Chapter 1

Prologue

Before the serialization begins, I would like to greet the readers who have come in and provide some explanation.

In today's online serializations, speed is crucial. If the updates are not fast enough, it won't work, and I am aware of this. However, not everyone can write quickly, and even fewer can maintain quality while updating at a high frequency. My health is not the best, and I am getting older. After nightfall, my vision even starts to blur. Therefore, I must apologize to those readers who expect to see double updates every day or a few bursts of intense updates. I can manage about 3,000 words a day, and although I would like to write faster, it is not currently possible.

I cannot provide double updates or burst updates like young people. For readers who prioritize speed, I am not the best choice. However, I can promise that once the serialization starts, there will be no breaks. Whether fast or slow, there will always be one update per day. If you can accept this pace and enjoy reading stories with plots and character depth, rather than just seeking instant gratification, then I warmly welcome you to start this reading journey. I hope that during this journey, both you and I will gain some insights.

Life is a continuous process of learning.

Chapter 1

The nine heavens were stirred by thunder, and purple lightning streaked across the sky. At the foot of Tianji Peak, countless cultivators looked up in anticipation. The once-in-a-thousand-years event, the Three Moons in the Sky, has always been a mysterious legend in the Daoist world. Under the three moons, one can transcend the tribulations and achieve Dao, ascending directly to True Immortal status, breaking through the void, and leaving the mortal world.

The path to immortality is long and arduous. Since the ancestor Wu Neng leaped into the sky a million years ago and the Daoist Huigen ascended to heaven by sword a hundred thousand years ago, no cultivator has achieved such a destiny. Even those willing to risk their lives and lose their Dao have failed to transcend the tribulations under the three moons, ultimately being struck by thousands of thunderbolts and reduced to ashes.

Four thousand years after the death of the Tianzun of Yinhu, another Tianzun has vowed to attend the thousand-year appointment, aiming to transcend the tribulations under the three moons and achieve eternal immortality. The news has shocked the Daoist world, and countless True Immortals, True Lords, and Dharma Emperors have rushed to the scene. Even many secluded Tianzuns have secretly arrived at Tianji Peak, eager to witness the final outcome.

At this moment, a figure appeared in the sky, its aura sweeping across thousands of miles. Even before it arrived, a vast purple aura surged like an ocean, rolling in like a mighty flood.

A person broke through the sky, its aura vast and majestic, its body like a mountain of gold and jade, its shoulders capable of supporting the heavens, and its back bearing the sky. It exuded an aura that could swallow mountains and rivers, with eyes like stars that could illuminate the Milky Way and penetrate the depths of the earth. Standing alone in the world, it was a supreme and proud figure!

As this person appeared at the summit of Tianji Peak, the sky was filled with dark clouds, and thousands of purple lightning bolts streaked across, breaking through the nine heavens. Below, countless cultivators whispered to each other.

"Who is it? Isn't that Tianzun Peng Wanli?"

"He hasn't been heard from for years, and we thought he was long dead. Who would have thought he quietly achieved Tianzun status? Five thousand years ago, at the age of nineteen, he ascended to the Dharma Emperor rank, a genius of unparalleled talent, known as the first person to traverse the world. But then he got stuck at the Dharma Emperor rank and fell silent. We thought he died a thousand years ago, but..."

"Reaching Tianzun status is nothing special; he's already five thousand years old. If he can't break through, his lifespan will soon be over. This time, he's probably making a last-ditch effort. It's a bit ambitious to skip the Dao Lord rank and directly ascend to True Immortal... The Dao is merciless, and the path to immortality is long. To leap from a carp to a dragon, one must have the right destiny..."

No matter how low the voices were, they could not escape the Tianzun's ears. Suddenly, a massive hand swept across the sky, covering the stars, and thousands of great Dao principles descended, striking the mountain below. Instantly, countless bodies were torn apart, and many cultivators met their end under this single blow, even as they raised their life-bound treasures, which could not withstand the Tianzun's wrath.

"Vermin, die!"

The wrath of the Tianzun was overwhelming, and this single strike killed over ten thousand cultivators at the foot of the peak. When the hand withdrew, no one dared to utter a word.

"The might of this Tianzun cannot be desecrated by vermin. Whoever speaks ill of me will be destroyed!"

With these words, the Daoist, dressed in a crane robe, holding a duster, and wearing a sun and moon lotus crown, looked up at the thousand thunderbolts in the sky. This would be the most important moment of his life. If he successfully transcended the tribulations, he would ascend from Tianzun to True Immortal, and perhaps even reach a higher realm, opening a new path for eternity.

"...You advised me not to take the risk, saying that although I could successfully transcend the tribulations, I would not achieve immortality and would instead become a nightmare for humanity. How could I believe such divinations? Before the great Dao, this Tianzun will defy the heavens and change my fate, walking my own path. Whoever stands in my way will die!"

As he spoke, thousands of purple lightning bolts shot down from the sky. Instantly, the summit of Tianji Peak was bathed in a brilliant light. Then, a strange phenomenon appeared in the sky, with a purple rainbow rising and piercing the nine heavens. Below, countless cultivators began to cheer.

"He succeeded! He succeeded! This is a once-in-a-thousand-years opportunity!"

"The Tianzun has successfully transcended the tribulations and become a True Immortal, breaking through the void and leaving the mortal world!"

"Damn, the sooner he's gone, the better. He killed so many people before leaving, go to hell!"

"He has ascended to immortality and left the mortal world. Quickly find his home and take everything. We cultivators believe in killing to achieve Dao. This time, remember to exterminate the entire family!"

The cacophony of voices lingered in the world, but for the one who had already broken through the void and become a True Immortal, they held no meaning. What lies beyond the void has always been a mystery, and those who can unravel this mystery are rare. Tianzun Peng Wanli broke through the void and achieved great success. The state of his True Immortal form is a point of curiosity for all cultivators, but only he knows what it is like after transcending the tribulations and ascending to immortality.

"...What is this? This..."

Peng Wanli was astonished by the scene before him. The land was vast and lush, with dense forests stretching endlessly, a scene of vibrant life. However, the spiritual energy in the air was extremely thin, clearly indicating that this was a different world from the one he had left. But... there was no immortal energy here, so it couldn't be the Immortal Realm...

"My powers..."

He tried to move his powers, and Peng Wanli's face changed. His strength had dropped to an unprecedented low. Although he still retained the cultivation of a True Lord, for a Tianzun, this meager power was almost useless. However, with his broad knowledge, he quickly understood the situation. His powers had not disappeared but were in a state of regression after the intense transformation of his body. Once he adapted, his powers would return, and he would become the legendary True Immortal...

Suddenly, a group of villagers, who looked like hunters, with rough and ugly features, saw a stranger and rushed over, pointing and gesturing, their eyes filled with malice, clearly with ill intentions. Their bodies were as strong as apes, and they wielded thick bone clubs, looking extremely fierce.

"Hmph! Mere vermin, daring to defy the might of the heavens!"

Even at the True Lord level, how could Peng Wanli take these mere mortals seriously? With a casual wave of his hand, he exploded one of the ugly villagers into a bloody mess. Then, he cast a few spells, creating illusions of the sun and moon, the nine heavens, and the great Dao of fire and lightning, displaying a variety of wondrous and profound abilities. The villagers were stunned, believing they had encountered a god, and hurriedly knelt down, bowing and shouting, worshiping Peng Wanli as a deity.

"...Truly uncivilized savages... I have fallen so low as to have to deal with these savages..."

Regardless, this was a strange world, and he needed to familiarize himself with it before fully recovering his powers. The first step was to gather information from these villagers. Although he was unsure if their languages were compatible, he could always break their heads and read their memories...

As he thought, a sudden wind blew from behind, and someone swung a blunt weapon, attempting to sneak attack him. Peng Wanli sneered inwardly. Such a clumsy attack would not even harm a cultivator at the Qi Condensation stage, let alone a Tianzun. With a mere thought, he could have sliced the attacker in half and sent the body flying a thousand miles away.

However, unexpectedly, his powers did not form a sword aura and could not strike the enemy from a distance. Peng Wanli was taken aback. As he turned to strike, he was a step too slow and was struck on the head by the bone club, causing his vision to black out.

Peng Wanli could not understand how, even at the True Lord level, he could be injured by mere mortals. His body, cultivated for a thousand years, was nearly invincible, and even a thousand spears and swords could not harm him. How could a single bone club injure him?

More unbelievable things followed. The surrounding villagers raised their bone clubs and attacked in a frenzy, beating him to a pulp, leaving him on the brink of death, and finally... losing consciousness.

"...Strange, it seems he's still breathing... Hey, are you dead?"

After an unknown amount of time, Peng Wanli was awakened by a voice. He struggled to open his eyes and saw a boy of about fourteen or fifteen, with messy hair and a dirty face, standing in front of him, holding a half-empty broken bowl. The water from the bowl had just been poured on his face.

While unconscious, he had not felt the pain, but upon waking, he realized the extent of his injuries. One eye was blind, his left arm was gone, and his body below the waist was completely missing. His injuries were severe, and even with his extraordinary immortal body, Peng Wanli had to admit, with shock and anger, that he did not have much time left...

These savages... had injured him so severely. He vowed to kill them all, exterminating their entire families, to avenge his humiliation... But... in his dying state, how could he seek revenge? He could feel that the adaptation period for his meridians was almost over, and his powers were gradually returning, but he did not have the time to live to see that moment...

"Ah, you outsiders always cause trouble. You just show up and start making a big fuss. Why not be a bit more low-key and try to understand the environment first? Every time an outsider comes, my workload increases. I have to clean up the bodies you kill and then clean up your own. Can't you make my job a bit easier?"

Though the boy spoke with an old man's tone, Peng Wanli could not help but ask, "What is this place?"

"This is called San Yue Mountain. There's a village nearby called Xiao Jiao Village. The person you killed and the people who killed you are all from Xiao Jiao Village. Whenever there's a storm on San Yue Mountain, with thunder and lightning, outsiders... like you... appear. They all wear strange clothes and speak in languages we can't understand, and they always cause trouble."

The boy shook his head. "Last time, someone brought a bunch of metal, saying it was a rocket that could destroy stars, but they got their head smashed first. There was also someone with clothes similar to yours, who claimed to be a god, but the people of Xiao Jiao Village ate him, bones and all. But you're the most extreme; you're still playing dead with half your body left. You almost scared me to death!"

"...Someone like me... a god?"

"Yes, the things are still there."

Following the boy's finger, Peng Wanli looked over and almost had a heart attack.