Journey to the West: Treasure Vase of the Great Dao

"Those who cultivate the Way of Celestial Immortals emphasize following the natural laws to stir up the Five Qi within their chests, condensing three flowers at their crown, until their efforts yield a body that endures through myriad calamities, and a Primordial Spirit that lasts forever, unperished even should heaven and earth cease to exist," Lu Yu explained.

"The Earthly Immortal Path emerged because it was extremely difficult to inspire the three flowers through the Five Qi, leading some great beings to forge a new path by merging their Five Qi with a Cave Heaven and Blessed Land instead of pursuing the Five Qi, bypassing the condensing of the three flowers at the crown, and aiming to exist as long as heaven and earth," he continued.

"As the universe stabilized, the Great Dao became more concealed, and cultivators found it increasingly difficult to perceive the Dao and to stimulate the Five Qi, thus leading to the emergence of three great paths: those of human gods, spirits, and ghosts," Lu Yu elaborated.

"These three paths forge new routes and no longer pursue the Five Qi, focusing solely on cultivating the Primordial Spirit.

However, the techniques for cultivating the Primordial Spirit vary; the Human Immortal Path sees the physical body as a vessel for navigating the world, pursuing ascension and transformation into a celestial being by using the physical body as a resource to ultimately yang-ize the Primordial Spirit, achieving a Divine Position, and ultimately sculpting a Dharma Body by absorbing the pure energies of heaven and earth."

"The Paths of Spirits and Ghosts, on the other hand, completely abandon the physical body, seeing it as a burden: one absorbs Incense Prayer Power to forge a Dharma Body while the other absorbs the turbid energies of heaven and earth to forge a body worthy of the Ghost King," he added.

Liu Qingyun listened intently to Lu Yu's explanations, envisioning a vast and profound world of cultivation far beyond what he had imagined of Great Chen.

"Sir, according to what you've said about the cultivators in Great Chen striving for ascension, the Primordial Spirit path they follow must indeed be the Human Immortal Path."

"Well said, my young student! The Human Immortal Path is prevalent in Great Chen. The other paths are seldom practiced, but it's because Great Chen is located at the frontier of Southern Zhanzhou, its innate spiritual influence pales in comparison to that of Dongsheng Shenzhou, where the land is exceptionally conducive to cultivation.

Hence, it's not surprising that the Celestial and Earth Immortal paths have faded away there," Lu Yu responded.

"In the world, aside from those mighty beings who can tailor cultivation techniques for themselves, everyone cultivating the Way of Celestial Immortals will encounter their first major hurdle: Heavenly Gate Foundation Establishment."

"Heavenly Gate Foundation Establishment requires one to perceive the Taoist Laws oneself. Only then can one avoid detours, as true understanding can only come from within; what others teach is, after all, just their understanding. As the saying goes: 'Learning brings life, imitation brings death,' and that's exactly the point," Lu Yu stated.

Turning to look at Liu Qingyun with a stern face, Lu Yu said, "The time has come for you to make a choice. If you wish to follow the path of Great Chen's cultivators, I will teach you the subsequent techniques. If you wish to cultivate the Way of Celestial Immortals, you must endure bitterly in this realm and wait for your own opportunity to arise."

"Sir, I have made my decision, I wish to cultivate the Way of Celestial Immortals, I want to achieve Heavenly Gate Foundation Establishment!" Liu Qingyun said decisively, without a moment's hesitation.

"Are you sure you have considered this well? This path is not easy to travel. Many talented individuals have wasted years at this stage, ultimately retreating in disappointment. Are you prepared to endure being scoffed at and suffering bitterly?" Lu Yu asked with a severe tone, his words seemingly as cold as a chilling wind, causing Liu Qingyun's hair to stand on end.

Yet, he remained unswayed in his resolve, standing tall and firm, his gaze steadfast despite his master's stern expression and daunting description.

"Good, this is the mindset needed on the path of cultivation. I give you ten years. If you can achieve Heavenly Gate Foundation Establishment within ten years, you will continue on the Way of Celestial Immortals; if not, I will teach you the subsequent techniques of the Human Immortal Path," Lu Yu said, already having plans for Liu Qingyun's future.

"However, you need not worry too much, after all, I am the custodian of the Divine Enthronement process, and if all else fails, I can secure a Divine Position for you to achieve immortality," Lu Yu said, his tone lightening as he smiled.

Liu Qingyun looked speechlessly at his master who had just been so grave, realizing once again his teacher's penchant for dark humor.

"By the way, sir, what is that book you are reading so intently?" Liu Qingyun had noticed the book in Lu Yu's hands early on and sensed an ancient aura enveloping it.

"You mean this, the Heavenly Book?" Lu Yu said lightly, brandishing the book in his hand.

"The Heavenly Book! Could it be the volume from the Imperial Court's treasury?" Liu Qingyun asked, though he had already concluded that the book Lu Yu held was indeed the prize for this discourse conference.

"Exactly, their formation was loose, and I didn't have to exert much effort to get in. However, the storeroom had a terrible smell so I took it out. Oh, and I brought you a gift too!" After finishing his words, he summoned the Treasure Vase and a Silver Spear flew out from it, its killing aura formidable.

Liu Qingyun grabbed the Silver Spear and examined it closely before saying, "Isn't this the Star Destroyer Spear, forged from a meteorite by the founding Great Ancestor?"

Upon close inspection, indeed, two characters were found on the body of the spear: Star Destroyer.

The more Liu Qingyun looked at it, the more he liked it, and he quickly thanked Lu Yu, "Thank you, sir. But won't the treasury theft be traced back to you?"

"I reckon they won't have the time or the inclination," Lu Yu estimated.

Lu Yu's words suddenly made Liu Qingyun tense. The implication of the sir's words was that this discourse conference was just a smokescreen, and the Imperial Court seemed to intend to achieve some unspeakable secret through it.

"You should stay away from the venue tomorrow. I suspect that if the Imperial Court harbors ill intentions, tomorrow would be the perfect opportunity to act. Don't get yourself involved," Lu Yu advised Liu Qingyun.

"But, Master He is still in there!" Liu Qingyun became anxious at once as he had come to regard He Yinglian as a family elder over the past few days.

"What's the panic? I'm here, aren't I? Tomorrow, I will have a good meeting with this Jinguang Master!"

The next morning, the venue of the discourse conference was already buzzing with excitement; everyone anticipated the day's battles.

All the sects' favored talents had persevered to this day, anticipating a battle of wits and skills. Having gotten used to the overwhelming victories of the previous days, the crowd was excited, and there were even bets placed on which proud talent could win the title of number one in the Cultivation Realm.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

As a group of people were heading to the platform, Elder Liu suddenly frowned.

"Elder Liu, what's wrong?" someone noticed his hesitation.

"I don't know why, but I just had a feeling of heart-pounding fear which then disappeared." Elder Liu's words made the others also cautious. Cultivators' inexplicable premonitions were to be taken seriously, representing an alert from the depths of the soul. Even those adept at deducing Heaven's secrets could not pinpoint anything unusual.

"Perhaps I am overthinking it." Seeing that no one could deduce anything, Elder Liu spoke to reassure everyone.

Although the conference went on normally, that brief episode still cast a shadowy veil over this grand event.

The battle of the talents was naturally not as bland as the previous days, and it was no exaggeration to say these individuals represented the future of the Great Chen Cultivation Realm.