Chapter 8 The So-Called ‘Immortal’ 1

As Blind Zhang told his story, Bu Gong also gained a certain understanding of those immortals who had only existed in legends before; but because of these cognitions, he lost the mysterious feeling he once had towards those so-called immortals in his heart.

Because immortals are also cultivated from mortals. No one is born to be one of those high and mighty immortals, the giants of the world of cultivators.

…

“Grandpa Zhang, according to you, those people flying in the sky are not real immortals?” Bu Gong asked a little surprised, with a look of inexplicable surprise on his face.

“Hmph, immortals? People like them can be considered immortals?” Blind Zhang snorted coldly when he heard Bu Gong ask this; “In fact, I have never seen what a real immortal looks like, and I don’t understand, but I do know that the elders and disciples of the Xianyang Sect can only be called ‘cultivators’,” then Blind Zhang said slowly.

“Grandpa Zhang, didn’t you practice in Xianyang Sect for more than a year? What realm did you reach at that time?” Bu Gong pondered for a moment and then asked.

“Me? Haha… I’m not afraid of you laughing at me. Although I have been practicing in Xianyang Sect for a year and a half, I have only barely reached the peak of the first level of body shaping. That was achieved with the fixed practice resources distributed to registered disciples every month in Xianyang Sect.” Blind Zhang said with a wry smile on his old face.

“Grandpa Zhang, is cultivation so difficult? How come you have only reached the first level of body shaping in more than a year?” Bu Gong was a little suspicious and felt a little confused.

“Hmph, do you think cultivation is an easy thing? You wouldn’t know if you haven’t practiced it. Every time I make a small progress in the body-shaping stage, the gains are not small. In the cultivation world, there is a saying that goes ‘cultivation takes forever’, which means that those with a high level of cultivation sometimes go into seclusion for dozens or even hundreds of years,” Blind Zhang snorted.

Bu Gong nodded slightly after hearing this, but his heart was in turmoil. It was difficult to calm down. Cultivating for dozens or even hundreds of years? A mortal lifespan is only seventy or eighty years. Could it be that the lifespan of an immortal is endless?

“According to Grandpa Zhang, those cultivators with relatively high cultivation levels are all very old?” Bu Gong asked tentatively; “That’s not quite true, but it’s true. Most people are basically like this; however, if there are young people with amazing talent in cultivation, they may not be very old, but their cultivation levels are very strong,” Blind Zhang explained.

“Grandpa Zhang just said that among the Yang Sect, the elders and disciples of the Xianyang Sect are not considered immortals. Then is the leader of the Xianyang Sect an immortal? Then what level of cultivation has he reached?” Bu Gong suppressed the turmoil in his heart and asked lightly.

“The sect leader?” No expression could be seen on Blind Zhang’s face, but he sighed slightly, and then said: “Actually, although I have been practicing in Xianyang Sect for more than a year, I have never seen the sect leader; I could only hear vague things about him from some whispers.” Blind Zhang said slowly with a hint of regret in his tone.

“But from some information I’ve heard, it’s said that the leader of the Xianyang Sect is already at the first level of the Danyuan Realm. He’s already one of those powerful people standing at the top. It’s rumored that such a powerful person has extraordinary means, his fists can shatter the sky, his feet can crack the earth, and he has the ability to move mountains and seas.” Blind Zhang said with a slightly respectful tone, and there was a hint of yearning in his tone.

At this point, Blind Zhang continued, “But even if he is the leader of the Xianyang Sect, he can only be considered a cultivator, not an immortal. I have only vaguely seen the word ‘immortal’ in some books in the Xianyang Sect’s library, but there is no detailed record of it.”

“Aren’t these all immortals?” Bu Gong murmured softly, but in his heart he was already a little shocked. He could hear how powerful the Tongyuan realm cultivators were when Blind Zhang talked about them, but if people like that couldn’t be considered immortals, then what kind of people could become immortals? Bu Gong’s heart was also trembling with fear at this news.

This is a statement that is sure to shock people. Blind Zhang’s words really broke Bu Gong’s previous understanding of “immortals”; Bu Gong believed that anyone who can fly in the sky is an immortal.

But now I learned from Blind Zhang that even a powerful person like the Master of the Xianyang Sect, who is at the Zhiyuan Realm, cannot be considered an immortal. So those rumors I heard before…

When Bu Gong thought of this, there was no trace of sadness or self-deprecation in his eyes. Instead, his eyes seemed to be somewhat hot, and even contained a hint of expectation. The word “immortal” was a word that Bu Gong had longed for since he was a child, but that was only in his dreams and imagination. But now…

“Isn’t this considered an immortal? Then what does a real immortal look like?” Bu Gong secretly asked himself in his heart; “Now that I have the conditions for cultivation, can I also become the legendary immortal?” Bu Gong asked himself this in his heart, and his indifferent eyes gradually became firm.

As Blind Zhang told his story, Bu Gong had some understanding of the outside world; the deeper his understanding, the more Bu Gong longed for the outside world; but at present, he could only bury that desire deep in his heart; he knew very well that with his current ability, it was impossible for him to go out.

It is difficult for people living in Stone Town to leave the town in their lifetime; basically half of their livelihood comes from the mountain behind the town; some young men either go up the mountain to hunt or collect herbs, which they exchange for things in the shops in the town.

Those so-called immortals are just rumors to the people in this town; Xianyang Sect recruits disciples basically in big cities like Xianyang City, and the places are scarce; there are more than tens of millions of people in a town like Shitou Town, so it is not their turn to come to Shitou Town to recruit.

…

While Bu Gong was thinking, he heard Blind Zhang say again: “This volume of ‘Thunder Palace Thunder Method’ is very likely one of the cultivation methods of a major sect in the Western Realm of Xianyuan; but it should be enough for you to step into the threshold of cultivation. As for what realm this method can bring you to, it depends on you, because I haven’t practiced it myself.”

“Grandpa Zhang, do you mean that a person can change to another technique?” Bu Gong asked with a hint of doubt. “If you come across a better technique, would you still stick with the old one?” Blind Zhang said with a bit of a laugh. Then he added, “After all, people always like better things, right?”

Bu Gong nodded in sudden realization after hearing this, and then slowly took the silver-white scroll from Blind Zhang’s hand, holding it tightly in his left hand; he stretched out his right hand and gently stroked the soft and gorgeous silver scroll. Although his face looked indifferent, his heart was not calm. This was all his hopes and theirs.

Bu Gong held it in both hands, and even trembled a little, which showed how intense the fluctuations in his heart were; “Hehe… Hahaha…” Bu Gong actually chuckled while holding it, and the sound gradually became louder, and finally turned into a wild laugh, and his eyes were slightly red.

All these changes happened so quickly, so suddenly. He had originally thought that he would spend his whole life in this small town, sinking into mediocrity and degeneration. He had never expected such a sudden turn of events. Bu Gong’s unbridled laughter echoed from the pharmacy, reaching far, far away…

Blind Zhang listened to the young man’s heartfelt laughter in front of him, and a smile appeared on his wrinkled old face, as well as a hint of expectation.

…

After the young man calmed down, Blind Zhang said, “Boy Bu Gong, since you have chosen to practice, then I will support you. Remember, on this road, if you want to achieve something, you must have a fearless heart and an indomitable heart.” Blind Zhang’s words sounded a bit heavy and a bit nostalgic.

“I didn’t have the courage to continue on this path back then, so I’m in this situation now!” Blind Zhang sighed inwardly.

In fact, after he escaped from Xianyang Gate, he had to travel a long distance, and his eyes were blinded, which made the journey even more difficult. It was all thanks to the hatred in his heart that supported him to escape from the territory of Xianyang Gate and come to this Shitou Town. Decades of hiding his identity made his heart as dead as water. This was the result of turning back, and the torment in his heart was worse than death.

Unexpectedly, decades later, he would help Bu Gong. This must be fate, and God has his own destiny. Blind Zhang thought silently in his heart, feeling sad, relieved, and even a hint of hope.

“Grandpa Zhang, thank you.” Bu Gong bowed deeply to Blind Zhang and said calmly; but everyone could feel that his plain words contained Blind Zhang’s heavenly kindness to him, almost a grace of rebirth.

Blind Zhang listened to the calm voice of gratitude from the young man in front of him without any dissatisfaction. Instead, he was a little relieved. He gently patted Bu Gong’s shoulder with his calloused palm.

“Boy Bu Gong, if you want to practice, I can help you during the initial period. I estimate that after you truly enter the first level of body shaping, you will be able to figure out the practice routines by yourself, and then you can practice on your own,” Blind Zhang snapped and said softly.

When Bu Gong heard what Blind Zhang said, a trace of fluctuation appeared in his indifferent eyes, and then he nodded slightly and said “hmm”.

“Okay, it’s getting late now, go back to sleep, and come to the pharmacy tomorrow morning so I can help you wash your body first. After all, you are sixteen years old now, and you are a bit too old to practice cultivation, but it’s not a big problem. You just have to work harder and suffer more in the future,” Blind Zhang said to Bu Gong.

…