The guide smacked his lips, looking at William Thompson's back and said, "But... aren't Vinous-throated Parrotbills social creatures? Didn't I say that before? I did, didn't I?" With that, he shook his head, took out a digital camera, pulled up a picture of a beautiful woman, and started snickering lewdly.

Meanwhile, not far away in the forest...

"Ah! HELP! Damn, so many... Master!"

Chapter Four: Trivial Matters

Ever since that day when he was beaten up by the flock of Vinous-throated Parrotbills, William Thompson never dared to enter that forest again. According to Guide Messenger, those parrotbills were only first-rank mid-level spirit beasts in the immortal realm, yet they managed to beat up a cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage like him so badly. If he were to encounter a ninth-rank high-level immortal beast, the outcome probably wouldn't be any better than falling into the Reverse Passage. And thinking about the divine beasts that exist above the ninth-rank high-level ones, William Thompson couldn't help but shudder. How is this the immortal realm? This is clearly a beast realm.

His body, transformed by the Guiding Light, was indeed strong. Even after being frozen for half a day, Guide Messenger just shook his head and sighed that he was beyond saving, but William Thompson managed to pull through on his own sheer vitality. In just a few days, he was lively again, and even the bruises from the freezing disappeared. All this left Guide Messenger amazed, claiming that his disciple's vitality could rival that of a cockroach beast.

"Master, what rank is the cockroach beast?" William Thompson asked, unashamed.

"Ahem... that's just a cockroach from the mortal realm."

"%￥#￥#..."

William Thompson was a bit depressed, but suddenly remembered something and asked, "Master, why have I never seen anyone else here? I've been here for at least a month."

"You think just anyone can come to this place?" Guide Messenger smiled without answering.

William Thompson asked in surprise, "Are there any requirements?"

Guide Messenger smiled, put away the digital camera in his arms, and said, "It's not about requirements, but anyone below the level of Great Luo Golden Immortal is forbidden to enter."

"Why?" William Thompson gaped.

Guide Messenger raised his palm and smacked William Thompson on the head: "Idiot. What's the name of the lake behind you?"

"Yunxian Lake," William Thompson replied in confusion, then suddenly realized, "I get it, this lake is the foundation of the immortal realm."

Guide Messenger gave him a look that said "you're really dumb" and explained, "A thousand-mile radius around Yunxian Lake is protected by a grand formation set up by the Immortal Emperor and the Ten Great Immortal Lords. Without the Immortal Emperor's permission, no one is allowed to enter. So, within this thousand-mile radius, it's just the two of us."

William Thompson patted his chest, looking proud: "So that Grace Foster can't get in either?"

Guide Messenger looked at him with a half-smile: "Of course not."

Hearing this, William Thompson couldn't help but do a front flip and shout, "Oh yeah!"

Guide Messenger continued slowly, "I guess it won't be long before the Immortal Emperor sends someone over. Then we'll know how the immortal realm plans to deal with you."

"Deal with me?" William Thompson looked puzzled.

Guide Messenger paced around: "You're a mortal from another world. You shouldn't, and couldn't, have come to the immortal realm. Now that you're here, whether to send you back to the mortal realm or let you stay in the immortal realm is the question. I believe the Immortal Emperor will send an order soon. But no matter what, you can't stay by Yunxian Lake forever. Not to mention I only have five years left here, the Immortal Emperor's decree alone doesn't allow exceptions like you. So... you will have to leave eventually. If you stay in the immortal realm, you'll have to leave this barrier. If they send you back to the mortal realm... well, that's unlikely!"

"Why?"

"Because sending someone down to the mortal realm requires three Immortal Lord-level figures to stabilize the Reverse Passage. Do you think the Immortal Lords would waste their time and immortal power on a nobody like you? So, it's very likely you'll stay in the immortal realm."

"Oh my god!" William Thompson was stunned.

Thinking of the miserable state he was in when he first woke up, William Thompson couldn't help but shiver. If he went out and got caught by that Grace Foster, it would probably be worse than death.

After thinking for a moment, he suddenly had a thought and asked, "Wait, Master, how would the Immortal Emperor even know a nobody like me came to the immortal realm?"

Guide Messenger's face stiffened, and he laughed awkwardly: "Ahem... The Immortal Emperor can see five hundred years into the past and future. With a nobody like you barging into his territory, of course the Immortal Emperor would know."

"Hmm?" William Thompson slowly approached Guide Messenger's old face. "Master, there's a saying in my hometown: if you lie, you'll lose your front teeth."

Guide Messenger rubbed his hands awkwardly and forced a laugh: "Ah, haha, the weather today... haha!"

...

That day, while William Thompson was frantically absorbing the spiritual energy by Yunxian Lake, he sensed someone approaching. Opening his eyes, he saw it was Master.