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

"Huh? This is... an exam?..."

When Zhu Yu's gaze fell upon the blank test paper, a sudden realization dawned on him.

Since the dawn of writing, the "vast river" of power has been born, carrying endless textual information and knowledge. Here, knowledge is power, and power is knowledge.

The wooden cabin he was in and the test questions placed in front of him were a test given to him by "The Vast River" based on the way he acquired knowledge, using a certain historical fragment.

"Why isn't the exam being held now? And what's this exam question? 'To learn and practice what one has learned'? Why is it a test of the rigid, formulaic essay style?..."

Zhu Yu raised an eyebrow, thought for a moment, and wondered if it was because "The Vast River" sensed he couldn't learn math? Or perhaps it was because he was a martial artist and couldn't grasp the profound principles of physics? ...

Suppressing his thoughts and ceasing further contemplation, he took a sheet of white paper, carefully laid it out, ground the inkstone, picked up his brush, pondered for a moment, and then the brush fell to the ground.

A short while later.

A lengthy article has already been completed.

Zhu Yu blew a light breath, glanced at it, nodded in satisfaction, and smiled slightly. "Heh, mere pedantry..."

He wasn't bragging, but with his writing skills, even if he didn't rank first in the imperial examinations, passing the children's test would be a piece of cake.

Just as I was thinking about it.

One of the wooden boards was pulled open again, and the yamen runners in black robes collected the exam papers, then placed a piece of white paper down, and finally closed the board.

Zhu Yu peeked through the crack and found that the outer room was not the void and chaos he had imagined, but an old hall with well-arranged cubicles.

There were several yamen runners distributing the exam papers. To his surprise, he happened to see a glowing blue head in a compartment that one of the runners had pushed open.

"There are other people taking the exam here..."

As soon as the thought crossed Zhu Yu's mind, his eyes lit up. Just as he was about to try to call out, a synthesized voice suddenly came from next door.

"Examiner, room 30 requests to use the restroom..."

next moment.

"allow."

A voice, devoid of any emotion, rang out.

"Examiner, Room 19 requests to use the restroom."

[At this point, I hope readers will remember our domain name: 10 ...

"Examiner, Room 6 requests to use the restroom."

"Examiner,..."

As the synthesized electronic voice rang out, a series of voices followed. Zhu Yu listened carefully and realized that there were about thirty people taking the exam with him.

Hearing the examiner's emotionless "yes"...

He hesitated for a moment, then called out in the same way, "Examiner, room 29 requests to use the restroom."

The word "accurate" followed.

Zhu Yu felt the scene before him slowly blurring. When he came to his senses again, he found himself in a narrow space that could only accommodate one person. There was a chamber pot below, and a smell of excrement and urine wafted from it.

Before he could think further...

That synthesized electronic voice came from the side again.

"The simple I1 smart chip, equipped with nine floating cameras, a home butler, and a guard dog, is sold as a single 'beacon of wisdom.' Pre-order now!"

"Um?…"

Zhu Yu was taken aback.

No? What do you mean? Selling things here? And what is "Light of Wisdom"?

At this time.

A hoarse voice came from not far away.

"Which level?"

"The simple smart chip does not contain a spark," the metallic synthesized voice replied.

Upon hearing this, the man fell silent.

Immediately afterwards, voices of people selling or wanting to buy rang out from all around.

"Extraordinary Fruit, Steel Balloon, Grade 2, sold for ten drops of 'River of Omniscience' water."

"A drop of 'River of Knowledge' water is being sought to purchase any second-tier 'Bloodline,' with a required concentration of no less than one percent."

"The Tier 2 'White Bone Hercules' puppet, essential for plundering, looting, and grave-building, is only available for ten drops of 'Vast River' water. Buy one, get one free! Act fast!"

"Five hundred drops of 'River of Omniscience' water are being used to purchase the 'core' of a third-tier creature, requiring the host to possess powerful regenerative and proliferative abilities..."

"The third-tier Dao artifact, the 'Sea-Suppressing Pearl,' is sold for three hundred drops of 'Vast River Water'..."

"..."

Zhu Yu frowned as he listened to the hawking, the buying, and the other things that sounded impressive but incomprehensible to him.

Before he could think any further, the space in front of him blurred, and when he came to his senses, he was back in the wooden house.

Suddenly, all around fell silent.

It was as if the noisy hawking had never existed.

Zhu Yu came back to his senses and his eyes were filled with thoughts.

The loud hawking just now was definitely not fake.

From his voice, we can glean some information: most of the thirty test-takers come from different spiritual realms; the "Vast River" seems to be able to carry items; and the water of the "Vast River" is extremely precious, far more precious than he imagined…

"As expected, those guys from the Abyss are untrustworthy..."

Zhu Yu shook his head inwardly.

Although the title "demigod" contains the word "god," it is only at the second-stage perfection level. Lady Huan Yu directly asked for 500 drops of "vast river" water, while the third-stage treasures sold by these people were only worth that price.

Fortunately, he encountered cultivators from beyond the realm during this trial; otherwise, if he had actually accumulated five hundred drops of "Vast River" water and traded it with Lady Pleasure, he would have suffered a heart-wrenching loss.

Without much thought, I looked at the test questions.

"A test poem...?"

He pondered for a moment, then picked up his brush, dipped it in ink, and copied a poem by a famous person from the past, according to the topic.

He immediately closed his eyes and concentrated, waiting for his second trip to the toilet.

moment.

A wooden board was pulled open on one side, and the yamen runner in black robes collected the answer sheets. This time, however, he did not leave any blank paper behind, but instead left directly.

"Um?"

Just as Zhu Yu was wondering, an impatient voice came from behind.

"Examiner, Room 1 requests to use the restroom."

Immediately afterwards, a series of voices rang out, even from the previously silent cells.

"Examiner, room 29 requests to use the restroom..."

Zhu Yu would not miss the opportunity. As soon as he finished speaking, his vision blurred, and when he came to his senses, he was back in the narrow space.

At this time.

A clear, swearing voice rang out.

"Damn it, it stinks! Which bastard actually pooped..."

"Well…"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yu was taken aback, his eyes filled with doubt. Wasn't it consciousness that entered the "Vast River"? How could there be this Five Grains Reincarnation?

Just as he was thinking this...

The voice of the person who had previously sold the "Zhenhai Pearl" rang out.

"Young friend, would you mind selling me a drop of the 'Vast River' to cleanse my filth?"

"Huh...you're buying this too?...Sell it, sell it." The man was taken aback, then hurriedly replied.

At this point, someone interjected, "Which idiot is using the 'cell room' to cleanse their soul? They should cleanse themselves soon, or someone might come knocking on their door..."

These words were spoken.

In a cell marked "six", a young man wearing shorts and a t-shirt was stunned. "Breath cleansing?" Thinking of what he had done not long ago, he suddenly panicked.

I want to open my mouth, but I don't know what to say for a moment.

Upon returning to the examination venue, he could only console himself, "The Spirit Ruins of the Boundary Sea are as numerous as the stars in the sky; how could they possibly come looking for me..."

Room number nine.

"The cell can also cleanse the soul..."

Zhu Yu looked surprised. After thinking for a moment, he squatted on the chamber pot. After a while, he felt a churning sensation in his stomach. But when he stood up, the churning sensation disappeared.

His eyes widened in surprise. "Truly strange..."

Instead of trying again, they listened to what others were saying.

Not long after.

My vision blurred, and I returned to the exam room.

A wooden board was moved aside, and a yamen runner in a black robe handed over a piece of white paper.

Zhu Yu glanced at it; it was still the "eight-legged essay." But when he looked outside, he noticed that the distance between the squares had increased significantly, and his mind began to wander.

"Has anyone been eliminated...?"

Without much thought, he focused his gaze on the test questions and began to grind ink and write.

I don't know how much time has passed.

Zhu Yu went through round after round of selection, including the "eight-legged essay," the "examination poem," and the "classical essay," and finally ended this test with the "policy essay."

A strange message flooded my mind.

With his superb "eight-legged essay" and excellent examination poem, he won first place and the title of "beginner," which allows him to further explore the "vast river of knowledge."

at the same time.

The reward for being the top scorer is ten drops of "The Vast River" water.

Wisps of spiritual light appeared out of nowhere.

Zhu Yu's gaze fell upon it, and he could vaguely see countless students entering the government hall to take the exams and advance their studies, some achieving early success, and others becoming old men with white hair.

As the ethereal light dissipated, ten transparent water droplets, shimmering with seven-colored light, floated in mid-air.

"Is this the 'vast and mighty river'...?"

As Zhu Yu gazed at the "vast and mighty river," he suddenly felt his mind clear of all distractions, and a surge of inspiration gave him new insights into the supernatural powers he cultivated and the methods he inherited.

This feeling of instant understanding captivated him, leaving him unable to extricate himself.

It took me a while to come to my senses.

Zhu Yu couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "So this is what it feels like to be a genius..."

at the same time.

He also understood some of the benefits of the "vast river".

When used for cultivation, it can enhance understanding and deduce methods; when used as an external object, it can enlighten the wisdom of living beings. If the "vast river" has enough water, even inanimate objects can give rise to wisdom no less than that of humans.

Although its effects are strong, it seems somewhat useless to Zhu Yu, who possesses the "Eye of True Sight".

However, the "vast river" itself surprised him somewhat.

If the trials continue in the future, he can obtain water from the "Vast River" to purchase the necessary cultivation supplies.

"No rush, we can enter Qingfeng Village after everything is arranged..."

Zhu Yu suppressed his distracting thoughts, and with a slight movement of his mind, ten drops of "Vast River" water merged into his soul and consciousness. Then, with a slight movement of his mind, the scene before him slowly blurred. When he opened his eyes again, the scene of the quiet room came into view.

He turned up, pushed open the door, and went out.

Upon arriving at the hall, they saw a large crowd gathered, led by Yu Fushui, Yu Lou, Li Ling, Yuan Guang, Dang Qing, Liu Peisan, You Mang, and others.

Upon seeing him appear, and especially feeling the imposing aura emanating from him comparable to that of the Grand Elder, their faces lit up with joy. They all bowed respectfully and said in unison:

"Greetings, elder brother."

"Congratulations, elder brother, on breaking through to the Dharma Aspect Realm! You will soon be listed on the 'Heroes' Ranking' and renowned throughout the land."

"To become famous throughout the world..."

The sound was deafening, echoing through the sky.

Sensing the gazes of the crowd, Zhu Yu smiled, nodded slightly, and extended a hand in a gesture of support, saying:

"Please rise, brothers and sisters."

As everyone stood up, he looked around, opened his mouth slightly, and his voice resounded like rolling thunder in their ears.

"Now that the world is in chaos, this is a golden opportunity for us to make a name for ourselves and accomplish great things..."

This statement came out.

Yu Fushui, Yu Lou, Li Ling, Yuan Guang, Dang Qing, Liu Peisan, You Mang and others seemed to have thought of something, their eyes lit up, they rubbed their hands together and looked on with anticipation.

Zhu Yu's next words did not disappoint them.

"We will raze Baima Village to the ground, wipe out the Zhao family and the fishing gangs. From this day forward, within a thousand miles of the entrance to Taihu Lake via the Baishui River, Qingfeng Village shall reign supreme."

The words fell.

Yuan Guang immediately raised his arms and shouted, "Crush Baima Village, wipe out the Zhao family and the fishing gang!"

The crowd's faces flushed with excitement as they shouted in unison: "Raze White Horse Village to the ground! Eradicate the Zhao family and the Fishing Gang!"

"Set off."

Without wasting words, Zhu Yu waved his hand and shouted.

The crowd filed out, some laughing excitedly, others chuckling, and boarded the boats moored at the edge of the island.

At this moment, the mist over Taihu Lake was thick, and the boats quietly disappeared into it, speeding away in a certain direction.

Boats and cabins.

Zhu Yu sat in the first seat.

Below, at the Fushui River, Yulou, Liling, Yuanguang, Dangqing, Liu Peisan, and Youmang took their seats.

The crowd excitedly discussed whether to advance towards the territories of the Thirteen Villages or the Taiping Society after clearing out the White Horse Village, the Zhao Family, and the Fishing Gang, without paying any attention to the three forces.

Zhu Yu didn't interrupt, but closed his eyes and focused his mind on the "heart," a slightly illusory sword.

It was slightly different from what Yu Fushui and others had imagined.

He broke through to the "Dharma Realm", but he did not break through completely.

The reason is that his Dharma form, "Righteous Sword," has not yet been fully formed.

Unlike other martial artists in the Dharma Aspect Realm who mostly condense their Dharma Aspect with rare and precious materials, the "Righteous Qi Sword" does not require any rare and precious materials. Instead, it requires the user to "slay demons and monsters and uphold justice," forging it with the righteous and upright spirit in their heart.

Once the Dharma image is successfully condensed.

It naturally overwhelms evil spirits and heretics; those with impure thoughts are already at a disadvantage without even lifting a finger in its presence.

Such Dharma forms, forged from one's own beliefs, can be good or bad.

Zhu Yu must firmly uphold his integrity and not tolerate any corruption, otherwise nine-tenths of his strength will be lost in an instant...

a long time.

"call…"

Zhu Yu breathed a sigh of relief, opened his eyes, and his gaze seemed to see through the cabin to the vast Taihu Lake, as well as the thousands of demons that stirred up trouble on it and the millions of residents suffering unspeakable pain.

A faint golden light flickered in his eyes as he murmured to himself:

"Such a place, a den of filth, should not exist..."

Yu Fushui and the others, who were talking, suddenly felt a tightness in their hearts, as if a sharp blade was hanging on the back of their necks, and the hairs on their bodies stood up instantly. When they looked in the direction of the aura, they saw a pair of pale golden eyes that did not contain any emotion.

A sense of panic gripped them, and they instinctively lowered their heads, unable to look any further.

A while later.

They then realized that the chilling gaze had dissipated, and Zhu Yu's gentle voice rang in their ears.

"Brothers and sisters, never forget that we come from a respectable family and are not true bandits of Taihu Lake."

"To prevent any of my brothers from forgetting their original intentions and turning into bandits, I, as the eldest brother, hereby establish a few rules in advance..."

Yu Fushui and the others were slightly moved. They looked over and saw that the people who were chatting and laughing outside the cabin had also fallen silent and were listening.

"First, brothers must not kill each other."

"Second, it is forbidden to kill the innocent, rape, or plunder."

"Remember our identity, and take eliminating demons and protecting the common people as our foundation."

These words were spoken.

Yu Fushui and the others looked at each other in bewilderment, and the people outside were also stunned for a moment before coming to their senses with strange expressions.

That's it?

With smiles on their faces, everyone shouted:

"Don't worry, brother, your sister and I will keep this in mind and never do it again."