The Path to Immortality: Starting with an Analysis of Basic Concepts

A stream of information kept pouring in.

Unknown information is like a dam bursting, overflowing and spreading rapidly.

Even with the "Eye of True Sight" filtering and the "Natural Spiritual Ruins" supporting it, Zhu Yu still felt his consciousness gradually becoming sluggish, as if a large amount of filth was being stuffed into him, blocking his conscious activity. After a while, his heart was burning with restlessness.

He stared at it for less than ten breaths.

He then had to close his eyes, sit cross-legged, and activate his sluggish consciousness to gradually digest the complex and overwhelming memory information accumulating in his mind.

I don't know how long it has been.

When Zhu Yu opened his eyes again, he subconsciously looked up, but the "Crimson Star" had disappeared. What came into view was a deathly, cold, and viscous darkness, which seemed to be alive, crawling slowly on an invisible barrier.

"Have they left?... "

As he breathed a sigh of relief, a sense of regret welled up in his heart.

The "Void Beast" represents both calamity and opportunity.

Most importantly, this is an opportunity that can be obtained for free without paying any price.

Without much thought, it would be best if the "Void Beast" left. If he opened his eyes and the "Void Beast" was still there, it would mean that "True Lord Qingping" could not do anything to it and that he had become the "Void Beast's" prey.

Being targeted by a "Void Beast" is no small matter.

Someone like "True Lord Qingping" might be able to escape, but those who are a burden might not be so lucky—that's a matter of life and death…

Suppressing his distracting thoughts, Zhu Yu sorted out the gifts he had received from the "Spirit Ruins" that had been swallowed by the "Ruins Beast".

Eliminate most of the useless memories.

There are roughly two types of "gifts," or rather, two "paths" to them.

Because he stared at it for a long time.

Both "paths" for receiving gifts are at the second level.

One is the gift he receives at first glance, which is the path to sealing and controlling ghosts in his cultivation.

He obtained nearly a hundred methods, but only three of them could be cultivated to the second level: "Yin Tian Gui", "Di Luo Sha", and "Bai Gu Guan".

All three are methods of cultivating a ghost body using a human body.

It can cultivate into a "Heavenly Ghost" who can ride the wind and capture evil spirits. It can enter the earth as if walking on flat ground and manipulate flames and sand as if playing on flat ground. It can become a "White Bone Demon God" whose body is as white as jade, impervious to metal and iron, and difficult to refine by wind and fire.

The description is intimidating.

In reality, according to the "second-tier strength ranking", he is ranked third. He attained enlightenment through strange objects and has longevity and magical power, but no supernatural abilities or methods to rely on.

The second type is not a "celestial path" inheritance, but rather a "spiritual ruin" path inheritance that leans towards magic.

Their path involves obtaining power through "secret medicines".

Because of the short time frame, he only had one "path" to access.

It is also a second-order method, called the "Child of the Forest" path.

By consuming the "secret medicine" made from the "Tree Demon Core," one gains "life perception" and enters the realm of the extraordinary.

When he advances to the second tier, he will transform into the "Child of the Forest," a darling of nature, and nature will grant him the ability to control the forest and summon wild beasts.

Also belonging to the third class, they attained enlightenment through unusual objects.

Two paths, four inheritances.

Zhu Yu was very satisfied with this outcome.

In particular, the "Ghost Transformation" method, with its array artifact "Ten Thousand Beasts Banner" nurtured within the "Source of Magic Power," may prove useful in the future.

Suppressing her memories, Zhu Yu came to her senses, and then heard Cang Hai's questioning voice in her ear.

"Senior Brother Zhu, did you receive the gift?... "

Zhu Yu turned to look and saw that Cang Hai's expression was slightly unpleasant. He hesitated for a moment, then nodded and replied without much thought:

"Yes, Master Zanghai...and you, Junior Sister?..."

Zang Hai didn't notice the hesitation in his tone, nodded with a sullen face, and said with a hint of annoyance:

"If I had known it was a 'Void Beast,' I wouldn't have been curious enough to look. Damn it, this is going to cause trouble later..."

"trouble?"

Zhu Yu frowned slightly, and hesitated before asking, "What does Junior Sister Canghai mean?"

Cang Li and the young man in yellow looked on in confusion.

Receiving a legacy for free, even if it's not of high quality, is better than nothing. It's still a form of accumulation in cultivation, and you never know when it might come in handy in the long years to come.

With such advantages, how could there be any trouble?

Seeing the expressions on the three people's faces, Zang Hai slapped his forehead and explained, "Senior brother, junior sister, and junior brother, you don't know this, but this 'gift' isn't so easy to take. It's a elixir tainted with poison..."

He then proceeded to explain the meaning of "gift" in detail.

According to what he said.

The "gift" is real, but it is not as simple as it seems.

It is actually a tracking mark that the "Void Beast" evolved to hunt, just like some insects and beasts in nature evolve a certain organ of their own into bait to lure prey.

The "gift" is the bait for the "Void Beast".

Or it's bait that you'd swallow with just one glance.

Upon receiving the information, the cultivator would unknowingly acquire a trace of the "Void Beast" mark. If the cultivator was far away, it would be fine, but if the cultivator was close, the "Void Beast" would use this mark to land on the "Spirit Void" where the cultivator was located and devour him.

of course.

It is of the scale of "Immortal Tomb and Spirit Ruins".

Some ordinary "Void Beasts" that went there were either eaten by the ancient "Void Beast" that it was raising, or dismantled by the "True Lord".

However, the "Void Beasts" possess various supernatural abilities, making them impossible to defend against.

According to Zang Hai, when the "Azure Tower" attacked a certain "Otherworldly Spirit Ruins", it encountered a "one-eyed" Ruins Beast. At the time, it did not feel anything was wrong, but when the cultivators were resting and recuperating, the "one-eyed" Ruins Beast would follow the mark, project the cultivator's dream, and devour their soul.

This resulted in the sudden death of a large number of Qi Refining cultivators.

Some Foundation Establishment cultivators were also seriously injured. It was only after "Azure True Monarch" personally intervened and killed the "Void Beast" that was lingering around that the remaining cultivators were able to save their lives.

The "One-Eyed" Void Beast was also refined into a top-tier spiritual artifact by "Azure True Lord" and hung on the tower. According to Cang Hai, it can evolve a dream world and can be used to cultivate "magic" through dreaming every month, which lasts for a hundred days in an instant.

A series of words.

Cang Li and the young man in yellow felt uneasy and looked inward to search for any possible marks.

Zhu Yu looked enlightened, but he didn't care too much. The "Eye of True Sight" had already removed the mark of that "Void Beast," and no matter how strong its "supernatural power" was, it couldn't find him.

Because the Tibetan Sea is not a conduit for sound transmission.

Shangguan Dazu, who was located elsewhere, also heard her words, and their expressions changed as they all examined themselves.

After checking for a long time, nothing was found to be wrong.

Some people who only glanced at it and received little "gift" were worried, but not too worried. However, some people like Zhu Yu, who were trying to obtain more inheritance, looked extremely unpleasant.

Among them were the "Sword Peak Master," a cultivator as large as a millstone, and Grand Ancestor Shangguan, among others...

Zhu Yu glanced at them, his gaze lingering for a moment on "Sword Peak Master" and "Grand Ancestor Shangguan" before he closed his eyes and focused his mind on his "Natal Spirit Ruins".

After the initial panic, the 100,000 "Tuyu people" quickly adapted. Under the command of the "whale" and driven by the strong "Tuyu people", they learned from the "Dragon Warriors" and practiced the "Golden Blade Formation".

The "silver moon" hanging in the sky was close to the "blood sun," and the two only clashed with each other's energy, without actually fighting.

Having already evolved to the second tier, "Dream" is completely immersed in the "Life Spirit Ruins" filled with the aura of blessings, spending her days either worshipping "Lady of Pleasure" or vigorously cultivating.

I must say, the effect is quite good. So far, it seems to be the fastest-improving "second-tier" cultivator under Zhu Yu's command.

Xiaoqing, Xiaobai, Xiaohei, Xiaoqi, and Xiaoyu were all in the "Benming Spirit Ruins," gathered under the "Starry Sky Wood," some cultivating, others just fooling around.

Zhu Yu glanced around, his consciousness detached, and after a moment's thought, he focused his mind on the divided spirit located in the "Martial World".

……

Martial arts world.

Qiongzhou, Jiujiang County, Wushuang Gate.

As its name suggests, Jiujiang Prefecture is located on the coast of the open sea. The Jiujiang River system converges within the prefecture and flows directly to the open sea. Its water system is well-developed and can connect to the nine provinces. Since ancient times, it has been known as the pearl of Dayu and is the most prosperous prefecture in Dayu, second only to the capital of Dayu.

Such prosperity is bound to attract covetous eyes.

As a result, the forces in "Jiujiang County" are deeply intertwined, with countless large and small factions. Every year, countless heroes and heroines come here to make a name for themselves. Those who succeed greatly improve their cultivation and have a bright future, while those who fail are disgraced and either retire here or fall into slumber here.

There is a sect in Jiujiang County.

With a history spanning thousands of years and profound heritage, and under the leadership of a sect leader known as the "Sword Saint," it governs all the sects of Jiujiang. Its strength and wealth make it the undisputed and universally recognized strongest sect.

That is the "Peerless Gate".

The sect is located at the confluence of the Jiujiang River system, with two mountains standing like walls, countless pavilions and towers, and a great river flowing endlessly in the center. A jade-green bridge spans the two mountains, with water mist rising, like a place for immortals.

at this time.

In a corner of "Wangxian Bridge".

A bald man with a broad build, his skin revealing bulging, explosive muscles, his face full of scars, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, a spark igniting, a wisp of blue smoke shooting out like an arrow into the depths of the hazy mist.

He scratched his head, his gaze falling on the young man standing before the railing—a man in a plain robe, wearing a scholar's cap, with a sword at his waist, a handsome face, and a calm, serene demeanor—and asked curiously:

"Young Master, when will you become the number one inner disciple of the 'Peerless Sect'?"

"Number one in the inner sect..." the young man muttered to himself, looking down at the luxurious boats that were constantly arriving and mooring on the river below. He smiled slightly and said in a clear voice, "It will be tomorrow."

"really!"

Ma Cheng, who hadn't expected Zhu Yu to answer, was stunned. The burning sensation on his fingers startled him. He casually tossed his cigarette butt below, leaned closer, and said with a hint of excitement in his eyes:

"Is the young master no longer going to bide his time?"

Zhu Yu gently shook his head and replied, "This grand event is precisely the opportunity for us to make a name for ourselves."

"Okay, okay..."

Ma Cheng paced back and forth excitedly, then, after a moment's thought, his gaze fell on the slightly worn sword at his waist, and he reminded him:

"Although you are strong, young master, the other inner disciples of the 'Peerless Sect' are not to be underestimated. We still need to prepare what we need."

He hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth and said:

"If 'Young Master' is short of money, I have some here, but..."

Zhu Yu shook her head, "No need."

Upon hearing this, Ma Cheng frowned. Just as he was about to offer some advice, he suddenly noticed a group of young men and women walking towards them. His expression changed slightly, and he quickly turned around and remained silent.

"Hey, look, isn't that the schoolboy...?"

"Hey, is that Wu Ping'an, the bookworm who's gotten stupid?"

"It was him. If it weren't for his father's influence, he would have been kicked out of the house long ago."

"..."

Upon seeing Zhu Yu standing by the railing, the young men and women passing by showed surprise, disdain, and contempt, but they only used him as a topic of conversation, exchanging a few words before moving on to other matters.

"This time, the sect is celebrating its thousandth anniversary, and there are quite a few important figures here. Did you see that ship with the 'white dragon' embroidered on it just now?"

That's the White Dragon King's mount; I never expected him to come too.

"The 'White Dragon King'? Is that Dong Biwu, the 'White Dragon King' who, upon seeing the river breach its banks and flood seven counties, angrily entered the river to capture the demon and devour its blood?"

"Hiss... He's here too!..."

"Hmph, 'White Dragon King'? Compared to the 'Sect Leader,' what are white dragons and black dragons but a worm..."

A young man with a pockmarked face and large, round eyes snorted coldly and said disdainfully.

The words fell.

"You're asking for it!..."

Just as he was preparing to enjoy the agreement from others, a delicate shout came from the side.

A strong wind howled, and the unsuspecting pockmarked youth only saw a black shadow flash by before feeling a sharp pain on his face, his vision blurred, and he slammed hard against the railing, letting out a muffled groan before passing out.

"who!"

The others' expressions changed instantly. Their gazes swept around and quickly landed on the group of three. The leader was an old man with a dragon-headed cane, a hunched back, and gray hair.

A man and a woman were following him on either side.

The woman was holding a long braid in her hand.

"How dare you! You actually dared to attack someone from my 'Peerless Sect'..."

The group wasn't stupid; their simple yet luxurious attire was enough to tell them they were extraordinary. Especially just now, before they could even see clearly, Zhai Xiao was sent flying. It was obvious that they couldn't afford to offend these three.

But just because they couldn't afford to offend them didn't mean the "Peerless Sect" couldn't. They immediately shifted the blame onto the newcomers.

"That's exactly what we're going to do, you bunch of trash..."

Upon hearing this, the arrogant woman raised an eyebrow and slapped her hand away again.

But this time, the old man at the head of the group stopped him. With just a light tap, the whip that shot out like a snake went limp.

He glared at his daughter, then turned to look at the wary young man and woman not far away. With a flick of his sleeve, several beams of light fell into their arms. Looking down, they saw a pearl the size of an infant's fist.

The group was stunned, and then they heard an old voice.

"This small gift is my way of apologizing for my daughter's previous rudeness."

After saying that, he left without waiting for the stunned group.

As the old man passed by Zhu Yu and Ma Cheng, he seemed to sense something, glanced at them with a puzzled look, but did not think much of it and left with the young man and woman.

"Hiss... such a large pearl must cost at least a thousand taels of silver, right?"

After the three people left, one of them examined the beads in his hand and said excitedly.

"One thousand taels? Junior brother, why don't you sell it to me? I'll add another hundred for you, how about that?" one of them replied immediately.

"Never mind, never mind."

The man rolled his eyes and shook his head repeatedly in refusal.

Sudden.

One of the men, fiddling with the pearl, seemed to have thought of something and hesitated, saying, "Do you think that person might be the 'White Dragon King'?... " Fearing disbelief, he showed the pearl and said, "It is said that after the 'White Dragon King' killed the dragon, he found a space in its lair teeming with countless spirit clams..."

Upon hearing this...

The others fell silent, exchanged a knowing glance, ignored the young man lying on the ground, and left without a word.

Zhu Yu, who had taken in the entire scene, shook his head slightly, then turned to look at the aged figure that was about to disappear from the top of the bridge, his gaze solemn.

"The Five Realms..."