Chapter 56: Records of a Hundred Immortals

Chen Luo stood up, took the book, and quickly glanced at it, noticing that its title, written in small seal script, read: Records of a Hundred Immortals.

‘Hundred Immortals? Not White Immortal?’

A thought flickered through Chen Luo’s mind, but his expression remained unchanged.

“This Records of a Hundred Immortals is the inheritance I obtained from the White Immortal Cave.” As Longevity Daoist watched Chen Luo holding the booklet, a hint of reluctance flashed in his eyes.

“The book chronicles the experiences of one hundred immortals. Most entries describe their life events, which hold little value. Only a few mention cultivation techniques. The ‘Immortal Script’ method I taught you was derived from these select accounts. Beyond that, there are more profound insights within; what you comprehend will depend entirely on yourself.”

“Does it include breathing techniques as well?”

Chen Luo’s interest instantly spiked.

For the past three months, he had been eager to learn such techniques, but Longevity Daoist refused to teach him. Instead, he explained that mastering immortal script within three months was crucial for understanding breathing techniques effectively. Chen Luo had nearly given up hope, only to be surprised today by Longevity Daoist suddenly offering him this knowledge.

“Yes, it does,” Longevity Daoist replied with a smile.

The Longevity Daoist naturally knew what his disciple wished to learn. However, rules were rules; as the successor of the White Immortal Cave, he must adhere to its traditions. Even if he was the only remaining heir on this land.

“Many thanks, Master.”

Chen Luo carefully placed the booklet away, his heart filled with excitement.

“Cultivate diligently, and don’t forget about tomorrow’s teachings,” Longevity Daoist reminded him before subtly signaling Chen Luo to leave.

He intended to enter seclusion.

“This disciple takes his leave now.”

Chen Luo rose, bowed respectfully, and departed from the mountain valley.

Through the narrow path, he returned to the bamboo forest behind the Scripture Pavilion.

His arrival immediately caught the attention of numerous disciples. These were named disciples who had previously passed the bamboo gate examination. Outside, each one held esteemed status among nobility, some possibly even princes or princesses. Yet within this bamboo forest, they were all ordinary disciples. Upon seeing Chen Luo, they instinctively lowered their heads and spontaneously stood up to greet him with respect.

“Greetings, Senior Brother.”

It was no longer a secret that Changqing Daoist had accepted Chen Luo as his direct disciple.

Their noble identities outside meant nothing compared to being a disciple under an immortal. Even Tian Yonglu, who had entered alongside Chen Luo initially, now cautiously stood at the periphery, his former arrogance long gone.

During his time studying within the bamboo forest, Tian Yonglu had faced numerous setbacks.

The teachings there were profoundly complex; even with his aptitude, keeping up was a struggle, let alone passing the trials to become a true disciple of an immortal.

Every time he saw Chen Luo, a thought would unconsciously flash through his mind:

He is the real genius, while I am merely an ordinary individual, slightly above average at best.

“Our teacher has entered seclusion, so I will be taking over the lessons from now on.”

With these words, Chen Luo promptly departed.

“Teacher entered seclusion?!”

“Elder Brother Chen may be a prodigy, but his cultivation experience is still limited…”

Behind him, murmurs of discussion arose, though Chen Luo couldn’t discern the specifics as he left the bamboo gate and returned to the Tiger Might Escort Agency.

As he approached the entrance, Ruan Xiaohu, engrossed in eating atop the steps, waved enthusiastically.

“Back from your immortal training, Senior Brother?”

Ruan Xiaohu continued talking between bites, rice grains clinging to his cheeks, which, combined with his tuft of hair sticking up, made him look utterly adorable.

“Yes, indeed.”

Chen Luo casually ruffled Xiao Hu’s hair before heading straight to his room.

Since becoming Longevity Daoist’s apprentice, Chen Luo had attained the highest status within the Tiger Might Escort Agency. Now, the courtyard where he resided was regularly maintained by dedicated staff, and no one was allowed entry without permission.

To curry favor with this young nephew, Uncle-Master Ruan Jianglong had no qualms about setting aside his dignity. He made sure his son sat by the entrance daily to foster a closer bond, hoping that once Chen Luo became an immortal, he would help elevate their family’s status.

Returning to his courtyard, Chen Luo casually closed the room door behind him.

He placed the “Records of a Hundred Immortals,” gifted by Longevity Daoist, on the table and carefully opened it.

The material used for the book felt mysteriously warm upon touch.

As Chen Luo flipped through, he encountered a large ‘Immortal’ character on the first page. Written in seal script, one of the many knowledge domains taught by Longevity Daoist, Chen Luo effortlessly recognized it, aided by over a hundred minds at his disposal.

After passing the introductory page with the ‘Immortal’ character, the third page marked the beginning of the actual content.

True to its name, the book meticulously documented the deeds of precisely one hundred immortals.

The first immortal mentioned was named ‘Zuo Meng,’ a lofty figure who attained enlightenment within dreams. His life story seemed surreal, leaving Chen Luo disoriented, yet even after reading till the end, he found no valuable information.

‘Records are chaotic, utterly worthless.’

‘Must have been written under the influence!’

The over one hundred minds within Chen Luo’s consciousness shared similar experiences.

“There seems to be something peculiar about the individuals mentioned in this book. Many crucial parts feel shrouded in mist, making them forgettable upon reading; they cannot be remembered or described,” a thought suddenly emerged in Chen Luo’s mind.

It originated from the brain of an ordinary, aptitude-less Wandering Swordsman.

This particular brain usually exhibited remarkable mediocrity, devoid of any exceptional qualities. However, while perusing Records of a Hundred Immortals, it revealed a distinct observation.

Just like how each blooming flower is unique, Chen Luo felt a sense of individuality among these insights.

After noting the feedback from this ‘brain,’ he flipped to the fourth page.

As he turned the pages, the energy within the book gradually dissipated, causing the candlelight on the table to become hazy. Vaguely, it seemed as if words were drifting around the room, but upon closer inspection, nothing was visible.

The content on the fourth page, much like the previous ones, recounted another ‘immortal.’ This immortal, named Wu Chong, surprisingly had origins as a bandit leader.

Fifth page, sixth page…

Chen Luo continued flipping through, time quietly slipping away outside.

A crescent moon hung high, stars twinkling faintly.

Creak

Suddenly, the wooden window shook, and a gust of wind blew in from outside.

A sudden gust of wind swiftly flipped through the pages of “Records of a Hundred Immortals” on Chen Luo’s table. Amidst the fluttering sheets, it seemed as if an indistinct figure of an ‘immortal’ emerged from within the book.

This immortal, with long hair and dressed in azure robes, exuded an ethereal aura, akin to someone straight out of a painting.

Standing before the open book, he glanced at Chen Luo from top to bottom, then suddenly smiled and uttered:

“Not bad.”

As soon as these words were spoken, Chen Luo felt his vision blur, as if his soul had left his body, and he instantly soared away from the room.

Looking up, he found himself facing a mist-shrouded celestial mountain.

Above him, a colossal White Dragon coiled around the peak, its presence enveloped by swirling clouds. When the fog dispersed, Chen Luo discovered he was standing within a temple-like structure at the mountain’s base.

The ‘Azure-robed Immortal’ waved his hand towards a jade stele atop the mountain, causing a new line of small text to appear:

‘Thirty-ninth Generation Disciple of the White Immortal Cave - Chen Luo.’

Boom!

A burst of white light flashed, jolting Chen Luo awake.

He abruptly stood up from the table, only to realize that he was still in his room. The nearby wooden window creaked incessantly, while the oil lamp flickered softly on the desk. Beneath his hand lay the “Records of a Hundred Immortals,” opened to a page detailing the life of the ‘White Immortal’ Qingyi.