Within the Red Dust Realm, the massive heart was beating.
The ground was mottled with scattered blood, and under the rhythmic pulsation of the Heavenly Dao Divine Heart, this blood surprisingly crawled toward the Heavenly Dao Divine Heart like worms.
Before Li Zhiheng, who stood atop the heart, were the three Masters of the Martial Academy, securely bound by the tentacles of the Heavenly Dao Divine Heart.
These three formidable Masters possessed absolutely no resistance before the Heavenly Dao Divine Heart.
Furthermore, the combination of the Heavenly Dao Divine Heart and the 'Inner Soul World' technique Li Zhiheng cultivated gradually filled the three Masters with terror.
Dragged into the Inner Soul World and controlled by Li Zhiheng's heart-shattering, soul-destroying technique, 'Heart Execution', they no longer had any chance of winning.
"Phew."
After three days of fierce battle, Li Zhiheng exhaled a long breath.
With deeply furrowed brows, he gazed at the battlefield he had created using the Heavenly Dao Divine Heart.
During the battle in the Immortal Domain back then, he had cultivated diligently for years just to deal with the Zhao Clan and avenge his great-grandson, Qiukong.
Because of this, the entire Immortal Martial lineage had embarked on a path of burying themselves in cultivation.
It was also in the Immortal Domain that he had witnessed the terrifying scene of the Zhao Clan Old Ancestor transforming into a heart.
He had once viewed it as an evil abomination; for a brief period, that terrifying scene had even become his inner demon.
Yet today, he had turned into the very thing he had feared the most.
"Eat them all... eat them all!!!"
A bewitching voice echoed from the Heavenly Dao Divine Heart.
Li Zhiheng shook his head. The Blood Moon was drawing closer and closer.
Although he had gradually regained his humanity over the past century, he had also done many things he was unwilling to do—such as devouring the karmic luck and flesh of numerous powerful experts to make transactions with the Divine Heart.
The family said he possessed a pure heart and could control its divinity, but he truly didn't know if he could resist the temptation and thrill of acquiring power so rapidly.
The moment he used the Divine Heart, he even faintly felt that he was on the verge of losing himself to this overwhelming strength.
Remaining vigilant and steadying his mind, he muttered inwardly, "I truly am dull-witted. If it were the family elders, they certainly wouldn't end up like this."
"Half-Immortal... you are a Half-Immortal..."
Suddenly, a murmured whisper interrupted Li Zhiheng's thoughts.
He saw the Second Master, Zhang Jing, entwined by the tentacles extending from the Divine Heart, struggling to raise her head and staring weakly at Li Zhiheng.
This was merely a fleeting sliver of clear consciousness; all three Masters were fiercely resisting Li Zhiheng's illusions.
"Half-Immortal?" This was the first time Li Zhiheng had heard this term.
Ever since mastering the Heavenly Dao Divine Heart, and as its divinity began to accept him, he felt his Spiritual power increasing madly.
Now that he had truly taken action, he was so powerful that even he was frightened by it.
Perhaps only the word 'immortal' could explain this transformation.
Soon after, he utilized the Heavenly Dao Divine Heart, employing the illusions of the Inner Soul World to extract the intelligence the three Masters possessed piece by piece, reporting it back to the Old Ancestor.
These three Masters were indeed just as Banshu Qingping had said—they represented the entirety of Grandhaven Prefecture.
Having captured the three of them, the family's previously limited understanding of Grandhaven Prefecture was suddenly and completely enlightened.
And... their understanding of immortals.
.......
At this time, Li Wei was listening to Li Zhiheng recount the intelligence extracted from the Inner Soul World.
It turned out that tens of thousands of years ago, the Red Dust Immortal had awakened within a book in Grandhaven Prefecture.
At that time, Grandhaven Prefecture was teeming with sects and clans, and demons and ghosts roamed everywhere.
Later, the book in which he awakened became a wondrous item, passed down through generations of cultivators to educate them, and also served as the prototype of the Sage Master Martial Academy.
Human ethics and rules, social etiquette and laws, cultivation methods... all were taught bit by bit by the Red Dust Immortal, which led to the prosperous Grandhaven Prefecture.
The rules of Grandhaven Prefecture even spread to many prefectures across the world; it could be said that he made an undeniable contribution to the Imperial Dynasty's civilization.
"Which means, the Imperial Dynasty very likely knows of the Red Dust Immortal's existence?"
Li Wei rubbed his head.
He had only heard of entities like immortals from Min Youguo.
Since they knew about them, how could the Imperial Dynasty possibly be unaware of the Red Dust Immortal so extensively educating an entire prefecture?
And then there was the Zhao Clan; the Human Emperor knew of their existence and conveniently went over to wipe them out.
Thinking of this, Li Wei's old face darkened.
"Sure enough, the gap between status and position creates a massive information disparity. Just how many things are these old geezers hiding that we don't know about?"
Soon after, he continued to listen to the intelligence.
The Red Dust Immortal educated generation after generation, resulting in the current landscape.
Under his teachings, the Six Masters emerged.
Even Immortal Linghu cultivated in the place where the Red Dust Immortal resided.
Coupled with the foundation of Jade Mist Valley, Grandhaven Prefecture gained a Body Integration expert and a hidden faction.
The Banshu Clan were also disciples of the Red Dust Immortal; Banshu Ao's 'World' rules were learned from the Red Dust Immortal.
Until one day, the Red Dust Immortal suddenly had a premonition, explicitly stating that the Human Emperor did not have long to live.
It was also from that moment that the world began to fall into chaos, and the cultivators of Grandhaven Prefecture became greedy.
Immortal Linghu challenged the Red Dust Immortal more than once.
This ancestral master of Jade Mist Valley suffered from his mortal flesh and bones and no longer wanted to be human, but the Red Dust Immortal couldn't even be bothered to pay him any attention.
Of course, this was also partly due to the fear of being held accountable by the Imperial Dynasty.
Thus, in order to become an immortal, Immortal Linghu got mixed up with the Peerless Hall...
"A Half-Immortal?"
Thinking of Immortal Linghu becoming a Half-Immortal, Li Wei's expression couldn't help but change.
He had seen with his own eyes Li Zhiheng's strength after becoming a Half-Immortal, and Immortal Linghu was at the Body Integration realm!
Additionally, the Banshu Clan was raising a divine infant; this matter was also known to the Red Dust Immortal and the Six Masters.
The Red Dust Immortal observed the mortal world.
As long as that divine infant didn't obstruct the Red Dust Immortal, why would he waste his free time meddling with it?
Moreover, according to the Red Dust Immortal, the divine infant was truly nothing more than a watchdog...
Void Refinement becoming immortal is also known as an Earth Immortal.
Body Integration is a Heavenly Immortal.
That watchdog was a Heavenly Immortal.
Since it was a dog, it grew accustomed to being raised by people.
Consequently, the watchdog nurtured the Banshu Clan, and then had the Banshu Clan feed it...
It originally intended to help Banshu Ao break through to Body Integration during the chaotic times, but now only Banshu Weide was left.
However, the watchdog bullied the weak and feared the strong, so it hadn't found an opportunity.