Wielding his sword as a brush and channeling Qi like ink, the old daoist painted the vivid image of a dragonfish in midair, using the void as his canvas. Its form and demeanor were lifelike, down to the finest detail. More astonishingly, the dragonfish swam and moved as though alive, exuding an aura of sentience as it playfully darted through the void.
Witnessing this extraordinary swordsmanship, Yu Ci was awestruck.
Seeing his expression, Yu Zhou chuckled. “This art of a thousand transformations through sword Qi is nothing more than a side technique. If you become infatuated with such things, you may as well abandon the pursuit of the dao.”
His tone was gentle, but the weight of his words struck deeply. Yu Ci straightened and solemnly cupped his hands. “I ask for your guidance, Master.”
“I have no great truths to share, only that I want you to witness reality,” Yu Zhou replied, pouring him a drink.
“Look at our Rifting Earth Sect, the Sun Light Sect, the Thousand Spirit Gate, the herb gatherers scattered across Sky Rift Valley, and even those demons and beasts—every single one of them abides by the principles of ‘Dao Worm’ evolution. You can think on this, but there’s no need to rush for answers… The meaning behind what our predecessors called the ‘Dao Worm’ lies within these truths.”
Although Yu Zhou encouraged him to reflect, he gave Yu Ci no time to ponder. Filling Yu Ci’s cup himself, he smiled warmly. “You remain unmoved by worldly distractions, seeking only the Great Dao of immortality. Whether that is good or bad, I will not judge. But I will ask—how exactly do you intend to pursue immortality?”
Yu Ci blurted out, “By thinking about it day and night.”
Yu Zhou stroked his beard. “And after thinking day and night?”
“I act upon it.”
“And if acting bears no results?”
“I will seek it!”
“Where will you seek it?”
Yu Ci thought for a moment before replying, “Naturally, I would seek it from you, Master.”
Hearing this, Yu Zhou burst into hearty laughter. “If I had already attained immortality, why would I remain here, growing old and waiting for death? You are asking the blind for guidance!”
Yu Ci fell silent. Though the old daoist’s laughter was boisterous, Yu Ci sensed unresolved sorrow hidden within it, likely tied to past regrets. He felt a pang of guilt, as though he had caused this grief.
After his laughter subsided, Yu Zhou suddenly asked, “Do you know how difficult immortality truly is?”
Reflecting on his own experiences, Yu Ci replied frankly, “I have a faint understanding.”
Yu Zhou pointed at him across the dragonfish formed of sword Qi, his expression growing even more enigmatic. “The difficulty of immortality is etched into my very bones!”
He sighed deeply. “I recall those days vividly. My wife and I traveled across mountains and rivers, searching for immortality and the dao. We braved countless dangers and hardships without faltering, convinced that our determination was unyielding, like a boulder defying the elements. Later, we were fortunate to encounter my master and became disciples of the Rifting Earth Sect, learning the alchemical path to immortality. We thought the celestial road lay beneath our feet. Yet, three hundred years have passed, and the path remains long and unending. Only now do I understand that all those past challenges were but fleeting ripples compared to the true trials of the celestial way. How laughable and pitiful we were.”
Three hundred years…
For Yu Ci, who hadn’t even reached thirty, imagining a lifespan ten times his own was daunting. He could only remain silent, staring at the deeply lined face of the old daoist. His thoughts drifted to his former masters, Zi Lei and Immortal Chi Yin. When he was young, he couldn’t comprehend why these powerful Core Refinement cultivators, rulers of vast lands, who seemingly retained their youth forever, were so desperate to sacrifice lives in their quest for immortality.
In recent years, he thought he had understood—it stemmed from urgency. But now, a new realization dawned upon him:
It was fear.
Fear of stagnating on the path to immortality after centuries, watching one’s life inch closer to its end. This terror was something Yu Ci could never imagine enduring.
The old daoist, unaware of Yu Ci’s musings, quickly composed himself. Despite over three hundred years of cultivation, even he couldn’t dwell on his sorrows for long. With a smile, he said, “For over three centuries, I’ve cultivated to the peak of Core Refinement yet failed to advance a single step further. This has only deepened my understanding that the difficulty of immortality lies not in obtaining teachings but in surpassing them. Yet, nine out of ten seekers of the dao fail to pass even the initial stage of receiving teachings—such a waste.”
He sighed wistfully. “Over the years, as the head of Heart Prohibition Monastery, I’ve seized the opportunity to recruit disciples for our sect, not just for you alone. All I’m giving you is a chance. Whether you succeed depends on your own effort and fortune!”
The word “fortune” carried a profound weight, full of unspoken meaning, but it was not something Yu Ci could fully grasp.
He simply understood what he must do. Rising to his feet, he solemnly bowed. “Thank you for your dedication, Master. I understand.”
This time, his address had naturally changed. Yu Zhou was pleased and, rather than responding formally, raised his cup with a laugh. “I’ve set up a ladder for you to climb. From this moment on, you’ve truly embarked on the path to immortality. The trials ahead will be far greater than anything you’ve faced before. Be prepared!”
Yu Ci raised his own cup and downed the hot wine in one go. He answered in a deep, steady voice, “I understand, Master.”
There was a weight to his tone, carrying unspoken significance. Having roamed aimlessly since leaving the Twin Immortal Sect, rootless as a drifting weed, Yu Ci now felt his foundation being restored. The emotions stirred within him could not be conveyed in a few words.
After reseating himself, he filled his cup again and drank deeply. The warm wine spread through his body, and he found his perspective subtly altered. Some things that had previously been unspeakable now seemed approachable.
“Master, you said I should not seek immortality from you. Then where should I seek it?”
Yu Zhou grinned and said, “If this is the outcome for me, how can I guide you to immortality? That’s why what I told you earlier isn’t my own ability, but rather the methods of success I found from predecessors within the sect. You are now an outer disciple and can only mimic others. When the time comes, you must personally seek the true path to immortality from the immortal elders. That is the proper way.”
Yu Ci felt uneasy in his heart. It wasn’t that the old daoist’s words were unpleasant to hear, but there was a heavy and desolate undertone in them, too oppressive. Moreover, he vaguely sensed that these words lacked the straightforwardness of before, as though emotions were brewing within.
However, Yu Zhou paid him no mind. After a few cups of wine, he became more talkative:
“Let’s talk about these ‘Dao Worms.’ Among the countless cultivators in this world, how many truly achieve immortality? Could it be like the Dragon Fish lineage, where from Shrimp Whisker Grass to Dragon Fish Grass and then to the Dragon Fish itself, each stage requires thousands to be filtered down to one, and even then, only the chosen ascend?”
Yu Ci pondered briefly before suddenly speaking, “Master Yu.”
“Hmm?”
“Isn’t this precisely the ‘Worm’ part of ‘Dao Worm’ you spoke of? I am no hypocrite. I have taken lives before and am not above such deeds. To be frank, if I argue with someone and end up killing ten or eight of them, I wouldn’t think much of it. But if my immortality means treating all others as mere weeds, harvesting their essence and stealing their vitality for my gain, that is something I cannot do.”
As he spoke, he thought of his two former masters, Zi Lei and Chi Yin. These two Core Refinement cultivators, whom he still looked up to, were precisely as the old daoist described—sacrificing others to pave their path to immortality.
As a victim himself, Yu Ci had no intention of following in their footsteps. At least, not for now.
Yu Zhou laughed. “No need to declare your intentions to me. But you’re thinking of the great path to immortality as far too simple… Have you read the Cosmic Harmony Scripture?”
Yu Ci shook his head frankly.
Yu Zhou pointed at him, chuckling. “You need to put more effort into such things in the future. There’s a line in the scripture that goes, ‘Heaven and Earth are the thieves of all things; all things are the thieves of man; man is the thief of all things.’ What do you make of this?”
Yu Ci again shook his head.
The old daoist did not explain directly. Instead, he patted the stone box beside him and said, “A single Dragon Fish is worth 2,500 merit points. What do you think of the sect’s method of merit trading?”
This time, Yu Ci frowned and said, “It reeks of commerce.”
After a pause, he hesitated slightly but voiced his thoughts, “It’s not what I imagined a cultivation sect to be like.”
The old daoist clapped his hands in laughter. “Young people say the darndest things. What you imagined… Unfortunately, the great path to immortality cannot be imagined; it can only be walked. The difficulties of immortality can only be truly understood through experience.
“Immortality is the most elusive thing, yet pursuing it is the most pragmatic endeavor. With your current cultivation, if you think you can live off dew and wind, purifying your body while fasting, you’d starve to death. You still need mundane things like oil, salt, soy, and vinegar. And as for the immortal elders within the sect, those who soar through the skies and roam the void, they all began by mastering basic leaps and tool manipulation before advancing step by step to their current state.
“Even with their accomplishments, they may distance themselves from mundane needs, but their disciples must still undergo the same struggles. No master can teach a disciple the direct path to immortality in one day… Do you think my words are mere clichés?”
Yu Ci was at a loss for words. Before he could respond, the old daoist laughed. “The relationship between imagination and practice is even more complex than you think. Even something like the merit board holds deeper meaning. Now, let me pose a simpler question. No need to imagine—just answer me: would Shrimp Whisker Grass and Dragon Fish Grass ever trade with each other?”
Yu Ci could only shake his head again.
“Exactly. The Dragon Fish lineage survives by absorbing and stealing vitality from its kind to grow. But for us, the methods of nourishment are much more advanced—and complex.
“Why must you take someone’s life? Can’t you simply take their spirit pills or treasures? And if that seems too harsh, why not trade with them? Isn’t that what the sect’s merit system is about?
“Expanding on this, every interaction between people is an opportunity to gain nourishment. Some gain more, others less. Some know what they need and trade for it directly, while others wander aimlessly, wasting chances.
“Let me give you an example. A person walks along a path and encounters a beautiful woman, adorned in fine silk, glittering with jewels, and carrying several cultivation manuals. A lecherous man would desire the woman, understandably. A greedy one would covet her jewels. But for us cultivators, taking the manuals is only natural. Yet if one were to lust after both wealth and beauty to the point of neglecting the manuals, then what does immortality have to do with such a person?”
Yu Ci laughed, but the old daoist did not.
Get More Chapters on Patreon: From now on, FSM Level 2 will become the CN WN Bundle. The price will remain the same which is $10. Also, the price for the KR WN Bundle will also be decreased to $10 to match this bundle.
With this I have gotten rid of the level system. The reason I am doing this, is because I plan to add more chapters to the $5 Patron tiers. Previously the readers got 2 advance chapters when they became a $5 Patron, but now I’ve increased the chapters they will get to at least 5 chapters and more. So the current updated tier system will work like this:
The Individual Tiers ($5) will give you access to 5 chapters or more. The Bundle Tiers ($10) will give you access to all the chapters of CN or KR webnovels. The Supreme Patron ($30) will give you access to all the webnovel chapters on Goblinslate.