Chapter 1038: Secrets and Origins of the Immortal cave abode
Editor: Henyee Translations

The jade slip from Immortal Eastern River contained records of realms beyond that of immortals, filled with information that was elusive even for those below the immortal level.

From these brief notes, it wasn’t clear how one might cultivate to such lofty realms. Yet, even these few sentences ignited a burning passion within Jiang Chengxuan and the others.

Although they were already unmatched in the Floodgate Realm and could dominate entire domains, they realized that their thousands, even tens of thousands, of years of cultivation paled in comparison to the grandeur of the immortal realm. Even the ancient ancestors of various sects, Jiang Chengxuan surmised, had likely not reached the realm of Earth Immortals.

“To think, beyond the realm of immortals lies such terrifying realms. It seems we have indeed been frogs at the bottom of a well,” Qin Shenwu remarked with a sigh.

As the only being in the Haoran Sect to reach Mahayana, he had enjoyed limitless prestige. However, upon entering the Immortal cave abode, he witnessed true power, which filled him with myriad thoughts.

“Shifu, the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Even immortals were not born as such; they merely endured through more years,” Jiang Chengxuan comforted Qin Shenwu.

“Yes, today we realize just how long the road to immortality is. The future belongs to the younger generation like you,” Qin Shenwu responded with a smile.

Everyone understood these truths. However, compared to Jiang Chengxuan and Shen Ruyan, Qin Shenwu had spent many more years on his path of cultivation.

The talent gap was evident as Jiang’s cultivation time was perhaps only a tenth of Qin’s, highlighting the remarkable capabilities of the younger cultivators.

Fortunately, as Jiang Chengxuan’s Shifu and the ancestor of the Haoran Sect, if Jiang could ascend to the realm of Golden Immortal, it would also be considered Qin Shenwu’s accomplishment.

Aware of his disciple’s potential, Qin Shenwu had no doubt about Jiang Chengxuan’s capabilities. He had a premonition that Jiang was destined for extraordinary things.

“Master, I believe that even the realm of immortals will not confine you,” Jiang Chengxuan said with a smile.

Qin Shenwu simply chuckled in response, choosing not to further the conversation.

After calming their restless spirits, Jiang Chengxuan, Shen Ruyan, and Qin Shenwu continued to explore the content of the jade slip.

After detailing the disparities and characteristics of the immortal realm, it finally began to recount the exploits of Immortal Eastern River.

Originally from a realm higher than the Floodgate Realm called the Divine River Realm, Immortal Eastern River was born into one of the most prominent families there.

In Divine River Realm, the highest achievers could ascend to immortality within the realm, but due to a lack of key immortal rules, they could only reach the realms of transcending or ascending immortal, never achieving true immortal.

Immortal Eastern River, having cultivated smoothly for tens of thousands of years, achieved true immortal status and ascended to the thirty-six immortal domains. The carvings of landscapes Jiang Chengxuan and others had encountered along the way depicted Immortal Eastern River’s homeland.

After his ascension, Immortal Eastern River was noticed by the Golden Cloud Immortal Sect and taken in as an inner disciple.

His epic journey to Earth Immortal then unfolded. Within the Golden Cloud Immortal Sect, he overcame countless rivals, seized opportunities, and won the favor of an immortal companion.

Through numerous battles and near-death experiences, he eventually achieved the realm of Earth Immortal, establishing his own blessed land and becoming an elder of the Golden Cloud Immortal Sect.

The jade slip recorded every life-and-death moment and significant event of Immortal Eastern River’s life, deeply resonating with Jiang Chengxuan and his companions, filling them with immense respect.

From ascension to achieving Earth Immortal status, Immortal Eastern River’s journey spanned tens of thousands of years. The strange and fateful encounters described in the slip opened the eyes of Jiang Chengxuan and others, leaving them in awe.

As they absorbed the tale, they felt as if they were witnessing these grand events unfold before them, embodying Immortal Eastern River’s spirit and feeling his indomitable will surge through them.

However, as Immortal Eastern River approached the pinnacle of Earth Immortal and neared the threshold to Heavenly Immortal, the records in the slip became mundane, focusing mostly on the causal affairs of the sect. Clearly, without further opportunities, Immortal Eastern River could not break through to the next level.

The turning point came later when a tragic event led to Immortal Eastern River’s quiet fall in this very cave. In pursuit of breaking through to Heavenly Immortal, he embarked on a lengthy journey across the thirty-six immortal domains. Yet such opportunities were rare, and despite searching for thousands of years, he could not find what he sought.

Then, one day, Immortal Eastern River received news of a chance that could help him establish his own celestial domain.

He immediately set out for this promising location, once again vanquishing numerous opponents to seize the opportunity. However, it was at this critical moment that disaster struck.

Just as he was about to secure his chance, Immortal Eastern River fell into a trap set by past adversaries. He was ambushed, the supposed opportunity turning out to be a lure.

Caught in a brutal battle amidst heavy conspiracies, both the skies and the earth darkened as the very essence of the Dao seemed to erode around them.

Despite fighting valiantly, Immortal Eastern River was overwhelmed. Not only did he sustain severe injuries, but the nascent domain within him—akin to a cultivator’s golden core—was shattered. For an Earth Immortal like Immortal Eastern River, this internal domain was as crucial as a Golden Core is to a cultivator, invaluable and vital.

Moreover, in the relentless assault by his foes, who were determined to leave no stone unturned, both Immortal Eastern River’s physical body and his spirit suffered catastrophic damage, bringing him perilously close to death.

Fortuitously, in his dying moments, Immortal Eastern River managed to intimidate his enemies with his final acts of defiance, enabling him to use his last resort—a secret technique that breached the barriers of the immortal realm, allowing him to escape into the outer realms.

Using this emergency measure, he found refuge in the outer realm, eluding his pursuers. However, his adversaries were not fools; understanding that he was gravely injured and unable to heal, they sealed all possible sanctuaries to which he might flee to recover.

Under these dire circumstances, Immortal Eastern River’s injuries worsened day by day, eventually reaching a point of no return. Resigned to his fate, he used the last of his strength to forcibly carve out a space in this outer realm, creating what would become his final resting place—the cave they now explored.

Within this Immortal cave abode, he spent his final moments, and placed all his remaining treasures here. As death approached, filled with bitterness and regret yet also a desire to leave behind his legacy, he crafted the cave to serve as a repository for his life’s work, hoping that someday it would be discovered by someone destined to inherit his mantle.