Chapter 342: To Become An Immortal, You Must Become A Mortal

Looking at the two corpses on the ground, covered in blood stained white pieces of clothing, a faint hint of inexplicable emotion flashed past Tian Yongheng’s eyes.

The condition of the corpses was too gruesome; not seeing it was better.

He took a deep breath, suppressing his thoughts, and glanced towards Ouyang Chenyao weeping bitterly on the ground.

Having been friends with this couple for years, he also felt a sense of loss. But this was not the first time those closed to him had died.

Though this was undoubtedly the first time when he held the supreme power to save them but didn’t do so.

The karmic lines were fine just days ago... how did it happen?

At this thought, the look in his eyes gradually grew colder.

Someone was deliberately messing with him by playing cruel jokes.

Fortunately, most people around him, whether it be his disciples, friends, subordinates, or various other acquaintances had powerful enough Providence protecting them, thus this little messing should be almost ineffective to them.

This could be seen from the fact that none of their profiles had disappeared from the friend list.

However, Ouyang Chenyao’s parents...

They were ultimately mortals with no extraordinary Providence.

Even if they had a somewhat close relationship with him, he had deliberately restrained his overflowing Providence, only maintaining a basic karmic connection.

Ouyang Chenyao survived purely by her own luck, but even that may not last long in front of this absolute power.

He was almost invincible in the Lower Realm, it was impossible for entities of the Lower Realm to scheme against him without him noticing or nullifying it instinctively.

The only remaining possibility was...

The Upper Realm...

Alright, so you want to play like this? Just wait, the day I become an Immortal Sovereign, see how I deal with you all!

The only good thing was that the Ouyang family couple was only killed by Martial Artists, thus they could reincarnate safely from what Tian Yongheng deduced.

Several days have passed since then.

After the funeral, both Tian Yongheng and Ouyang Chenyao stood side by side.

The little girl’s eyes were no longer as bright as before, as if shrouded in a layer of ever present gloom, unable to be dispelled.

"So, you’re going back to your hometown with your relatives?"

She nodded at Tian Yongheng’s question before looking up at him and suddenly asked, "Uncle, you’re an Immortal Master, right? Do not deny it anymore. I’ve watched you ever since I remember, and you haven’t aged a single day."

Tian Yongheng didn’t reply.

"Why didn’t you save my parents?"

Hearing no reply once again, Ouyang Chenyao’s eyes glistened with tears, and she began to sob uncontrollably, speaking in a choked voice, "Why... you obviously, obviously had the power... why didn’t you then..."

Tian Yongheng didn’t know what to say.

He was searching for the answer to that question himself, how could he tell her?

Is it really necessary to go through such a trial just to ascend to immortality?

Since he had the power, why didn’t he take action?

With his cultivation base and supreme Providence, even the slightest change in karma would have been extremely easy to detect if he was willing to. This was a passive ability of beings of his level.

Yet he actively turned off this passive ability; why?

To experience the Mortal World?

This calamity stemmed because of him, yet he didn’t even take responsibility for it.

To transform into a Immortal, one must first transform into a mortal.

But hasn’t he already suffered enough as a mortal, in not one but two lifetimes?

What... is all this even about?

Tian Yongheng’s mind ran at extreme speed trying to search for a reason to justify himself, but couldn’t seem to find any at all.

In the end, it all seemed to be because he was too selfish, using the entire Mortal World as his playground to temper himself and break the Seven Emotions and Six Desires Severing Law, ascending to immortality in one go.

But, is that really how it’s supposed to be?

Is that the essence of transforming into a mortal?

Transforming into a mortal, transforming into a mortal...

Suddenly, a flash of realization swept past his mind.

What... is a mortal?

Is being a mortal just about suffering, letting go of everything, and be a passerby in life?

Is it about just passively taking a beating from fate, without even having any thoughts of resistance?

Since they don’t have any power, it’s better to just give up and let destiny take its course?

No!

Immortal Cultivators were also once mortals; if they didn’t have thoughts of resistance, would there be any Immortal Cultivators in the world today!?

Immortal Cultivation is about defying the predestined arrangements of fate, of lifespan, of the limitations placed upon mortals by the Heavenly Dao!

Being a mortal doesn’t just mean always being trapped between fate and destiny, stuck in the sea of suffering, but about having the courage to go against fate despite the outcome, to search for a way out of the sea of suffering even with no visible power, and doing everything one can to achieve their goals!

Without resolve, how can one become an Immortal?

Without determination, how can one defy limits?

Always backing down in the face of calamities is disrespectful to oneself; if one cannot even respect themselves, how can they expect heaven and earth to respect them?

Witnessing something that goes against your beliefs, against your subconscious, and having the power to stop it yet not doing so is not being a mortal, it is being an utterly ignorant individual with a sense of superiority who’s preconceived notions prevent them from truly becoming a mortal!

And without becoming a mortal, how can one become an Immortal?

Mortality is not just about suffering, but taking a stand for oneself amidst endless suffering to forge an unbreakable resolve, of hope that things will get better, or if they don’t, I will make them better myself!

That is the essence of transforming into a mortal!