CHAPTER 550: 438 ZHANGG CHONGMING CHAPTER FINALE: WALKING THE PATH ALONE! [PLEASE VOTE MONTHLY TICKET!]_4

The newly ascended Heavenly Venerates in the Nine Heavens are mostly from the Dongning Immortal Court and the Fierce Bird Mountain lineage.

They have long since dominated the Chongming Realm.

Thus, Sima Hanchuang’s status is self-evident.

On this day.

He came to the mountain, ascended Tuota Peak, and stood respectfully before his master, just like when he first arrived at Mishen Island and was accepted as a disciple under his teacher.

Chen Jichuan was within the mountain.

In this life, 144,000 years had passed.

He was already aged; though his features remained unchanged, his hair and beard had turned white long ago. He exuded an even more transcendent aura, yet it could not conceal the wear and tear of time.

Sima Hanchuang looked at his master’s white hair and beard, and a premonition arose in his heart, filling him with sorrow.

"Master."

He could not understand, with Master’s talents and abilities, and despite Mistress ascending to the Upper Realm early on, why his Master had long delayed his own ascent, choosing instead to remain in the Chongming Realm for more than seventy thousand years.

Now, the time seemed short.

"Sima."

Chen Jichuan, with kind and gentle eyes, looked at his eldest disciple before him, his face wearing a smile: "Years ago, on Mishen Island, I took thousands of disciples, yet eventually, only seven of you entered my fold officially as students. Zhang Ye and Chen Chong, among four others, failed to reach the Fourth Realm and passed away early. You, Sixth Discipal Ding Shan, and Seventh Yuan Buwei were both talented and diligent, eventually achieving the realm of Heavenly Venerate. Those two were exiled by me from the Chongming Realm to seek their own futures. Only you, acting on your own accord, established the True Spirit Imprint Immortal Sect and vowed to protect Fierce Bird Mountain. There was no need for this sacrifice—my preparations for Fierce Bird Mountain were already sufficient; why ruin your own future?"

As one grows old, one’s temperament changes.

So too did Chen Jichuan. His body aged, softening his heart, and reminiscing about past memories became an inclination. Seeing this eldest disciple before him stirred feelings of affection.

This disciple could have ascended beyond the heavens, pursued a Fifth-Order path, and witnessed the splendor of celestial horizons.

The Dongning Immortal Court controlled the Immortal Gate Realm. Earlier, Chen Jichuan had bathed that very realm in blood, acquiring countless Holy Artifacts, enough for over ten individuals to ascend.

Yu Ming Immortal Venerable had departed.

Shanhua Venerable, Yu Cheng Venerable had also left.

Sixth disciple Ding Shan, Seventh disciple Yuan Buwei had both ascended.

But Sima Hanchuang chose the True Spirit Imprint Immortal Sect, pledging to eternally guard the Nine Heavens and shield Fierce Bird Mountain. While Chen Jichuan did not condone this decision, the sentiment moved him deeply.

Thus, he summoned Sima Hanchuang frequently over the years, imparting teachings face-to-face and aiding his improvement. After joining the True Spirit Imprint Immortal Sect, cultivation advancements were impossible, but Divine Skills could still be enhanced.

Though Sima Hanchuang was known as the Fire Cloud Immortal Venerable, when he first entered the Immortal Sect, his cultivation had only reached the Fourth Realm Fourth Layer.

Upon entering the Immortal Sect, his strength was initially inferior even to Wanying Venerable.

Even if he didn’t perish, he would inevitably face bullying.

Thus, Chen Jichuan taught him Wind Thunder Walking, elevating his strength to the Third Realm. With this, he remained undefeated in the Nine Heavens. Though his cultivation never reached the Fourth Realm Ninth Layer, he avoided persecution by beings like the reborn Golden Light Immortal Venerable.

Additionally, he advanced Daluo Heavenly Fire to the level of Divine Skill, aiding Sima Hanchuang in his understanding.

Sima Hanchuang, who cultivated the Vermilion Bird Glaze Scripture, found that as Daluo Heavenly Fire reached the Third Realm, its lethal strength, given his shortcomings in cultivation and Daoist practices, could no longer match the destructive power that Wang Yan once wielded in annihilating the Nine Heavens. Nonetheless, it far surpassed ordinary Immortal Venerables.

Speed.

Destruction.

Both were intertwined.

But Sima Hanchuang’s defenses still fell short.

Thus, Chen Jichuan subsequently passed down to him the Vajra Mantra, granting him the Vajra Body, impervious to all techniques.

With these three Divine Skills at his disposal, he could dominate and remain undefeated.

Yet still, Chen Jichuan couldn’t help but feel grieved; no matter how powerful Divine Skills were, they were powerless against the erosion of time. As this lifetime neared its end, he arduously searched through various scriptures and spells, eventually deriving yet another Divine Skill.

"Come closer."

Chen Jichuan called to Sima Hanchuang.

"Yes."

Sima Hanchuang obediently stepped forward, only to see his Master extend a finger to press against his brow. In the next instant, spiritual light erupted, enveloping him in profound insight.

After a long time.

Upon regaining clarity, his Master’s voice resonated in his ears: "This Divine Skill is called Pagoda Heart Holding. It does not cultivate for destruction, nor defense, but focuses solely on the heart itself. Like a treasure tower—pure and stainless, untarnished by externalities—it can maintain mental stability for millions, even tens of millions of years, unaging and indestructible, unwavering throughout eternity."

This was a Divine Skill Chen Jichuan specifically derived for Sima Hanchuang to cultivate mental stability.

In True Spirit Imprint Immortal Sect, physical death was not a concern.

But the greatest fear lay in an unstable mind, descending into insanity after millions of years. Thus, Chen Jichuan conceived Pagoda Heart Holding and passed it on to Sima Hanchuang, hoping it would help him anchor his mind.

"Master."

Sima Hanchuang raised his head to meet his teacher’s earnest gaze. Reflecting on the countless scriptures painstakingly collected by Dongning Immortal Court over the years, he now realized it had all been for him as a disciple.

His eyes could no longer hold back tears, two streams fell, and he cried aloud: "This unfilial disciple burdens Master with such effort and care!"

"The renowned ’Fire Cloud Immortal Venerable’ shedding tears here—aren’t you afraid of becoming a laughingstock if word spreads?"

Chen Jichuan smiled and said, "Cultivate well, stabilize your mind. The world holds countless changes; the Dao is fifty, the heavens evolve forty-nine times, leaving room for one thread of hope. Keep yourself alive; perhaps there will come a chance for release in the future. Today’s plight is but a tempering; perhaps later it will become your destiny. I only hope that you and I, as teacher and student, may meet again one day."

His gentle laughter still echoed on Tuota Peak.

His soft words had just fallen.

Sima Hanchuang saw his teacher’s smiling face, eyelids lowering, already devoid of breath.

"Master!"

Sima Hanchuang’s heart was overwhelmed with grief. He knelt, prostrated himself on the ground, and wept bitterly.

In the Chongming and Immortal Gate Realms, the fearsome and unmatched Wind Thunder Immortal Venerable and Tyrant were now gone.

The two realms would reopen their Chapters, ushering in a new era.

...

The Chongming arc concludes.