Cultivating To Immortality

Chapter 759: Mirage

Extreme Sword Cultivators, in pursuit of the Realm of ’Man and Sword as One’, completely abandoned their Spiritual Roots.

They intercepted the Spiritual Rhyme of the Metal Element from heaven and earth, refined the Golden Qi of their Natal Lung Palace, and forged a ’Sword Seed’ distinct from the ’Spiritual Root’ imagery.

This object existed between reality and illusion, much like a Dao Foundation, Golden Core, or even a Nascent Soul, growing gradually with the Cultivator’s Realm and cultivation.

This was the Sword Pill.

The Sword Pill: its form was a pill, its essence a sword.

Normally, the Sword Pill hung within the Dantian Qi Sea, nourished by the Cultivator’s spiritual power, true essence, and Sword Qi.

When facing an enemy, it would transform into a Sword Glow, sharp and invincible.

Ultimately, the Sword Pill was not much different from the Lifebound Flying Sword achieved by a Sword Cultivator after severing their Spiritual Root and planting a sword, thereby comprehending Sword Intent and Dao Heart.

The Lifebound Flying Sword was, in fact, an inner sword.

However, for Cultivators who practiced the Sword Pill, their life and cultivation were entirely contained within this one pill.

The Spirit Transformation Chapter’s evaluation of this path was: more than enough for killing, but lacking in Dao comprehension.

When fighting for life and death, the Sword Pill naturally offered a significant advantage.

Yet, those who followed this path easily neglected the comprehension of the Great Dao of Heaven and Earth during their cultivation, leading to a lack of sustained power.

Whether it was the orthodox Sword Sect or the Sword Pill path, there was no inherent superiority or inferiority; only whether it was suitable for the Cultivator and what their fate and Opportunity entailed.

In earlier times, the emergence of the Sword Pill path was undoubtedly highly controversial.

Some praised its purity, saying it better suited the Sword Cultivator’s unyielding Dao Heart.

Others lamented that it was abandoning the root for the branch, sacrificing the fundamental humanity of a Cultivator for the sake of ultimate slaughter.

Song Yan, of course, was not concerned with this.

He had no right to comment on such a profound and exquisite Dao.

His doubt was: how could the Sword Pill, which Sword Cultivators poured their lifelong efforts into refining and nurturing—a true embodiment of ’the sword lives, the man lives’—be casually given to him by that Senior?

The Sword Glow flew back, re-condensing into a Sword Pill in Song Yan’s hand, which he toyed with for a while.

It could indeed be retracted and stored within the Zhen Dao Sword Mansion, slowly rotating around the Sword Dao Seed.

He could also use his own Sword Qi to nurture this pill.

However, Song Yan still didn’t quite understand how this object would help him Cultivate.

He re-summoned it, holding it in his hand and examining it closely, when he suddenly realized that at this moment, he could see the scene within through the pink-blue mist.

"Hmm?"

With a thought, his mind sank into it.

Suddenly, countless wisps of pink-blue mist and spiritual light drifted out from the Sword Pill, swirling around Song Yan.

The Sword Pill suddenly transformed into a Sword Glow, shooting up into the sky and disappearing into the clouds.

In an instant, the scene before him twisted and rippled like a reflection in water.

The surrounding scenery rapidly changed; the great river, the broken cliff, everything vanished, replaced by a deep mountain.

He was standing beneath a pink flowering tree.

Even Xiao Ju and Xiao He had disappeared.

Song Yan was surprised.

The situation before him was somewhat similar to when he was brought into a dream for cultivation by the Old Man in a Straw Raincoat on Wu Mountain.

Just then, the vast Sword Cry resounded again.

The Sword Glow fell from the sky, landing not far in front of Song Yan.

Sword Qi surged, revealing the true form of the Sword Glow.

He slowly walked forward and sat down cross-legged in front of the Spiritual Sword.

This Spiritual Sword was translucent and light blue, as real as it was illusory, without a sword spine, as if it were merely a thin Sword Glow.

Around it, a faint pink-blue spiritual mist wafted.

On the sword body, an ancient character faintly appeared.

Mirage.

Just then, a flash of spiritual light on the sword, and within this illusion, endless, majestic Spiritual Qi surged forth.

This scene was somewhat similar to the cultivation in the Wu Mountain illusion that day.

Song Yan suddenly understood.

"It seems what Senior said about helping me Cultivate is this."

He didn’t rush to Cultivate immediately but first tried to, discovering that this place was actually like the present world; he could wield Flying Swords to form a Spirit Gathering Sword Array.

Correspondingly, he could also take out Medicinal Pills from his qiankun bag and consume them!

His heart was filled with unexpected joy.

Originally, at a normal cultivation speed, even with maximized efficiency from consuming Spirit Pills, Song Yan would still need about three to four years to push his Level 9 Qi Refining spiritual power completely to Level 10 Qi Refining, which is the Perfection of Qi Refining, before proceeding to Foundation Establishment.

Now, it seemed, with the help of this Sword Pill, he might reach Qi Refining Perfection in a year and a half.

Suppressing the urge to start Cultivating immediately, Song Yan had a thought and exited this dream Small World.

Returning to the present world, on the cliff by the river.

He turned to ask Xiao Ju, "How much time has passed since I refined this Sword Pill?"

Xiao Ju pondered for a moment and replied, "About half an hour."

Song Yan nodded.

It seemed the dream Small World entered through this Sword Pill could not, like the Wu Mountain incident that day, cause time to nearly stop.

However, its current displayed functions and effects were already sufficient.

This Sword Pill itself was a Spiritual Artifact!

"Mirage..."

Song Yan pondered the character.

This character represented many things.

One imagery was the ’great clam,’ a type of shellfish.

He had encountered it even in the mortal world, because in some places, it could be used as a medicinal ingredient, which his grandfather had taught him.

Hence, sometimes there were rumors of ghosts and monsters in the mortal world, like clam pearls becoming spirits.

The saying, "Shrimp, crab, turtle, alligator, Qi gathers in a mirage; the mirage is originally a pheasant transformed, coming from the mountains," refers to this imagery.

Another interpretation, more common in the Cultivation World, was the Mirage Dragon.

However, for Cultivators with low cultivation like Song Yan, such mythical creatures had naturally never been seen.

The ancient texts and legends he had read mentioned them very rarely.

So his impression of the Mirage Dragon was only vague terms like mysterious and powerful.

Could these be related to that Senior?

"..."

He shook his head, casting the jumbled thoughts aside.

He packed up all his belongings and, with Xiao Ju and Xiao He, left the riverside.

However, their destination was not the pier, but Descending Immortal Pass.

Since he had made the decision to go all out to build his Dao Foundation, naturally not a single moment could be wasted.

So he changed his mind.

His previous plan was to return to Lanxi Cave first, and then come back for the Pure Moon Talisman three months later to return to the sect.

Now, with this Sword Pill assisting his cultivation, the Spiritual Qi of the cultivation place no longer had much impact on him. His original plan now seemed a bit wasteful of time and completely unnecessary.

It would be better to find a secluded Immortal Cave near Descending Immortal Pass right now, either by renting or opening one, and Cultivate here first.

During the three months of waiting for the Pure Moon Talisman, he could fully Cultivate while trying the Wu Xiang Pill several more times, and even consider trying his hand at Alchemy to refine Foundation Establishment Pills.

Having made up his mind, Song Yan immediately decided and told Xiao Ju and Xiao He his thoughts.

Snake Babe was eager to stay here for a few more days.

When Yan Yan entered seclusion for Alchemy, Sister Xiao Ju could take him to Chu Capital to play, Snake Babe thought.

Xiao Ju naturally had no objections.

Following Song Yan, she had seen too much of the world that she had never had the Opportunity to witness before, so she would certainly not interfere with Senior’s plans.

Being consulted so solemnly made her feel a little overwhelmed.

Thus, Song Yan led the two back to the vicinity of Descending Immortal Pass, to search for a temporary Immortal Cave in the surroundings.

It must be said that the Cultivators of Descending Immortal Pass had excellent business acumen.

Regardless of whether any Cultivator had comprehended the Great Dao here, as long as the rumors about the Old Man in a Straw Raincoat circulated in the Chu Cultivation World, there would undoubtedly be a continuous stream of Cultivators coming here for pilgrimage.

Anyone who could step into the Cultivation World might not have the spirit of courageous advancement, nor the mindset of seeking longevity.

But every single one would harbor a sliver of hope.

Perhaps... he himself was that one in ten thousand who could comprehend the Dao?

What if? Perhaps his talent was ordinary, but how would he know without trying?

This was the place where a Cultivator beyond the Nascent Soul Realm had slain a Dragon!

It was precisely because of such a vague Opportunity that Descending Immortal Pass could continue to develop to this day, becoming the first Immortal City in Chu.

The operation and management of the Immortal City were primarily controlled by several local Cultivation Families in alliance.

Among them, the Nangong Family was the main one.

Although the current situation was already excellent, for some reason, these Cultivation Families still regarded themselves as Loose Cultivators, and the Family and the alliance Within the Pass were merely banding together for warmth.

Entering the main street Within the Pass, he did not linger elsewhere but walked straight into a small courtyard with a sign that read "Immortal Cave Rentals."

This small courtyard should be an asset belonging to the Nangong Family; the signboard and talismans were all imprinted with some of the Nangong Family’s crests.

At the courtyard gate stood a girl of about fifteen or sixteen, dressed in a cyan tight-fitting outfit embroidered with a cloud pattern intertwined with sword marks.

Her cultivation was only Qi Refining Stage 6, but her eyes were bright and her smile capable.

On the chest of her robe, a small jade emblem was pinned, engraved with two ancient characters, "Nangong."

Seeing Song Yan and the two approach, the girl immediately greeted them, smiling as she cupped her fists in salute: "Greetings, Fellow Daoists! I am Nangong Ling, in charge of Immortal Cave rentals and sales here."

"I observe that the three of you are extraordinary, yet somewhat unfamiliar. You must be new to our Descending Immortal Pass. Do you require a place for secluded cultivation?"

She spoke quickly, with the unique youthful vigor of a teenager.

Song Yan nodded slightly, his gaze from beneath the Xuan E Bai Ling Covering Mask sweeping over the jade plaque on her chest: "Precisely. I am Tong Chuping, and I require a secluded Immortal Cave for about three months."

Temporary Immortal Caves nearby usually had a minimum rental period of three months, which was just right for Song Yan and wouldn’t be wasted.

"Alright!"

Nangong Ling brightened at the news; she liked such straightforward guests the most: "Daoist Tong, rest assured, the Immortal Caves managed by our Nangong Family are in quiet areas outside the Pass, where the Spiritual Qi is much purer than Within the Pass, most suitable for secluded cultivation."

"Daoist Brother, please follow me. I will take you to see them in person. I guarantee there will be a suitable one!"

She made a gesture of invitation and led Song Yan and the two towards the north.

Along the way, the scene Within the Pass remained bustling.

As Song Yan followed Nangong Ling through the Pass, he noticed that despite her young age, she was very familiar with the paths, knowing all the forks in the road. He casually remarked, "Fellow Daoist, you are so young yet so familiar with Descending Immortal Pass. You must be from Within the Pass?"

Nangong Ling nodded as she walked, a hint of pride in her tone: "That’s right, Daoist. My Nangong Family ancestors settled here in this Pass, and it’s already the twenty-sixth generation down to me."

"Oh?" Song Yan asked as if inadvertently: "I heard that this Descending Immortal Pass was established a thousand years ago by a Senior who slew a Dragon. Is the current cultivation atmosphere Within the Pass related to this?"

This Nangong Family girl seemed young and naive, so he wanted to casually glean clues about the Old Man in a Straw Raincoat and the ’Mirage’ Sword Pill from her.

As soon as Nangong Ling heard the words "slay a Dragon," her expression immediately became lively again: "Exactly, exactly! This is the Foundation of our Descending Immortal Pass!"

She excitedly recounted: "Even now, in the Descending Immortal Tower Within the Pass, a wisp of Sword Qi that dispersed back then is still enshrined! However, we ordinary Disciples are not qualified to behold such a divine object; we can only listen to the legends."

"I see."

Once Nangong Ling started talking, she couldn’t stop: "It’s precisely because of this legend that many Cultivators and Fellow Daoists who wish to comprehend the profound mysteries of the Sword Dao love to come to our Descending Immortal Pass to Cultivate."

"Over time, Descending Immortal Pass, in addition to being a gathering place for Loose Cultivators, gradually formed a unique atmosphere of a ’Dao Comprehension Place’."

"In the ’Sword Breath Rock’ area to the south, near the mountain and earth pulse, many Immortal Caves were deliberately carved into the rock face. Every now and then, rumors would spread of a certain Cultivator comprehending the Dao here, though whether it’s true or false is unknown."

"Sword Breath Rock?" Song Yan became interested. If the Mirage Sword Pill could help him Cultivate, and there was also an environmental advantage, that would naturally be even better.

"That’s right! It’s the special earth pulse formed where the Dragon’s head supposedly fell. Legend has it that the rocks there absorbed the essence of that Senior’s Sword Qi, making their texture unique."

"..."

Song Yan’s mouth twitched slightly, finding this claim a bit absurd.

Nangong Ling didn’t notice his unusual reaction and continued: "If Daoist is interested, I can introduce you to Immortal Caves there. Although the rent is a bit higher, it greatly benefits cultivation."

"However..." she hesitated, lowering her voice: "The true core area has long been claimed by the high-ranking members of the major Families Within the Pass and high-level Seniors. We smaller Cultivators and ordinary tenants can only get a little peripheral Sword Breath."

Song Yan nodded, this was also expected: "No matter, peace and Spiritual Qi are the main things, no need to force it."

As they spoke, the group had already entered the North Mountain, and the surrounding clamor immediately lessened considerably.

Along a winding stream, Immortal Cave entrances were scattered along the mountain, all concealed by simple Restrictions.

The Spiritual Qi here was indeed much denser than Within the Pass, and it was also more secluded.

"Daoist, please," Nangong Ling led them to an Immortal Cave halfway up the mountain. The entrance was not large, half-covered by vines, and a platform about ten feet square in front of the door offered a distant view of the stream and the mountains.

"This place is called ’Listening Stream Cottage.’ The Immortal Cave interior is about five zhang in circumference, and the Spiritual Qi is superior among similar Immortal Caves. The platform in front of the door comes with a simple protective array."

"The Spiritual Qi circulation here is stable. Although it’s a bit far from the direction of Sword Breath Rock, precisely because of this, there are fewer tenants in nearby Immortal Caves, making it extremely quiet. If Daoist is only looking for seclusion, this place is most suitable."

Song Yan sensed it briefly; the Spiritual Qi here was indeed pure and abundant.

The size of this Immortal Cave was similar to his outer sect Immortal Cave in Cave Abyss Sect, nothing particularly special, but it was very spacious, and for these three months, it was completely sufficient.

Its tranquility also perfectly suited his wishes.