Immortals Walk This World

If he had not used the General's Temple's last-resort “key” to settle the matter, he might have remained none the wiser until those tomb robbers caught him off guard and killed him! For money, there was nothing they would not do!

"It seems everything in this world is false and unreliable. Only strength truly matters!"

That was the lesson Tang Changsheng had taken most deeply from the day's events.

So Tang Changsheng made up his mind to return to that world and cultivate. The next time he came back, he would have to possess skills that could strike fear into petty villains!

The second time was easier than the first. When Tang Changsheng crossed back this time, the process was much simpler.

He had figured out the key to activating the Bagua Mirror on both occasions!

Both times, the Bagua Mirror had devoured a ghost. Once, it had absorbed the ghost possessing him; the other time, it had absorbed a Yin Soldier that had come to attack him. Only then had it turned into a vortex and carried him across.

Evidently, the Bagua Mirror needed energy too!

Did that mean he had to catch another ghost to power the Bagua Mirror?

Then Tang Changsheng suddenly realized something. He returned to the Quiet Room and placed the Bagua Mirror beneath the pearl's radiance. Only then did a beam of light spring forth and sweep him away.

This time, the pearl's glow dimmed again. It seemed only a hair's breadth from going out!

When he returned to his room in Primordial Yang Abbey, everything looked just as it had when he left. He could not help breathing a quiet sigh of relief.

After all, his trip back to the General's Temple had lasted only a night and half a morning.

The chances that no one had noticed his absence were high. Sure enough, Tang Changsheng had guessed correctly.

Tang Changsheng even discovered that time in the two worlds was not perfectly synchronized.

It had been past seven when he crossed back from the General's Temple, but here the sun had only just risen. He was still in time to gather Solar Light Qi!

Strangely, when Tang Changsheng gathered Solar Light Qi this time, it no longer felt as though flames were consuming him. It seemed far weaker than before!

At last, Tang Changsheng remembered something and told the attendant young Daoist to bring him an Almanac.

He flipped through this world's Almanac and could not help laughing. The last time he had gathered Solar Light Qi, it had been the first day of the lunar month!

No wonder Solar Light Qi had been so powerful!

Then Tang Changsheng noticed the words “Eastern Flower Heavenly Court Calendar” printed on the Almanac.

His heart tightened. He turned to the preface and skimmed it, then went rigid with shock.

So this world really does have a Heavenly Court, and it issues the calendar! For a moment, he was too shaken for words.

Did that mean immortals definitely existed in this world?

While Tang Changsheng was murmuring to himself, Xin Chengying came in with a smile. “Brother Liu, practicing so early? You really are diligent. Oh, Master has just finished his morning rites and wants to see you!”

"Yes!" Hearing that True Person Lü wanted to see him, Tang Changsheng's heart tightened. His expression turned solemn.

When Tang Changsheng reached Heavenly Heart Studio, the main courtyard where True Person Lü Yuanhua lived, he found Lü Yuanhua carefully rubbing the bronze lamp in his hand with a soft cloth.

One glance drew Tang Changsheng's gaze completely to it. Last time, its light had guided him to open the Heavenly Heart.

There was no doubt the bronze lamp was extraordinary. Calling it a ritual instrument did not do it justice; it was a magical treasure!

Under Lü Yuanhua's careful polishing, the lamp's surface grew smoother and brighter, giving off a purplish-red metallic gleam.

"That's Wind-Polished Copper..." Tang Changsheng blurted out.

Lü Yuanhua heard him.

With a faint smile, he said, "You have a good eye. But this lamp of mine isn't made of ordinary Wind-Polished Copper!" Then he changed the subject. After studying Tang Changsheng closely, he smiled. "It seems your Heavenly Heart's Soul-Light has stabilized over these past few days!"

Tang Changsheng hastily agreed and thanked Lü Yuanhua again for his guidance.

Lü Yuanhua merely smiled. "It was nothing. Now that your Heavenly Heart is stable, you can enter seclusion and cultivate, keeping its light trained on the Heavenly Heart at every moment. By the way, what does your sect call this stage?"

Tang Changsheng quickly replied, "My sect calls it forging the Spirit Terrace!"

Lü Yuanhua laughed. "A fitting name. At Primordial Yang Abbey, we call it the Heart Lamp. The names differ, but the cultivation is the same. Come to think of it, I haven't asked: why did you leave your sect and come to Suxu City before completing your cultivation?"

This was a formal inquiry into his origins. Fortunately, Tang Changsheng had long since prepared his story. He lowered his head and said, "This disciple was slow-witted and could not perceive the Soul-Light no matter how long he tried. So my sect sent me into the world to travel and await an opportunity!"

At that, Lü Yuanhua was a little disappointed, though not particularly surprised.

The step of kindling the Heavenly Heart and perceiving the Soul-Light was exceedingly difficult. Some sects used outside help to kindle it.

But certain great sects had no shortage of gifted disciples. Those who tempered themselves and lit their Heavenly Hearts unaided often had more resilient, outstanding dispositions and achieved more in cultivation than those who relied on outside help.

Thus, some sects gave their disciples time to travel down the mountain.

If a disciple could kindle his Heavenly Heart and perceive the Soul-Light, even after eight or ten years, he could return to the mountain and become a true disciple.

If he could not kindle it, there was no need for him to return at all!

Tang Changsheng had a solid foundation and practiced an orthodox method of the Mysterious Gate. Such a background was hardly surprising.

But that made it even harder to broach the subject of recruiting Tang Changsheng!

Lü Yuanhua sighed inwardly. Why could he never find a promising talent among his own disciples?

Great sects had passed down their traditions for centuries, even millennia. They had complete systems for recruiting, training, and educating disciples, ensuring that outstanding talents emerged generation after generation...

Small sects like Primordial Yang Abbey had no such tradition. They often rose or fell with a single person.

With luck, one dazzling disciple might appear and bring glory to the sect for a time. But once that brilliant disciple was gone, there might be no one capable enough to uphold it, and it would often decline.

Across the generations, countless sects had flared up and faded away just like that.

Lü Yuanhua knew this well. That was why he thirsted for talent and valued Tang Changsheng so highly...

Xin Chengying was a disciple of good character, but he could not shoulder the burden of the sect. Both Lü Yuanhua and Xin Chengying knew it perfectly well!