The Most Useless Banished Immortal in History

Yue Buqun held Wang Jingyuan's hand as they made their way through Huashan.

Because Wang Jingyuan truly had difficulty moving through the pathless mountain forest, he had taken the initiative to ask Yue Buqun for help. Naturally, under the guise of supporting him, Yue Buqun grasped Wang Jingyuan's wrist and easily felt his pulse.

Deep and strong—his body was healthy, but still only within the bounds of an ordinary person. He was not even comparable to a common martial artist who had practiced basic kung fu, much less a disciple of a famous sect who had cultivated inner strength. No matter how Yue Buqun looked at him, he did not seem like an immortal.

Yet the sight of the man floating down from the sky earlier could not have been fake. That was not something human strength could accomplish. Besides, Huashan was the tallest mountain in the area. There were no other peaks from which he could have jumped down onto Huashan.

Yue Buqun pulled Wang Jingyuan along, hurrying toward the Mount Hua Sect's grounds. His thoughts could not help but wander, and by the time he entered the sect grounds, he had reached a conclusion.

This man had committed some error in heaven and had been banished to the mortal world, just as disciples who made mistakes were expelled from their sects and stripped of their martial arts.

When immortals in heaven were banished to the mortal world, their divine powers were taken away as well. That seemed perfectly reasonable.

Inside the sect leader's residence, Wang Jingyuan sat before a square Eight Immortals table. The breakfast that had originally been prepared for Yue Buqun was placed before him. Breakfast in the Ming Dynasty was not elaborate, consisting only of soy milk, steamed buns, and pickled vegetables.

Yet Wang Jingyuan ate with great relish, muttering as he did so, "I can taste it. Even the sense of taste is this realistic. This game world is really impressive. Looks like I can try making myself something to eat later."

Wang Jingyuan did not finish the breakfast. Once the negative debuff from [Hunger Status] had disappeared, he set down his bowl and chopsticks.

Only after seeing that Wang Jingyuan had finished eating did Yue Buqun ask, "May I ask where Immortal Elder's immortal homeland is?"

Wang Jingyuan instinctively wanted to name his province and city, but then shook his head with a self-mocking smile. "Even if I told you, an NPC like you probably wouldn't understand. Just think of me as someone from far away."

Yue Buqun nodded without surprise. So this was what they meant by heavenly secrets that could not be revealed. But what did "NPC" mean?

Yue Buqun did not dwell on words he did not understand and merely continued, "May I ask what brings Immortal Elder here?"

"The ultimate goal is probably to defeat the Final Boss, but it's hard to say who the Final Boss here is." Wang Jingyuan gave Yue Buqun a distant look, beginning to consider whether he currently had the ability to kill him.

After all, in the original novel The Smiling, Proud Wanderer, the man before him also fit the criteria for a Final Boss quite well.

But Wang Jingyuan soon shook his head and asked instead, "Shouldn't you be the one telling me what I'm supposed to do next?"

"Me?" Yue Buqun was somewhat baffled.

Wang Jingyuan slapped his palm. "That's right. You were the first person I saw when I arrived. Logically speaking, you should be playing the role of a guiding NPC. You should be the one issuing my Novice Quest, right?

Hurry up, Novice Village Chief. Is there any work you need me to do?"

This Immortal Elder had descended to the mortal world to undergo a tribulation? Yue Buqun's lips moved for a long while before he finally gritted his teeth and said, "I would like to ask Immortal Elder to help me revive Huashan!"

[Yue Buqun has issued you the quest "Revive Huashan"]

[Accept: Yes/No]

Wang Jingyuan scratched his head. "You're throwing me straight into the deep end? Shouldn't it start with chopping some firewood, gathering some herbs, or killing a few people?

But whatever. I've had games where I had to kill five demigods right away and collect their Greater Runes. For a mature player, quest difficulty is never a problem. The harder it is, the more exciting it gets.

I'll take this job."

[Yes]

Yue Buqun's scalp tingled as he listened. Since when could killing people be considered the same kind of task as chopping firewood and gathering herbs? No wonder this man had been banished to the lower realm.

And what had he just said? He had previously killed five divine beings?!

While Yue Buqun was still in shock, Wang Jingyuan spoke again. "By the way, I remember you're the leader of Mount Hua. Now that I've accepted the quest, can I learn skills from you?"

Yue Buqun asked in confusion, "What are skills?"

"Things like the Zixia Divine Skill and Bixie Swordplay."

Yue Buqun understood. This man wanted to learn martial arts. But after being banished, could an immortal not even recultivate his original immortal arts? If so, what use could this immortal be? Never mind. He would take things one step at a time.

The Zixia Divine Skill was one matter. It was his signature art, and if an immortal asked for it, he naturally would not dare refuse. But faced with an immortal who had "lost all his divine powers," he needed to consider matters carefully.

As for the Bixie Sword Manual, he did not know it. However, he knew it was the hereditary martial art of the Fuwei Escort Agency in Fuzhou. Lin Yuantu, the founder of the Fuwei Escort Agency, had once relied on this swordplay to become invincible throughout the southwest.

After some thought, Yue Buqun replied, "Immortal Elder may not know this, but cultivating the Zixia Divine Skill must be done step by step. Why not first practice the Mount Hua Sect's basic inner cultivation?"

Wang Jingyuan had no objection. "Sure."

Seeing Wang Jingyuan agree so readily, Yue Buqun grew bolder. "Immortal Elder has encountered... encountered a misfortune. Why not conceal your identity for now?"

Even if he was a Banished Immortal who had "lost all his divine powers," as long as he agreed to help revive Huashan, that could more or less be considered an immortal affinity. Such an immortal affinity naturally had to be carefully protected and could not be allowed to fall into others' hands.

"Fine." Wang Jingyuan agreed just as readily.

Yue Buqun looked Wang Jingyuan up and down. Seeing that he appeared to be seventeen or eighteen, he thought for a moment and said, "How about Immortal Elder endure a little indignity and pretend to be my disciple for now?"

[Yue Buqun invites you to join the Mount Hua Sect]

[Accept: Yes/No]

"I don't mind." Naturally, Wang Jingyuan had no objections. He had already accepted the other party's quest and was going to learn his skills, so joining his faction was perfectly normal.

[Yes]

Seeing Wang Jingyuan cooperate so readily, Yue Buqun was delighted. "May I ask Immortal Elder's honored name?"

"Wang Jingyuan."

"Please forgive my disrespect, but from now on, in front of others, I shall address Immortal Elder as Jingyuan. And Immortal Elder shall address me as..."

"Master?"

Yue Buqun felt thoroughly gratified. Even knowing it was an act, hearing an immortal call him Master made it impossible for his heart to remain completely unmoved.

Hold it in. He could not laugh now. "Then Immortal Elder will have to endure this indignity."

Then, urged on by Wang Jingyuan, Yue Buqun began teaching him the Mount Hua Basic Internal Cultivation. Wang Jingyuan was not trained in traditional Chinese medicine, so he could not make sense of acupuncture points, meridians, and the like, much less all the technical terms.

The Mount Hua Sect had been founded by Hao Datong and shared the same lineage as the Quanzhen Sect. Even the Mount Hua Basic Internal Cultivation bore traces of Daoist Guiding Technique. It was filled with terminology from Daoist Inner Elixir Art, and without the guidance of a renowned master, one could not understand it even with the manual laid before one.

It was like when Mei Chaofeng and Chen Xuanfeng had obtained the Nine Yin Manual and blindly practiced based on their own assumptions. They had been lucky; those less fortunate would drool even after being cured.

Yue Buqun merely read through the Mount Hua inner cultivation method once first, intending to see whether Wang Jingyuan needed further explanation. When he finished reading the manual, a notification appeared before Wang Jingyuan's eyes.

[Yue Buqun is teaching you Mount Hua Basic Internal Cultivation]

[Learn: Yes/No]

Was there even anything to hesitate over?

[Yes]