Is There a Path to Immortality in This World?

On Little Peak Mountain, Chen Xu sat upright and listened as Mr. Zhou spoke of the many mysteries of the world.

The renowned scholar spoke calmly amid the mountain wind. "Cultivation in this world has always regarded the Three Essences of Spirit, Qi, and Body advancing side by side as the foremost orthodox path.

As the saying goes, Heaven gives man his essence, and Earth gives him his form.

Man is born between Heaven and Earth. If one wishes to unite with Heaven and Earth, one must first balance yin and yang, cycle through the five elements, and possess all three essences. Only then can one return to truth and achieve the most perfect state."

Chen Xu listened intently, quietly nodding to himself.

The prerequisite for unlocking the God of Cookery Cultivation Scroll was successfully achieving Three Essences Foundation Establishment, precisely what Mr. Zhou had described: the Three Essences of Spirit, Qi, and Body advancing side by side.

Before, Chen Xu had only known that he ought to do this, without understanding why.

Now, listening to Mr. Zhou expound upon the Dao, many of his former doubts quietly unraveled.

Yet Mr. Zhou sighed. "Unfortunately, human nature has always been inclined in different directions. A person's time and energy are limited as well, and possessing all three essences is exceedingly difficult.

Some spare no effort in tempering their bodies and enter the Dao through martial arts, so their Vital Blood becomes especially powerful and prominent.

Some cling obsessively to immortality and excel at nurturing their Essence, so naturally their Essence is far more abundant than their other two essences.

And scholars such as yourselves, whenever you study bitterly, are effectively tempering your spirit and strengthening your Divine Soul. The more you read and the deeper your understanding, the more powerful your Divine Soul becomes."

At this, Chen Xu suddenly understood why, according to the Cauldron Scripture's assessment, Xu Wenyuan's daily like limit had been 10 points.

Xu Wenyuan was not merely a scholar; he had also passed the Child Scholar examination. Though Child Scholar was not an official degree, Xu Wenyuan's Divine Soul was already much stronger than that of an ordinary mortal.

Chen Xu could not help asking, "People have their inclinations, and it is hard to balance all three essences, but what does that have to do with scholars taking the Imperial Examination?"

"The Imperial Examination, official degrees, and reputation can all produce Literary Qi and Literary Fortune. With Literary Fortune protecting the body, ordinary demons find it difficult to invade. When Literary Fortune is powerful, it can also offset, to a certain degree, the imbalance caused by an overly powerful Divine Soul, preventing a scholar's Essence and Vital Blood from being suppressed too severely."

Mr. Zhou finally cautioned Chen Xu, "Young friend, great chaos may be coming to the world. This is the last period of calm before the ice breaks. If you wish to take the Imperial Examination, you must do so early.

"There is no path to immortality in this world. Even immortals and gods suffer the Five Decays of Heaven and Man, and endless calamities.

"But those whose Literary Fortune reaches its peak, those whose names shake the world, always receive a few more measures of Heaven and Earth's protection in ways unseen.

"To strive or not to strive is entirely up to you."

With that, he personally poured Chen Xu another cup of Moonlight Nectar Spirit Immortal Tea.

Chen Xu hurriedly rose and refilled Mr. Zhou's cup as well.

The two raised their cups toward one another. A faint smile touched Mr. Zhou's withered face.

Yet countless emotions surged and ebbed within Chen Xu's heart.

Mr. Zhou had actually said that there was no path to immortality in this world? And that taking the Imperial Examination could grant Literary Fortune, whose protection made demons difficult to invade!

Another veil of the world seemed to have been drawn aside before his eyes, yet at the same time, even more wondrous peaks seemed hidden behind layers upon layers of mist.

After Chen Xu drained the Moonlight Nectar Spirit Immortal Tea from his cup, a clear breath rose between his lips and teeth, winding through his sea of consciousness.

At that moment, sitting atop the mountain, he seemed to see very, very far.

Mr. Zhou smiled. "Young man, what this world is truly like cannot be explained in just a few words by Non-Self. You must keep your feet on the ground and measure it for yourself.

"See the Three Mountains and Five Sacred Peaks, the four seas and countless kingdoms, glory and wealth, fair beauties and withered bones.

"I am sheltering here from disaster now, with nothing else to give you. Before we part, I shall give you another drop of Grand Unity Spring Dew to heal your injured leg.

"If one day you achieve success and fame, carving out your own path through this chaotic age, and have the strength to save me, then come see me again."

As he spoke, he gently pointed at Chen Xu.

A drop of glowing emerald dew appeared from nowhere and instantly fell upon the wound on Chen Xu's right leg.

Chen Xu felt as though his entire right leg had, in that instant, been immersed in a hot spring.

He involuntarily rose to his feet, only to see an Ugly Monkey leap out from the mountains at some unknown time and spring onto Mr. Zhou's shoulder.

The Ugly Monkey squatted on Mr. Zhou's shoulder, pulled a face at Chen Xu, and grinned broadly.

Then the Ugly Monkey's strange voice, hoarse as a muffled drum, hazily rang beside Chen Xu's ear. "Heh, young man, didn't you say humans create civilization and history? Then I'd like to see what you can create in the end.

"In chaotic times, even immortals and gods must suffer calamity. You, a mere junior, had best not be knocked down by a single wave and sink to the bottom, never to rise again!"

"Heh heh heh..."

The Ugly Monkey's laughter seemed like a line slicing open the boundary between Heaven and Earth.

In an instant, Chen Xu felt as though the mountain beneath his feet were receding before his eyes, while the people atop it seemed to vanish into the wind.

Only Mr. Zhou's helpless rebuke remained. "Monkey, do not speak recklessly!"

"Young friend, until we meet again..."

The wind swept through the Bamboo Grove, making it rustle mournfully.

Chen Xu had conversed with Mr. Zhou on the mountain for a long time, yet he had not known that not even a quarter-hour had passed below the mountain.

The morning sun climbed into the sky and suddenly burst from the clouds.

The people outside the Bamboo Grove were both anxious and expectant.

Lin Yuan was still kneeling outside the Bamboo Grove, his back straight and his expression earnest.

Several acquaintances urged him, "Brother Lin, do not kneel any longer. If you wish to save your brother, you must also take care of yourself."

"Chen Xu entered the great formation. Given his attainments in the art of calculations, perhaps he truly has a chance to pass the formation's trial. He has always been close to Brother Lin Qi, so he will surely ask Mr. Zhou to save him!"

Of course, some argued back. "Brother Wang, no matter how capable Chen Xu is, can he compare to those few who came from the Prefectural City?"

"This..." Wang Mochuan wanted to say that of course Chen Xu could, yet he truly lacked confidence.

The words reached his lips, but he hesitated again and again. Just as he was about to muster his courage and say something, he suddenly saw the mist ahead in the Bamboo Grove disperse. Two figures cried out in alarm and actually rolled out of the Bamboo Grove from thin air.

Judging by their clothing and appearance, they were the Prefectural City guests who had arrived on horseback with Cui Yunqi earlier.

Yet when they had arrived, they had been splendidly dressed and high-spirited. Now, every one of them was bedraggled and terrified, their faces utterly pale.

The moment they rolled out of the Bamboo Grove, they were still shouting, "Help! Save me, I don't want to die!"

Bang!

The two rolled out entangled together and slammed directly into Lin Yuan, who was kneeling by the roadside.

Caught completely off guard by the heavy impact, Lin Yuan only had time to cry out in pain before he toppled backward.

"Ah..."

"Ah, it hurts!"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The three crashed together. Pinned beneath them, Lin Yuan saw stars and felt pain course through his entire body. It felt less as though he had been struck by people than as though a speeding carriage had shattered his bones apart.

Furious and in pain, he endured the buzzing in his head and shouted, "Get off! Help pull them away from me..."

He thought his voice was loud, but in truth it was scarcely louder than a mosquito's hum.

Of course, the others were indeed scrambling to pull the people apart.

But just then, another disturbance came from the direction of the Bamboo Grove.

The Jichuan County students hurriedly looked up. This time, they saw an even more astonishing sight.