Chapter 133: Immortality

“What problem?” Lin Zhan was bewildered.

“Death comes to all, yet humanity cultivates the path of immortality, striving to reach the pinnacle of divine transcendence, seeking eternal life. But here’s the question: does true immortality really exist in this world?” The lantern-like eyes blinked softly, coalescing into a black shadow the size of a human face—like a dark balloon floating in midair. Its features were plain, as if painted on, a ghostly visage quietly awaiting Lin Zhan’s response.

This made Lin Zhan recall the hideous giant serpent he had encountered before, which had eyes just like these—only far uglier.

The black head before him, paired with those large lantern eyes, seemed somewhat endearing in its awkwardness.

“Immortality?” Lin Zhan had never contemplated such an esoteric question.

What is immortality?

People live to eighty or a hundred at best, some perish in their fifties or sixties, and many die prematurely—returning to dust and earth, vanishing like smoke, nourishing the land and world in turn.

What then is immortality?

Since arriving in the Blue Ice World, he had witnessed legends of cultivators enduring for millennia, but none had been proven. To Lin Zhan, immortality did not exist.

If it did, then any advanced or earth-level cultivator wandering about would be a precious relic, not to mention the divine beings, supreme kings, and demons from the post-ancient era.

If true immortality existed, where would these great powers be now?

The great lantern hovered silently near Lin Zhan, neither urging nor showing displeasure, simply watching the seated cultivator.

Lin Zhan drifted into a trance, pondering immortality—the sole thought occupying his mind.

In the cycle of life and death—the flourishing and withering of plants, blooming and fading of flowers, the ripening and falling of fruit—it seemed an unyielding law of existence. Yet, was survival truly in the hands of plants, animals, or humans?

Was it not governed by some higher order, deciding when one is born and when one dies? Without air, water, sunlight, and fertile soil, survival itself would be impossible.

The lantern-eyed creature’s test did not lead Lin Zhan to meditate on eternal life, but rather on the grander question of life itself. Unbeknownst to him, the black phantom’s illusion subtly influenced his mind, guiding him toward enlightenment.

Ding dong!

Within the Nine-Star Space, the small Purple-Gold Phoenix stirred, causing the semi-liquefied spiritual stone essence enveloping it to tremble lightly.

Lin Zhan, deep in meditation, sensed this movement clearly. His heart jolted, and clarity dawned.

Whether survival or immortality, wasn’t there a living example right before him?

The bloodline had been passed down. As long as the Nightingale lived, the Purple-Gold Phoenix clan, which once dominated the post-ancient era, persisted. Was this not a form of immortality?

Though forces might resist the continuation of life, the stubborn inheritance of bloodline and spirit endured eternally—this was the true meaning of immortality.

Cultivation, in essence, involved the body undergoing countless cycles of destruction and reconstruction. The original self had perished; the new self was born anew, each transformation carrying the soul’s continuation.

Awakening from this realization, Lin Zhan faced the lantern-eyed ghost’s blank, awkward face and said, “Does true immortality exist in this world? I cannot answer that yet, for I have not experienced it.”

The black-faced lantern creature seemed strangled by his words, unable to respond for a long moment.

Lin Zhan sprang up and declared loudly, “Although humanity is humble in this world, it has stood firm for thousands of years without end. If you want my answer on whether true immortality exists, I tell you this: humanity itself is immortality!”

He deftly avoided the question of individual immortality and extended it to the entire human race. From this perspective, humanity endured eternally.

Whether humans, plants, animals, or all things great and small—from towering mountains to specks of dust—a clan that never perishes lives between heaven and earth, as chaos persists and life never ceases!

A majestic aura erupted from Lin Zhan, the force of enlightenment, standing proudly before the black-faced demon, unwavering and resolute.

“Enough! Shut up, you win! I won’t ask the rest of my questions. Go on with whatever you want!” The demon face looked at Lin Zhan and the ghost flowers regretfully, then began to dissolve into a wisp of black smoke.

“Ha ha ha, you still want to run!” Lin Zhan surged forward, the white bone tower helmet descending with lightning speed, encapsulating the lantern-eyed black face completely.

“Human race, you shall not die well! You will be repaid! Let me out!” The voice inside was frantic as Lin Zhan wiped cold sweat and sat down heavily.

The white bone tower shrank into a compact size, held tightly in his hand.

Inside, the black ghost face could only emit muffled thoughts: “How… how did you figure me out?”

Lin Zhan shook the tower and smiled. “At first, your illusion tricked me into thinking you were a mighty demon god or something. But when you condensed into this small ghost face, it was a fatal flaw—no powerful being looks this cute. Otherwise, your prior strength was just a disguise.”

The lantern-eyed ghost roared inside, “That doesn’t make sense! On what basis?”

Lin Zhan continued, “You asked about immortality but acted indifferent. I suspected you had ulterior motives. Then I realized you were secretly absorbing the spiritual energy around me! That was your greatest mistake, and it alerted me.”

Of course, Lin Zhan did not reveal that the Nine-Star Map had sent him a message, unveiling the true nature of this lantern ghost.

“Stay put inside for now. Later, you’ll tell me who you really are.” He stored the white bone tower in space and turned to gather the ghost flowers.

Fortunately, most ghost flowers were mature. Using the power of the Nine-Star Space, he effortlessly excavated them without direct contact.

For those seven or eight-tenths ripe, he transplanted them with soil, as the Nine-Star Space provided ample spiritual energy and light. Aside from water, everything else was in order.

As for water, Lin Zhan was confident he would overcome that soon enough.