This is what an immortal should be like

Chapter 78
However, Zhuang Lin also knew that what was most needed at this time was to calm his mind.

Even if the situation in the world of immortal cultivation is very bad, can it be worse than the depletion of spiritual energy after thousands of years?

The inheritance has been cut off. Do I have to take a different path?

No, that's not right!

Zhuang Lin’s family knows his own business. He is not a real master who has been hiding from the ancient immortal era to the present, but he has only inherited the Dharma lineage not long ago.

Even in the two martial arts secret manuals, Zhuang Lin also got some residual traces of the magic lineage.

Therefore, even if there are no seniors to guide him on this path, Zhuang Lin believes that by searching for opportunities all over the world, he may be able to make up for his shortcomings bit by bit.

Just as we saw when the Dharma lineage was passed down, the road to heaven was cut off but the immortal Dharma lineage was unwilling to disappear.

Whether it was the practitioners of that time or the mark of the Dharma lineage itself between heaven and earth, they would all find ways to pass it on.

Although the so-called immortal path is still unclear, the immortal path must be the most orthodox way of cultivation. I have already reached the realm of a real person, so how can I give up unless it is absolutely necessary!

Zhuang Lin knew very well how convenient and comfortable it was to reach the realm of true person with the combined power of heaven and earth. It really felt as if heaven and earth were helping him.

As Zhuang Lin thought about it, his brows furrowed more and more.

This leads to a very strange question: since I can become a real person, why can't others, just because I am a time traveler?
What does Xi Miao mean by “something is missing”?
Because I am from outside, I don’t lack “that thing”?
If that's the case, even if everything goes well, will I be the only one who can achieve immortality? What about my disciples?

Looking at the person in front of him frowning and thinking, Xi Miao waited quietly beside him, giving the other person time to understand the current situation.

But today was a safe day. This immortal is easier to communicate with than I thought!

Master was right. The ancient immortals seemed indifferent and unpredictable. Sometimes they were as calm as a lake, and sometimes they could stir up raging waves. But in essence, they were as clear as water, without so much dirt.

If you really meet them, as long as you are sincere, you can get along well with them, and they may even make you feel at ease!
It can be said that the tempers of the ancient immortals are sometimes very easy to understand. As long as you have a clear conscience, you don’t have to worry about anything when getting along with them!
The master's teachings were verified by his own personal experience, so Xi Miao was much more relaxed at this moment than when he came. He turned his gaze to the table and subconsciously picked up the chopsticks.

Looking back at Zhuang Lin who was still in deep thought, Xi Miao didn't hesitate and picked up a piece of meat from the table and quickly stuffed it into her mouth.

Oh! I smelled it and it tasted delicious. It is indeed a dish prepared by a wealthy family. It tastes really good!

Zhuang Lin glanced at the woman's actions and temporarily suppressed his thoughts.

"Excuse me, fellow Daoist, do you know how the various paths of cultivation are generally practiced nowadays? If they cannot follow the path of cultivation, how do they continue to advance?"

"Ahem."

Xi Miao covered her mouth with one sleeve, pretended to think while quickly swallowing the food in her mouth, and then she answered.

"Generally speaking, they are quite scattered, and each has its own path. However, they all try their best to approach the ancient immortal path. However, they are similar in form but not in spirit, and problems often arise. There are quite a few who are crazy. There are also some who simply refuse to follow the immortal path and imitate the heterodox ways, although they still claim to be immortals."

Xi Miao thought carefully before continuing.

"Sir, you must know that Heaven and Earth share the same power?"

Zhuang Lin nodded, Xi Miao smiled, and some curiosity appeared in her eyes.

"Sir, could you please demonstrate to me the true power of heaven and earth? I don't need any powerful magic to perform this magical power, just the most natural one will do!"

Is the power of heaven and earth so rare? No wonder that evil cultivator Yang Ziang couldn't recognize it!
Thinking of this, Zhuang Lin nodded. Xi Miao already knew that he was a real person and he looked quite sincere, so there was naturally no need to be too taboo.

Zhuang Lin just had a thought, and his aura slightly released, and a special feeling appeared in him vaguely.

It was already night, and the stars were already visible in the sky. At this time, the power of the nearby stars seemed to sense something, and many of them actively gathered towards the building ship.

Not a lot, but very active!

If Xi Miao had not been paying attention to this point all the time and had a certain understanding of the stars, it might not have been easy to discover, but when one observes carefully, it is particularly obvious.

The Immortal didn't cast any spells, nor did he communicate or practice anything. He simply sat there naturally, and the power of the stars gathered around him, becoming increasingly active, revealing the purest aspect of the spiritual charm of heaven and earth.
After watching for a long time, Xi Miao even felt that the pure spirit of the real person in front of him was corresponding to the starlight, as if covered with a layer of hazy silver light, with a dreamlike beauty.
At this time, Zhuang Lin's thoughts moved, and his breath was restrained. The gathering momentum of the star power suddenly slowed down. Although it was still faintly circling, it was not too strong.

Xi Miao finally came back to her senses from her slightly dazed state and said with emotion.

"As expected, the real and the fake are immediately distinguished! Nowadays, in the immortal path, being able to approach the feeling of being at the same power as heaven and earth is considered to be extremely good cultivation and excellent aptitude. Even the ability to generate immortal spirit energy and whether it is relatively pure can be used as a criterion for judgment."

As Xi Miao said this, the smile on her face became even wider.

"No wonder Master said that if a true immortal appeared before you, you could tell at a glance. I can even imagine some of the grace and elegance of an ancient Moon Palace fairy. If you were a woman, I would have been completely captivated just now."

Zhuang Lin was still thinking about what Xi Miao had said before, but when he heard the next sentence, he was stunned for a moment, and then looked at Xi Miao strangely.

Not huh! ?

"It's just a joke, sir, don't take it seriously!"

Xi Miao smiled appropriately, but Zhuang Lin could no longer look at her with the same eyes as before. He could only comfort himself and think that he was overthinking.

"The so-called immortal path, today, still consists of three primary realms: Ming Qi, Tong Qiao, and Guan Mai. Hmm, it seems that the ancient immortal path defined this as a single realm. Sir?"

Zhuang Lin nodded.

“This is the awakening of the spirit!”

Xi Miao was obviously asking a question even though she knew the answer, then she smiled and continued.

"Then it's time to connect the stars and lead the moon."

"Ok?"

Hearing the puzzled voice of the person in front of her, Xi Miao's delicate face with a playful smile met Zhuang Lin's gaze.

"Sir, do you understand? They're missing another step, or rather, most people are missing another step. If I remember correctly, this is even a crucial step in the immortal path."

Zhuang Lin nodded seriously.

"Break through the Delusion Pass! It's also the foundation of the path to becoming an immortal!"

"Yes, breaking through the delusion barrier, breaking through the heart barrier, breaking through the dream barrier. There are many different interpretations of the ancient immortal path, but generally speaking, each school of immortal path refers to the same thing. This barrier is too difficult, and it has stopped too many people. Anyway, the orthodox immortal path is already broken, so can we find a way to make this barrier more convenient?"

"Well, my guess may not be correct, but perhaps some people thought so at the beginning, and so, gradually created the current situation."

Zhuang couldn't help but sigh silently.

It is just as the saying goes, a bad guy racking his brains is not as good as a fool's sudden inspiration. This is simply destroying the foundation!
"So, in the current immortal world, there are very few who possess the same strength as heaven and earth? The same is true for those who have forged the Immortal Furnace of the Artistic Realm?"

"The artistic conception fairy furnace?" Xi Miao showed a bit of surprise, and then immediately realized, and a smile appeared on his face again.

"Sir, you really don't treat me as an outsider. Even my master didn't know about the Immortal Furnace of Artistic Realm. He only said that the Immortal Path also has top secrets that can only be passed down orally. I think this is one of them. No wonder breaking through the delusion barrier is so important, and no wonder those people overlooked it back then."

Zhuang Lin also reacted at this time, while Xi Miao continued to talk to herself.

"Without the guidance of true immortal elders and the oral tradition of immortals, many of them simply believe that step is just some magical illusion on the immortal path. They can just ignore it, suppress it, and bypass it. After all, the ancient immortals sought truth and perfection, and the immortal path today is not complete, so why should we be complacent?"

"But from what you said, it seems that there are still people who have reached the level of unity of heaven and earth?"

"Not bad!"

Xi Miao nodded.

"Indeed, there are some. Even those who are close are considered treasures. They are truly gifted individuals. However, they are rare, and cannot be compared with you, sir! As for whether any of them have achieved the immortal furnace you mentioned, I don't know."

"Well! Tell me more about the rest!"

"I should tell you everything I know, but sir, I am a weak woman, visiting you at night. My mouth is dry and my stomach is empty. Can you bear to let me keep talking like this? The night is long, don't you have plenty of time?"

When Xi Miao spoke, she leaned her body slightly, placed a finger on the lower corner of her lips, and glanced at the table, with a natural sense of charm.

To be honest, Zhuang Lin also thought it was beautiful, but his thoughts couldn't help but turn elsewhere, and then he quickly put those distracting thoughts aside.

"Please enjoy it. The food won't taste good if it's cold!"

"Thank you, sir!"

Xi Miao's face immediately showed joy. She stopped being polite and started eating. She also invited the black fish spirit beside her to sit down, but the latter still didn't dare to do so.

Later, perhaps because she felt it was inconvenient, Xi Miao even took off her fur coat and let the black fish spirit hold it for her as a clothes hanger, while she pulled up her sleeves to eat.

Zhuang Lin also accompanied her to taste the food, thinking that dishes of this quality could make Xi Miao so engrossed, what would happen if she went to Yinxian Valley?
Thinking of this, Zhuang Lin couldn't help but glance at Xi Miao's waist. Once she took off her cloak, the velvet white belt around her waist became more prominent.

No wonder it is said that all paths of cultivation are affected—
That night, Zhuang Lin learned a lot of information, but he also had a lot of doubts, and even Xi Miao had more questions.

At the same time, Zhuang Lin gradually got to know more about King Xi Miao.

Although she is a woman, there is no barrier to communication. Xi Miao is not only knowledgeable and outgoing, but also proficient in astrology and numerology. She knows a lot about astronomy and geography, and can also tell fortunes.

For a demon cultivator, the inheritance is truly astonishing!
But at the same time, Xi Miao also abides by the teacher's instructions, never showing anything to the outside world at will, and never asking for too much from the outside world. He just manages his own piece of land, and builds good relationships with some necessary powerful people, waiting for the possibility of the future!

Of course, the two also enjoyed a lot of food and wine.

At this time, almost all the plates on the table were empty, and the topic of the two had long since turned from the immortal way to other things. However, some of the questions Zhuang Lin asked were too broad, and Xi Miao could not answer many.

After swallowing the last bite of food, Xi Miao gently wiped the corner of her mouth with her finger, then stretched out her tongue and licked the juice off her finger with a bit of animality.

Xi Miao rarely shows this kind of movement in front of outsiders, which is only possible when in a relaxed state. But in front of Zhuang Lin, she used it very naturally. After she realized it, she was a little surprised, which just proved what her master said.

However, at this moment, Zhuang Lin looked thoughtful and didn't seem to pay attention to Xi Miao.

"Sir, there's no need to worry too much. You are an ancient immortal, a man of great wisdom. Even heaven and earth cannot bear to see you trapped. You will definitely find a way out, and then all living beings will also find a way out."

Zhuang Lin couldn't remember how many times he had been startled tonight, but at this moment he still looked slightly surprised.

"What do you mean by this? Did your master say that, or did you mean it?"

Xi Miao thought for a moment and said.

"Master said so, and I understand a little bit. Master also said that if you hadn't appeared, I'm afraid the world would have come to an end. So you or an immortal like you must come!"

Xi Miao showed a satisfied smile as if she had had enough food and drink.

"Even Master didn't expect that I would meet you so soon after you appeared. Perhaps it was a blessing from heaven and earth."

"Does the universe also have a limit?"

Zhuang Lin repeated this sentence, then looked at Xi Miao intently.

"Then why can I solve it?"

"I don't know about this. I will just wait for you to explain it. If you can't find the true answer, then I will continue to practice and strive for progress until you achieve enlightenment and even cross the ethereal path of ascension. As long as you stand high enough, you will naturally see far enough!"

Ascension?

Zhuang Lin's heart was shaken for a moment, and a word almost flashed through his mind, a word that his disciple Liu Hongyu had mentioned many times.

Jedi Tiantong!
In that flash of lightning, Zhuang Lin's mind seemed to open up in an instant.

The earth and the sky are connected, the spiritual energy is exhausted, and the heaven and the earth also have their limits.
Therefore, because the connection between the earth and the sky is cut off, it is equivalent to cutting off the continuation of the heaven and earth itself. If I can reorganize the immortal path, or even if I can break through the path of ascension by myself, isn’t it equivalent to reopening the sky?
The thought was a bit too big, so big that Zhuang Lin even felt a long-lost sense of panic!
But at the same time, even if this possible general direction is accurate, there are still too many unsolved mysteries.
"If you are truly confused, you can also seek the wisdom of other masters. For example, the Bodhisattva of Two-Aspects Heavenly Sound is a great wisdom and enlightenment master, and he may be able to help you."

Zhuang Lin's eyes lit up. Yes, this person is a well-known figure in later myths.

"However, such a wise Buddhist might easily see through your intentions, so it would be difficult to deal with."

"Are you going to hide this from her too?"

Zhuang Lin asked this thoughtfully.

Xi Miao was slightly stunned. She almost subconsciously wanted to help Zhuang Lin keep it a secret, and only then did she react.

"Well, that should be it."

Xi Miao paused and quickly shook her head.

"Sir, I think it's better to keep it a secret. Bodhisattvas may be kind, but being kind doesn't guarantee they'll make mistakes. And the things they bring about aren't necessarily all good. Even if Bodhisattvas guide people to good, there are still many evil people among their followers."

Having said this, Xi Miao added another meaningful sentence.

“An enlightened person is one who is enlightened in the eyes of others, but sometimes, I feel that an enlightened person may not be aware of it.”

Zhuang Lin nodded slightly, feeling fortunate that he could embark on this journey of exorcising demons and meet Xi Miao along the way. However, he was also somewhat confused about the future and could not help but sigh.

“The road ahead is long.”

(End of this chapter)