Chapter 1043: Returning to Floodgate Realm
Editor: Henyee Translations

“Go! Hurry!” bellowed the forces from Floodgate Realm who had entered the Immortal cave abode, almost in unison in that very instant.

The Daolords burst forth with their powers, manifesting their Dao rules, desperately pushing themselves and their disciples forward.

Even Daolord Skeleton and Daolord Phantom Ghost, heavily besieged by the purple flame storm, saw a glimmer of hope. They unleashed their last reserves of strength, fighting their way out of the endless curtain of fire.

Their Dao robes were burnt and tattered, barely covering their bodies, leaving them with no semblance of dignity, yet the pair didn’t pause for a second. They fought their way out, barely clinging to life.

Finally, with not a single hair left unburnt and their bodies charred, the two stumbled into the portal, disappearing without a trace.

Simultaneously, cultivators from other sects also plunged into the portal almost at the same moment, miraculously escaping the catastrophic disasters that enveloped them.

Flashes of light continuously flickered; in the void, bursts of energy erupted like fireworks. Each ripple signified the entrance of a being into the portal.

Under the stars, the terrifying calamities intensified, converging towards the center of the Immortal cave abode.

When they finally collided, it marked the moment of the cave’s destruction.

This eventuality did not seem prolonged. As the passage in the stars gradually faded into specks of light, the colliding forces of destruction, now at their most fearsome, finally clashed.

In an instant, everything within the Immortal cave abode collapsed.

A terrifying surge of energy erupted, devouring all in its sight.

Sounds, light, rules, and the void—all dissipated, leaving behind a vast expanse of nothingness in some outer spatial realm.

It was as if an entire plane had been erased by some horrific force, leaving no trace behind.

All opportunities, secrets, past grievances—everything was buried within this storm of destruction, unknown to anyone.

The story of the Immortal cave abode ended at this moment.

….

While countless beings were still struggling amidst the cataclysms of the Immortal cave abode, Jiang Cheng had already led his group to the edge of the Immortal cave abode. This location was one of the normal exits of the cave, and, fortunately, the cave’s destruction had not yet reached this area.

On their way here, everyone had witnessed the destructive forces sweeping through the Immortal cave abode. The level of disaster was such that it made them all tremble with fear.

Such calamities likely matched the heavenly tribulations of Floodgate Realm in intensity. The scheming of an Earth Immortal, capable of annihilating an entire plane, seemed effortlessly within reach.

Since each sect had declared they would go their own way upon entering the Immortal cave abode, Jiang Chengxuan saw no need to go out of his way to mount a rescue at this time.

Even though he possessed the array disc, it wasn’t to say that he could navigate the tribulations freely. Attempting a rescue could expose everyone to grave dangers.

Thus, Jiang Chengxuan chose not to make such a move. Although the Haoran Sect upheld justice, they were not blindly altruistic.

Everyone must bear the consequences of their choices, especially in the world of cultivation.

“We should leave. Immortal Eastern River was not heartless; he must have left some way out amidst this destruction,” Jiang Chengxuan told his group.

Having read the autobiography of Immortal Eastern River, he had gained some understanding of this powerful Earth Immortal. Although domineering and cunning, the immortal was also a person of deep feelings and loyalty.

For example, he didn’t force everyone to accept his legacy but allowed Jiang Chengxuan and others to make their choices, which indicated his respect for justice and morality.

“Indeed, I believe with the disposition of Immortal Eastern River, he wouldn’t just let everything perish,” Shen Ruyan added.

As the inheritor of half of Immortal Eastern River’s legacy, she too believed he was not devoid of compassion.

With that, Jiang Chengxuan, without hesitation, allowed the black and white rules of life and death to emerge, channeling them into the array disc in his hand. The device emitted mysterious light, and its power projected onto the barrier.

A deep blue portal of space and time slowly opened before them. Jiang Chengxuan then gestured on the array disc, raising a mysterious protective barrier around everyone.

There was no need for Qin Shenwu to act this time.

Under Jiang Chengxuan’s lead, everyone’s figure blurred, vanishing through the portal amid a swirl of spatial disorientation.

The strong sensation of spatial displacement engulfed them all, making it feel like everything around was stretching infinitely.

The array disc in Jiang Chengxuan’s hand suddenly erupted with power, enveloping everyone tightly.

The next moment, when the dust settled and the surroundings became clear, the scenery had dramatically changed.

To his surprise, Jiang Chengxuan found that they were not outside the Immortal cave abode in some outer space as expected, but had instead arrived within a new world.

The atmosphere and the rules around them were strangely familiar.

It was only then that Jiang Chengxuan and the others realized that they had unexpectedly been transported not just outside the Immortal cave abode, but directly back to Floodgate Realm.

Moments before, they were billions of miles away in the outer space of the Immortal cave abode, and now, suddenly, they were back in the familiar setting of Floodgate Realm, their second home.

The sensation of returning after ages overwhelmed everyone.

“We’re back!” everyone exclaimed with overwhelming joy and relief.

It was only upon returning here that the tension which had gripped their hearts since entering the Immortal cave abode finally eased.

The adventures and perils faced within the cave, as well as their gains, were momentarily pushed to the back of their minds.

They had no idea how much time had passed since their departure. When they had left, only Qin Shenwu among them had reached the Mahayana. Now, both Jiang Chengxuan and Shen Ruyan’s combat abilities were on par with his.

Before this journey, the realm of immortals had seemed an impossibly distant goal, like a chasm separating them from the divine. But now, not only had they witnessed the true form of an immortal, but they also understood countless secrets of the Immortal Realm.

With the treasures and knowledge of Immortal Eastern River now in their possession, reaching the realm of immortals seemed within their immediate grasp.

The rewards from this journey were such that even if they spent ten times longer cultivating in Floodgate Realm, they could not hope to compare.

For a moment, Jiang Chengxuan felt a profound sense of triumphant return.