What Is a Pure Immortal?

"What is a Pure Immortal Body?"

Gao Huan's constitution seemed extraordinarily unusual. Shi Jiuzhai and Cangli, two figures whose cultivation ran unfathomably deep, had both been moved by it in succession. Li Weiyi could not help asking.

Zhao Zhizhuo explained to Cangli, "Neither of them has received orthodox training in martial cultivation. They have relied entirely on their own exploration. As for Brother Gao Huan, he seems to have encountered a fortuitous opportunity recently, which transformed him into a Pure Immortal Body."

Cangli had no doubts.

What problem could there be with someone who could ask something so lacking in common sense?

He explained to Li Weiyi, "The world has never been fair. People are divided into ranks. Ordinary humans, the Deformed Race, and Pure Immortal Bodies are the three major mainstream races."

"The Deformed Race numbers roughly one-tenth of ordinary humans. Some inherit their traits through their parents' bloodlines, while others drank the blood of descendants of Ancient Immortal Giant Beasts and grew certain beastlike features. Some grow wings, some claws, some tails..."

"Not only do their appearances change drastically, but due to the influence of Ancient Immortal Giant Beast blood, their bodies often become abnormally enormous as well."

"Therefore, at the same realm, the Deformed Race is often far stronger than ordinary humans."

"Pure Immortal Bodies number about one in ten thousand ordinary humans, perhaps even fewer. Across all of Lizhou, among the younger generation between fifteen and thirty, there are not even a hundred Pure Immortal Bodies in total. Every one of them is renowned far and wide, synonymous with heaven's favored children."

"Some Pure Immortal Bodies are born through bloodline inheritance. Others come from consuming precious medicines and exotic herbs, or as another result of drinking Ancient Immortal Giant Beast blood. Still others are nurtured by Immortal Soil... There are many reasons a Pure Immortal Body may come into being. Some people do nothing and eat nothing, yet after breaking through a realm, they transform into a Pure Immortal Body."

"Pure Immortal Bodies have skin like fine jade, or like glazed crystal and silver. Women are beautiful as immortals, men handsome as saints. They are the darlings of heaven and earth, their bodies flawless, their skin like jade, their bones wondrous. Their cultivation talent is certainly of the highest grade."

"Any Pure Immortal Body will inevitably be fought over as a disciple by the major sects, and also become the target of marriage alliances among great households. It is not merely because of their outstanding appearance and cultivation talent, but because their descendants have a certain chance of producing new Pure Immortal Bodies."

"At the same realm..."

"There are too many examples of Pure Immortal Bodies crossing realms to kill ordinary martial cultivators to count; it is practically commonplace. If one cannot accomplish such a feat across realms, one will instead become a laughingstock in the Immortal Forest."

"The Immortal Forest is a circle only Pure Immortal Body martial cultivators or Spirit Sense Masters can enter."

"Put it this way! Among the strongest experts beneath heaven, the numbers of Pure Immortal Bodies and the Deformed Race are only slightly lower than those of ordinary humans."

"In other words, the cultivation talent of the Deformed Race is close to ten times that of ordinary humans. As for Pure Immortal Bodies... saying ten thousand times may be exaggerated, but the difficulty of becoming a top-tier powerhouse truly is a thousand or ten thousand times lower than for ordinary humans."

The battle at Immortal Burial Town had cost the Cangli Tribe dearly. Quite a few martial cultivators with potential had died in battle.

Yet unexpectedly, they had found such a windfall here.

Cangli was simply too delighted!

If Gao Huan's cultivation had been high, Cangli might have harbored some suspicions. But there were absolutely no traces of cultivation on him—this could not have been more perfect.

Cangli said to Li Weiyi, "The Cangli Tribe has one final slot remaining. I intend to take him into Jiu Li Dao Academy to cultivate, in preparation for the Mang Mountain Grand Sacrifice half a year from now. But first, he must join the Cangli Tribe and become an official member. Help me ask what he thinks?"

Li Weiyi understood. The other man had deliberately emphasized that it was the final slot for him to hear.

He believed Cangli would not deliberately deceive him, but he still felt somewhat disappointed.

Was the gap between ordinary humans and Pure Immortal Bodies really so vast?

In but an instant, the disappointment in Li Weiyi's heart scattered, replaced by fighting spirit to face every challenge life brought. Cangli had said it himself: among the strongest experts, ordinary humans still outnumbered the Deformed Race and Pure Immortal Bodies.

The road was merely more difficult.

It was not as if the road had vanished.

The two communicated in their "native dialect."

"Joining the Cangli Tribe? Of course I can. I couldn't ask for more." Gao Huan was extremely excited. Then he asked, "What about you? Will we cultivate at Jiu Li Dao Academy together? Can cultivation make me as powerful as you?"

Li Weiyi smiled. "What does my little bit of cultivation amount to? You are a Pure Immortal Body. In the future, you must at least reach Shi Jiuzhai's level—perhaps even surpass him."

Gao Huan's heart burned, and he could scarcely suppress his soaring emotions.

Li Weiyi said, "I can't go for now! I need to return to the Bronze Ship and bring over the expedition members. Once everything has stabilized, I'll take the First Mate and the others to Jiu Li City to see you."

"Then I'll go with you. We'll pick up the expedition members first, then go to Jiu Li Dao Academy," Gao Huan said.

Li Weiyi shook his head. "First, Young Tribe Leader Cangli and the others are leaving at noon today. They cannot wait."

"Second, if we are to conceal the existence of the Bronze Ship and our true identities, you must leave with them first. Otherwise, I think they may send experts to protect you in secret—and in doing so, track us as well."

"Third, with so many of us, it will not be easy to gain a foothold in a foreign land. If you distinguish yourself at Jiu Li Dao Academy, won't we be able to stand straighter within the Cangli Tribe as well? We each have our duties. We will work together."

Gao Huan felt Li Weiyi's words made sense. The four words "distinguish yourself" struck the most sensitive place in his heart.

He stuffed every money pouch he had looted from corpses into Li Weiyi's hands. "Following the Young Tribe Leader, I definitely won't need these anymore. Take them all. How did that saying go again—no longer oxen or horses, nor pigs or sheep. We shall meet again at the summit!"

When they departed, Li Weiyi and Zhao Zhizhuo sat outside the carriage, one on each side.

"To become Above All Others, we must cultivate bitterly for decades before we even have a chance. But Pure Immortal Bodies are born Above All Others."

Zhao Zhizhuo cracked his whip and drove the horses. Glancing at Li Weiyi, he asked, "Feeling very disappointed?"

"At first, I was. But now, I feel even more driven!" Li Weiyi said with a smile.

Whether Li Weiyi spoke sincerely or merely put on a brave face, Zhao Zhizhuo did not care. He explained on Cangli's behalf, "The conditions for entering Jiu Li Dao Academy are extremely harsh. The slots for the Nine Great Tribes were decided long ago."

"Because it concerns the Mang Mountain Grand Sacrifice on the ninth day of the ninth month half a year from now, those entering the academy at this time have all been selected by their respective tribes for a final sprint."

"These six months in the academy will bring tremendous benefits! Guidance from famous teachers and free access to the classics are secondary matters. Most important is that cultivation resources will be supplied to the brim, with no upper limit."

"You could say everyone within the Cangli Tribe is green with envy. One radish, one pit—everyone is fighting for a spot."

"In the battle at Immortal Burial Town, one selected candidate died miserably. That was the only reason an extra slot opened up."

"Of course, most importantly, as long as one is a Pure Immortal Body, they are guaranteed to obtain a result in the Mang Mountain Grand Sacrifice and win benefits for the Cangli Tribe. Where else could one encounter such a good thing?"

"Elder Zhao knows Jiu Li Dao Academy so deeply?" Li Weiyi felt that Zhao Zhizhuo had opened only Two Springs. With such cultivation, he did not seem like someone who could have had contact with Jiu Li Dao Academy.

Zhao Zhizhuo gave a bitter smile, as though recalling something. There was a trace of pride in his bearing. "When I was young, this old man was also selected to cultivate at Jiu Li Dao Academy. At that year's Mang Mountain Grand Sacrifice, I even won an excellent result for the Cangli Tribe. I could be considered a glory of the tribe. But afterward... forget it. Why bring up painful memories? Hah... hah..."

He clutched his chest and wheezed several times before continuing, "Otherwise, why do you think this old man can speak with the Young Tribe Leader and Miss Ling?"

Li Weiyi suddenly understood. It was exactly as he had guessed.

Zhao Zhizhuo had indeed suffered great setbacks and great hardships. That was why he had become so dejected now, devoid of fighting spirit, timid and hesitant, magnifying every hardship.

After weighing his words again and again, Li Weiyi said, "Elder Zhao, life is difficult, but as long as you keep moving forward, you can always cross every hurdle. Cultivation is not actually that difficult... at least, not as difficult as you think. Why can't you start over?"

Zhao Zhizhuo took Li Weiyi's words to heart, but he merely smiled and nodded.

If his will had not been strong enough for him to choose to walk the path of cultivation anew, how could he have gained the Two Springs within his body?

Seeing Zhao Zhizhuo's lonely, pained expression, Li Weiyi realized his words had been too self-righteous. It was too late to patch them up. He hastily changed the subject and asked, "Elder Zhao, have you heard the names Zen Sea Observing Mist and Yu Tuo Nan?"

Zhao Zhizhuo revealed a thoughtful expression.

Li Weiyi said, "They should be two ancient people, not from this era."

"If you mean ancient people, then that does line up!"

Zhao Zhizhuo said, "A thousand years ago, there was an absolute peak expert called Zen Sea Observing Mist. She was the master of Lingxiao Palace, the strongest person in our region of existence. Her disciple, Yu Yaozi... Forget it. It is best not to mention that name. It is highly taboo. The great chaos of the past ten years was all caused by her."

Li Weiyi was moved. He had never expected Zen Sea Observing Mist to have such a terrifying background. He immediately asked, "What about Yu Tuo Nan?"

Zhao Zhizhuo thought carefully, then shook his head to indicate that he had never heard of the name.

That should not be possible!

Judging by Yu Tuo Nan's tone aboard the Bronze Ship, he had not seemed to be someone weaker than Zen Sea Observing Mist in life.

After purchasing a batch of food in Yaoguan City and loading it onto the carriage, Li Weiyi and Zhao Zhizhuo parted ways by the Sui River.

Zhao Zhizhuo asked, "Do you truly not need this old man to go with you to pick them up?"

"You have an old ailment and fresh injuries as well. Stay in Yao Pass and recover properly. Once I bring my companions back and meet up with you, we can go to the Cangli Tribe together."

Li Weiyi had asked Cangli for two favors. The first concerned the Lizhou citizen identities of his several dozen refugee companions. The second was cultivation manuals.

The first was merely a word from Cangli, and he entrusted Zhao Zhizhuo with handling it.

The second had been handed to Li Weiyi back at Jujube Plum Manor.