A Mortal's Journey to Immortality: Starting as a Sword-Forging Servant and Ascending to Immorta

Elder Chen's sigh echoed in the courtyard of the abandoned hall.

He stared at Zhou Lingxuan's calloused hands, his facial muscles twitching slightly, as if he was trying his best to suppress some kind of emotion.

Suddenly, he spoke, as if he had thought of something, and his eyes turned red.

"Those old fogies in the cultivation world, they're always talking about talent and spiritual roots. Bullshit!"

Elder Chen suddenly swore, spitting everywhere, completely abandoning his previous aloof elder demeanor.

"What kind of exceptional talent or celestial spiritual root does a weapon refiner need?"

"As long as I can guide Qi into his body, even if he's a useless person with mixed spiritual roots, I can force-feed him to the Foundation Establishment stage using elixirs!"

He turned around abruptly and pointed at the unconscious Steward Sun on the ground.

"See this idiot? When he first joined the sect, his aptitude was so bad he wasn't even as good as the outer sect sweeper!"

"I fed him Marrow Cleansing Pills like candy and poured Qi Gathering Powder down his throat like water, managing to get him to the Foundation Establishment stage!"

"The Weapon Hall may not have much else, but it has money and resources!"

Elder Chen turned around, waving his hands forcefully in the air, his emotions growing increasingly agitated.

"As long as you embark on the path of cultivation, even if it's just the lowest level, Qi Refining, I can guarantee you a smooth journey!"

"Once you reach the Foundation Establishment stage, you'll have at least two or three hundred years to live. Two or three hundred years!"

Elder Chen took a step forward, his breathing becoming extremely heavy.

"With your exquisite control over sword intent, you could crush even the most powerful magical artifacts like cabbages, let alone top-grade ones!"

"At that time, the entire Heavenly Sword Pavilion, no, the entire weapon-refining world of the Southern Region, will have to act according to your whims!"

Xue Yi stood to the side, swallowing hard as she listened.

These blacksmiths from Qitang usually seem stingy and calculating, even haggling over a decent piece of copper. I never expected them to have such a terrifying background.

To force someone into the Foundation Establishment stage using pills, how many spirit stones would that cost?

She turned to look at Zhou Lingxuan, expecting the old man to be so moved by such a promise that he would burst into tears.

As a result, Zhou Lingxuan just stood there, holding a tattered rag, slowly wiping the dust off the anvil, without even lifting his eyelids.

Elder Chen's voice suddenly lowered.

His raised hands fell limply to his sides, and he looked like a deflated balloon.

"But……"

Elder Chen looked at Zhou Lingxuan's wrinkled face, his tone revealing a deep sense of powerlessness.

"Even the Heavenly Sword Marrow Cleansing technique is of little use to you."

"The chaotic golden light that descended from the Heavenly Sword was such a domineering creation. Even that thing couldn't rebuild your foundation, which means your physical body has completely withered and is a leaky sieve."

"No matter how many pills are poured in, not a single bit of their medicinal power can be retained."

Elder Chen shook his head, his voice growing increasingly bitter.

"With little time left to live and no ability to cultivate, what use is high talent?"

"What a pity! What a shame! If only I had met you a few decades earlier, no, ten years earlier, and seen your talent, I would still be confident that I could use resources to forcibly raise your cultivation level!"

Elder Chen shook his head helplessly, but that's just how many things are; once you miss them, they're gone forever.

"Advancement in the cultivation world... is merely a matter of innate talent. But whether it's weapon crafting or alchemy, can one truly discern the talent of these grandmasters simply by looking at their spiritual roots? Sigh..."

Xue Yi clutched the jade bottle in her hand, feeling a tightness in her chest.

The bottle contained the Foundation Establishment Pill that she had promised to give to Zhou Lingxuan.

She had previously thought the reward was incredibly generous, enough to make any outer disciple fight tooth and nail for it.

Now, however, she felt that the pill was burning hot.

What use would a Foundation Establishment Pill be to an old man who is unable to cultivate and whose lifespan is about to end?

As Xue Yi looked at Zhou Lingxuan's hunched back, the focused and powerful posture he had displayed when he swung the hammer earlier flashed through her mind.

The contrast brought tears to her eyes.

She bit her lip and made up her mind.

I'll go back to the Pill Hall tomorrow. Even if I have to steal it or beg my master, I'll get a Longevity Pill to exchange for this Foundation Establishment Pill.

This old man helped her so much by creating a top-grade alchemy furnace; she couldn't let him die with such regrets.

In the corner, Old Qin was slowly peeling sunflower seeds.

He almost burst out laughing when he saw Elder Chen's heartbroken expression.

If this old fellow knew that this "leaky sieve" in front of him had just taken twenty steps in the Sword Tomb under the influence of ten thousand sword intents a few days ago, he would probably be so frightened that he would go mad on the spot.

Old Qin popped a melon seed into his mouth and patted the crumbs off his hands.

"Elder Chen, since we've come this far, please stop being so sentimental."

Old Qin spoke slowly, his tone carrying a hint of teasing.

"This abandoned hall is filled with yin energy. Your precious body shouldn't linger here and get tainted by its bad luck. You should quickly take your incompetent subordinates back."

Elder Chen ignored Elder Qin.

He continued to stare intently at Zhou Lingxuan, as if trying to find a trace of resentment or despair on that aged face.

Zhou Lingxuan threw the rag on the anvil and put the hammer back on the tool rack.

His current energy and vitality are stronger than an ox's; he can kill a demon beast with a single punch.

But he was too lazy to explain, and couldn't explain it clearly anyway.

Elder Chen's words completely confirmed his status as a "cripple".

This is exactly the result he wanted.

As long as everyone believes he is a useless person incapable of cultivation, no one will investigate his background, and he can stay in the abandoned hall peacefully, continuing to temper his body with scrap materials and sword intent.

"Elder Chen, it's getting late."

Zhou Lingxuan dusted off his hands and turned to look at Elder Chen.

"You've seen the alchemy furnace, and you've taught the man a lesson. My abandoned hall is too small, so I won't keep you all for tea."

He pointed to the unconscious Steward Sun on the ground.

"When you leave, please take this fat guy with you, so he doesn't dirty my yard."

After saying that, Zhou Lingxuan started walking, preparing to go back to the wooden house to sleep.

Logically, after Elder Chen confirmed that he was a worthless cripple, he should have left with regret and pity.

Zhou Lingxuan had just taken two steps.

Suddenly, a series of hurried footsteps came from behind.

Elder Chen not only didn't leave, but rushed forward and blocked Zhou Lingxuan's way.

The night breeze swept through the abandoned hall, bringing the chill of late autumn.

Elder Chen's old face was very close, and the regret and helplessness on his face had disappeared.

Instead, there was an almost obsessive fanaticism.

He stared intently at Zhou Lingxuan, his cloudy old eyes bloodshot, and his breathing became rapid.

"I only have one question for you."

Elder Chen's voice was very low, yet it sounded exceptionally clear in the quiet courtyard.

"You really...forged a million swords, hammer blow by hammer blow?"

Zhou Lingxuan stopped and looked at the seemingly delirious old man in front of him.

This old fellow didn't care about the forging techniques; instead, he became obsessed with the quantity of blacksmithing he produced.

"What's the point of asking this?"

Zhou Lingxuan shrugged, his tone indifferent.

"Even the Heavenly Sword can't save me."

Elder Chen took a deep breath, his chest heaving.

"The Heavenly Sword cannot save you, but there is a path that may help you embark on the true path of cultivation."