Chapter 120: The Reincarnator Kuang

"Regarding the secret mysteries beyond the Golden Immortal Realm, I have only ever heard mere whispers. Rumor has it that the Golden Immortal Realm is nothing more than a title self-bestowed by ancient cultivators. To truly become an immortal, one must absorb celestial energy and undergo a baptism by heaven and earth. Yet, in the present age, celestial energy in this land is scarce, almost to the point of non-existence..."

"And that, Brother Chu, is precisely why it is nearly impossible to encounter an immortal or track their footprints anywhere on this continent!" After downing a cup of wine, Kuang Zhen nodded toward Tian Ming and replied in a deep, resonant voice.

Upon hearing these words spoken directly by Kuang Zhen, Tian Ming could not help but feel profoundly shocked. They were remarkably similar to what the senior Qing Po had once uttered. His lingering doubts now solidified into certainty: in this world, there are only cultivators who have attained a certain degree of power; there is no such thing as an eternal immortal.

Yet, a new question stirred within him.

"Brother Kuang, your knowledge of the world is vast indeed. But if, as you say, celestial energy is so thin today, why is it rumored that there exist beings in the Black Demon Clan who surpass the Golden Immortal level?" After a moment of contemplation, Tian Ming asked again.

"Everything has two sides. Although celestial energy is thin today, ancient ruins open at certain intervals. Within them, it is possible to find remnants of celestial energy or even Immortal Graces! My original plan was to stay here for a month before departing, as rumor has it that the Profound Heaven Ice Palace on the Northern Island is about to manifest."

At these words, Kuang Zhen’s gaze drifted slightly, as if recalling events from the past. He quickly snapped back to his senses and replied thoughtfully.

"I see. That would certainly suit your elemental affinity! But why would the Profound Heaven Ice Palace contain such things as celestial energy or Immortal Graces? And if those ancient powerhouses had already ascended to immortality, why did they perish?" Tian Ming nodded secretly and continued his inquiry.

Compared to his previous questions, this one had puzzled him for a long time. He had always been curious why the ancient titans who opened the heavens and earth, the masters who established the laws, or the creators of life itself, had been erased by the long river of history.

"It is quite simple. These ancient ruins are, in fact, ancient battlefields! And what does it matter if one is an immortal? In the end, they are still evolved from the three souls and seven spirits. They merely possess different lifespans or destinies compared to lower-level cultivators. When their time comes, their fate will inevitably be exhausted, and they will dissipate into this world, turning into void."

The three souls are the Heavenly Soul, the Earthly Soul, and the Human Soul, while the seven spirits are Joy, Anger, Sorrow, Fear, Love, Hatred, and Desire. The three souls reside in the spirit, while the seven spirits reside in the physical form. Thus, when a person dies, the three souls return to the cycle of reincarnation, and the seven spirits vanish with the physical body...

Before long, as Kuang Zhen spoke, Tian Ming’s mouth hung open, his heart churning like a stormy sea, leaving him utterly speechless.

"Brother Chu, why not go and see for yourself? You will naturally understand everything I have said... Besides, the last time the Profound Heaven Ice Palace opened was one thousand, three hundred and twenty-one years ago. Who knows how many personal belongings of the fallen and how many Immortal Graces have gathered inside since then?"

Kuang Zhen was clearly not surprised by Tian Ming’s reaction. He smiled nonchalantly and continued.

"It is a pity. I never imagined that even those who become immortals cannot attain eternal life..." Tian Ming shook his head secretly. He had not realized that even if he were to continue walking the path of cultivation, he could not achieve immortality in this world.

"Why, are you disappointed? It is not impossible to transcend heaven and earth, but you must strive in your cultivation. This path is far from having an end; there are higher realms, we simply do not yet have the qualifications to touch them." Seeing the sorrow on Tian Ming’s face, Kuang Zhen, not wishing to discourage him, quickly offered words of comfort.

"It is not disappointment. I am merely curious, Brother Kuang, how do you come to know so many things that are unimaginable to ordinary people?"

Tian Ming shook his head again and sighed deeply. In truth, he was not overly interested in immortality; the joy of cultivation lay in the journey itself. If the world were to perish and one remained alone, how meaningless would that be?

*Seal!*

Hearing this question, Kuang Zhen did not answer immediately. Instead, he flicked his finger, tracing several dark, icy beams of light through the air. In an instant, a series of complex runes manifested like a glowing barrier, encircling the table.

Shortly after, the barrier turned transparent.

"This is!"

Seeing this, Tian Ming stared at Kuang Zhen’s incomprehensible display, at a loss for words.

"Brother Chu, do not be surprised. It is merely a minor incantation to seal off sound; it has no other purpose." Kuang Zhen waved his hand dismissively and said calmly.

Tian Ming fell silent. He had previously thought the gap between them was not wide, but he realized he had been like a frog at the bottom of a well. If it were Kuang Zhen, one might say, "How could the sparrow know the ambition of the swan?" Truly, the more powerful one is, the more they prefer to keep a low profile.

Seeing Tian Ming’s silence, Kuang Zhen assumed he was still ruminating on the previous question and said, "Do you believe in reincarnation after all things die?"

"Reincarnation? I suppose it must exist. After all, with so many worlds in the universe, it is impossible for so many souls to be born out of thin air..." Tian Ming scratched his head, feeling uncertain even as he spoke.

Yet, Kuang Zhen seemed very pleased with this answer.

"Hmm... Reincarnation is not a rare occurrence; as long as the three souls have not dissipated, anyone can undergo it. But to retain the memories of one's previous life during reincarnation is a defiance of the heavens. As it happens, I am one such individual!"

"Speaking of this, it happened a year ago. After I left the Central Divine Continent, I arrived in a place by chance... there..." Kuang Zhen nodded, finished his wine, and looked toward the ceiling, speaking with complex emotions.

"Incredible. That is truly a rare stroke of destiny. Brother Kuang being able to retain the memories of a past life might be ordained by fate. But is the current Kuang Zhen the one from the previous life, or the one of the present?" Listening to Kuang Zhen’s experiences, which shifted between sorrow and joy, Tian Ming felt deeply moved.

Too many unexpected things had happened today.

"The course of ancient history poured into me like a river, allowing me to see through many things in this world. The past feels like smoke and clouds, and I, too, was once lost... wondering if I was still myself. Only now do I realize that the 'me' of the past has long since faded into the river of history and no longer exists."

"The 'me' of today is a brand new person. With such excellent inherent conditions, I should live well. That way, I will not let down the efforts of my past life, will I?"