Chapter 48: The Immortal’s Intent

At the words of the Supreme Lord of Spiritual Epoch, everyone’s faces bore expressions of astonishment. Surely, it couldn’t be such an exaggeration. But if it weren’t so grave, Supreme Lord Ziyang would not have ordered the complete activation of the grand sect-protecting formation.

Within the ancient hall, Ziyang Supreme rose, his eyes filled with solemnity. “Now that this Dao Map is in our hands, it seems the secret hidden within the Southern Ridge Mountains is about to be revealed to the world.”

“However, there is one more matter. Hongxi, where did you obtain this map?”

At this, all eyes turned once more to Supreme Hongxi, as everyone was deeply concerned with this question. Just whose hand had this map come from? Who possessed such ability to not only depict the entire terrain of the Southern Ridge Mountains so completely, but with such clarity?

Xieming and Hongxi rose together.

“Honored Master!” Hongxi began, “We obtained this map from a reclusive master.”

“You should all know of this master. Not long ago, he effortlessly slew a Demon Lord with a single painting.”

The ancient hall was filled with the sound of sharp intakes of breath. All present were beings of supreme rank, yet they could not help but exclaim in amazement.

“So, it was that master!”

“No wonder he could create the Map of the Gathering Peaks. He is, after all, someone who can subdue a Demon Lord with ease.”

“But to be able to draw the full terrain of the Southern Ridge Mountains—that is no ordinary feat. We must pay close attention to such a master!”

The hall buzzed with discussion.

Supreme Lord of Spiritual Epoch’s expression darkened slightly as he spoke, “It seems that the secret within the Southern Ridge Mountains offers only two outcomes for any Supreme who enters: either they endure hardships, ascend to the Celestial Platform, and become immortals—or they die. There is no third path. But could it be that the master who drew the map has already emerged from the Southern Ridge Mountains?”

The hall fell silent, only the Supreme’s voice resounding, “Could the master be an immortal?”

An immortal?

The crowd’s expressions turned complicated. The Martial Realm had not seen the emergence of an immortal in a thousand years. Those who achieved immortality a millennium ago had already left for the Immortal Realm, leaving their legacies behind in haste. None remained.

To this day, the Martial Realm was led by Supremes.

If this master was truly an immortal, then he must be regarded with utmost seriousness.

At this thought, both Hongxi and Xieming looked a bit uneasy.

“We, too, thought this master was an immortal,” Xieming continued. “But all signs point to him being more than that—his power far surpasses any immortal.”

“Before we found him, even the subordinates of the Evil God had sought him out—two Supreme-level Yakshas, who even invoked secret arts! Yet they could not even enter the threshold of the master’s courtyard.”

“You must understand: the master’s humble abode already possesses the power to kill immortals!”

Once again, the hall was filled with the sound of people drawing breath in shock.

This master’s strength had already surpassed that of immortals!

“Just what level of power does this master possess, to be so formidable?”

“Could he be an Earthly Immortal? Aren’t there legends of a few who, after becoming immortals, chose not to leave the Martial Realm?”

“I don’t know. When did someone of such strength appear in our Martial Realm, and how did we not sense it at all?”

The hall erupted in discussion, none knowing who this person of such great background could be.

Hearing the speculation, Hongxi shook his head.

“This master is likely more than just an Earthly Immortal.”

“I suspect he comes from the Immortal Realm itself—he has a peach tree from the Immortal Realm growing in his garden!”

Hongxi’s words left everyone even more stunned. Their faces froze in disbelief.

A peach tree from the Immortal Realm… to see such a thing in the Martial Realm…

That master had actually planted a peach tree from the heavens in the mortal world!

“In that case, he must be someone from the Immortal Realm,” Supreme Lord of Spiritual Epoch’s expression softened slightly. “That explains the painting of the Southern Ridge Mountains. For us, it is a challenge—but for an immortal, it is nothing at all.”

Supreme Ziyang nodded in agreement. “I believe this immortal painted the map and gave it to you for a reason.”

“But what could his intent be…”

No one could fathom Zhu Xiaoyuan’s thoughts, and all were troubled.

“Honored Master, all,” Xieming stepped forward.

“In my view, an immortal acts with a higher purpose. Even if he has designs, he has now given us the map of the Southern Ridge Mountains—so we must enter. How convenient for us!”

“This may well be the prelude to a great upheaval in the Southern Ridge Mountains!”

His words hinted at deeper meaning. Only by speaking thus could he express the intent of their predecessor.

At that moment, a beam of light fell at the entrance of the Supreme Sanctuary, landing directly before its gates.

An elder whose strength was close to that of a Supreme landed and called out loudly, “Honored Master! Urgent news—the Southern Ridge Mountains are manifesting strange phenomena!”

“The earth is collapsing, cracks are appearing everywhere, as if something is descending into the world!”

This elder was the Supreme Sanctuary’s emissary to the Southern Ridge Mountains, tasked with reporting any developments as quickly as possible.

Having received the news, he rushed back in haste.

His voice was anxious and urgent, echoing through the entire Supreme Sanctuary and interrupting the Supremes’ discussion in the ancient hall. All their expressions changed dramatically.

They looked to Xieming with complex emotions.

It was just as the master had foretold!

Something momentous was indeed happening in the Southern Ridge.

“As expected! Everything is unfolding according to the master’s design—we had barely obtained the painting, and already anomalies have erupted in the Southern Ridge Mountains!”

The Supreme Lord of Spiritual Epoch was torn between disbelief and awe.

Such calculations were truly marvelous!

Once again, they couldn’t help but marvel—just who was this master?

“Hurry, put the painting away. I must now activate the sect-protecting formation!” Supreme Ziyang reminded everyone present.

With such strange phenomena occurring, as a sanctuary-level power, they could not stand idly by.

Supreme Xieming put away the Map of the Gathering Peaks.

“Honored Master, what should we do now?” one of the Supremes asked.