Chapter 11: A Signal at Last

On the spaceship, inside the main control room, Tang Yi and Master Tianji were playing Go on the main display screen.

"I say, Master," Tang Yi remarked, "we have been playing for over three months now. Are you still refusing to admit defeat?"

"Admit defeat? Certainly not! Haven't you noticed that my skills are becoming more refined?" Master Tianji replied.

"That is true; our matches have certainly lasted longer. Anyway, you’ve lost again. Let me tell you... wait, it seems there is a signal."

"A signal? What kind of signal?" Master Tianji asked, puzzled.

"A signal from the Immortal Realm," Tang Yi said as he switched the main screen to a 3D mode, zooming out to reveal a grand nebula map. "It’s not easy; it’s been nearly five years, and we’ve finally received the first signal. Hmm, this is Zhang Sanfeng’s mark. He truly lives up to his reputation as a grandmaster!" Tang Yi explained while adjusting the nebula map.

After a while, Tang Yi finished his explanation, and Master Tianji asked, "Does this mean we are almost at the Immortal Realm?"

"Not that quickly. According to calculations, our flight path drifted slightly. I have adjusted the course, but at our current speed, it will take at least another five years to reach the Immortal Realm," Tang Yi said, shaking his head.

"Haha, well, five years is nothing after having lived for millions. Let us continue our game! This time, I will surely defeat you!"

"Fine, let’s continue. I’ll make sure to beat you soundly as always."

As it turned out, five years ago, when Zhang Sanfeng presented the divine beast incense, the Guan family treated him as an honored guest. Zhang Sanfeng borrowed a location on Guan Yue Star to install the signal transmitter Tang Yi had left him, using the planet as a base. The transmitter broadcasted on all frequencies, including sub-space. It took five years for Tang Yi’s ship to pick it up, which showed just how far Tang Yi was from the Immortal Realm. According to the nebula map scanned by his ship, the "Immortal Cage" was located above the entire Immortal Realm nebula cluster.

After installing the transmitter, Zhang Sanfeng, accompanied by Guan Zhiheng and Guan Xiaoyun, began their journey through the Immortal Realm, combining cultivation training with the search for Tang Yi. Zhang Sanfeng had always cultivated on his own, so he intended to continue developing his own techniques in the Immortal Realm. He had already created a method that could reach the level of a Nine-Heaven Mystic Immortal, though its true efficacy remained to be tested.

Time passed quickly, and three years later, the spaceship suddenly shuddered and dropped out of sub-space.

"Damn it, this is too bizarre. We can only fly in normal space, and at most at sub-light speed. Goddammit, who knows how big this godforsaken place is? How long will it take to get out?" Tang Yi shouted in the control room.

"Hehe, stay calm," Master Tianji said to him. "If I am not mistaken, once we pass this region, we should be within the borders of the Immortal Realm. We will be able to recover and use our Immortal Origin energy again. Haven't you always wanted to learn about Immortal Realm techniques? There will be plenty of people there to teach you a thing or two. You should be happy."

"That is true. This must be the barrier between spaces. It just means it will take more time to reach our destination," Tang Yi sighed helplessly.

Just as they were crossing this spatial barrier, the planet Xianyuan welcomed a very beautiful immortal: Hua Ruoxue.

Hua Ruoxue had ascended eight years after Zhang Sanfeng. Ascending with her were Zhang Qiang, Hua Shaojie, Gu Zhenzhen, and Zhang Cuishan. The various sect leaders had suppressed their cultivation levels due to sect affairs and were not in a hurry to ascend.

The five of them appeared in the same place. Just as they were surveying their surroundings, a group of people approached from the distance. As they drew closer, it became clear the group was divided into three factions. The leaders of each faction stepped forward to address the newcomers.

"I am Wu Yue, the commander of the Ancient Sword Sect stationed on Xianyuan Star. I invite you all to join our sect. We are one of the top ten sects in the Immortal Realm; our swordsmanship is second to none..."

Before Wu Yue could finish, a burly man in red interrupted, "I am Yan Zhen. Come to our Earth Flame Sect instead; our fire-attribute techniques are the most formidable..."

"Hehe," a voice as pleasant as silver bells chimed in. It was the leader of the third group, a woman in a light blue dress with a beautiful face and captivating, bright eyes. She was the commander of the Azure Sea Sect stationed on Xianyuan Star.

"Let us let these friends make their own choice. I am Lan Yiyi, commander of the Azure Sea Sect. Our sect specializes in water-attribute techniques and only recruits female immortals. This lady here would be a perfect fit." Lan Yiyi stopped speaking, though her bright eyes continued to scan Hua Ruoxue and the others.

Hua Ruoxue, dressed in fitted gear, looked incredibly spirited, and her peerless face combined with her ethereal temperament left the members of the three sects momentarily stunned.

"I am Hua Ruoxue. Let us discuss this among ourselves first," she said, bowing to the three commanders before stepping aside with Zhang Qiang, Hua Shaojie, and the others to deliberate.

"I say, Commander Lan, your Azure Sea Sect has recruited nearly ten thousand ascendants on this planet over the past century, and their overall aptitude is quite high. Surely you don't need these one or two?" Wu Yue said to Lan Yiyi.

"Exactly! Why not leave them to our Earth Flame Sect? If I recruit these five, my centennial mission as station commander will be nearly complete. You two have better luck than I; you’ve already exceeded your quotas. We’ve known each other for over a thousand years—do us a favor!" Yan Zhen grumbled, sounding quite comical.

"Pfft, we aren't that close!" Wu Yue and Lan Yiyi said in unison.

After a short while, the five returned. Hua Ruoxue asked the three, "Could you please introduce the characteristics, advantages, and rules of your respective sects? That will help us decide."

Lan Yiyi and the others proceeded to give detailed introductions.

"One last question," Zhang Qiang asked at the end. "Is there any problem if we establish our own sect in the future?"

"That is certainly not a problem," Lan Yiyi explained. "You must understand that the Immortal Realm is primarily composed of ascendants; those born in the Immortal Realm account for less than thirty percent of the population. Everyone who ascends is an elite of the mortal world. Establishing one's own sect is a sign of strength. However, betraying one's original sect is generally not tolerated in the Immortal Realm."

"That settles it, then. I choose the Earth Flame Sect," Zhang Qiang decided.

"The Earth Flame Sect suits me as well. I will join them," Hua Shaojie added.

"I will join the Ancient Sword Sect; I have always used the sword," said Zhang Cuishan, who had remained silent until then.

"I will join the Azure Sea Sect; the water-attribute techniques suit me," Hua Ruoxue said. "But I wonder, does the Immortal Realm have a sect that specializes in raising immortal beasts?" She was asking on behalf of Gu Zhenzhen.

"This... yes, the Myriad Beast Sect specializes in that. Is this friend specializing in that field?" Wu Yue asked, looking somewhat hesitant.

"Exactly!" Gu Zhenzhen said, summoning her companion immortal beast.

"How about this? The Myriad Beast Sect has no station on Xianyuan Star, but their territory is adjacent to ours. Why don't you and this friend, Hua, come with us to Azure Sea Star first, and then proceed to the Myriad Beast Sect?" Lan Yiyi said, eyeing the Black Wind Red Beast Gu Zhenzhen had summoned with a hint of envy.