Chapter 147: The Immortal Path

Xinyue Inn was situated near the foot of the immortal sect’s mountain, slightly away from the market district but offering tranquility and a serene environment. Its premium rooms were located by the mountainside, boasting picturesque surroundings with a distinctive elegant garden for passing disciples to rest. Designed to mimic elements of the immortal sect, many disciples descending the mountain often stayed here.

When Chen Luo arrived at Xinyue Inn, neither Xie Shuang nor Du Jian had yet shown up.

Unaware of their exact location, he decided to take a break within the garden, sitting by the lakeside, practicing breathing exercises, and closing his eyes to meditate.

‘My divine soul is on the verge of transforming into Divine Sense.’

‘Signs of approaching Foundation Establishment.’

With insights gathered from over thirty Foundation Establishment brains, Chen Luo’s comprehension deepened significantly. The diverse perspectives on Foundation Establishment enriched his thinking far beyond ordinary individuals.

Continuously analyzing issues encountered during the release of divine abilities, Chen Luo recognized that mastering immortal cultivation was not achieved overnight, especially at this stage. As he neared Foundation Establishment, the preparations required only increased.

Following Daoist Wuwei’s guidance, Chen Luo should have chosen a divine ability suited to himself from the library and combined it with the Xin Mo Art to achieve Foundation Establishment. However, Chen Luo aimed for more, so he selected the Five Elements Spell along with dozens of corresponding Foundation Establishment techniques.

Utilizing the unique properties of the mummified brains and aided by over thirty Foundation Establishment brains, he aimed to synthesize these characteristics into forging his ‘perfect Dao Foundation.’

“Divine abilities differ primarily in Divine Sense.”

“Begin by studying Divine Sense techniques; given your current divine soul strength, mastering the basics should not be challenging.”

Two newly acquired Foundation Establishment brains provided this feedback.

After confirming the feasibility of their advice, Chen Luo activated the memory containing the “Divine Sense Foundation Technique,” which he had encountered in the library. Quickly, he gained entry-level proficiency, experiencing a profound sensation within him.

A gentle breeze stirred the water.

Seated on the riverbank, Chen Luo suddenly became aware of his surroundings without opening his eyes. His perception expanded, as if a third eye at his forehead could see a world rendered in shades of black and white, spanning approximately three meters around him. This newfound ability was granted after Daoist Wuwei dispelled the cursed magic.

Having endured the trials of the curse, his divine soul strength now showed signs of transforming into Divine Sense, acquiring some of its characteristics—a trait typically accessible only to Foundation Establishment cultivators.

‘That leaf is about to fall.’

His black and white perception detected a leaf swaying on a nearby tree behind him. It was invisible from his normal viewpoint, but Chen Luo sensed it clearly.

A gentle breeze arose, causing the leaf to sway momentarily before finally descending.

Just as Chen Luo prepared to further test this newfound power, voices suddenly echoed from the entrance in the distance.

Several figures walked in.

Three men and two women, among them, Chen Luo recognized three individuals: Xie Shuang, Du Jian, and another familiar face - Eldest Apprentice Brother Du De, who had emerged with him from the Yue Tomb!

In that expedition, Du De possessed the poorest aptitude, having been assessed with low-grade six spiritual roots upon entering the sect, making Foundation Establishment seem unattainable.

To his surprise, despite immense hardships, Du De indeed survived and returned from the ruins.

Years had passed, significantly transforming both his appearance and demeanor. His spiritual energy fluctuations now reached the seventh layer of Qi Refinement!

A low-grade spiritual root cultivator had advanced to Late Stage Qi Refinement.

As for the remaining man and woman, Chen Luo did not recognize them. However, judging by their expressions, it was evident that all five shared a close bond, suggesting they had known each other for quite some time.

Chen Luo remained seated by the lakeside, blending seamlessly with the surroundings. None of the five newcomers noticed his presence.

“You mean Junior Brother Chen?” Du De, walking at the front, glanced somewhat surprised at Xie Shuang. In his mind, the memory of Chen Luo had grown faint; years within the sect had brought numerous experiences. Especially after surviving the perils of the Great Mausoleum expedition, his perspective on many things changed significantly. To Du De, the bond he once shared with their fellow townsman, Chen Luo, no longer held as much weight.

“It’s been three years since we last saw him. I wonder how Senior Brother has fared. Recently, I heard that he returned,” Xie Shuang explained.

When Chen Luo initially left, he had invited both her and Du Jian to join him. At that time, the immortal sect was facing dire circumstances, making their lives challenging as well. Chen Luo generously provided them with medicinal pills and spirit talismans, helping them through the most difficult period. This act of kindness remained deeply ingrained in her heart.

“Leaving Divine Lake Immortal Sect wasn’t a wise choice. However, if after three years, one fails to reach Late Stage Qi Refinement, the sect would no longer acknowledge their status. Becoming a solo cultivator outside the sect might indeed be a better option,” Du De remarked confidently.

At the eleventh hour of his third year, he successfully broke through.

With Late Stage Qi Refinement strength, he finally ascended to become an Inner Sect disciple. Now on Divine Fire Peak, he held a modest status.

Recalling the day he entered the sect, it truly felt like ‘parting clouds to reveal the sun’; Du De had persevered and emerged triumphant!

“Senior Brother is already back,” Xie Shuang began, intending to explain, but Eldest Apprentice Brother Du De showed no interest in listening. Instead, he turned to engage the other two in casual conversation.

“Apprentice Brother Sha, I heard your Sha Family has a hammering technique called ‘Water-Fire Nine Refinements,’ capable of crafting second-tier spirit artifacts. It’s said one must reach Peak Qi Refinement to even begin learning this method. Is that true?”

Both the male and female were Inner Sect disciples from Divine Fire Peak. After breaking through, Du Jian quickly befriended them with his expertise in ancient artificing techniques, forming his own small social circle.

“Absolutely true,” replied the disciple named Sha, with evident pride on his face.

His family was his greatest source of pride, and the Water-Fire Nine Refinements was their ancestral legacy.

“I’d genuinely appreciate the chance to witness it firsthand someday.”

“You’ll get that opportunity,” the woman beside Apprentice Brother Sha smiled and assured him.

As a disciple from another cultivator clan, she had always been close with the Sha Family even before joining the immortal sect. With Sha Cong’s promising potential, the ties between their families naturally strengthened further. Recently, both clans’ patriarchs have expressed interest in arranging a match between these two young individuals, and neither seemed particularly opposed to it.

This invitation by Du De also served as a rare opportunity for them to spend time together informally.

From the start, they hadn’t taken much notice of Du De.

Even within the Inner Sect, there were clear hierarchies. Being at the seventh layer of Qi Refinement placed him among the lowest ranks of Inner Sect disciples. If not for his connection to a junior brother from Medicine King Peak, they wouldn’t have bothered interacting with him at all.

Du Jian and Xie Shuang trailed behind, neither enjoying the atmosphere of flattery and pandering.

However, their Eldest Apprentice Brother had cautioned them:

“We’re no longer in the Yue Kingdom; here in the Divine Lake Immortal Sect, we three are just solo cultivators without any backing. As solo cultivators, you must learn humility, sacrificing pride for strength. Only once your power grows can you reclaim that lost dignity.”

Although they didn’t fully agree with their Eldest Apprentice Brother, they understood his predicament and chose not to protest further.

Chen Luo sat by the lakeside, suddenly losing any desire to reveal himself.

Meeting them now wouldn’t change the past; at most, it would only shock these two strangers. Their feelings towards each other might shift from unfamiliarity to reverence, much like with Senior Brother Hu Qiudao.

Silently listening to their conversation for a while,

Chen Luo decided to leave alone. With the aura of Qi Refinement Perfection enveloping him, he appeared as a solitary ascetic deeply immersed in his practice. As he walked past the group, none of them noticed him, instinctively making way without realizing.

This was customary etiquette within the immortal sect and basic knowledge among cultivators.

“Senior Brother?”

Xie Shuang stood still, watching the retreating figure.

The person who just passed bore a striking resemblance to her memory of Chen Luo. She recalled that three years ago, when her senior brother left, he looked exactly like this. However, there were subtle differences between the current Chen Luo and the one she remembered, leaving her uncertain.

“Shimei, what are you looking at?” Du De and the others also stopped, puzzled, glancing back to see whom she was observing. They had noticed the individual passing by but didn’t associate him with Chen Luo. The stranger’s powerful aura was so profound that even Sha, the strongest among them, couldn’t gauge its depth.

“That person looks very similar to Elder Brother Chen,” Xie Shuang remarked.

Xie Shuang exclaimed, “Impossible.”

Du Dehai remained silent, but the Sha disciple beside him couldn’t help but speak up.

“People from small places often lack experience and can easily mistake identities; it’s quite normal. However, let me assure you, that Senior Brother we just saw is definitely not your ‘Elder Brother Chen.’ Based on his aura, he is undoubtedly a powerful cultivator at Peak Qi Refinement, nearing Foundation Establishment.”

Near Foundation Establishment?!

All of them were stunned. Judging by his aura, their ages seemed similar. With comparable years of cultivation, was someone already close to reaching Foundation Establishment? Du De instinctively turned back, but by then, Chen Luo had walked far ahead.

“The spiritual energy within him feels harmoniously unified, along with subtle divine soul fluctuations. It won’t be long before our sect gains another uncle-master,” added the female disciple near the Sha disciple.

“Only if he has found a Foundation Establishment spirit artifact.”

“Even without one, his strength alone qualifies him as a Core Disciple.”

“Such Chosen figures emerge every few years.”

Having broader knowledge, they exchanged a few remarks before continuing on their path.

“I will also reach Foundation Establishment! I certainly will!”

As Du De watched the retreating figure, a determined glint flashed in his eyes.

He refused to believe that low-grade spiritual roots could not reach Foundation Establishment.

Having endured so many dangers, he was steadfast in breaking free from his fate. Suppressing his emotions, he swiftly turned around and caught up with the disciple named Sha, continuing their conversation to further strengthen their bond.

Only Xie Shuang remained standing, her expression somewhat bewildered. She felt certain she hadn’t mistaken him but couldn’t understand why Elder Brother Chen ignored them.

“Let’s go. Since Elder Brother Chen didn’t acknowledge us, there must be a reason for it.”

“You mean…” Xie Shuang looked back at Du Jian beside her.

“It’s understandable they wouldn’t recognize Elder Brother Chen,” Du Jian said with a wry smile. “But we met him just three years ago; how could we possibly mistake him?” He too had recognized Chen Luo, but his shock at Chen Luo’s cultivation base left him momentarily stunned. By the time he regained his composure, the opportunity to speak had passed.

“Elder Brother Du Jian, I think I want to return now.” Suddenly feeling disenchanted, Xie Shuang spoke softly.

This cultivation world differed vastly from what she had imagined. Those pursuing the immortal path seemed even colder than ordinary people in the mortal realm. She found herself missing Yue Kingdom, her homeland, and yearning for her master, Goddess Emerald Bamboo.

“Return, huh?” Du Jian sighed deeply.

He shared her sentiment, but unfortunately, they couldn’t activate the teleportation array at the Great Mausoleum, nor did they know how to do so. Having spent considerable time within their sect, they were well aware of the esteemed position array masters held.

Without proper aptitude, one couldn’t even comprehend, let alone learn, such skills.