Chapter Seventy-Nine: Mountains, Rivers, and the Realm

“But, senior! With the collapse of the Chaos Heaven and the invasion of void creatures, if we choose the Great Wilderness as the battlefield, tens of thousands of miles around will likely be destroyed. The loss to us would be tremendous…” someone voiced their concern, and Ye Qiu was momentarily stunned.

“That’s right! But… the Void Bridge has already formed, and the invasion of void creatures is a reality now. It seems we have no power to change anything…” Ye Qiu pondered deeply, his gaze drifting toward the darkness where a creature covered in fur lurked—a void being, incomparably powerful.

Earlier, their eyes had met, and Ye Qiu could tell the creature’s strength far surpassed even the God of Darkness, Yuechan, and the others by dozens of times. Using the wilderness as the battleground would not only inflict severe wounds upon the land, but even Ye Qiu’s tavern would not escape calamity.

“Hmm… let me think…” Ye Qiu weighed his options, desperate for a solution. But he truly had no skills for this; it was a difficult predicament.

Just then, Yuechan, her eyes filled with doubt, glanced sidelong at Ye Qiu and asked, “Don’t you have that painting called the Map of Rivers and Mountains? Why not use it as the battlefield?”

Ye Qiu: “???”

Are you mad? What use is a painting? It’s just an ordinary drawing, nothing special except for its appearance. How could it be used as a battlefield?

Ye Qiu was baffled. He knew his own work—the painting was nothing more than a casual sketch he’d made while tipsy.

Then another person cried out, “Indeed! The Map of Rivers and Mountains in senior’s hand encompasses all things and contains boundless mysteries. Within its canvas lie myriad worlds.

No exaggeration—once this painting is revealed, it could open up a battlefield for us to fight within…”

“Hiss… is it really that terrifying?”

The crowd was suddenly abuzz. Who would have thought Ye Qiu, aside from his immortal fruits, possessed such a treasure? How wealthy was he? Truly, riches beyond measure, almost approachable in his affluence!

“To speak without modesty, I once glimpsed the painting from afar, and its artistic realm lingers in my mind to this day. I’d say this masterpiece is rare in the human world, unmatched in a lifetime, and even the finest immortal treasures pale in comparison…” someone boasted, as if having seen the Map of Rivers and Mountains was a point of pride.

Look how smug he is… and not even a hint of humility!

Ye Qiu listened to the praise around him and felt it was all absurd, muttering, “Are you serious? Are you all crazy, or am I? That’s just a normal painting I drew when drunk. How did it become a priceless treasure?”

Everyone was stunned.

“Showing off?”

“Damn, still pretending? If that’s just a painting, are there any treasures left in the world?”

“Unbelievable, the way you’re acting is infuriating! If you sketch casually when drunk, what would happen if you had a couple more drinks—would you ascend to the heavens?”

“Hiss… I see, this is how true experts pretend. Damn… I’ve learned something new today!”

The crowd scorned him, making Ye Qiu even more frustrated. How could telling the truth be mistaken for showing off these days?

Damn it, I’m not pretending! I’ve never pretended in my life, and I have no interest in it. You’re just slapping labels on me!

Yuechan looked at Ye Qiu with a faint smile and murmured, “Still pretending? At a time like this? Go on, keep it up. I’ll just watch, I won’t say a word…”

“Hey, don’t go too far! What do you mean I’m pretending? I really am not! It’s just a painting—see for yourself if you don’t believe me…”

Ye Qiu was fired up. He snatched the treasure box from the Sky-Swallowing Sparrow and took out the Map of Rivers and Mountains.

The moment the painting appeared, a radiant flash burst forth. As the scroll unfurled…

Everyone witnessed the marvel within the painting, and they were instantly transfixed.

“Hiss… is this the legendary Map of Rivers and Mountains? Just a glance, and it feels as if one touches the Great Dao, such profound meaning?”

“Do you sense it? Amid the ink strokes, there’s boundless sword intent—no, even the mysteries of strange paths and hidden arts.”

“Hiss… this is truly all-encompassing. With just a single painting, so many paths of the Dao are intertwined. If any of us could comprehend but one, we’d shatter our shackles and ascend to the immortal realm…”

“Heavens, this is definitely a supreme immortal treasure!”

Everyone stood mesmerized before the Map of Rivers and Mountains, gazing unblinkingly at the scene within—even Yuechan was no exception. The other ancient monsters wore exaggerated expressions, as if they’d discovered a new world, their eyes filled with obsession.

“Heavens… this is the true immortal path. All the years we spent seeking enlightenment were mistaken!”

An elder from the Sacred Land of Immortal Mountain sighed, “Who would have thought, the three thousand laws of the world are hidden within a humble painting. Clearly, the gap between us and the senior is as vast as the heavens.”

“Haha, truly every generation brings forth new talent. Looks like we are all getting old…”

The appearance of the Map of Rivers and Mountains had an immense impact. Those with keen talent even broke through on the spot, soaring like birds of the ninth heaven, rising far beyond restraint.

Ye Qiu was dumbfounded by the scene.

“No way, is this painting really that incredible?”

He stared at the painting in his hands, then at everyone’s reaction, unable to believe it was real.

Impossible, surely—I know what I drew. How could it contain immortal arts for you to comprehend? I don’t even know these things myself, how could I paint them? Are you all fooling me?

Suddenly… a beam of golden light flashed, and the elder from the Sacred Land of Immortal Mountain let out a muffled sound as he ascended on the spot, breaking free of his mortal shell and reforging his golden body.

“Hiss… this old fellow actually broke through? Heavens, the legendary realm of the Great Golden Immortal!”

The crowd erupted. The elder of Immortal Mountain had actually ascended to the realm of the Great Golden Immortal, causing a sensation comparable to that of Liu Jianchen, the Sword Immortal of the Land.

“What is the Great Golden Immortal?” someone asked.

An ancient monster explained, “The cultivation world has clear divisions. After reaching the ultimate mortal realm—the Supreme Carefree—comes a vague concept, the Heavenly Realm…

Above the Heavenly Realm is the Immortal Realm, the boundary separating immortals from mortals. More precisely, it is the Land God!

Since the immortal body is not truly forged, one cannot be called a real immortal, only a Land God!

Above the Land God is the realm of Reforged Golden Body, the true immortal state: the Great Golden Immortal!”

After hearing the explanation, everyone was astonished.

“So this senior has already entered the ranks of immortals? Heavens, how could this be…”

The crowd was in an uproar, and even Yuechan cast a surprised glance. She had not expected that, aside from Ye Qiu, someone had surpassed her.