Yellow sand rolled through the sky. Within a barren valley where not a single blade of grass grew, a blood-colored lake lay at its center. The cliffs surrounding the valley were unnaturally smooth, making the entire valley resemble a massive crater. A golden haze of sand loomed over it like a shroud. In the middle of the blood-colored lake, Zhang Buku sat cross-legged, his upper body bare. The crimson liquid wrapped around his body like writhing serpents, continuously twisting and coiling. On the lake's edge sat the Shen Yi Realm Lord, motionless like a lifeless skeleton. Compared to two thousand years ago, he was no longer the same; he was skin and bones, his eyes lifeless, resembling a heap of dried bones slumped on the ground.
Looking around, countless corpses of Shen Yi Ghost Kings were strewn across the valley, each one dead in a gruesome manner, their faces twisted in agony. A sudden gust of yellow wind descended from the sky, forming a giant head above the lake. It was an ancient, weathered statue of a Buddha's head—the head of Buddha Immortal! Buddha Immortal gazed down at Zhang Buku, a strange, eerie smile spreading across his face. Sensing something, Zhang Buku slowly opened his eyes. When he saw Buddha Immortal, he remained indifferent, showing no trace of nervousness. His expression calm, he asked, "What? You can't hold back any longer and want to make your move?"
Buddha Immortal sneered, his voice laced with amusement. "You're practically my disciple now. Is this how you speak to your master?" Zhang Buku did not respond, merely staring at him in silence. He had spent two thousand years in this place, enduring endless suffering and torment, his mind tempered to unshakable resolve. Even in the face of death, he felt no fear. "Not bad. I quite like that look in your eyes. You're far stronger than these useless wretches," Buddha Immortal said disdainfully. At the edge of the lake, the Shen Yi Realm Lord trembled slightly but dared not raise his head. Zhang Buku merely cast him a glance, unconcerned. He knew that mere words of comfort could do nothing to help him.
"Do you know why I chose you?" Buddha Immortal suddenly asked. Zhang Buku met his gaze, waiting for an answer. Buddha Immortal chuckled, unfazed by Zhang Buku's cold demeanor. "You were supposed to die, but someone intervened and altered your fate. People like you are called fate-changers. The greater the change in fate, the more complex your karmic ties become. In other words, the stronger you grow, the more you become an anomaly to the Heavenly Dao, even to the Grand Dao itself. Fate-changers are destined for hardship, making cultivation more difficult for them than for ordinary people. But at the same time, they are more likely to encounter great opportunities."
A supposed dead man? Zhang Buku immediately thought of his martial uncle, Gu An. If not for Gu An saving him, he would have died long ago. "So what? I carry this karma, and you still chose me? Aren't you afraid of trouble?" Zhang Buku stared at Buddha Immortal, his tone calm but unwavering. Buddha Immortal smirked, an amused expression flickering across his face. "Kid, do you want to become an immortal god? With your fate, you're perfect for the Heavenly Court."
"The Heavenly Court?" Zhang Buku frowned.
"That's right. It is the supreme power of the immortal gods. They are true immortals, protected by the fortune of the Heavenly Dao. As long as the Heavenly Dao exists, they will never perish. They wield supreme authority, ruling over all Worlds. The immortals and gods seen in the mortal realm? They are nothing more than echoes of the true divine. Mortals can never lay eyes upon the true Heavenly Court, and the gods of the Heavenly Court would never lower themselves to be seen by mere mortals," Buddha Immortal spoke in a voice filled with temptation.
Undying and indestructible—the allure of such a prospect was undeniable. Even with Zhang Buku's tempered heart, waves of emotion stirred within him. Cultivation was, after all, the pursuit of longevity. Strength could be obtained through family, sects, or external forces, but immortality could only be achieved through one's own efforts. Zhang Buku had traveled across countless realms but had never heard of anyone who had truly achieved eternal life.
"I was once part of the Heavenly Court as well," Buddha Immortal continued. "But to me, immortality became a shackle. So I sought to escape. However, the Heavenly Court does not tolerate vacancies in its divine ranks. If I leave, my seat must be filled—otherwise, they will never let me go. And so, you will take my place." Buddha Immortal stared at Zhang Buku, his voice turning solemn, his smile disappearing.
Zhang Buku asked, "Is it really that easy to replace you?"
Buddha Immortal replied, "The Heavenly Court is not like the sects you imagine. Even among the immortal gods, many never meet each other. Some are confined to a single place for eternity, never stepping into the true Heavenly Court. Being able to witness the Heavenly Laws is already considered a great fortune in one's lifetime."
Hearing this, Zhang Buku finally understood.
Buddha Immortal's status in the Heavenly Court must have been very low—so low that barely anyone paid attention to him. This realization left a bitter taste in his heart. Even a low-ranked existence from the Heavenly Court could bring him endless despair. If he were to enter such a terrifying place, he felt it would only lead to an inescapable future. From Buddha Immortal's words, the Heavenly Dao's divine position could grant immortality, but it would also strip him of his freedom.
Perhaps Buddha Immortal was only allowed to guard this world.
If he were forced to stay in this barren land of endless yellow sand for eternity, he knew he could never accept such a fate.
Seeing Zhang Buku sink into despair, Buddha Immortal continued, "Only by accepting the Heavenly Dao's divine position will I grant that man a chance to live. He won't last much longer."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Buku turned his head to look at Shen Yi Realm Lord, his brows furrowing.
Buddha Immortal slowly ascended into the sky, his voice echoing downward, "Becoming an immortal god may mean losing your freedom, but at least you still have hope. If you die, then you will have no hope at all."
His voice gradually faded into the distance as his figure vanished into the golden sands.
Zhang Buku kept his gaze fixed on Shen Yi Realm Lord, struggling with his emotions.
The debt of gratitude he owed to Shen Yi Realm Lord could not be ignored.
But if he lost his freedom, he would never be able to see his martial uncle Gu An or Li Ya again.
How long could they even live, when neither of them were immortal gods?
Zhang Buku felt a deep sense of pain and helplessness, unable to make a decision.
Meanwhile, hidden within the shifting sands, Buddha Immortal was still observing Zhang Buku's reaction. His expression twisted into a sinister and eerie smile as he muttered to himself, "You want to become an immortal? Do you really think you're worthy? If I don't first shatter your Dao heart, how can I properly take over your body…"
Suddenly!
He felt a large hand press down upon his head, causing his eyes to widen in shock. To his horror, he found himself completely immobilized—he couldn't even extend his divine sense beyond his body.
In that instant, all his senses failed him. He could not see who was above him, nor could he control the power within his own body.
"Who… Who are you?"
Buddha Immortal gritted his teeth, suppressing his overwhelming fear as he spoke.
He could sense an immensely powerful karmic force surrounding him, sealing him off completely. No matter how much he screamed, Zhang Buku would never be able to hear him, nor even see his current state.
Countless possibilities flashed through Buddha Immortal's mind. To subdue him so effortlessly, this entity had to be above the Innate Golden Immortal level.
Anyone above that realm was someone he could never afford to provoke.
"If you already know he is a fate-changer, why didn't you consider who it was that altered his fate?" A hoarse voice rang in Buddha Immortal's ears, making his entire head tremble violently.
They had come specifically for Zhang Buku!
How could this boy have such a terrifying background?
Buddha Immortal immediately said, "Senior, I was wrong! I had no eyes to see the truth. I was blind to the depths of this karma. I am willing to let him go."
"Just letting him go?"
"I…"
"You will transfer all your abilities to him. And you must not let him know of my existence."
"Understood! I will do it immediately!"
Buddha Immortal did not hesitate for even a second. He had the distinct feeling that if he uttered even one word of refusal, he would be erased from existence on the spot.