Led by the divine medicine, the group arrived at an ancient land where immortal Qi permeated the area. After passing through a hazy mist, they seemed to arrive at the homeland of immortals.
"I heard you wanted to see us. What guidance do you have?" Shi Jian's voice emerged.
From within the mist, a voice filled with vicissitude responded, "All things wither, the world is about to perish. After eternal darkness, a new epoch of reincarnation will arrive."
A grand, empty statement.
"Speak quickly if you have something to say, or fart if you have to! What are you pretending for?" Before Shi Jian and Shi Hao could react, the Small Pagoda couldn't hold back. This thing in the mist, merely a Longevity Medicine, dared to pretend?
"The entire world will cease to exist. This cycle is reaching its end," the voice said. "I am looking for you also to survive."
Seeing they weren't falling for its act, the Longevity Medicine revealed its purpose. A gentle breeze dispersed the chaos mist. An area of about one zhang was filled with incredibly precious Myriad Earth. A plant, pure white throughout, accompanied by immortal mist, appeared before them.
A white tortoise carrying an immortal. It was the Longevity Medicine.
"Since you are seeking our help, then be more polite. Offer up divine and precious medicines, and we will naturally help you," Shi Hao said, his mouth practically watering.
The Longevity Medicine felt unnerved but still spoke, "I have been confined here for over an epoch. I'd like to ask for your help, and I can offer you peerless treasures."
Shi Jian didn't hesitate. "Cut off a portion of your body and give it to me. I will guarantee your survival through the great tribulation of world annihilation."
The Longevity Medicine was startled. "How can that be? My strength will be greatly diminished."
"What does it matter? I'm guaranteeing you'll survive," Shi Jian reasoned.
The Longevity Medicine continued to shake its head. "Dao Brother, please do not jest. This great tribulation is difficult even for an immortal to overcome. How could you, a mere True God, help me?"
"Old tortoise, if you're so divine, then how did you get trapped here?" Shi Hao mocked, displeased by the questioning of his brother.
The old tortoise craned its neck, appearing somewhat wily. "It's not that I look down on you, but if I cut off my body, I fear I won't have the power to protect myself."
Shi Jian smiled and took out a willow leaf. "You don't believe in our strength, but you must believe in the person behind us, right? How about exchanging a portion of your body for the protection of an Immortal King?"
"This is the aura of that Sacrificial Spirit adult? She's still alive?" The old tortoise's face showed shock. It knew of Liu Shen's existence from the tribal groups in Immortal Ancient.
Its smile instantly blossomed. "So, the two adults are her disciples. This is a case of a flood washing away the Dragon King Temple! I also greatly admire that adult!"
It was hard to imagine a fawning expression on a Longevity Medicine.
"If that adult can protect me, then offering a portion is acceptable," it said, wiggling its backside and laying one pigeon-sized egg after another. "These are tortoise pills, worth a few drops of longevity liquid."
"Besides that, I also have some Immortal Gold and half a Sky Defect Stone, all for the two adults. Please help me escape."
"Six six six," Shi Hao watched, dumbfounded.
Shi Jian narrowed his eyes. "For an Immortal King's protection, this is not enough."
The old tortoise's face fell. It shook its head, then aimed at a jar and spat out a stream of white liquid. "This is my longevity medicinal liquid. I truly don't have a single drop left. If I spit anymore, it will damage my origin!"
Seeing it was squeezed dry, Shi Jian spoke. "Given your sincerity, I'll reluctantly help. Take out the divine chain on your body."
The old tortoise was startled. It hadn't even said how to escape, yet Shi Jian already knew. It revealed a small pool behind it.
"Immortal Spring?" Shi Hao's eyes lit up.
"This spring cannot be given to you," the tortoise said quickly, pointing to a chain at the bottom. "This is an Immortal Gold chain, and also the shackles that trap me. The sword embryo on the adult's body is extraordinary and can sever it. This Immortal Gold might also be useful for that sword."
Shi Jian's heart stirred, and he took out the Daluo Sword Embryo. The dull sword, upon approaching the chain, glowed on its own, and a humanoid being materialized. The chain emitted streams of white light that entered the sword, making it even more real and powerful. In an instant, the chain vanished.
"Ah, I'm free!" the old tortoise cried out excitedly.
Shi Hao looked at the sword, his eyes shining. A sword that devours Immortal Gold—truly extraordinary.
Shi Jian noticed his expression. "You seem to be missing a weapon. How about I give you this sword? But it needs to devour Immortal Gold to become stronger."
Shi Hao, who was quite fond of the sword, quickly waved his hand after hearing this. "No, no, I can't afford it." He glanced at the Small Pagoda and the God-Striking Stone. Just these two big spenders had already made him poor. If he added another that only ate Immortal Gold, it would be the death of him.
"Then I'll give it to you after I've cultivated it," Shi Jian replied.
The old tortoise had also recovered. "The two adults helped me escape, so I will give this young adult a great opportunity." He spoke to Shi Hao.
"I once saw you use the Myriad Dao Remnant Flame. You want to use the myriad Dao to burn your body and cultivate a second stream of Immortal Qi. This path is very difficult. In the Immortal Ancient era, a small Immortal King tried it and was ultimately burned to death."
He then offered a remedy. "I can send you into the Human Immortal Hall. If you gain some enlightenment there, perhaps you can solve the problem."
Human Immortal Hall? Shi Hao felt its suggestion was worth trying.
"That is a hall built within the medicine garden. It is very extraordinary," the old tortoise said. It contained opportunities left behind by immortals.
"Then send me there," Shi Hao agreed after seeing his brother nod.
"I can take you there, but whether you can enter depends on your own fortune."
Subsequently, it led them to a stone forest. A medicine hall constructed from stacked stones appeared, looking quite simple and crude. After receiving assurances that this was an ancient immortal hall, Shi Hao walked directly inside.
In a daze, he seemed to see ancient paintings carved on stones being projected: a Kunpeng soaring, True Dragons crushing a star domain.
He walked deeper. The hall was incredibly vast inside. Many skeletons were piled up on the path, beings from the previous epoch. Ripples emanated from them—this was the trial here.
Possessing the power of a stream of Immortal Qi, Shi Hao resisted the ripples. A moment later, the skeletons stood up and attacked him. After hundreds of rounds, he finally shattered them.
"This person's cultivation method is completely different from back then," he contemplated, understanding that this place was indeed useful. The beings here cultivated with the methods of the Immortal Ancient era, another system entirely, which gave him many insights.
He continued forward, fighting one skeleton after another, his strength gradually increasing. The trials were challenging, and he even bled, but in the end, he passed all ten.
He arrived at the Human Immortal's secluded cultivation place and obtained the opportunity.
"Ten chances. Risking your life, even if you suffer Qi deviation, you can recover." This was a place prepared for madmen. One could go all out to comprehend the Dao without worrying about perishing.
"So that's what the old tortoise meant by remedy," Shi Hao understood. His path was very difficult, but here, he had ten chances to revive. He could try to his heart's content.
"I will catch up to you, big brother." He resolutely began his secluded cultivation.
[Inorin Note:
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