Transcending two realms to become an earth immortal

Chapter 57 The Righteous Path in the Demon's Den

The title "Wuchang" was originally an official position in the underworld, but in this corner of the turbid world, in the Dao City, it was even more fearsome and intimidating.

As they stepped out of the underworld, the gates of the netherworld opened wide, and a deep, deathly aura spread like a tide, turning the dilapidated temple into a ghostly realm. The cries caused the heavenly light to fade and the ghostly fire to flicker, making the corpses scattered all over the ground appear even more grotesque.

Master Mingjun's expression changed drastically, and cold sweat broke out on his brow.

He suddenly remembered that his junior brother had once killed a tax collector... Could it be that today, the underworld was demanding his life?

He glanced at Fang Chen, only to see that his junior brother's face remained calm and undisturbed.

Fang Chen knew in his heart that if the three True Immortals had not been born today, it would indeed be a dead end.

But now that all three masters are present, and they have even advanced to the Day Travel Realm, their cultivation is already top-tier in Dao City. How could the death of a mere tax collector possibly be worth a Wuchang risking his life for?

The old underworld may have valued rules, but this is a corrupt world where rules... are nothing more than a noose around the necks of the weak.

"Hehehe..."

The impermanent figure raised its pale face, its eye sockets like two bottomless black holes, and its voice seeped from the darkness, carrying the chilling aura of the earth's veins:

"Congratulations, fellow Daoist! Your Yang essence has begun to solidify; longevity is within your reach!"

The Realm of Day Travel offers the greatest chance of extending one's lifespan by thirty to forty years in the old world. Most importantly, it allows one to be reincarnated and retain the wisdom accumulated in previous lives. Although one has a total lifespan of two hundred years, it is still far from achieving immortality.

However, with the world turned upside down and yin and yang out of balance, this newly born wisp of yang essence is enough for cultivators to touch the door to immortality.

As long as one can withstand the endless demonic influence of heaven and earth and the vast amount of filth in this turbid world, and maintain a clear mind so as not to fall into demonic form, one can live forever here!

"We thank Fellow Daoist Wuchang for his congratulations," the three True Immortals said in unison, their tone wooden. "But may we ask what brings you here today?"

"Fellow Daoist, have you perhaps forgotten the rules?" The white-robed figure of Wuchang fluttered without wind, as if carrying a ghostly chuckle. "Our Dao City not only requires blood taxes for protection, but also for life-or-death duels, regardless of victory or defeat—all must also pay blood taxes!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the temple fell into a deathly silence, with only the crackling of will-o'-the-wisps remaining.

The three immortals remained silent for a long time, while the flesh and blood of the Tai Sui at their necks writhed.

"Our sect has suffered heavy losses and is currently unable to pay its dues. Could we postpone the payment for a few days?"

Even after reaching the realm of day travel, the Three-Headed Immortal had no intention of refusing to pay the blood tax.

Because the one who set this blood tax rule was not the Underworld, but the indescribable and unfathomable being on the floating island above Dao City, comparable to the level of Yang God or even Primordial God... It was simply an existence that they could not currently deal with!

"Of course, of course." Wuchang was surprisingly amiable. "You just need to be on time, fellow Daoist..."

Before he could finish speaking, he abruptly tilted his head back, his black-rimmed eyes gazing at the inky sky:

"Oh? I didn't expect a fellow Daoist to arrive so quickly..."

As soon as he finished speaking, a beam of light descended from the sky.

Where the light falls, the surrounding darkness silently recedes, revealing a pure land untouched by dust.

In the center of the Pure Land, a white lotus slowly blooms, revealing a shimmering, crystal-like radiance, pure and holy, seemingly protecting countless believers.

Yet amidst the swirling light, countless tiny faces floated and sank, men and women, young and old, with varied appearances, all bearing smiles that conveyed a sense of blissful transcendence.

Upon closer inspection, however, one feels a chill down one's spine, for the smile is hollow and eerie, as if one is drowning in a sweet nightmare from which one can never wake up, and is also eternally immersed in false bliss!

"Another fellow cultivator has broken through to a higher realm. I, the [White Lotus Sect Leader], have come to offer my congratulations!"

A faint, ethereal voice, penetrating straight to the soul, resounded, like a melodious heavenly sound.

However, anyone who heard this sound felt their internal organs burning and blood seeping from their seven orifices. If it weren't for the timely protection of the Three-Headed Immortal, the several seriously injured disciples in the temple would have been blown into a cloud of blood mist from the inside out in an instant!

"Hehehe... That's true. This Dao City has gained another Daoist today; it's time to celebrate!"

It was as if the buzzing of countless wings rubbing together seeped from the ground, converging into an evil sound, coming from afar.

Following the sound, all that could be seen in the distance was layers of dark, swirling mist, like living things, carrying a boat pieced together from white bones as it slowly approached.

Upon closer inspection, it became clear that what appeared to be mist was actually a swarm of millions of gray-black insects, their wings rustling incessantly, sending chills down one's spine.

Amidst the swarm of insects stood numerous black-robed Taoist priests with pale faces and lifeless eyes, forming layers of guards with strict discipline. Upon reaching the boat, snakes, scorpions, toads, centipedes, and geckos—the Five Poisons of Heaven and Earth—stood on either side, jointly protecting a single figure.

The figure was neither human nor demon, but rather formed from the writhing and swarming of countless poisonous insects, barely maintaining a human outline. A foul, sweet, and putrid stench wafted over, like a long-decayed corpse from the earth.

He is—the chief of the witchcraft clan!

"Is this... the right path?"

Looking at the two places, one solemn and imposing yet shrouded in yin energy, and the other glorious yet forever lost in bliss, Daoist Mingjun felt a chill in his heart and murmured to himself.

Fang Chen narrowed his eyes slightly and remained silent.

Perhaps, in this Demon Cave of Fangdao City, this is the true path, while their Zhengyang Path has become an anomaly.

Because Zhengyang Dao has only been here for five years since he fled from the old world of light and shadow, and has not been in the Five Turbid World for long, he is not deeply tainted, and his old world techniques have not been transformed into new world techniques, so he still appears to have a human form.

However, the price of doing so is that one's combat power is inferior to that of demons, and the path is fraught with danger and the road ahead is cut off. It was because of this that the Lord of Zhengyang failed to break through and had no choice but to transform into an evil creature before entering the realm of the Sun Wanderer.

"And there's another crucial point: how to resist the filth of this corrupt world? Before reaching the Sun-Wandering Realm, because of the protection of the physical body, the soul doesn't need to directly face the demonic influence of heaven and earth, thus maintaining its intelligence. But upon advancing to the Sun-Wandering Realm, the [Yang Essence] within the soul is fully developed, and the Yin Spirit's contamination precedes the physical body. How to resist this is probably the key to the new world's Daoist methods..."

Just as Fang Chen's mind raced, three figures descended upon the scene like ghosts.

The three True Immortals had grim expressions. Their three heads slowly turned, and their six gazes swept over the Underworld Impermanence, the White Lotus Cult Leader, and the Witchcraft Clan Chief in turn, finally landing on Fang Chen:

"Two of the three major evil cult leaders are dead and one is crippled, but some of their followers have not been eliminated. In order to eradicate them completely and prevent future troubles, and at the same time to collect their 'spiritual money' to pay the blood tax, I... will trouble you, Chen'er, to handle this matter."

Fang Chen's pupils contracted slightly as he gave the three real men a deep look.

Without uttering a word, the clouds around him surged, and with a flicker, he vanished into the dark mist, disappearing into the distant sky in an instant.

Upon seeing this, Daoist Mingjun felt inexplicably uneasy, and suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.

The Impermanent One of the Underworld stood motionless like a statue, two will-o'-the-wisps frozen beneath his hood. The lotus petals beneath the White Lotus Cult Leader's feet curled slightly, the soft light on his face gradually slowing. The Chief of the Witchcraft Clan held his breath silently, thousands of Gu worms stiffening and clinging to their bodies... All three remained silent, their expressions indifferent, as if observing ants beneath their feet.

As the last wisp of gray cloud dissipated on the horizon, the two will-o'-the-wisps beneath Wuchang's eyes suddenly leaped, their sound rising from the depths of darkness:

"Fellow Daoist, do you perhaps believe that we have come here to devour you?"

As the sound faded, a sudden chill ran through the air.