Primordial Unity Scripture

"We'll have to put off thoroughly investigating the valley." the black-robed old man said.

"Why? There are only a few of us here right now. What if other cultivators discover this place later? Wouldn't all our joy be for nothing?" the young woman in the green dress asked first, her face full of displeasure.

The black-robed old man snorted. "The pills on me are nearly used up as well. If you're confident you can investigate it to the end on your own, then suit yourselves. I'll first refine some healing pills and pills to restore magical power. Do as you please."

"So that's how it is. Then let's do this: Fellow Daoist Geng will be responsible for refining pills, while the rest of us search the canyon for spiritual objects to use as his ingredients. Once we're fully prepared, we'll act together. Fellow Daoist Geng, what do you think?" The big-bearded man slapped his thigh and spoke excitedly.

The black-robed old man hesitated briefly. Under the gazes of the big-bearded man, the Blood Dwarf, and the young woman in the green dress, he nodded. "That works. Then it's decided."

"I'll excavate a cave at the valley entrance first. Handle your own tasks. If you discover any spiritual objects, you can bring them to me." With that, the black-robed old man flew into the mist covering the valley.

Lu Xiaotian woke up in a daze, only to discover that he was being carried in the black bear's mouth like a giant bear carrying a cub. A cold sweat immediately broke out across him, and he didn't even dare breathe too loudly. If he startled the black bear, all it would have to do was close its jaws, and it could bite him in half.

The black bear followed the black-robed old man into the canyon. After going roughly three hundred zhang in, the fog around them grew increasingly dense. At a glance, Lu Xiaotian could only see things within several dozen zhang; anything farther away was already a vast white blur, impossible to make out.

The black-robed old man stopped at a relatively level spot. With a sweep of his wide sleeve, he sharply shouted, "Expand!"

A pale golden sword shot from his sleeve. From its original length of about two inches, it suddenly expanded to several chi in size.

This—this was a flying sword! Lu Xiaotian was so stunned by the scene before him that he completely forgot his fear. He stared in utter astonishment as the golden blade shot toward the mountain wall opposite and sliced into the originally rock-hard stone as easily as cutting tofu.

A great heap of rocks clattered down from the mountain wall to the ground.

"Old Geng's flying sword really is formidable. He actually carved a cave dwelling into the mountain so effortlessly." The young woman in the green dress and the others entered the canyon afterward. Seeing the scene before them, their expressions changed slightly as they murmured.

"It's only a little sharper. If it can't pierce a person, it's useless in the end." There was a sour edge to the Blood Dwarf's voice.

Roar! The black bear let out a low growl, set Lu Xiaotian on the ground, then charged forward. It clawed apart the scattered rubble, helping the black-robed old man open up the cave dwelling.

Lu Xiaotian's buttocks ached terribly after landing on the ground, but he didn't dare make a sound, fearing that he might anger the black-robed old man, who was manipulating the flying sword. This was a method said to belong only to immortals, yet he had actually encountered it. When he had been a servant, he had once passed the Thunder Blade Sect's practice grounds. Those formidable martial masters could cleave around a huge boulder with a single stroke, but after repeating it a few times, they would exhaust their internal power and be unable to continue. The black-robed old man before him, however, was using a flying sword. With every gesture, he could carve a huge cave dwelling out of the mountain. Such an incredible encounter had actually befallen him.

In truth, opening a cave dwelling was not as easy as Lu Xiaotian had imagined. At one point, a bead of sweat slid down the black-robed old man's face, and he even sat in meditation to rest once. Even so, the black-robed old man's abilities had still exceeded Lu Xiaotian's imagination.

"A practice room, pill room, spirit-beast room, secret chamber, and resting room... That should about do it." The black-robed old man muttered to himself. He raised a hand, and the golden flying sword shrank before vanishing into his broad sleeve.

"Come in with me."

The black-robed old man swept a glance over Lu Xiaotian and spoke in a tone that allowed no refusal. Lu Xiaotian had no doubt that if he said no, the huge black bear would surely swallow him in one bite. Moreover, the dignity of an immortal left him with no courage to resist. He merely felt that the black-robed old man's manner was exceedingly cold, giving off an air that kept strangers at a distance.

"What's your name?" the black-robed old man asked hoarsely after bringing him into the cave dwelling.

"My name is Lu Xiaotian."

"Mm. From now on, you'll follow me and learn the art of cultivating immortality. Do whatever I tell you, and don't ask unnecessary questions. Otherwise, I'll throw you out and let that black bear eat you one bite at a time."

"I-I can learn the art of cultivating immortality?" Lu Xiaotian was still a boy at heart. Hearing the black-robed old man's words, his face immediately lit up with delight. But when he saw the old man's icy gaze, his heart trembled, and he remembered the warning not to ask too many questions. He hurriedly nodded. "Y-yes."

Seeing that Lu Xiaotian's reaction was acceptable, the black-robed old man gave a slight nod. For a child of such a young age to withstand his scrutiny and still manage to speak, that mental fortitude was already quite good. It was just that he was far too young, and there would be a great deal of miscellaneous work for him to handle later. Without some strength, it wouldn't do. Even a sturdy ordinary man, let alone a boy, would be worked to the point of collapse.

The black-robed old man rummaged through his storage bag. There were several cultivation arts inside, but his brows furrowed. He still couldn't determine the boy's aptitude. In any case, it was unlikely to be very good. He couldn't even determine which elemental Spirit Root the boy possessed. If he hadn't been left with no other choice, the black-robed old man wouldn't have brought Lu Xiaotian here.

After pondering for a moment, the black-robed old man pulled out a copy of the Primordial Unity Scripture. It had been taken from a disciple of the Soaring Heavens Palace, and it placed no particular requirements on the type of Spirit Root. As for whether cultivating it would produce any adverse effects, there was naturally no way to know. He could only give it a try.

The copy of the Primordial Unity Scripture in his hands was incomplete and could only be cultivated up to the Qi Refining Middle Stage. He had already reached the great perfection stage of Qi Refining. Although the Primordial Unity Scripture came from the Soaring Heavens Palace, it was completely useless to him—a tasteless bit of gristle—and thus happened to benefit this little boy.

"This is the cultivation art for you. Keep it safe. Starting tomorrow, I'll teach you how to cultivate."

"Yes, yes!" Lu Xiaotian had originally wanted to thank him, but the moment he met the old man's gaze, the words caught in his throat were swallowed back down. It seemed the other party had no intention of taking him as a disciple.

The black-robed old man prepared an extremely small stone room for Lu Xiaotian. He gave him only a piece of animal hide spread across the floor and a few ordinary living implements before sending him off to the stone room. He himself sat cross-legged. Opening the cave dwelling had consumed more than just magical power; the prolonged use of the flying sword had also depleted his spiritual sense, all of which needed to be properly recovered.

But after entering the cramped stone room, Lu Xiaotian couldn't help feeling intensely excited. He held the Primordial Unity Scripture to his chest as reverently as a priceless treasure. At the Thunder Blade Sect, he could only serve as a lowly laborer, spending every day chopping firewood, feeding horses, sweeping, boiling water, and doing other menial chores.

Now, although the black-robed old man was not easy to get along with, Lu Xiaotian could study the arts practiced only by immortals. In the future, he could also wield a flying sword like the black-robed old man, splitting mountains and cleaving stones as easily as turning his hand. Even though the stone room contained nothing but an unknown mottled animal hide spread across the floor as a bed, Lu Xiaotian was already perfectly content.