“A Terrain Guardian Immortal, you can think of them as an immortal-level geomancer.
The ranks of a geomancer, from low to high, can be divided into Geomancer, Earth Master, and Terrain Guardian Immortal.
The power of a Terrain Guardian Immortal is equivalent to the Immortal Realm.
Terrain Guardian Immortals are also subdivided into nine levels, from a First-Level Terrain Guardian Immortal to a Ninth-Level Terrain Guardian Immortal.
Back in my day, I was an Eighth-Level Terrain Guardian Immortal, somewhat renowned in my own right. Wherever I went, the high-level members of various major powers treated me as an honored guest. But who would have thought I would end up being refined into the Formation Spirit of a terrain layout? Perhaps this is my retribution.
Throughout my life, my actions walked the line between righteousness and malevolence; I did many things with a bad conscience. In the end, this is the fate I deserved.”
Seeing that Ye Yunfei didn’t quite understand, the old man explained and let out a sigh.
“So that’s how it is.
Geomancer, Earth Master, Terrain Guardian Immortal.
An Earth Master roughly corresponds to Emperor-level experts, and a Terrain Guardian Immortal corresponds to experts of the Immortal Realm,” Ye Yunfei said, finally understanding the classification system for geomancers from the old man's words.
“Senior, this Supreme Son of Heaven Terrain is an extremely masterful layout. Since it was arranged by you, how were you refined into this terrain formation to become its Formation Spirit after your death?
Could it be... Senior, you were willing?” Ye Yunfei asked curiously, cautiously.
“Hmph, young man, do you think there’s any possibility I *was* willing?
How could I, a dignified Eighth-Level Terrain Guardian Immortal, possibly want to become a mere Formation Spirit!
I was ambushed.
The one who ambushed me is none other than the founding patriarch of the present-day Qiantang Empire!
The founding patriarch of the Qiantang Empire is named Zhu Qiantang. He was the crown prince of a very powerful ancient empire in our era, known as Prince Jinchao. He lured me to this spatial region, asking me to help him set up a Supreme Son of Heaven Terrain here to aid his recovery.
Attracted by the heavy rewards he promised, I agreed to help him arrange the terrain formation.
But after the Supreme Son of Heaven Terrain was completed, he subtly probed and tricked me into revealing the secret technique for refining a formation spirit. Then, taking me off guard, he launched a sudden attack, shattered my Soul Body, extracted a part of it, and refined it into this Supreme Son of Heaven Terrain, forcing me to guard this terrain layout for him forever.
Prince Jinchao spent over nine hundred years recuperating within this Supreme Son of Heaven Terrain. After his injuries healed, he established the Qiantang Empire on this continent, left behind this legacy, and finally departed.
And my remnant soul has been stuck here ever since, guarding this terrain layout.”
After saying this, the old man seemed to sink into the painful memories of those days, his face full of desolation.
“So that’s the story,” Ye Yunfei said after listening, finally learning the origin of the Qiantang Empire, a major power of the Main World. So it was left behind by an ancient prince.
“Senior, from what you say, that Prince Jinchao might still be alive, right?
Prince Jinchao would at the very least be a Golden Immortal, perhaps even a Heavenly Immortal!” A rather frightening thought suddenly occurred to Ye Yunfei: the founding patriarch of the Qiantang Empire might still be alive.
That Zhu Qiantang was already so powerful in ancient times. After such a long period of cultivation, his current strength was unimaginably terrifying. If he really was still alive and returned to this spatial region one day, wouldn’t the Qiantang Empire immediately be able to crush everything here, becoming unbeatable?
It could only be said that the Qiantang Empire’s origins were immense!
“Zhu Qiantang was a Heavenly Immortal back then.
If he is still alive, his current strength would naturally be extremely fearsome.
But you don’t need to worry, young man. Although this Qiantang Empire is the legacy Zhu Qiantang left behind, he likely doesn’t place much importance on it and doesn't take it seriously.
As a Heavenly Immortal, he would have undoubtedly left behind many legacies across many different spatial regions.
Some of the weaker ones among them would probably be neglected or even forgotten afterwards.
So many years have passed, and Zhu Qiantang has never returned. He most likely won’t come back to visit this Qiantang Empire,” the old man said, seeing Ye Yunfei’s expression and guessing his thoughts.
“That’s a relief then,” Ye Yunfei said, feeling a weight lift from his heart upon hearing the old man’s words.
“I never would have imagined that the Qiantang Empire is actually the legacy of a Heavenly Immortal expert. No wonder it became one of the major powers in the Main World,” Ye Yunfei thought to himself.
Even a Golden Immortal was a legendary powerhouse to the denizens of this spatial region. A Heavenly Immortal was even more terrifying, like a divine dragon in the sky—existing only in legends!
“Senior, I’ve heard that a Formation Spirit exists by attaching itself to its formation. If I destroy this Supreme Son of Heaven Terrain, I’m afraid it would also affect you.
In that case, I won’t destroy this terrain layout,” Ye Yunfei said.
Ye Yunfei figured that the reason this old man had appeared was most likely to stop him from further damaging the Supreme Son of Heaven Terrain.
Although this old man was an enemy of the Qiantang Empire’s founding patriarch and definitely wouldn’t help the empire deal with him, as the Formation Spirit, this Supreme Son of Heaven Terrain was his dwelling place. If it was destroyed, he probably wouldn’t even be able to remain as a Formation Spirit.
Moreover, this Supreme Son of Heaven Terrain was so sturdy and contained vast Earth Qi energy. Now that the Formation Spirit had also appeared, he might not be able to handle them!
Therefore, Ye Yunfei went with the flow and indicated he would stop breaking the formation.
“No!
Young man, you *should* destroy this terrain layout. In fact, I will teach you how to break it!” The old man shook his head upon hearing Ye Yunfei’s words.
“What?
Senior, you want me to continue destroying this terrain layout?
But you are the Formation Spirit of this layout. If I destroy it, won’t you lose your dwelling place?” Ye Yunfei was taken aback by the old man’s words and asked.
“Heh, young man, you must not forget that I was once an Eighth-Level Terrain Guardian Immortal. My Geomancy Technique is far superior to yours.
I am only unable to employ my Geomancy Technique because I was refined into this terrain layout’s Formation Spirit, and also because Zhu Qiantang placed many sophisticated restrictive spells to suppress me. All these years, I’ve had no choice but to obediently serve as a Formation Spirit.
But now that you are here, everything is different.
As long as you cooperate with me and use your Geomancy Technique to break those restrictive spells Zhu Qiantang placed specifically to suppress my remnant soul, and then alter this Supreme Son of Heaven Terrain, transforming it into a different terrain layout, then this Supreme Son of Heaven Terrain will no longer be able to trap my remnant soul.
Believe me, as an Eighth-Level Terrain Guardian Immortal, I still have a few tricks up my sleeve,” the old man said with a smile.
“I take it you are hostile towards the Qiantang Empire? Helping me is equivalent to acting against the Qiantang Empire. I don’t think you’ll refuse, young man,” the old man said, staring at Ye Yunfei.
“Of course not!” Ye Yunfei immediately nodded.