Spiritual Energy is a wonderful thing. It shook the second law of thermodynamics, making life more likely to emerge; it enabled people to bypass theories more easily and acquire various Divine Skills. However, it was also hindering the development of science.
In this universe where Spiritual Energy existed, "Independent Self-Transcendence" and the path of the Modern Cultivator were contradictory. This was not determined by the subjective will of Immortals or mortals, but by the "Spiritual Energy" as a physical quantity and the highest instinct of "prolonging life," embedded in the deep codes of the universe.
Perhaps the vast majority of Immortals had no subjective malice toward mortals, and many might even harbor subjective goodwill, much as some Earth people embraced eco-terrorism. But they were transcended Immortals, and that fact would not change.
They were too powerful.
The Spiritual Energy they captured between breaths might be enough to destroy the world. Just as humans did not care how many bacteria their immune system killed, these Immortals did not care how many mortals they unintentionally destroyed. Protecting some attractive plants and flowers was fine, an interesting game, but it didn't matter if they were unintentionally crushed when passing by.
But for the Modern Cultivator, who revered the transition from chaos to order, these transcended Immortals were no different from demons.
The universe was vast. According to the cosmic microwave background radiation, the universe was twenty billion years old and had a radius of observation of seventy billion light-years.
Yet as vast as the universe was, life was even more significant.
Just in Shenzhou alone, several waves of Immortals had already emerged. Wang Qi had reason to believe that there were definitely more roaming Immortals in the universe. In twenty billion years, every second of every fraction could potentially give birth to life. Even if only one in a trillion could become an Immortal, that was still a terrifying number. And the oldest of these Immortals perhaps possessed the most unimaginable power.
The development pace of the Modern System might be fast, but in this war, time stood on the side of the Immortals.
And no one wanted their cultivated fields to be uprooted by wild boars at any time. Only a fool would depend on the "kindness" of wild boars for the safety of their fields.
And now, two "cultivators," one older and one younger, were gathered in the Ten Thousand Immortals Illusion Realm, discussing their next steps.
"According to your original plan, go to the West Sea," Feng Luoyi told Wang Qi. "I have my next setup there."
Wang Qi scratched his head, "Can you tell me this time what the plan involves?"
"Red Dust Heart Refining," essentially meant slowing down cultivation, experiencing the world, and in this process, maintaining one's true nature to prevent getting lost in power and longevity. In other words, during this stage, you can do whatever you want, slow down, and reflect on life.
Feng Luoyi pulled up a screen displaying the profiles of fifty-three individuals. Wang Qi noticed that the one at the bottom was himself. Zhao Qingfeng, Lu Wan, and others were also clearly listed, only their portraits were in black and white. This was the list of Banished Immortals.
Feng Luoyi lightly slid her finger over Wang Qi's portrait, removing it: "Forty-three, all the Banished Immortals we've managed to get hold of. Now less than thirty are alive, including him..." Feng Luoyi pointed at a stern-looking middle-aged man's portrait, "The current Holy Emperor Venerable of the Heaven Splitting Dao overseas. Additionally, some Banished Immortals were born in the Demon Clan, like these..."
"The controllability of Demon Clan's Banished Immortals is too low, so all are sealed and in slumber. The six most uncontrollable Banished Immortals among the Human Clan are also sealed. Of the remaining twenty or so, six have subjective consciousness leaning towards the Immortal Alliance and are collaborating tightly in secret research. The rest of the Banished Immortals, depending on their personal attitudes, are placed separately in Divine Capital and Langde."
"Divine Capital is a breeding ground; how those Banished Immortals grow in it doesn't matter. And those Banished Immortals without Anti-Immortal Alliance intentions are placed in Langde. That's a military stronghold, under strict surveillance. Those Banished Immortals can participate in the affairs of the Immortal Alliance, ensuring they don't drift from the Alliance, yet not feel overly watched."
"We control all the Banished Immortals on the Great Road, but as for the Sea Demons and possible Banished Immortals among the Overseas Ancient Cultivators, we are powerless. Particularly after the West Sea Dragon King went mad for no apparent reason a few years ago, we suspect Banished Immortals were involved, even perhaps the West Sea Dragon King is an awakened Banished Immortal."
Wang Qi asked, "Dragon's Majesty?"
Feng Luoyi nodded, "We now need you to investigate the Dragon Clan as a 'Banished Immortal' and 'Holy Envoy'."
Wang Qi was puzzled, "I understand the role of a Banished Immortal. The fact that I've cleared my suspicion is not widely known. But 'Holy Envoy'..."
Feng Luoyi tapped Wang Qi's chest, "Remember what I refined for you?"
"'Thoughts Become Reality'?"
"You carry the aura of that Dragon Clan Holy Emperor. The Dragon Clan might have a favorable impression of you."
Wang Qi frowned, "If it's only 'might have a favorable impression', I feel that's quite dangerous."
"No one knows the Dragon Clan's attitude towards Banished Immortals, nor how deeply they've been infiltrated by Banished Immortals. Other Immortal Alliance Cultivators who have refined the aura of the Ancient Dragon Emperor might not be able to blend in with the Dragon Clan," Feng Luoyi said. "In our future strategies, information about the Dragon Clan is extremely important."
Wang Qi pointed at himself, "So... I'm the only choice?"
"You are just a trial made by the Immortal Alliance," Feng Luoyi corrected. "The Alliance has always been signaling the intention to communicate with the Dragon Clan in various ways. However, the real attitude of the Dragon Clan remains ambiguous. You have a possibility of breaking the stalemate, that's all. However, the Immortal Alliance and the Dragon Clan have maintained a special unspoken agreement to this day, with neither side committing their true forces to an all-out war."