Chapter 33

"What is a pure immortal body?"

Gao Huan's physique seemed very special, causing Shi Jiuzhai and Cang Li, two figures with unfathomable cultivation, to be moved one after another. Li Youyi couldn't help but ask.

Zhao Zhizhuo explained to Cang Li, "They haven't practiced magic martial arts in an orthodox way and have relied entirely on their own exploration. As for little Brother Gao Huan, it seems he had a fortuitous encounter recently, which is why he transformed into a pure immortal body."

Cang Li did not doubt it.

What problems could someone who asks such common-sense questions have?

He explained to Li Youyi, "The world has never been fair; people are divided into different ranks. Mortals, freak-species, and pure immortal bodies are the three major mainstream human races."

"The number of freak-species is about one-tenth that of mortals. Some of them are due to bloodline inheritance from the previous generation, and some have consumed the blood of ancient immortal giant beast remnants, growing certain beast-like characteristics on their bodies. For example, some grow wings, some grow claws, some grow tails..."

"Not only does their appearance change drastically, but due to the influence of the ancient immortal giant beast blood, their body size often becomes abnormally huge."

"Therefore, at the same realm, freak-species are often a large margin stronger than mortals."

"The number of pure immortal bodies is about one in ten thousand of mortals, or perhaps even fewer. In the entire Li State, the total number of pure immortal bodies in the young generation between fifteen and thirty years old doesn't even reach one hundred. Each one is famous and is synonymous with being a heaven-favored child."

"The birth of a pure immortal body can be due to bloodline inheritance, consuming precious medicines and exotic herbs, or another result of drinking the blood of ancient immortal giant beasts, and there is also immortal soil nourishment... There are many reasons for creating a pure immortal body. Some even did nothing and ate nothing, but broke through a realm and transformed into a pure immortal body."

"Pure immortal bodies have skin like beautiful jade, or like glaze or silver. The women are as beautiful as fairies, and the men are as handsome as saints. They are the darlings of heaven and earth; their bodies have no flaws, their skin is like jade, their bones are amazing, and their cultivation talent must be top-tier."

"Any pure immortal body will inevitably be scrambled for by major sects to take as disciples, and will also inevitably be the target of marriage alliances between major families. This is not only because of their outstanding appearance and cultivation talent, but also because their offspring have a certain chance of being born as new pure immortal bodies."

"At the same realm..."

"Examples of pure immortal bodies crossing realms to kill mortal magic martial cultivators are countless and have almost become the norm. Failing to achieve this feat across realms would instead make one a laughingstock in the Immortal Forest."

"The Immortal Forest is a circle that only pure immortal body magic martial cultivators or Spirit-Mind Masters can enter."

"Let's put it this way! Among the top-tier powerhouses in the world, the number of pure immortal bodies and freak-species is only slightly less than that of mortals."

"In other words, the cultivation talent of freak-species is nearly ten times that of mortals. Pure immortal bodies... saying ten thousand times might be an exaggeration, but the difficulty of becoming a top-tier powerhouse is indeed a thousand or ten thousand times smaller than for mortals."

In the battle of Burial Xianzhen, the Cang Li tribe suffered significant losses, with many magic martial cultivators with potential dying in battle.

But he didn't expect such an unexpected harvest here.

Cang Li was truly too happy!

If Gao Huan's cultivation were very high, Cang Li might have been suspicious, but having absolutely no traces of cultivation is simply perfect.

Cang Li said to Li Youyi, "The Cang Li tribe has one last spot, and I intend to take him to the Nine Li Dao Academy to practice and prepare for the Long Mountain Grand Sacrifice half a year later. But the premise is that he must first join the Cang Li tribe and become an official member of the tribe. Can you help me ask for his opinion?"

Li Youyi understood that the other party emphasized the "last spot" on purpose, saying it for him to hear.

He believed Cang Li wouldn't deliberately deceive him, but he felt somewhat disappointed in his heart.

Is the gap between mortals and pure immortal bodies really that big?

In just an instant, the disappointment in Li Youyi's heart dissipated, and he was once again filled with the fighting spirit to meet all of life's challenges. Cang Li had said that the number of mortals among the top-tier powerhouses is still slightly higher than that of freak-species and pure immortal bodies.

The road is just more difficult.

The road is not gone.

……

The two communicated in "hometown slang."

"Joining the Cang Li tribe, that's certainly fine, I couldn't ask for more." Gao Huan was very excited and added, "What about you? Shall we go to the Nine Li Dao Academy together to practice? Can practicing make me as powerful as you?"

Li Youyi laughed, "What does my little cultivation count for? You are a pure immortal body; in the future, you must reach at least the height of Shi Jiuzhai, or even stronger."

Gao Huan's heart was burning, unable to suppress his rising emotions.

Li Youyi said, "I can't go for now! I must return to the bronze warship first to pick up the scientific expedition team members. When everything stabilizes, I will take the First Mate and the others to Nine Li City to see you."

"Then I'll go with you, pick up the scientific expedition team members, and then go to the Nine Li Dao Academy," Gao Huan said.

Li Youyi shook his head: "First, Young Master Cang Li and the others are leaving at noon today and simply cannot wait."

"Second, to hide the existence of the bronze warship and our true identities, you must go with them first. Otherwise, I feel they might send experts to protect you in secret, which would also mean tracking us."

"Third, for so many of us to gain a firm foothold in a foreign land is not an easy task. You go to the Nine Li Dao Academy to get ahead; can't we also stand taller in the Cang Li tribe? We each have our duties and work together."

Gao Huan felt that Li Youyi's words made sense; the words "get ahead" touched the most sensitive part of his heart.

He stuffed all the money bags he had obtained from looting corpses into Li Youyi's hands: "Since I'm following the Young Master, I definitely won't need these. You take them all. How does that saying go—no longer being beasts of burden, nor being pigs and sheep; in the future, we will meet at the peak!"

……

When leaving, Li Youyi and Zhao Zhizhuo sat outside the carriage, one on each side.

"To become people above others, we have to toil for decades to have a chance. But pure immortal bodies are born as people above others."

Zhao Zhizhuo flicked the whip to hit the horse, glanced at Li Youyi, and asked, "Very disappointed, right?"

"At first, yes, but now, I'm even more motivated!" Li Youyi laughed.

Regardless of whether what he said was true or just a forced smile, Zhao Zhizhuo helped Cang Li explain: "The conditions for entering the Nine Li Dao Academy are very harsh, and the spots for the nine major tribes have long been decided."

"Because it involves the Long Mountain Grand Sacrifice on the ninth day of the ninth lunar month half a year later, the people entering the Dao Academy now are all selected by each tribe to make the final sprint."

"In this half year, the benefits in the Dao Academy are many! Guidance from famous teachers and reading classics at will are secondary. The most important thing is that cultivation resources are provided in a saturated manner, with no upper limit."

"It can be said that everyone within the Cang Li tribe is jealous; for every radish, there is a hole, and everyone is fighting."

"In the battle of Burial Xianzhen, one of the selected candidates died tragically, which is why there is one extra spot."

"Of course, the most important thing is that as long as one is a pure immortal body, one can guarantee a result in the Long Mountain Grand Sacrifice and help the Cang Li tribe win benefits. Where else can you encounter such a good thing?"

"Old Zhao, you know so much about the Nine Li Dao Academy?" Li Youyi felt that Zhao Zhizhuo had only opened two springs, and with such cultivation, it didn't seem like he could have contact with the Nine Li Dao Academy.

Zhao Zhizhuo gave a bitter smile, as if recalling something, somewhat proud and arrogant: "When I was young, I was also selected to enter the Nine Li Dao Academy to practice, and in that year's Long Mountain Grand Sacrifice, I helped the Cang Li tribe get excellent results, which could be considered the pride of the tribe. It's just that later... forget it, why mention sad things? Heh... heh..."

He covered his chest, wheezed a few times, and then said, "Otherwise, why do you think I can talk to the Young Master and Miss Ling?"

Li Youyi suddenly realized, just as he had guessed.

Zhao Zhizhuo had indeed suffered great setbacks and hardships, which is why he had become so depressed, lost all fighting spirit, was timid, and exaggerated suffering.

Li Youyi deliberated repeatedly, organized his language, and said, "Old Zhao, life is hard, but as long as you keep moving forward, you can always overcome all the hurdles. Cultivation is actually not difficult... at least not as difficult as you think. Why can't you start over?"

Zhao Zhizhuo took Li Youyi's words to heart, but only nodded with a smile.

If he didn't have a strong willpower and chose to walk the path of cultivation again, where would the two springs in his body come from?

Seeing Zhao Zhizhuo's lonely and painful expression, Li Youyi realized that his words just now were a bit too self-righteous and couldn't be smoothed over. He hurriedly changed the subject and asked, "Old Zhao, have you heard the names Chan Hai Guan Wu and Yu Tuonan?"

Zhao Zhizhuo showed a thoughtful look.

Li Youyi said, "They should be two ancient people, not belonging to this era."

"If you're talking about ancient people, that matches!"

Zhao Zhizhuo said, "A thousand years ago, there was indeed a top-tier expert named Chan Hai Guan Wu, who was the Palace Master of the Lingxiao Palace and the number one powerhouse in our region of life. Her disciple Yu Yaozi... forget it, it's better not to mention this name; it's very taboo, and the ten-year chaos today is all caused by her."

Li Youyi was moved; he didn't expect Chan Hai Guan Wu's background to be so terrifying, and immediately asked, "What about Yu Tuonan?"

Zhao Zhizhuo thought carefully, then shook his head, indicating he hadn't heard of him.

That shouldn't be!

According to Yu Tuonan's tone on the bronze warship, he didn't seem like a figure weaker than Chan Hai Guan Wu while alive.

After purchasing a batch of food in Yao Guan City and loading it onto the carriage, Li Youyi and Zhao Zhizhuo parted ways by the Sui River.

Zhao Zhizhuo said, "Do you really not need me to go with you to pick up the people?"

"Since you have old illnesses and new injuries, you should stay in Yao Guan to recuperate well. When I pick up my companions and return to meet you, we will go to the Cang Li tribe together."

Li Youyi asked Cang Li for two benefits. The first was the issue of the commoner status of his dozens of refugee companions. The second was cultivation classics.

The first matter was just a word for Cang Li, and he handed it to Zhao Zhizhuo to handle.

The second matter was handed to Li Youyi in the Zao Mei Manor.

(End of chapter)