Chapter 440: Immortal King Perfection
After devouring the Ruiyang Realm, the Cave Heaven World underwent massive changes.
The newborn power, like boiling blood, fiercely surged within the Cave Heaven, with violent spiritual energy turbulence filling the space between heaven and earth.
A year has passed since the Heaven and Earth Origin of Ruiyang Realm entered the Cave Heaven, yet the endless mountain ranges at the world's edges are still experiencing intense transformations. The towering mountains are being squeezed and torn apart by newly formed spirit veins amidst deafening roars, undergoing collapse and reformation.
Nature's spiritual energy is so abundant that it has condensed into a liquid spirit river, spreading across the sky and shimmering with a dreamy seven-colored glow, like an immortal waterfall descending from the nine heavens.
With each breath, Chu Zheng felt as if he was swallowing a mouthful of hot jade dew, the vigorous new spiritual energy washing through every corner of his body, causing him to relax involuntarily.
Chu Zheng walked slowly to the center of the Cave Heaven World, arriving before the Longevity Immortal Fruit.
The entire Cave Heaven World is changing, but only the central region remains unaffected, as any disturbance is suppressed by the Longevity Immortal Fruit.
This peerless treasure, enough to make all Great Immortal Venerables covet, has undergone an essential transformation after the Cave Heaven World devoured the Ruiyang Realm and absorbed the Creation Origin.
The severed branch from the Longevity Peach Tree, from which immortal qi had long dissipated and lost its luster, now holds an immortal peach that resembles a blazing sun, overflowing with dazzling radiance.
Through the dazzling glow, almost blinding to the eye, a faint imprint can be vaguely seen, manifesting within the core of the immortal fruit. This imprint is not artificially crafted, but naturally nurtured by the laws of creation.
A naturally formed Immortal Mark!
This is the key to elevate the cultivation of a Ninth Order Creature.
Chu Zheng took a deep breath, raised his hand, and held the immortal fruit in his palm.
By swallowing this immortal fruit, he could leap across a major realm, from Great Immortal Venerable to Immortal King Perfection!
Chu Zheng put the immortal fruit away and stepped tens of miles to arrive in front of a wooden house.
This wooden house is Bai Nian's residence, the only peaceful area around the Longevity Immortal Fruit in the entire Cave Heaven World.
The wooden house was built from uncarved logs, with moss faintly visible in the gaps, and the roof covered with thick hay. In front, patches of spirit grass swayed gently in the breeze.
A man in white, appearing to be nearing thirty, lay idly on a rocking chair, browsing ancient books, his expression calm.
Within the Cave Heaven World, there is no interaction with living creatures, undoubtedly dull, but Bai Nian seems indifferent, even somewhat enjoying it.
"Master."
Upon seeing Chu Zheng, Bai Nian rose unhurriedly and bowed with cupped hands:
"Congratulations, Master, on your great advancement in cultivation."
In the Cave Heaven World, he is almost the most capable of sensing the changes in Chu Zheng's cultivation.
The previously small Cave Heaven now rivals the Great Thousand Circuit of Qi, proving Chu Zheng's rapid progress in cultivation.
"It won't be long before this realm births some powerful creatures, and your cultivation is insufficient for self-preservation."
As he spoke, Chu Zheng raised his hand to lay down an array, isolating a hundred miles area, while leaving a sliver of divine sense as a warning.
The Heaven and Earth Origin of Ruiyang Realm is too vast; soon, this event will lead to the birth of some powerful innate spirits in the Cave Heaven World.
Bai Nian's cultivation is too weak. Although he has nurtured a body full of Vast Righteous Qi, his cultivation is akin to a Fourth Order Creature, requiring means of protection.
He will need a considerable amount of time to refine the Longevity Immortal Fruit. During this period, he cannot be disturbed and must retreat peacefully, so some arrangements must be made in advance.
Hearing this, Bai Nian slightly bowed and cupped his hands: "Thank you, Master, for your concern."
"Bai Nian, within a few centuries at most, the Dao war will begin. The situation at that time is hard to predict. After I refine the immortal fruit, you might want to find a safe place and stay away for a while?"
Chu Zheng earnestly wished Bai Nian would leave. Once the Dao war truly begins, his fate amidst it would be unpredictable. Many are watching him closely, including several from the Ancestral Realm, with a high likelihood of perishing.
If Bai Nian follows him, it would mean sharing his demise.
This refining of the Longevity Immortal Fruit and merging the Immortal Mark within is no easy task, likely requiring substantial time. Afterward, he plans to continue understanding the space-time laws, aiming to ascend to the Immortal Monarch Realm, which will consume even more time.
Perhaps, before he breaks through, the Dao war may even commence.
"Master need not worry for me."
Bai Nian lightly shook his head, his expression unmoved, his voice as calm as still water: "If the Dao war truly begins, there won't be a peaceful place in the Great Universe. All Heavens and Myriad Realms will face catastrophe. Leaving the Master, I might be reduced to ashes along with some realm."
Bai Nian knows his own strength well; apart from Chu Zheng, he would undoubtedly meet a sudden death. Only by staying by Chu Zheng's side does he have a chance of surviving to the end and witnessing the end of this era personally.
The last time such an event occurred, it was in the Late Primordial Era, eons ago. To have the opportunity to witness it firsthand now is a rare fortune.
As a historian cultivator, just thinking about it excites him uncontrollably.
"Since you've made your decision, I won't say more."
Seeing Bai Nian had made up his mind, Chu Zheng spoke no further. After ensuring the array was secure, he turned to leave.
Each person has their destiny; everyone chooses their own path.
He himself has yet to see his own path clearly, and need not guide others about right or wrong.