From waterfowl, it began to transform into the Great Sun Golden Crow.

Gu Heting lay on the back of the swallowing river fish.

The old fish's enormous body wobbled and twisted. It felt like he was on a ferry. He felt his stomach churning; he was getting seasick.

Finally, the River-Swallowing Fish arrived at the back mountain of Shenzhou Island.

Shenzhou Island's topography consists of half mountains, half forests, and lakeside wetlands.

Gu Heting discovered that this was a mountain range, and there was no other way.

There was no road ahead, which made Gu Heting quite curious: why did Senior Jingli bring him here?

Jing Li's voice was deep and resonant. His deep tone reminded him, "I'm about to start diving. Can you hold your breath?"

Dive?

Before Gu Heting could react, the enormous body of the River Swallowing Fish submerged into the water. In a moment of bewilderment, the surrounding water plants and small fish came into view.

Glug glug.

A mouthful of water was poured into Gu Heting's mouth. Gu Heting held his breath, feeling as if his body was floating upwards like in an elevator.

The immense force lifted him upwards.

The moment he leaped out of the water, Gu Heting spat out the white fish in his mouth. A few small white fish thrashed about. He still had water plants on his head and was coughing incessantly.

"Cough cough cough........"

"Senior, wait for me to react."

In his bewilderment, Gu Heting discovered that this place was a hidden paradise.

This is actually an underground cave. Inside, water flows gently. Stalactites hang down, water droplets wear away the stone. Ancient rocks, thousands of years old, are below, having carved a hole through them.

Listening to the sound of water, I felt incredibly peaceful.

"This place is huge, and it's even bright."

A ray of sunlight refracted into the cave from above. Ahead lay a carved-out atrium, the reflected light making the cave considerably brighter.

"Little one. The cave entrance only appears when the tide comes in. It's springtime now, with the tide rising. Before winter, you can only enter the cave by diving. It's quite a secluded place."

The River-Swallowing Fish is right.

This place is exceptionally well-hidden.

The cave entrance allows light to pass through. It eliminates the worry of attacks from strange beasts and provides shelter from snakes, insects, and rodents in the grass. With a little preparation, this could be a top-tier residence for cultivators.

Jing Li chuckled smugly. He turned his head, his nose snorting as he pointed at the corpse in front of him: "That's the corpse of that cultivator. It's been over two years."

"I don't know when he died."

"He must have been seriously injured and died that same day."

The man was dressed in rags, yet he wore a blue robe. A large hole had been torn in the center of his robe, and the hole seemed to be burning.

The body looked as if it had been struck by lightning.

The body was already weathered, and the cheek muscles had long since dried up.

The physical decay of cultivators seems to be stronger than that of mortals. Gu Heting stepped forward. He looked at the senior before him and smelled the stench of the corpse.

He discovered that the corpse did not have the foul odor of a corpse.

The body had a sachet hanging from its body during its lifetime. It still carries a faint fragrance.

"Is that person dressed in blue a disciple of a sect?"

When Jing Li saw Gu Heting ask this, he nodded: "The Demonic Sect often appears in black. Those in green are the righteous path, yet they are passive and escapist. As the saying goes, the greatest hermits are those in the mountains and forests. This person must also be a disciple of a sect."

Gu Heting tilted his head. He bowed to this senior.

He then extended his little beak and pecked at the corpse's chest. There was indeed a bulging object there. In less than the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea, Gu Heting pulled out a book.

The signature on the book pages was very neat.

The four large characters above all have a calligraphic style. It reads, "This Life in Pingyang".

Is "Pingyang This Life" a cultivation technique? Gu Heting was secretly delighted. If it was a cultivation technique, he could gain some insight into it.

But as soon as Gu Heting opened the manual, the large characters on it greatly disappointed him.

My life story is vividly documented in the world.

As the saying goes, immortals cannot dwell in the mortal world. But I find it truly difficult to part with it, so I can only let it be.

I am no longer the same person I was before.

[I wrote this book to recall the tumultuous world of mortals.]

I am Lü Pingyang. Born in Pingyang Town, I was originally a schoolteacher. But a celestial being lifted me up, leading me to the path of immortality.

Only then did Gu Heting achieve a clear understanding of his own mind.

This isn't some kind of martial arts technique at all; "Pingyang's Life" is just a diary.

The so-called Pingyang is his name.

This immortal is so frivolous, he actually started writing a diary.

"Why are you spacing out, little one? What kind of technique makes you so dazed?" Spending these past few days with this little guy has been quite fun. But this waterbird often seems to be spacing out, and its behavior appears somewhat nonsensical.

But today, the little guy's expression was serious.

This piqued Jing Li's curiosity.

"How should I put it, Senior Jingli? This is... this is... this is a diary."

Journal?

How could there be a diary? This is utterly absurd in the world of cultivation. Cultivators must undergo trials in the mortal realm, and must act decisively and swiftly to cut through the complexities of this mortal world.

To sever ties with family and friends.

This is how one can achieve a state of perfect mental well-being, which is the key condition for a breakthrough.

The monks were attached to the mortal world.

How absurd this statement is.

"Senior Jingli, shall I read it to you?" Gu Heting stretched out his little bird claws and turned to the first page of the diary. The entire text described a life of fleeting glory.

The bitterness within was gradually revealed, like peeling away layers of a cocoon.

[On the sixth day of the second month in the Great Jin Kingdom, the snow had just melted. I saw a few sparrows on the winter solstice. Today was also the day of the provincial examination, and I had not yet passed.]

I am now thirty years old. I have never had a wife or daughters.

Three years of failing the provincial examinations have left me with nothing but the honor of passing. Now I am but a humble scholar, having long since grown indifferent to worldly vanities. All I seek now is a moment of peace.

Today, the village chief from the neighboring village actually introduced my wife to me.

I never imagined I would spend my life with her, witnessing the joys and sorrows of this world.

My wife has a chronic leg ailment.

I am but a poor scholar, and I fear I may disappoint my beloved. But my wife does not abandon me because of my humble origins. Finally, we consummate our marriage and are happily married.

Gu Heting read it aloud to Senior Jingli, word by word. Jingli listened, shaking his head repeatedly. This person was too attached to worldly concerns.

I fear my resolve is not firm.

It is difficult to ascend to immortality.

Seeing that the old fish remained silent, Gu Heting continued to peruse the book.

Green are your robes, green is your collar; deep is my longing. A lonely grave, overgrown with weeds, where I eat wild apples.

Three years later, my parents had passed away.

I bid farewell to my wife and went to the capital to take the imperial examination. That day I achieved second place in the provincial examination, and later became a third-place scholar.

[What should have been a joyous day was tragically marred by the news of my parents' passing.]

Lost and confused, I don't know whether to be happy or sad.

Gu Heting couldn't quite put his finger on it. He always felt that life was a mixture of joy and sorrow. Passing the imperial examination should have been a joyous occasion, filled with celebrations. But the death of both his parents left him unsure whether to feel happy or sad.

Gu Heting's lips twitched slightly as he continued reading.

My child was born in February of the same year.

That day, as I was supposed to be taking up my post, I came across Peach Blossom Pool. There, I found an old man fishing.

The old man was exceptionally articulate, and we ended up having a very pleasant conversation.

But as we were parting, he quietly asked me, "Do you have any intention of seeking immortality?"

I believe that seeking immortality and enlightenment is utter nonsense.

The immortal has departed on a crane, leaving me stunned for a long time.

Three years later, the immortal returned, and I agreed.

I abandoned my wife and children to become their disciple.

From this point on, the path to immortality becomes increasingly uncertain.

【drop in the ocean.】

Is it just a drop in the ocean?

Gu Heting read the last four words very slowly, as if time had stopped. He could feel the endless emptiness.

It's like cutting meat with a dull knife.