Upon Sacred Cliff, Yang Qing respectfully knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times, completing the apprenticeship ceremony.
Only after becoming his disciple did Yang Qing learn his master's name. Like him, his master was surnamed Li, with the given name Quan.
"Since you have taken me as your master, I shall naturally guide you in cultivation. Focus your mind, calm your spirit, and listen carefully. Cultivation begins with—"
Li Quan slowly explained the methods of cultivation. His voice was not loud, yet every word reached Yang Qing's ears with perfect clarity.
There seemed to be a magical power in his voice, unconsciously calming Yang Qing's heart as each word flowed through his mind.
Who knew how long passed? When his master's voice abruptly stopped, Yang Qing suddenly awoke.
"Thank you for your guidance, Master!" Yang Qing said with clasped hands.
"Do you understand?" Li Quan asked.
"I understand! The first step of cultivation is to open up the Sea of Bitterness!" Yang Qing answered honestly.
It sounded rather complicated, and this was his first encounter with it, but he truly understood.
Perhaps this was what talent looked like!
Li Quan nodded in satisfaction. The cultivation method he had just imparted to Yang Qing was no ordinary one—it was the Wheel of Life chapter of the Daoist Scripture.
There were many Emperor Scriptures in the world, but when it came to laying the best foundation at the beginning of cultivation, the Daoist Scripture was undoubtedly the foremost choice.
The Daoist Scripture encompassed all things. Though he had only taught the foundational portion, Yang Qing understood it after hearing it once. His comprehension was quite good.
All that remained was to see how long Yang Qing would take to open up his Sea of Bitterness!
Back then, it had taken him a month to open up his Sea of Bitterness. As long as Yang Qing could come close to that result, he would be more than satisfied.
Suddenly, he saw Yang Qing sitting cross-legged on the ground with his eyes shut, and he could not help but be slightly stunned. Was Yang Qing already beginning to cultivate?
He secretly shook his head. He really was just a green youngster who knew nothing about cultivation.
At the beginning of cultivation, one generally needed someone to guide them before they could sense the Wheel of Life, then guide their vital essence to strike at the Sea of Bitterness.
So be it! This was a fine chance to let Yang Qing understand the hardships of cultivation, so that he might develop a sense of reverence.
Yet moments later, a trace of surprise appeared on his face, and his eyes became bright.
Without his guidance, Yang Qing had actually sensed the Wheel of Life directly?
He had misjudged the boy. Who would have thought his talent was so exceptional? He was a genius!
Having sensed the Wheel of Life so quickly, what came next was simple—merely patient, grinding effort.
"This isn't difficult at all!"
Yang Qing's own sensations were wondrous. Following the cultivation method his master had described, he easily sensed the Wheel of Life.
Within the Wheel of Life, he felt a boiling source of divine power. Vaguely, he seemed to see a vast golden ocean.
Before he knew it, he had sunk into a profound state of cultivation, his spirit wandering beyond his body.
The more Li Quan watched, the more astonished he became. Before he realized it, his gaze toward Yang Qing was already filled with approval.
It was only his disciple's first time cultivating, yet he had entered the state so quickly. His talent was far better than Li Quan had anticipated.
Such fine jade, if properly nurtured, had great hope of inheriting his mantle in the future.
He could not help thinking of another young man, a peerless youth whose talent was the greatest he had ever seen in his life.
Back then, that youth had solemnly vowed before him that he would Prove Dao and Become Emperor in the shortest possible time. He wondered how far he had come now.
As he pondered, Li Quan's expression suddenly changed slightly as he looked toward Undying Mountain in the distance.
A wisp of aura erupted, as though a Supreme Being deity had awakened. It threw heaven and earth into chaos, sweeping across hundreds of millions of miles in an instant and shaking the world.
The next moment, soaring light rose from Undying Mountain, blooming with immortal auspicious radiance. It blanketed the heavens and shook past, present, and future.
Yang Qing could no longer focus on cultivation. A fear born of instinct jolted him awake, making his entire body tremble uncontrollably.
That aura was simply too terrifying. In this world, there was perhaps only one possibility.
Why was he so unlucky? He had only just begun cultivating, yet he had encountered a Supreme Being from Undying Mountain emerging into the world?
"I am not dead yet. Get back inside!"
A vast voice resounded through heaven and earth, filled with majesty. It was as though a Supreme Being deity had flown into a rage, making the skies in every direction tremble.
Under Yang Qing's stunned gaze, his master took a single step forward. A great path of immortal light appeared beneath his feet, carrying him into the sky.
At that moment, the hunched, withered master in his eyes changed completely!
His figure became incomparably upright, like a spear piercing the heavens. His blood and vital energy surged into the skies, flooding the firmament.
Yang Qing stood frozen. He had known his master was extraordinary, but he had never imagined his master was this extraordinary.
"Saint Body, you have long entered your later years. Your blood and vital energy have declined, and your form is withered. You cannot endure for much longer!"
A deep voice rang out from Undying Mountain, cold and indifferent. Every black colossal peak rumbled and shook, their thunderous roars unceasing.
"As long as I live, I will not allow you to act so wantonly. Do you dare come out and fight me?"
Li Quan stepped into Undying Mountain, shattering a mountain beneath his foot and kicking it apart. Broken rocks flew deep into Undying Mountain.
At that moment, the entire Eastern Wasteland shook. Millions of mountain ranges quivered, and no one knew how many people had been alarmed by that vast aura.
"You do not have much time left. I will quietly watch you perish. Why would I need to fight you?"
As soon as the words fell, the terrifying aura within Undying Mountain gradually withdrew. Undying Mountain slowly returned to calm, as though nothing had happened.
Li Quan silently stared into the depths of Undying Mountain. If he could, he would have charged in and slaughtered his way through it right now.
But he could not. The younger generation had not yet grown, and these old bones of his could not die yet!
When Li Quan returned to Sacred Cliff and saw Yang Qing's shocked face, a trace of a smile suddenly appeared on his stern countenance.
"What? Scared witless already? Cough, cough."
Before he could finish speaking, violent coughing erupted. Li Quan's face immediately turned deathly pale.
Yang Qing hurried over and helped his master sit down. Only after his master's complexion returned to normal did he secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
"Master, you're already so old. Can't you take it easy?"
A trace of sorrow appeared in Li Quan's eyes. Yang Qing had heard the exchange just now and could naturally infer quite a few things.
The Supreme Being within Undying Mountain had emerged and called his master "Saint Body," already revealing his master's identity.
His master was actually a Great Accomplishment Saint Body!
Yet he was a Great Accomplishment Saint Body who had already entered his later years and did not have much time left!
With an aged and frail body, he guarded the outskirts of Undying Mountain and confronted the Supreme Beings. What a difficult situation that was!
"Don't worry! Your master will not die for the time being. But from now on, you must cultivate diligently!" Li Quan sighed.
If the spring breeze has pity for flowers, could it grant me youth once more?
He was already old. He did not have much time left!
If not for that, he could have suppressed everything by himself. Why would he need to leave such a burden to the younger generation?
In a place of turmoil like Sacred Cliff, once he fell, Yang Qing would have no chance of surviving.
He could only teach Yang Qing as quickly as possible and let him venture out on his own. How far Yang Qing could go in the future would depend on Yang Qing himself.
As for him, before he died, he would charge into Undying Mountain and make one final contribution to this world!
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