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

The living room of the palace.

At Zhu Yu's instruction, Zhu Yi served "Green Child Ice Tea," a unique specialty of the "Underworld" that was not available to ordinary guests.

"please."

Zhu Yu picked up the still chilly "Green Child Iced Tea" and took a sip. The tea was refreshing and sweet, followed by a vibrant sense of life, making one feel as if they had returned to nature and were in a good mood.

This is one of the many tea drinks he improved.

It is made primarily from mutated green fowl whose size has decreased rather than increased, and then brewed with the aid of life stone powder and Xiao Qi's spiritual liquid. Because of the former, the green fowl have extremely vigorous vitality.

Upon tasting, the aura of the cultivator stimulates the life force, causing it to surge to its peak in an instant. As one savors it, the flavor gradually diminishes, yet it is still quite delicious.

Zang Hai picked up his teacup and looked at the densely packed, stiff, wriggling insects resembling mayflies in the tea. His eyelids twitched, and he instantly lost his appetite.

She had tried Green Tea before, but this was the first time she had ever seen it in this style.

"Senior brother, are you perhaps truly impoverished? Why do you insist on drinking this stuff..."

Zang Hai inwardly complained, forcing himself to take a sip despite the discomfort. Before Green Child could even move, his inner power surged, instantly pulverizing him.

She forced herself to swallow, immediately put down her teacup, and before Zhu Yu could speak, she hurriedly took out a jade box from her sleeve, waved it towards him, and smiled:

"My journey to the 'Martial World' was entirely thanks to your help, Senior Brother. Not only was I spared, but I also gained a great deal. Please do not refuse this small gift."

"This…"

Zhu Yu initially wanted to decline, but seeing Cang Hai's sincere expression, he put away the jade box, nodded, and smiled, "Then I'll accept it. Given our relationship, there's no need to be so polite in the future."

"Yes, yes..."

Seeing that he accepted it, Zang Hai's smile deepened.

She had begged the ancestor for a long time for this gift, but she felt it was worth it. Her trip to the "Martial World" had made her realize how powerful Zhu Yu was, and if she didn't take this opportunity to build a relationship now, it wouldn't be so easy in the future.

I am also happy to have made a good friend who is sensible and understanding.

In just a few words.

The two were clearly much more familiar with each other in their conversation.

Just then.

Zhu Yu's expression suddenly changed. He stood up and smiled at Cang Hai, saying, "Junior Sister, please wait a moment. I'll go greet the guest."

After saying that, he stepped out of the living room.

Upon arriving at the square, they saw Zhu Er leading an elderly man with a straight back, wearing a white robe, and with white hair and a ruddy complexion to the square.

The visitor was none other than Master Ma, the head steward of "Qingping Lingxu".

Zhu Yu took two quick steps, smiled, and cupped his hands in greeting, saying, "Senior Brother Ma."

Master Ma looked him up and down, but it was like looking at flowers through a fog; he couldn't even detect a trace of his aura, and he was deeply shocked.

"Wasn't he following the True Lord in conquering foreign lands? How did his cultivation advance so much..."

Suppressing the shock in his heart, he returned the greeting with clasped hands and couldn't help but exclaim from the bottom of his heart, "Junior Brother, you truly possess the bearing of a dragon and phoenix. Compared to you, I am but a piece of rotten wood, having lived for hundreds of years in vain..."

Zhu Yu sensed the abundant vitality emanating from Master Ma, as well as the mixed wood element aura, clearly indicating that he had already refined the "Life Dew." Upon hearing this, he humbly waved his hand and said:

"I'm merely relying on your generosity, senior..."

Just as he was about to invite Master Ma into the hall for a chat, his expression suddenly changed, and he looked toward the entrance to the second floor of the Upside-Down Tower with a smile on his face.

"Senior brother, please enter the hall to rest. I, your junior brother, will greet our guest."

"Okay, junior brother, you're busy."

Master Ma nodded slightly, glanced curiously at the foot of the mountain, and followed Zhu Yi into the palace.

In just a few breaths.

Cang Li, dressed in an ice-blue Confucian skirt, and Fu Hongxi, dressed in a yellow robe and tall hat, arrived at the square one after the other. Upon seeing Zhu Yu, who was greeting them with a smile, they quickly took two steps forward, cupped their hands, and said, "Greetings, Senior Brother Zhu."

Zhu Yu stepped forward and offered his hand in a gesture of support, saying, "Junior Sister Cang, Junior Brother Fu, there's no need to be so polite. Junior Sister Cang is inside the hall; let's go inside and talk."

Upon hearing that Cang Hai was also there, Cang Li and Fu Hongxi showed no surprise and followed Zhu Yu into the palace.

"This junior sister greets her senior sister, Master Ma."

"Greetings, Senior Sister Zang, Master Ma."

"You're too kind, junior brothers and sisters..."

The two naturally recognized the head steward of "Qingping Lingxu". After exchanging greetings, they took their seats.

Zhu Yi served tea to the group and then bowed and stepped aside.

Before Zhu Yu could speak, Cang Li and Fu Hongxi stood up together, took out the gifts they had prepared in advance from their sleeves, and said gratefully:

"Our journey to the 'Martial World' was entirely thanks to your protection, Senior Brother. This is but a small gift; I hope you will not refuse it."

Knowing the closeness between the two, Zhu Yu did not refuse. He waved his hand, indicating that Zhu Yi, who was serving nearby, should accept it, before smiling and saying:

"We've shared joys and sorrows, and we should support each other in the future. There's no need to be so polite anymore."

"Yes, senior brother."

Sensing the warmth in Zhu Yu's words, Cang Li and Fu Hongxi were both delighted, nodded, and took their seats.

Zhu Yu nodded slightly, turned to look at Master Ma, and asked, "Senior Brother, is there something you need on this trip?"

Master Ma asked, "Junior brother, do you know someone named Huang Shi?"

This statement came out.

Zang Hai, Cang Li, and Fu Hongxi, who had initially paid little attention, all turned their gazes toward it.

Zhu Yu nodded, "I know him, but we're not very close." She paused, then asked curiously, "What happened to him?"

Master Ma shook his head and replied, "Yesterday I heard someone say that he was asking around about you, Junior Brother. I was afraid you wouldn't know, so I came here to remind you."

"Ask about me?... "

Why was Huang Shi asking about him? Thinking of the resources he had obtained in exchange for from him, Zhu Yu frowned almost imperceptibly, then shook his head and smiled:

"Thank you, senior brother, it's alright..."

"It's good that you're alright."

Seeing that he seemed to know the answer, Master Ma was relieved and asked with a puzzled look, "This is the first time I've heard of Huang Shi. From which tower does he come?..."

"Oh…"

Zang Hai scoffed from the side and said, "He's just a local."

"He could still act arrogantly in the 'martial arts world,' but if he continues like this in the 'sect,' he'll be in for a rough time."

Cang Li and Fu Hongxi nodded in agreement:

"Sister is absolutely right. Instead of correcting his path, he's inquiring about his senior brother's whereabouts. Shouldn't we teach him a lesson?"

"I've disliked him for a long time, I think it's fine..."

After speaking, the three of them looked at Zhu Yu, who was sitting at the head of the table.

They had never dealt with Huang Shi, but they knew that Huang Shi was on good terms with Shangguan Dazu. They knew that Huang Shi's inquiries about Zhu Yu, who was at odds with Shangguan Dazu, could not be anything good.

In the martial arts world, they knew they couldn't afford to offend Huang Shi.

But now we are in the "Immortal Tomb and Spirit Ruins," where the paths are vastly different, and it is uncertain how much of his strength he will retain.

"Indigenous?..."

Master Ma was taken aback, and when he came to his senses, his expression turned rather unpleasant.

Shangguan Dazu, the Sword Peak Master, and others were "Spirit Ruins Masters" who fought against the cultivators of the "Heavenly Dao Sect," and he was convinced of their worth. But why should a native from outside the region become the "Spirit Ruins Master" of the Qingping Tower?

Zhu Yu shook his head slightly and said calmly, "Let him inquire. If he oversteps the bounds, he will suffer the consequences."

"Yes."

Upon hearing this, the three men from Zanghai smiled.

The group then began to discuss matters related to the "martial arts world".

Ma Zhenren asked more questions, while the three from Zanghai spoke.

But as they talked...

Suddenly.

A grand and majestic thought, as powerful as the might of heaven, swept across.

"The 'Green Lotus Pagoda' stands."

The words are over.

Zhu Yu's expression suddenly changed. He could read the latest updated chapters of "The Immortal Path to Immortality: Starting with Analyzing Basic Visualization Techniques" without any issues on the "Renren Bookstore" APP, with over a million books available for free. He could then access the APP's official website to see the bronze gate appear and step into the "Foundation Building Realm."

Zang Hai, Cang Li, and Fu Hongxi's expressions changed drastically as they entered through the bronze door.

At this time.

Foundation building realm.

As soon as Zhu Yu entered, he saw the mountains that had been hidden in the clouds suddenly become bright and clear. The rolling clouds and mist receded, and an endless sea of ​​fire appeared. In the center of the sea of ​​fire, there stood a dark and solemn mountain, which remained unmoved by the surging and burning fire.

And on the mountaintop.

It stands a towering, crimson-gold gate, its surface adorned with floating duckweed patterns and mottled sword marks.

"That is..."

Zhu Yu glanced at it once and felt his mind was in chaos, his thoughts scattered like grass, and his soul felt a burning pain that intensified over time.

This startled him, and he quickly looked away.

Before he could suppress the chaotic thoughts in his mind, he suddenly felt his "Natal Spirit Ruins" connect with a colossal object. In the instant of the connection, 20% of the energy field protecting the "Natal Spirit Ruins" from being eroded by the Black Sea was drawn away out of thin air.

at the same time.

A scorching aura descended from it and instantly merged with the "Natal Spirit Ruins." Under its influence, the "Natal Spirit Ruins" was like a piece of inferior, stubborn iron, gradually transforming into good iron.

And based on their feedback.

Zhu Yu felt that his soul was also undergoing subtle changes.

I don't know how long it has been.

Zhu Yu came to his senses and instantly realized that the difference in his soul was not a change in quantity, but a change in quality.

His spiritual essence has been enhanced.

Or perhaps his spiritual aptitude has improved.

Zhu Yu hurriedly stared at himself.

An information panel appeared.

【Zhu Yu】

[Age: 25/1080]

[Spiritual Root: Wood and Earth (Fifth Grade)]

[Cultivation Level: Foundation Establishment Level 1 "99%"]

[Achievements: Immortal for a Thousand Autumns "Not Yet Entering the Gate", Burial Visualization "Perfected"... Special Feature: Contemplation of the Divine]

[Dao Jing: None]

【Innate Divine Abilities: Mass Grave "Great Completion 2305/10000", Superior Man "Great Completion 2305/10000"】

[Supernatural Abilities: Proficient in Mystic Water Thunder "6/100", Water Control "Beginner 8/10"]

[Spell/Art]

Tier 1, Mid-Grade: Demon Control Technique "Perfected"

Tier 1, Low Grade: "Perfect" (a skill that allows one to chew gold and eat iron).

Tier 1 Superior Grade: Myriad Souls "Unskilled"

【skill:

Array Dao:

Array pattern: "2126\*"

Basic formation "Perfected"

Tier 2 Low-grade "Teleportation Array" "Mastery 10/100"

[Benming Lingxu: Yin Grave]

First Heaven: Spirit Ruins Origin "10000/10000", Divine Soul Particles "210,000/3,00000"

"His aptitude has indeed improved, now it's fifth grade..."

Zhu Yu's eyes fell on the "Qualifications" section, and he was overjoyed.

Not long ago, he absorbed the essence of Qin Wuxiang's soul, which raised his aptitude to the fourth level. Now, after being tempered by that unknown fire energy, he has jumped to the fifth level.

It seems like just a minor first-class achievement.

For him, however, it was a qualitative leap.

Leaving aside other matters.

Speaking of condensing divine soul particles, he could previously condense about four hundred divine soul particles per day, but now, with the overflowing divine soul power, he can condense as many as eighteen hundred divine soul particles per day.

It increased by nearly five times.

This means that the 790,000 divine soul particles he needed to fill his "natal spiritual ruins" have been shortened from five years to just over a year.

It may seem like it's just a four-year reduction.

However, as his cultivation broke through to the second level of Foundation Establishment, the number of soul particles required to construct his "Natal Spiritual Ruins" increased dramatically, shortening the timeframe from a few years to decades or even centuries...

read this.

Zhu Yu was overjoyed, but then his mind suddenly stirred.

"I also possess a divinely bestowed fruit, the 'Sea Serpent Ugly Duckling.' If I refine it into a pill, could it raise my soul aptitude to level six?..."

However, after sensing his own soul, he felt somewhat strained. But he wasn't annoyed. Once the insect realm's demigod advanced to the Mountain Lord level, sooner or later they would be able to find him more divinely bestowed fruits like the "Sea Witch Ulva".

Various thoughts flashed through my mind.

Zhu Yu closed the information panel and focused his mind on the "Natal Spirit Ruins". When he felt the connection channel that was constantly absorbing the energy of the external force field surrounding the "Natal Spirit Ruins", his face twitched.

He knew he would have to pay protection money sooner or later.

But I didn't expect that time to come so soon.

He silently estimated that the force field energy absorbed by the connecting channel was roughly equivalent to 20% of the total amount he consumed each month to resist the Black Tide.

Not a lot, but not a little either.

If converted into "Spiritual Ruins Origin", it is roughly equivalent to five paths, which accounts for exactly 20% of the resources produced by the "channels" he refines.

Zhu Yu was unsure if this amount was normal. After hesitating for a moment, he opened the "Heavenly Dao Sect" group chat and saw the messages "Congratulations on the establishment of Qingping Tower" constantly being displayed. He copied one and then subtly asked his fellow disciples about the resources needed to make monthly offerings to the tower.

He phrased it tactfully, but everyone in the group was shrewd and calculating.

He soon obtained a concrete number from it.

"The Tower of Fallen Gods" is 30% complete.

"Azure Tower" is 50% complete.

"Sword cultivators still have a conscience..."

Regardless of whether "Qingping Zhenjun" didn't like him, Zhu Yu was satisfied. Seeing the senior brothers and sisters in the group clamoring for "Qingping Gaota" to send red envelopes, he casually sent a "Insect World Snack Pack".

I wrote down the addresses of all my fellow students, closed the group chat, and looked up at the sky.

Black fog billowed, obscuring the mountaintop.

"A Foundation Establishment cultivator can also experience a sea of ​​fire?... "

Thinking of the scene he had witnessed not long ago, Zhu Yu hesitated for a moment, then stepped into the air and soared straight into the churning black mist in the clouds.

Time passed in the teacup.

A stream of light descended, revealing Zhu Yu's figure. He gazed deeply at the mountaintop shrouded in mist, his body disintegrating, and through the "Life Spirit Ruins," he returned to the mortal world.

Stepping out of the bronze gate, he apologized to Master Ma, who was drinking tea, saying, "I've kept you waiting, Senior Brother."

"It's alright."

Master Ma shook his head slightly, stood up, and said with a smile, "Now that the 'True Lord' has opened the tower, I expect many people will come to pay their respects. I need to go back and keep an eye on things, so I'll head back now."

Zhu Yu nodded, "I'll see you off, senior brother."

He escorted him all the way to the square, and looking at his body, which, though sixty years older, still appeared aged, he thought for a moment and said:

"In a while, I might be able to obtain some 'Life Dew.' If you're interested, senior brother, you can come and find me."

Master Ma was taken aback, then his face lit up with surprise and delight. He quickly asked, "Really?"

He only took the "elixir of life" once. Although the effect was less afterward, it could still extend his life by several decades.

Zhu Yu nodded with a smile.

Master Ma took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, and solemnly said, "Please make sure to leave me a share when the time comes, junior brother. I will never let you suffer a loss."

"it is good."

Zhu Yu nodded with a smile and watched Master Ma leave.

After pausing for a few moments, he turned back to the palace, sat down, and waited for Zang Hai and the others to return. With nothing else to do, he picked up the gifts on the table and opened them.