Immortal Paladin

Darkness enveloped the sealed chamber so completely that even my divine senses found nothing to grasp. I remained sprawled on the cold stone floor, one arm tucked beneath my head as I replayed the final moments of my clone inside the Tower. Death had been... peculiar. It hadn't been pain or fear that lingered in my memory, but revelation. Supreme Death had unknowingly handed me a clue to the realm beyond a Ruler of Laws. He had called it a Supreme Art. The words echoed through my thoughts as I pieced together everything I knew.

If the next realm truly existed, then it almost certainly revolved around one's Supremacy Trait. Every Supreme Being possessed something fundamentally unique, a truth that transcended mere Laws. Perhaps a Supreme Art was the culmination of that uniqueness, the point where a Supremacy Trait ceased being an innate gift and became an absolute authority.

I let out a long sigh. "Speculating won't get me anywhere. I should focus on what's actually urgent."

The moment my clone perished within the Tower, something had changed inside me. The burden weighing upon my left eye had disappeared, leaving behind a sensation so liberating that it almost felt foreign. Even now, I couldn't understand why Supreme Death had personally killed my clone. Stranger still, why had the Tower convinced him to do it? We held no grudge against one another. There had never been any conflict of interest, no hidden schemes, no rivalry waiting to erupt. If anything, we had gotten along surprisingly well considering who he was. The entire situation remained an unsolved mystery, one I doubted would reveal its answers anytime soon.

Instead of dwelling on it, I directed my attention toward my right eye.

With my left eye no longer shackled, the power of Ophanim surged with unprecedented clarity. Countless threads of destiny spread across existence, weaving through worlds, civilizations, and lives too numerous to count. I accelerated the divine vision, pushing it beyond its previous limits. Time flowed differently within the sealed chamber. Centuries slipped past like drifting leaves as I sifted through innumerable possibilities, discarding futures that led only to ruin while following those that shone with promise.

Six hundred years passed in the blink of an immortal's eye.

By the time I finally opened both eyes, I had found every champion I needed.

I rose from the stone floor and stretched my stiff limbs before walking toward the colossal entrance. "I've finished my seclusion. Ox-Head, Horse-Face, open the doors."

A deep rumble shook the chamber.

The pair of titanic stone doors groaned as immense hands pushed them apart. Waiting outside were the towering gatekeepers of the Underworld, Ox-Head and Horse-Face. Even after centuries of standing guard, neither showed the slightest trace of fatigue.

I stepped beyond the threshold and inhaled deeply.

The air carried the familiar scent of death, lingering souls, and yin qi so dense it almost condensed into mist. It was strangely refreshing. Then my gaze drifted downward.

The ground below was blanketed with corpses.

Bodies from countless races lay piled atop one another. Demons with shattered horns, humans clad in bloodstained robes, heavenly beings whose radiant wings had long since dulled, asuras hacked into grotesque pieces, beastfolk frozen in their final moments of defiance, and even fading remnants of ghostly spirits scattered throughout the battlefield.

I blinked once before looking toward my guardians.

"What happened here?"

Horse-Face snorted. "You ought to know the answer just by looking."

"It was easier to ask."

Ox-Head answered with his usual calm demeanor. "Assassins from across the Greater Universe attempted to infiltrate the Underworld during your seclusion. Some hailed from the Hollowed World itself. They were raised from childhood through horrifying methods such as human sacrifices, endless slaughter, poison refinement, and every cruelty imaginable. A number of them cultivated techniques that transformed them into vengeful spirits after death, allowing them to continue fighting even after their bodies were destroyed."

My eyes shimmered.

Ophanim replayed everything.

Thousands of battles unfolded before my eyes in rapid succession. I watched shadows emerge from impossible angles, spatial assassins phasing through reality itself, ghost cultivators slipping between dimensions, and elite killers sacrificing their own souls for a single strike. Through every assault, Ox-Head and Horse-Face stood before the sealed chamber without yielding a single step. Again and again they repelled enemies that would have terrified entire immortal sects.

Only then did I notice something else.

Horse-Face was missing his left arm.

My eyes lingered on the empty shoulder.

He caught my gaze and rolled his eyes. "It's no big deal. Stop looking so worried."

I smiled faintly before raising my hand.

"Divine Sanctuary of Life."

A brilliant golden and emerald radiance descended from above, bathing Horse-Face in life-giving divinity. The wound resisted the healing for an instant. Some peculiar poison clung to the severed shoulder, gnawing relentlessly at the very concept of immortality, refusing regeneration through ordinary means. It was certainly crafted by someone terrifying.

The sanctuary overwhelmed it effortlessly.

The poison disintegrated into nothingness.

Fresh flesh sprouted from the shoulder, followed by muscle, bone, meridians, and finally skin. Within moments, Horse-Face flexed a perfectly restored arm before opening and closing his fingers several times.

"Huh." He rotated his shoulder with a satisfied grin. "That feels much better."

My gaze swept across the countless dead once more.

An unsettling realization settled over me.

Throughout six hundred years of secluded cultivation, I hadn't sensed a single clash outside the chamber. Every assassin had been stopped before they could disturb me. Without these two standing guard, I might never have completed my seclusion.

I turned toward them with genuine gratitude.

"You both did excellent work. Is there any reward you'd like?"

Ox-Head immediately shook his massive head.

"There is no need, Your Majesty."

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"I do," Horse-Face interrupted before Ox-Head could continue. "I want a property on the Mortal Plane."

I raised an eyebrow.

"By Mortal Plane... you mean the Greater Human Realm?"

Nowadays, the term carried more ambiguity than it once had. Traditionally, everyone referred to the Greater Human Realm whenever the Mortal Plane was mentioned. Since the Hollowed World now possessed its own Underworld, however, the naming convention had become inconvenient. To the countless civilizations scattered throughout the Greater Universe, the Hollowed World remained nothing more than a distant frontier bordering myth. Rumors of its existence were so scarce that many regarded it as little more than a fabricated legend.

Horse-Face burst into laughter.

"Of course I mean here in the Hollowed World. I've been thinking lately..." He scratched the back of his head with a sheepish grin. "Living as a human actually seems pretty fun. I want to give it a try someday."

"There is really no need," Ox-Head replied flatly.

Horse-Face clicked his tongue.

"Oh, would you stop acting like an old fossil for once?"

Ox-Head ignored the complaint and looked at me instead.

"If a property is to be built in our names, I would rather the funds be given to Lady Xin Yune. Meng Po has done much for the Underworld. If not to expand her residence, then at least to expand her wealth."

I chuckled.

"There's no need to worry about that. Nongmin and I have already been covering all of Xin Yune's expenses."

Horse-Face immediately jabbed Ox-Head in the ribs with his elbow.

"See? Didn't I tell you? Never look a gift horse in the mouth."

Ox-Head stared at him in silence.

"...You do realize you're literally the horse in that saying."

Horse-Face blinked.

"...That somehow feels insulting."

A laugh escaped my lips before I could stop it.

"How about a compromise?" I suggested after my laughter subsided. "We'll build the property around Xin Yune's residence instead. A large courtyard should do nicely. Maybe, somewhere spacious enough for the two of you to wander around in your full forms whenever you wish. Of course, we'll need Xin Yune's approval before anything is built."

Horse-Face's eyes lit up.

"That actually sounds perfect!"

Ox-Head remained silent for a moment before releasing a quiet sigh that carried the unmistakable tone of resignation.

"...That will be fine."

I smiled at the two of them.

"Thank you. Both of you have protected me for six hundred years without complaint." My smile turned somewhat wry. "Now I feel like I'm imposing on you by forcing rewards into your hands. Ox-Head, if you genuinely think I'm being a bother, you're free to say so."

Horse-Face immediately pointed an accusing finger at me.

"You were being a bother just now."

A chuckle escaped me.

"You're the exception. You and Jue Bu."

Horse-Face froze as though struck by lightning.

"What?! Don't compare me to that idiot!"

His horrified expression only made me laugh harder.

Leaving the pair to their usual banter, I turned my attention toward the sea of corpses scattered throughout the Underworld. Ophanim shone once more, not to witness battle this time, but to peer into lives that had already ended. Every assassin's past unfolded before my eyes, beginning from childhood and ending with the final heartbeat that had echoed upon these bloodstained grounds.

I watched them all.

Some had been born into organizations that knew nothing except murder, their hands stained with blood long before they understood the meaning of guilt. Others willingly abandoned every shred of dignity they possessed, believing power justified every atrocity they committed. Then there were those whose stories were simply cruel. Children stolen from their families. Villages reduced to ash. Souls broken until becoming assassins was no longer a choice but the only existence they remembered.

Three kinds of tragedy.

The miserable, who drowned beneath the weight of sins they could no longer escape. The terrible, who surrendered their humanity for the promise of something greater. And the pitiful, who had never been given a fair chance to begin with.

Each path ended here.

A quiet sadness settled within my heart.

"...What sorrowful lives."

Horse-Face folded his arms.

"There's no need to shed tears for them. They came here to kill you."

Ox-Head glanced toward him.

"Horse-Face. Mind your manners."

"I know." Horse-Face scratched his cheek awkwardly. "I'm just saying."

I slowly closed Ophanim.

As tragic as many of their lives had been, I couldn't ignore the countless innocents whose futures they had destroyed. Death had become the natural conclusion to the paths they chose, or had been forced to choose. Rather than returning them to lives burdened by endless hatred and regret, perhaps the greatest mercy I could offer was allowing them another beginning.

"Call for the undertakers," I said softly. "Give these poor souls the rest they deserve."

Horse-Face raised his newly regenerated arm.

"I'll do it."

"Thank you."

His figure vanished into the distance with a burst of qi.

I remained where I stood.

A ripple spread outward from my soul as I cast Divine Phantasm of Dreams.

Countless dreamlike incarnations of myself emerged across the Hollowed World. Some walked openly through bustling streets, speaking with merchants, cultivators, and children alike. Others drifted unseen, observing from rooftops, forests, mountain peaks, and forgotten alleys. Through thousands upon thousands of perspectives, I experienced six centuries of change almost simultaneously.

The increase in crime immediately caught my attention.

It wasn't merely theft or murder.

Vandalism had become remarkably common. Murals appeared across city walls without permission. Statues were altered overnight. Buildings became canvases for elaborate displays of artistic rebellion. Many criminals even justified their actions as expressions of freedom.

The reason soon became obvious.

An uncomfortable number of citizens believed they lived inside a surveillance state.

...I supposed assigning nearly every notable individual a personal "Da Wei" projection would make people feel that way.

I rubbed my temple.

Perhaps I had meddled a little too much.

I should step back from their personal lives and simply observe from afar. It wasn't as though I intended any harm. The problem was that I genuinely enjoyed talking to people. Given enough timelines, I would happily gossip with thousands of different versions of the same person without growing bored.

That... probably wasn't healthy.

One of my projections inside Willow City quietly entered my office and began drafting a revised set of administrative policies. Less direct intervention. More respect for personal privacy. The government could still protect its people without making them feel watched every waking moment.

Satisfied, I shifted my attention elsewhere.

The Tower.

Another projection appeared inside one of the research facilities, where Peng Ru immediately noticed my arrival.

She set down the ancient jade slip she had been examining and bowed.

"Your Majesty. Under Lady Gu Jie's recommendation, we've begun sending research teams assigned to the Tower toward the False Earth. If you disapprove of this development, simply give the order and we'll immediately recall every researcher."

I searched for Gu Jie through both Ophanim and Divine Phantasm of Dreams.

She was nowhere within civilization.

Far away, hidden inside an isolated cultivation chamber, she remained immersed in deep seclusion. Layers upon layers of spiritual formations surrounded her. Disturbing her now would accomplish nothing worthwhile.

I withdrew my attention.

"I approve of the research expedition," I said. "However, they must remain completely hidden from the civilization on False Earth. Ensure every team possesses sufficient protection and a reliable means of traveling between the Hollowed World and False Earth. Draft a complete system detailing the procedures, security measures, and emergency responses. Submit it for my approval."

"Understood."

Researchers immediately sprang into motion.

One hurried toward towering shelves packed with records, searching for documents concerning every researcher and guardian currently assigned to False Earth. Another sat before a desk and began drafting the administrative framework I had requested.

Peng Ru waited until they were occupied before speaking again.

"There's one more development, Your Majesty. We've confirmed that the bottom floor of the Tower physically manifests on False Earth."

I raised an eyebrow.

"You confirmed that?"

"It required extensive divination." She gave a weary smile. "We still have no direct access to the Tower's interior, so confirming anything demanded an enormous amount of effort."

She hesitated.

"If possible, we'd like additional resources. Specifically, more Ezekiels capable of accessing your future sight. Their assistance would significantly improve our divination efforts."

"I approve."

I nodded once.

"Prepare the paperwork and send it to my office."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

The dream dissolved.

My awareness returned fully to my true body standing within the Underworld.

Judging by the mountain of administrative work my projection had already begun organizing, it was probably time for me to return to Willow City before the paperwork evolved into a catastrophe of its own.

Footsteps echoed nearby.

Horse-Face returned, leading a procession dressed in solemn black robes. Each cultivator wore a dark sash embroidered with elegant silver characters, Isolation Path.

I blinked in mild surprise.

The influence of the Isolation Path Sect had grown considerably while I was secluded. They had even begun serving as undertakers within the Underworld itself.

The procession halted before me before bowing deeply in unison.

"Greetings, Your Majesty."

I inclined my head.

"Thank you for your hard work."

Every undertaker lowered themselves even further.

"It is our honor to serve."

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