Chapter 1246: The Immortal Gate Forbidden Land

An immortal boat slowly emerged from the horizon, breaking through the clouds. The vast vessel was crowded with cultivators of the Xie Clan. Looking out at the barren land below, many of them could not help showing a trace of emotion in their eyes, but nothing more.

Most of them had not been born on the Xie Clan's ancestral star. They only returned occasionally for ancestral rites, and their knowledge of the place came from stories passed down by elders in the family.

Some Xie Clan cultivators furtively glanced toward the bow of the immortal boat, where several figures stood; these were the current high-ranking leaders of the clan. At the center stood none other than Xie Zian, the oldest and most senior member of the Xie Clan.

It was said that he had been born there, on the Xie Clan's ancestral star, during a time when the spiritual energy was already in rapid decline.

Cultivation resources were as rare as phoenix feathers, and the clan was surrounded by endless enemies, all fighting over what little remained in this meager land.

Yet from within such hardship, the extraordinarily gifted Xie Zian carved a bloody path forward, breaking through again and again. He not only became the foremost figure of this land but also entered the tutelage of the Myriad Immortals Palace's master, Immortal Xingyu, as a personal disciple.

From then on, the Xie Clan was able to step beyond this place, see a far broader world, take root in many places, and reach a golden age. Now, the cultivators of that generation had long since perished; only Xie Zian still lived.

The younger generations knew that the comfortable cultivation conditions they enjoyed today were owed entirely to their ancestor's achievements.

Some juniors secretly sent each other voice transmissions.

"If not for the old ancestor's struggles back then, the Xie Clan would still be scavenging for food in this barren land, mingling with the natives. How could we have what we have today?"

At the bow of the immortal boat, an elder of the Xie Clan clasped his hands behind his back. Gazing at the land, he sighed. "Old Ancestor, if our Xie Clan had never left this place, what sort of state would we be in today?"

Xie Zian's handsome face showed a faint smile. "I cannot say for certain, but we did leave in the end. Back then, so many clans and sects slaughtered each other over mere scrapes, until they were left with dwindling numbers or complete annihilation. If the Xie Clan had stayed, we might have shared the same fate."

The core members of the main bloodline nodded; if they had not left, their ending would likely have been the same.

"This time during the ancestral rites, I will have a good talk with the second and third branches. They have been... less than well-behaved in recent years," Xie Zian said evenly.

The eyes of the main branch elders sharpened, and they exchanged solemn glances.

In the past, not only had the main bloodline left this place, but so had the branch families. Those branches had also prospered after leaving.

Today, each of the second and third branches housed a third-transformation Immortal. The main bloodline, however, had only Xie Zian, a fourth-transformation Immortal, with no one at the third transformation.

Xie Zian's faint smile carried a pointed weight. "You must work harder. Without a third transformation Immortal, even if I obtain a fourth-transformation immortal medicine, there will be no one for me to give it to. Would you have me hand it over to the second or third branch?"

The elders looked ashamed. The highest cultivation among them was only at the second transformation, with no sign of advancing further.

As they spoke, the immortal boat arrived at the Xie Clan's ancestral land. This area was enclosed by a massive formation. Ordinary people who touched it would be destroyed, yet the immortal boat passed through effortlessly.

Near the ancestral land stood countless native cultivators. Most were in the Four Lower Realms, with Nascent Soul Realm cultivators as rare as treasures, and not a single one in the Three Middle or Upper Realms.

"The immortals have returned for ancestral rites. I wonder if the Immortal Gate will open this time. If it does, we may find immortal fortune," an old man said, withdrawing his heated gaze from the immortal boat and glancing at a few nearby Nascent Soul Realm cultivators.

These Nascent Soul cultivators stood at the pinnacle of this land, revered as ancestors. They alone knew its greatest secret.

This place was the legendary Immortal Gate. Every three hundred years, immortals would return here for ancestral rites. If the Immortal Gate opened, one could meet an immortal—and perhaps receive a reward.

Three hundred years ago, one of these Nascent Soul Realm cultivators had been only at the Golden Core realm. But after receiving the immortal's gift, he stepped into the Nascent Soul Realm, becoming an ancestor.

"My lord, this place has an Immortal Viewing Platform. The cultivators stationed have only one duty, to notify all sides when the immortals return for the rites," a Day Walker said respectfully, restraining his excitement.

He did not know who these two Underworld figures were, but he knew they must be important.

Fang Chen smiled. "You come from this place?"

The Day Walker Lieutenant nodded quickly. "This humble one is indeed a native."

Du Yunxu chuckled. "Your Highness, it's rather amusing. The cultivators here think the Xie Clan are immortals. Once they learned of their three-hundred-year cycle for returning to perform ancestral rites, they built Immortal Viewing Platforms and stationed cultivators there until the end of their lifespan, replacing them only upon death.

"Only Nascent Soul Realm cultivators qualify to guard these platforms, and because of disputes over how many platforms there should be, they often fight, each side wanting sole control.

"Every year, some reckless cultivators try to break through the Xie Clan's restriction to search for immortal fortune. They don't realize this barrier can stop even a first-transformation Loose Immortal, let alone someone at their cultivation level. The number who die each year is beyond what we can count."

The Day Walker Lieutenant silently agreed. If he had not died and by chance entered the Underworld, becoming an official, he would never have known the truth. This so-called Immortal Gate Forbidden Land was nothing more than the ancestral ground of a great cultivation family.

"Let's go have a look inside," said Fang Chen, making way toward the Xie Clan's ancestral land with Du Yunxu.

The Day Walker Lieutenant froze for a moment, then felt a surge of joy.

This barrier blocked not only the living but also Underworld officials like him. Yet following these two great figures from the underworld, he could finally see the legendary Immortal Gate Forbidden Land for himself.