Chapter 221 – The Only One in This World, the One Who Became Immortal!

In an instant, the spiritual energy across the entire floating island froze like ice. It was as if space itself had been gripped by an invisible hand—even drifting clouds halted mid-air.

Clad in a dark Daoist robe, Spring-Autumn Master exuded the terrifying pressure of a Nascent Soul cultivator. Every wisp of his aura seemed capable of tearing the void asunder. His gaze, sharp as a blade, bore directly into Lu Yan, gleaming with unfathomable light.

Even more terrifying than that was the change in the world itself. The depths of the floating island, the stars in the sky, and the myriad living beings all seemed to gaze upon Lu Yan in unison, as if the heavens and earth surrounding the island were moving in sync with Spring-Autumn’s will.

“Do you have any idea what you’re saying?”

His question echoed with boundless pressure, each word rippling through the void with force.

The might of a Nascent Soul cultivator swept over everything like a vast ocean, crashing down on Lu Yan. Every grain of dust suspended mid-air; all beings waited, breathless, for Lu Yan’s response.

And yet, despite facing a powerhouse who stood just one step from the Divine Transformation Realm, Lu Yan showed no fear.

Before coming to the Taiyi Sect, he had already carefully considered how to earn a chance to meet the Taiyi Immortal.

Lu Yan knew clearly that a mere promise was not nearly enough to exchange for such a rare opportunity. But he held one final trump card: the “Everlasting Spring Art” he had inscribed into the Northern Mang Tomb during the urban version.

As the first cultivation method of the Spirit Revival version, Lu Yan had created and spread it to ignite that era’s cultivation. The fact that it persisted and was passed into the Xianxia version was entirely unexpected.

Though he didn’t fully understand how the version updates had evolved the art, one thing was certain: different versions of the “Everlasting Spring Art” were undoubtedly interconnected. Combined with his own multiversal experience, Lu Yan was confident he could decipher the immortal technique the “Everlasting Spring Art” had become.

This was the foundation of his confidence when proposing to help Spring-Autumn Master comprehend the Immortal Method.

Thoughts racing, Lu Yan responded calmly:

“The Immortal Method within the Northern Mang Tomb does not originate from this world.”

As the words fell, the pressure that had blanketed him finally loosened slightly, giving Lu Yan room to breathe.

In tandem, the gaze of heaven and earth upon him grew sharper—an unseen multitude of eyes bore down, trying to strip him bare.

“Continue,” Spring-Autumn said indifferently.

Lu Yan understood that the elder had partially accepted his claim. But given the gravity of an Immortal Method, he would still have to prove its worth.

With a faint smile, Lu Yan solemnly declared:

“I have some understanding of the origins of the Immortal Method—even of its true nature. And all of it is tied to the Outer Path Demons I once encountered.

If Senior Spring-Autumn is willing to let me examine the Immortal Method, I am confident I can assist you in comprehending it and reaching the Divine Transformation Realm. In return, all I ask is the opportunity to compete for a position as Taiyi Sect’s true disciple.”

Spring-Autumn didn’t immediately respond. He stared deeply at Lu Yan for a long while.

“Outer Path Demons…” he murmured, his voice tinged with sighs and a subtle, inexplicable relief.

Moments later, the oppressive force over the island dispersed. The unseen eyes faded, and Spring-Autumn calmly sat once more on the lotus platform in the spirit pool.

“The Northern Mang Tomb was backed by a mysterious Netherworld. They appeared as if stepping out from ancient myth and descended upon the cultivation world.

History records multiple similar occurrences, but they were all proven to be schemes of Outer Path Demons, eventually wiped out by Heaven and Immortals.

Yet this Netherworld rose with such grandeur, and still did not incur Heaven’s wrath or the Immortals’ judgment.

Even the emissary who wreaked havoc in the Southern Wastes only brought two Nascent Soul elders from Qingwu Sect in response. No Divine Transformation experts investigated, no Immortal Decrees were issued.

It’s as if both Heaven and the Immortals accepted the Netherworld’s existence—as though they were always part of this world.

That’s the only reason I felt safe enough to study the Immortal Method from that tomb instead of dismissing it as remnants of the Outer Path.”

Lu Yan’s heart trembled.

As the creator of the Netherworld, he understood well what a hollow shell it truly was—its myths held together by no more than his own presence.

And yet this shell possessed the traits of the “unchanging,” entities that could transcend version updates without being confined to one timeline.

In other versions, this wasn’t too obvious, but in a world like the Xianxia version—where version invasions had become commonplace—the Netherworld’s myth carried unusual weight.

“If one does not actively provoke version change, then with the nature of an unchanging entity, it is indeed possible to escape Heaven’s hostility.

And since most of the Netherworld’s mess was made in other versions, by the time its myth spread to this one, only echoes remained. That’s likely why Heaven and the Immortals didn’t interfere.”

That was Lu Yan’s conclusion.

As thoughts swirled, Spring-Autumn raised a hand. A scroll drifted into Lu Yan’s hands, and the elder’s calm voice followed.

“This Immortal Method may be precious, but it isn’t exactly secret. Several sects who explored the tomb also obtained copies.

At first, I merely suspected you were deluded by the title of ‘Taiyi True Disciple’ and spouting nonsense, so I tried to pressure you.

But now it seems you have your own understanding, and it involves your connection to the Outer Path Demons.

If that’s the case, there’s no harm in letting you take a look.”

Lu Yan accepted the scroll. Before he could even open it, He Dongsheng leaned in with a bitter expression.

“Brother Lu, I know you’re no ordinary man, but you’ve picked the wrong path with this Immortal Method.

I’ve tried studying it with Master, and there’s nothing useful in it. Among all the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Ten Great Sects and the Devil Path’s top sects, only Master has ever gained any insight from it.

If not for that, we’d all have called it a fake.”

“If this doesn’t work, I’ll help you think of another way to earn a recommendation for true disciple—or find a branch lineage to join. You’re only in your twenties; becoming a true disciple is only a matter of time.”

He Dongsheng clearly didn’t believe Lu Yan had a chance, but instead of mocking him, he actively tried to help.

Lu Yan smiled warmly.

He had witnessed too many changes across versions, but He Dongsheng’s willingness to help had never changed.

Back in the Demon version, if not for He Dongsheng uncovering Zhao Huowang’s last words, Lu Yan might have fallen to the Long-Life version’s calamity without even knowing it.

And now in this Xianxia version, He Dongsheng was still going out of his way to assist him, filling Lu Yan with warmth.

Lu Yan shook the scroll in his hand and laughed.

“Brother He has helped me so much already—how could I bother you with the true disciple matter again?

Actually, I came across a few interesting things during my recent travels. Once this is over, I’ll share them with you.”

He Dongsheng’s eyes lit up. “Don’t tell me—new counterfeits—I mean, antiques and craftsmanship?”

Even as a direct inheritor of Taiyi Sect, he still remembered his obsession with “forging antiques.” Lu Yan didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

Still, he answered seriously.

“Of course.”

He Dongsheng nodded in satisfaction.

After their exchange, Lu Yan composed himself and opened the scroll.

But the moment the characters entered his eyes, his expression froze in shock.

He Dongsheng leaned in and whispered:

“Surprised, right? I had the exact same look when I saw it for the first time.”

Lu Yan was silent for a long time, then nodded. “Indeed.”

The so-called Immortal Method in his hand was not some profound cultivation scripture nor a mystical Daoist text—it was merely a simplistic diagram of energy circulation.

The most basic cultivation method in the realm was called the “Qi Refining Technique,” created tens of thousands of years ago, utilizing twelve meridian points in its circulation.

Over time, cultivation arts evolved to use twenty-four, thirty-six, even up to 365 points for the highest-level techniques.

Even the mass-produced “Everlasting Spring Art” used thirty-six meridian points.

But this so-called Immortal Method had… only one.

It was a technique so basic it had no threshold. Cultivating with it meant one’s spiritual energy would only be a fraction of a peer’s at the same level.

If the “Everlasting Spring Art” was high school mathematics, this was 1+1=2.

Forget the major sects—even Lu Yan himself, the one who had originally created it, was dumbfounded at first glance.

He had hoped version updates would evolve the “Everlasting Spring Art.” Instead, it had degraded into the lowest, most basic cultivation technique.

It only earned the title “Immortal Method” because of the time Lu Yan descended as Heaven’s representative and manifested the shadow of the Sovereign Emperor.

At once, countless thoughts surged through Lu Yan’s mind.

“In the Spirit Revival version, the ‘Everlasting Spring Art’ was the first method, revered as the pinnacle.

But in the Xianxia version, it’s been demoted, downgraded to the simplest beginner’s technique.

That proves relying on version updates to step beyond limits is unrealistic—it clarifies my understanding of version progression.”

“And now comes the biggest question of all—how did Spring-Autumn use a downgraded ‘Everlasting Spring Art’ to reach a step away from Divine Transformation?”

Lu Yan fell into deep thought.

Spring-Autumn remained calm. In his eyes, Lu Yan’s rise from Qi Refining to Foundation Establishment in just three years—able to fight a Golden Core cultivator—was extraordinary.

But the gap between Foundation Establishment and late-stage Nascent Soul was immense.

Even among the Ten Great Sects, no one—not even Divine Transformation elders—had been able to comprehend this Immortal Method. Many thought it was a fake.

Were it not for his own brush with some unspeakable truth, even he wouldn’t have believed in it.

To others, it was nothing more than a foundational technique, a crude reflection of basic cultivation.

In such a case, not even Lu Yan’s connection to Outer Path Demons would matter.

“Immortal methods are too profound to rely on outsiders,” Spring-Autumn sighed silently.

But at that moment, a voice suddenly rang out across the island.

“I understand now!”

Everyone turned toward Lu Yan, who held the scroll tightly, eyes wide with joyous realization.

“What is it you understand?” Spring-Autumn couldn’t help but ask.

Lu Yan didn’t respond immediately.

He thought back on everything.

After confirming the Immortal Method was just a downgraded version of the “Everlasting Spring Art,” he shifted his attention to Spring-Autumn himself.

The more he observed, the more anomalies surfaced.

First, in the urban version, Spring-Autumn appeared middle-aged with unnatural vitality—a clear contradiction to that world’s ordinary rules.

Then, his disregard for the battle of the Ghost Gods. While the current Spring-Autumn could dismiss them, the one in the urban version had no reason to be so proud.

And finally, the unforgettable gaze he recalled across versions after being overwhelmed by Lu Yan’s divine aura.

“No matter how powerful, someone bound to one version cannot affect others—unless they’ve already become this world’s only one and gained the right to traverse versions.

Could it be… Spring-Autumn has already begun walking the path of becoming an Immortal, touching the essence of ‘this world’s sole existence’?

Only by understanding that concept could he carry his personality across versions, maintain youth beyond lifespan, and glimpse truths beyond his own world.

Maybe, at first, he was just a little different—but when the urban version shifted into Spirit Revival, everything changed.

That so-called comprehension of the Immortal Method was merely the spark.

The true key was that Spring-Autumn, using the ‘Everlasting Spring Art’ I left behind, became the first cultivator of the Spirit Revival version—the one who led that world’s rise.

When he saw through the version’s destiny and truly grasped the truth behind it, he became the only one in that world—immune to version updates.

And in doing so… he became an Immortal.”

A sudden realization stirred within Lu Yan.

“I… created an Immortal.”

(End of Chapter)