A Different Path of Immortal Cultivation

Another seven-day period had passed.

Early in the morning, the eighty-seven geniuses who had joined the Azure Cloud Sect had already gathered voluntarily before the Main Hall Plaza.

This was their only chance to receive food from the Azure Cloud Sect, so naturally, they could not afford to miss it.

After all, they had not even completed Body Refinement yet. They still had to eat every day.

This time, Situ Mingyue and her maid were present as well.

They did not know why everyone was gathering at the Main Hall Plaza, but they had no choice but to come.

In fact, there was another very important issue. Situ Mingyue's maid had not joined the Azure Cloud Sect, so by rights, she should not have remained within the sect, much less listened to teachings.

Yet Zhang Yang did not interfere, and the Azure Cloud Seven Sons pretended not to notice.

After all, Situ Mingyue had spent a million spirit stones to join the sect. She deserved some privileges. Besides, no one expected a pampered young lady born into wealth and luxury to handle the trivial matters of daily life herself.

Zhang Yang swept his gaze over the crowd and said with a smile, "Another seven days have passed. You should all have gained some understanding of Body Refinement by now. Therefore, today, I have invited one of the Azure Cloud elders, Elder Hualingzi, to explain how to establish your foundation. Elder Hualingzi is a great cultivator at the Nascent Soul Late Stage. Everyone, welcome him with applause."

Situ Mingyue was stunned. Applause? What was going on?

The other eighty-seven geniuses were somewhat confused as well. But when they saw Zhang Yang taking the lead in clapping, they understood and promptly joined in.

They thought this was Azure Cloud Sect etiquette and foolishly followed along.

Even Situ Mingyue did the same. She even thought the Azure Cloud Sect's Rules were quite novel.

Amid enthusiastic applause, Hualingzi made his entrance.

He did not understand why this group of children was clapping either, because the Azure Cloud Sect had no such Rules at all. In fact, everyone was often rather informal with one another.

Zhang Yang raised a hand in signal, and the applause stopped. Many of the children gazed eagerly at Hualingzi.

They had not even opened their Spirit Seas, yet a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator had been invited to teach them?

Legend had it that in other sects, ordinary disciples could not even catch a glimpse of Nascent Soul Realm cultivators unless they were true disciples.

The Azure Cloud Sect truly valued them!

Hualingzi looked over the crowd and began, "Foundation Establishment establishes the foundation of the Great Dao. A mountain a thousand fathoms high begins with accumulated earth; the vastness of rivers and seas begins with tiny streams. On the road of the Great Dao, how far you can travel is often decided at the very beginning. Therefore, you must attach great importance to the Foundation Establishment Realm.

I have heard that all of you have already succeeded in Qi Gathering, so I will not speak further on that matter.

Next, I will begin directly with Body Refinement.

Look at what I have in my hand. This is a piece of jade, and I intend to carve it into a seal.

Would I begin carving it immediately after obtaining the jade?

Of course not. First, I must polish it and cut it into the rough shape of a seal."

As he spoke, the jade danced across his hand, and before long, the rough form of a seal emerged.

"Do you see?" Hualingzi pointed at the stone chips on the ground. "These chips I removed are like the impurities expelled from your bodies during Body Refinement.

The more impurities you expel, the purer your bodies become. Then, when you open your Spirit Seas, it will be easier, and the Spirit Seas you open will be broader as well."

After that, Hualingzi explained in simple yet profound terms. He went from Body Refinement to Sea Opening, then from Sea Opening to the Dao Seed, explaining all the principles of the entire Foundation Establishment Realm.

Had Zhang Yang not stopped him, he would likely have continued into the various matters of the Golden Core Realm.

"Martial Uncle, you have been speaking for most of the day. It is time to rest!" Zhang Yang said to Hualingzi. "Your junior brothers and sisters still have mortal flesh and blood. They need to eat!"

In truth, the many geniuses had long since become hungry. But Hualingzi's explanations had been so wonderful that they could not bear to interrupt him. They wished they could hear even more.

Missing a meal was no great matter, but it was not easy to hear a Nascent Soul Realm cultivator teach the Dao.

Hualingzi smiled. "Then I will leave the rest to you."

Just as he was about to leave, Zhang Yang hurriedly added, "Martial Uncle, since that seal has already been polished out, why not carve it into a proper seal? For you, it is merely a wave of the hand. However, I hope Martial Uncle can carve the seven words, 'Our Generation Must Have Azure Cloud Aspirations,' onto it. I have great use for it."

Hualingzi glanced at Zhang Yang, not knowing what he intended to do.

Still, carving a seal was indeed an ordinary matter to him.

Before everyone's eyes, he carved the seven words onto the seal in an instant, then handed it to Zhang Yang with a chuckle. "I incorporated the Dao of Talismans into those seven words. They can calm the mind and focus the spirit. It may be considered a small Magic Artifact."

"Thank you, Martial Uncle!"

Hualingzi waved his hand and flew away.

"Farewell, Martial Uncle!" Zhang Yang sent Hualingzi off with a respectful expression.

Usually, he and Hualingzi had no regard for formalities, but in public, he acted so respectfully in order to emphasize Hualingzi's lofty standing before his many junior brothers and sisters.

In fact, Zhang Yang's actions had already made the geniuses hold their breath and focus their minds. Only after Hualingzi vanished did they finally let out a sigh of relief.

In their eyes, an expert of the Nascent Soul Realm ought to be revered like this.

The moment Hualingzi disappeared, Situ Mingyue jumped up. "Eldest Senior Brother, how about giving that seal to me... Or just name a price, and I will buy it! Martial Uncle said it was a small Magic Artifact. How about ten thousand spirit stones?"

She knew Zhang Yang's nature, so she asked by bringing up money.

Zhang Yang secretly rejoiced. Junior Sister, what a beautiful assist!

With a solemn expression, he said, "This Magic Artifact cannot be given to Junior Sister!"

"Why not?" Situ Mingyue was somewhat displeased.

It was not that she lacked Magic Artifacts. Rather, Hualingzi had carved it himself, giving it commemorative value, and it was worth some money in its own right. That was why she wanted it.

Zhang Yang said slowly, "Martial Uncle has just said that in cultivating the Dao, one must set one's sights high. This is especially closely related when forming the Dao Seed.

Therefore, I have prepared an assignment for everyone. Based on Martial Uncle's teachings today and your own insights, write an essay titled, 'Why Do I Cultivate Immortality?'

The deeper your understanding and the clearer your goal, the smoother your cultivation of the Dao will naturally become.

Thus, no one's essay may be fewer than three thousand words!"

Everyone stared at Zhang Yang in dumbfounded disbelief. Cultivating immortality required writing essays too?

Situ Mingyue, in particular, was utterly bewildered.

She had never heard of any sect doing things this way.

However, after carefully considering Zhang Yang's words, she felt that they did make some sense.

Zhang Yang raised the seal in his hand and said, "All completed essays must be submitted to me within seven days. At the next gathering at the Main Hall Plaza, I will select several of the finest essays for evaluation. The person ranked first will receive this seal as a reward."

Everyone's eyes widened once more.

They had heard clearly just now that this seal was a Magic Artifact and could even assist in cultivation!

They could obtain it merely by writing an essay?

"Eldest Senior Brother, I do not know how to write!" Wang Baole hurriedly stood up. "Eldest Senior Brother, I recognize a few characters, but what if I cannot write them?"

At once, several more people popped up in succession, all claiming that they had never attended school.

Zhang Yang scolded them, "If you cannot write, then go learn! If you cannot understand Daoist texts in the future, who will help you? Those who cannot read will have an additional course in reading and writing from now on. How can the Azure Cloud Sect have illiterates?"

Wang Baole pulled a long face. "I accept learning to read and write, but does that not mean I have no chance in this selection?"

Those who could not read or write were all deeply dejected.

Zhang Yang shook his head helplessly. "Those of you who cannot read or write, think carefully, then come find me. I will write down what you want to say, and it will count as your essay. Remember, it must be what is truly in your hearts. Also, do not forget that it must not be fewer than three thousand words. The more, the better!"

Ideological education, after all!

It had to begin with understanding immortal cultivation.