What exactly is the relationship between the Hengduan Mountains and the Land of Immortal Legacy?
First of all, the reason why it is called the Land of Immortal Legacy is that a cultivator had died here in the past. After the cultivator's death, his corpse, spiritual powers, and magic influenced a large area. This eerie and ominous area was thus called the Land of Immortal Legacy.
So how did the Hengduan Mountains come about?
When the cultivator's magic spread outwards to areas not affected by the eeriness and ominousness, it nourished the local plants, animals and demonic beasts. Myriad things were revived and myriad lives flourished, thus becoming the Hengduan Mountains.
We can thus conclude that the Hengduan Mountains are the outer regions of the Land of Immortal Legacy, while the Land of Immortal Legacy is the core region within the Hengduan Mountains.
If we draw a circle with the cultivator’s corpse at the center, that would be the Land of Immortal Legacy. If we draw an even larger circle around it, the ring formed between the two circles would be the Hengduan Mountains.
Cultivators from the Lingnan Immortal Sect like Su Changqing feel that this whole area came about because of that cultivator. Their impression of this place is that of the Land of Immortal Legacy, so they habitually refer to the Hengduan Mountains as such.
As for people living near the Hengduan Mountains like Qin Ran, many don’t even know about the Land of Immortal Legacy. Those who do know think that it is just a region within the mountains. They are familiar with the Hengduan Mountains, so they habitually refer to the Land of Immortal Legacy as the Hengduan Mountains instead.
Of course, for the six explorers currently standing right outside the core region of the Land of Immortal Legacy, it would be more accurate to call this place the Land of Immortal Legacy.
Anyone would shudder in fear knowing that a cultivator had died here.
"It is said that the Land of Immortal Legacy is filled with all kinds of anomalies..." Su Changqing said. "Everyone, please be careful."
Looking at the misty Land of Immortal Legacy, Qin Ran snapped his fingers and conjured six transparent bubbles. "I don't know what that mist is made of. Wearing these helmets can reduce unnecessary trouble."
As he spoke, he made one of the bubbles float onto his head like an astronaut's helmet.
After putting it on, he looked towards the other five, his eyes asking if they needed one too.
"Brother Qin is indeed prudent in his preparations," Su Changqing laughed. "Please help us too."
Qin Ran then placed a bubble over Su Changqing's head.
"No wonder you are useless in battle. Turns out you cultivate these weird mystic arts instead," Bai Ruoxi said, pointing at her head to indicate she wanted one too.
Qin Ran put a head bubble on her as well.
"Thank you, Junior Brother," Qi Yun said with a smile.
Qin Ran gave him one too.
Three of them now had the bubbles on. The two left were Jian Yuanjie, an administrator from the Dao Sword Sect, and Chu Batian, a disciple from the Lingnan Immortal Sect.
Qin Ran glanced at Chu Batian, then ignored him and turned to Jian Yuanjie instead.
As a guide, Jian Yuanjie was in charge of pills and medicines in the Dao Sword Sect, so he had good knowledge of herbs and the like. He was quite familiar with the Hengduan Mountains.
Qin Ran and Jian Yuanjie's relationship was rather subtle...
Qin Ran knew that Jian Yuanjie was a traitor hiding within the Dao Sword Sect. Jian Yuanjie felt that Qin Ran might have discovered something, but outwardly, they were fellow sect members and even close friends who associated with each other often.
The two looked at each other. Jian Yuanjie smiled slightly. After some time, he nodded at Qin Ran and said, "Thank you, Junior Brother!"
Only then did Qin Ran place a bubble over his head too.
That left one last person.
Given Chu Batian's temperament, he really disliked these flashy things. And due to his first impression, his opinion of Qin Ran wasn't too good either. He reeeeally didn't want to wear this weird bubble.
But glancing around, he saw everyone else with transparent covers over their heads. It would be somewhat inappropriate if he was the only one without.
So reluctantly, he pointed at his head for Qin Ran.
After covering Chu Batian's head with a bubble too, Qin Ran said, "This is just a small safeguard in case the mist is poisonous or contains gu creatures, swamp worms or the like. It can provide some protection."
"It may affect everyone's breathing, but as Golden Core cultivators, we don't even need to breathe anyway. Just bear with it for a while."
Everyone nodded. Su Changqing praised, "Brother Qin's experience is indeed extensive. The ingenious application of your mystic arts is truly amazing. It's fortunate we brought you along."
Upon hearing this, Jian Yuanjie looked towards Qin Ran and smiled, "Junior Brother, when did you form your core? Why didn't you let your Senior Brother know in advance? I could have provided assistance, that would have been for the best."
"It was an accidental breakthrough," Qin Ran replied politely. "You know I was stuck at the late Foundation Establishment stage for many years. A breakthrough could happen anytime... Even I don't know what exactly happened during this breakthrough."
An accidental breakthrough was indeed possible.
Jian Yuanjie accepted his explanation with a nod. "Then allow me to congratulate Junior Brother here on forming your Golden Core."
"Thank you, Senior Brother."
As they spoke, they observed their surroundings. Although the lush greenery was pleasing to the eye, oddly enough, there wasn't a single animal around. There were no insect chirps, bird calls or beast roars. An eerie silence pervaded.
"Is it always like this deep inside the Hengduan Mountains, or is it only so now?" Su Changqing asked.
"According to records, the deeper one goes into the Hengduan Mountains, the higher the bloodline level of the demonic beasts there. High level beasts tend to have strong territorial awareness. So it is understandable for this place to be so quiet," Qin Ran said.
"But at the same time, beasts are beasts and animals are animals. There should be more ordinary animals the deeper you go. So it shouldn't be this quiet here."
"What are you trying to say?!" the irritable Chu Batian barked.
Qin Ran glanced at him but did not reply. Instead, he asked Su Changqing, "Were you attacked by any beasts on the way here?"
Flying over the heads of beasts was easy to provoke their wrath.
Everyone knew this, but Su Changqing still rode his cloud vessel here. Not because he was dumb, only because his cloud vessel's grade was high enough to not fear beast attacks.
"No," Su Changqing shook his head, his expression turning grave.
No beast attacks meant there were no high-ranking beasts in this forest. And there were no small animals here either...
Something was off!
"Then it's out of the ordinary," Qin Ran said, gazing up at the sky. "The last time I came to the Hengduan Mountains, I saw white willow fluff everywhere. Strangely though, it's gone now."
"With the Devouring Demon Willow nearing ascension, there should be more and more fluff. But now there's not a speck left. There's only one possibility..."
He looked towards everyone, "It is gathering power for its ascension, making final preparations!"
Upon hearing this, everyone's hearts shook. That meant the Devouring Demon Willow could erupt with fluff at any time. They could become nutrients for it at any moment!
"Time is of the essence..." Chu Batian urged. "Let's go in now!"
"We still don't know what's inside. Since Qin Ran made the head bubbles, I have a treasure here so we don't get separated..." Su Changqing took out a jade pendant and six beads. "This Subu Heart Link lets the six beads connect as one with the pendant. No matter when or where, as long as you hold a bead, you can communicate with whoever has the pendant."
As he spoke, he gave out the beads and kept one bead and the pendant for himself.
"This should help somewhat." Su Changqing added. "Let us make haste!"
Saying so, he walked straight towards the interior of the Land of Immortal Legacy. After a few steps, his figure disappeared into the dense fog!
s the Eldest Princess, renowned for her cold and aloof detachment, became the most docile of lambs, obeying his every command without question. But when the final move was played on the chessboard, as Gu Chenghan seized everything and ascended on the verge of apotheosis, that very Princess suddenly embraced him from behind, her tone carrying a dependence never heard before: "Wait... you haven't yet... commanded me to love you forever." Gu Chenghan froze abruptly. She... hadn't been hypnotized?! ... [The Eldest Princess's Diary] [When my soul was extracted, becoming the sole spectator outside my own shell] [At first, there was overwhelming fury, until I saw] [How he used my sword to effortlessly shatter my inescapable doom] [How he wielded my authority to eradicate fatal conspiracies I had never even detected] [Like a deity, he rescued me from the deep mire I was trapped in] [If not for those annoying vixens, he and I would be a match made in heaven] [I think I am ill, gravely ill] [My deity should belong to me alone] ... "Hypnosis? Oh, it succeeded, my dear Master." "Only this time, it's my turn to hypnotize you."
ine. During your journey, you save an abandoned baby girl and become her elder brother】 【You rely on each other, becoming each other's support】 【At the end of the simulation, you shield the now-grown girl with your life, sacrificing yourself to block numerous demonic cultivators. You die, and the light in the girl's eyes fades】 …… 【Second Simulation: You are transported to a world where steam and magic coexist】 【You immerse yourself in the study of magic, obsessed with its research. One day, while out, you encounter a half-blooded demon girl wandering the streets. You take her in as your student】 【You teach the demoness what it means to be human, show her the beauty of the world, and nurture her into a miracle that surpasses even the gods】 【At the end of the simulation, you die of old age in front of the nearly immortal demoness due to your mortal lifespan】 …… One simulation after another, one encounter after another. Xu Xi suddenly felt something was off: "Wait, you said you're coming to the real world to find me?"
e vast world of cultivation, where he becomes the master of the Heavenly Ruins Sacred Hall, a dying old man with barely a tenth of his former cultivation remaining. He is immediately confronted with a deadly crisis: his subordinates have rebelled, and his protectors are forcing him to abdicate. At the critical moment, the system descends from the heavens: [Ding! The host has been detected facing a life-or-death crisis. The system is now officially activated!] [As a gift, you have received the Supreme Beginner’s Pack and awakened the ultimate cheat: ten thousand years of pure cultivation essence every second!] Yin Tianjue: “Wait… ten thousand years of cultivation every second? That’s six hundred thousand years a minute, and in one day… I can’t even calculate it. Either way, I’m already invincible!” You’re a peerless prodigy rarely seen in ten thousand years? Sorry, I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. You’re an undying ancestor who has guarded a sacred land for countless ages? Sorry, I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. You’re the strongest chosen one, blessed with heaven-defying destiny? Sorry, I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. From this day forth, I have only one thing to say: “I gain ten thousand years of cultivation every second. Now, how exactly are you supposed to deal with that?”
uld barely embark on the path to immortality. Just as he was on the verge of death, his golden finger awakened. No matter whether it was poison, drained blood and vital energy, diminished lifespan, or any other physical debuff caused by paying a price—once midnight passed, everything would be refreshed. From then on, whenever someone asked what kind of person Chu Ran was, the answer was simple: Forbidden arts that other cultivators dared not learn? Chu Ran would learn them. Prices that even demonic cultivators dared not pay? Chu Ran would pay them. Lifespan that even righteous cultivators dared not burn? Chu Ran would burn it. All the blood essence in his body? Take it. Want both his hands and feet? He would cut them off and send them to you. You say he’s finished? He wasn’t built to sit idle. You think he’s gone mad? No—he was simply waiting for midnight. From that day onward, Chu Ran would respect neither Heaven nor Earth, bow to neither gods nor ghosts. He had only one wish: For midnight to arrive a little sooner.
