Forging Immortality through the Dao Seed

On the shore of a azure lake.

Zhang Jing sits cross-legged, eyes fixed intently on the quiet surface of the lake, a hint of confusion flashing in his gaze.

The lake is not big, only measuring a few hundred feet in circumference.

He had spent a brief time thoroughly examining the entire lake.

Whether it was the shore, the bottom of the lake, or even the water.

The unfortunate thing is.

Zhang Jing didn't find anything unusual.

Only the peculiar pulses from Dharma Seeds within his heart's eye, reminding him constantly that things here weren't as simple as they seemed.

"Could it be that the thing triggering the Dharma Seeds is the lake itself, and not something within it?" Zhang Jing speculated quietly.

As of now, this seems to be the only explanation.

But could a lake have such —

Zhang Jing's gaze flickered uncertainly.

He couldn't help but recall Lord Ying's words, words that he wanted to say but couldn't, alas, he had no choice but to convey it to me.

"There is a great secret within the Small Void of Ten Thousand Gods... Could this be it?"

Zhang Jing wasn't too sure.

However, he had an indistinct feeling deep in his heart that this 'lake', which triggered the abnormality of the Dharma Seeds, was very important!

He decisively chose to follow his inner intuition.

A firm resolve flickered in Zhang Jing's eyes.

If one hour is not enough, then two hours. If one day is not enough, then two days. If ten days are inadequate, then twenty days!

Of course, if there really is no progress, you can't spend all your time here.

That's not determination, nor is it persistence.

But stupidity.

"Two months! If after two months, I still can't find the real reason causing the abnormality within the lake, then I'll give up without hesitation."

Zhang Jing decided secretly.

Considering the speed at which he gets spiritual essence in Upper Void and his comprehension progress on the Tao Intent of the Taoyin Sea Dragon indicated by the Jade Talisman, he feels that he could at most afford to waste two months on this lake.

Any longer would mean...

His Tao Intent might not reach perfection.

And that, for Zhang Jing, is absolutely unacceptable.

After making a resolution.

Zhang Jing discarded all distracting thoughts.

Time ticks by slowly.

His heart no longer harbored any anxieties or doubts about this uncertain process, nor agonized over finding the answer quickly.

All he had was boundless tranquility.

Zhang Jing chose a comfortable place, his gaze fixed on the calm lake surface that did not ripple in the slightest, his eyes gradually becoming as placid as an ancient well's.

The first day.

No results.

The second day.

Still no results.

...

The fifth day.

Senior Brother Qiu visited.

Seeing Zhang Jing constantly staring at the lake without moving, he thought something had gone wrong.

"Junior Brother, what's wrong with you?"

Qiu Xiujun looked at Zhang Jing in a fluster.

Junior Brother Zhang Jing is Pavilion Master and Senior Brother You's choice for the next head of the inner court. Nothing can go wrong. Especially...since he was the one who strongly recommended him to come here.

But if something really did happen...

How would he explain to the Pavilion Master and Senior Brother You after leaving the Small Void of Ten Thousand Gods?

Just thinking about it...

Qiu Xiujun quickly shook his head.

No way, no way!

"Senior Brother, I'm fine. I'm just admiring the scenery," Zhang Jing's indifferent voice reached Qiu Xiujun's ears.

"Are you really okay, Junior Brother?"

Qiu Xiujun asked, shocked.

However Junior Brother looked at the moment, he certainly didn't seem alright.

"I swear on my Dao Heart, I'm truly fine."

Zhang Jing smiled faintly, his eyes full of calmness.

Hearing this.

Qiu Xiujun finally breathed a sigh of relief, saying in a light-hearted tone, "As long as you're fine, that's good! When do you plan to go back, Junior Brother?"

"I'm not sure, it could be in three or five days, or it could be in a month or two."

Zhang Jing replied honestly.

"Then I'll take my leave first, Junior Brother. Take care."

Seeing Junior Brother Zhang's determined attitude, Qiu Xiujun could only leave reluctantly.

"Safe journey, Senior Brother."

...

The third day.

A heavy rain fell.

Raindrops hit the lake, stirring up layers of ripples.

Zhang Jing thought it was very beautiful.

Unfortunately, there were still no results.

...

The tenth day.

A massive sandstorm.

...

The fifteenth day.

...

The Sixth Void.

This place could be considered enormous, a mortal could walk their entire life and not reach its end; it was also pretty small, with numerous inner courts scattered about, each alike to a village.

From one end of the village to the other, shouts echoed in reply. Calls from the west answered by the east.

There were hundreds of individuals, seemingly divided into three distinct sides, not interfering with each other, yet they all shared information rapidly.

Gradually.

Everyone came to know of Zhang Jing, the prodigy from the Dragon Lake Dao Institute, who seemed to be fixated on demon cultivation.

Day in and day out, he would just stare at the blasted lake, unmoving.

At first, they thought there was something odd about the lake, like it hid some profound secret; otherwise, why would a genius like Zhang Jing stare at it so intently?

However, after rounds of careful inspection by the cultivators.

Everyone came to the same conclusion: there was no problem with the lake, the person had the problem.

Following this conclusion.

There were those who were regretful, some sorrowful, and even some that snickered at the scene.

Amongst them.

Qiu Xiujun was the most disheartened.

He deeply regretted his decision to recommend Junior Brother Zhang to Senior Brother Qi, leading him to this forsaken place.

And now look.

A perfectly fine junior brother, had stumbled in his cultivation.

Every two or three days, Qiu Xiujun would return to check on Zhang Jing, hoping for no further problems and that he would safely survive until the closure of the Void of Deities.

Maybe everything would be alright once they left, right?

After all, their bodies weren't their own right now.

At worst, he'll seek help from the academy principal and pavilion masters, to rescue Zhang Jing.

Given Zhang Jing's displayed talent.

Qiu Xiujun felt certain that the academy principal and pavilion masters would not stand by idly.

...

The twentieth day.

Zhang Jing felt as if he was gradually merging with the azure lake before him.

The scene in his sight started to change.

That was…

In his view.

The lake's surface started shimmering with countless colors, the splendor reaching an extreme.

Then, the azure lake began to expand rapidly, swallowing the earth, covering the sky, even…

No! That's not a fitting description!

To be accurate.

The azure lake was only now returning to its true form.

It was not a lake, but a vast sea, broader than a world!

The sea's surface flashed with brilliant godly lights of various colors.

Within the sea, there were billions of assorted metals, some ordinary, some celestial, some belonging to the Five Elements, some derived from Yin and Yang. It seemed as if every existing metal could be found there.

A name suddenly popped into Zhang Jing's head.

The Aurora Yuan Magnetic Sea!

Just as he tried to comprehend it more thoroughly, the peculiar perspective began to retreat rapidly.

The scene before him was back to the ordinary azure lake again.

It seemed as if it was just an illusion.

Then, no matter how hard Zhang Jing tried, he could not reenter that state.

The Illusory Jade Talisman gradually emerged.

[Aurora Yuan Magnetic Sea (Unable to upgrade)]

"The Jade Talisman obviously registered it, so why can't it upgrade?" Zhang Jing thought with confusion.

The next moment.

A piece of information appeared in his mind.

Zhang Jing could not help but smile wryly.

"So it turns out that the rank of the Aurora Yuan Magnetic Sea is too high, and due to my current low cultivation, the Jade Talisman can't forcibly comprehend it to upgrade. Though, if I could comprehend it myself, this issue wouldn't exist."

Comprehend it myself?

Zhang Jing shook his head.

He had already attempted that, but to no avail.

He thought back to Lord Ying's words about 'fate'.

"Could it be that my connection with the Aurora Yuan Magnetic Sea is so thin that I was barely able to catch a glimpse of it because of the Jade Talisman?"

Zhang Jing speculated.

It felt like he had hit the nail on the head.

...

At this moment.

In the depths of the Mini Void of Deities.

Sighs of dissapointment echoed.

"Ah, what a pity, such a shallow destiny! He couldn't ultimately comprehend the Aurora Yuan Magnetic Sea."

"Indeed, to be so close yet so far from the Tao of Heavenly Immortals, what a pity."

"A pity? If it's not meant to be, then it's not. It may seem to be a tiny difference, but in reality, it's as vast as the heavens."

"..."

"Speaking of the Aurora Yuan Magnetic Sea, it seems someone from universe 1972 managed to comprehend a bit of its true meaning. Shang Yuan Blue Scenery Cave Heaven is preparing to send people to the Lower Realm to receive him."

At these words.

The entities fell silent.

'Shang Yuan Blue Scenery Cave Heaven', or rather 'Cave Heaven', seemed to hold special significance to them.