Opening up the Supreme Immortal Journal to the very last entry. The entry pertaining to Dao Integration.
When Cho Yanshi had first looked it over, it seemed like a bunch of nonsense- which was in-character for whichever incarnation of the Supreme Immortal had written the damned thing.
However, Jin Huang's theory shone some new light on it.
"I thought it was just a load of crap, but maybe there's more to it that I just don't understand."
Jin Huang was in awe. "Wow. So there's an entry on Dao Integration as well?"
This earned him some derisive looks from his friends.
"You had it in your possession all this time. You mean you never read through it?" Qin Shuyue asked in disbelief.
"Nope. Why would I?" Jin Huang shrugged.
"Anyway. Here's what it says..." Cho Yanshi started.
Dao Integration. Messy, isn't it? Do you feel that? Everything's wrong. You did it all wrong. You suck.
Why bother eating? Are you some kind of greedy bastard? What even is the point of that? I can't believe you made that simple, simple error.
I can't believe that's what sent you so far off course. Not appetite, but desire. Desire for it. Enjoyment of it.
Absurd. What a fool you are.
Everything is wrong. Everything. The Supreme Immortal Body cannot succeed if there is only more of the same.
Rules exist. The rules have always existed. Yet, they were broken.
The Supreme Immortal Body cannot follow broken rules. It needs to set new ones.
That is the problem.
Following, not leading. Leading, but not leading toward newness. Newness without rebirth. Rebirth without redirection.
For this Dao Integration to succeed, you must be a fool. The fool of fools. You must be so wrong that you become right. So right that you become wrong.
There is no way forward for me. Or you. Or the you that follows.
Something will change. If it doesn't, none of us will ever complete this Dao Integration.
Silence reigned.
There were gaps that could not be filled- questions that could not be answered.
They all silently agreed on one thing, which was that Jin Huang's theory filled the most gaps than any theory they could come up with.
However many past incarnations Jin Huang once had, they all must have erred somehow.
With only two incarnations as reference, it was admittedly a pretty weak theory. However, the fact that the narrative of those past lives was so similar, was something to note.
Arthur wanted to follow his heart, but his heart was made heavy by the crown he wore. King Yama spoke of yet another incarnation who wanted to be free of it all, but fate got in the way.
There was no telling whether Jin Huang had already began walking down the wrong path or not. Or if there was even such a thing as a right and wrong path for the Supreme Immortal Body.
That final entry, those two incarnations, and Jin Huang's theory were convenient. But nothing was concrete.
Even so, it felt like the right answer.
________
Eventually leaving the Valley of Kings behind, Jin Huang's group wandered aimlessly through the lands of Albion.
Han Jianyu had been strangely silent. At random moments, he would fade from reality as he stared into space and lost himself in thought.
It took a bit of effort to get him back into the land of the living.
They did not know what was wrong with him, and neither did he.
Although he could not remember the things he had seen, he also could not forget them. A phantom memory plagued his every moment, and even his dreams.
Those horrible whispers, the words written on the tablet. His mind was a total mess.
One day, the group came upon a river with a large and deep basin. Deciding to relax and indulge in the cool, clean water, they stopped there for the day.
Hei Shisan, Jin Huang and Lu Chen decided to have a race in the water. Shen Wuyou took Qin Shuyue's and Cho Yanshi's bets on who would win, placing a bet of his own.
Lin sat next to his sword body and dipped his feet in, chatting with Han Jianyu.
"You are an item spirit, but are you also enlightened of the Sword Dao?" Han Jianyu asked, trying to take his mind off of things.
"Uh, maybe. What do you wanna know?" Lin asked, splashing the water a bit with his feet.
"Is the Sword Dao separate from the Three Realms? Does it belong to somewhere else? Does it thrive more in one environment than another?" Han Jianyu asked the questions, unsure of why they were even on his mind.
"Hm. The Sword Dao, huh? When you walk the path of the sword, I don't think it belongs anywhere but with you. In you. The sword is a part of you, so it should thrive best by your side."
"As for where that all comes from... Maybe Merlin might know. He played a major role in forging Excalibur, so he should know more on that topic." Lin surmised.
Han Jianyu sighed, "And where is Merlin?"
Lin bent forward and looked at the water as his feet moved energetically. "Good question. I suppose he would have gone back home to his people."
Han Jianyu stared off into the distance, at the wild lands of Albion that were barely visible behind the trees.
"Look at that!" Jin Huang shouted from the bank, pointing at something in the sky. "Is it one of those Unicorns, Lin?"
Lin turned, staring at something streaking across the sky. At first,it moved in a straight line, leaving behind a long tail of white.
Shortly after, it was joined by an identical object that raced up to it.
"Those aren't..." Lin started, but gasped.
"They've... stopped." Jin Huang scratched his head.
"Those are Immortals!" Han Jianyu exclaimed, a smile of relief already arising on his face. "It's about time."
However, as he began to relax, those whispers returned and he looked to Jin Huang with wide eyes. "Wait... no..."
Lu Chen sucked his teeth as Cho Yanshi's eyes locked onto the glowing objects in the sky.
Hei Shisan and the others all gathered around, somber-faced and on edge.
The flying immortals looked like specks of bright white light from that distance. Having stopped for a while, their 'tails' faded away.
Suddenly, they changed course, racing off in an entirely different direction.
They were flying straight toward Jin Huang's group!
"Shit!" Lu Chen exploded into motion, grabbing Cho Yanshi and Jin Huang at the same time.
His muscles bulged, veins standing out along his arms as he launched himself into the air with pure bodily strength alone.
Without internal energy, this was all he could do. Run.
"What the—?!" Jin Huang jerked violently, nearly losing balance as he was hauled backward. "Let go of me!"
Hei Shisan sprinted after them without hesitation, Shen Wuyou and Qin Shuyue close behind, all of their hearts hammering as cold terror seized them.
Death. Actual death was undeniably descending from the sky.
Only Han Jianyu and Lin remained behind.
Lin still sat calmly where the two had been speaking moments ago, Excalibur resting nearby.
"What are you doing!?" Jin Huang roared, golden light flashing in his eyes.
"Sword cultivator, don't play hero!" Hei Shisan barked. "Move!"
Shen Wuyou glanced back once, immediately turning pale.
The dice in his palm spun frantically as he poured his will into them.
Above, the two blazing white figures tore through the sky, getting closer with every passing moment.
Their forms sharpened with every instant.
One was slightly smaller than the other, wrapped head to toe in dense immortal energy that distorted the air around him.
The second radiated an equally horrifying pressure, though hers felt sharper and heavier- like a blade hanging over their necks.
The earth trembled as the two immortals descended before Han Jianyu and Lin. They were both humanoid, but were clearly more beast than man.
Wind exploded outward, then silence followed.
The smaller immortal stepped forward first.
"I am the Immortal Rat," he declared loudly, immortal aura rolling off him in waves. "You may call me... Silent Raid."
Beside him, the armored cat folded her arms behind her back. "I am the Immortal Cat," she said coolly. "My title is Judgement."
Han Jianyu stood unmoving, sword in one hand while the fingers of his other formed a sword seal.
"I am Han Jianyu," he said evenly, "student of the Jade College."
Everything stopped.
Silent Raid froze mid-step. Judgement's eyes narrowed sharply.
Even Lu Chen and Cho Yanshi stiffened in the distance.
The Jade College was not a name ordinary people knew. Neither were the Spheres of Heaven common knowledge.
"Chosen Jianyu..." Silent Raid bowed slightly, his tone immediately changing.
Judgement mirrored the gesture. "We are immortal beasts of the Mountainous Sphere," she said. "Sent here by Goddess Xu Lan to search for the Supreme Immortal Body."
Han Jianyu's grip tightened almost imperceptibly. His eyes flicked backward.
Silent Raid followed the motion immediately.
"And who," he asked slowly, "is this beside you?" His clawed finger pointed directly at Lin.
Han Jianyu reacted instantly.
"This is the item spirit of my newly obtained treasure," he replied without pause, lifting Excalibur slightly. "Pay him no mind."
Lin bowed politely.
The immortals stared at him for another moment before finally turning toward the others in the distance.
Lu Chen and Cho Yanshi had already stopped running.
There was no point anymore. Against immortals, several dozen feet meant nothing.
The rest gathered behind them, trying desperately to steady their breathing and hide the panic threatening to spill across their faces.
Maybe...
Maybe Han Jianyu could still salvage this somehow.
Judgement's gaze swept across the group casually, then she froze.
Silent Raid's head snapped upward.
"Jin Huang!"
A round jade appeared in his hand instantly, projecting an image into the air:
Jin Huang's face.
"Tch!" Han Jianyu moved.
Excalibur dropped from his grasp as his sword seal was reformed. In the next instant, terrifying sword intent erupted from him like a storm, sword will screaming into the heavens.
Blood splashed, a severed furry arm spinning through the air.
But at the same time-
BOOM!
The golden projection of a rat-fist smashed directly into Han Jianyu.
"Jianyu!" Jin Huang roared.
The impact detonated like thunder. Han Jianyu's sword shrieked as cracks spread across its surface, yet he still forced it up to defend.
Then he was blasted backward, blood bursting from his mouth.
"Damnit!" Golden energy erupted around Jin Huang as he shot forward explosively.
He barely caught Han Jianyu before both of them were sent skidding backward from the force.
Han Jianyu coughed violently, blood staining his chin. His sword was cracked nearly in half, still, he refused to let go.
Silent Raid glanced at Judgement calmly despite the missing paw.
Judgement moved instantly, catching the severed limb midair before pressing it back onto her body.
Immortal energy surged, and the flesh reattached almost immediately.
"Damnit! Damnit!" Jin Huang snarled, supporting Han Jianyu with one arm while reaching out with the other. "Lin!"
The item spirit dissolved instantly into Excalibur.
Judgement looked on curiously.
The sword shot across the battlefield like a streak of light before vanishing back into Jin Huang's spatial ring.
Silent Raid watched the entire scene coldly, then he pulled out a stone talisman.
Energy flared through it, and his voice thundered across the land. "We've found it! The Supreme Immortal Body is on Albion!"