From the distant cluster of dwellings, a multitude arose, taking flight into the heavens. Men and women, clad in simple garb, they ascended, yet dared not approach too closely, hovering at a respectful distance, their gazes fixed upon the figure below.

Within the humble abodes, children, wide-eyed with wonder, peered from windows and doorways, their attention drawn to the very spot where Wang Lin stood.

Wang Lin paused, his gaze sweeping over the assembled people. It became clear: this was a complete clan of the Immortal Remnant race, dwelling here for countless years, their lineage persisting through generations.

As Wang Lin drew near, the airborne figures retreated, as if fearful of contact. Fear shone in the eyes of many.

The elder guiding Wang Lin’s path darkened in countenance. He addressed the hovering clan with words strange and lilting.

A hush fell over the airborne assembly, each silently dispersing. The elder turned to Wang Lin, bowing low. “Illustrious Immortal, this is the heart of our clan’s dwelling.”

With these words, he descended, landing before the tallest structure in the settlement, where he stood respectfully aside.

Wang Lin touched down, his celestial aura shimmering briefly. He unleashed his divine sense, surveying the area. Assured of its safety, yet hesitant to intrude, he spoke, his voice measured. “This place is sufficient. There is no need to enter.”

The elder, taken aback, wore a mask of bitter resignation. He offered no further invitation, merely nodded.

In the skies above, the Immortal Remnant clan coalesced, encircling the area, their expressions taut, their eyes unwavering.

“Exalted Immortal…” the elder began, but Wang Lin cut him off, his countenance serene. “Why do these people regard me with such fear in their eyes?”

The elder’s bitterness deepened. After a moment of silence, he sighed. “The people of the Immortal Realm have long forsaken this place. The Immortal King himself seems to have forgotten us. I am the oldest among our people, yet I confess, you are the first true Immortal I have ever beheld.

“Were it not for the records within our Clan of Chosen Immortals’ sacred texts, I fear I would not recognize your station, much less my brethren.”

Wang Lin remained silent, his eyes calmly assessing the elder.

The elder hesitated, then spoke in a hushed tone. “By decree of the Everfree Immortal King, our clan has guarded the Xuan Yin Cauldron for generations. Yet, for the past thirty thousand years, the Cauldron has opened once every century, spewing forth black mists. These mists take the form of monstrous beasts, and some, possessed of great power, can even assume human form.

“Countless members of our clan have fallen prey to these mist-born horrors in the last three millennia. Thus, the appearance of any stranger is met with suspicion, for nearly all have proven to be phantasms born of the Cauldron’s miasma. The markings upon our flesh prevent the mists from mimicking our own kind.

“Alas, even my words carry little weight. Many doubt your true nature, fearing that even you may be a creature of the mist.”

With a heavy sigh, the elder revealed the truth.

Wang Lin nodded slightly. The elder’s words, combined with the surrounding gazes, held a ring of truth.

“Where is this Xuan Yin Cauldron?” Wang Lin asked after a moment of contemplation, his voice even.

The elder bowed. “It lies within our forbidden grounds. Do you wish to see it now, Exalted Immortal?”

Wang Lin paused in thought, then nodded. He desired to see this Xuan Yin Cauldron, to understand its nature. The elder opened his mouth to speak, but a thunderous roar erupted from the surrounding throng in the sky.

“Ancestor, do not lead this being to the Xuan Yin Cauldron!” The voice echoed like thunder, and the crowd parted to reveal a towering figure. A man, standing nearly ten feet tall, his upper body bare, strode forth upon the air.

His torso was a canvas of black runes, densely packed and covering nearly every inch of his skin, extending even to his neck and face.

Upon his brow, a thirteen-leafed plant writhed strangely, lending him an unnatural air.

“Thirteen leaves!” Wang Lin’s eyes narrowed. In his memory, the Immortal Remnant clans of Vermilion Bird Star, like Qin Duo, possessed eleven at most.

“Comparable to a Yang Core cultivator…” Wang Lin’s expression remained unchanged, his gaze fixed upon the approaching figure.

With several strides, the giant stood before them. His arrival sparked cheers from the assembled Immortal Remnants, their eyes filled with respect.

“Ta Shan, show the Exalted Immortal respect!” The elder beside Wang Lin roared.

The giant’s eyes flashed with fury as he fixed the elder with a scornful gaze. “Ancestor, you are old. Have you grown mad with longing for Immortals? There are no Immortals in this world! The clan’s ancient texts are nothing but fabrications! If it were not so, then why, in all the millennia past, have we never beheld a single Immortal grace our lands?”

“Silence! Our Clan of Chosen Immortals has always been the Immortal’s emissaries in this world! How could we have survived without the Immortal’s grace? The Immortal King’s decree still stands! Do you dare to defy it?” The elder’s face darkened.

“Believe? The so-called Immortal King is naught but the lingering consciousness of some powerful being long gone. How can I trust in that? I would sooner trust in my own strength than in the echo of someone who vanished countless millennia ago!” The giant clenched his fist, confidence blazing in his eyes.

“Blasphemy!” The elder trembled, his finger accusing. “You…”

“Blasphemy, you say? What of it? For countless years, our clan has dwelled within the body of this Nether Beast, guarding the Xuan Yin Cauldron as the ancient decree commands. And what has it brought us? The mist-born monstrosities of the Cauldron! The deaths of our people! Where are the Immortals when these creatures slaughter our kin? No more talk of Immortals, ancestor! Today, even if this being truly is an Immortal, I, Ta Shan, will slay him!”

With these words, the giant’s gaze fell upon Wang Lin, his eyes brimming with cold fury. He took a step forward, instantly closing the distance, and unleashing a thunderous punch.

As his fist flew, explosive sounds erupted. Runes materialized in the air, forming a ring around his hand, as if channeling an ancient array.

“Immortal, display your Immortal power! Let me see what it truly means to be an Immortal!”

Wang Lin’s eyes remained cold. He knew the Immortal Remnant clans well. This man was no Rune Magus, but a Rune Warrior, his power drawn from the strength of his flesh. *This episode, it’s not to cross over, but an important part of resurrecting Li Muwan*