First Immortal Cultivation Lecture

Early morning.

The sky had only just begun to brighten when Natasha heard someone calling outside her door.

"Miss Romanoff, it's time for breakfast. If you don't get up now, you'll miss today's morning lesson."

"Master Mordo, I'm up!"

Hearing Mordo's voice, Natasha quickly got dressed and opened the door.

She had been looking forward to Feng Xu's lecture for a long time.

The moment she stepped outside, she saw Mordo waiting at the door.

"How was it? Did you sleep well last night?" Mordo asked with a smile.

"Pretty well. At least it was better than where I used to stay."

Natasha was telling the truth. There were no private rooms in the Red Room, nor would they have let her sleep until now.

"I'm glad you're satisfied. I was worried the conditions were too crude for you to get used to."

Before Mordo could exchange more than a few pleasantries, Kaecilius cut him off from the side.

"Enough nonsense, Mordo. If Miss Romanoff gets hungry, can you take responsibility?"

As he spoke, he shoved Mordo aside, his face plastered with a flattering smile.

"Don't mind this annoying dark guy. Let's head to the dining hall for breakfast. You can tell me more about the Sect Master on the way."

Natasha peeked at Mordo's helpless expression. Seeing that he said nothing, she nodded. "Then let's go."

Then she remembered something and added, "Just call me Natasha. You don't need to use such a troublesome form of address."

"No problem, Natasha." Seeing that their flattery had worked, both men smiled and led the way.

The reason they were fawning over Natasha and had even come to wake her up was, naturally, Feng Xu.

The two of them had heard quite a few things from Natasha yesterday.

Like how one glance from him could kill a crowd, and how the slightest leak of his aura could crush someone flat.

Like how he did not need a Sling Ring or a portal—he could simply take one step and arrive a thousand miles away.

Like how he could conjure colorful flames from thin air and refine ordinary stones into treasures that enhanced one's strength.

At first, they had not quite believed her. They thought Natasha, this little girl, might have been exaggerating to attract attention.

But after Natasha lent them the jade pendants she carried for them to try, the two immediately changed their tune.

That feeling of having strong, overflowing physical power was like shedding invisible shackles wrapped around their bodies and freeing their minds.

Even the massive cauldron that the two had previously needed to lift together with all their strength could now be easily picked up with one hand.

It felt about the same as lifting a tiny dumbbell during an ordinary workout.

By the time they reached the dining hall and finished breakfast, the sky had fully brightened.

When the three arrived at the plaza, they found that meditation cushions had somehow been laid all over the ground, with most of them occupied by excited-looking sorcerers.

Although most people did not know exactly what was going on, the prospect of someone stronger than the Sorcerer Supreme giving a lecture naturally had them scrambling to attend.

Hamir, who was maintaining order among the crowd, spotted the three of them and quickly jogged over.

"You're finally here. Come with me. I saved you seats near the front."

As he spoke, he led the three through the crowd to the very front of the plaza.

At the front, Feng Xu sat cross-legged in midair with his eyes closed, his robes fluttering elegantly as he faced the crowd, looking immensely impressive.

"Teacher!"

Natasha cried out in delight. She had just started forward when Feng Xu opened his eyes and stopped her with a look.

"Now that you're here, find a seat and sit properly. Don't be so restless."

Hearing Feng Xu's rebuke, Natasha pursed her lips and reluctantly said, "Oh."

Then she sat on one of the frontmost meditation cushions with Kaecilius and Mordo.

After a short while, the remaining small portion of seats in the plaza had all been filled.

Almost every sorcerer in Kamar-Taj had gathered here.

Even the sorcerers guarding the three Sanctums had received word from Hamir and specifically opened portals to rush back.

Seeing that nearly everyone had arrived, Feng Xu was just about to speak when a portal suddenly appeared.

Ancient One emerged from it with two dark circles beneath her eyes, yet an unusually excited expression.

She kept apologizing as she spoke. "Sorry, truly sorry. Those cultivation manuals were so captivating that I spent the whole night studying them in the Scripture Pavilion and lost track of time."

"Has the lecture started? I'm not late, am I?"

"You're not late. I was just about to begin when you arrived."

Feng Xu waved his hand and conjured a meditation cushion out of thin air. Pointing at it, he said, "Take a seat, Fellow Daoist Ancient One."

"Alright, alright, alright." Ancient One obediently plopped down onto the cushion.

But before she had even settled in, she scratched at her ears and cheeks as she asked, "Sect Master, have you finished preparing that cultivation method you mentioned yesterday?"

"The manuals in the Scripture Pavilion can be read but not cultivated. It's truly tormenting."

Seeing Ancient One's anxious appearance, Feng Xu did not beat around the bush and nodded directly. "Of course, it was prepared long ago."

Then he looked at Ancient One with a hint of reproach. "Since you wanted to see a cultivation method, why didn't you say so yesterday?"

"You should know that failing to resolve one's thoughts is a great taboo. It can breed inner demons!"

Ancient One: "?"

You ran off as soon as you finished speaking. Did you give me a chance to say anything?

If I couldn't beat you, I'd really go up there and punch you twice!

"Enough. Let's end the idle chatter here. If you have anything to say, wait until I finish the lecture."

Feng Xu, seated cross-legged in midair, ended the conversation and rose to his feet, his gaze sweeping across everyone in the plaza.

"Everyone, I trust you already understand the circumstances. If anyone wishes to leave, you may do so now."

Feng Xu's voice was not loud, but bolstered by spiritual energy, even those seated at the very edge could hear him clearly.

"Very good. Since no one has chosen to leave, that means all of you possess an immortal affinity and may embark upon the path of cultivation."

Feng Xu was quite pleased that no one had left. It seemed Kamar-Taj had a good eye for recruits—at the very least, there were no fools who would miss such an opportunity.

"My name is Feng Xu. From today onward, I will be your Sect Master, and you will be disciples of my Ethereal Ascension Sect."

"Once you enter my sect, you must naturally abide by its rules. The Ethereal Ascension Sect has only one rule: you must not murder fellow disciples."

"Of course, ordinary disputes and sparring are allowed. If there is truly a deep grudge, you may apply through the sect to engage in a death match on the arena."

"In addition, sect disciples must be divided into ranks: menial disciples, outer disciples, inner disciples..."

Feng Xu spoke at length about sect affairs and regulations, making Ancient One beside him begin to grow drowsy.

Only when she heard the words "cultivation method" did she immediately perk up again.

"Cultivating the Dao and becoming immortal requires both internal and external cultivation. Thus, cultivation methods are divided into inner and outer methods: inner cultivation methods and outer martial techniques."

"Cultivation methods refine one's realm and serve as the foundation of energy. To better wield one's realm and power, one needs martial techniques and moves to amplify their might."

With a sweep of his sleeve, countless jade slips appeared, then turned into streams of light that flew into everyone's hands.

"The jade slips in your hands contain this sect's foundational cultivation method, the Longevity Formula. Simply focus your attention and touch the jade slip with your mind to see the method of cultivation."