No Release

Elder Tao's palm moved away from the waist token. As his palm lost the feeling of its delicate, cool touch, he felt a pang of reluctance. The Ming Zhen Dao Alliance was one of the more relaxed and neutral large factions. With this waist token, and after imprinting his Primordial Spirit onto it, he could leverage the Alliance's power to accomplish many things.

He could participate in the discussions among cultivators in the city, and invite experts to explain his cultivation issues.

He could also seek out rare spiritual herbs and treasures.

The Ming Zhen Dao Alliance was not a worldly marketplace.

Instead, it was an organization centered around the principle of "Ming Zhen breaks through illusions to seek the Great Dao." Their concept of transactions only supported bartering.

Sometimes, ordinary people stumbled into it by chance, which could be considered a fortuitous encounter leading to immortal destiny.

Supernatural abilities, Marvelous Dharmas, elixirs, jade scrolls, and the world's most precious treasures could all be found there.

And possessing a token meant one could know in advance when the Ming Zhen Dao Alliance's discussion sessions would occur.

These were all things that greatly tempted Elder Tao. Moreover, this news pertained to the Ming Zhen Dao Alliance. That's why, even though Tantai Xuan had been captured by the Fierce Tiger and killed by Qi WuHuo, he had still taken the token. After all, he reasoned that since he was the one who killed Tantai Xuan's soul, and this youth was just a cultivator of low attainment, the token would be useless to him, making it reasonable for him to take it.

However, what he saw before him dispelled that notion.

Taking it out now was an act to forge a good connection.

Even though he was a Fortunate Earth Deity, and even though the youth before him still appeared to have ordinary cultivation.

Still, just the words "Supreme" carried such weight.

Even if Qi WuHuo belonged to the Supreme lineage, it was merely his guess.

But it was enough!

Those who are not of the Daoist path do not understand the weight of these two words.

Qi WuHuo looked at the waist token.

Even though his Primordial Qi and Primordial Spirit were depleted at this moment, he still managed to stand up. His body felt weak, but he solemnly bowed and said, "Thank you..."

The disaster in Jin Province years ago had claimed all his relatives and friends. The teacher who had been so good to him at the very end had also died there. People became inhuman, and things became unrecognizable. He had initially thought it was just a natural disaster, but now he seemed to see other perspectives--

The Ming Zhen Dao Alliance might be an opportunity.

An opportunity for him to truly understand what had happened back then.

Elder Tao was slightly taken aback. Seeing the sorrow on the blue-shirted youth, he recalled what the youth had said on the mountain. Thinking of a nine-year-old child who had experienced that catastrophe, even the old Earth Deity, who already had many plans and considerations, couldn't help but feel compassion. He sighed and comforted him, "Young Dao Fellow WuHuo, the dead cannot be brought back to life... Please accept my condolences, accept my condolences..."

"Although Buddhism and our Daoist path are different, Buddhism emphasizes letting go, and there are some merits to it."

"Actually, occasionally letting go of attachments is also a valid choice."

"Forget the past, and you may see the Tathagata."

The youth reverently accepted the token and replied:

"My mother died first, my father followed."

"My teacher went to the marketplace, to bring me back to the human world."

"I wonder, Elder Tao."

"Have you ever seen people eating people?"

The old man was speechless.

He sighed inwardly for a long time. After a few pleasantries, when he got up to leave, there was a genuine sincerity in his demeanor. "Young Brother WuHuo can often come to the mountains. I have cultivated here for a long time and have traveled the world. I have many ancient texts on the five arts of the Daoist path, we can chat more."

"Besides, the Mountain God is on the verge of a breakthrough. After he breaks through, he won't be staying here for long and will travel the world.

"We should gather during this final time."

Qi WuHuo had recovered some Primordial Qi by now. He still forced himself to stand and see the old man out.

Elder Tao stopped at the wooden door and smiled, stopping him. "Young Brother WuHuo's body has not yet recovered its Primordial Qi, so please don't see me out further."

Qi WuHuo stood at the doorway, thought for a moment, and said:

"Elder Tao just mentioned."

"Buddhism says all beings suffer, and letting go brings liberation."

Elder Tao nodded. "Yes."

Then he saw the child, who was only fourteen or fifteen, smile gently.

He was a handsome youth in his prime, clear and bright like the wind and moon.

He replied:

"If that is the case."

"I wish to never be liberated."

Elder Tao's smile trembled slightly, his hand stroking his beard stopped. As if touched by these words, his heart churned several times. Then he sighed, cupped his hands, and turned to leave. Walking to the alley entrance, he saw the youth still watching him from the doorway. The old Earth Deity sighed again and whispered:

"All beings seek Daoist lineage and inheritance, but who knows that the lineage also selects disciples based on their character."

"Both Confucian and Daoist, he is destined for the Supreme lineage..."

The old man sighed for a long time. He stamped his foot on the ground, and his body merged into the earth veins, like a fish swimming in water. In an instant, he had traveled dozens of miles and arrived at a wondrous place. At first glance, the houses were orderly, no less than those of wealthy families in the city. Inside were many ancient objects from hundreds of years ago, exuding an antique charm.

There was a couplet at the door.

The upper couplet read: [Though the temple is small, its divine powers are great]

The lower couplet read: [The sky is high, and the sun and moon are long]

Entering another room, there was another doorway. It looked indistinguishable from the Earth Deity temple in the town, only different in size. It also had a couplet.

The upper couplet read: Don't laugh at my small temple and small god, make a wish and see.

The lower couplet read: Don't rely on your power and influence, dare to do evil and see?

In the past, the old man was quite proud of his couplet. But looking at it now, and thinking about the young man's disposition beneath his gentle exterior, he suddenly felt the last line of this couplet was extremely jarring. With a flick of his sleeve, he went inside and saw that the other two Earth Gods were already there. Shen Hongxue, dressed in brown, was drinking, while Luo Yizhen was smiling as he read a scroll.

When Elder Tao entered, Luo Yizhen looked up and smiled, "Brother, you're quite late. Where did you go?"

Shen Hongxue chuckled, "Judging by Elder Tao's direction, he must have gone to find that mountain god's new friend, that greenhorn kid. How was he? Is he material for cultivation and enlightenment?"

He hadn't expected that the usually kind-faced and smooth-talking Earth God would slam his teacup onto the table and reprimand, "What greenhorn kid?!"

His tone intensified, startling Shen Hongxue and Luo Yizhen.

Then they saw Elder Tao pause in his movements, cup his hands, and say earnestly, "It's Young Friend Qi!"

After Qi WuHuo saw Elder Tao off, he walked back to the stone table step by step. His steps faltered, and he sank down.

He let out a long sigh, his expression looking somewhat listless. His eyes held a bright, shimmering quality. He rubbed the waist token, which was currently the only clue he had, wondering what he was thinking. After a long while, he exhaled deeply and his gaze fell upon the Black Iron Sword Box.

He reached out and stroked the sword box. It was cold to the touch, and the chill seemed to seep into his bones through his fingertips.

This could be considered a decent magical treasure.

Qi WuHuo vaguely felt a place where he could contain his Primordial Qi. As his vital energy circulated, the sword box suddenly made a few creaking sounds. A stream of light erupted from it. The next moment, the treasure's spiritual light flared intensely, and several items flew directly out of the sword box, landing steadily on the table. Qi WuHuo was surprised, realizing he had unconsciously activated the treasure.

These items must have been the treasures of that Evil Cultivator.

There were quite a few things, filling the entire table.

Upon closer inspection, they could be roughly divided into categories. First to catch his eye were three white, slender-necked porcelain bottles.

There were also several boxes, each containing medicinal materials and materials.

A sword, its blade wrapped in red rope, looked ominous.

A bundle containing what appeared to be crystals emitting a white stream of light.

A three-legged elixir furnace, emerald green and small enough to be held in the palm of one's hand.

Besides these, there was a scroll whose paper had already yellowed.

"Is this... cultivation notes?"

"Or something related to the Ming Zhen Dao Alliance?"

Qi WuHuo didn't look at the items emitting spiritual light.

Instead, he picked up the scroll and opened it. The first line of text made Qi WuHuo freeze for a moment.

[Record of Becoming Immortal].