On the Road to Longevity, Only Corpses!

When Qi WuHuo was about to speak, the Mountain God raised a hand and said with a smile, "No need to rush to a decision yet."

"Let me first tell you about the powers of a Mountain God. The sacrificial rites say that [mountains, rivers, valleys, and hills that can produce clouds, bring wind and rain, and manifest strange phenomena are all called gods]. The lineage of Earthly Deities actually does not obey the Heavenly Emperor's decrees. Relatively speaking, they are not subject to many restrictions. Leaving their territory does not have a significant impact, except that they cannot wield the power of the earth veins."

"However, within the mountains and rivers they preside over, they naturally possess several great supernatural abilities."

"They can produce clouds and mist."

"They can bring wind and rain."

"They can use earth veins to manifest escape techniques, disappearing without a trace. They can also condense incense and destiny, which is a not weak supernatural ability."

"At the same time, based on incense prayers, they have a certain protective ability, for example, making certain people have good luck, or making those who are protected more efficient in their studies."

"Of course, all of this is based on the normal operation of the earth veins. Mountain gods and land gods naturally maintain the normal operation of earth veins and earth qi. That's why they are called earthly deities. However, these are not the reasons I want you to be a Mountain God."

The Mountain God smiled and said, "I know you have the Great Dao in your heart."

"Cultivating the three essences—Primordial Essence, Primordial Qi, and Primordial Spirit—you are currently still at the stage of refining Primordial Essence. When Primordial Essence is refined to its extreme and then merges with Primordial Qi, you will be able to cultivate [Primordial Prenatal Qi]. At that time, you can be called a Daoist master; and when Primordial Essence and Primordial Qi merge, if you are within the earth veins, you can take the opportunity to cultivate a supernatural ability called Earthly Origin Body Refining Heart Art."

"Each sect and school has its own secret techniques, and this is considered a secret transmission of the earthly deities."

The Fierce Tiger Mountain God took a drink from a cup of wine and said, "For others, the status of an earthly deity might be a destination they cannot obtain. But for you and me, it is just a place to temporarily stop and rest. Eventually, we will leave. When that time comes, you will return this status to the beings of this world."

As he spoke, his expression was peaceful. He drank the wine, put down the cup, and his gaze fell upon the sword placed on the table.

He lightly brushed the sword's body with his palm, and the sword let out a soft hum.

Qi WuHuo did not immediately make a decision. Seeing the sword, he asked, "That Sword Immortal Tantai Guochu, is he acquainted with the Mountain God?"

The Mountain God was silent for a long while before replying, "Yes, a good friend from over three hundred years ago."

"I just didn't expect his descendant to do such a thing. If he were still alive, he would have already taken his head with a single sword."

"Follow me."

He held the sword in his right hand, raising the blade slightly upwards. This sword was long and thin. As it was raised, it cut through the air with a clear sound. One could imagine that if this sword were wielded, it would be incomparably swift. The Mountain God stood up and paced with the sword in hand, saying, "At that time, I swallowed Huang Jing and gained sentience. After cultivating in the mountains for a hundred years, I already possessed Primordial Prenatal Qi and the means to shapeshift."

"He was a swordsman from a martial sect in the human world, entering the Dao through his sword."

"We once traveled the world together, vanquished bandits in the mountains, and discussed Daoist principles with old monks under the moonlight."

"He roamed the land with his sword for thirty years, living by his own code of justice and vengeance."

"Later, he fell in love with a woman and settled down in his hometown, while I returned to the mountains. We agreed that every twenty years, when spring arrived and the rivers thawed, we would meet again at the place where we first met, with wine, to reminisce about the past and discuss the future. During the first and second meetings, we still met as we always had, filled with joy."

"Twenty years later, when we met, he was already middle-aged, and his cultivation had reached the level of Primordial Prenatal Qi. He was invincible within the river."

"He no longer needed a sword."

"Another twenty years passed, and his wife passed away."

"Ten more years later, what arrived was an old man with graying temples."

The Fierce Tiger Mountain God drank again, "He gave me his self-created sword manual in exchange for me leaving my name on a jade book he had prepared."

"I stood on the mountain ridge that day and watched him walk down the mountain step by step. I never saw him again after that."

"As for now, it has already been three hundred years."

"Time is truly relentless."

The Mountain God stroked the sword, swept his sleeve, and pulverized the corpse of the deceased old Daoist priest. Then, he went to the mountaintop and planted the sword on the highest point of the mountain. The wind blew across the blade, sounding like a low hum. The tall Mountain God stood with his hands behind his back, looking at the river below the mountain. It was winter, and a layer of ice had formed on the river. The Mountain God raised his hand, and the wine pot in his hand tilted slightly.

The strong liquor spilled onto the sword's edge, its momentum still fierce.

"Old friend, your sword is with me, and your wine pot is also with me."

"For people like us, it's enough to travel the world with a sword and a pot of wine."

"Drinking a pot of wine and seeing the world is also good."

The Mountain God smiled as he finished pouring the wine, then hung the wine pot on the sword's hilt. He looked at the sword, as if seeing his sworn friend from his youth, and then as if seeing him in his final moments, old and frail. Suddenly, he chuckled and waved his sleeve with a sense of freedom.

Past events, life and death, partings.

They did not linger in his heart.

He turned and walked down the mountain, murmuring to himself, "When the long river freezes for a thousand miles, jade ke and jade pendants chime discordantly."

"This fleeting life is like water beneath the ice."

"Flowing east day and night, unknown to man..."

"It is a good thing that you are buried here with me; when I pursue the Great Dao in the future and my lifespan is nearing its end, where will I be buried?"

The Mountain God and Qi WuHuo walked down from the highest peak. The tall Mountain God suddenly said, "WuHuo."

"How do you feel today?"

Qi WuHuo thought for a moment and replied, "I have seen life and death."

The Mountain God laughed freely, "That Tantai Xuan is nearing the end of his lifespan, thus he refines the lifespan of living people to extend his own. With a hundred or so lives in his hands, he naturally walks the path of evil. But if you trace back to his original intention, it is also to seek longevity and not wish to die. How is this different from you and me?"

"Any cultivator who does not change their original intention and does not wish to harm others might, like my friend, die peacefully."

"But those driven by fear will fall into evil ways and die in disaster."

"All things in heaven and earth have their own laws of operation."

"Today it seems he offended you, and then died. Perhaps he also thought that until his death, he deeply regretted his bad luck. But in the unseen fate, it is not impossible that this heaven and earth Dao, using you and me as a tool to kill him."

"Heaven and earth are eternal, and they operate without cease."

"A drink, a peck, who can truly say?"

"You and I are those who pursue the Dao for longevity. One day, we will have to get used to parting, or perhaps we will pursue the Dao to our death."

"A word to gift you."

The Fierce Tiger Mountain God cupped his hands slightly, wanting to speak but remaining silent. In the end, he could only sigh with a smile:

"On the road to longevity."

"Nothing but corpses."

"Dao Fellow... take care!"

As Qi WuHuo descended the mountain, the Mountain God thought for a moment, then beckoned again. A gust of wind brought the Black Iron Sword Box over. The Fierce Tiger Mountain God raised his hand and pressed down, and suddenly a boundless gale swept over the sword box. The light on the sword box suddenly brightened intensely, then returned to calm, and the incessant whistling had also stopped.

The Mountain God turned the sword box over and handed it to him, saying, "Today you should have seen that you have no method to protect the Dao."

"You are at a significant disadvantage when encountering Left Path cultivators."

"Your Primordial Spirit is powerful. To some Left Path practitioners, it's no different from a natural spiritual medicine."

"Your Primordial Qi has not merged with the Primordial Essence, so you cannot separate it from your body. However, your Primordial Spirit cultivation is strong, and you can still wield this item."

"I have erased Tantai Xuan's Primordial Spirit imprint. You can take it back and slowly refine the imprint within. It will take about three years, and then you will be able to operate it at will."

"To serve as a means of protecting the Dao."

The Mountain God smiled and said, "This is not a favor or a transaction."

"Just like when you knew my cultivation method had problems and you came up the mountain overnight, it was out of friendship. I see that although your Primordial Spirit is strong, you lack a method to protect the Dao, and I hope to solve my friend's problem. This has nothing to do with cultivation, it's purely about sentiment."

Qi WuHuo cupped his hands and said, "In that case, thank you."

Since he had not yet refined this magical treasure, nor possessed Primordial Prenatal Qi, Qi WuHuo could not activate its supernatural abilities. He had no choice but to carry the sword box on his back and descend the mountain step by step. Along the way, he encountered the Night Watchman again. However, this time, the Night Watchman, who was usually quite unkempt, was stunned. He immediately made way and remained silent for a long time.

Qi WuHuo was taken aback. Before he even returned home, he heard noisy sounds.

From afar, he saw that the narrow alley, which was so narrow that even a carriage couldn't enter, was crowded with people.

Men and women dressed in luxurious clothing stood quietly inside the dilapidated small house.

When they heard the sound, they turned their heads.

They saw a young man in a blue robe carrying a black sword box on his back, standing at the entrance of the alley. As the wind blew, the hem of his clothes hinted at blood, and his brows were clear and bright.

There was a stir over there, and then scattered cupped hands, shouting in unison with considerable volume:

"Immortal Master Qi has arrived!!"