I am a living immortal.

Chapter 528 Chasing Light, Chasing Hope

The Saint Monarch was very satisfied with the world of this tributary. Everything here wasn't a sham, at least not for the most part. No wonder this tributary was the thickest. And the faith of those two young men was also very real. The Saint Monarch also understood that his opportunity had come upon him, unexpectedly, right after he entered this place. Though that wisp of faith was feeble, it was pure and real.

The humanity of this world is more numerous than the stars in the sky. If he could become hope here, the faith of countless millions would lift him high. Quantitative change would lead to qualitative change, and the prayers of these billions of lives would carry him across that threshold. This was the opportunity he saw.

The Sage Monarch understood, but to gain the faith of these beings, he needed to fulfill their prayers, no easy task. After all, as the previous scene had shown, this tributary was ruled by the innate deity, Emperor Jun. This was a tributary unfriendly to their times. Aside from the innate deity, all other beings were like grass, scavenging for blood, barely surviving. If he wanted to resist, he would have to take his time.

Thinking of this, he looked towards the distance, and his figure slowly disappeared. The movement on the road was too loud and soon attracted attention.

The first to arrive were several immortal cultivators. Seeing the vast chasm and the gradually dissipating veil of light, they fell into deep thought. They knew this place was being invaded by demonic beasts, but they were powerless to stop it. The human race was in dire straits, and the sanctuaries opened by the sages had a limited reach.

In reality, it wasn't just humanity; all races suffered the same fate, oppressed by the innate gods. Humanity was the lucky one, as several sages rose up to defend their cause. Humankind's ancestors, one after another, sacrificed their lives, building a protective wall with their blood to protect them from invasion. That was the darkest era.

The defeat in the war nearly wiped out the most powerful of all races. Fortunately, it also gave the rest of humanity a chance to recover. But the innate gods are immortal, and after centuries of silence, they are showing signs of resurgence. When the first innate god returned from eternal silence, the true nightmare had just begun. It's unknown where the world is headed.

Fortunately, humanity possesses a profound heritage. The remaining sages, through this darkest of times, have dedicated themselves to establishing one Daoist temple after another, preserving the flame of survival for humanity. However, human power ultimately dies. The sages also understand that they cannot save everyone. The Daoist temple is only so large; how many can enter? One-tenth? One-percent? Ultimately, they will have to abandon the majority.

The human race was considered the best among all races. They joined forces with the gods to establish a Taoist temple. Among the major races, the demons became lackeys of the innate gods, betraying their former allies. The demons created the Heavenly Demon Heaven, a realm rarely seen. The dragons, protected by the dragon clan's aura, were trapped in the North Sea. The ghosts, led by the Ghost King, occupied the former underworld, separating the Yin and Yang. As for the rest, they could only linger.

Yet, even the human race, with its richest heritage, faced a difficult situation. Aside from the sages of the past, humanity's fighting power was shattered. A hundred years wasn't long, but no one with the fighting prowess of the sages had appeared. And how much longer could the sages sustain the Dao field? A third of the millennium had already passed, and humanity had no successors. It was practically a lingering existence.

That war nearly shattered the very foundations of humanity, leaving both the human race and the innate gods devastated. In such an environment, a lack of resources became a key factor in the lack of a successor. But their death was theirs, while the innate gods were immortal. All this was the result of a helpless compromise.

Just as they knew the demon beast would attack that town, they could only watch helplessly. Because it was outside the dojo, even if they were closer, it would be useless. Give up? The demons, condoned by the innate gods, are becoming increasingly unbridled. As one rises, the other falls, their brutality and strength grow. If one survives, a second and a third will inevitably follow. As long as they stay within the dojo, this harassment will never end.

As for the immortal cultivators, it's impossible to be all-encompassing. Leaving the dojo to save a group of people destined for death? No one would be willing to do that. While the dojo's existence protected humanity's hope, it also eroded its ruthlessness. Initially, they didn't want to intervene. However, upon seeing the dazzling light, they left the dojo.

While many have lost their courage, not all have. Many still seek hope, a path forward. They haven't sunk under the ravages of time; instead, they've grown even more resolute. This is the unyielding spirit etched into the bones of our ancestors, a spirit that will not fade even after thousands or even tens of thousands of years.

Everyone's goals are different, and so are their choices. Some leave the dojo, traversing the shattered landscapes; others retreat within, living a miserable existence. Most of those who leave never return, but those who do return have a promising future. However, even the most promising future takes time to materialize.

Yet, despite their vast numbers, humanity harbors a deep-seated weakness: internal strife. Hundreds of years of comfortable life within the dojo have gradually made them oblivious to their painful struggles, numbing them. This duality is understandable. Those within the dojo believe they will remain safe for at least hundreds, even thousands, of years, giving them the illusion that there's still plenty of time.

But is this really the case? As more and more innate gods, once eternally silent, return, the lifespans of sages grow shorter and shorter. Do they really have hundreds or thousands of years left? Any sane person knows this is impossible. The pressure on humanity will only grow with time, yet they precisely need time to grow.

So, when they saw that gleam of light blossom in the darkness, so dazzling, even if only for a fleeting moment, some hoped to grasp its glimmer. Sadly, they were disappointed. The "person" who had struck the sword had long since vanished, and they didn't even know if it was human. If so, why didn't such a powerful being return?

But everyone had long since gotten used to it. Before leaving, they glanced at the completely vanished sword light, only to discover some survivors in the small town. These people huddled timidly, but there were two people whose eyes, even after the sword light disappeared, still shone brighter and brighter.

The two men also met the legendary immortal cultivator. They expressed no desire, nor did they speak. One youth supported the other, and without looking back, they walked into the gloomy night. The youth with the injured leg felt that the pain was no longer so severe, as if it was healing rapidly. He wondered if it was an illusion.

The two followed the light, following the trail of hope. The Sage King made a crucial move.