Am I the old man who's always by my apprentices' side?

Chapter 320 The Leader of the Hundred Blessings Sect
Just as the "Immortal Alliance" was established with a consensus, new immortal sects inquired about joining. This news not only surprised Chang Ping'an, but also greatly surprised the leaders of the left and right sects.

"Besides the Taiyue Sword Sect and the Tang Clan, there are actually sects that cultivate immortality. I had no idea!"

Tang Yinxiang looked quite regretful: "If I had known earlier that there were still immortal forces, my Tianji Sect would definitely not have failed to send an invitation!"

Qu Zhiweng frowned, stroked his beard, and asked, "Baifu Sect? Have any of you heard of this sect?"

"To be honest, I've never heard of the name 'Baifu Sect' before. However, while it's hard to say about martial arts sects, I do know quite a few forces that practice immortality."

Tang Chi explained, “In the Yunnan-Yunnan region, many people worship the King of Qin and have obtained the ‘Spiritual Witch Soul Condensation Technique.’ Quite a few local tribes have practiced this technique. The newly established Spiritual Witch Kingdom reveres this technique and has even set up a ‘Spiritual Witch Religion.’ In addition to the three altar gods that the local people originally worshipped, two more altars have been added, making it five altar gods. And these fourth and fifth altar gods are none other than the King of Qin and Immortal Zhang.”

Zhang Chengdao had never heard of this before and exclaimed in surprise, "There's such a thing!"

Tang Chi replied, “The customs there are different from other places, especially in the Central Plains. If people believe in any god or Buddha, they are mostly asking for something. But the local tribes in Yunnan and Yunnan worship the Three Altar Gods and Five Altar Gods, which is more like an ancestral worship. It is not about asking for anything, but a kind of reverence.”

"When Zhang Xianren and the King of Qin went south to help them, they not only indirectly helped them quell the internal strife, but also taught them the true immortal cultivation methods and techniques. This naturally made them grateful and respectful. Thus, it is not surprising that they gained two more divine positions and became the Five Altar Gods."

"I am unworthy of this honor. As a cultivator, I should do my best to bring peace and stability to this region..."

Zhang Chengdao sighed and then left the matter aside, turning to Zhong Hui and saying, "Since he claims to be from a sect that cultivates immortality, let's invite him over. We'll also trouble Sect Leader Tang to add an extra table here so that everyone can get to know each other."

"What Master Zhang says is absolutely right!"

Tang Yinxiang cupped her hands in greeting and quickly called a disciple over to give him some instructions, specifically to add another table near where they were sitting.

This is the innermost part of the Tianji Sect's dining hall. Tang Yinxiang even specially set up several screens to separate the sect leaders, elders, and other ordinary sect disciples, in order to distinguish them.

Ordinary sect disciples might exchange cultivation experiences, but the sect leaders and elders discussed matters of the Immortal Alliance, so it was not appropriate to involve too many people.

Soon, under the watchful eyes of everyone, a gaunt old man led the boy and followed Zhong Hui to the deepest part of the dining hall.

When Zhang Chengdao saw the old man's appearance, he suddenly realized what was going on.

He recognized this person; it was none other than "Qiao'er Zhao," the one he had specifically sought out to learn from before the White Stone Immortal Sect held its second Immortal Fate Conference, when he was making puppets for the "newbie village" in the trial array.
After several months, this remarkable craftsman looked much more energetic, and with Zhang Chengdao's keen eye, he could indeed tell that this "Qiao'er Zhao" had truly absorbed Qi into her body!

Even the boy following behind him looked like he had achieved the cultivation level of Qi Induction!

Considering that he had disguised himself to learn the skills, Zhang Chengdao pretended not to know them and politely cupped his hands in greeting: "I didn't expect that the spiritual energy of this place is so thin, yet there are cultivators who have entered the path of immortality. It is truly rare!"

"Greetings, Immortal Zhang!"

Qiao'er Zhao looked somewhat excited. He bowed deeply and said, "To be honest, Immortal, the puppetry techniques practiced by my 'Hundred Blessings Sect' were actually taught by an immortal master from your sect. Even the 'Immortal Dao Technique' we cultivate was passed down by that immortal master. We originally intended to find an opportunity to thank the immortal master, but we happened to come across the founding ceremony of the Heavenly Mystery Sect. We thought that if we came, we might be able to meet that immortal master, so we came to join in the fun..."

Qiao'er Zhao kept talking, and finally couldn't help but sigh, "It's a pity that the immortal master didn't leave his name, so we really have no way to find him!"

“Since he didn’t leave his name back then, he must have had some concerns,” Zhang Chengdao comforted Qiao’er Zhao. “Besides, neither puppetry nor the Immortal Dao Technique are anything special. To be able to establish an Immortal Dao sect with just this technique and this supernatural power is truly amazing.”

Zhang Chengdao was absolutely telling the truth!
The art of puppetry is an extremely profound and complex immortal art, but the "messenger" puppets used for transmitting messages have almost become a common technique and supernatural power that everyone in the White Stone Immortal Sect knows, making them a completely common commodity!

As for "Immortal Cultivation Techniques," they are even more ordinary.

As the name suggests, "Immortal Cultivation Techniques" does not actually refer to a specific cultivation method, but rather to a type of introductory cultivation method for immortality.

There are simply too many cultivation methods for drawing in Qi and establishing a foundation. Some are divided into the Five Elements, some only into Yin and Yang, and some have no threshold at all. In short, the White Stone Immortal Sect's library alone records hundreds of them. The shortest is just a few lines of poetry, and the longest is at most a few thousand words. They are not of much value.

The cultivation method that Zhang Chengdao once taught to Qiao'er Zhao was a chapter from "Immortal Cultivation Techniques". It was only a few hundred words long and easy to memorize. It was also the only introductory cultivation method of immortal cultivation that Zhang Chengdao could memorize from beginning to end, which is why he chose it.

However, Qiao'er Zhao was unaware of all the details behind this. Moreover, in Qiao'er Zhao's eyes, her skills were indeed taught by the immortal master of the White Stone Immortal Sect, and she was naturally grateful.

Upon hearing this, Qiao'er Zhao, beaming with pride, said, "I am unworthy of Zhang Xianren's praise. Our Baifu Sect has only a dozen or so people. Calling it a sect is a bit presumptuous. However, this path does indeed align well with what I have studied before, and the cultivation is very smooth. That is why we have the 'Baifu Sect' today."

Zhang Chengdao nodded and said, "No matter how many people there are, they are still a sect and they do cultivate the immortal path. Ping An, and the other sect leaders, you should consider it and make a plan to get new immortal sects and forces to join the Immortal Alliance, so that the leader of Baifu Sect will have a plan in mind."

With Zhang Chengdao's words, none of the sect leaders dared to object—in fact, they were eager for more immortal forces to join the Immortal Alliance, so that the entire immortal path wouldn't seem like such a "makeshift organization."

Putting aside everything else, the martial arts world, which has a history of thousands of years, not only has a martial arts alliance, but also has hundreds of martial arts sects and forces registered in the martial arts alliance!

Compared to this, the few sects and forces within the Immortal Alliance seem insignificant.

Of course, the gap between the Immortal Path and the Martial Path is as vast as an insurmountable chasm. Just the lifespan extension brought by cultivation is something that the Martial Path cannot achieve. Not to mention the many powers of flying and escaping. A mere Qi Refining or Foundation Establishment stage cultivator can defeat the top Grandmasters and Great Grandmasters in the Martial Path. Who can withstand that?
In fact, the Tang Clan is not the only sect or force that wants to switch to the path of immortal cultivation.

Several martial arts sects sent people to the first Immortal Fate Conference of the White Stone Immortal Sect, essentially to "steal their skills".

In the martial arts world back then, there was no concept of "sect". Even if there were sects called "sects" like the "Taiyue Sword Sect", they were still sects, not "sects" like the Baishi Immortal Sect, which could govern a country and had its own territory.

Therefore, upon hearing that the White Stone Immortal Sect ruled a country, everyone assumed it was merely a "sect" in name only, and thus flocked to learn from its teachings, attempting to pursue the path of immortality.

Unexpectedly, this remarkable Zhang Xianren promptly sent people to compile "Bai Shi Xian Dao Shu" (White Stone Immortal Dao Book), "Bai Shi Gan Qi Shu" (White Stone Qi Sensing Book), and "Ji Bu Yin Qi Ru Ti Lun" (Basic Treatise on Guiding Qi into the Body), which were then circulated. These three books clearly explained some basic common sense about immortality and how to begin cultivating immortality, using plain language that even children who had just learned to read could understand. This immediately rendered the schemes of the various sects inferior.

However, humans are somewhat perverse in certain ways.

If Zhang Chengdao had kept his methods of cultivating immortality a secret, someone might have actually leaked them.

But now he not only doesn't mind other sects and forces practicing it, but even encourages it, which makes many sects and forces hesitant—mainly the sect leaders.

If one were to cultivate the path of immortality, what would become of the martial arts true energy that one had painstakingly cultivated for decades?
How many people can truly take things on and let them go?
So, nearly half a year has passed since the three books, including "The Book of Immortals of White Stone," began to circulate. There are so many sects and forces in the world that practice martial arts, but very few have actually switched from martial arts to immortality. Even the famous Jade Void Sect and Boundless Academy, which are recognized as the top sects and forces in the martial arts world, only allow a limited number of their disciples to practice immortality, and even then, they do not encourage it.

How can we encourage this? If a disciple truly achieves success in cultivating immortality, wouldn't he be able to surpass the elders and sect leader simply by reaching the Foundation Establishment stage?
Is this okay?

In short, due to various reasons and the involvement of different interests, although cultivation techniques and secret manuals for immortality have spread throughout the country, they have not actually produced many cultivators.

The most talented individuals are gathered in various prestigious sects, and they are highly sought after. Most of them already have good martial arts skills and ranks, as well as corresponding status and reputation, making it difficult for them to decide to switch to cultivating immortality.

And those with mediocre abilities...

Given the current concentration of spiritual energy in this martial arts and cultivation world, it's really difficult to cultivate many individuals who can successfully draw in spiritual energy!

Those with exceptional talent who can join the White Stone Immortal Sect are at least blue-tier members, and even now, some haven't been able to cultivate Qi into their bodies, let alone ordinary people.

It should be noted that even in sects and forces like the Taiyue Sword Sect, disciples with blue-card aptitude are extremely rare!
Taking Taiyue Sword Sect as an example, Zhang Chengdao secretly observed the aptitude of all the disciples in the sect. Even with the so-called "natural sword body" Li Zhi, among so many disciples, there was only one gold card, one purple card, and three blue cards. The rest were all green and gray card aptitudes!
And among those gold cards, purple cards, and blue cards, we also have to count the sect leader Qu Zhiweng and several elders!
Oh, by the way, Elder Zhuang Wansong, who once supported the entire Taiyue Sword Sect's economic operations, was the only purple card holder in the Taiyue Sword Sect.

Meanwhile, deep inside the dining hall, the group ate and drank while building relationships.

Zhang Chengdao quickly made an excuse to slip away—he always felt a little uncomfortable in front of Qiao'er Zhao.

The remaining sect leaders and elders were chatting enthusiastically, especially Qiao'er Zhao. As the least known sect, Baifu Sect had become the most popular sect. The sect leaders of each sect were curious and asked him a few questions, and even urged him to show off his skills so that everyone could "open their eyes".

Seeing that Qiao'er Zhao had declined twice, Tang Chi chuckled and joined in urging her, saying, "Sect Leader Zhao, please don't refuse anymore. We all obtained our cultivation techniques from the White Stone Immortal Sect, so they're all pretty much the same. But this puppetry technique is something we've never seen or heard of before. Since even the immortal master of the White Stone Immortal Sect traveled thousands of miles to consult you, your skills must be exceptional enough to earn the respect of immortals!"

Since the sect leaders all said so, Qiao'er Zhao felt too embarrassed to take it any further. She could only cup her hands in greeting to them and then take out two small yellow paper figures from her bosom.

The little paper figure was smaller than the palm of a hand, but its face had distinct features. It looked completely different from the paper figures used in ordinary funeral rites. Not only were the colors painted on it not as bright, but it also didn't look like a round, three-dimensional paper figure. Instead, it was semi-three-dimensional, more like a collection of small paper figures cut out and glued together. However, the armor depicted on it was very exquisite, and weapons were glued to its body, which made it quite interesting.

Everyone stared curiously at the two little paper figures. Even some disciples who had come with their sect leaders and elders and were originally sitting at the back craned their necks and stared intently.

"Where is the strongman?!"

Qiao'er Zhao first threw the two small paper figures to the ground, then shouted loudly. A cloud of light yellow smoke suddenly rose up, and then the two small paper figures suddenly grew bigger and bigger in the yellow smoke, until they were nearly three meters tall, almost reaching the roof of the dining hall!
With a rumbling sound, two giants, each nearly three meters tall, took a few steps off the table, then knelt on one knee before Qiao'er Zhao, respectfully clasping their hands and saying, "The mighty warrior is here—"

Everyone felt as if the ground was being trampled by a thousand horses, shaking several times. When the two giants stepped, they also raised a lot of dust, leaving people dumbfounded.

These two giants, or rather "strongmen," had bronze-colored skin, were covered in exquisite armor, wore red robes, and had two enormous golden maces hanging from their backs. They looked terrifying, and the fact that Qiao'er Zhao could command such respect from these two "fierce and evil" strongmen inspired a sense of awe in everyone.

(End of this chapter)