Cultivating Immortality Through a Hundred Lifetimes: I Possess the Heavenly Book of Merit

Qing Kingdom, Qianmen Mountain.

The mountain roads here are rugged and uneven, yet someone has opened a small shop here, providing tea and food for passersby.

However, because it is too remote, there are few customers, and it is often extremely deserted with no one visiting.

The shopkeeper had just opened the shop door with his cane when he saw someone walking out of the woods in the morning light.

The young man, in his early twenties, dressed in coarse linen clothes, carried a bundle on his shoulder with the handle of a kitchen knife sticking out; he appeared to be a cook on the move.

"Shopkeeper, do you have any water to drink?"

As they drew nearer, the young chef finally spoke, bringing the restaurant owner back to his senses.

"Yes, yes, coming right away."

As he spoke, he invited the cook in, then turned around and poured a bowl of water from the kitchen and brought it over.

"The well water was just drawn; it's so refreshing."

The shopkeeper placed the slightly chipped porcelain bowl on the table, glanced at the knife handle sticking out of the bundle, and asked, seemingly casually,

"Even chefs cultivate immortality?"

As the bowl was brought to his lips, Yu Yan heard this and smiled gently, stopping his actions to look at the old man.

"Who doesn't want to cultivate immortality and achieve eternal life? Of course, cooks are no exception."

"Old man, I heard in the town at the foot of the mountain that there are immortals on this mountain who take on disciples, and many people have gone up the mountain. Now it seems that it is true?"

The shopkeeper sighed and nodded. Since there wasn't much business in the shop anyway, he simply moved a stool and sat opposite Yu Yan, and began to talk non-stop.

"Ten years ago, someone saw the shadow of an immortal on Qianmen Mountain, and gathered a group of people in the village to become his disciples."

"He came down again later, dressed in silk and wearing cloud-patterned boots; he looked quite impressive."

"After that, more and more people went up the mountain, saying that if they entered the Selection Platform, they could become immortals."

"Five years ago, my grandson also succumbed to temptation and went up the mountain with a group of friends to seek immortality."

"I opened this shop here so I could be closer to him and see my grandson more often. But since he went up the mountain, I haven't heard from him at all. I wonder how his cultivation is going..."

As they were talking, Yu Yan's stomach suddenly rumbled loudly, echoing throughout the empty little shop.

The two of them showed no embarrassment and smiled at each other.

The shopkeeper asked Yu Yan to sit down, while he went back to the kitchen, busied himself for a moment, and then brought out a bowl of steaming wontons.

"It's my fault. I was too busy talking. Consider it an apology. I won't charge you for this bowl of wontons."

Steam rises, and a rich aroma lingers in the air. The wontons lie in the soup, each one white and glistening, looking incredibly appetizing.

Yu Yan's smile remained unchanged as he picked up his chopsticks.

"I can't accept this."

"It's only natural to be kind to others. We're in the same line of work, so why don't you try my wontons and point out any shortcomings?"

The old man was very polite, poured the aged vinegar into a small dish, and looked at him expectantly.

Judging from this, they seem to want something from you.

Yu Yan knew perfectly well what was going on, but he didn't refuse. He picked up a wonton, dipped it lightly in the vinegar, and put it in his mouth.

"Hmm, it tastes good."

Old ginger is spicier. His years as a chef were not wasted. His skill in making fillings alone is almost equivalent to his three years of culinary training.

This is the third incarnation.

This time, the memories of his past life awakened early; he was fully awakened at the age of ten.

On that same day, his biological parents sold him to a restaurant owner and disappeared with the money they received.

Fortunately, he had fully recalled his memories of his past life, and with his comprehension reaching 100, he could learn anything at a glance and master it with just one practice.

In just three years, he went from a restaurant apprentice to a head chef, achieving a small comeback.

Moreover, the previous head chef, seeing his extraordinary talent, even gifted Yu Yan their family's ancestral pig-slaughtering knife.

Dao, with his fierce nature, gradually developed some extraordinary qualities as he traveled with Yu Yan across the country.

After all, he didn't have any magical artifacts; he was already lucky to have anything useful.

Not only his cooking skills, but his cultivation level has also not fallen much. Without relying on any external force, he has reached the second level of Qi Refining.

When the Emperor of Qing heard of his deeds, he wanted to summon him to the palace. For the sake of his own manhood, he had no choice but to leave overnight and travel around the mountains, seeking immortals and asking questions.

But eight years have passed, and apart from encountering some fellow cultivators, there is no place like a market town or sect.

In the cultivation of immortality, there are the so-called methods, resources, companions, and environment. Yu Yan now only has the methods, lacking the other three, so his cultivation speed is completely different from his previous life.

But his comprehension level of 100 was no ordinary talent. Even without the Purification Pill, he relied on his extraordinary comprehension to make some changes to the cultivation technique, making it more suitable for himself.

He even broke through the shackles of the five spiritual roots not long ago and entered the mid-stage of Qi Refining.

During his travels, he had already used up all the rare spirit stones. Hearing that there were immortals in the nearby Qianmen Mountain, he came here out of admiration.

However, he did not expect to meet an old man who was looking forward to his grandson's return on the way.

After putting down his chopsticks and wiping his mouth, Yu Yan looked at the shopkeeper and got straight to the point.

"Just tell me straight, do you want me to help you find your grandson?"

"Alas, sir, you see things clearly. I see that you are also seeking immortality at the Immortal Selection Platform. Could you help me find my good-for-nothing grandson and persuade him to go home and visit his family?"

The shopkeeper, his back hunched, took out a piece of cloth from his pocket, unfolded it like a treasure, revealing a longevity lock inside.

"This was left by his parents. If he sees my grandson, show him this and he will understand."

Yu Yan took it; it was heavy, made of white jade, suggesting that the old man was no ordinary person.

"Is there anything like a name that would make it easier to identify the person?"

"Zhang Silin, my grandson is named Zhang Silin."

The old man was overjoyed, as if afraid that the man would change his mind. He read his grandson's name twice, then took out a portrait from his bosom and handed it over with trembling hands, extremely excited.

"I am Zhang Boyuan, and I thank my benefactor."

"I tried climbing the mountain, but when I got to the top, there wasn't a soul in sight, and I couldn't see any selection platform, let alone find my grandson."

"When I asked other people later, they all said it was because I was too old and had no affinity with immortals, so the immortals didn't even want to see me."

"I tried asking other people for help before, but they just thought I was being too dramatic. They said things like seeking immortality and pursuing the Dao shouldn't come at the cost of family ties. Not only did they not help me, they also advised me to go down the mountain. Some of them even had a bad temper and wanted to tear down this little shop. I really had no other choice..."

As Zhang Boyuan spoke, tears streamed down his face. Years of grievances erupted at this moment. With snot and tears streaming down his face, his thin, bony hands gripped tightly as if they were grasping at the last straw, unwilling to let go.

The more he spoke, the more uncontrollably he cried. His knees buckled and he was about to kneel down when Yu Yan quickly stopped him.

"Old man, what are you doing?"

"Sir, I don't ask my grandson to give up his path to immortality. I just ask him to come back and eat a bowl of my wontons. Even if he doesn't have time, just let me see him, even just a glimpse, so I can know he's doing well."

Yu Yan nodded, watching the other person's completely white hair shimmer in the sunlight, and slowly moved his hand away.

"I will pass it on."

Cultivating immortality and seeking the Dao is about cultivating one's state of mind and realm, not about severing emotions and desires.

Five years have passed without a single word. Even a letter sent down by another disciple would have been appreciated.

This Zhang Silin has gone too far.

Even setting aside the merit, just for the old man's share of wontons, Yu Yan helped him out!