Immortals and Mortals Cannot Coexist

Immortals and Mortals Cannot Coexist

"I have no interest in cultivation."

Xiao Heng's expression when he had said those words seemed as vivid as ever in Li Fan's memory.

How long had it been? How had Xiao Heng already purged the miasma from his body and directly broken through to the Qi Refining Stage?

For a moment, Li Fan was filled with shock and bewilderment.

Li Fan read Xiao Heng's letter over and over several times, then went out to ask around. Only then did he reluctantly accept the truth.

It turned out that although Li Fan had sworn with utmost certainty that day that the rumors of smuggling onto the island were aimed at the Heavenly Treasure Pavilion, Xiao Heng had remained uneasy and unable to sleep after returning home.

Whenever he closed his eyes, he seemed to see the terrifying scene of immortal masters descending from the sky and slaughtering everyone from the Departed Realm.

For several days in a row, Xiao Heng had been like this.

After reflecting deeply on his pain, Xiao Heng finally made up his mind.

In order to sleep peacefully, and even more so to become a cultivator so he would no longer live in constant fear every day, he began earnestly practicing the "Profound Yellow Heart Cleansing Mantra."

Unexpectedly, once Xiao Heng settled his heart, his cultivation progress truly advanced by leaps and bounds.

With the aid of medicinal drugs, he took less than a month to purge all the miasma from his body on his own.

Afterward, he could even sense Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy wandering around him affectionately, as though it were alive.

He was deeply drawn in by the sight, his mind sinking into it.

He only felt as if he had enjoyed a good night's sleep, and then he had successfully achieved Qi Induction.

At first, he had not quite dared to believe that he had become one of the legendary immortal masters.

But when he tried to get intimate with a maid in his household, only to suddenly feel his heart pound and instinctively strike her dead with a single palm, Xiao Heng finally became certain that he was now a cultivator.

Immortals and mortals had to remain forever apart.

Though he had already become a Qi Refining Stage cultivator, Xiao Heng was completely at a loss as to what he should do next.

Thus, he wanted to meet Liuli Island's garrison immortal master.

Unfortunately, He Zheng Hao had been presiding over the Purification Spirit Pool formation at the time and could not get away.

Xiao Heng could only return home and wait patiently.

Only after Li Fan emerged from the spirit pool and He Zheng Hao finally had time did Xiao Heng get to meet him.

After hearing of Xiao Heng's experience, He Zheng Hao carefully examined him and confirmed that Xiao Heng had not lied.

He was first overjoyed, then suddenly slapped his thigh, looking as though he regretted something beyond measure.

After a while, he finally pulled himself together and impatiently prepared to take Xiao Heng to Ten Thousand Immortals Island.

When Xiao Heng asked to bid farewell to his friends, He Zheng Hao naturally agreed.

After that, Xiao Heng said goodbye to everyone from the Departed Realm one by one before drifting away.

As for Li Fan, Xiao Heng had originally wanted to see him.

But he also knew that Li Fan was devoted to cultivation and had needed more than three years merely to successfully purify his body.

Yet not long ago, Xiao Heng had personally told Li Fan that he had no interest in cultivation. Now, in the blink of an eye, he had become a Qi Refining Stage cultivator!

Xiao Heng truly did not know how to face Li Fan. Moreover, fearing that he might provoke Li Fan, he merely left behind a letter and entrusted someone to deliver it.

Xiao Heng was deeply grateful for Li Fan's repeated help, so he said that he would wait for him on Ten Thousand Immortals Island and would surely repay Li Fan then.

"Whatever I have achieved today, I owe entirely to Brother's protection."

"Now that I have heard Brother has successfully purged the miasma, I believe it will not be long before you break through to the Qi Refining Stage."

"Your younger brother will take one step ahead and respectfully await Brother's arrival at Ten Thousand Immortals Island."

"When we meet again, if Brother has any request, even if I must die ten thousand deaths, I shall not dare refuse."

"Heng bows twice in reverence."

Li Fan set down Xiao Heng's letter and slowly let out a breath.

Was this what a person of legendary talent was like?

Without relying on any help, he had stumbled his way into breaking through to the Qi Refining Stage.

He could even sense the affection of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy...

Li Fan had long known that cultivators varied greatly in aptitude, and he knew that his own talent was not high. But the feeling of having such a genius right beside him...

It truly did not feel good.

It seemed Xiao Heng's concern had not been unfounded. If he had truly appeared before Li Fan just after Li Fan successfully purged his miasma, Li Fan might really have lost his balance.

Li Fan smiled bitterly.

But it would only have thrown him off balance somewhat.

Li Fan knew clearly that his reliance had never been his aptitude, but the countless opportunities to start over granted to him by Return to Truth.

With Return to Truth in hand, no matter what kind of genius he faced, he was confident he could crush them.

It was only that the process might be somewhat long, requiring plans laid across lifetime after lifetime.

As the Heart Tempering Mantra circulated, Li Fan's chaotic heart gradually calmed.

He opened the "Five Spirits Qi Induction Method" gifted to him by He Zheng Hao and began to read it slowly and carefully.

The book recorded that in Ancient Times, there had been such a thing as spiritual roots.

At that time, only mortals possessing spiritual roots could cultivate.

There were the ordinary Five Elements Spiritual Roots of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, as well as special attribute spiritual roots such as lightning, wind, and darkness.

Those with a single spiritual root cultivated very quickly in the early stages. By specializing in cultivation methods corresponding to their attribute, they could also easily cultivate to great accomplishment.

Those with multiple spiritual roots cultivated more slowly. They needed to attend to every attribute, easily wasting effort for little result. Yet if there was a peerless genius who could attend to every aspect of multiple spiritual roots, their strength would often far surpass that of single-spiritual-root cultivators at the same realm.

However, that was all merely old talk from the past.

The Cultivation World of Ancient Times emphasized Heaven and Man Unity.

Spiritual roots were gifts bestowed by Heaven. Only fortunate souls favored by Heaven could sense the laws of Heaven and Earth, and only they possessed the qualifications to attain the Dao and ascend as immortals.

But how many mortals were there beneath the heavens? Those possessing spiritual roots were ultimately only a minority.

For the overwhelming majority, cultivation was something they could only gaze upon from afar, forever beyond their reach.

How unfair was that?

Fortunately, in Ancient Times, an Immortal Venerable taught the Dao! The "Five Spirits Qi Induction Method" recorded that the Immortal Venerable modeled Heaven and Earth. Facing countless mortals with no hope of seeking immortality, he imparted the path to longevity.

The Immortal Venerable said: If I wish to become immortal, why must I beg Heaven? If Heaven will not grant it, then I shall seize it myself!

Follow Heaven, and remain mortal; defy Heaven, and become immortal!

For a mere mortal to seek longevity, there was no need to pursue any Heaven and Man Unity. One only needed to contend with Heaven! Thus, the Immortal Venerable laid out his doctrine from the outset and explained his path to the gathered people.

It was also the path of cultivation followed by the present Cultivation World.

The path of immortality was this: absorb the spirits of Heaven and Earth, and command their qi;

Borrow Earthly Oddities to build the Dao Foundation;

Peer into the laws of Heaven and Earth to refine the Golden Core;

Seize the essence of Heaven and Earth to form the Nascent Soul;

Draw out the Heaven and Earth Essence to attain the spirit;

Sacrifice Heaven and Earth Spirit, uniting one's body with the Dao;

Defy the Natural Order to prove longevity!

With a clatter, the "Five Spirits Qi Induction Method" fell to the floor.

Li Fan picked it up with trembling hands, unable to conceal the shock in his heart.

The methods of cultivation in this world were completely different from what he had imagined.

One could even say...

They were somewhat horrifying.

No wonder he had felt something strange ever since coming into contact with this world's cultivators.

The Heavenly Dao of this world seemed to harbor a faint but immense hostility toward cultivators.

Whether it was the law that immortal arts could not be cultivated together, the strange phenomenon of a cultivator's death illuminating the sky for thousands of miles like a broadcast, or the bizarre Immortal-Mortal Miasma within mortal bodies that was tremendously harmful to cultivators, all of it hinted at this.

Today, after Li Fan had come into contact with the Cultivation World, the answer was finally revealed.

"Defy the Natural Order to prove longevity!" Li Fan murmured slowly, letting out a long breath.