Chapter 8: The Eternal Divide Between Immortal And Mortal

High in the heavens, another anomaly manifested!

A massive sword, forged through countless hammer strikes, had been left forgotten in the shadows for a thousand years.

As time passed, its blade lost its luster, its edge dulled, and rust crept over its entire body.

Yet suddenly, a surge of rage and unwillingness erupted from it!

The corrosion spread, yet the sword’s divine majesty and imposing aura only grew stronger with each passing day!

“Foundation Establishment cultivator Dao Xuanzi practiced the Dao for 201 years, establishing his Dao Foundation with the Curio, Rusted Sword Dao Xuan. In the Immortal Forsaken Lands, he fought fiercely, eventually dying at the hands of Foundation Establishment cultivator Kou Hong.”

“Now, his body perishes and his Dao disperses, returning to heaven!”

A dazzling spectacle lit up the sky like fireworks, illuminating everything in thousands of li.

“Dao Xuanzi...” Kou Hong looked up at the resplendent sight. He seemed stunned and began muttering to himself in a daze.

All the soldiers present also gazed at the sky, lost in thought.

“Greetings, Immortal Master. I am Li Fan.”

An elderly man appeared, his hair and beard snow-white, shuffling unsteadily toward Kou Hong with a cane for support.

Kou Hong ignored him, but Li Fan showed no impatience. He stood to the side and signaled for the soldiers to wait as well.

Only after a long while, when the phenomenon in the sky faded, did Kou Hong finally turn his gaze to Li Fan.

“Are you the leader of the mortals here?” Kou Hong’s tone was stiff, clearly not having the best impression of Li Fan. “That voice echoing everywhere earlier—that was you, wasn’t it?”

“Such petty tricks are unworthy of your notice, Immortal Master.” Li Fan clasped his hands, deftly sidestepping the question, then bowed deeply. “I beg your mercy. There are over a thousand of my people. Please save us.”

“Mercy...” Kou Hong sneered. “Dao Xuanzi and I fought with our own power, leaving our lives to fate. Yet you, a mere mortal, dared interfere in a battle between cultivators.”

His killing intent was unmistakable as he stared at Li Fan. “Though Dao Xuanzi and I fought to the death over the core formation method, he was still my brother for over a hundred years. With how you’ve schemed against him, shouldn’t I kill you to avenge him?”

Unfazed by Kou Hong’s aggression, Li Fan only gave a bitter smile. “I only seek a slim chance of survival! As I said before, my people would have surely perished if you had fallen, Immortal Master.”

Kou Hong’s expression softened slightly. He sighed. “A slim chance of survival... You’re right. In these harsh times, who doesn’t struggle desperately for that same chance?”

Seeing Kou Hong’s tone soften, Li Fan pressed his advantage. “Earlier, Dao Xuanzi...the Immortal Master promised me that if...”

Before he could finish, Kou Hong frowned and cut him off. “If it’s about that, I’m afraid I have to disappoint you. Dao Xuanzi likely never intended to keep his word from the start.”

Li Fan froze. “What do you mean?”

Kou Hong scoffed. “For a hundred years, Dao Xuanzi maintained a righteous, unwavering image. Who’d have thought he’d stoop so low, even tricking mortals without a second thought?”

He paused, studying Li Fan’s expression before continuing. “The Immortal-Slaying Grand Array is dangerous beyond measure. The two of us only managed to get here through sheer luck. It will be difficult enough for us to escape by ourselves; how could we possibly bring mortals along?”

“What? You mean...you don’t know a way out either?” Li Fan’s mind reeled, his face turning ugly. The hope he’d clung to for over a century was crushed by the very cultivator he thought would help him, leaving his spirit on the verge of collapse.

Yet, having endured multiple lifetimes of hardship, Li Fan had built up an unyielding will. Steadying himself, he said to Kou Hong, “This is no place to talk. Please follow me.”

Leading Kou Hong through the ruins of Xuanjing City, they soon arrived at an underground bunker.

During Kou Hong and Dao Xuanzi’s battle, the city’s soldiers had hidden in these bunkers. There were over a hundred of them scattered throughout Xuanjing City, both large and small.

Though buried deep underground, the bunker was brightly lit, illuminated by artificial lights. Ventilation shafts connected to the surface to prevent stuffiness.

Kou Hong examined the ceiling lamps with interest. “No wonder Dao Xuanzi sought to cooperate with you mortals. Harnessing the power of electricity...After thousands of years, you people of the Immortal Forsaken Lands have truly progressed. Even your hidden weapons are quite formidable.”

Then he shook his head. “A pity. These artifacts are only useful in this broken land. Beyond this place, they’d be utterly worthless under the suppression of the Great Dao’s laws.

“Speaking of which,” Kou Hong suddenly asked, “when did Dao Xuanzi contact you to ambush me here? The timing doesn’t add up. Could he have secretly mastered a clone technique?”

Li Fan kept his expression neutral. Just as he was about to respond, Kou Hong waved his hand dismissively. “Never mind. What’s the point now? With his death, it no longer means anything.” He slumped into a chair, visibly drained by Dao Xuanzi’s demise.

Better that he doesn’t press the matter. Too many questions might reveal flaws.

Li Fan thought to himself.

Then, with visible hesitation, he asked Kou Hong, “Earlier, you said mortals cannot leave the Immortal Forsaken Lands. Is that truly the case?”

Kou Hong snorted. “Why would I lie to a mortal? Perhaps a Golden Core cultivator could escort mortals through the Immortal-Slaying Grand Array, but a Foundation Establishment cultivator? Impossible!

“Of course,” he added with a dark chuckle, “if you don’t mind coming out the other side in separate pieces, I’m willing to give it a shot.”

Ignoring Kou Hong’s morbid joke, Li Fan remained stubborn. “Then, is there truly no hope for us mortals to leave this world?”

Kou Hong pondered, then shook his head. “To escape the Immortal Forsaken Lands, one must make it through the Immortal-Slaying Array. A mortal body stands no chance. Any attempt is suicide. Besides, you’re already one step in the grave—why cling to the idea of leaving? Wouldn’t being a local ruler suffice?” His tone dripped with disdain.

“My death matters little, but I must leave something for future generations.” Li Fan refused to relent. “If my descendants could cultivate to the Foundation Establishment realm like you, wouldn’t they have a chance to leave this place?”

Kou Hong burst into laughter. “Not only is this world devoid of spiritual qi, making cultivation impossible, but the divide between immortal and mortal is eternal. The mortals here are tainted by Immortal-Mortal Miasma. How could you ever walk the path of immortality?”

He sneered. “Give up. For mortals like you to cultivate, you’d first need to reshape your bodies in the world outside and cleanse yourselves of the miasma. Otherwise, even if the path to immortality lay before you, you’d only be able to see it, but never touch it.”

After several such definitive answers to his questions, Li Fan seemed to finally lose hope.

“The eternal divide between immortal and mortal...” he murmured, his spirit broken. “So, there’s truly no way?”

“None,” Kou Hong said, inexplicably cheered by Li Fan’s despair. “Absolutely none,” he repeated.

“Just as you said, the divide is eternal.” Li Fan sighed deeply.

“Exactly!” Kou Hong nodded vigorously.

As if crushed by this cruel truth, Li Fan staggered away in a daze.

The moment he stepped out of the bunker, the heavy door slammed shut behind him.

𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

Kou Hong’s expression changed, and a sense of foreboding surged within him.

But it was too late.

Thick white fog, saturated with Immortal-Mortal Miasma, gushed from every corner of the room.

“Ah—!”

Kou Hong’s scream was swallowed by the encroaching mist.

Outside the bunker, Li Fan’s gaze was dark and unfathomable.

“Since immortals and mortals can never coexist, then how could I, a mortal, ever fully trust your words?”