Forging Immortality through the Dao Seed

High up in the sky, an altitude that was hard to fathom from the ground.

A bright streak of light appeared out of nowhere, like a falling meteor, swiftly plummeting down.

In an instant.

It was already thousands of feet away.

However.

Even at this extreme speed.

Zhang Jing still felt the ground was very far away.

"Although Master, as the True Monarch of this epoch, hangs his Grand Brightness Cave Heaven above the Clear Radiance Sky, this...is a bit too high, isn't it."

Zhang Jing was taken aback.

Previously when he entered and exited Cave Heaven, he was led by Senior Brother Feng Wuyu, so he didn't have this feeling.

But it wasn't until today's self-escape voyage.

He only realized how staggering the height of this Cave Heaven and the sky was.

He estimated it to be more than a million miles!

He couldn't help but look down.

A vast, boundless wilderness instantly came into view.

Majestic mountains, endless forests, fierce rivers, clear lakes, and even kingdoms formed a grand and eternal painting filled with the breath of time.

"This must be Dong Ji Immortal Continent, quite spectacular."

Zhang Jing remembered the huge map of the Clear Radiance Sky, marked with five continents, four seas, and two marshes he had just seen not long ago, and couldn't help but exclaim.

But at this moment.

"Sir... sir, when can we land, this is just too... too scary."

Lu Thirty-Eight, closely clinging to Zhang Jing's thigh.

After hearing Zhang Jing's exclamation, he involuntarily looked down, his body immediately trembling like chaff.

Then his complexion went pale and he stuttered the question.

"Why are you so frightened? It's not like you'll fall to your death."

Zhang Jing didn't know whether to laugh or to cry.

He did not expect.

That even after stepping into the Golden Core Realm, Lu Thirty-Eight would still be afraid of heights.

As he spoke.

The speed of the streak of light, Zhang Jing transformed into, pursuing downwards soared even further.

Astonishing waves of Mana were freely rippling in all directions.

...

Time passed leisurely.

In the blink of an eye.

Two years had passed since Zhang Jing and Lu Thirty-Eight left the Cave Heaven, traveling through Dong Ji Immortal Continent, looking for spiritual places to set up their Dao Sect.

In these two years.

The master and servant had gone through many twist and turns, but they'd only visited less than twenty places.

Some of them were powers formed by Cultivators, but more of them were kingdoms of mortals.

Through this two years of observation.

Zhang Jing had discovered.

Even though Clear Radiance Sky is dominated by the Boundless Tai Yi Taoist Gate and many powerful Dao Sects are located in corners of Clear Radiance Sky.

This does not mean.

That Clear Radiance Sky is all peaceful and harmonious.

On the contrary.

Competition and conquest are the main theme of this endless land.

And neither the Dao Sect nor many powerful figures within the Dao Sect, would interfere too much. Thus, there's a feeling of the Great Dao doing nothing, and all beings being free to compete under the frosted sky.

...

One day.

On a small, deserted forest trail.

Tall trees, dense forests, serenity, peace.

The path had long been overgrown with various unidentified weeds due to lack of human activity, appearing desolate and run-down.

Thump—Thump Thump!

Accompanied by a series of faint, crispy footsteps.

Lu Thirty-Eight, towering and unhurried, slowly appeared.

On his back.

Zhang Jing lay half-sitting, half-lying, holding the jade book of The Cave Heaven Metamorphosis Secret, looking leisurely as can be.

Out of nowhere.

"Such a handsome divine deer, young master, may I ask for a ride?"

A seductive Kemonomimi voice rang out.

Hearing the sound.

Lu Thirty-Eight abruptly stopped in his tracks, stared wide-eyed forward, and the cultivation aura he was suppressing under Zhang Jing almost exploded.

He truly did not expect.

This monster would not even care about picking a fight with his master.

Was it not like an old man eating arsenic because he was tired of living?

On his back.

Zhang Jing lifted his eyes from the jade book in his hand and looked in the direction of the sound.

In his sight.

A woman with an alluring figure and enticing face, was leaning against an ancient tree, her eyes filled with autumn waters as she looked at him.

Her every frown and smile was captivating.

"A monster?"

Zhang Jing's pupils flashed with intrigue.

A thought crossed his mind.

An illusory six-color celebration cloud slowly rose above his head, and his Celestial Pupil instantly revealed a sharp divine light.

The woman was instantly seen through.

After a while.

"Miss, could you answer a question for me first," Zhang Jing asked gently.

"If the answer would get me a ride with you, sir, do ask. I will answer anything I know," the lady in the pink dress looked excited, anticipating Zhang Jing's response.

Without giving a definitive answer, Zhang Jing asked, "Do you know of any place nearby where spiritual veins converge? Or places where the aura of Immortal Spirit is quite dense?"

The other party being a monster grown in these wild mountains.

Must know a fair bit about the surrounding territories, making it a perfect informant.

Upon hearing this,

The woman in a pink dress nodded enthusiastically, saying excitedly:

"Sir, I know a place that fits what you just asked for, but... it's a bit remote."

"No bother, let's go and see."

Zhang Jing spoke nonchalantly.

"I shall guide you there on foot, sir."

A slickly sweet voice suddenly arrived at his ear, followed by a faint, elusive aroma.

Zhang Jing looked down,

Only to see the woman in pink next to him, her skin as smooth as jade, reaching up to grab the white fur of Lu Thirty-Eight, going up as if she wanted to dive into Zhang Jing's arms.

Her actions,

Revealed quite a view, fair and smooth.

"Miss, you might as well lead the way. My deer here is too small to carry two."

Zhang Jing reminded her with a smile,

His voice carried an intangible rejection.

...

Four hours later.

"This spiritual land is indeed spiritual, but it's a bit lacking."

Zhang Jing's dark pupils reflected a towering Divine Mountain.

The place was filled with Immortal Spirit Qi, shrouded in Immortal fog.

If it was a normal person,

Just one sight would be enough to make them exclaim: What a heavenly place for cultivating the Immortal Way!

But seeing all this,

There was a hardly noticeable hint of disappointment flashing through Zhang Jing's eyes.

"Thirty-Eight, what do you think?"

He asked again.

"Master, it is indeed a bit lacking. There are no energy veins on the bottom, nor are the Immortal Spirit Qi's particularly dense. It won't be much beneficial for the cultivation of Immortal Roots."

Lu Thirty-Eight answered truthfully.

"So it's true that the finest spiritual lands are hard to find. Let alone the best ones, Senior Brother did not lie to me. That's fair, countless epochs have passed since Tao sect was established, there're so many powerhouses. Even though the vast endless heavens expand every year, how easy can it be to find a fine spiritual land."

"Never mind, let's keep looking. There's no hurry."

Zhang Jing laughed openly, no trace of disappointment from this fruitless joy in his eyes.

"Yes, Master!"

Tiptoe...

Lu Thirty-Eight took a step, light and nimble like a cloud of smoke.

In no time,

He was carrying Zhang Jing, stepping over the peaks of mountains and disappearing into the distance.

Back at the original spot.

A dozen or more vividly-colored three-tailed foxes lay motionless on the ground, green vines quietly growing from the foxes' mouths and noses.

Soon there were faint purple flowers blooming on these vines, swaying gently in the breeze.

Radiating the breath of life.

They looked tranquil and quiet.

As time slowly passed.

"Ah!"

A shrill scream suddenly broke the silence.

In an instant,

An unknown life force began to riot, the vines with purple flowers growing from the foxes' bodies started to grow rapidly, like awoken wild beasts.

Rustle!

The sound of vine friction was deafening.

...

Half a year flashed by.

In a certain gigantic city.

On a street over a dozen feet wide.

The crowd was bustling, a vibrant scene.

Zhang Jing, dressed in a light white robe, mingled leisurely among them.

Walking forward,

He curiously took in the grandeur of the Immortal City, a bustling blend of mortals and cultivators that was said to have a population in the billions.

"Three Elements City, it really is a nice place."

Zhang Jing thought to himself.

Echoes of ongoing conversations reached his ears,

Negotiating prices, catching up on old times, mutual compliments…

Suddenly,

Zhang Jing slowed down, his gaze inadvertently falling on two men in a teahouse who were having a leisurely chat.

"Sigh, for the ownership of that Lingshu Mountain, the Yushui Sect, Three Elements City and the Dragon Sky Sword Sect, these three great forces, have been battling relentlessly. Hundreds of thousands have perished in the hundreds of years, even Immortals aren't spared."

"Yet, there's still no clear victor."

"When will the end to this come?"

"Isn't that right? My uncle's aunt's third eldest's distant cousin's son died because of this, at that Lingshu Mountain. It was a sad scene."

"..."

Back at the original location,

Zhang Jing looked away, a contemplative look appearing in his eyes.

Three Elements City?

Isn't it the grand Immortal City where he is now?

From the sound of the conversation,

It seemed like the Immortal force that controlled this city was vying with two other Immortal forces for the possession of the Lingshu Mountain?

"A spiritual land? And it has caused disputes amongst the three forces for hundreds of years, the land must not be too bad."

Zhang Jing suddenly found himself interested.

It would be great if it was a superior spiritual land.

In that case,

He could consider this location for his Taoist arena.