You're truly amazing, simply inhuman

The Purple Star Heavenly Dao was perfect in every way, except for being a bit too merciful.

It painstakingly nurtured so many outstanding talents, only to willingly send them to the upper realm without utilizing them. As long as its own children could live better lives, it was content.

At first, Chen Yi didn’t understand this approach, but as time passed, he gradually grew accustomed to it.

It was precisely because of the Purple Star Heavenly Dao’s selflessness and gentleness that he let his guard down, willing to communicate with it as an equal. He even dared to risk the Heavenly Tribulation of Ascension to cooperate with its attempt to reopen the path of immortality.

Had it been any other domineering Heavenly Dao, Chen Yi would never have been so lenient. If the Heavenly Dao was forceful, he would only be even more ruthless—perhaps even refining it on the spot!

But faced with such a soft and benevolent Heavenly Dao, Chen Yi found it hard to be harsh. If he was even slightly stern, it would sulk and hide away in grievance. Yet if he wasn’t firm, it would keep pulling some overly merciful stunts.

What was he supposed to do?

He couldn’t just slaughter most of the disciples it had painstakingly raised—while it was still grieving—and then immediately force it to do something it didn’t want to, could he?

Wouldn’t that just make it miserable for a long time?

No, he had to appeal to reason and emotion.

With this in mind, Chen Yi lowered his gaze, staring at the five slumbering souls in his palm with a sigh.

"Alas, they’ve already been tainted by the aura of the Heavenly Tribulation of Ascension. Even if they start over, they won’t escape its judgment. You know how devastating the tribulation is—do you really think they’d survive it after re-cultivating?"

"Probably... not?"

"Then why aren’t you refining them into Heavenly Dao Loose Immortals? Only under your direct jurisdiction can they avoid being targeted by the tribulation."

"But their dream has always been to reach the Immortal Realm..."

"Dreams? Only the living get to have dreams. The dead don’t. You don’t want your hard-raised children to have their souls scattered, do you?"

"Maybe we should wait for them to wake up and ask them first. They might—"

"If you ask, they’ll refuse. Just listen to me—refine them!"

"Alright, alright, don’t be angry. I’ll do it..."

Watching as the Purple Star Heavenly Dao timidly refined the five souls, Chen Yi finally nodded in satisfaction.

In truth, these souls hadn’t been tainted by the tribulation at all—they wouldn’t be hunted down and struck.

As long as they didn’t continue strengthening their souls to provoke the tribulation again, they would remain free-roaming loose immortals, no longer bound by the decay of mortal flesh, free to wander heaven and earth!

This was the advantage of surviving the Heavenly Tribulation of Ascension.

Naturally, if they were conscious, they would never agree to become Heavenly Dao Loose Immortals, bound to this world.

Which was exactly why Chen Yi made sure they stayed unconscious. After all, the Purple Star Heavenly Dao didn’t understand the tribulation as deeply as he did—whatever he said, it would believe.

Before long, the five newly-minted Heavenly Dao Loose Immortals awoke.

At first, they were overjoyed—having survived the tribulation, they had achieved a form of immortality. As long as they didn’t act recklessly, they could do whatever they pleased, free from the Heavenly Dao’s control!

But the moment they sensed the immense, unbreakable bond tying them to this world, their joy vanished.

Damn you, Chen Yi!

You’re really something!

Not only did you withhold the promised Immortal Spirit Stones, but you also shackled us to the Heavenly Dao, turning us into slaves of this realm!

You’re really something!!!

Facing their resentful glares, Chen Yi remained unperturbed. "Hm? Do you all dislike your new status?"

"Not at all! Becoming Heavenly Dao Loose Immortals, sharing the lifespan of heaven and earth—where the world thrives, we reign supreme. To contribute to the land that nurtured us is an honor! How could we dislike it?" Xuanxuzi, ever the quick-witted one, was the first to voice his stance.

The other four, who had been considering tattling to the Heavenly Dao, immediately lost their nerve.

Zhang Kuang, the Patriarch of the Extreme Artifact Sect, burst into hearty laughter. "Hahaha! Exactly! This is fantastic!"

Ao Burang, the Black Dragon King, along with the two ancient monsters from the Age of Ascension—Bai Yujing and Feng Tianyu—also expressed their agreement.

What else could they do? The deed was done. Complaining wouldn’t change anything.

Did they really expect their meek Heavenly Dao to stand up to that monster, Chen Yi?

Might as well save their breath—the Heavenly Dao was practically molded to his whims by now!

"Good. It’s rare to see such dedication." Chen Yi nodded slightly before summoning five hundred Immortal Spirit Stones.

"Use these to reconstruct your physical bodies. That way, you can better enforce the Heavenly Dao’s will."

Now that they had gone from troublemakers to obedient followers, rewards were in order.

The stronger they were, the more power the Purple Star Heavenly Dao would gain. Naturally, Chen Yi wouldn’t skimp on a few Immortal Spirit Stones.

After all, if you wanted the horse to run, you had to let it graze. He wasn’t some heartless capitalist.

Yet as the five Loose Immortals stared at the stones they had once coveted, they felt little desire.

What they had lost far outweighed what they had gained.

Chen Yi, you absolute demon!

......

Time flew, and three days passed in a blink.

During this time, bolstered by the Flying Star Heavenly Dao’s enhanced core and Chen Yi’s full support, the Purple Star Heavenly Dao thoroughly purged the accumulated flaws within itself.

That morning, brimming with confidence, it sent a hopeful inquiry: "Brother Yi, I feel incredible now. The success rate of re-establishing the secondary Immortal Dao laws is over ninety-nine percent. Should we give it a try?"

Yet Chen Yi shook his head again. "Does ninety-nine percent guarantee success? Wait. Let me fetch a strand of pseudo-Immortal Realm’s Heavenly Dao essence first."

"Oh, then I’ll keep refining myself."

Without further questions, the Heavenly Dao obediently withdrew.

The moment its attention left the Illusory Star Cave, Chen Yi’s expression darkened.

The chat group was eerily silent, the atmosphere heavy—An Lan’s last message had thoroughly enraged the group’s leader.

[Light God Unemployed: Leader, the Lord of Light seems to have discovered me long ago. The only reason he captured me now is that he’s figured out the basic logic of the help quests. He’s planning to use me as bait to ambush you. Be careful—extremely careful!]

The moment this message was sent, An Lan’s avatar grayed out.

In the next instant, as if offended, the quest system generated a help mission despite An Lan not being in immediate danger—this time, the rewards were far richer than before.

......

(Author’s note: Not in the best state, struggling with writer’s block. Update’s late.)