Otherworldly Desert Dust

...

On the afternoon of the third day in Infinite City, Ruan Muhuan took Wu Hen to attend the Immortal Lineage's Closed-Door Meeting.

The meeting was exclusively for Immortals who needed to cross their tribulations, essentially a gathering of Immortal politicians doling out promises of opportunities and benefits.

No matter the circumstances, having come this far, one had to abide by the rules of the Immortal Lineage.

This particular Closed-Door Meeting featured seven Immortals preparing for their tribulations. The Gods of the Human Clan were allowed to ask them questions about ascension, which the Immortals would answer.

The format resembled a consultation session.

The seven Immortals acted as consulting experts, resolving the various enigmas of the Gods of the Human Clan.

Wu Hen had no pressing questions; he was just tagging along for the spectacle, with the added intent of identifying if any of the tribulation-experiencing Immortals were part of the Star Mark Plan.

But after interacting with them, Wu Hen discovered that Immortals had unique constitutions. Their starlight radiance was concealed within the vault of heaven, making it immensely difficult to discern which resplendent star they represented. As such, Immortals were generally not part of the Star Mark Plan's purview.

The seven Immortals hosted a banquet in Talisman City, drawing local Human Clan representatives to join in.

The Immortals, too, paid considerable attention to appearances, each donning vestment robes of different colors. Upon stepping into the Jade Court and seeing these seven Immortals, Wu Hen couldn't help but chuckle.

If they had gourds pinned to their heads, the scene would've been complete.

The seven Immortals refrained from disclosing their names. Unless their tribulation assistance was confirmed, they wouldn't reveal much to the Mortal Gods.

"I've previously interacted with the Purple Immortal and the Yellow Immortal," Ruan Muhuan said.

"Oh, do we ask each of them, or are we limited to just one?" Wu Hen asked.

"You can ask only one; it's all about destiny," Ruan Muhuan replied.

"Alright, then I'll go with the Green Immortal. He seems like someone with an especially intriguing story," Wu Hen picked the Immortal who seemed more eco-friendly.

Walking through a veil of mist, Wu Hen took a seat across from the Green Immortal, whose appearance was equally obscured.

In front of the Green Immortal were offerings presented by the Human Clan, primarily rare Divine Stones. It was well-known that Immortals didn't need food but could sustain themselves through the unique scent of these offerings. The selected Divine Stones emitted a distinctive fragrance, calming and rejuvenating one's spirit.

Wu Hen was genuinely curious. If the Breathing Skill required absorbing heaven and earth's Spiritual Energy, thus creating energy transformation through Taste Spiritual Awakening, how did Immortals transform energy through their sense of smell?

"What's your question?" the Green Immortal asked bluntly.

"Our Nuwa Lineage is searching for the Human Holy Realm. It is located in a mysterious universe, with the only clue being a fragment of an ancient starry sky. Underneath that corner of the stars may lie the homeland of our Nuwa God End, as well as our Human Holy Realm. I hope the Immortal can provide some guidance," Wu Hen wasted no time and directly posed his question to the Green Immortal.

Wasn't asking an Immortal akin to wishing upon a star?

As the representative of humanity, Wu Hen had to think along these lines.

"What you are seeking involves the entire pantheon of Cang Chu's Gods. If I assist you, it would show disrespect to the other Gods of Cang Chu. This is a matter for you to explore on your own," the Green Immortal quickly grasped Wu Hen's intent and calmly declined.

Was he capable?

Yes. But the Green Immortal wasn't willing.

Helping Wu Hen would win his favor but alienate the votes of numerous other Human Clan Gods.

"Alright, then I have another question. It concerns my long-lost girlfriend. Could the great master… oh, I mean the Immortal, tell me if we're destined to end up together?" Wu Hen asked.

If world peace couldn't be achieved, surely his romantic fate could be sorted out?

The Green Immortal's expression visibly changed. He was an Immortal, not the Matchmaker!

Besides, you, a Human Clan representative, traveled all the way to Infinite City just to ask such trivial nonsense? Do you have some sort of mental illness?

"Unclear," the Green Immortal replied with just two words, his gaze betraying a hint of irritation.

Wu Hen, possessing keen Perception, immediately picked up on the Green Immortal's subtle annoyance. The Immortal evidently found his "vote" amusingly odd.

"Fine, then I have one more thing to ask. I have a jade pendant here, gifted by a certain immortal maiden from your Immortal Lineage. She took my younger sister to Spirit Mountain for cultivation. I want to know if the Immortal could tell me where she is now—does she happen to be within Infinite City?" Wu Hen adjusted his attitude slightly and handed over the jade pendant.

The moment the pendant was passed over, the Green Immortal's expression shifted once more.

Clearly, he recognized the jade pendant.

He began to ponder, weighing whether to reveal what he knew to this peculiar Human Clan representative.

Wu Hen had already asked three questions. If he couldn't answer any of them, how would the other Human Clan representatives feel? They'd likely all flock to the other Immortals instead.

"This jade does indeed belong to our Immortal Lineage. Your younger sister must possess an exceptionally rare Immortal Body. Since she has already been taken for cultivation, she has severed all ties with the mortal world. Seeking her serves little purpose; she may already be gazing down upon you from a higher plane," the Green Immortal said.

"No way. She took up cultivation just to find a method of resurrection for me. Now that I'm alive again, she has no reason not to see me," Wu Hen refuted.

"That's merely a notion from your mortal phase. Moreover, Immortals cycle through reincarnation. She merely happened to be born into your family. Your sibling bond may feel significant over a mere decade or so, but from the perspective of an Immortal, who endures centuries and countless reincarnations, such emotions are akin to two strangers taking brief shelter under the same roof during a rainstorm. In your eyes, she is your dearest family. In hers, perhaps not," the Green Immortal explained.

"This isn't a matter for the Immortal to resolve for me. I merely wish to know if she's within Infinite City," Wu Hen persisted.

The Green Immortal knew the answer but hesitated to respond.

Should he disclose what he knew and win Wu Hen's favor, or refuse to answer altogether?

After much deliberation, the Green Immortal finally shook his head and said, "I cannot tell you. The paths of mortals and Immortals diverge..."

"Oh, so you're useless too." Wu Hen didn't wait for another lecture, his tone dripping with disdain.

What a useless Immortal.

None of his three questions had been answered satisfactorily!

He couldn't provide a clear direction for humanity's voyage, failed to shed light on his romantic fate, and couldn't even confirm the safety of his own family. All smoke and mirrors—what was the point of this Closed-Door Meeting? Why travel all this way? He might as well have visited a local monk back home. At least the monk could offer emotional support.

The Green Immortal's expression darkened noticeably.

Other Human Clan representatives, including some lofty Gods with resounding titles, always approached him with utmost reverence. But this young upstart? Outrageously insolent.

"Whoever can answer any one of my three questions, I, Wu Hen, will assist them in crossing their tribulation. For the rest of you six Immortals, I'll just sit here enjoying tea and snacks. Interested parties, come negotiate," Wu Hen proclaimed loudly, breaking the serenity of the Jade Court.

The Human Clan representatives were waiting inside the court, while others queued in long lines outside.

The scene resembled a talent fair hosted by seven Top 100 companies. Job seekers were cautious, from their attire to their demeanor, taking great care not to displease the Immortals in any way...

Yet Wu Hen had just berated the Green Immortal, then casually occupied a VIP suite, expecting the seven Top 100 firms to come pitch themselves to him so he could choose at his leisure.

Unbelievable!

The seven Immortals exchanged awkward glances, utterly perplexed by the situation.

The most embarrassed, of course, was the Green Immortal. He still needed to meet other Human Clan representatives. The elder Immortals had verified that Heaven held the virtue of sparing life. If they could guide mortals and perform good deeds, a few years might be shaved off the Ten-Year Tribulation.

The Green Immortal, however, had always found such matters troublesome. Rarely mingling with mortals and barely doing any good deeds, he now faced the full brunt of his Ten-Year Tribulation. Wu Hen's disruption made it nearly impossible to rally the faith of the Human Clan. If things continued like this, wouldn't he be forced to endure the entirety of the tribulation alone?

Swallow the indignity, just once!

At last, the Green Immortal stood up, signaling for Wu Hen to return to him, stating that he could answer one of the three questions.

"You come over to me," Wu Hen replied casually, relishing the tea, fruits, and snacks.

Who's supposed to be crossing the tribulation here, anyway??

It's you who needs our help for the tribulation, and you're still acting like this!

The Green Immortal felt he had already lowered himself enough, but seeing Wu Hen's attitude made his face visibly green.

Clenching his teeth, the Green Immortal swallowed his frustration once more. Adopting a gracious stance, he walked over to Wu Hen's table and sat down.

"Tell me first, what kind of tribulation are you facing? I'll then consider whether to help you. If you're someone deeply entrenched in an emotional entanglement without a shred of self-awareness, and you're undergoing a tribulation of mortal passions, I won't be able to help you," Wu Hen said, flipping the script and treating the Green Immortal like an interviewee.

The Green Immortal began practicing deep breathing.

After a long pause, he returned to his usual calm demeanor and said, "Tribulations are a matter of our Immortal destiny, actually unrelated to whether you assist us or not. The Heavens have entangled our tribulations with the lives of billions of mortals. We must face them with equanimity and are not permitted to evade them."

Oh ho, quite the eloquent response, raising himself so high. It's clearly your tribulation, yet you make it sound like you're enlightening the world?

"Since you couldn't answer the first three questions, I'll pose a fourth: What is the nature of your tribulation?" Wu Hen abruptly shifted the topic, hitting the Green Immortal with a challenge he couldn't avoid.

Upon hearing this, the Green Immortal internally cursed!

What the hell? Is this guy deliberately trying to stir up trouble??

Tribulations take many forms. It's not merely a case of nine bolts of lightning appearing in the sky to strike a cultivator, and if they survive, the tribulation is considered complete… That's just the most conventional type.

What Wu Hen previously mentioned, the tribulation of mortal passions, was also real. Some Immortals would integrate themselves into the mortal world, facing countless emotional trials. They often had to seal away their memories and live as ordinary mortals. If they endured, their tribulation was considered overcome. But if not, they could spend decades trapped in their emotional trials, only to emerge and find themselves owing four or five additional Ten-Year Tribulations after their romantic bond faded.

Wu Hen had actually heard quite a few amusing stories about Immortals from Fairy Gong Qin. After all, being locked up in the magical cattle shed every night, forbidden from crossing boundaries, left little choice but to chat endlessly.

Liu Mengying was also an Immortal—specifically, a Yinji Nether Immortal. Her tribulation was precisely a trial of mortal passions.