Chapter 1053: Chapter 1053

Chapter 1053: Chapter 80: Immortal’s Guidance

Xiao Jie spoke to this point, his tone growing serious. After a moment’s pause, he continued, “To be honest, I’m not entirely sure what might happen. That illusion realm is mysterious and unfathomable, directly pointing to one’s true self and the great Dao. The consequences of failure may not only result in a complete loss of cultivation; it might really lead to body and soul annihilation, true spirit extinction. That’s why I keep urging you to think carefully before deciding.”

An Ran listened with bated breath, and only after Xiao Jie finished did she let out a long sigh, looking at him with a complex expression: “You… is this how you ascended to immortality step by step?”

“Pretty much.” Xiao Jie nodded, his mind involuntarily recalling the various hardships, serendipities, and life-and-death struggles he faced on his journey north years ago. Thinking that he actually succeeded in becoming immortal in the end is still somewhat unbelievable to him, a testament to wildly improbable luck and coincidence.

“Except that the journey was interspersed with many unexpected events and battles, making the process far more tortuous and difficult than these five steps depict.”

Comparatively, An Ran’s upcoming journey would undoubtedly be much easier. At the very least, he could clear many obstacles in advance for her, point out the direction, without her needing to face terrifying mortal enemies like Master Hongchen.

“Could you tell me more in detail?” An Ran’s curiosity was fully piqued, as she pressed on, “Like, what should I pay attention to in each step? Are there any details that are particularly easy to overlook? Also… how exactly did you find the way to Gu Yun State back then? That place sounds really mysterious.”

Xiao Jie checked the time, then nodded: “Alright, since I have some spare time right now.” He started from when everyone else perished in battle and he embarked alone northward, choosing the key points as he carefully narrated his journey of seeking immortality.

From traversing the perilous Northern Snowfield, to the thrilling experiences on Beihai, to the arduous crossing of the vast Taixu Realm… and the final trial in the Taixu Illusion Realm that directly probed the heart and tested convictions.

An Ran listened meticulously, as if she were personally experiencing everything. When hearing about the dangerous parts, she couldn’t help but let out a low gasp, holding her breath for Xiao Jie’s sake. Hearing Xiao Jie successfully crossed the Taixu Realm and reached the Legendary Gu Yun State, she repeatedly gasped in amazement, her eyes filled with longing. Xiao Jie’s descriptions of his mental trials and transformations within the Taixu Illusion Realm left her equally shocked and contemplative, as though she embarked on a self-examination through his storytelling.

“Wow… I didn’t expect you had gone through so much…” After listening to the whole narration, An Ran sighed again, her tone full of emotion, “Hearing you say all this really makes the path to immortality seem perilous and full of life-and-death situations. Yet having such a complete and proven path to immortality is a rare opportunity worth more than gold. Really… thank you, for giving me this monumental opportunity.”

This time, her gratitude was exceptionally sincere, devoid of the previous exuberant excitement; instead, it appeared notably earnest and heavy because she truly realized the magnitude and risk represented by this “gift.”

“No need to be polite,” Xiao Jie chuckled lightly, attempting to ease the atmosphere, “aren’t we good brothers?”

“Hehe, good brothers…” An Ran repeated this phrase, twitching her mouth slightly, halfway between a smile and a non-smile. She gave Xiao Jie a complex look but said no more on the topic. Everything was left unsaid, perhaps a sense of resigned acceptance.

She swiftly adjusted her mindset and refocused on the pursuit of immortality itself: “So, the critical point actually lies in this Demon Refining Gourd, right? Without the Demon Refining Gourd quickly refining the Demon Core to provide massive Spiritual Energy, maybe one would cultivate to death and still never reach the Ten Layers of Perfection. That path is, in fact, a dead end?”

“Exactly.” Xiao Jie nodded approvingly, “The Demon Refining Gourd is the most crucial element among them, significantly shortening the process of raising the level of Qi Refining Skill.” Chapters first released on novelꜰire.net

“Then… how did such a formidable magic treasure end up in the hands of someone like Master Hongchen?” An Ran asked, puzzled.

“Although there isn’t conclusive evidence yet,” Xiao Jie’s gaze slightly tightened, “I suspect it’s mostly the handiwork of that enigmatic and terrifying ‘Wuming Taoist’ who’s always been lurking behind the scenes. Perhaps he deliberately let Master Hongchen acquire it as part of nurturing a ‘pawn.'” He shook his head, seemingly unwilling to discuss that mysterious and fearsome existence further, “But let’s not dwell on that. I’ve already made up my mind that once all matters at hand are settled, I’ll quit the game and become a carefree Independent Immortal.”

This decision wasn’t something he was entirely sure of when he first became immortal. After all, the game world is so magical and vast, it always seemed like there was endless potential and secrets to uncover, not to mention the still unopened subsequent game expansion packs, everything was very enticing.

However, recent events, particularly the growing clarity of feeling as though he’s always been subtly manipulated by the invisible hand of the Wuming Taoist, made him gradually arrive at a resolution.

He seems to have been included in some grand scheme of that Wuming Taoist from the very start. If he continues playing, following this path deeper, he might ultimately get on a path with no return. Where this path leads, what the ultimate purpose is, he has no idea. In the layout of the Wuming Taoist, how many extraordinary heroes, like Master Hongchen, waited in bitterness for tens of thousands of years, yet in the end, merely became pawns, dying with no graves to rest in?

As cunning and powerful as Wang Xie was, he too was merely a sacrificial piece in the Wuming Taoist’s plan.

Should he continue , who’s to guarantee he won’t become someone else’s stepping stone someday, helping them break through bottlenecks and achieve their goals. Rather than pinning his hopes on the illusory luck of being the “Heavenly Mandate protagonist,” it’s better to withdraw while the gains are already immense, quitting while he’s ahead. Anyway, he’s already achieved the Immortal Position, and the adventures in this game have been well worth it, even far exceeding expectations.

It’s time to retire gloriously.

As long as he finishes what needs to be done, he’s all set. Xiao Jie had meticulously planned his exit strategy: complete the task of [Reincarnation Disaster], help the Dragon Soaring Country unite the Nine States to lay down earthly order, and then completely deal with the eerie Demon Star Tower for Master Xiao Yue. After completing these three major deeds, resolving all the significant causes and effects, he would immediately quit the game and enjoy his life as a carefree immortal.

While talking, the two had leisurely returned to Ginkgo Village.

From afar, they could see Yuan Bai and Village Chief Huang sitting under the giant golden ginkgo tree, with a wooden chessboard between them, engaged in a game.

Village Chief Huang wore a look of deep contemplation and frustration, holding a chess piece in mid-air, unable to find a place to place it, as if the chessboard was some tiger’s den or dragon’s cave.

In contrast, across from him, Yuan Bai looked like a charming young man, with his legs crossed, holding a white steamed bun in one hand to nibble on, and a cup of coarse tea in the other, sipping contentedly from time to time, looking immensely satisfied and relaxed.

“Village Chief Huang, Brother Yuan, you two seem to be in good spirits.” Xiao Jie walked forward with a smile to greet them.

“Oh, it’s you!” Village Chief Huang looked up upon hearing the voice, his face showing a mixture of surprised and uncertain expressions when he recognized it was Xiao Jie. The extraordinary aura subtly radiating from the person in front of him, blending with the surroundings yet also standing apart, made him feel remarkably unusual.

In his early years, Village Chief Huang had also, through some fortuitous encounters, learned some rudimentary Taoist skills, hardly even qualifying as entry-level, unable to achieve much, but still he learned a bit about observing people, Qi Observation, and some small skills in divination and foretelling luck. As he looked at Xiao Jie now, he only felt that his gaze, as if staring into an abyss or observing a vast sea, was profoundly unfathomable, yet upright and peaceful, inspiring awe. He paused for a moment, then broke into a smile as though suddenly enlightened, with a mix of relief and satisfaction in his expression.