Chapter 31
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Qi Wuhuo gazed at the [Record of Ascension to Immortality] for a long time without moving.
He clearly saw how a once high-spirited youth gradually fell, step by step, into the very path he had once most despised.
“The youth he once was, the person I am today.”
“I wonder if, in the future, I will…”
This book had a more profound impact on Qi Wuhuo than the warnings of the old man, striking him more directly and intensely.
The Great Dao is long, like walking along the edge of a sheer cliff.
Not even half a step can be taken back.
He placed the book on the table and glanced at the sword but did not pick it up immediately.
Instead, he began sorting through the other items, comparing them with the cultivation notes. He realized that the value of the three-legged cauldron seemed to be the most precious among all the items. The ancient texts divide objects into five tiers, and Daoist methods into five categories. Likewise, the spiritual treasures of the world are also generally divided into five levels, though different sects have their own naming conventions.
Some refer to these levels as Heaven, Earth, Mysterious, and Yellow, with the highest tier being Immortal.
Others use the A, B, C, D system.
Still, others rank them from five down to one, with the first tier being the most supreme.
Most of the top-tier items are only in the hands of immortals and deities. In the mortal world, only two levels of them circulate.
The first tier consists of ordinary spiritual treasures, which can be used once one cultivates Innate Qi.
In most common sects, this type of treasure would be considered a Mountain-Suppressing Treasure.
The other kind can only fully unleash its power when wielded by a True Person from the various mortal sects, one who has gathered the Five Qi in their chest.
This alchemy furnace once belonged to Tantai Guochu, who once was on friendly terms with the mountain god. Among spiritual treasures, it is considered top-tier. The alchemy furnaces used by ordinary True Persons who are rogue cultivators are typically of this level. It can refine Primordial Qi, remove impurities and toxins from the medicine, purify the medicinal properties, and it is inscribed with several talismans, allowing it to hold an enormous amount of medicinal energy.
It also comes with three types of medicinal formulas.
The Yuan-Nourishing Pill is something that ordinary cultivators can take to build up their Primordial Qi. It also helps to heal the body and has remarkable effects on various ailments.
The Spirit-Restoring Elixir can repair damage to the Primordial Spirit and quickly restore one’s state after casting spells.
The Hundred Herbs Pill, named after the concept of the legendary Shennong tasting a hundred herbs, can neutralize all poisons caused by illicit spells and divine abilities. It also significantly weakens the toxic damage caused by legitimate spells and divine abilities.
These three formulas are inscribed on the alchemy furnace.
One only needs to put in the herbs and activate the spiritual treasure, and the medicinal properties will be refined based on the material and characteristics of the treasure itself.
Then, under the influence of the formation, the pill toxins are removed, and the pill is formed. Naturally, this process can’t produce the highest quality elixirs, but these pills are meant to be made while traveling around the world. The quality of the herbs used already determines the upper limit, and no matter how skilled your alchemy techniques are, the difference won’t be very significant.
However, the [Record of Ascension to Immortality] also mentions that some Daoist masters, while refining pills, can condense their essence so precisely that the pills can take the form of people or animals, wandering about with their own spiritual wisdom.
As for the bundle, inside were several white jade-like crystals.
These can be used to set up formations and are also a common base material for alchemy and artifact crafting.
They are often used by cultivators for trade.
Cultivators are not bound by national borders, and the vast world is open to them. There is no authority strong enough to establish rules and enforce a universally recognized currency system for all cultivators, so they still prefer bartering. In addition, there were three special round coins with a yellow-bronze hue.
According to the [Record of Ascension to Immortality], these are [Heavenly Emperor Coins], stamped by the Heavenly Emperor himself.
If you encounter an immortal wandering the mortal world, these coins can be exchanged for some opportunities.
They are considered a type of hard currency.
Even if a cultivator does not need anything immediately, they would never refuse a trade involving Heavenly Emperor Coins.
Qi Wuhuo gently rubbed the black iron sword box again. Under the faint spiritual light, he finally stored all the items on the table inside it. He kept the three Heavenly Emperor Coins on him, as simply wearing them provided the power to ward off evil and avoid calamity. Lastly, he reached out and took the sword. The blade was long and narrow, wrapped tightly in faded red string, which seemed to have been used to ward off evil spirits, giving it a deeply ominous feel.
Qi Wuhuo untied the red string and drew the sword.
The young man stared at the sword for a long time, sighing.
“It’s already… completely rusted.”
“How could a sword like this still wail in the night?”
He didn’t know whether it was the person or the sword that had rusted.
“This should serve as a warning.”
Qi Wuhuo made his way to the edge of the village and gathered some dead branches into a pile.
The winter day was cold and damp, making the branches difficult to ignite.
Qi Wuhuo thought for a moment and then recalled a method from the journal. It was a technique from a folk lineage. He raised his left hand, pressing his thumb against the second knuckle of his middle finger. His palm bent slightly, gathering his Primordial Qi.
Using this Primordial Qi as the altar——
“This disciple humbly prays for the presence of Deity’s gaze. All beings revere the Fire God, and the surrounding demons and ghosts turn to dust.”
The Primordial Qi seemed to be drawn out.
In an instant, his fingertips burned as if on fire.
Instinctively, Qi Wuhuo pointed forward, and with a flash of light, the dead, damp branches ignited into a roaring blaze.
The heat rose, the flames brightened, and the warmth chased away the harshness of the winter cold. The surrounding snow began to faintly melt.
“So this… is a spell.”
Even if it was just a technique from a small lineage.
Qi Wuhuo murmured to himself in awe. He tore out the latter half of the [Record of Ascension to Immortality], the part filled with madness after the repeated failures to break through, and squatted down, tossing those pages of madness into the fire. All the obsessions, all the sighs, all the malice, were finally reduced to ash. Qi Wuhuo reached out and picked up the rust-covered sword, his fingers brushing over the blade. Then, he reversed his grip and thrust the sword into the flames.
Burning the book. Burying the sword’s soul.
A wild dream in pursuit of immortality.
“I will not become like you.”
The flames reflected on Qi Wuhuo’s face, his eyes calm. The words he spoke echoed like those Tantai Xuan had said after slaying the evil cultivator.
Perhaps this is how every generation of cultivators vows.
He rose, the hem of his robe fluttering as he turned and walked away.
The young man grew more distant with each step.
As the wind passed, the sword in the fire wailed endlessly, just as it had in the past.
One must remember the lofty ambitions of youth, once vowing to be unmatched in the world.
And then, in the fire, it shattered into pieces.
This [Record of Ascension to Immortality] contained detailed records of the key points for the first stage of cultivation, [Refining Primordial Essence], as well as various divine abilities. Since Qi Wuhuo was unsure if these methods had any flaws, he treated them as a reference, using them for study but not for practice. As for the divine abilities recorded in it, he sought the old man’s advice to see if they were suitable for him to cultivate.
At that time, the old man was flipping through the so-called Record of Ascension to Immortality and sighed: “Cultivating too many different things is not a good idea.”
“You have this concern, which is good. Each sect’s divine abilities are based on their own styles, with specific characteristics and inclinations. Their flow of qi, as well as the nature of their Xiantian One Qi, is adjusted to match their specific techniques, which is why there’s a concept of the [Core Daoist Teachings]. If you practice the alchemy techniques of the Lingbao Lineage but use the divine abilities of the Tongxuan Lineage, there’s bound to be some incompatibility.”
“So, there are cases where people collect various divine abilities but find themselves unable to cultivate them.”
Qi Wuhuo asked: “Then what about me…”
The old man stroked his beard and smiled: “Didn’t I tell you? What I’ve taught you does not fall under the five categories, so there’s no need to worry.”
“‘The Dao is boundless and cannot be named, returning to nothingness. It is called the form of the formless, the image of the imageless.’”
“Since it is inherently formless, why should you be so rigid?”
The old man set the Record of Ascension to Immortality aside, his tone calm and matter-of-fact:
“All the various methods and divine abilities of the world—if you are willing to learn them, you may use them without concern.”
“As for my lineage.”
“All methods are possible, nothing is taboo.”
Only then did Qi Wuhuo feel at ease. Of course, he understood that when the old man said “Nothing is taboo,” he meant that there was no need to worry about incompatibility in his cultivation, but it did not mean he could stray onto an evil path. In the town, other than Li Puyu, the townspeople either respected or feared him. Qi Wuhuo studied the divine abilities recorded in the [Record of Ascension to Immortality] at home, and when he went to the mountains, he interacted with the spirit beings there.
Discussing the Five Arts of Daoism.
The Art of the Mountain focuses on cultivating breath, consumption of medicinal herbs, and the use of talismans.
The Art of Medicine involves healing, restoring the flow of Qi and blood.
The Art of Fate covers the observation of stars, the study of heavenly stems and earthly branches, and the calculations of Ziwei Doushu. The Art of Divination employs the Six Ren method and Qimen Dunjia.
[TL_Note: Ziwei Doushu (紫微斗数), also known as the Purple Star Astrology, is an ancient Chinese system of astrology used to analyze a person’s destiny based on their birth time. It is one of the most respected forms of metaphysical knowledge in traditional Daoism. This system focuses on the movement of stars in relation to twelve earthly palaces, which represent different aspects of life, such as wealth, career, relationships, and health.
Six Ren Method (六壬神课) and Qimen Dunjia (奇门遁甲) are ancient Chinese divination techniques that are often associated with Daoism and used by cultivators or spiritual practitioners to predict future events, find auspicious times, or even gain an advantage in battle. Both are deeply tied to understanding the flow of cosmic forces, but each has its own unique approach.]
The Art of Physiognomy includes the ability to read human appearances, star patterns, and the Feng Shui of mountains and rivers.
Even at the level of Refining Primordial Essence, a Daoist should have these qualities. Although Qi Wuhuo’s understanding of the world was limited to his dreams, and he hadn’t deeply engaged with cultivation, these practices had spread widely. He had seen the basic classics in his dreams and even studied them during his exile.
In addition to interacting with the Mountain God, Elder Tao, and other Earth Spirits, after accumulating enough knowledge and receiving guidance, combined with frequent study of the Daoist canons, he made some progress. Time passed swiftly, and before he realized it, over a month had gone by. On this particular day, after finishing his tea and discussing escape techniques with Tao Taigong, a sudden roar of thunder echoed, shaking the ground endlessly.
Tao Taigong paused, stroked his beard, and sighed: “The Mountain God is about to break through.”
Qi Wuhuo’s movements stilled slightly.
In the distance, he saw Primordial Qi gathering like a roaring tide, stretching over hundreds of miles, creating an immense and powerful spectacle!
A voice came from far away:
“Wuhuo, come join me.”
