Chapter 25: Infiltration

Half a day later.

On a desolate wild path flanked by a few scattered flowers, a white-robed youth walked alone.

"Hmm?" Suddenly a golden-armored burly man appeared, smiling. "My name is Dong'e. And you are?" Inwardly he was curious—he should know all the Celestial Immortals on Thousand Star Island.

"Celestial Immortal Dong'e?" Ji Ning smiled. "I'm Beiming, just arrived at Thousand Star Island."

"Just arrived? That explains it. I know all the Celestial Immortals on Thousand Star Island," Dong'e laughed heartily. "I also know almost all the Celestial Immortals in the Three Realms, but I've never heard of you. You must have become a Celestial Immortal in the last few tens of millions of years. Coming alone—did you get through the Demon Ice Valley?"

"Indeed," Ji Ning nodded.

"Come, come, come. I'll take you to meet Celestial Immortal Dreamlike." Dong'e was quite excited.

"Celestial Immortal Dreamlike?" Ji Ning was puzzled.

Dong'e laughed, "Celestial Immortal Dreamlike also crossed the Demon Ice Valley on his own to get here. He's incredibly strong..." As they walked, he chatted and tried to get closer, while Ji Ning played the part of a newcomer who knew nothing about Thousand Star Island.

...

A black immortal mansion sat on a mountainside. A black-robed man walked out, looking down from above. Beside him appeared another Dong'e—Dong'e had many avatars guarding various places, also to prevent sneak attacks from Celestial Immortal Sin and Celestial Immortal Throatseal.

"What is it?" The black-robed man smiled.

"Dreamlike," Dong'e said quickly, "I ran into a Celestial Immortal I've never seen or heard of. After chatting with him, I learned he became a Celestial Immortal in the Three Realms only in the last few tens of millions of years, and he crossed the Demon Ice Valley alone to reach our Thousand Star Island. Now there are four powerful Celestial Immortals on the island. Most importantly, he's a human—we can easily recruit him to the Escapes Gate. He might even be one of ours."

"Oh?" The black-robed man nodded, pleased. "An extra ally on our side is a good thing. Bring him here—I want to properly welcome him."

"Alright." Dong'e nodded and left at once.

The black-robed man fell into thought.

Humans were the strongest race in the Three Realms, with demons close behind. After the Lord of All Demons led a large number of Escapes Gate experts back to the Three Realms, the two sides coexisted peacefully, even merging like one family. Many Escapes Gate experts walked the Three Realms and interbred with humans and demons, leaving bloodlines.

Thus many humans and demons carried 'god-demon bloodlines.' The god bloodline came from the gods of the Pangu Chaos World, while the demon bloodline came from the powerful demons of the Escapes Gate.

The presence of god-demon bloodlines in humans and demons was due to interbreeding over long ages. In Ji Ning's era, humans inevitably had traces of blood from Escapes Gate great powers. Of course, humans also had more blood from the great powers of the Pangu Chaos World.

Moreover, the human leaders—the 'Three Sovereigns'—were firmly on Nüwa's side, so human experts generally sided with Nüwa's camp. But there were so many humans, and with a bit of Escapes Gate blood, many humans bore little hostility toward the Escapes Gate. Naturally, many were recruited by them—in the Grand Xia world, for instance, large numbers of Celestial Immortals had been won over.

Humans and demons... many had been recruited.

That was why Dong'e believed Ji Ning could be recruited, and might even already be with the Escapes Gate.

"Hmph." A cold glint flashed in the black-robed man's eyes. "Whether you're with the Escapes Gate or not, anyone who threatens me deserves death. In the Moon Underwater Abyss... it's enough that I get out alive. Other Celestial Immortals? Hmph, dying here is the best outcome for you."

When Celestial Immortal Dreamlike entered the Moon Underwater Abyss, the great calamity had not yet descended upon the Three Realms. The Escapes Gate and Nüwa's camp were not yet opposed; many relationships were very good. For instance, Lord Huanmu had excellent relations with Patriarch Bodhi, Lord Sanqing, and others.

Thus, Celestial Immortal Dreamlike didn't really care whether the other party was from the Escapes Gate.

All he needed was an excuse!

When he killed Celestial Immortal Xu Jiu back then, he needed the excuse of 'avenging a brother and friend.' Otherwise, even if that group of Escapes Gate Celestial Immortals helped him, they probably wouldn't have done their utmost.

...

Half an hour later, Ji Ning met Celestial Immortal Dreamlike.

"Celestial Immortals who can reach Thousand Star Island on their own are extremely rare. From the infinite past to now, including you and me, there have only been nine." Celestial Immortal Dreamlike was very warm, taking Ji Ning's hand. "Come, come, come. Let's have a good talk."

Ji Ning smiled and nodded.

The two walked side by side, and the other Celestials of the Voidgate were also quite friendly.

"Sit."

Great Dream Celestial said with a smile.

By the railing on the second floor of the palace, Ji Ning and Great Dream Celestial sat cross-legged facing each other, with a jade table between them on which were placed two jugs of immortal wine and cups.

"It's been a long time since a new Celestial arrived," Great Dream Celestial sighed. "The Moon Under the Lake is too lonely. Having a new Celestial come is the happiest thing for me in ordinary times."

"I wonder how many have reached Thousand Star Island by their own power?" Ji Ning asked, holding his wine cup.

"Before you came, there were three," Great Dream Celestial said with a smile. "Myself, Sin, and Throatcutter. Both of them belong to the Pangu Chaosworld faction, while I belong to the Voidgate, so we generally don't interact much."

Ji Ning asked in surprise, "Why is that? Haven't the Pangu Chaosworld and the Void Chaosworld long since shattered? Now there is the Three Realms, and both sides should be considered part of the Three Realms. Why must there be killing and fighting?"

"There is blood feud."

Great Dream Celestial shook his head. "Whether it's them or me, many important people in our lives died in that ancient war of destruction. This hatred... it prevents us from truly becoming one family, especially the ancient powerhouses, many of whom still harbor hatred in their hearts. It's only because both sides are strong that peace prevails. If one side were weak, the other would have annihilated it long ago."

Ji Ning nodded. What Great Dream Celestial said made sense.

"Don't think that just because peace has lasted so long, the mighty figures on both sides truly get along like sworn brothers. Those who do can be counted on one hand. Only a few, like Lord Huanmu, can truly be on excellent terms with the mighty figures of the Pangu Chaosworld side," Great Dream Celestial shook his head. "Most mighty figures still have rifts between them."

"Take you, for example. You only broke through in the last tens of millions of years. Both the Voidgate and the Pangu Chaosworld will regard you as their descendant," Great Dream Celestial said with a smile.

In the eyes of the Nuwa camp, the Three Realms are the continuation of the Pangu Chaosworld.

But in the eyes of the Voidgate, the Three Realms are the continuation of the Void Chaosworld.

Both sides claim to be the masters of the Three Realms!

In truth, neither side is entirely wrong, for the birth of the Three Realms came from the collision of the two Chaosworlds and a great war, ultimately forming it!

"You don't need to get involved in the conflicts between Sin, Throatcutter, and me," Great Dream Celestial said, chatting with Ji Ning for a long time.

Ji Ning couldn't help but sigh inwardly.

No wonder...

No wonder Throatcutter Celestial had deliberately given Great Dream Celestial a chance to attack, to test his character. It was because Great Dream Celestial was truly formidable. Even though he had come to kill Great Dream Celestial, after chatting with him for so long, he couldn't help but feel that Great Dream Celestial was indeed a good person worth befriending.

"As expected of a personal disciple of the God King, his skill at manipulating hearts is truly impressive," Ji Ning thought to himself.

They talked for a long time.

"Haha, we've talked for so long," Great Dream Celestial laughed. "It seems you and I, Beiming, are truly fated. But you should rest now. By the way, do you have a portable immortal mansion with you?"

"Yes," Ji Ning nodded.

"Then set up your mansion nearby and rest there," Great Dream Celestial said. "It's safer inside the mansion."

"Must I stay in the mansion? Is Thousand Star Island dangerous?" Ji Ning asked in surprise.

"Alas, this is a grudge left over from ancient times. Let's not talk about it. In any case, just be careful," Great Dream Celestial said with a smile. Then he and Ji Ning walked down the palace together. On the steps of the palace, without any warning, a blade of light sliced toward Ji Ning's waist, intending to cut him in two.

At this moment, Great Dream Celestial no longer had his previous warmth and friendliness; his eyes were filled with coldness and killing intent.

"Anyone who threatens me must die!" The murderous intent suppressed in Great Dream Celestial's heart erupted.

"Sssss~~~"

The blade light struck Ji Ning's waist, but it was like hitting a magic treasure, even sending off a shower of sparks, yet it failed to harm Ji Ning in the slightest.

Ji Ning turned his head to look at Great Dream Celestial, his eyes also turning cold. His right hand transformed into a hazy sword light and slashed directly at him.