Chapter 437 – Past, Present, Future

Immortal Alliance, Wildlands Province, Ten Thousand Mountains.

It is said by all that within the Ten Thousand Mountains lies great peril, where ten who enter seldom leave with one returning.

But for some, the Ten Thousand Mountains are not as terrifying as the rumors suggest.

This is because the so-called Forbidden Land is only dangerous for ordinary cultivators.

As long as one’s cultivation reaches the Nascent Soul Stage or above, the Ten Thousand Mountains are not entirely inaccessible to cultivators.

However, on this very day, a great upheaval quietly unfolded within the Ten Thousand Mountains.

The source of this turmoil was a peculiar location in the Ten Thousand Mountains… Biyou Mountain.

On Biyou Mountain, one moment the sky was clear for thousands of miles, and the next, dark clouds gathered, winds howled, and lightning flashed with thunder rumbling.

Listening closely, one could even hear the roar of dragons and the growl of tigers.

Moreover, it seemed as though one could vaguely glimpse the Celestial Palace of Immortals amidst the gathering clouds and winds.

Such celestial phenomena were clearly not the result of ordinary circumstances.

It must have been the birth of some extraordinary treasure of heaven and earth, or perhaps someone undergoing a breakthrough.

The situation on Biyou Mountain also drew the attention of many beings in its vicinity.

The first to be affected were the demons living around Biyou Mountain.

These demons practiced orthodox spiritual methods, with pure bone structure and little impure Qi.

Thus, their perception of celestial phenomena was far more acute than that of ordinary demons.

Other demons could only sense that Biyou Mountain seemed to harbor some great danger and dared not approach recklessly.

Instead, they kept as far away from the area as possible.

But those demons with exceptional bone structure keenly perceived some great Opportunity within these celestial phenomena.

This feeling was profound and difficult to describe in words.

Yet for demons born with outstanding intuition, feeling was the sole reason for their actions.

Therefore, not long after these celestial phenomena appeared, many demons began to approach Biyou Mountain.

This formed a stark contrast with those demons who were doing their utmost to leave Biyou Mountain.

At the same time, several figures stood atop Biyou Mountain, gazing into the distance at a man seated beneath a withered tree.

The man wore green robes embroidered with Azure Clouds patterns, elegant and refined in appearance.

This man was none other than Lu Chen, who had been in seclusion for a year.

Throughout this year, Lu Chen had not engaged in any unnecessary activities.

Instead, he devoted all his efforts to comprehending the Dao of Time.

Lu Chen’s understanding of the Dao of Time had already reached a remarkable level.

Coupled with the enhancement from a special Elixir that had been preserved for over ten thousand years, Lu Chen managed to advance the Dao of Time to the Enlightenment Realm within just one year.

Enlightenment Realm in the Dao of Time, two Deity Transformation Clones.

Lu Chen now possessed the conditions for his main body to achieve a breakthrough to the Deity Transformation Stage.

However, before he could proceed with the breakthrough, he still needed to fulfill a few other conditions.

Thus, he was not in a hurry to break through but was waiting for something.

Although he was merely waiting, the Dao intent emanating from Lu Chen’s body stirred the surrounding heavens and earth.

This was what gave rise to such celestial phenomena on Biyou Mountain.

White Jade Pine Deer and Hua Ling, along with two Taoist Novices and Taoist Maidens, served as Protectors for Lu Chen at this moment.

Not to mention White Jade Pine Deer, who was a genuine Immortal.

With just Hua Ling, a half-step Mortal Realm Immortal, she could essentially roam unhindered in the current outer regions of the Ten Thousand Mountains.

With both of them acting as Protectors for Lu Chen today, even if an Immortal were to arrive, it would be difficult to pose any significant threat to Lu Chen.

Watching the extraordinary phenomena stirred by Lu Chen, Hua Ling, in her astonishment, couldn’t help but voice her concern: “Master, the commotion caused by Grandmaster Lu, though it appears as dragons soaring and phoenixes dancing, with celestial music and crane calls, is actually fraught with hidden dangers and immense peril.”

“This is the first time I’ve seen someone’s Spirit Transformation Tribulation where celestial music arrives before the lightning strikes.”

“Could it be that Ancestral Master has awakened his innate wisdom, thus eliciting a response from heaven and earth, with the tribulation summoning celestial harmonies?”

As a half-step Mortal Realm Immortal, Hua Ling’s insight was naturally far beyond that of an ordinary cultivator.

An ordinary person might be immersed in the celestial phenomena Lu Chen had stirred, even believing it to be an auspicious sign.

But Hua Ling understood clearly: the greater the fortune, the greater the tribulation.

Especially for Lu Chen, who was on the verge of a breakthrough to the Transformation Soul Stage.

The more miraculous the auspicious signs he invoked now, the more difficult the tribulation he would face next.

Because the essence of celestial auspiciousness is the will of the heavenly Dao.

And this will of the Dao is the core of the tribulation clouds.

The more concentrated the will of the Dao, the more powerful the tribulation clouds it gives birth to.

This aligns with the principle that fortune and calamity are intertwined.

It was precisely because she knew this that Hua Ling felt concerned about the lightning tribulation Lu Chen was about to face.

After all, even her own half-immortal tribulation back then did not produce such astonishing auspicious signs.

This also indicated that the power of Lu Chen’s lightning tribulation might even rival her own half-immortal tribulation from before.

It might even surpass her own half-immortal tribulation.

If it were anyone else, Hua Ling wouldn’t have entertained such thoughts.

A Spirit Transformation Tribulation comparable to a half-immortal tribulation—no one would believe it if spoken aloud.

But ever since White Jade Pine Deer revealed her relationship with Lu Chen not long ago, Hua Ling’s attitude toward Lu Chen had undergone a tremendous change.

If before, Hua Ling merely regarded Lu Chen as a Fellow Daoist with whom she could discuss the Dao, possessing exceptional talent and considerable strength, now Hua Ling viewed Lu Chen as a junior would view a Senior.

In her heart, she had already placed Lu Chen above herself.

Even though Lu Chen was currently only at the peak of the Nascent Soul Stage.

Since he was her Master’s Master, Lu Chen’s origins were certainly not simple.

A reincarnated Immortal?

An Immortal in the flesh!

Yes, Hua Ling now regarded Lu Chen as an Immortal in the flesh.

Even if this Immortal in the flesh did not possess the cultivation of an Immortal.

However, in response to Hua Ling’s concerns, White Jade Pine Deer remained remarkably composed.

“Wind howls like tigers, clouds gather as dragons roam; transcending it brings great fortune, failing to transcend brings great calamity.”

“And my Master, he cannot fail to transcend it.”

“Little Hua Ling, watch closely, for what comes next may very well be the greatest Opportunity of your life.”

Hearing this, Hua Ling was momentarily stunned, then focused intently on the lightning tribulation Lu Chen was about to undergo.

Their entire conversation fell word for word into the ears of the nearby Black Night and White Day.

Although the two of them were unaware of Lu Chen’s relationship with White Jade Pine Deer, and even less did they know that Lu Chen was the one who founded Biyou Mountain, just from the fragments of conversation between White Jade Pine Deer and Hua Ling, they understood Lu Chen’s extraordinary nature.

If witnessing this Tribulation Transcendence was a great Opportunity for Hua Ling, the same naturally applied to the two of them as well.

Thus, at this moment, the two Taoist Novices were also intently watching Lu Chen, who sat cross-legged beneath a withered tree not far away.

Fearing they might miss even the slightest detail.

As for everything happening in the outside world, Lu Chen remained completely unaware.

Because at this moment, he had immersed himself entirely in comprehending the Years and Time Way.

Game World, Azure Cloud Sect.

Lu Chen’s Clone, which had fused with the Fiend-Slaying Sword Formation, was currently sitting cross-legged within a Cave Residence on Danyang Peak.

Although this Clone had already become a Transformation Soul Stage Cultivator, for some unknown reason, it had now stirred up heavenly tribulation clouds, causing them to gather above Danyang Peak.

A similar situation had also occurred with Lu Chen’s other Transformation Soul Stage Clone, which had fused with the Three Lives Dao.

With his main body and two Clones, Lu Chen was now simultaneously undergoing the Lightning Tribulation through both his Clones and his main body.

Such a situation was undoubtedly extremely bizarre.

Leaving aside the fact that these two Clones already possessed Transformation Soul Stage cultivation, just the gap of over ten thousand years between Lu Chen’s main body and these two Clones should, in principle, make such a scenario impossible.

For such an anomaly to occur, there was only one possible explanation: that a Breakthrough in the Years and Time Way was fundamentally different from other Great Daos.

And for Lu Chen, who was accustomed to planning ten steps ahead for every one he took, and a hundred steps beyond that, this situation was something he had not anticipated.

Real World, Biyou Mountain.

As time continued to pass, Lu Chen’s Qi grew increasingly profound and powerful.

In the process, he was drawn into a certain inner vision.

However, this inner vision was unlike anything Lu Chen had ever seen before.

Within this inner vision, Lu Chen found himself transformed into a Mortal.

Forget spells—he didn’t even possess the slightest trace of Spiritual Power.

And this condition wasn’t limited to him alone; the entire world was the same.

This was the so-called Age of Dharma Decline…

Yet, Dharma Decline did not mean impossibility.

Like an observer, Lu Chen watched as the version of himself in the vision accomplished many things during the Age of Dharma Decline.

Among them, the most frequently appearing object was a holographic helmet he had once seen during the college entrance examination in Luocheng.

The holographic helmet was a tool used during mock exams to help students simulate reality for testing purposes.

The space created by this holographic helmet at the time had actually allowed Lu Chen to experience an effect similar to gaining experience by killing monsters in the real game.

Previously, Lu Chen had sensed that there must be some connection between this holographic helmet and the True Immortal Cultivation mini-game on his phone.

But at the time, he had been unable to determine what that connection was.

However, after witnessing the scenes unfolding in this inner vision, Lu Chen began to vaguely understand the relationship between the holographic helmet and the True Immortal Cultivation mini-game.

Because in the scenes of this inner vision, Lu Chen watched as the holographic helmet, through the efforts of himself and countless others in the Immortal Alliance, became increasingly refined.

Ultimately, it reached a level where it could perfectly mimic reality.

And it was within this inner vision that Lu Chen saw the true nature of the holographic helmet.

The so-called holographic helmet was merely a medium.

What truly enabled the holographic helmet to function was a large cauldron placed at the center of the Immortal Alliance.

Although this was the first time Lu Chen had seen this cauldron, he felt an inexplicable familiarity with it.

And his inner vision gradually grew blurry after he laid eyes on this mysterious cauldron.

What followed was an entirely new scene.

This time, the scene that appeared was from before Lu Chen’s transmigration.

The familiar room, the familiar layout.

The only unusual thing was a bronze fragment placed in Lu Chen’s room.

Seeing that bronze fragment, Lu Chen froze.

Because before this, he had absolutely no memory of this bronze fragment appearing in his room.

If not for this scene appearing in his inner landscape this time, he wouldn’t even have known there was such an object in his room before transmigrating.

As the scene changed, Lu Chen’s expression grew increasingly grave.

Because he discovered that when the version of himself in the scene touched the bronze fragment placed in the bookshelf, he transmigrated.

And the scene in his inner landscape ended completely at that moment, bringing Lu Chen back to reality.

Lu Chen reflected on everything he had just seen in his inner landscape.

A terrifying thought gradually emerged in his mind.

Perhaps from the very beginning, he hadn’t transmigrated to another world.

Instead, he had transmigrated to the same world, but in a different era.

For him before transmigration, the era he was in at that time was the future of the Immortal Alliance Era.

And the era of the Immortal Alliance was the future after the Central Province Era.

Therefore, in a sense, Lu Chen, whose main body is now in the Immortal Alliance Era, spans three eras simultaneously.

His soul is from the Age of Dharma Decline, his body is from the Immortal Alliance Era, and the world represented by the True Immortal Cultivation mini-game is the Central Province Era of ancient times.

The moment this thought appeared in his mind, Lu Chen suddenly had an epiphany.

The key to the Years and Time Way is time.

Without seeing the past, present, and future clearly, it is impossible to fully master the Years and Time Way.

Undoubtedly, the so-called True Immortal Cultivation mini-game must be a ‘Dao marker’ left by himself, who had already fully mastered the Years and Time Way and reached the Immortal realm, or even higher.

Its purpose is to allow him to traverse the river of time, arrive in the ancient era, and change things that originally could not be changed.

As for those game instances, they might have been realities that should have occurred.

But due to his own intervention, they ultimately underwent some change and were discarded by the river of time, becoming fragments of time and space independent of the river of time.

As for the so-called ‘experience points’ and the ‘infinite resurrection’ feature in the game, Lu Chen also saw traces of the Creation Pill Art and the Three Lives Dao in them.

The former can refine all things and return them to their most primitive state.

The latter can create countless clones indistinguishable from the main body.

The more he thought about it, the more Lu Chen felt that this might be the truth behind the True Immortal Cultivation mini-game.

‘So, what’s special was never the mini-game, but myself…’

After understanding all this, Lu Chen abruptly opened his eyes.

With this opening, the heavens and earth changed color, and winds and clouds shifted dramatically.

The auspicious phenomena that originally surrounded Lu Chen now completely vanished.

In their place was a terrifying, seemingly world-destroying Lightning Tribulation.

As if for the Heavenly Dao, an existence like Lu Chen was absolutely not permitted to exist.

Or rather, the Years and Time Way must never be mastered by a cultivator.

This is a great taboo of heaven and earth.

Therefore, heaven and earth would spare no effort to suppress Lu Chen, at least preventing him from properly fusing with the Years and Time Way.

Having already witnessed his past, present, and future, Lu Chen had vaguely grasped something crucial.

Meanwhile, far away in the ancient era at Biyou Mountain.

Lu Chen’s Clone, who had mastered the Three Lives Dao, suddenly stood up and walked toward the entrance of his Cave Residence.

“Master, what are you planning to do?”

“Nothing much. Just delivering something to someone.”

With that, Lu Chen raised his hand and swung his Sword toward a certain spot on Biyou Mountain.

Then, he looked up at the tribulation clouds overhead, as if he could see a special vision through them—a single glance spanning ten thousand years.

(End of Chapter)