Vol 7 Chapter 2: Stepping Off the Chessboard

Eastern Glorious Immortal Emperor smiled.

"The demonic race has reopened the ascension channel. As an Immortal Emperor, although it's difficult to interfere with the Lower Realm using spiritual power, projecting a wisp of consciousness can still be easily accomplished."

"Young friend, I indeed didn't misjudge you. Thanks to you annihilating the Heavenly Demon in the Lower Realm, this forced the demonic race to reopen the ascension channel. However, you should understand the demonic race's intentions in reopening the ascension channel, right?"

Lin Jing nodded.

"It's nothing more than wanting to bring me to the Immortal Realm, so that there will be no obstacles left in the Lower Realm."

"Exactly." Eastern Glorious Immortal Emperor said: "So I want to ask you, young friend, to be willing to abandon ascension and eternally guard the Lower Realm. Whenever any demonic race attempts to covet the Lower Realm, completely eliminate them."

Lin Jing replied: "Before coming to the Cultivation World, I was already seriously ill. It was the Emperor who gave me a second life. This kindness is beyond repayment. I am willing to eternally guard the Lower Realm, but I have one request."

"Speak."

"It's naturally no problem for me to guard the Lower Realm, but my relatives, my... pet beasts..." Lin Jing looked at the pet beasts sleeping and recuperating inside his soul space after the great battle, and spoke: "I can guard the Lower Realm, but they don't have Heaven's Mandate, don't have the Longevity Immortal Physique, don't have immortal bodies. Their lifespans are less than one-tenth of mine. Sooner or later, they will pass away before me."

"Such talent, dying in the Lower Realm, would be a pity."

"I hope that in the future, if my relatives and friends ascend to the Immortal Realm, they can be ensured safety in the Immortal Realm, at the very least... they won't be affected by the conflict between me and the demonic race."

"As for my pet beasts, if they choose to ascend to the Immortal Realm in the future, the same applies. I can remain in the Lower Realm, but I cannot delay their talent. And for those among them who don't choose to ascend to the Immortal Realm, I hope there's a way for them to obtain the same lifespan as me."

"Without their company, I worry that during these long years... I might not be able to resist going mad."

"Your request is reasonable." Eastern Glorious Emperor nodded and said: "Is that all? Only this request?"

Lin Jing shook his head: "Besides this, I believe the demonic race has another reason for opening the ascension channel."

Eastern Glorious Immortal Emperor made an "Oh?" sound.

"Ancient Immortal Realm, Earth." Lin Jing said: "During the extermination of the Demon General, I discovered that among the four Foreign Immortal Emperors who once jointly attacked the Ancient Heavenly Court, one was precisely the Demonic Race Progenitor. Earth's spiritual energy recovery, the demonic race has long set their sights on Earth, intending to retrieve the Race-Suppressing Demonic Artifact from the Heavenly Emperor's Tomb."

"Perhaps, the demonic race is taking this opportunity to shift their focus to retrieving the Race-Suppressing Demonic Artifact. If the demonic race succeeds, they will likely become even more difficult to deal with. Me guarding the Lower Realm ultimately treats the symptoms rather than the root cause. Only by completely annihilating the demonic race can peace between the two realms be guaranteed. If the demonic race retrieves the Race-Suppressing Demonic Artifact, then... wanting to annihilate the demonic race will undoubtedly become even more difficult."

After Lin Jing finished speaking, Eastern Glorious Immortal Emperor immediately became serious, never expecting the demonic race's hand had actually reached toward Earth.

"Your thoughts." He asked Lin Jing.

Lin Jing replied: "Currently, Earth is still in the spiritual energy recovery stage, the Heavenly Dao is not yet complete, and can only support cultivators below the 'Immortal Realm'. I can still travel between the two realms, exterminating all enemies who harbor ill intentions toward Earth."

"But..."

"But when Earth recovers to the state it should have as the Ancient Immortal Realm, it will become the new 'Immortal Realm'!"

"A new Immortal Realm with complete rules cannot be freely traveled between. At that time, if I want to guard the Lower Realm, I cannot ascend to the 'Ancient Immortal Realm'. If I want to protect the Heavenly Emperor's Tomb, I need to ascend to the Ancient Immortal Realm. Once I reach the True Immortal stage, it will be difficult to return to the Lower Realm to block the demonic race."

"And the demonic race possessing the 'Heavenly Dao's Supreme Treasure', since they can personally seal the ascension channel, then at that time, letting the demonic race's immortals go to Earth and blocking other factions' immortals from going to Earth might not be impossible. By then, Earth will likely become the demonic race's territory."

"Indeed so, the demonic race might possibly abandon the Cultivation World and scheme for the Ancient Immortal Realm." Eastern Glorious Immortal Emperor nodded. The demonic race had been making arrangements in the Lower Realm for countless years, and many forces in the Immortal Realm subconsciously believed the demonic race couldn't possibly abandon the Lower Realm.

But, a soon-to-be-recovered Ancient Immortal Realm is also a treasure land, the demonic race might not refuse.

The reopening of the ascension channel also makes it more convenient for the demonic race to take control of the Ancient Immortal Realm.

And the Heavenly Dao's Supreme Treasure in the Demon Lord's hands, indeed as Lin Jing said, has certain control over realms. Other factions' True Immortals, Immortal Lords... wanting to go to Earth definitely won't be as easy and convenient as the demonic race's experts wanting to go.

At that time, the situation in the Cultivation World might be replicated in the Ancient Immortal Realm.

And Lin Jing, there's only one.

Cannot simultaneously take care of both the Cultivation World and the Ancient Immortal Realm.

Lin Jing cupped his fists and said: "I have a strategy."

"As everyone knows, incarnations have incomplete destinies and cannot separate from their main body to independently ascend to the Immortal Realm."

"However, the Ancient Immortal Realm is currently also in a damaged state, greatly different from the complete Immortal Realm. My incarnation and main body, respectively located in the Lower Realm and Ancient Immortal Realm, won't be affected."

"Perhaps before the Ancient Immortal Realm fully recovers, my incarnation can continuously guard the Ancient Immortal Realm until the Ancient Immortal Realm completely recovers."

"Finally, let the incarnation separate from the main body and become an immortal in the Ancient Immortal Realm. This way, it won't affect the main body guarding the Lower Realm, and there will be enough time for the incarnation to make arrangements and accumulate foundation in the Ancient Immortal Realm, resisting the demonic race that might invade Earth in the future."

"Of course, the incarnation after all doesn't have Heaven's Mandate bestowed, and is an 'incomplete body', with limited potential. If the demonic race truly dispatches Immortal Lords or even supreme Immortal Kings to come to Earth, the incarnation alone would likely find it difficult to resist."

"Therefore, for the safety of the Ancient Immortal Realm, to stop the demonic race's ambitions, I hope... the Immortal Realm can provide me support, provide my incarnation with sufficient, at least enough to achieve supreme Immortal Lord level resources, allowing him to smoothly and quickly grow into an Immortal Lord in the Ancient Immortal Realm, capable of exterminating all incoming enemies."

Lin Jing knew the great powers of the Immortal Realm would definitely want him to remain in the Lower Realm. He didn't have the ability to refuse. Since that's the case, he might as well take this opportunity to demand sufficient resources from the Immortal Realm.

Then, using the Ancient Immortal Realm Earth, let the incarnation become an immortal... even become an Immortal Emperor.

Only by jumping out of this Lower Realm chessboard can he have the opportunity to become a chess player like the Demon Lord and Eastern Glorious Immortal Emperor in the future.

Whether it's the incarnation going to the Ancient Immortal Realm, or the pet beasts ascending.

If both the main body and incarnation, pet beasts all remain in the Lower Realm, then one can truly see the end at a glance, destined to become just a chess piece for the various Immortal Emperors to use against the demonic race for a lifetime.

Of course, letting the incarnation become independent from the main body, transcend several heavenly realms, and first become an Immortal Emperor—such a thing has never been accomplished before. Lin Jing was just gambling, so he needed to demand sufficient resources from the Immortal Realm. Relying only on the Ancient Immortal Realm's opportunities... isn't enough!

Eastern Glorious Immortal Emperor pondered for a long time, then said: "This strategy is feasible."

He didn't care what ideas Lin Jing had, as long as it could truly resist the demonic race, that was enough.

"What do you want? Feel free to speak, whatever can be satisfied will be satisfied for you."