Immortality from Taming Elephant

Behind Xu Guang, the void began to distort.

It was not a simple gathering of energy, but a condensation of "existence."

The first to appear was a vague humanoid silhouette, as tall as Xu Guang’s own body, with an indistinct face.

But then, the silhouette began to "grow."

On the left side of the body, a chaotic armor with five colors swirling emerged. On the armor’s surface, there were faint images of Cyan Dragon Soaring Clouds, White Tiger Roaring Mountains, Vermilion Bird Burning the Sky, Black Tortoise Suppressing the Sea, and Qilin Carrying Objects. This was the embodiment of the Five Emperors’ Dharma Body, representing the Martial Dao foundation and the rotation of the Five Elements.

On the right side of the body, it was covered by a layer of dark purple, dragon scale-patterned, eerie armor. The surface of the armor seemed to host countless tiny swirls of demonic thoughts, devouring light and emanating a heart-palpitating aura of abomination. This was the embodiment of Demonic Thought Coral, representing control over demonic thoughts, transforming harm into benefit.

At the chest, a complex, furnace-like pale golden pattern slowly lit up. At its center, there seemed to be an invisible furnace burning, within which faint illusions of sun, moon, stars, mountains, and rivers fluctuated. This was the Forge Pattern Master’s "Great Practice of the Human Furnace," representing the refinement of the heavens and earth and forming one’s own rules.

At the top of the head, there was an extremely faint, almost invisible translucent light wheel slowly rotating. The light wheel, though formless and intangible, seemed to govern all the powers below, allowing them to coexist harmoniously and operate in order. This was the embodiment of Extreme Soul Power, representing the governance of the Divine Soul and the core of the will.

And beneath this strange dharma appearance, a phantasmal land of scorched earth extended, with cities and smoke, academies echoing, icy plains and snowstorms, fiery domain and lava... these were the roads Xu Guang had traveled, the experiences he had faced, the people and places he cared about.

The dharma appearance’s face finally became clear.

It was neither Xu Guang’s original handsome form nor the solemn and benevolent face of a divine statue.

It was of a peaceful and indifferent bearing, with eyes deep as if seeing through worldly affairs, and lips curved in a faint, mocking arc at destiny. The eyes reflected vicissitudes, determination, slaughter, and mercy—a complex yet harmonious whole.

This dharma appearance did not belong to any known category of dharma appearances.

It was not purely a Martial Dao dharma appearance, nor purely a Qi Refining Technique dharma appearance, and certainly not a Demon Dao dharma appearance.

It was already beyond mere Martial Dao, like something Xu Guang himself walked out from Martial Dao, his unique path.

It was Xu Guang—"Nine Heavens Divine Elephant Demon-slaying True Monarch" Xu Guang’s unique manifestation of his Dao fruit!

Xu Guang named it—True Monarch Form.

At the very moment the True Monarch Form fully formed!

Boom!

Inside Xu Guang, it was as if some shackle had been violently broken!

Blood Qi surged like a river breaching its banks, rushing and roaring, washing over his limbs and bones, every acupoint was roaring, every inch of muscle and bone undergoing transformation!

The previously long-stalled barrier of the peak of First Nirvana, under this naturally flowing force, shattered inch by inch like paper!

The Second Nirvana Realm was achieved!

He suppressed his own transformation, for after all, this was not Hongze, and the presence of the Void Realm could not be sensed. To complete the final transformation here would consume a vast amount of resources, beyond what Paradise could satisfy.

Xu Guang opened his eyes, his pupils containing divine radiance yet restrained, as if galaxies were swirling. He lightly clenched his fist, feeling the several-fold surge of power within, and a clearer perception of the surrounding world.

"Ah, so that’s it... The dharma appearance is not merely a simple accumulation of power, but a condensation of one’s own path. With the formation of the dharma appearance, the foundation is solidified, and breakthrough becomes a matter of course," Xu Guang realized.

With a thought, the magnificent and mysterious three-zhang-tall True Monarch Form behind him quietly vanished, returning to the Dantian to merge with his own body. From then on, this dharma appearance would be the source of his power, the manifestation of his Dao, moving with his thoughts, and possessing boundless power.

"Congratulations, True Monarch, on achieving the Great Dao!" Hanshang had somehow arrived outside the Divine Temple, sensing the profoundly unfathomable aura emanating from Xu Guang, she joyfully knelt.

Xu Guang extended a hand in a virtual support, a gentle force lifting Hanshang to her feet.

He had shared much with Hanshang these days, be it about Hongze or the Dark World’s situation.

Hanshang had come to understand this.

Understanding his mind.

"True Monarch has broken the mirror, is he returning?"

There was a hint of reluctance in her tone.

Xu Guang smiled slightly, "Yes, it’s time to return."

"The waters of this world run deep, so be cautious in the future. If anything happens, contact General Wei, and I will surely come."

The existence of the Painful Spirit God must have many followers in this world, and there might even be Saint Realm beings; otherwise, how could its existence be known by Murong Zhen?

The earlier thoughts, in light of recent busy days, had been constantly refined.

He felt that after returning, he might have to seek a breakthrough with Murong Zhen’s help.

Find the Saint Realm presence behind them, to discreetly escape Hanshang and others from the Dark World, which would be much safer than coming here to take risks after breaking through the Holy Domain himself.

After all, according to the previous speculation, the Painful Spirit God was most likely an Ancient God of the Supreme Realm.

Such an existence was far beyond what he could imagine.

...

Returning to reality, the aura drastically different from the Dark World surged in.

Xu Guang took a deep breath.

Ah, how good Hongze is.

He took out the many treasures he had acquired over these years and began preparing for a true breakthrough.

The place he chose was an island near the eastern sea of Penglai Continent.

Along with General Wei, he ventured into the Void Realm, commencing a true breakthrough.

Starting from the dharma appearance, he refined everything about himself, completed without any heavenly or earth-shattering anomaly; all changes were confined within, heavy, substantive, and natural.

The true realm of the Second Nirvana.

Xu Guang slowly raised his hand, gently clenching his fist, as one fissure after another spread outward from his fingers.

...

Days later, three thousand miles east of Penglai East Continent, a lone island suspended above the vast blue sea came into view.

This island was named "Sword Testing Island," not naturally formed but rumored to have been left after a Sword Dao master from ancient times cleaved a mountain peak in the sea with a single sword. The island’s surface was as flat as a whetstone, spanning roughly a hundred miles, and the rock was dark blue and harder than iron.

Due to its remote location and frequent appearances of powerful sea beasts, it was rarely visited ordinarily, becoming an "extra-legal place" for cultivators to settle grievances and spar.

Today, Sword Testing Island welcomed several guests.

Xu Guang, Jin Buhuan, and Yin Zuo flew from Limeng City, landing on a relatively flat rock platform on the island’s east side.

The sea wind whistled, carrying a salty and damp scent, and in the distance, waves crashed against the rocks with a thunderous roar.

"Ni Heng’s agreed place is here, at a quarter past noon." Yin Zuo looked at the sky and said in a deep voice, "This person is always punctual; if he says a quarter past, he won’t be a minute early nor a minute late."

Jin Buhuan looked somewhat nervously at Xu Guang: "Brother Xu, are you... truly ready? This Ni Heng is not someone Tuoba Hong can compare to."

Xu Guang stood with his hands behind him, gazing at the vast sea, his expression calm: "The road is distant and long, but going forth will bring arrival. Having come to this point, retreating is not an option."

At this moment, his aura was entirely restrained, the realm of the Second Nirvana he just broke into incredibly stable, the True Monarch Form floating in his Dantian, merged seamlessly with his surrounding power, without any leakage. From Yin Zuo and Jin Buhuan’s perspective, Xu Guang appeared even more unfathomable than before, yet they couldn’t discern his exact depth.

Woo—!

A deep and long conch horn sounded from the distant sea.

Only to see a red stream of light breaking through the clouds from the horizon, rushing forward with incredible speed! Where the stream of light passed, it plowed a long white trail across the sea surface, with steam rising.

In the blink of an eye, the red light settled thirty yards away on the opposite rock platform.

The light receded, revealing three figures.

The leader, though not exceedingly brawny at eight feet tall, stood upright like a pine, as steady as a sea-stabilizing divine needle, capable of suppressing all eight-directional waves and winds.

He looked about thirty years old, not particularly handsome, but chiseled with sword-like brows slanting into the hair, a high nose bridge, and tightly pressed lips, exuding an air of determination and decisiveness, tinged with a cold aloofness. His most striking feature was his eyes, with unusually dark golden pupils, within which earth, fire, wind, and water seemed to cycle and manifest, occasionally flashing a sharp light that sent shivers down one’s spine.

He wore a simple dark outfit, undecorated, with tight cuffs and trouser legs, appearing clean and neat. Long hair was casually tied at the back with a dark red wooden hairpin, a few strands falling over his forehead, swaying gently in the breeze.

Standing there, he emitted no deliberate aura, yet an inherent confidence, arrogance, and the iron-blooded temperament forged through countless battles overwhelmingly filled the space.

This person was none other than the third ranked member of Penglai Palace’s Inner Sect, Ni Heng!