“What exactly is a pure immortal body?”
High Huan’s physique seems to be quite special, so much so that even Shi Jiuzhai and Cang Li—two figures of inscrutable cultivation—were visibly moved. Li Weiyi couldn’t help but ask. Zhao Zhizhuo explained to Cang Li, “They haven’t followed orthodox martial cultivation methods at all.
They’ve all been exploring on their own. As for our young friend High Huan, it appears that he recently had a wondrous encounter that transformed him into a pure immortal body.” Cang Li trusted the explanation without a doubt.
A person who asks about such common knowledge must have no other issues. He then explained to Li Weiyi, “The world has never been fair. People are always divided into different classes.
Ordinary humans, those with deformed yet extraordinary traits, and pure immortal bodies—these are the three main types of human beings.”
“The deformed type makes up only about one-tenth of the ordinary humans. Some are born that way thanks to inherited bloodlines, while others acquired their features after absorbing the blood of ancient immortal beasts. Their bodies might develop certain beast-like traits. Some might sprout wings, some claws, and some even tails…”
“Not only do their appearances change drastically, but influenced by the ancient immortal beast blood, their physiques often grow unusually large. Thus, at the same cultivation level, deformed types are generally much stronger than ordinary humans.”
“Pure immortal bodies, on the other hand, number about one in ten thousand ordinary humans, perhaps even less. In all of Li Prefecture, among those between fifteen and thirty, the total number of pure immortal bodies barely reaches one hundred. Each one of them is famous, regarded as a heaven-sent prodigy.”
“The birth of a pure immortal body can stem from bloodline inheritance, from ingesting precious pills or rare herbs, or from consuming the blood of ancient immortal beasts—a completely different result from that—or even from the nurturing of Immortal Soil. There are countless reasons behind the creation of a pure immortal body. Some might not have done or consumed anything special at all; they simply break through a cultivation level and transform into a pure immortal body.”
“A pure immortal body has skin as beautiful as jade, or like glazed porcelain or silver. A woman looks like a fairy, a man as handsome as a saint. They are the darlings of heaven and earth. Their bodies are flawless, skin like jade, bones astonishingly perfect, and their natural talent for cultivation is always top-notch.”
“Any pure immortal body is bound to be fiercely sought after by every great sect as a disciple, and they’re also the prime choice for intermarriage among the clans. Not only because of their outstanding appearance and cultivation talent but also because their offspring have a chance to be born as new pure immortal bodies.”
“And in the same cultivation realm…”
Zhao Zhizhuo continued, “the examples of a pure immortal body leaping realms by slaughtering ordinary martial cultivators are countless. It’s almost become a norm. Failing to do so may even turn one into a laughingstock among the immortal forest.”
“The immortal forest is a circle only accessible to pure immortal body martial cultivators or spirit sense masters.”
“Let’s put it this way—the top echelons of strength in the world include pure immortal bodies and deformed types, and their numbers are only slightly lower than that of ordinary humans.”
“In other words, the cultivation potential of deformed types is nearly ten times that of ordinary humans. As for pure immortal bodies… saying ten thousand times might be an exaggeration, but the difficulty of becoming a top-tier cultivator is indeed a thousand or ten thousand times lower compared to ordinary humans.”
At the battle in Burial Immortal Town, the Cang Li tribe suffered considerable losses, with several promising martial cultivators perishing. Yet no one had expected such an unexpected gain here. Cang Li was truly elated!
If High Huan’s cultivation level is truly high, Cang Li might have even questioned a bit—but with no trace of prior cultivation at all, it was simply too great. Cang Li said to Li Weiyi, “The Cang Li tribe still has one final spot.
I intend to bring him into the Nine Li Academy for training, in preparation for the grand sacrifice at Mount Mang in half a year. But the condition is, he must first join the Cang Li tribe and become an official member. Could you ask him what he thinks?”
Li Weiyi understood that by emphasizing the final spot, Cang Li was clearly speaking to him. He believed that Cang Li would not intentionally deceive him, yet he couldn’t help feeling a bit disappointed. Is the gap between ordinary humans and pure immortal bodies really that great?
In a moment, his initial disappointment faded, replaced by a renewed determination to face life’s challenges. After all, Cang Li had once said that among top-tier cultivators, the number of ordinary humans still slightly exceeds that of deformed types and pure immortal bodies. The road may be even tougher for us, but the road still exists. …
The two exchanged words in the dialect of their homeland.
“Joining the Cang Li tribe? That’s certainly fine, something I’ve been hoping for,” said High Huan excitedly.
Then he added, “What about you? Are we going to train together at the Nine Li Academy? Does training there mean one can become as formidable as you?”
Li Weiyi laughed gently, “What I have isn’t much at all. You, on the other hand, are a pure immortal body. In the future, you’ll reach at least the level of Shi Jiuzhai, perhaps even become stronger.”
High Huan felt his heart burn intensely, unable to hide his surging emotions. Li Weiyi continued, “I can’t go just yet! I must first return to the Bronze Ship and gather the members of the scientific expedition.
Once everything settles, I’ll take the first mate and the others to Nine Li City to see you.”
“Then I’ll go with you. After fetching the expedition members, we’ll head to the Nine Li Academy,” said High Huan.
Li Weiyi shook his head, “First, the young clan leaders of the Cang Li tribe are leaving at noon today—you simply can’t wait.”
“Second, to conceal the existence of the Bronze Ship and our true identities, you must leave with them first. Otherwise, I suspect they might send some experts to shadow and protect you, thereby tailing us in the process.”
“Third, for so many of us trying to establish ourselves in a foreign land, it isn’t easy to gain a foothold. If you manage to make a name for yourself at the Nine Li Academy, don’t you think the Cang Li tribe will also find more reason to stand taller? We each have our own responsibilities; we must all work together.”
High Huan felt Li Weiyi’s words were reasonable. The phrase “making a name for oneself” struck a sensitive chord in his heart. He stuffed all the money bags he’d acquired from picking up corpses into Li Weiyi’s hand and said, “I’m going with the young clan leaders.
I surely won’t need these anymore. Keep them all. What was that saying—never be a slave like a beast of burden, nor live like a pig or sheep.
In the future, we will meet at the peak!” … When leaving, Li Weiyi and Zhao Zhizhuo sat outside the carriage on opposite sides.
“If we are to become the very best we must endure decades of grueling training. But pure immortal bodies, by nature, are already a cut above the rest.”
Zhao Zhizhuo cracked his whip against his horse, glanced at Li Weiyi, and asked, “Feeling a bit disappointed?”
“At first I was, but now I feel even more determined!”
Li Weiyi replied with a smile. Not caring whether Li Weiyi’s words were sincere or forced cheerfulness, Zhao Zhizhuo explained on behalf of Cang Li, “The requirements for entering the Nine Li Academy are extremely stringent. The spots for the nine main tribes were set ages ago.”
“Since it’s connected to the grand sacrifice at Mount Mang on the ninth day of the ninth month in half a year, those who are entering the academy now have been carefully selected by each tribe to make a final push.”
“In these next six months, the academy offers a host of benefits! Master instructors, access to countless classic texts—the benefits are numerous. Most importantly, the training resources are provided in abundance, with no ceilings whatsoever.”
“One could say that even within the Cang Li tribe, everyone is envious. There’s only one spot per person; everyone is vying for it.”
“In the battle at Burial Immortal Town, some of the selected ones perished tragically, and that created one extra opening.”
“But above all, any pure immortal body is guaranteed a favorable outcome at Mount Mang, securing benefits for the Cang Li tribe. What chance will you have to encounter such fortune elsewhere?”
“Zhao Lao, you know so much about the Nine Li Academy?”
Li Weiyi thought it curious that Zhao Zhizhuo, whose cultivation barely reached the level of having two springs deep within him, seemed so capable of discussing the Nine Li Academy.
Zhao Zhizhuo offered a bitter smile, as if recalling something fond yet painful, and said with a trace of pride, “In my youth, even an old fellow like me was once selected to train at the Nine Li Academy. At that Mount Mang sacrificial event, I helped the Cang Li tribe achieve an outstanding result.
I was something of a shining light for the tribe. But later… that’s enough—why reopen old wounds?
Huff… huff…”
He clutched his chest, gasping a few times before continuing, “Otherwise, how do you think I managed to converse privately with the young clan leader and Miss Ling?” Li Weiyi suddenly understood—it was exactly as he had suspected. Zhao Zhizhuo had indeed suffered great setbacks and hardships, which had rendered him downhearted and timid, exaggerating his past sufferings.
After pondering carefully and choosing his words, Li Weiyi said, “Zhao Lao, life is hard, but as long as you keep moving forward, you’ll eventually overcome every obstacle. Cultivation isn’t as difficult as you think… at least it isn’t as hard as you imagine. Why not start all over again?”
Listening to Li Weiyi’s words, Zhao Zhizhuo simply smiled and nodded. If it weren’t for his immense willpower leading him to choose the path of cultivation once more, how else would he have those two springs in him?
Seeing Zhao Zhizhuo’s expression clouded with pain and suffering, Li Weiyi realized that his previous words might have come across as too self-assured, words he now couldn’t take back. Hastily, he changed the subject and asked, “Zhao Lao, have you ever heard the names Chan Hai Guanyun and Yu Tuonan?” Zhao Zhizhuo’s face showed that he was deep in thought.
Li Weiyi continued, “They should be two ancient figures, not belonging to our time.”
“Talking of ancient figures, you do hit the mark!”
Zhao Zhizhuo replied. He said, “A thousand years ago, there was indeed one whose name was Chan Hai Guanyun, the Sect Leader of Lingxiao Palace, the foremost cultivator of our region. Her disciple, Yu Yaozi… never mind, it’s best not to mention that name—it’s highly taboo.
Even now, the ten-year chaos began because of her.” Li Weiyi was touched; he hadn’t expected Chan Hai Guanyun’s background to be so intimidating. He immediately asked, “And what about Yu Tuonan?”
Zhao Zhizhuo thought carefully, then shook his head, indicating that he hadn’t heard of him. That shouldn’t be! Judging by the tone in which Yu Tuonan spoke aboard the Bronze Ship, in life he didn’t seem inferior to Chan Hai Guanyun.
After purchasing a batch of food in Yao Pass City and loading it onto a cart, Li Weiyi and Zhao Zhizhuo parted ways by the Sui River. Zhao Zhizhuo said, “You really don’t need me to go pick people up with you, do you?”
“Given your old ailments and new injuries, it’s best you stay at Yao Pass and recover. Once I gather our companions, we’ll rendezvous with you, and together we’ll head for the Cang Li tribe.”
Li Weiyi had negotiated a couple of advantages with Cang Li. The first was resolving the civilian status issues for his several dozen companions who were fleeing. The second was obtaining cultivation scriptures.
The first matter was a simple matter for Cang Li, and he left it in Zhao Zhizhuo’s hands. The second matter was handed over to Li Weiyi at the Zao Mei Manor.
(The End of This Chapter)