Chapter 339: The Cultivation Method of an Ancient Immortal
It’s not really Lu Yang’s fault. Expecting someone with only Foundation Building Stage cultivation to write a complete cultivation method is simply too much to ask. He lacked the experience and knowledge necessary for such a task. How could he be expected to create a cultivation method?
Not only could Lu Yang not accomplish this, but even Everlasting Fairy couldn’t do it.
As he walked toward the library, Lu Yang chatted casually, “What cultivation method did you practice back then, Fairy?”
“Profound Extremes Art, a fairly ordinary method, but it suited me at the time. I used it to cultivate to the Tribulation Crossing Stage. Then I realized that this method had its limits and couldn’t lead to immortality. That’s when I had an epiphany and created the Everlasting Immortal Art. I switched methods and used it to attain the Dao and become immortal.”
“When you reach the Tribulation Crossing Stage, you’ll find that every cultivation method has its limit at that stage. After all, the limit of living beings is the Tribulation Crossing Stage. Becoming immortal is an act of defiance against the natural order; only by breaking through these limits can one achieve immortality. So, the old methods can no longer be used. To attain the Dao and become immortal, you must create a method tailored to your own insights and circumstances.”
“That’s how I did it, and it was the same for Nonuple Immortal, Ying Tian Immortal, and the other three.”
“But I encountered difficulties in writing my method, so I was the last among them to become immortal.”
“I thought you would have named your method Invincible Immortal Art,” Lu Yang quietly quipped.
Everlasting Fairy waved her hand grandly, “I couldn’t do that. Invincible Immortal Art was already the name of Ying Tian Immortal’s method. I couldn’t take his spot.”
Lu Yang: “…”What’s going on with Ying Tian Immortal? Has he been influenced by Everlasting Fairy?
Compared to the Chaos One Qi, Two Instruments, Four Images, Six Harmonies, Eight Desolations, Nine Lands, Ten Heavens, Solely Revered Immortal Technique of Nonuple Immortal and Ying Tian Immortal’s Invincible Immortal Art, Everlasting Fairy’s method name was actually the most proper.
Then again, it might just be that Everlasting Fairy lacked creativity and simply named her method Everlasting Immortal Art because she had achieved Everlasting ariya-phala.
“What about Qilin Immortal’s method?”
“Even More Invincible Immortal Art.”
“I actually wanted to name mine that, but unfortunately, Qilin Immortal was a bit better at it and took the name first.”
Considering that Qilin Immortal and Ying Tian Immortal often argued about who had a closer relationship with the heavens, Lu Yang could see why Qilin Immortal might choose such a name… Lu Yang tried to justify it in his mind.
“What’s the name of Immemorial Immortal’s method?”
“Eternal Evergreen Art.”
Lu Yang took a sharp breath, thinking to himself that as expected of the oldest among them, Immemorial Immortal had such a superior naming sense compared to Everlasting Fairy and the other 3 immortals who were essentially illiterate.
Everlasting Fairy shook her head in disdain, “I think Immemorial Immortal’s name is the worst. It sounds like any run-of-the-mill method you’d find anywhere.”
“Back then, the methods cultivated by those at the Tribulation Crossing Stage or Unity Stage had names like Undying Inextinguishable Scripture, Heavenly Evolution Dao Manual, and Five Elements Rotation Art. Immemorial Immortal’s method name doesn’t stand out at all—nothing like an immortal’s method.”
Lu Yang thought, “So, because you four are bad at naming things, you want to drag Immemorial Immortal down with you.”
Wait, Ying Tian Immortal was known for caring a lot about appearances. Why would he choose a name like that?
“Does Ying Tian Immortal’s method have another name?”
“Yes, outwardly, he calls his method Primordial Infinite Immortal Art.”
As Lu Yang absorbed these ancient secrets, he finally arrived at the library.
The first thing he did upon entering was to find the book that recorded his senior brothers’ and sisters’ experiences in forming their Golden Cores.
It was time to add his own Golden Core entry to the book.
“Lu Yang, Invincible Core, First-Grade Golden Core. Cultivating this core allows one to discern strength and weakness clearly, instilling a sense of invincibility, making the cultivator feel unbeatable, victorious in every battle, and invincible under the heavens.”
Originally, Lu Yang had considered adding the phrase “This Golden Core is truly the number one Golden Core in the world,” as suggested by Everlasting Fairy. But on second thought, considering that Eldest Senior Sister’s Golden Core was listed first, he decided against it.
“Method of Cultivation: Challenge opponents with a one level difference, achieving victory in a hundred battles without defeat, thereby generating an aura of invincibility. Utilize this momentum to gather Qi in the dantian, forming the Golden Core.”
“Note 1: ‘Challenge opponents with a one level difference’ means opponents of a higher level, not those of a lower level.”
(TL Note: I’m considering changing it to “to challenge others, with a higher level” and contrast it with “to challenge others with a higher level” without a comma so it makes it sound like you have a higher level in the first one)
“Note 2: This Golden Core may lead to overconfidence.”
“Note 3: The name of the Golden Core is for reference only; actual combat performance should be the standard.”
“Done!” Lu Yang closed the book with satisfaction.
“Let’s check out some Golden Core Stage cultivation methods.” Lu Yang headed up to the second floor.
The first floor housed secular books, as well as the Qi Training and Foundation Building stages of various cultivation methods.
The advanced stages of these methods, such as Golden Core and Nascent Soul, were located on the second floor.
“‘Mortal World Heavenly Art’: Immersed in the mortal world, the heart remains in the Pure Land. Only by experiencing the sufferings of the world, the seven emotions and six desires, and then attaining great enlightenment, can one shatter the core and form the Nascent Soul.”
“Didn’t expect the first method to be this one.”
“Have you seen it before?” The concept of cultivating through worldly experience and seclusion wasn’t common in Everlasting Fairy’s era.
“Eldest Senior Sister told me about it. Back in the day, weren’t there many old beggars on the streets of The Great Xia? Many cultivators practicing this method disguised themselves as old beggars to blend in, as begging was considered the most efficient way to experience worldly suffering.”
“Back in the day? It’s not like that anymore?” Everlasting Fairy noticed the past tense.
Lu Yang rolled his eyes, “With the development of The Great Xia Dynasty, increased grain production, and the establishment of welfare institutions, there are no more beggars. The old beggars you see on the streets now are all Golden Core Stage cultivators.”
“I estimate that before long, these Golden Core cultivators will have to find a new way to experience the mortal world.”
“Eldest Senior Sister also mentioned that the court plans to open several mines and send these Golden Core Stage cultivators there to mine.”
Everlasting Fairy: “…”
“‘Hundred Flowers Art’: At each stage, collect thirty-three different rare flowers. By the time one reaches the peak of the Golden Core Stage, merge ninety-nine rare flowers into a single bud. When this bud blooms, it signifies the breaking of the core and the formation of the Nascent Soul. Many female cultivators favor this method; it’s simple to start with and has great aesthetic appeal.”
“However, as this method became popular, some of the rare flowers were nearly driven to extinction. One person managed to acquire the last few flowers and held an auction, selling them at exorbitant prices.”
“After some time, he claimed to have found a few more flowers and auctioned them again.”
“And then again, after another period.”
“Eventually, people realized that he was the one who wrote this method and had preemptively gathered all those flowers. He released a few at a time to make money.”
“‘True Understanding of Sword Dao’: This is the method my master cultivates. During the Qi Training Stage and Foundation Building Stage, as long as one continues to comprehend the Dao of the Sword, there are no bottlenecks in cultivation. It’s the most suitable method for those of us with Sword Spirit Roots.”
“I originally wanted to directly cultivate this method, but unfortunately, only one person in the world can practice this method at a time. Since my master is already cultivating it, I cannot.”
Everlasting Fairy seemed thoughtful. Based on her observations of Daoist Non-Speaker’s mastery of the Sword Dao, he didn’t seem like someone who would be stuck at the threshold of the Tribulation Crossing Stage.
(End of the chapter)