Chapter Seventeen: The Final Decline of the Mortal World, Secrets of the Immortal Path

Jiang Liunian rose and offered a formal bow. “Thank you, Daoist Yuchen, for your generous gift!” he said with gratitude.

He had originally come to lend a helping hand, but instead, before he could be of any assistance, he himself had already gained significant benefit. For a moment, he felt somewhat embarrassed.

Lin You shook his head and smiled. “There’s no need for such formality between us, Daoist. Our meeting is fate, after all. Moreover, you came at the invitation of the temple master to aid our Red Pine Daoist Palace—how could we possibly neglect proper courtesy?”

White Yi, who stood nearby, felt her face flush as she listened. She quietly buried her face between her paws, not daring to look at the two men.

The shifting shadows of pine trees danced around them as they sat facing one another.

This was Lin You’s first encounter with a cultivator of this world, and he was eager to use the opportunity to learn more about the current era. Jiang Liunian, for his part, was equally keen to make new acquaintances.

Their conversation flowed easily, and soon they found themselves talking at length with great delight.

Through their exchange, Lin You learned of Jiang Liunian’s background. He had once been the son of a wealthy family in Suiyang, but after offending a powerful local clan, his family was destroyed in a single night. Pursued by his enemies, he fell from a cliff during his flight.

By sheer luck, he survived and encountered an immortal opportunity spoken of only in legend: he obtained a spiritual treasure and the art of Paper-cutting Dao.

Having mastered these arts, he avenged his family with paper soldiers, but at a great cost—his own essence was so depleted that his lifespan became perilously short.

Thus, for years, he had traveled across famous mountains and great rivers, seeking out fellow Daoists and devoting himself to cultivation, hoping to pursue the immortal path to longevity.

Yet, fate had other plans. He discovered that the era of the waning law was upon the world; the spiritual energy of heaven and earth was rapidly diminishing for reasons unknown, and the path of cultivation had become little more than a legend.

At this point in his tale, Jiang Liunian could only smile bitterly.

Lin You pondered deeply upon hearing this.

No wonder the Pine Crane Daoist had spent his life seeking immortality but never found the door—beyond mere lack of fate and opportunity, it was the curse of being born in the era of the end of law. Such is the tyranny of time and destiny, worthy of endless lament!

Yet some doubts remained in his heart, so he pressed on with another question:

“Daoist Jiang, as I understand, to walk the path of immortality, one must first possess a Dao Seed to draw in spiritual energy. The Dao Seed is the most refined essence of heaven and earth—does that mean every cultivator possesses a Dao Seed?”

Jiang Liunian couldn’t help but chuckle. “You jest, Daoist Yuchen. According to the ancient records, Dao Seeds are exceedingly rare. Even in the age of flourishing spiritual energy, few ever possessed one! Any disciple bearing a Dao Seed would be considered the core inheritor of a great sect.”

He went on with a sigh. “But the wisdom of the ancients was truly extraordinary. Later generations of cultivators, seeking to change the state of the world, devised two methods: first, to refine Dao Seeds left behind by predecessors into Spirit-guiding Pills; second, to forge Dao Seeds into spiritual treasures, enabling cultivation through the treasure itself. This is what led to the later prosperity of the cultivation world!”

The golden-threaded jade shears he had acquired were just such a spiritual treasure left by an ancient cultivator.

Once he reached the peak of qi refinement, he could refine this spiritual treasure, thereby forging his own Dao foundation.

Lin You asked, “So both the Spirit-guiding Pills and inheritable spiritual treasures require Dao Seeds for their creation?”

Jiang Liunian nodded. “Exactly! Both require Dao Seeds, combined with various spiritual herbs and materials, to be forged. Yet a single Dao Seed can produce only ten Spirit-guiding Pills, or a single spiritual treasure. Both are precious beyond measure.”

In ancient times, when a cultivator passed away, their Dao Seed would often dissipate back into the heavens and earth.

After the advent of the Spirit-guiding Pill, however, most sect cultivators, before their passing, would choose to leave a legacy by refining their Dao Seed into pills or spiritual treasures for their successors.

A foundation established through such pills or treasures became known as an Acquired Foundation.

Only those who established their foundation directly with a Dao Seed were said to have a Heavenly Foundation, and at the moment of foundation establishment, they would comprehend a corresponding divine ability, a gift from heaven itself.

Such divine abilities were far more profound and powerful than those gleaned from spiritual treasures, though their power came with a cost: they consumed far more spiritual energy.

In this era of waning law, heaven-gifted divine abilities had become something of a white elephant—powerful, yet nearly useless for lack of energy to sustain them.

After this explanation, Lin You nodded thoughtfully. He glanced at the two verdant divine ability leaves on his jade-green tree, a glint of intent in his eyes.

Though he too was pressed for spiritual energy, as the jade tree continued to grow, the spiritual energy produced by his territory would only increase. This current scarcity would not last.

His greatest shortcoming now was the lack of a foundational, systematic method of cultivation. Though he had been fortunate enough to hear the teachings of an ancient immortal, the lessons were mystical and profound, clearly aimed at higher realms, with nothing on the basics.

His martial cultivation was already nearing the peak of qi circulation—it was time to seek out true immortal cultivation methods.

With this in mind, Lin You asked, “Does Daoist Jiang know where one might obtain the scriptures and manuals for immortal cultivation?”

Jiang Liunian looked surprised. “Does your inheritance not include cultivation methods?”

He had assumed this Daoist Yuchen, like himself, had stumbled upon a legacy by chance, but it seemed not. Still, everyone has their secrets; he didn’t pry further, especially after having received such benefit from Lin You’s generosity.

“I will share all I know,” he said. “From ancient times to now, countless generations have passed; the world of cultivation has declined, and most immortal scriptures have been lost. Only in certain ruins or places of legacy might you find such things.”

“If you seek cultivation methods, Daoist, stay a few days. During the upcoming Pine Origin Festival, cultivators from all over will gather in Jinhua Prefecture. Perhaps you’ll find what you seek at the gathering.”

“A gathering of fellow Daoists?” Lin You’s eyes brightened.

Jiang Liunian nodded. “Indeed. To trade what we need, we often organize gatherings large and small. Spirit-guiding Pills have even changed hands at such meetings! You’d do well to prepare some spiritual herbs—those are always in demand.”

Spiritual herbs? Lin You considered this. With his Divine Grace over Spirits, cultivating a few herbs was no great difficulty, but he only had two traces of spiritual energy left. The matter required thought. After all, the Lord of Jinhua Prefecture was lurking in the shadows, coveting his domain; if he exhausted his energy now, the power of his territory alone might not be enough to hold the man at bay.

Lin You weighed his options and quickly made up his mind.

He clasped his hands to Jiang Liunian. “Thank you, Daoist Jiang, for clearing my doubts. May I ask what your plans are now?”

Jiang Liunian returned the gesture. “No need for such formality, Daoist Yuchen! I have benefited much from your generosity today; these are but small matters.”

Lin You smiled faintly. Through their conversation, he had come to see that Jiang Liunian was indeed a man worth befriending.

As for the injury to Jiang’s essence, though troublesome, it was not beyond Lin You’s abilities.

Lin You possessed both Divine Grace over Spirits and the Rejuvenation divine ability. The former could heal and even awaken spirit in plants, while the latter could turn the old young, grant longevity to the youthful, and cure all illness.

With such a power, he was a true physician without peer.

However, to fully heal Jiang Liunian would require considerable spiritual energy—something that would take some time to accumulate.

So Lin You said, “Why not reside at the Red Pine Daoist Palace for a few days, Daoist Jiang? I have some knowledge of the healing arts. When my current affairs are settled, I’ll tend to you personally—what do you say?”

Jiang Liunian laughed heartily, clasping his hands. “I regret not meeting you sooner, Daoist! I would be delighted to impose on you for a few days to discuss the Dao.”

This trip to the Red Pine Daoist Palace had not been in vain: he had tasted a tea that greatly aided his cultivation and recovery, and forged a new friendship.

But having received so much, Jiang Liunian felt compelled to reciprocate.

Yet, what could he offer in return? His arts and methods were all dependent on the golden-threaded jade shears, and could not be passed on.

After much thought, inspiration struck him. “Daoist Yuchen, when I ascended the mountain, I noticed the entire Red Pine Mountain was shrouded in mist. Without the white fox’s guidance, I would surely have been lost. Was this your doing?”

Lin You nodded. “A minor art, nothing to boast of.”

Jiang Liunian shook his head. “Hardly minor! Without White Fox’s guidance, I might never have escaped your mountain alive.”

He then asked, “May I ask why you arranged such a great formation?”

He could see clearly that this was not a recent arrangement, nor was it meant to target him alone. Could it be that Daoist Yuchen was on guard against an enemy?

Lin You did not hide it from him. Omitting the details of the Pine Crane Daoist’s passing, he gave a brief account of the situation.

“Do not worry, Daoist Jiang,” he concluded. “I have my own plans for this matter.”

After hearing Lin You’s explanation, Jiang Liunian’s brow furrowed deeply.

Having experienced the destruction of his family by the hands of the powerful, he had always despised those who abused the common people. Now, to see the Lord of Jinhua Prefecture—relying on martial strength and political power—bully his new friend was intolerable.

Though Daoist Yuchen claimed there was no cause for concern, how could Jiang Liunian stand idly by?

If the corrupt officials of the mundane world were not taught a lesson, they would truly believe that the cultivators of the immortal path had faded away.

Having made up his mind, he said no more, but resolved to visit the Zhang residence in the coming days to see things for himself.