Imperishable Across Hundreds of Millions of Years, the Corpse of a Heavenly Immortal!

True Immortal Dongyu was filled with shock and doubt. Yet he showed no intention of making a move. After all, the two True Immortals were even more desperate than he was. They already considered the immortal treasure within their grasp, so how could they possibly allow it to fall into Lu Changsheng’s hands? The two True Immortals exchanged glances, a fierce glint flashing in their eyes. They had clearly reached a decision. “Kill!” With scarcely a second thought, the two True Immortals struck. Moreover, their target was none other than Lu Changsheng. The instant they attacked, they went all out. “Divine ability, Ten Thousand Thunders Resonate!” one of the True Immortals bellowed. Along with that low roar, faint peals of thunder seemed to rumble across the entire second spatial layer. *Rumble!* Thunder clapped violently. Lightning surged from all directions, hurtling toward Lu Changsheng like an overwhelming deluge. A divine ability! This was a divine ability born of a True Immortal Dao Fruit. If these two True Immortals did not strike, it was one thing; but once they did, they committed everything, unleashing their divine abilities without holding back. Once a divine ability was invoked, the clash was to the death! There was no room for compromise. Lu Changsheng understood at once. No wonder these two True Immortals were so confident. One of them actually possessed a lightning divine ability. Everyone knew thunder and lightning were violent and destructive. To master a lightning divine ability granted peerless offensive might. Few divine abilities could match the destructive power of thunder, and few immortal treasures could withstand such a strike. Just as Lu Changsheng was drawing the brunt of the thunder, the other True Immortal moved as well. However, his approach was exceptionally stealthy. He closed in on Lu Changsheng without making the slightest sound. Under the cover of the roaring thunder, the divine ability he unleashed was equally imperceptible. *Crack.* The surrounding air suddenly turned bitterly cold. Lu Changsheng felt frost rapidly forming on the ground, spreading toward him at alarming speed. In a mere instant, he seemed on the verge of being sealed in ice. A divine ability! Without a doubt, this was another divine ability—and an exceptionally venomous one, concealed beneath the raging lightning. By the time an opponent noticed, it would usually be far too late. These two True Immortals truly went all out from the very first strike, leaving Lu Changsheng no breathing room whatsoever. The two divine abilities swept toward Lu Changsheng with thunderous momentum. Seeing this, Immortal Dongyu could not help drawing a sharp breath. Earlier, when he had tangled with these two True Immortals, neither had used their divine abilities. And fortunate it was that they had not. If they had unleashed such power against him, then no matter what trump cards he possessed, he likely would not have escaped alive. Immortal Dongyu felt a lingering dread, mixed with deep relief. Yet now, Lu Changsheng had to face these terrifying divine abilities himself. Furthermore, the attacks had locked onto him, and the distance was razor-thin. Dodge? Utterly impossible! Faced with two horrifying divine abilities right in front of him, Lu Changsheng remained remarkably calm. His expression did not shift in the slightest. *Hum.* An invisible power descended. In that split second, the two True Immortals felt the space around them warp slightly. Then, all perception of the outside world vanished. They found themselves standing in a vastly open expanse. It looked somewhat similar to the second spatial layer of the Tianyuan Ancient Immortal Battlefield, but only superficially so. They knew this was no longer the second spatial layer of the battlefield. They had been displaced or trapped elsewhere. “What is going on?” “Where are we?” “How did we fall into a trap without noticing? Is this the work of an immortal treasure?” “Or could it be some sort of illusion? We just have to break it...” The two True Immortals did not panic. They attempted to shatter this supposed illusion. Yet it was useless. No matter what techniques they deployed, everything proved utterly futile. Meanwhile, within the second spatial layer of the Tianyuan Ancient Immortal Battlefield, Lu Changsheng had summoned his Illusory Realm without hesitation. Having constructed two spatial layers within it, the Illusory Realm had become more complete and far more terrifying in power. The moment it descended, it enveloped both True Immortals. Once trapped inside, whether it was the lightning divine ability or the ice-sealing divine ability, every trace of their attacks vanished into thin air, as if they had never existed at all. Lu Changsheng remained standing where he was, unmoving. Yet the two True Immortals had abruptly halted their attacks. Their eyes were vacant. Though they continued to brandish divine abilities and techniques, they rushed about aimlessly like headless flies. At a glance, it was obvious they were ensnared in an illusion. Yet how could dignified True Immortals succumb to an illusion so easily? Nonetheless, the reality played out before their very eyes. True Immortal Dongyu took in the entire spectacle, which was precisely why he was so thoroughly shocked. In his eyes, Lu Changsheng had already become unfathomably profound and terrifying. “What... what happened to them?” Dongyu could not resist asking. He tried his best to maintain his composure, but under these circumstances, he simply could not keep calm. Lu Changsheng cast a glance at the two True Immortals and replied casually, “Just a divine ability. They have fallen into my divine ability and cannot free themselves. Fellow Daoist Dongyu, would you like to try it as well?” Lu Changsheng knew Dongyu was already wavering deep down. In truth, what Lu Changsheng had deployed was his Illusory Realm. The trapping power of the Illusory Realm was truly peerless, far more effective than immortal arrays. Trapped within it, the two True Immortals flailed about like headless flies. Yet no matter where they dashed or what techniques they unleashed, they remained hopelessly confined. Even if someone in the outside world touched their bodies or spoke to them, it would be of no avail. In their current state, the two True Immortals were like meat on a chopping block, entirely at Lu Changsheng’s mercy. Whenever he wished, he could obliterate them with ease. True Immortal Dongyu fell silent. He did not say a word. He was still reluctant to part with the immortal treasure. After all, it had not been easy to obtain this treasure capable of anchoring fortune. Lu Changsheng understood Dongyu’s feelings well enough, so he wasted no more words and struck at the two True Immortals directly. “Divine ability, Mighty Power!” Instantly, Lu Changsheng’s Flesh Dao Fruit trembled slightly. A terrifying force erupted, channeling through his fist as he smashed it fiercely toward the two True Immortals. How could any True Immortal withstand such raw might? *Bang!* Still trapped in the Illusory Realm, the two True Immortals were obliterated into mist by Lu Changsheng’s single punch. “Devour Spirit!” Blowing apart their bodies was not the end. Lu Changsheng unleashed his Devour Spirit divine ability, instantly consuming the flesh and blood of the two True Immortals without leaving a trace. In the blink of an eye, the aura of both True Immortals vanished completely. Silence! The area fell utterly still. True Immortal Dongyu could scarcely believe his eyes. In a flash, two True Immortals had been reduced to ashes? Furthermore, he could not sense the faintest trace of their auras. That meant they were almost certainly dead! Those were two True Immortals! As everyone knew, defeating a True Immortal was easy, but killing one was monumentally difficult. Yet what had he just witnessed? With a simple wave of his hand, Lu Changsheng had practically slain two genuine True Immortals in seconds—and neither of them had been ordinary. Could a Great Immortal accomplish such a feat? Perhaps, but odds were that most could not. Only an exceptionally extraordinary Great Immortal might manage it. True Immortals were not common cabbages to be harvested at will. Every single one was a renowned hegemon. Yet here they had died at Lu Changsheng’s hands in such an aggrieved, helpless manner. At this moment, True Immortal Dongyu found facing Lu Changsheng far more terrifying than facing those two True Immortals earlier. When the two had joined forces against him, Dongyu had still harbored thoughts of resisting and finding a way to escape. But facing Lu Changsheng now, any thought of fleeing completely vanished. What a joke! Lu Changsheng had blown two True Immortals apart in an instant. Did Dongyu really think he could get away? If he tried to run, his end would be identical to theirs. With that realization, True Immortal Dongyu acted decisively. “Fellow Daoist Lu, there is no need for force.” Without the slightest hesitation, Dongyu brought out the immortal treasure. “This is the treasure capable of anchoring fortune that I obtained in the second spatial layer.” With that, Dongyu tossed the immortal treasure toward Lu Changsheng. *Clack.* The immortal treasure landed in Lu Changsheng’s hand. From beginning to end, Dongyu played no tricks and made no sudden moves, handing over the immortal treasure in complete cooperation. Lu Changsheng calmly accepted it and examined it closely. The immortal treasure resembled a jade pendant, smooth and flawless, radiating a warm sensation as he held it in his palm. However, its surface was covered with hairline cracks, suggesting it had sustained severe damage. Still, no part of it was missing. As long as one was willing to pay the price, it could be repaired. What Lu Changsheng valued most was its ability to anchor fortune. Immortal treasures that anchored fortune shared a common trait: they kept a person’s fortune condensed without scattering. In truth, everyone possessed fortune; it was merely a matter of how much. Fortune was intangible, and in the past, it could not even be perceived. Only upon reaching the realm of a True Immortal could one observe it. Lu Changsheng opened his Heavenly Eye. Every True Immortal possessed a Heavenly Eye. Once opened, Lu Changsheng indeed saw the flow of fortune. He glanced at True Immortal Dongyu. His fortune was thick and dense. Looking at himself, Lu Changsheng saw that his own fortune was slightly more concentrated than Dongyu’s, but fundamentally on the same tier. This gave Lu Changsheng pause. It seemed his fortune was merely average; he was by no means a bearer of great fortune. Reflecting on it, that made sense. Since arriving in the Heaven Realm, Lu Changsheng had experienced virtually no lucky encounters. Even when searching for an immortal vein in the Blood Marsh Mountain Range, he had spent countless flesh avatars, losing an immense number of them before finally pinpointing the vein's exact location. Then, to seize it, he had engaged in fierce battles and defeated numerous competitors. During his breakthrough to True Immortal, a terrifying immortal beast had even disrupted him, intent on killing him. Had his divine abilities not been so formidable, he never would have become a True Immortal and would have been swallowed whole by the beast instead. All of this hardly qualified as the mark of a bearer of great fortune. His fortune was quite ordinary. Although True Immortals and Heavenly Immortals could perceive fortune, neither could control or sway it. Fortune was profoundly mysterious. Only certain specialized immortal treasures could anchor fortune to prevent it from leaking away. Right now, holding the jade pendant, Lu Changsheng noticed wisps of his own fortune trickling into it, where they were gently nurtured. This surprised him. So this was an immortal treasure capable of anchoring fortune. It truly could lock fortune in place without loss—it was indeed a fine treasure. However, Lu Changsheng also saw that because it was severely damaged, it could only nurture a fraction of fortune before failing to hold any more. Only by repairing it could it anchor a greater amount. Yet even if fully restored, it would remain a rather ordinary treasure with limited capacity. Lu Changsheng doubted it would suffice to establish a Dao field—unless that Dao field were exceedingly small. And a Dao field so tiny would hardly make any difference. Nonetheless, it was indeed a treasure capable of anchoring fortune. Even if its practical use was limited, it provided him with valuable material to study. It was a worthwhile gain. “Fellow Daoist Dongyu, you may leave,” Lu Changsheng said. He was no indiscriminate butcher; there was no need to slaughter everyone he met. Since Dongyu had surrendered the treasure, Lu Changsheng spared his life. “Thank you, Fellow Daoist Lu.” Without hesitation, Dongyu transformed into a streak of light and swiftly fled from Lu Changsheng’s presence. Only after escaping far into the distance did Dongyu finally let out a breath of relief. “*Phew...*” Dongyu glanced back in Lu Changsheng’s direction, his face filled with lingering dread. He had truly cheated death this time. People always said the Tianyuan Ancient Immortal Battlefield was perilous and that even True Immortals could perish here. But those had only been rumors to him, something he had never witnessed firsthand. Now, not only had he witnessed it, but he had also experienced it in the flesh. He had come within an inch of dying. Those two True Immortals had been annihilated in the blink of an eye. This Tianyuan Ancient Immortal Battlefield was truly terrifying. “Forget it.” “I thought that with a few trump cards, I could roam the Tianyuan Ancient Immortal Battlefield unhindered.” “And the result? Let alone True Immortal Lu, I was likely no match even for those two True Immortals.” “The Tianyuan Ancient Immortal Battlefield is far too dangerous. Better to leave. Even if I cannot establish a Dao field, living out an entire epoch in carefree ease is fine enough.” “Besides, even if one establishes a Dao field, is becoming a Heavenly Immortal guaranteed? It is far too difficult...” Dongyu had truly brushed against death this day. Great terror lay between life and death. True Immortals stood high above the mortal coil, rarely facing mortal peril, and perhaps they had long forgotten that terror. But having now walked that edge, Dongyu felt the horror between life and death once more. At this moment, all he wanted was to stay alive. Dao fields, Heavenly Immortals, cultivation—before life and death, all of it seemed utterly trivial. Having made up his mind, Dongyu hesitated no longer. He flew straight out of the second spatial layer and left the Tianyuan Ancient Immortal Battlefield altogether. Lu Changsheng had no idea that he had scared Dongyu into leaving the battlefield entirely, extinguishing even his desire to establish a Dao field. Only those who had faced death truly understood the value of life. Remaining where he stood, Lu Changsheng sank into thought. “Fortune?” Lu Changsheng did not attempt to analyze it. He faintly sensed that analyzing it was unnecessary. Fortune was ethereal and elusive; trying to analyze it would be an exercise in futility. Similarly, when it came to something tied to fortune, even a damaged immortal treasure, Lu Changsheng found it difficult to analyze anything meaningful from it. After a moment's thought, he stowed the damaged jade pendant away. It was not entirely useless; he could examine it again after repairing it later. For now, he naturally intended to venture deeper into the third layer. He had only just arrived in the third layer and had already obtained a damaged treasure capable of anchoring fortune. That suggested many immortal treasures had likely been left behind here, including others capable of anchoring fortune. How could he pass up such an opportunity? As for the danger? The third layer still harbored death spirits, and they were likely exceptionally strong. But for Lu Changsheng, his Devour Spirit divine ability countered death spirits perfectly, so he had nothing to fear. Thus, Lu Changsheng pressed deeper into the third layer. Sure enough, he encountered three death spirits. They were exceedingly formidable, far stronger than those in the first and second layers, to the point where even Lu Changsheng’s Devour Spirit divine ability felt somewhat strained. Still, he managed to devour all three. Continuing his sweep, he next encountered thirteen death spirits. Faced with this sight, Lu Changsheng did not hesitate for a second. He turned and fled immediately. What a joke—that was thirteen death spirits! While Devour Spirit countered them, not all death spirits were the same. In the first and second layers, he had feared nothing; no matter how many appeared, they were merely free nourishment. But the death spirits of the third layer were different. Lu Changsheng suspected Heavenly Immortals might have fallen in this third layer, and these were the spirits formed after their deaths. With the current power of his Devour Spirit divine ability, taking on three at once was near his limit. Facing more than a dozen? Even he had to run, or he would find himself in grave danger. However, avoiding their brunt was merely a tactic, not the ultimate outcome. Lu Changsheng fled first, then lured away a few death spirits at a time. Whenever he encountered a solitary spirit or a group of fewer than three, he struck decisively and devoured them. Of course, after each consumption, he had to rest for several days to allow his divine ability to recover before he could devour more. This required far more time, but the results were remarkably good. The progress of his Myriad Spirits Dao Fruit grew at a steady, significant pace every few days. One month, three months, nine months, a full year... For an entire year, Lu Changsheng remained in the third layer, and he still had not cleared all the death spirits. Today, however, would likely be his final sweep. Over the past year, he had acquired many immortal treasures, though most were merely fragments. As for treasures capable of anchoring fortune, he had found a few, but they were largely comparable to the jade pendant: either heavily damaged or limited in the fortune they could anchor, sufficient only for a tiny Dao field. Lu Changsheng would never settle for establishing a minuscule Dao field; that would be utterly meaningless. He required a larger Dao field, which naturally meant he needed a stronger treasure capable of anchoring greater fortune. He had searched almost the entirety of the third layer, and after a year, he had consumed nearly all its death spirits. Now, only one place remained. This location was unique. It appeared to be a palace, though only broken walls and crumbling ruins remained, so damaged that calling it a ruin was no exaggeration. Yet throughout the first and second layers, Lu Changsheng had never seen a single structure. This was the very first palace he had encountered within the Tianyuan Ancient Immortal Battlefield. There were certainly death spirits inside; he could sense them. But what else lay within? Lu Changsheng was filled with anticipation. Having prepared himself thoroughly, he stepped into the ruined palace. The moment he entered, his gaze narrowed. A person! No, perhaps an immortal! An immortal sat cross-legged on the ground, completely lifelike. He sat there in utter stillness, as if unaware of Lu Changsheng’s arrival. Strangely enough, Lu Changsheng also saw death spirits. The palace was filled with them, yet they did not swarm forward. Instead, they seemed somewhat fearful of the immortal. Lu Changsheng’s brow furrowed. An immortal still resided inside this palace, surrounded by death spirits? This was far too bizarre. Lu Changsheng observed for a moment, but the figure showed no sign of acknowledging him. Thus, he took the initiative to speak. “Fellow Daoist, forgive my intrusion!” His voice echoed throughout the palace. Lu Changsheng was fully prepared to flee the moment the death spirits made a move, or if the immortal showed any hostile intent. Yet after his words faded, leaving only his voice echoing through the halls, there was no response whatsoever. The immortal remained seated cross-legged on the ground, motionless. Lu Changsheng found this rather odd. Earlier, assuming the figure was a living immortal, he had refrained from probing with his divine consciousness out of courtesy. But now, sensing something strange, he immediately extended his consciousness toward the unfamiliar immortal. As his consciousness swept over the figure, Lu Changsheng’s heart jolted. Deathly qi! The immortal was shrouded in boundless deathly qi, without the faintest ember of life. Such a condition could only exist in a corpse; it could never belong to a living immortal. In truth, Lu Changsheng had seen something like this before. Back in the Boundary Sea, he had refined the corpse of the Kui Cow. That corpse had been exceptionally well preserved, yet no matter how pristine, it had still been nothing more than a corpse. Could this unfamiliar immortal before him be just like the corpse of the Kui Cow—already dead, nothing more than a corpse? Yet how could a corpse remain so lifelike? Had he died only recently? But any immortal who died recently would have long been torn to shreds by so many death spirits. Why would these spirits fear a mere corpse? *A corpse unrotted after thousands or tens of thousands of years, remaining completely lifelike...* *Could it be... a Heavenly Immortal?* Lu Changsheng’s eyes brightened as a suspicion formed in his mind. A Heavenly Immortal’s physical body was imperishable! Even in death, their corpses would remain lifelike across hundreds of millions of years, never decaying. The immortal corpse before him was very likely the corpse of a Heavenly Immortal!