Chapter 417: Chapter 395: The First Lesson

“Very well, do you have any other questions regarding cultivation?” Old Man Gray nodded, satisfied with Wang Wu’s attitude.

“Master, I wish to understand matters concerning Earth Immortals, Taiyi True Immortals, Daluo Golden Immortals, as well as the Three Calamities and the Nine Extremes Celestial Tribulation,” Wang Wu quickly inquired.

“Indeed, you need to have a thorough understanding. You were born in the Great Wilderness Sin Prison and have been disconnected from the Cultivation Realm for so long that you are unaware of many basic things, which makes it easy to go astray.”

“The so-called Earth Immortal actually refers to Land Immortals, which have nine tiers, the first three being earthly and the latter six celestial. Thus, oftentimes, an Earth Immortal Realm is expanded to include the Celestial Immortal Realm, which really depends on personal interpretation.”

“Many with excellent talent, like you, can essentially cultivate to Tier Nine Earth Immortal within eight hundred years in one go. So, the distinction between Earth Immortal and Celestial Immortal becomes irrelevant.”

“But when it comes to some ancient turtles, it takes over a thousand years to break through each stage, especially when trying to advance to Tier Four. Its difficulty is akin to climbing the heavens, naturally leading to the thought that the latter six tiers constitute the Celestial Immortal Realm.”

“It is worth mentioning that Tier Nine Earth Immortals have only three thresholds, with each breakthrough extending lifespan by ten thousand years. The specific nature of these thresholds you’ll encounter naturally through cultivation, and you don’t need any special Cultivation Techniques. Simply continue your original Innate and Acquired Techniques, contemplate them, and until Tier Nine, when you form your own Dao, you will naturally have a Cultivation Technique.”

“The reason I’m explaining this to you in advance is because my Dao and my Cultivation Technique are suited only for me. You can refer to, contemplate, and draw from them, but do not emulate them. Those who emulate me perish; those who resemble me thrive.”

“Cultivation, in itself, is the process of seeking, perfecting, and elevating one’s own Dao.”

“This is also the significance of Tier Nine Earth Immortals. Before reaching the Earth Immortal stage, from Ninth Grade to First Grade, it is merely a vague and half-understood pursuit, the initial stage of transcending the mundane. Discussing the location of the Dao at this time is like a blind man touching an elephant: you know where you came from, but not where you are heading.”

“By the time you reach Tier Nine Earth Immortal, you can see yourself and the elephant. You need to complete the process of knowing who you are and where you need to go.”

“Upon reaching the Taiyi True Immortal Realm, it signifies that your Dao is initially perfected. You need to know what you are doing. Of course, knowing too much now won’t benefit you, including higher levels like the Daluo Golden Immortal Realm, which even I cannot offer you much explanation on.”

“As for the Three Calamities and the Nine Extremes, those are actually more material issues, obstacles, assistance, and the sources of power that need to be perfected within Tier Nine Earth Immortal.”

“When you prove your Dao as a Taiyi True Immortal, you will also encounter the Twenty-four Solar Terms, but until then, focus earnestly on cultivation.”

“Alright, you may ask one more question.”

“Thank you, Master. I also wish to ask, what is the Hidden Origin Association and how is it related to the Twelve Immortal Alliances and the Great Wilderness Sin Prison Tower?”

“Ha! You really wasted your opportunity to ask a question, even for this topic. Well, it’s not that complicated either.”

“Firstly, the Twelve Immortal Alliances are monstrosities divided by family and race, having evolved over hundreds of thousands to millions of years. Do you think the Twelve Immortal Alliances are anything mysterious? Hahaha, thirty thousand years ago, there were fifteen Immortal Alliances; a hundred thousand years ago, there were thirty-six alliances; three hundred thousand years ago, only two alliances; and half a million years ago, there were even large unified alliances and hundreds to thousands of smaller alliances, engaging in endless killing for interests!”

“The victors feast, while the defeated become meat; some remnants are thrown into the Great Wilderness Sin Prison Tower, which is an exile ground. Basically, it’s like having too much meat that can’t be consumed at once and would be wasted—so it’s locked in a cage for leisurely consumption.”

“However, some cages’ meat was consumed in time, thus replaced by a new batch of meat.”

“As for some cages, their owners quickly changed, thus were mostly forgotten. For instance, the Great Wilderness Sin Prison Tower you are in is a fortunate cage. The Immortal Alliance that built that tower long vanished, turning into meat in other cages. So, you and the descendants of that meat survived and even escaped, and that’s all there is to it.”

“As for the Hidden Origin Association, there’s no mysterious background or unknown secret. Many things aren’t that complex. Sometimes, there are many commonalities between the Cultivation Realm and the mortal world.”

“The Hidden Origin Association was founded entirely because of the damned, terrible environment of the Cultivation Realm. Cultivator against cultivator, demon against demon, Earth Immortal against Demon Immortal, demon against demon in endless slaughters, some immortals grew weary. They no longer focused on race or past resentments, leading to the founding of the Hidden Origin Association.”

“And that was over five million years ago. Initially, it was just for self-preservation, self-sufficiency, self-reliance, then gradually grew stronger over time, having also experienced many wars. In the Cultivation Realm, how can one avoid the blade? But luckily, we’ve preserved our foundation and become strong, establishing and perfecting today’s rules and system. Because of this, we are qualified to declare the Hidden Origin Association perpetually neutral, striving to benefit ordinary mortals and other ordinary beings by using the Five Qi of the Human World as currency to promote peace.”

“That’s basically how it is.”

“Alright, now I shall give you a meeting gift. Once you accept it, we are master and disciple. Choose one.”

Saying this, Old Man Gray directly displayed three items.

“These three are more suited to your current realm. The first is the Ninth-Grade Immortal Artifact Qiankun Tower. It houses a world where you can nurture millions of mortals, serve as a sect headquarters, take on disciples, establish schools, build your own faction, or even establish an Immortal Alliance. There’s nothing taboo about it. You can even continue to refine this Qiankun Tower.”

“This second item is a Body-Protecting Immortal Talisman, crafted by me when I had some free time. However, this item doesn’t have a ranking or any distinction of superiority or inferiority; it only varies between good and bad because even mortals can use this Body-Protecting Immortal Talisman.”

“This third item is a somewhat complete Creation Jade Scroll that I found from the ruins of Outer Heaven. Its effect, well, it can be used to solidify your foundation, and can even enhance the purity of your bloodline. For you, of the Demon Race, it’s excellent.”

After hearing Old Man Gray’s introduction, Wang Wu’s eyes lit up. This master he acknowledged is indeed generous, truly generous.

“Master, can I have them all? Or, if I want them all, what do I need to do?”

Wang Wu asked with anticipation because this wasn’t a multiple-choice question, nor was it a reward given by some damned system task. Since the old man had brought them out, he must have this intention; it was like a hint, a knock-knock-knock hint on the head.

This old guy is quite interesting.

“Hmm, greedy, but being willing to be greedy is a good thing. It shows you have a heart eager to pursue the Dao.”

“Alright then, I will give you a chance.”

Hehe, the old man’s title even changed, indicating he was quite satisfied with Wang Wu.

“Please, Master, give me your guidance!”

“These three treasures will be left inside this Hidden Origin Bell, and I will randomly assign you three separate Hidden Element Tasks. You can obtain one treasure after completing a Hidden Element Task. There’s no time limit, and you don’t have to worry about others snatching them; just go play on your own!”

Clapping his hands, Old Man Gray walked away directly, leaving Wang Wu no chance to regret.

“Thank you, Master!”

Regardless of whether Old Man Gray had left, Wang Wu respectfully performed a grand ceremony, kneeling to send him off. Only then did he curiously take out the jade talisman to see what three Hidden Element Tasks Old Man Gray had left for him, but he was stunned.

“Sect Task One, within three years, bring back people or things that concern and concern you to your side or into the Qiankun Tower. Upon completion, you will obtain the Qiankun Tower.”

“Sect Task Two, within a hundred years, go into seclusion for training without leaving the range of a hundred thousand miles around Dragon Head City. Upon completion, you will obtain the Creation Golden Scroll.”

“Sect Task Three, within three hundred years, go into seclusion for training without leaving the range of a hundred thousand miles around Dragon Head City. Upon completion, you will obtain the Body-Protecting Immortal Talisman.”

——

“This master truly has painstaking intentions, fearing that I would cause trouble outside, thereby implicating greater disasters. Also, my current strength, relative to this Cultivation Realm, is indeed too weak.”

Thinking so, Wang Wu looked at the jade talisman again. The Immortal named Frost Monarch had not replied, perhaps fate had already changed. It was indeed a bit magical; originally, he was supposed to become the disciple of the frost monarch, but now he could only be a stranger.

And now, he needed to complete the first sect task, needing to take a trip to the Sin Prison Legion. Hmm? Wait, the Frost Monarch Immortal replied.

No, it was the new Chief of the Hidden Origin Association’s branch in Dragon Head City.

“Daoist Lying Flat, upon reading this letter, I have received the appointment from the Hidden Origin Association Headquarters; I will arrive in Dragon Head City in six months to assume the position of Chief. Before that, since you are the highest-ranked steward in Dragon Head City, I hereby entrust you with full authority to manage branch affairs for six months. Thanks for your hard work.”

So it is, with Song Guangming gone, a new Chief has arrived, not bad.

At this moment, the command seemed to be simultaneously sent to the Hidden Origin Bell. A five-colored glow fell, enveloping Wang Wu entirely, and finally transformed into a small seal.

With this, he could manage all the affairs of the Hidden Origin Association’s branch, which was quite interesting.

But in the next second, streams of information almost drowned him; they were all pending tasks, various, large and small troubles, simply suffocating him.

Damn, no wonder the new Chief wouldn’t arrive until six months later. It’s clearly avoiding responsibility.

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