Forging Immortality through the Dao Seed

The sky was just beginning to brighten.

A good number of people had already gathered outside of the Legacy Pavilion.

Every now and then, a person would walk out wearing a brand new green robe, a vibrant smile on their face that was hard to dispel.

Zhang Jing, standing outside, watched this scene with a calm expression.

The people around him subconsciously kept their distance, even more, surreptitious glances kept streaking over his body.

Zhang Jing paid no mind to these gazes and quietly waited.

Not far in front of him, Shen Qingqing, who had arrived earlier, was standing just as quietly. If anyone looked at them from the front, they would discover that the expressions on their faces were identical.

Time slowly passed.

In the Legacy Pavilion.

Zhang Jing put the green robe he was holding into his Spiritual Ornament Space, then started to look around.

Soon, his eyes brightened and he quickly walked towards a figure not far away.

"Junior Brother Zhang Jing pays respects to Senior Brother Liu."

"So, it's you, Junior Brother," Senior Brother Liu said with a faint smile upon seeing Zhang Jing. Then he congratulated him, "I haven't congratulated you yet for securing the third place in this assessment."

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

After some pleasantries had been exchanged.

"Junior Brother, did you wanted something specific?" Senior Brother Liu asked curiously.

"Senior Brother, it's like this. When I visited Longze Market before, I happened to come across a complete lower-grade cultivation method. I came to see you to ask if it's possible to exchange it for Tao Merits? If that's not possible, can I exchange it with the Legacy Pavilion for another legacy?"

Zhang Jing asked eagerly.

"Oh? A complete lower-grade cultivation method?"

A trace of surprise flashed across Senior Brother Liu's face.

A complete cultivation method actually appeared outside of the Dao Institute?

This was really unusual.

In response to Zhang Jing's gaze, Senior Brother Liu contemplated for a moment and then slowly asked, "Junior Brother, are you sure it's a complete cultivation method? Do you have it on you right now?"

"Yes, I do."

Zhang Jing immediately took out the jade slip from his storage bag and handed it straight over.

Senior Brother Liu accepted the jade slip and directly projected his divine sense into it, his face immediately showing an almost imperceptible solemn expression.

"Junior Brother Zhang Jing, you haven't cultivated this Green Sparrow Draws in Qi method, have you?"

Senior Brother Liu directly looked at Zhang Jing, a trace of anxiety in his voice.

"Since I already have a middle-grade cultivation method, I naturally wouldn't cultivate this."

Senior Brother Liu didn't answer and continued to stare at Zhang Jing, his divine sense slowly sweeping over him.

The manageable rhythm of Qi within!

It indeed was the spiritual power cultivated by the Five Zang Secrets of Water Yuan Injection method.

Only after confirming did Senior Brother Liu secretly heave a sigh of relief.

"Senior Brother, this cultivation method... is there a problem with it?"

Unable to ignore Senior Brother's peculiar behavior, Zhang Jing cautiously asked.

"Junior brother, it is indeed a complete lower-grade cultivation method, however... the method has been altered somewhat. Hehe, those who practice this method, as long as they have sufficient resources, their cultivation speed would even exceed that of a middle-grade method. However, just at the moment of breaking through to the tenth layer of Qi refining, their essence, breath, and spirit would automatically condense into a Three-Element White Bone Dan, to be harvested by others."

"Junior brother, you must forget about the contents of this method!"

"Understood."

Zhang Jing was taken aback, feeling a tinge of fear.

Who could have thought, a cultivation method that looked just as normal as any other, was actually a major pitfall.

It seemed like he had to be more careful in the future.

In his line of sight.

Senior Brother Liu directly collected the jade slip in his hand and said to Zhang Jing, "Junior brother, I will take this method as is, and later I will give you three hundred Tao Merits, which is also the price of the Legacy Pavilion for exchanging a lower-grade cultivation method, how does that sound?"

"Thank you, Senior Brother."

Zhang Jing gratefully said.

Though Senior Brother Liu didn't explicitly mention it, Zhang Jing knew that this should be considered special treatment.

After agreeing, Zhang Jing hesitated for a bit, then asked Senior Brother Liu again:

"May I ask, Senior Brother, how many Tao Merits are needed to exchange for a top-grade cultivation method?"

Being about to enter the Outer Academy, Zhang Jing felt that he needed to clarify these things in advance. After having a goal, it would be easier to plan ahead.

As his voice died away.

He didn't get the response he had imagined.

Zhang Jing couldn't help but raise his head and saw that Senior Brother Liu was looking at him with a somewhat amused expression.

"Junior Brother, after you secured the third place yesterday, I knew you would sooner or later ask about the top-grade cultivation methods, I just didn't expect it to happen so soon."

Having said that, Senior Brother Liu sighed, then said:

"Well, there's no harm in telling you. Exchanging for a top-grade cultivation method requires a full nine thousand Tao Merits. The number of people who can afford this in the Outer Courtyard is quite small."

"Even those in the top ten teams can't?"

"They can't!"

"Why is it so expensive?" Zhang Jing asked incredulously.

"Do you know what a top-grade cultivation method is?"

Senior Brother Liu asked in a low voice.

"Please enlighten me, Senior Brother."

"Top-grade cultivation methods are about the Taoism Rhyme, and the guidance of the Taoism Rhyme is the basis for the establishment of the Tao Foundation. Therefore, in essence, a top-grade cultivation method is a method of foundation building, merely incorporating Qi refining methods within it as well."

"Junior Brother, let me advise you that while you're in the Outer Academy, focusing on cultivating the Five Zang Secrets of Water Yuan Injection method is the best option. When you've reached the tenth layer of Qi refinement and passed the Lucid-Drizzle Fairy Wall test to enter the Inner Academy a few years later, you will have enough Tao Merits to exchange for a suitable top-grade cultivation method."

"With your talent, this is the safest method."

"If you scatter your focus on Tao Merits, neglecting your cultivation to the point where you can't break through to the tenth layer of Qi refinement by the time you're forty, you'll miss out on the Inner Academy. Even if you exchange for a top-grade cultivation method by then and attain your foundation establishment, what good will that do? Without entering the Golden Core's Divine Skill Great Dao, you will ultimately turn into a mound of yellow soil after two hundred years."

Senior Brother Liu earnestly advised.

He genuinely did not want to see this shockingly talented junior brother waste his cultivation because of a mere interest in Tao Merits.

"Is that so... Zhang Jing understands."

After saying this, Zhang Jing deeply bowed to Senior Brother Liu.

Although he was disheartened internally, he could hear the genuine concern in the other's words.

"Haha, it's good that you understand, Junior Brother. Your talent is not reflected in your current lowly Qi refining state, but in the foundation establishment several decades later. Don't let a moment's spirit cause you to regret it in the future."

Senior Brother Liu's eyes suddenly became profound.

Whoo-

Hearing this, Zhang Jing exhaled softly, saying, "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother. By the way, I was thinking of going home for a few days, would it be possible to hitch a ride when the Dao Institute sends back those who failed the assessments?"

"That's simple, you are from Linshan Prefecture, Huizhou... In this case, go pack your things first, and in an hour, the Spirit Crane will be waiting for you in front of the Legacy Pavilion."

"Thank you, Senior Brother, Zhang Jing bids farewell."

"Take care, Junior Brother."

...

Not until Zhang Jing's figure disappeared, did Senior Brother Liu take out the jade slip again, and his Divine Sense surged brutally into it.

The next moment, the shadow of a green sparrow appeared before Senior Brother Liu.

He remained unmoved, his Divine Sense went deeper into it.

Instantly.

The flesh and blood, and feathers of the green sparrow began to fall off, eventually turning into a eerie bird of bare bones. A few strands of rotting flesh hung on its dreadful bone wings, exuding a deep sense of decay.

It is indeed it!

Suddenly, an icy gaze flashed through Senior Brother Liu's eyes.

"Three Lives Bone Road, Rotten Bone Crow!"

...

...

Wooo—

Accompanied by the piercing sound of wind.

A huge shadow slowly covered Zhang Jing, who had been waiting for a while.

"It's here!"

Zhang Jing's eyes lit up.

Then, he took a step forward, the water under his feet rippled, a sudden coldness appeared, and he rose into the sky.

In the span of only three to five breaths.

Zhang Jing arrived on the broad back of the Spirit Crane.

In his sight, not far away, a green-robed Taoist man sitting cross-legged was looking at him, and dozens of curious eyes were peeking out from the cabin on the back of the crane.

"Junior Brother Zhang Jing pays his respects to Senior Brother."

Zhang Jing walked next to the green-robed daoist man, cupped his hands and said.

"Junior Brother Zhang Jing is being too polite, please have a seat." The green-robed daoist man replied with a smile on his face.

Zhang Jing took a seat accordingly.

During their conversation.

The Spirit Crane under their feet let out a clear cry, changed its direction, and flew away at high speed.

"May I ask, how should I address Senior Brother?"

"Just call me Senior Brother Qiu. Tsk tsk, Junior Brother, I was truly surprised by your performance in yesterday's assessments."

Gazing at Senior Brother Qiu before him, a look of surprise flashed across Zhang Jing's face. He asked:

"So, Senior Brother was there yesterday as well?"

"Of course I was there, and...I saw everything quite clearly. The competition for ranks this time was much more fierce than in previous years. The new rules are indeed very good!"

Senior Brother Qiu smiled profoundly and continued:

"Junior Brother, I noticed that you are quite gifted in the cultivation of spells. Now that you have entered the Outer Academy, have you considered mastering a dharma door of the Immortal Way?"

"The dharma door of the Immortal Way?" Zhang Jing was a bit confused.

"Yes, the so-called 'cultivate all skills, formation, alchemy, talisman'. Junior Brother Zhang Jing, the Immortal Way encompasses all things, not just cultivation and spells. These skills are also the Great Dao, if one has the talent to master one, it would be remarkable."

After speaking, Senior Brother Qiu heaved a sigh and said:

"Unfortunately, there are few people who can master these."

Hearing his words, Zhang Jing pondered: "May I ask, Senior Brother, are these things rare and precious?"

"Naturally. For ordinary disciples of the Outer Academy, the fastest way to earn Tao Merits is to accept tasks of hunting monsters from the Spirit Tao Pavilion, which inevitably involves fighting and warfare. Therefore, magic artifacts, pills, and talismans are indispensable items, the better the quality and the higher the level, the more valuable they are. As for formations, they are usually too expensive for ordinary disciples."

Senior Brother Qiu patiently explained.

From across him.

Zhang Jing's eyes grew even brighter.

Suddenly, he remembered the talismans he found in the storage bags of some Loose Cultivators last time. They were kept in jade boxes, which indicated how they valued them.

In combination with the words of Senior Brother Qiu, he surmised that these items must also be valued in the Dao Institute.

After all, he has the Spirit River of Five Laws, but others do not.

"When you return to the Dao Institute, you might as well come and visit my Thousand Law Pavilion."

"Thousand Law Pavilion..." Zhang Jing pondered for a moment, then said seriously: "I will go. Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother."

Time passed bit by bit.

The night gradually deepened.

However, the lights were still brightly lit in Yong'an Academy.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew.

The Spirit Crane landed slowly.

"Liu Sanyi welcomes Senior Brother."

Teacher Liu, who had been waiting below for a long time, greeted respectfully.

A streak of light flew directly in front of Teacher Liu, at the same time Senior Brother Qiu's calm voice sounded:

"Junior Brother Liu is too polite, this year's performance of Yong'an Academy is excellent, accept this as a reward from the Dao Institute. Please take care of those who did not pass."

Then, over a dozen figures slowly got off the Spirit Crane.

Zhang Jing also followed.

"Junior Brother Zhang Jing, I will be leaving first."

Senior Brother Qiu waved at Zhang Jing with a smile.

The Spirit Crane flew up in response, disappearing into the night in a blink of an eye.

At the original spot.

Teacher Liu put away the reward from the Dao Institute, then he looked at Zhang Jing with a complex expression, and carefully said:

"Zhang Jing...Junior Brother, congratulations, you ranked third in the assessments, from now on your way in the Immortal Dao will be infinite!"

"I am grateful for Teacher's care before."

Zhang Jing responded politely, then he excused himself: "Teacher, I will be heading home first, I will pay a visit another day."

"Very well, go home first, your parents have been missing you a lot during this period."

Seeing that Zhang Jing's attitude was same as before.

Teacher Liu couldn't help but show a big smile, and said with concern.