In academia, no matter how rigorous the research topic, there are always ways to make it easier for students to graduate. At worst, getting a diploma is not a problem.
But that would be a different story on the path of cultivation. The Great Dao is impartial; what works is what doesn't work.
There's absolutely no room for leniency or compromise in this kind of matter.
However, it's not entirely true that there's no way to solve this problem. After all, the foundation of powerful cultivation clans is different from that of ordinary rogue cultivators.
After becoming an immortal, the rules remain the same, and one will be assimilated by the cultivators who previously ascended this path to immortality. However, this assimilation is controllable; when and how one is assimilated is entirely up to one's will.
But if one's own descendants cultivate their own path to ascend to immortality, would the ancestors, the cultivators, still choose to assimilate them?
The answer is no. Of course, one would let their own son ascend to immortality smoothly on their own path.
This is a form of monopoly.
Those who ascend to immortality first monopolize the path of cultivation, allowing only designated individuals to practice. Those who do not consent are directly assimilated, without even a chance to resist.
Capital still has room to struggle, but once a cultivator chooses the wrong path, they will be doomed forever.
If one cannot attain the Dao Immortal immortality, and cannot even fathom the Spirit Immortal, then creating a new species or thing is also a vague and unrealistic endeavor.
No wonder there are so many Nascent Soul cultivators, but so few who achieve immortality.
"So, for most people, the ultimate goal of cultivation is to become Human Immortal?"
Li Xingkong tossed the silly-looking rabbit aside; no matter how strange it looked, it was still a rabbit after all.
Even if you created a rabbit that had never existed before, and then used it as inspiration to successfully ascend to Spirit Immortal, so what...?
Once one ascends to immortality, one will be subject to the control of the rabbit-like immortals. Above that, the immortals who govern mammals will remain high above, and above that, the Qilin, who governs all scaled and horned creatures and rules over all spirits on land, will become one's superior.
That's how it is with Spirit Immortal; the more specific the category they choose, the greater the constraints they face.
Rather than calling them immortals... it's more accurate to say they're gods.
"No, no, no, you're wrong about that. For most people, the ultimate goal of cultivation is the Nascent Soul stage, something they can't even reach as Human Immortal."
The system shook its head. " Human Immortal? That still has the word 'immortal' in it. How could it be achieved so easily?"
"What's going on..."
Li Xingkong found it a bit hard to understand.
What is the key to becoming an immortal?
"The system asked."
"Concept."
Li Xingkong might not have known this before, but now Li Xingkong is certain that becoming an immortal is closely related to concepts.
"That's right, but are concepts something that all cultivators can access? No, they aren't."
The system continued, following Li Xingkong's words.
"Although after your ascension, your senior brother Jiang Ziya gifted you a concept, which can be considered as giving you a preliminary understanding of concepts, this is an extremely rare occurrence. In reality, a Nascent Soul, without any special encounters, the support of elders, or the backing of a sect, might never even know that a concept exists in their entire life."
"All the miraculous phenomena he witnessed were, in his eyes, stronger spells, more powerful supernatural abilities, and higher levels of cultivation..."
"If one cannot understand the essence of becoming an immortal, then no matter how much one cultivates, one will only Nascent Soul..."
Li Xingkong seemed lost in thought...
"So, that Daoist Duobao..."
"That's right. Duobao's obsession with the Dharma Aspect is a misleading tactic employed by the Jade Void Palace, causing unsuspecting cultivators to believe that the Dharma Aspect is the path after the Nascent Soul."
Hearing this, Li Xingkong also felt a chill run down his spine.
In his eyes, Jade Void Palace had always been a very positive image, but Li Xingkong never expected that such an upright and honorable Jade Void Palace would have such thoughts.
"But why is that..."
Isn't it true that the more knowledge is shared, the faster progress is made?
"Every cultivator who reaches the Nascent Soul receives an invitation from the Jade Void Palace, but not everyone agrees to join."
" Jade Void Palace is indeed generous, but only to its own people."
"As you know, becoming an immortal is extremely difficult. Every additional immortal means one less path to immortality. Therefore, it's naturally much more reliable for immortals to stay within our own ranks than to remain outside."
"Moreover, it's not just Jade Void Palace that does this; other forces do the same. Hiding the path to immortality has become a common practice."
"Hiss..."
Since arriving at the Jade Void Palace, Li Xingkong suddenly felt that the so-called social system that was pursued in the Primordial Universe clearly had no place in this environment.
Everyone is busy pursuing their own spiritual practice.
"So, while becoming Human Immortal may seem simple, not everyone can achieve it."
The system made a few remarks.
Even within the Jade Void Palace, there are many cultivators who fail to become Human Immortal; the Nascent Soul itself is the backbone of the Jade Void Palace.
"Furthermore, Human Immortal aren't as bad as people imagine. Compared to Dao Immortal and Spirit Immortal, Human Immortal appeared the latest and are the least developed. Nobody knows what the upper limit of Human Immortal's potential is."
"So, in the end, we still have to choose Human Immortal..."
Li Xingkong pondered for a moment, and it seemed that he didn't have many options left.
"Then..."
"Wait, Yuanjun has sent a message!"
Just as Li Xingkong was about to make up his mind to choose, the system suddenly had a bright idea.
How so?
Li Xingkong was very curious. If Yuanjun wanted to find him, there was no need for the system to relay the message.
" The Yuanjun has given you several new options!"
Although Li Xingkong's cultivation was carried out independently in the small world, it was clear that Yuanjun was still paying attention to him.
"The first is to use this Immortal Ascension Register as inspiration to manage Immortal Ascension Register for her in the future; the second is to use my version of the system as inspiration to manage various aspects of the system for her."
"Frog Fun, Yuanjun is really good to you! These two are both incredibly clever!"
Upon reading Yuanjun's message, the system was clearly ecstatic.
"Oh, right, there's one last thing. Yuanjun said that if you enter the Dao as a Human Immortal, she will give you a copy of the existing research results on Human Immortal, so that you can participate in advancing the path to Human Immortal."
The system believes this option can be ruled out.
With the Yuanjun's approval, the two paths to ascension to immortality were already a foregone conclusion.
"Let me think about it."
Li Xingkong felt a sense of relief, like finding a hidden path after a seemingly hopeless situation. He had been researching for so long without finding a single solution, but Yuanjun had simply raised her hand and given him three options. It was truly...
Stopping his wild thoughts, Li Xingkong looked back and forth between the three options several times.
"So, what's your choice?"
The system looked on with anticipation.
If Li Xingkong chooses the system as his inspiration, its status will truly rise dramatically, becoming second only to the emperor and above all others.
" Human Immortal."
After thinking for a while, Li Xingkong gave his answer.
"Huh? Not buddy? Why?!"