’.

The Evil Suppressing Immortal Monarch parted his lips, carefully asking, “Heav…Heavenly Monarch?”

The black panther snapped back to itself, casting them a complex look. Raising his head with an arrogant air, his bearing was exactly as the Evil Suppressing Immortal Monarch had shown before the Red Dust Supreme.

The Evil Suppressing Immortal Monarch grew dazed. In that instant, he suddenly understood why the Red Dust Supreme never bothered with him.

He had once greatly admired Jiucang Heavenly Monarch, but seeing him fall to such a state, yet still act with such disdain, his impression of him plummeted to rock bottom.

He asked nothing more, returning to his own affairs.

The Red Dust Supreme also paid them no mind.

For a long while.

The black panther quietly slipped away.

The Evil Suppressing Immortal Monarch watched as the panther disappeared into the depths of the forest, sighing softly, then turning to look at the Red Dust Supreme.

“Back when I escaped, what did you think as you watched my back?” the Evil Suppressing Immortal Monarch asked.

The Red Dust Supreme snorted coldly, “There’s no need to wonder—just what you’re thinking now.”

He shifted his tone and continued, “From a certain perspective, if we make it out alive, this will have been a rather worthwhile experience—for it shows us the true divide between immortals and mortals, and why we were ever so haughty.”

Of course, that’s only if we survive. If not, it will be endless torment.

The Evil Suppressing Immortal Monarch fell silent. He lifted his gaze into the distance, toward the direction of the Mountain of No End.

Judging by each day’s events, the existences here did not torture them; it was more like they were being tested.

What exactly did the power behind the curtain intend?

The Evil Suppressing Immortal Monarch’s Dao Heart began to waver.

A month later, the black panther returned. It was not the Ghost Mother of Ephemera who brought him back, but the Blood Prison Great Saint.

At the sight of the Blood Prison Great Saint, the Red Dust Supreme and Evil Suppressing Immortal Monarch immediately faltered, bowing their heads. They certainly didn’t wish to be humiliated in front of Jiucang Heavenly Monarch.

What happened next was just as expected: Jiucang Heavenly Monarch was lashed by the Blood Prison Great Saint’s whip until he howled miserably—devoid of all Heavenly Monarch dignity.

The first brutal beating did not break Jiucang Heavenly Monarch. Early the next morning, he escaped again, but this time he was caught by the Blood Prison Great Saint after only half a day.

Day by day, the humiliation eventually wore away Jiucang Heavenly Monarch’s resolve.

Yet, Jiucang Heavenly Monarch never spoke to the other two, always maintaining his air of disdain, as if a single word exchanged would be disgraceful.

…

Catching Immortal Gods was merely a little amusement for Gu An; he spared little thought for those three Immortal Gods.

His attitude toward outsiders was utterly different—if non-Immortal intruders came without karma, he would drive them out. As for those steeped in evil, he would kill them outright and seize their life span.

The Red Dust Supreme, Evil Suppressing Immortal Monarch, and Jiucang Heavenly Monarch, though proud, were not Immortal Gods of countless sins—this Gu An could easily see.

Two thousand years later.

Gu An ascended the peak of the Mountain of No End, standing upon the cliff’s edge, gazing out at the horizon.

Before the cliff, surging seas of cloud rolled like an Immortal Realm, with distant mountain peaks faintly visible.

“Senior Brother Li Ya, at last, you are about to ascend to immortality.”

Gu An’s face bore a smile as he murmured softly.

Li Ya had caught the notice of Xuanqing Star Lord and the White-haired Ancestor. Coupled with his profound merit, today he would enter the Heavenly Tao Immortal Book of Xuanqing Star Lord, and rank among the Immortal Gods.

The Heavenly Tao Immortal Book in Xuanqing Star Lord’s hand was a new way to ascend to immortality: once one’s name was carved within and refined by the Celestial Dao Destiny, one could become an immortal. These Merit Immortals need only continue to do good and accumulate virtue—even higher-order Immortal Gods cannot suppress them.

The Celestial Emperor pioneered the Merit Immortal, truly wishing to bring change to the Celestial Court. Merit Immortals formed a parallel system—unrestrained, not subject to dominion or restraint.

Li Ya was to be the very first Merit Immortal, meaning their future standing would be unassailable.

In this moment, Li Ya was equally exhilarated. Around him and Xuanqing Star Lord, hundreds of thousands of followers watched, faces lit with fanatic fervor.

Li Ya’s ascension, for these disciples, was faith turning to fruition before their eyes.

Li Ya would ascend first, to be followed by them—they would reshape the Celestial Court together, bringing new ethos to the Heavenly Dao!

Gu An watched Li Ya, listening to the hearts of Li Ya’s disciples, full of emotion inside.

All this time, he had viewed Li Ya through the lens of protector; but seeing these disciples, hearing their thoughts, he sensed Li Ya had already surpassed him in this regard.

Although Gu An had founded Wushi, the spirit of Wushi was not strong—its attitude was effortless, complacent.

Li Ya and his disciples had much grander ambitions, and their path was far more arduous.

“Ideals truly are beautiful, but, Senior Brother, to achieve them, you must have the power to decide everything.” Gu An murmured to himself, the smile never fading from his face.

Perhaps Li Ya’s strength was lacking, but Li Ya had him.

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