495: War, you want to recognize me as your master?

“Alas…”

Lu Hao sighed softly. It was truly difficult to judge right from wrong in such matters. Was staying behind necessarily the right choice? With the Immortal Path essentially severed, it must have been an immense torment for those Supreme races.

Suddenly, Lu Hao thought of Lu Xiaolong. His true form was a True Dragon. Were his clansmen also in the Upper Realm?

And the Kunpeng young beast he encountered on his first trip to the sea—wasn't it said that all Supreme Yao Beasts in the Lower Realm had left? How could he encounter so many?

Were there still Supreme Yao Beast populations within the Devouring Demon Sea? Wouldn't that mean the existence of True Immortal powerhouses?

The Devouring Demon Sea… Lu Hao always felt that place was particularly off… Bai Li’s voice, imbued with bone-chilling coldness, continued:

“The Lower Realm became a world plundered and then abandoned by the Upper Realm. In their eyes, the Lower Realm was a junkyard, lacking Spiritual Qi and filled with foul auras!”

“Even powerful Families and Sects in the Upper Realm who committed grave but not capital offenses were demoted and exiled here. Yet, even after being demoted, those Families and Sects continued to lord over others!”

“The Immortal Venerable learned of all this and was filled with sorrow and indignation! So, he took me and began to clear out those Upper Realm criminals who had been exiled but were still oppressing the living beings of the Lower Realm!”

“The entire Lower Realm was plunged into a massive upheaval that swept across all regions! Countless corrupt forces were uprooted…”

Bai Li’s voice trailed off, filled with endless regret:

“However, just as the Immortal Venerable was fully purifying the Lower Realm, intending to restore its order, Meng Chi, fully prepared, descended!”

“Upon realizing what the Immortal Venerable was doing, Meng Chi was somewhat enraged and immediately headed straight for the Eastern Region. The Immortal Venerable had no choice but to rush back to the Xuantian Ancient Realm, protecting his homeland while confronting the powerful enemy.”

“That battle… the sky collapsed, the earth shattered, and the sun and moon lost their light! Although Meng Chi was suppressed by the Heavenly Dao, he had been immersed in the Half-step Dao Yuan Immortal stage for countless years, his Foundation was incredibly solid, and he had made thorough preparations. Therefore, his Cultivation only dropped to the Early Stage Heavenly Immortal. Coupled with countless ruthless methods and profound Divine Abilities, he caught the Immortal Venerable off guard for a time!”

“But even though the Immortal Venerable was only a Half-step Heavenly Immortal, he had the Heavenly Dao Will of the entire Lower Realm subtly assisting him, with Luck bestowed upon him, his battle power was also astonishing. And during the battle, the Immortal Venerable continuously improved, narrowing the gap between them. Thus, the two engaged in a protracted life-and-death struggle above the Eastern Region, shattering mountains and rivers, causing stars to fall, and Origin to dissipate!”

“The Eastern Region was also shattered at that time. If not for the Immortal Venerable's protection, the entire Eastern Region would not have merely broken into 108 pieces; it would have likely been reduced to ashes!”

“And I…”

“As the Immortal Venerable’s mount, I naturally swore to follow him to the death! However… my Cultivation was low, and in a battle of that caliber, I could not even withstand the aftershocks… So, during a terrifying Soul impact… my Divine Soul instantly shattered…”

Her voice became ethereal, as if returning to the moment of near-death:

“At the moment of Soul Flying Away and Spirit Scattering, I vaguely heard the Immortal Venerable’s sorrowful yet gentle voice in my fragmented consciousness: ‘Little Li, do not fear. I will use the Origin Prayer technique to protect a trace of your True Spirit, letting you slumber in this extreme northern ice core. After 100,000 years… you shall see the light of day again…’”

“‘When you open your eyes, the first person you see will be your new master… Rest peacefully… I am sorry, I cannot bring you to become an Emperor with me…’”

As Bai Li spoke, her tears silently fell, like glistening pearls, dropping onto the cold ground.

Her final words, like the sharpest knife, cut through 100,000 years of time, and also pierced Bai Li’s heart.

She looked up, her eyes misty with tears, at Lu Hao, and said with a choked voice:

“This is all I know. As for the outcome of the final battle, whether the Immortal Venerable won or lost, whether Meng Chi lived or died, I have no way of knowing…”

“When I was rescued from the ice by my benefactor, and opened my eyes again to see your face…”

“The Immortal Venerable’s prophecy came true. You are the first person I saw after 100,000 years, my new master. But at that moment, I thought of the Immortal Venerable’s last gentle and farewell words, which is why I lost control and wept…”

Bai Li bowed deeply to Lu Hao again:

“My new master above, Bai Li wishes to follow by your side, to repay the kindness of saving my life, and also… to fulfill the Immortal Venerable’s last wish.”

Lu Hao listened quietly, his usual lazy and casual demeanor long gone. His eyes became incredibly deep, and his face was filled with a serious expression.

His fingers unconsciously tapped lightly on the table, making a dull sound.

Child of the Plane, Upper Realm magnate, severing the passage, exiling to a cage, the pursuit of a Half-step Dao Yuan Immortal.

Every word Bai Li spoke was like a heavy boulder, striking his heart, sketching a cold, cruel, and oppressive world of Cultivation.

He Transmigrated here, born in the Northern Barrens. The Northern Barrens was his home, and the Eastern Region was also his home.

All the important people in his heart were Cultivators of the Lower Realm. The Lower Realm… was also his home.

And now, through Bai Li, he learned that his home had already been plundered once, and after the plunder, those high and mighty Dominators of the Upper Realm had turned the Lower Realm into a giant prison where they could casually discard trash and exile criminals!

When a Child of the Plane appeared in the Lower Realm, someone from the Upper Realm immediately came, wanting to plunder Luck and hunt the Child of the Plane. This act was too much!

It was so for Mo Li 100,000 years ago.

Then… what about the future?

If he continued to grow, he would surpass Mo Li. At that time, would people from the Upper Realm also make a move against him?

And his several disciples, Cultivating so quickly, would they be regarded by those people as so-called individuals with Heaven-Defying good fortune?

At this moment, Lu Hao began to have the idea of going to the Upper Realm to investigate.

He slowly raised his head, his gaze seemingly piercing through the dome of the Lower Realm, cast towards the infinitely distant Upper Realm!

When I achieve Immortal Ascension, I want to go and see what kind of faces those rulers truly have!

Lu Hao would not be easily swayed by emotions. The Upper Realm’s actions, to put it plainly, were merely the will of those rulers. He naturally would not implicate ordinary Cultivators of the Upper Realm.

Collecting his thoughts, Lu Hao looked at Bai Li in front of him and said indifferently:

“You want to acknowledge me as your master?”

“Yes! This is, after all…”