Redemption of a Born Demon

Durand exhaled.

This time, they had finally and definitively confirmed one thing: Yi Beidou’s Black Flame was indeed a power on par with the Earth Immortal Level.

For a mortal to wield a power that only an Earth Immortal should be able to control was simply inconceivable.

In truth, only Yi Beidou himself knew that suppressing the Headless Immortal Corpse this time involved a good deal of luck. If not for the unique properties of his Black Flame, which countered soulless bodies like this one, he likely never would have succeeded.

If he were to face a true Earth Immortal, even as he was now, his chances of survival would be slim to none.

The power of an Earth Immortal far exceeded his expectations.

With Yi Beidou’s confirmation, the group finally began to inspect the headless body up close.

Its entire body was smooth as jade, as if it were a single, seamless piece. Not a single pore was visible. It wasn’t breathing, and they couldn’t hear a heartbeat or the flow of blood, yet it was undeniably alive.

Tao Zihong specifically examined the neck wound of the Immortal Corpse. The cut was perfectly flat and smooth, also like jade. He couldn’t see any muscle texture, blood vessels, or even bone.

"How can it have no bones or blood vessels? And it shows no vital signs. Does that mean it doesn’t have internal organs either?"

Tao Zihong said in astonishment.

He had studied Earth Immortal Flesh and Blood before—the very same that Yi Beidou had taken from the Ancient One. That flesh had already undergone Refinement, and in its dormant state, it appeared jade-like without any discernible organ features. He had assumed this was a result of the Refinement, but he hadn’t expected the Earth Immortal’s original body to be in a similar state.

"That’s right. Legend says Earth Immortals possess a Leakless Body, a body of supreme unity. They don’t have physiological weaknesses like ordinary people. Their entire bodies are uniform. In the records of us Divine Sealers, the Earth Immortal Flesh and Blood we’ve found has had external physical features, but we’ve never discovered any organs."

Long Yichen said in a low voice, carefully observing the Headless Immortal Corpse. Even in the records of the Divine Sealers, there was no description of an Earth Immortal corpse this complete.

Tao Zihong reached out to lift the body. It was incredibly heavy to the touch. It felt less like he was lifting a physical body and more like he was trying to move a massive piece of steel.

"This heavy? The Earth Immortal Flesh and Blood I studied didn’t seem to have such a terrifying weight."

Tao Zihong was once again amazed.

"The Earth Immortal Flesh and Blood you studied must have been subjected to Refinement. True Earth Immortal Flesh and Blood is indeed unimaginably heavy, with a density far surpassing that of a mortal body."

"After undergoing Refinement by an Ancient One, the Earth Immortal Flesh and Blood has to adapt to a human body, so it gradually expands. Its density decreases to become closer to that of human flesh, and its volume increases significantly," Durand explained.

"So, when the Sleepers claim to possess fifty percent Earth Immortal Flesh and Blood, it’s actually just fifty percent of their body’s total mass, not the amount of flesh from half a true Earth Immortal corpse that’s been refined?" Tao Zihong asked in surprise.

"That’s the case. Theoretically, a single complete Earth Immortal corpse could probably create more than ten Sleepers. For an Ancient One, just finding and performing Refinement on half an arm is already a rare stroke of luck," Durand nodded.

These were once the most classified secrets of the Divine Sealers, but he didn’t mind sharing them now.

With Yi Beidou as a precedent, merging with Earth Immortal Flesh and Blood had been proven to be the wrong path. He didn’t believe the Donghua Martial Artists would continue down it, not when a superior alternative existed.

Besides, even if they wanted to, the God of Slaughter at their side would never allow such a "heretical path" to exist.

"This Immortal Corpse... has no reproductive organs?"

Zhou Qingchen had found the crucial detail.

"Gods have no gender. In a sense, Earth Immortals are Gods. Their life forms aren’t even restricted to a humanoid shape. You all should know the Donghua legend of the Seventy-Two Transformations, right?"

"It’s recorded in the ancient texts of us Divine Sealers. Our ancestors once encountered a remnant of Earth Immortal Flesh and Blood. When stimulated, it activated some kind of instinct and actually transformed into a ferocious Exotic Beast, causing us immense casualties," Long Yichen said.

"Damn. Besides their appearance, there’s nothing human about Earth Immortals. Could these guys be aliens?" Tao Zihong couldn’t help but quip.

"Hmm... That actually seems possible. Perhaps the Earth Immortal Realm is another planet?" Long Yichen nodded in agreement.

For a moment, everyone was left speechless.

"This headless body can only be suppressed for three days, after which it will reawaken. Doesn’t that mean you’ll have to suppress it every three days? Besides you, there’s probably no other way to control this body for now."

"If it were to reawaken in the outside world, given the instinct it has shown for exterminating all life, it would likely cause a world-ending catastrophe," Fang Xiuyuan said, looking at Yi Beidou.

"For now, this is the only way. Perhaps I’ll find a better solution later."

"The issue with the Immortal Corpse is resolved for now. Let’s take it with us and head up the mountain to see if there are any ancient relics," Yi Beidou said.

Everyone nodded. They couldn’t learn anything more from the Headless Immortal Corpse at the moment. They would have to wait until they brought it out to study it further.

Yi Beidou grabbed the Headless Immortal Corpse from the ground and hoisted it onto his shoulder. His feet left deep imprints in the earth. Even with the power of his Celestial Demon Body, he found the Immortal Corpse surprisingly heavy in his normal state.

’What an incredible life form.’

The group pressed on, heading into the mountains.

As they walked along white jade steps overgrown with weeds, they could vaguely imagine the former grandeur of this place.

On the main peak, the group encountered several relatively intact wards, but their power was no longer enough to halt their progress.

About an hour later, the group reached the summit. A large area of collapsed white jade buildings came into view, but everyone’s attention naturally fell upon the palace where they had first found the Headless Immortal Corpse.

It was likely the best-preserved structure in the entire Grotto Heaven.

Before they could enter the building, they encountered the most complete and powerful ward yet.

A series of golden Immortal Talismans materialized as pure energy, sealing off the building. The moment anyone approached, the ward would generate golden energy Flying Swords powerful enough that even a Saint Realm expert would struggle to block them.

In the end, it was Yi Beidou who had to use his Black Flame again, burning a hole through the ward and allowing the group to enter the palace.

The palace interior was barren, devoid of any decoration. In the very center stood a white jade pedestal, and upon it rested a single object.

It was an open, jade-like book.

The group slowly approached, getting a clear view of the book.

Its cover was outlined with exquisite and profound patterns in gold thread. The open pages could not be turned; the entire thing was a single, solid piece, like a work of art carved from a single block of Beautiful Jade. Furthermore, there were no carvings or patterns on the pages themselves.

"Could this be the legendary ’Immortal Dao Jade Book’?" Durand said in a low voice.

"Oh? Your God-Sealing Alliance has records of it in your scriptures?" Yi Beidou inquired.

"The Immortal Dao Jade Book. It is said to record the profound secrets of Earth Immortals, abstruse Daoist truths, and the hidden lore of the Immortals. Our God-Sealing Alliance once obtained a fragment of the Jade Book, but it was said to be wordless. Throughout history, no one has ever been able to decipher its mysteries," Durand explained.

’The profound secrets of Earth Immortals?’

A flicker of interest appeared in Yi Beidou’s eyes. He stepped forward, picked up the Jade Book from the pedestal, and held it, carefully stroking it as he tried to sense it.

Soon, a look of sudden understanding dawned on his face.

"It’s not wordless. To know its true meaning and understand its secrets, one must possess ’Immortal Power’," Yi Beidou said.

The next moment, Jade Power flowed from his palm and into the Immortal Dao Jade Book he held.

Everyone clearly saw the Jade Book seemingly become energized. Golden patterns emerged from the once-blank pages, emitting a hazy, radiant glow.

Yi Beidou could tell with a single glance that these symbols and patterns were strikingly similar to the Immortal Talisman arts the Headless Immortal Corpse had used earlier.