Chapter 559: This Is the Opportunity

Twilight painted the mountains in layered shadows, and several chairs were casually placed along a corridor on the cliff’s edge, where disciples below were teaching young apprentices spiritual techniques.

They had been peacefully resting in the twilight, listening to the faint echoes of instruction and questions from below, when suddenly Lin Jue asked:

“Wan Gong, Tao Daozhang, Lei Gong, Jia Daozhang, Cai Gong—you’re all over a hundred years old, aren’t you?”

Though puzzled, they all answered:

“The True Immortal speaks truly. Except for Cai Gong, who was younger—only in his twenties when we entered the mountains with you in Ziyun County, and barely thirty when we began cultivation—he’s under a hundred. The rest of us have all passed a hundred.”

Yet because they had drunk the Red Spring Water and eaten the Yuanqiu Fruit, they still looked as they had in youth.

This state would last until their deaths.

“You’ve all achieved success in cultivation. Even your current level grants you over a hundred years of life; the Yuanqiu Fruit adds another century. You’ve barely lived half of your two-hundred-year span,” Lin Jue calculated.

“All thanks to the True Immortal’s grace.”

“Hah. We’ve lived together for years. You’ve guarded me and this mountain for decades—why speak of such things?”

This was the benefit of following an Immortal up the mountain to cultivate.

The longevity that mortals below dreamed of was merely a single immortal fruit planted by the True Immortal. Even the eternal youth that the former imperial consort murdered to obtain was nothing more than a bowl of spring water from where the Immortal Elder once dwelled.

Even Luo Gong, whose heart was so resolute, after spending so long among them, couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy—he had once thought himself already old, and old age was old age, what of it? But now, surrounded by old friends who still looked youthful, while he himself had grown frail, the entire Fengshan Mountain seemed to hold only him as the old one, and it made him uneasy.

I was already old to begin with; being old is being old, what of it? But since coming here, everyone around me is an old acquaintance—yet while I am withered and frail, they remain youthful and vibrant, making me feel like the only old thing on the entire Fengshan Mountain, which is somewhat unsettling.

Lin Jue turned in the deepening twilight to face them: “Achieving True Immortality?”

It was an immensely tempting word.

Achieving True Immortality meant becoming an Immortal—transcending mortal bounds, wielding boundless power, living free and unbound, eternal and undying.

To any cultivator, or even any mortal, it was irresistible.

“Could we really achieve True Immortality?” they doubted.

“Of course we’ve thought of it,” Tao Daozhang sighed. “But that path is too ethereal.”

“Of course every cultivator dreams of achieving True Immortality—but we can’t demand it,” Wan Xinrong shook his head. “Still, the True Immortal has granted us longevity, brought us to this immortal mountain to cultivate, and guided us—so Wan Mou has glimpsed even a sliver of opportunity. I’ll let fate take its course.”

“Achieving true enlightenment and becoming a Daoist is naturally something every cultivator dreams of, but we cannot demand it.” Wan Xinrong shook his head, then paused. “Yet the True Person granted us longevity, brought us to this immortal mountain to cultivate, and gave us guidance—this has shown me a glimmer of opportunity. I shall simply go with the flow.”

“I think I’m beyond it.”

Cai Lingyu and Jia Qiaozi also spoke.

Of them all, Wan Xinrong had the most confidence, followed by Tao Daozhang.

Wan Xinrong had high talent and cultivated the Five Elements Spiritual Art, which naturally progressed quickly—though it couldn’t extend life. But one Yuanqiu Fruit directly replenished his lifespan.

Tao Daozhang’s talent was slightly lower than Wan Xinrong’s, but only by a little. His advantage lay in cultivating the Great Yin-Yang Art, which extended life better than Wan Xinrong’s Five Elements Art. Moreover, Lin Zhenren also practiced Yin-Yang Spiritual Art and could offer him deeper, more profound guidance—Lin Jue had not taught them the Great Yin-Yang Art within the illusion, but outside it, he held nothing back.

The other three had less confidence.

The advantage he holds is his cultivation of the Great Yin-Yang Method, which extends life far better than Wan Xinrong’s Five Elements Spirit Art. Moreover, Lin Zhenren also practices Yin-Yang Spirit Art and can offer him deeper, more mysterious guidance—though in the illusion, Lin Jue never taught them the Great Yin-Yang Method; outside the illusion, Lin Jue held nothing back from them.

“What are you hinting at, True Immortal?” Wan Xinrong sensed his meaning.

“I wish to remind you: Previously, Luo Gong’s realm was in an age of peace. Peaceful eras offer fewer opportunities than chaotic ones. But now, with two consecutive natural disasters, the mortal world is in turmoil. The Purple Emperor has seized this chance to purge demons and monsters. He’s targeting only those demons and monsters who have committed evil deeds—these creatures won’t sit idle. They’ll strike back, even harming the common people. If any of you seek True Immortality, this is the best opportunity in nearly a hundred years.”

Lin Jue paused.

“I also have a Golden Core formula that has fallen into the mortal realm. If you’re willing to descend the mountain and gather the ingredients, return, and I’ll teach you the elixir-making method—it will aid your pursuit of True Immortality. But achieving True Immortality is no easy thing. Think carefully.”

They were all astonished.

Merely the earlier warning was already a great favor; the Golden Core formula was priceless—an immense grace for anyone truly seeking True Immortality.

They fell into thought.

Merely that earlier warning was already a great favor; the Golden Core formula that followed was extraordinarily precious—unquestionably a monumental blessing for anyone truly seeking enlightenment.

“True Immortal, in that case, Wan Mou wishes to descend the mountain and seek this opportunity!”

“Hmm...”

Lin Jue nodded, unsurprised.

Wan Xinrong cultivated the Five Elements Art, which offered little help in extending life before achieving True Immortality. The other guardians might live another hundred years; he might not. Naturally, he was more urgent.

Moreover, his talent was high, and since joining Lin Jue in cultivation, his progress had accelerated. He was now nearly at a bottleneck—and thus more determined.

“After thinking it over, I too wish to descend with my disciple,” Tao Daozhang said thoughtfully. “Even if we remained on this mountain, we’d still have to descend to subdue demons in this age of rising monsters. But now, your disciples have grown strong, your other guardians’ cultivation has deepened, and Qinzhou has the Gathering Immortal Mansion and Purple Xiao Palace. Even the demons near Fengshan and throughout Qinzhou are likely too few for you and Xu Yi and the others to handle. So I’ll follow Wan Gong’s path—go farther, to remote regions, to purge demons.”

Moreover, he has exceptional talent, and especially since coming here and cultivating alongside Lin Jue, his progress has accelerated even further; now he is nearly at his bottleneck, so his ambition naturally runs higher.

“My disciple was still young when he followed me here to cultivate under you. He hasn’t seen enough of the mortal world. I’ll take him out. Whether he returns to settle down or stays outside to take disciples and leave his legacy—it’s his choice.”

His reasoning was sound, carefully considered.

Then came Lei Mou’s voice, calm and natural—he had long moved beyond body arts and now genuinely cultivated, learning more techniques:

“I’ve thought about it too. I’ll pass. I know my own limits. To cultivate here with the True Immortal, live two or three hundred years without illness or disaster, remain youthful and ageless, and live in peace and freedom—this is more than enough. I’m no longer young, no longer chasing wealth or status. My heart settled the moment I followed the True Immortal.”

“I fear I cannot seek True Immortality either,” Jia Qiaozi said likewise. “As Lei Gong said, cultivating with the True Immortal, living long and ageless, is enough. I’ll stay on the mountain and cleanse the demons around Fengshan and in Qinzhou.”

“I’d like to go out,” Cai Lingyu said. “If I can achieve True Immortality, when the True Immortal ascends further, I’ll be better able to guard him.”

“I fear I, too, cannot hope for true enlightenment,” Jia Qiaozi said likewise. “As Lei Gong said, to cultivate alongside the True Person and attain longevity without aging is already enough. I shall remain on the mountain and cleanse the demons and monsters around Fengshan and in Qinzhou.”

“I’d be willing to go down the mountain,” Cai Lingyu said. “If I achieve true enlightenment, then when the True Person ascends further, I may continue to guard him.”

Though he was in conflict with the Purple Emperor and needed allies—more, the better—achieving True Immortality was no simple matter. The path was long, obstructed, and vague, hard to discern even with the guidance of an Immortal like himself. He did not force them.

Those who had the heart would descend. Those who didn’t would remain as old friends, cultivating in peace on the mountain. They had guarded him; he would guard them through their lives.

Though he does need allies in his struggle against the Purple Emperor—and the more, the better—achieving true enlightenment is no easy thing. The Dao is obstructed and long, vague and elusive, hard to discern a path. Even under the devoted guidance of an immortal who has already achieved enlightenment, progress improves only slightly; thus, he does not press them.

Those who have this aspiration may descend the mountain. Those who lack it may remain as old friends and companions, cultivating in peace and freedom upon the mountain. They once guarded him; he shall guard them through the rest of their lives.

The next morning, morning mist blanketed the mountains like an ocean, submerging half the cliffside. Lower pavilions and halls were swallowed by the fog.

Wan Xinrong, Tao Daozhang and his disciple, and Cai Lingyu had packed their belongings.

“These are the ingredients for the Golden Core elixir. Memorize them, then burn them. Don’t let outsiders learn of them, and don’t spread them,” Lin Jue instructed. “Also, here are several Chen Niu Talismans.”

They gathered close, memorizing the elixir ingredients.

With a whoosh, the paper burned to ash.

“There’s one more thing you must know.”

“True Immortal, speak.”

“Whether at the critical moment of achieving True Immortality or facing mortal peril—find me,” Lin Jue said. “We’ve shared many years. We’re old friends. No matter what, I will do everything I can to help you achieve True Immortality—or escape and prevail in crisis.”

They all drew a deep breath.

As Lin Jue said, they had lived together too long—words of thanks were unnecessary.

They bowed farewell to the True Immortal and descended the mountain.

The fox walked beside Lin Jue. Lin Jue stood with the aged Luo Gong, beside them Lei Gong, Jia Qiaozi, and several disciples—all standing on the balcony, watching them go.

Tao Daozhang and his disciple activated the Minor Ruyi Technique, shrinking instantly—but their flying knives and swords remained large. They stood and sat atop them, becoming silver streaks that, bathed in the morning sun, flew into the rolling sea of mist ahead.

Even their luggage was carried aloft by other flying knives and swords, following them.

Wan Xinrong leapt downward, vanishing instantly into the cloud sea.

Only the fox lowered its head, its gaze slowly shifting forward—as if seeing through the mist.

It must be using Earth Submersion Technique.

Cai Lingyu carried almost no luggage; with a whoosh, he transformed into a yellow-aging bird, flapping his wings and flying far above the mist.

Lin Jue turned away, smiling. “Without Wan Gong’s loud voice, the mountain will be quieter.”

“Lei Gong’s voice isn’t quiet either!” the body cultivator said.

“But Lei Gong is alone,” Jia Qiaozi replied.

“Focus on your cultivation,” Lin Jue turned and walked uphill. “They may never find the path to True Immortality. By the time they return, their cultivation may be worse than yours.”

They all smiled, then dispersed to their own tasks.

Lin Jue, with Luo Gong and the fox, climbed to the mountain peak to thin and water the Yuanqiu Fruit trees.

The Yuanqiu Fruit was easier to grow than the original elixir fruit, requiring less care—but its fruit grew painfully slow.

Now, the first batch was just beginning to ripen.

This Yuanqiu fruit is indeed easier to grow than the original variant, requiring little care, but the fruit grows painfully slow once it forms.

Now, the first batch of fruit has only just begun to mature.