Urban Immortal Lord

"Young friend, there is no need to be sad. The cause and effect of this world are all predetermined. Even though I was a Great Luo Golden Immortal in my previous life, transcending the cycle of birth and death, I am still subject to destiny within the six realms."

The Hermit of Wangchuan said, "The love, hate, and grudges in this world are like dreams and illusions; in the end, they are nothing but emptiness."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Hermit of the Forgotten River looked at Xia Tian and asked, "Young friend, would you be willing to hear me play one last tune?"

"Of course!" Xia Tian nodded quickly. In his current state of mind, he naturally couldn't understand the meaning behind Wangchuan Jushi's words. Xia Tian's sadness was simply due to his empathy for Wangchuan Jushi's past.

"Hahaha, young friend, please follow me!" With that, the Hermit of Wangchuan flashed, and the illusory spirit holding a zither flew out of the thatched hut.

Summer followed closely behind, arriving amidst the sea of ​​flowers.

The cobblestone path, the stream, and the sea of ​​flowers are all derived from the scenery of the underworld's Yellow Springs Road, the River of Oblivion, and the flowers of the other shore.

Clang!

Amidst the sea of ​​flowers, the phantom of the Hermit of the River of Oblivion stands in mid-air, plucking the strings of his zither. Though he possesses an unparalleled elegance and heroic bearing, he also appears utterly desolate.

Summer sat cross-legged to one side, listening to the music, her heart heavy with sorrow.

The music remained mournful and melodious, like the lament of a phoenix or the roar of a dragon, rising and falling, echoing throughout the sea of ​​flowers.

After a while, the Hermit of Wangchuan stopped playing the zither. With a thought, two jugs of fine wine appeared out of thin air in the sea of ​​flowers.

Immediately, his robes fluttered, and one of the jugs of fine wine slowly rose into place before Xia Tian. The Hermit of the Forgotten River said, "This wine was brewed by me thousands of years ago using a hundred flowers, and now I've drunk it all down to these two jugs. Today, I've met you, young friend, and we've found ourselves very compatible. How about we join in the fun and drink to our hearts' content?"

Upon hearing this, Xia Tian laughed and said, "Let's live for today and not worry about tomorrow's troubles. If that's the case, then this junior will respectfully comply."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xia Tian grabbed the wine jug with both hands, bit off the cork with his mouth, and began to drink.

Upon tasting the wine, Xia Tian immediately felt its unparalleled aroma and mellow taste. After swallowing it, an indescribable feeling arose, as if the depression in his heart was swept away, as if the wine could soothe his inner sorrow.

High in the air, the Hermit of the Forgotten River took a sip of his drink, then looked at Xia Tian and said with satisfaction, "Young friend, you are indeed a man of character, rugged yet bold. I am very pleased."

Seeing this, Xia Tian awkwardly wiped her lips with her hand, looking a little embarrassed.

"It's alright." The Hermit of Wangchuan waved his hand and smiled, "This wine is called the Hundred Flowers Immortal Brew. Ordinary people can forget their sorrows and prolong their lives with just one sip; cultivators can improve their cultivation with one sip, which is equivalent to a hundred days of arduous cultivation. However, although this wine is good, it is not as good as Meng Po's Forget-Love Water in the Ghost Realm, which can make one forget one's past and present lives with just one sip."

Upon hearing this, Xia Tian immediately circulated his cultivation technique. Sure enough, his cultivation had already reached the peak of the third level of Qi Refining, and he was only one step away from entering the fourth level of Qi Refining!

"Um?"

With his keen insight, Wangchuan Jushi saw that when Xia Tian circulated his cultivation technique, his aura was concealed, as if he had merged with nature and become one with it.

Overjoyed at the increase in his cultivation, Xia Tian bowed respectfully to the Hermit of Wangchuan: "Senior's great kindness will be forever remembered by this junior."

However, the Hermit of Wangchuan seemed not to hear him, staring intently at Xia Tian and asking urgently, "Young friend, could you please tell me what method you are cultivating?"

"I obtained this method by chance when I was swept to the bottom of the deep sea not long ago. As for what method it is, I don't know." Xia Tian hesitated for a moment, then said, "I only know that this method is called the Six Paths of Reincarnation Technique."

Upon hearing this, the Hermit of the River of Oblivion exclaimed in surprise, "I never expected that the Six Paths Method would actually appear in the world! This method is known as the strongest method within the Six Realms. Legend has it that whoever can cultivate the Six Paths Method can control the cycle of reincarnation within the Six Paths."

The Hermit of the River of Oblivion gazed at the heavens, deep in thought, before sighing, "Now that the laws of the Six Paths have manifested in the world, I fear the cycle of reincarnation has already collapsed..."

"The cycle of reincarnation has collapsed?" Xia Tian asked in confusion.

The Hermit of Wangchuan said, "It's best if you don't know about these forbidden things now, lest you invite a great calamity. May I ask, young friend, which of the Six Paths of Cultivation do you practice?"

"Humanitarian Law," Xia Tian said.

"I originally intended to pass on my mantle to you, young friend, but you cultivate the Six Paths of Dharma. You are a chosen one, and we are not destined to be together."

The Hermit of the River of Oblivion said, "I will soon vanish, so I will give this River of Oblivion Qin to you as a keepsake, but..."

Xia Tian quickly replied, "This zither is your most cherished possession, Senior. I would never dare to take it from you. Is there anything you wish to do, Senior? If it is within my power, I will certainly do my best to help you."

"I had only one wish in this life, and that was to stay by her side forever. This wish can no longer be fulfilled, but I think that one day, when you go to the realm of ghosts, you can play a song for her on my behalf..."

Upon hearing this, Xia Tian looked troubled and said, "Senior was a Great Luo Golden Immortal in his previous life. Although I don't know what a Great Luo Golden Immortal is, I suppose they are at the pinnacle of this world and still cannot open the Ghost Realm space. I am merely..."

"Young friend, do not underestimate yourself. You have cultivated the Six Paths of Paths, and your future achievements will surely far surpass mine. The Great Luo Golden Immortal may seem to be at the pinnacle of the world, but in reality, he is just a slightly stronger ant."

The Hermit of Wangchuan said, "Young friend, you cultivate the Six Paths Method, and you will inevitably clash with the Yellow Springs Emperor in the future. This is your destiny."

"Fate?" Xia Tian muttered, suddenly feeling a sense of foreboding. He said, "Senior, could it be that the whereabouts of the Ghost Path Technique are in the hands of the Yellow Springs Emperor of the Ghost Realm?"

"Young friend, you are indeed exceptionally intelligent, understanding things so quickly," said the Hermit of Wangchuan with a smile. "Young friend, there is no need to panic. Although the Ghost Dao technique exists in the Ghost Realm, it is not in the hands of the Yellow Springs Emperor, but rather it is engraved on the Three Lives Stone."

"The Three Lives Stone?" Xia Tian couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed. If he weren't a cultivator, he would definitely think these legendary things were just a fantasy.

"Indeed, it is the Three Lives Stone. Legend has it that this stone can travel through the past, present, and future, altering the course of history. Although the Yellow Springs Emperor is powerful, he does not know the whereabouts of the Three Lives Stone."

Seeing this, Xia Tian calmed down and took a deep breath: "This junior will certainly live up to your expectations. If I go to the Ghost Realm in the future, I will definitely play a song for that woman on your behalf."

"Hahaha..." The Hermit of Wangchuan laughed loudly, and the spirit in mid-air kept swaying and falling, as if it would dissipate at any moment.

With a flick of his finger, the Hermit of the River of Oblivion unleashed a dazzling light that struck Xia Tian's brow. Suddenly, some memories flooded his mind.

In about half a cup of tea's time, Xia Tian received the inherited memories of the Hermit of the River of Oblivion, while in mid-air above the sea of ​​flowers, the Hermit of the River of Oblivion's spirit became increasingly thin.

Among Wangchuan Jushi's memories are the methods of playing the Wangchuan Qin (a type of zither), his insights from a lifetime of cultivation, and the medical traditions he has passed down through thousands of years of traveling the world to practice medicine and help people.

"Nine Needles for Life and Death!"

Xia Tian was startled and looked at the Hermit of Wangchuan with deep gratitude.

"This is a set of acupuncture techniques that I created after thousands of years of wandering the mortal world, unable to bear the suffering of this world. Although this technique cannot defy fate, it is enough to bring mortals back to life." The Hermit of Wangchuan smiled and said, "Young friend, you may find it useful in your cultivation in this world."

Immediately, his gaze returned to Xia Tian, ​​he shook his head, and sighed, "Although the Six Paths Method is powerful, it is not without its drawbacks. Especially the Human Path Method, which requires experiencing the mortal world and comprehending the Dao within it. Enough, enough, I will give you one more thing, hoping it will help you cultivate this method."