143: Transformation God Battle

The Demon Venerable looked at the mecha, clearly showing some interest. He had never seen such a thing before, but given his cultivation level, his insight was not lacking. He could immediately tell that this was a variant of the Immortal Dao. This mecha was equivalent to an external Incarnation, but using an external Incarnation to increase one's cultivation was ultimately an inferior method. It might even result in the original body becoming the Clone, which would be a net loss.

He felt a sense of disdain toward them. Indeed, compared to the orthodox Immortal Dao, these side paths might produce prodigies with comparable combat power, but their potential was far inferior. Let alone achieving Immortal Ascension, it was debatable whether they could even progress further after the Soul Transformation Stage.

Cultivation is divided into three major steps. The first step is the Mortal stage: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Soul Transformation. This stage is called Shedding Mortality, where a Cultivator gradually purges the Mortal Qi from their Physical Body and Divine Soul, beginning to absorb ethereal Qi and comprehend Laws.

The second stage is Seeking the Dao, which consists of the Void Returning and Body Integration stages. At this level, a Cultivator is no longer a Mortal and can be called a Void Returning Earth Immortal. Even in the Upper Realm, they would be considered a powerful figure. The Demon Venerable was now certain that Liu Xiu lacked the potential to become a Void Returning expert unless he had the Opportunity to perfect the techniques of the Technological Immortal Dao and truly enter the category of left paths.

The third stage is Immortal Ascension. One realizes their own path and truly embarks upon it. This stage is divided into Undergoing Tribulation and Mahayana. Reaching Perfection allows one to ascend.

As for the paths themselves, the current Immortal Realm classifies all paths into three categories: Great Dao, Side Paths, and Left Paths. Currently, there are only two Great Daos: the Immortal Dao and the Buddhist Dao. Only a path that can produce a Saint and achieve true transcendence is called a Great Dao. Previously, the Buddhist Dao was merely a Side Path, but a powerful figure of the Buddhist Sect in the Immortal Realm integrated eight hundred Side Paths and reconstructed the Buddhist path, allowing the Buddhist Sect to ascend.

Side Paths are those that can lead to becoming a Golden Immortal. The gap between them is immense. Powerful ones, like the Innate Divine Path, have many Quasi-Saint experts and were even more prosperous than the Immortal Dao in ancient times. Weak ones barely manage to produce a single Golden Immortal.

Finally, there are the Left Paths. Any path that can produce a Void Returning Earth Immortal can be considered a Left Path, such as certain magics or superpowers. Their combat power might not be weak, but their potential stops there.

However, paths are static while people are dynamic. This world has never lacked prodigies who perfect their paths, leading them to ascend and establishing their own sects. Liu Xiu is currently following this route, but he seems to be quite far off. In theory, it shouldn't be difficult for a technique derived from the Immortal Dao to achieve the status of a Left Path, yet he has consistently failed to systematically organize the path of the Technology Immortal Sect.

The Demon Venerable performed a hand seal again, and the seawater began to rise, submerging the mecha in an instant. Within the Demon Venerable's magic power, the seawater carried immense force and had become significantly colder. This slowed the mecha's movements considerably. Liu Xiu was shocked; he didn't understand why he felt so weak.

Just then, a change occurred. Dao Monarch Faming began his Breakthrough to Soul Transformation. The massive celestial phenomena caused the concealment of the Sea Eye to vanish. The Small World was revealed before Liu Xiu, and even the mist was dispersed by the impact. Liu Xiu burst out laughing.

"I knew it! I, Liu Xiu, am the person with the greatest Luck in this world. No Cultivator can compare to me. What 'Immortal Dao' nonsense? I rose from nothing to destroy the Immortal Dao. Now that I am strong, the Immortal Dao naturally cannot strike back at me. Prepare to die!"

He controlled the mecha to step into the Small World. This made the Demon Venerable feel somewhat uncomfortable. The Demon Venerable had been able to maintain such an easy advantage just now because he held the geographical advantage of Weihai. Under such conditions, the power of his Law of Water was greatly enhanced. Now that they were on land, he was naturally slightly weaker.

His expression turned grim. This was caused by his original body being unable to come. If his original body were here, dealing with such a Cultivator would take no effort at all. Fortunately, he had brought his original body's most powerful Spirit Treasure, the Sea-Suppressing Bead. This was a Medium Grade Spirit Treasure and the very item that made him the number one figure in the Qingyun Realm today.

Within the Sea-Suppressing Bead was a real ocean. With a surprise attack, he pulled the opponent into the Sea-Suppressing Bead. Now, he didn't have to worry about the other party disturbing Dao Monarch Faming's Breakthrough.

The Demon Venerable turned and entered the Sea-Suppressing Bead as well. They stood face to face, sizing each other up.

Liu Xiu felt the Golden Core Stage Aura from the other party and found it completely unbelievable, but upon sensing the power of the Laws, he understood. This was a Clone, not the original body. He sensed the Aura of the Qingyun Realm from the Demon Venerable—an Aura he was very familiar with, as invading the Qingyun Realm had been his own decision.

"So you're a Cultivator from the Qingyun Realm. I haven't had the time to find trouble with you yet, and you actually came to find trouble with me first. You're simply courting death. Let me tell you, go back and tell your original body that I will soon invade your Qingyun Realm on a large scale."

The Demon Venerable gave a mocking laugh. "Your people all died there, and the coordinates have already vanished. How will you come to my Qingyun Realm? Now the tide of the invasion has turned; it is I who shall invade you. A Minor Thousand Worlds with only a Spirit Transformation Third Layer Cultivator is truly a treasure. With this world, it's not impossible for my true self to advance to the Soul Transformation Late Stage."

To his surprise, Liu Xiu wasn't afraid at all. "Yes, I thought the invasion of your Qingyun Realm was a lost cause, but haven't I found you now? As the Clone of a Soul Transformation powerhouse, you naturally carry the coordinates on you. Prepare to die!"

With that, he raised the mecha's arm and began firing into the sky. Countless bullets and lasers filled the entire sea area of the Sea-Suppressing Bead. However, this was the internal world of a Spirit Treasure; how could he be allowed to escape so easily? Countless streams of seawater transformed into chains, beginning to bind the mecha. White smoke even started rising from the mecha.

This seawater was actually highly corrosive. For a moment, Liu Xiu was somewhat flustered. He moved forward rapidly, his gun barrels swinging even faster, each move seemingly carrying the power of heaven and earth. On the other hand, although the Demon Venerable's movements were smaller, a layer of fine sweat had already appeared on his forehead. After all, he was just a Clone; being able to fight to this extent was already thanks to the power of the Spirit Treasure.

But the Immortal Dao Cultivators below didn't know this. They cheered incessantly, as if the mountain weighing on their heads had already been shattered. But in reality, was that the case? Obviously not. This Spirit Treasure really wouldn't be able to trap Liu Xiu for long. One must never underestimate any Soul Transformation Stage Cultivator.