Chapter 229: Sword of Severance—Slaying Immortality!

Lu Yan’s mind trembled violently, as if a clap of thunder had exploded in his sea of consciousness.

To perceive the essence of countless versions, to remain unchanged regardless of all worldly phenomena, to be unrestricted by any single version—wasn’t that precisely the very nature of himself, one who possessed the trait of the “unchanging”?

And now, he suddenly understood why the entity behind the Longevity Version would willingly give up the Mysterious Female Gate, such an unparalleled treasure, just to lure him into the Longevity Version.

The reason for it all—

It was because Lu Yan himself was the very one the beings known as “this world’s only one” had been desperately searching for—

He was the one and only across all worlds— the sole existence among the multiverse!

To the master behind the Longevity Version, Lu Yan’s existence was a rare opportunity beyond imagination.

Back in the Demon Version, that entity had countless chances to kill Lu Yan. Yet it never did, instead opting to drive him step by step toward the Longevity Version, pressing ever forward until Lu Yan chose it of his own volition.

The purpose was clear—it wasn’t Lu Yan’s death the entity desired, but the truth hidden within him.

A dead Lu Yan held no value.

Only Lu Yan, who carried the traits of being the sole existence across all worlds, could allow that entity to reach a realm that existed only in theory.

At that thought, Lu Yan suddenly met the gaze of Jiang Zhiwei—eyes filled with deep meaning.

If “this world’s only one” longed for the “only one across all worlds,” then could Jiang Zhiwei also be in pursuit of that possibility?

He had openly pointed out the traits of the sole existence. Did that mean… he already knew something?

In an instant, Lu Yan’s spirit tensed to its absolute peak, fearing that the kind-looking Immortal before him would suddenly strike.

But to his surprise, Jiang Zhiwei simply glanced at him with a profound look.

It felt as though he knew everything—yet pretended to know nothing.

“The ‘only ones of this world’ are all desperately seeking the path to become the sole existence across all versions. Even the arrogant Immortals have begun to waver.

They were born in high-energy Xianxia versions, with statuses no lesser than the ‘this world’s only ones.’ Yet they’ve hit the ceiling of Immortal cultivation due to version restrictions.

Some refused to remain bound to the Xianxia version. They, too, sought to ascend beyond—to become the sole existence across all versions. They attempted to invade other versions to strengthen themselves.”

“But version invasion would inevitably provoke the Heavenly Dao of the Xianxia realm. Some Immortals, observing the strange state of the ‘this world’s only ones,’ began to suspect that version invasion could trigger catastrophic clashes between Heavenly Daos.

Thus, divisions arose among the Immortals, fracturing what was once a united realm.”

“Those who clung to the Xianxia version established the Orthodox Daoist Sects, while the others founded the Demonic Path in their quest to invade other versions. Neither side could convince the other, and wars erupted, reshaping the cultivation world.”

“But hearts are never unchanging—and neither are the hearts of Immortals.

As time passed, version invasions became more frequent. Remnants of the ancient war reappeared, launching secretive infiltrations into the Xianxia version using rules from other worlds.”

“Some among the ‘this world’s only ones’ believe that the Xianxia version is the most crucial of all. If they could corrupt it and monopolize its Heavenly Dao, there’s a high chance of ascending to become the sole existence.”

“Faced with such pressures, some Immortals began to waver—even abandoning the sects they had founded to join the Demonic Path, in search of methods for version invasion.”

Jiang Zhiwei paused. His gaze pierced through Lu Yan as if he could see the circulation of his techniques and meridians.

A wry smile curled at the corner of his mouth as he continued leisurely:

“This naturally includes the Dao Virtue Immortal who founded the Dao Virtue Sect thousands of years ago.

One of the oldest Immortals of this realm, he compiled the laws of mortal karmic merit and profited greatly from the Heavenly Dao of the Xianxia version.”

“But several millennia ago, he renounced his identity as the Dao Virtue Immortal and joined the Demonic Path. The righteous sects rallied against him, and in the end, he became known as the Karma Immortal.”

“His disciple, the Red Lotus Demon Lord, founded the Red Lotus Demon Sect, establishing it as the Seventh Supreme Sect of the Demonic Path under the Karma Immortal’s backing.”

Lu Yan’s expression changed dramatically.

From his earliest steps into cultivation, he had heard of the ancient legend of the Dao Virtue Sect—and its eventual eradication by the righteous sects following an alleged betrayal.

He had always suspected there was a deeper conspiracy behind it.

But never did he imagine the truth would be so utterly absurd.

“The former Merit Immortal once brought blessings to the world through karmic laws… yet now, as the Karma Immortal, he views all creation as his nourishment.”

“The cultivation method of the Red Lotus Demon Sect is no simple thing, little one. You’d best take care!”

Jiang Zhiwei’s face was full of teasing, as if watching a play unfold.

Lu Yan calmed himself and bowed respectfully. “Thank you for the warning, First True Disciple.”

His gratitude was sincere.

Had Jiang Zhiwei not shared this, Lu Yan might have remained unaware of the hidden crisis within the Dao Virtue Sect’s technique for a very long time.

Jiang Zhiwei clicked his tongue. He had originally intended to scare Lu Yan a little but hadn’t expected such an honest response. It suddenly felt a little dull.

After Lu Yan straightened, seeing that Jiang Zhiwei had fallen silent, he took the initiative to ask:

“First True Disciple… could it be that he also…?”

He pointed to the shattered ancestral plaque that Jiang Zhiwei had kicked over.

“That’s right,” Jiang Zhiwei said bluntly. “Immortal Taiyi also sought a path for version invasion. But his methods were far more radical than the Demonic Path.”

“Seven hundred years ago, Immortal Taiyi lured a ‘this world’s only one’ known as the Profane Law Lord into the present realm, creating a Forbidden Land of Profane Laws.”

“Then, using Immortal methods, Taiyi replaced the Profane Law Lord himself, attempting to corrupt the Heavenly Dao through his own body as a conduit.”

“It’s one thing to fall into the Demonic Path, but to willingly offer oneself as a vessel to erode the Heavenly Dao—that is outright betrayal.”

“I killed the Profane Law Lord in the forbidden zone and traced the source—then struck Immortal Taiyi down with a single sword.”

Though Jiang Zhiwei spoke lightly, the weight of truth and killing intent behind his words made Lu Yan’s heart shudder.

To slay a “this world’s only one” and an ancient Immortal back to back—Jiang Zhiwei’s power must be among the very strongest even within the Xianxia version’s true Immortals.

Now that the entire truth was unveiled, Lu Yan still felt no relief.

After a brief silence, he finally asked the question that had been bothering him most.

“Why did the First True Disciple tell me all this?

I’m just a lowly Foundation Establishment cultivator… surely not worthy of such attention.”

“A lowly Foundation cultivator?”

Jiang Zhiwei burst into laughter, shaking with mirth, entirely lacking the solemn demeanor of an Immortal.

“To build a Supreme Dao Foundation… to nurture a seed of Supreme Divine Ability—such a Foundation Establishment cultivator does not exist anywhere else in the cultivation world!”

If this were before their conversation, Lu Yan might have been shocked to learn that his Supreme Dao Foundation had been seen through. But now, he wasn’t surprised at all.

Even if Jiang Zhiwei had directly revealed Lu Yan’s true nature as the sole existence across all worlds, he would’ve simply thought, As expected.

After laughing, Jiang Zhiwei finally said:

“I know—you’re carrying some karmic debt from an old undying thing. Your search for Immortality is just your way of settling that cause and effect.”

“I can help you deal with it—but I have a condition.”

Lu Yan’s eyes lit up with joy and immediately cupped his fists. “If it can resolve the Longevity disaster, First True Disciple may ask anything of me!”

He had traveled through so many versions just to resolve the hidden danger of the Longevity Version.

Now that a chance had appeared—no matter the cost—it was worth it.

Jiang Zhiwei nodded in satisfaction and stroked his chin.

“Do you know why the major sects all train True Disciples, granting them privileges far beyond other cultivators of the same level?”

Lu Yan raised a brow. Normally, he’d have answered with something about nurturing talent.

But after thinking it over, he voiced his real guess.

“Does it have something to do with other versions?”

“Exactly!”

Jiang Zhiwei’s face brightened with approval.

“The major sects raise True Disciples under a hundred years of age for the sake of one particular version.”

“Traditionally, True Disciple trials are timed to occur inside that version. But this time, I advanced the schedule—for your sake.”

“I want you to enter that special version and help us win. In return, I’ll eliminate the hidden threat on your body.”

By now, Jiang Zhiwei was no longer bothering to hide Lu Yan’s ability to traverse versions.

Lu Yan frowned in thought before hesitantly speaking.

“But I’m not sure… when that version will appear—”

Jiang Zhiwei snorted and cut him off.

“I’ll prepare a medium for you. With your authority, you’re fully qualified to enter.”

“This is a deal. Just say yes or no.”

Against someone who saw through everything about him, Lu Yan realized that any hesitation was pointless.

If the Longevity entity could figure him out from across versions, how could someone this close not?

In the end, it was just a single special version. So long as no “this world’s only one” was present, Lu Yan was confident.

Without further delay, he said firmly, “I accept.”

“Good!”

Jiang Zhiwei smiled in relief, as if a weight had been lifted.

“From this day forward, you are the Thirty-Third True Disciple of the Taiyi Sect!”

As his voice fell, he waved his sleeve and teleported Lu Yan out of the Ancestral Hall.

“You have half a month. Once the next version shift begins, I’ll deal with your hidden danger.

At that time, you’ll also be able to enter that special version.”

【…Chapter continues with grand ceremony, Lu Yan’s seat among the stars, and the obliteration of the Mysterious Female Gate—continued in next message due to length limit…】