49: The Path to Immortality in the Mortal World

That Supreme who was just wavering, thinking he could wait and see, was now trembling in his Divine Soul. Wait and see? Wait and see my foot! One step later and that bell would probably be tolling at his own doorstep!

The building collapsed?

No, it was their Dao Heart that had completely collapsed.

"I... I was wrong... Heavenly Emperor, spare my life!" From the depths of the Underworld, the humiliated and terrified plea for mercy from that ancient Supreme finally rang out.

Group Master Wushi Great Emperor did not strike again; the shadow of the bell hovering over the Underworld slowly dissipated.

But the entire Universe fell into a deathly silence even deeper than before.

If the previous destruction of Undying Mountain was to establish prestige, then this time, shocking the Underworld with a flick of a finger was a judgment.

It told everyone a fact—those who follow me prosper, those who oppose me perish. There was no room for luck.

"We... are willing to surrender! We are willing to be dogs at the Heavenly Emperor's feet, and will not shrink from ten thousand deaths!"

After an unknown amount of time, in the Primordial Beginning Ancient Mine, Ten Thousand Dragon Emperor was the first to act. He no longer sent a Divine Thought but stepped directly out of the God Source. His massive, battered Dragon body charged out of the ancient mine, transforming into a majestic old man in dragon robes. He knelt respectfully toward the direction of the Heavenly Court at the center of the Universe!

Once there was a first, there was a second.

The Lord of the Divine Ruins, the Lord of the Reincarnation Sea, the Lord of Heaven Burying Island... one after another, the Ancient Supremes who had once looked down upon the ages and viewed all living beings as ants, stepped out of the restricted zones at this moment. They cast aside all dignity and pride, and toward the same direction—toward that white-clad figure sitting in the Hall of Miraculous Mist—they offered their most humble knees.

They didn't want to die.

They also wanted a bright future, even if that future required trading their dignity.

They only wanted... to live... Inside the Hall of Miraculous Mist, Group Master Wushi Great Emperor calmly watched the light screen as the figures of the Supremes flew in from the various restricted zones and eventually knelt in a mass outside the South Heaven Gate. His face showed no ripple of emotion.

He waved his hand.

"Let them in."

Soon, led by Ten Thousand Dragon Emperor, over a dozen Ancient Supremes of various forms—but all without exception carrying humility and awe—entered this Hall of Miraculous Mist that made them feel incredibly oppressed, their heads bowed.

"We... pay our respects to the Heavenly Emperor Wushi! May the Heavenly Emperor's immortal blessings last forever, and his lifespan be as long as the heavens!" Ten Thousand Dragon Emperor took the lead in shouting.

"Rise." Group Master Wushi Great Emperor's voice was as calm as water.

"Thank you, Heavenly Emperor!"

The Supremes rose tremblingly, but still didn't dare to lift their heads.

"Speak, why have you come?" Group Master Wushi Great Emperor asked, already knowing the answer.

Ten Thousand Dragon Emperor took a deep breath, knelt again, and kowtowed heavily. His voice trembling, he said, "We... we know our sins are heavy and do not dare to hope for the Heavenly Emperor's forgiveness. We only... only beg for the Heavenly Emperor's mercy, to show us a clear path! We are willing to offer everything, only seeking... a method for longevity, to follow the Heavenly Emperor and continue the immortal path!"

"We beg the Heavenly Emperor to point out the method for Immortal Ascension!" All the Supremes knelt in unison, pleading with one voice.

Group Master Wushi Great Emperor looked at these figures below who were humble to the extreme, a playful arc curling at the corners of his mouth.

He didn't hide anything, nor did he keep them in suspense. He only spoke slowly in an almost cruelly calm tone:

"The method for Immortal Ascension, this Emperor has already told you."

The Supremes were stunned, looking at each other in confusion.

Group Master Wushi Great Emperor looked at their bewildered expressions and said indifferently, "My sister, Ruthless, her Dao is the only viable method for Immortal Ascension in this world."

"Do you want to learn?"

He leaned back on his imperial throne, his gaze sweeping over every Supreme, taking in the shock, longing, and doubt in their hearts.

"You were once Sovereigns, Emperors, existences who were the only honored ones in heaven and earth. Now, this Emperor gives you a chance."

"Cripple part of your cultivation, disperse your Dao Fruits, and transform into true Mortals. Then, enter that vast Mortal World to experience birth, aging, sickness, and death; to feel love, hate, separation, and loss. Use Reincarnation after Reincarnation to wash away the imperial brand upon you, and to feel the most ordinary joys and sorrows."

"Wait in endless solitude, and transform through repeated death and rebirth. When you can forget that you were once Supremes, when you can feel joy for the blooming of a flower and sorrow for the falling of rain, when your hearts can completely merge with this vast Mortal World..."

"Perhaps, you will be able to see the door leading to the 'Mortal World Immortal'."

"This is the secret of Immortal Ascension." Group Master Wushi Great Emperor's voice echoed in the empty hall. Every word was like a heavy hammer, smashing hard against the Dao Hearts of those Supremes.

"Who among you wants to be the first to try?"

The entire Hall of Miraculous Mist was deathly silent.

All the Supremes were stunned. Their eyes widened, and their faces were filled with absurdity, shock, and... bone-chilling despair.

This is... the secret of Immortal Ascension?

Cripple part of their cultivation? Become a Mortal? Experience nine lives of Reincarnation?

How... how is this any different from killing them?!

The reason they slashed themselves and lingered on was to preserve their cultivation and their status as Emperors and Sovereigns, wasn't it? Now, they were being asked to destroy all of it with their own hands?

They couldn't do it!

Their pride, their Dao, would not allow them to do this!

They would rather die in battle amidst glory than rot in mediocrity!

At this moment, they finally understood. Group Master Wushi Great Emperor wasn't showing them a path, but was telling them in the cruelest way—you are not worthy... Inside the Chat Group, the members who had witnessed the entire process were also in an uproar.

[Xiao Yan]: "Holy crap... the Group Master is too Ruthless! He just blurted out the secret of Immortal Ascension, but to them, this secret is more poisonous than poison! This is a mental execution!"

[Luo Feng]: "A brilliant overt scheme. He knows these Supremes absolutely cannot do it, which is why he dares to make it public. This not only completely severs their hopes but also makes them doubt themselves, damaging their Dao Hearts. From now on, these people can only work for the Group Master with total devotion."

[Ancestral Dragon]: "Emperor's craft! What a fine emperor's craft! Subduing the enemy without fighting, killing invisibly! I have learned something!"

Everyone was sighing at Group Master Wushi Great Emperor's heavenly methods. However, far away on Earth, Ye Fan, who had just stepped onto the Cosmic Ancient Road, fell into deep confusion.

He looked at the Supremes in the live broadcast, looking lost and as if they were mourning their parents, and his brow furrowed deeply.

[Ye Fan]: "Group Master, I... don't understand."

He hesitated for a long time before finally being unable to resist asking.

[Ye Fan]: "Why did you tell them the secret of the 'Mortal World Immortal'? This is a method for Immortal Ascension. Even if they can't do it, what if... what if some lunatic actually tries, or they comprehend something else from it... isn't this aiding the enemy?"