My Journey to Immortality Begins with Hunting-Chapter 636 – Choosing the Life Star, Returning to the Central Plains - Part 2

Chapter 636 – Choosing the Life Star, Returning to the Central Plains - Part 2

The next day.

The crowd gathered had grown far beyond what they had originally expected.

Li Yuan swept his gaze across them, 156 people.

Apart from the original nine, all the rest were third rank cultivators. In fact, this likely represented every third rank expert of this era. Many of them had been stuck at fourth rank, only breaking through thanks to the surge of spiritual energy in recent times.

Suddenly, Li Yuan’s eyes landed on a man with fourth rank cultivation. He had a refined look, elegant and composed.

The moment their eyes met, the man stepped forward and bowed deeply. “Ying Xiang, at your service, Alliance Leader.”

Li Yuan understood instantly. This was Zhen’er’s husband.

He frowned.

Sensing Li Yuan’s reaction, Ying Xiang dropped to his knees. “Please...allow it.”

Li Yuan let out a long sigh. But now, in this moment, it wasn’t about allowing or not allowing anything. The second group headed for the Deathless Tomb had already set off. Even if he wanted Ying Xiang to leave, it was too late.

This was the final journey. Bonds had long since formed between the third rank cultivators and the various sect leaders. After all this time, they naturally knew everything that was happening here.

Back when Li Yuan had first ventured deep into the Hall of Life, many of these third rank cultivators had also entered, not as explorers, but to train on the wide, open plaza near the entrance.

Now, they had made up their minds. They wanted to follow him all the way to the hall’s final destination.

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

The journey began smoothly. Everyone knew the route by now, and they moved forward without hesitation.

Seven days in.

The expedition team passed the familiar wall with the carvings, the spot they always paused at during previous expeditions.

Around the tenth day, they arrived near the grave of the Radiant Treasure Buddha.

Following the map that the man had left behind, they pressed on.

The path ahead grew broader and broader, so wide that the enclosing stone walls eventually faded from view. As the space expanded, even the blood fiends lurking within seemed to thin out, diluted by sheer vastness.

In fact, they encountered fewer blood fiends here in the deep than they had near the painting.

With every step deeper, the change became more apparent.

Three days later, the blood fiends had all but vanished. The way ahead was empty, calm. The sense of constant danger they’d feared, that they might have to fight tooth and nail just to stand at the final threshold, was fading.

A quiet relief washed over them.

Three more days passed, and then it felt as if they’d stepped into another world.

This new world was defined by a single, oppressive terrain, a heavy, pitch-black ground that was both solid and strangely magnetic, drawing everything toward it. The only other feature was the faint, blue luminescence floating in the air. It was dim and cold.

Li Yuan sniffed the air. There was a charred, smoky scent lingering in it.

There was no mistaking it. What lay ahead must be the legendary Soul Furnace, the one said to stretch across Heaven and Earth, to stand beyond the reach of time itself. The moment you saw it, you had seen reincarnation.

A day later, Li Yuan was the first to stop.

The others, catching on moments later, halted and looked up.

In the distance, far beyond the thick darkness of the void, loomed a massive, awe-inspiring furnace. Its height and width were immeasurable, tens of thousands of kilometers tall, tens of thousands of kilometers long.

Beneath it shimmered a dazzling brilliance so bright it seemed unreal.

To one side of the furnace, a strange, moonlit glow spilled out, majestic yet subdued like moonlight on a stormy night. There was an overwhelming force radiating from that faint light, vast and unknowable.

It was only because they were still so far away that they could see the outline of the furnace at all. If they were any closer, they’d be like ants standing at the edge of the sea, dwarfed, helpless, and profoundly small.

At the mouth of the furnace, countless multicolored objects were being cast inside, burning as they melted into one another.

Beneath the furnace, a slanted exit dipped downward. That eerie moonlight was concentrated there, swirling around the opening.

From that exit flowed something strange, transparent forms that moved like water, streaming out in a steady rhythm. One by one, drop by drop, countless silhouettes flowed out with every passing second.

They looked like nothing more than clear spring water, endlessly trickling down.

After a long, stunned silence, someone finally murmured, “So this...this is reincarnation.”

Another voice answered, soft and solemn, “Before life enters the world, it is pure, utterly pure.

But after walking through the world, after collecting memories and pain and joy, it no longer returns the same. It carries color, every shade imaginable.”

“This Soul Furnace burns away the old souls,” someone said softly, “reducing them to ash, only to forge new ones that descend once more into the world.”

Another person stared at the interplay of light and shadow ahead, and murmured, “Could that be the Sun and the Moon? The Sun fuels the furnace, its Yang energy light and expansive, purifying the soul of all its impurities. The Moon forges the soul anew, its Yin energy dense and still, drawing that fresh spirit together into a form.”

Ping'an, Meng Xingxian, and Bai Xinxuan exchanged looks. They had heard before what Han Feng had once witnessed, a vision of destruction, of broken samsara. But standing here now, they were more certain than ever. Not all of reincarnation had collapsed.

What Han Feng saw was a broken fragment. But this was still intact.

Yet even intact, the Hall of Life that served as the gateway to this place was sealed. In a way, wasn’t that its own kind of collapse?

They considered pressing forward.

But suddenly, they realized that they had already reached the end.

The moment they could see the Soul Furnace, they had arrived.

The path ahead looked like it continued. It looked just like the ground beneath their feet, solid, dark, and unremarkable. But no matter how hard they tried, they couldn’t move another step forward.

There was no force repelling them. No invisible barrier.

It was simply...that the path no longer existed.

What they saw with their eyes clashed violently with the truth their bodies felt. It was a contradiction they couldn’t resolve.

Li Yuan broke the silence. “Same as before. We rotate in shifts. Everyone else focuses on comprehension. Even the third ranks need to take turns on guard duty.”

Bai Xinxuan said, “Let’s make three groups. Each with 52 people, three leaders, 49 followers. That way we keep things safe, and every clan gets more time to study.”

Li Yuan scanned the surroundings. There was no sign of danger. He nodded. “Alright. I’ll stay with you a few more days.”

The group began organizing the rotations.

Bai Xinxuan, Ping'an, and Meng Xingxian formed one team, bringing along 48 third ranks and Ying Xiang.

The former Sect Master, Wood Hall Master, and Puppetry Dean formed the second group.

The third was made up of three experts from formerly hidden clans and sects.

Once the groups were finalized, they settled in to begin their meditations.

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

Days slipped by.

Li Yuan didn’t gain much insight.

But the others, there was a quiet fire in their eyes. A sense of longing. Hope.

Gazing upon the cycle of reincarnation was deeply taxing, draining not just mentally but spiritually. Thankfully, this time they had brought every resource they could carry.

Whenever their strength dipped too low, they would immediately take pills, rest briefly, and resume.

As for danger, this place held almost none.

By plan, Li Yuan should have left already.

And now, he decided it was time.

This place was a gamble, a monumental one. And if he lingered too long, the door to the Hall of Life might close behind him.

The others had no choice. But he did.

So, he said his goodbyes to Ping'an and Bai Xinxuan, then turned and began the long walk back, alone.

Once back on solid ground, he packed up what he needed, a vast trove of spirit stones, the Gate of the Beast Path, and the Life Star Art stele..

Finally, he called for Ying Zhuoyao and prepared to leave with her together.

But then, on second thought, Li Yuan made a detour. He went to check on Han Feng.

He didn’t see Han Feng, but he did see Zhangsun Sanniang.

The girl looked up at him with a pitiful expression and managed to squeeze out a timid, “Senior...”

Li Yuan asked, “How has she been? Has she come out at all?”

Zhangsun Sanniang shook her head quickly. “She hasn’t come out.”

Then, all of a sudden, the little Wolfmother pushed herself up from her sickbed and collapsed to her knees before Li Yuan, crying.

“Please, Senior, take me back to the Central Plains. I don’t want to stay here anymore... Even if I die, I want to die in the Central Plains.”

Because of the flame that burned inside her, she was something akin to the Ice Folk, her body preserved its youthful appearance until the end of her century-long life.

But now, she was well into her 40s.

Li Yuan frowned. “But your condition...you’re not well.”

Zhangsun Sanniang forced a smile as she stood. “I’m fine, really. It’s nothing serious. I just feel weak sometimes.”

Li Yuan looked at her frail figure, and his mind wandered to the promise he had made her long ago. And with Han Feng still refusing to emerge after all this time, he finally gave a slight nod.

Zhangsun Sanniang’s face lit up with joy, and she bowed repeatedly, tearful and grateful.

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

Late autumn.

The flying ship rose into the clouds, carrying them away from the Eastern Sea.

The port, once so bustling, was quiet now.

And this might very well be the last time it ever launched.

By the time the ship descended upon the banks of the Moon River Beach, it was deep winter in the mortal world.

Great flurries of snow blanketed the sky and earth, coating the world in silver and silence.

Cold as it was, this world still held more of the warmth and pulse of life than the Eastern Sea ever did.

Once Li Yuan’s carriage rolled down from the flying ship, its hooves kicked up clumps of snow as it sped off into the vast white.

But the journey was too slow. Far too slow. Li Yuan needed to reach Hidden River Province as soon as possible.

While he had been on the flying ship, Zhen'er had been mobilizing every resource she could to search for Xie Yu. The latest report said that traces of Xie Yu had appeared near Gemhill County.

Zhen'er didn’t have time to investigate further. She had already left with the second group headed for the Western Extremes.

But Li Yuan still had to make that detour to Gemhill County before turning west toward the Western Pole, and then ultimately the Deathless Tomb.

Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop... The carriage rattled over the frozen ground, faster now, but still not fast enough.

Li Yuan called toward the driver’s seat, “I’m flying to Gemhill County. Can you keep up?”

Ying Zhuoyao’s voice rang back, “My strength comes from you, Young Master. I’ll manage.”

Li Yuan then looked to Zhangsun Sanniang. “We’ll stop at the next town. There’s gold and silver in the cart, enough for you to buy a house and settle down.”

His gaze swept across the wagon.

“There’s a lot I can’t take with me. Some of it, I’ll leave behind in a hidden compartment in your new home. Later, I’ll seal it. Just you and I will know the code. I’ll come back for it. Maybe not in a year. Maybe not even in ten. It could be a hundred. But once you settle down, if you build a family, pass it down through the generations. If you never have a family, then entrust the secret to someone you trust.”

Zhangsun Sanniang bowed respectfully. “Yes, Senior.”

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

The next day.

The snow stopped. The sky turned a crisp, clear blue, and golden sunlight bathed the world, wrapping the ice and snow in a shimmering coat. The air was sharp and cold. A gentle wind stirred the dust, and the land, freshly scrubbed by the storm, felt open and boundless.

Before long, a small town appeared on the horizon.

The town sat beside a sprawling pasture, and as their carriage entered, Li Yuan saw groups of rugged men in furs herding horses along the roads.

As they passed, the leader of the riders turned his head, almost involuntarily.

But he wasn’t looking at Ying Zhuoyao, who sat at the driver’s seat.

He was looking at the horses.

To him, it seemed, not even the most beautiful woman could outshine a fine horse.

Though he had already ridden past, the man suddenly circled back, pulling his steed alongside the carriage. With an admiring grin, he called out, “What magnificent horses!”

Then he cupped his hands respectfully and said, “I am Huyan Shu. Forgive my boldness, but may I ask...? Are these two horses for sale? I mean no offense, but I truly love fine horses. If you’re willing to part with them, I’d be forever grateful.”

Ying Zhuoyao looked ready to bark him off.

But Li Yuan spoke first. “How much?”

Huyan Shu answered without hesitation. “500 taels of gold each! 500 taels per horse!”

Gasps rang out behind him. Shouts followed.

“Brother, are you mad?!”

“Ugh, there goes his horse obsession again.”

“To him, even a girl can’t compare to a girl.”

...

Huyan Shu smacked the head of one of the men beside him. “You fool! Can’t you see how divine these horses are? Anything less than 500 taels would be an insult!”

Li Yuan didn’t actually need the horses. With a smile, he said, “Both for 500 taels. Consider it a favor between friends.”

Huyan Shu beamed. “Thank you! Thank you, truly! You’ve made a friend today. May I ask your name?”

Li Yuan answered, “My lady here is Zhangsun Sanniang.”

As he spoke, he gently tapped the little Wolfmother beside him.

Zhangsun Sanniang gave a soft cough, pulled back the curtain, and looked out, her face pale with illness. She gave a polite nod. “Master Huyan.”

Huyan Shu blinked, momentarily taken aback by her appearance. Then he recovered and asked, “Is Miss here to settle down? Or is this a business trip?”

“Settling down. I haven’t found a house yet,” Zhangsun Sanniang replied.

Huyan Shu let out a booming laugh. “Well then, Miss, if you run into any trouble in this town, just mention my name, Huyan Shu. If anyone gives you grief, I and my brothers will see to it they regret it!”