Forging Immortality through the Dao Seed

Returning to his cave home.

After instructing Lu Thirty-Eight not to disturb him, Zhang Jing hurriedly entered the cultivation room.

He was eager to comprehend the profound mysteries of the high-grade cultivation method, not willing to waste a single moment.

Sitting cross-legged on the cushion.

A flicker of flame at his fingertips and the Concentrating Incense slowly rose into a white mist.

Breathe and calm your mind!

The dormant Dharma Seeds within his heart were awakened, a red spiritual light enveloping his entire body.

His mind stirred.

The many contents of the "Sea Dragon's True Method" once again surged from the bottom of his heart, and the mystical scroll depicting the sea dragon engulfing the sea slowly unfolded before his eyes.

It was an endless, icy cold abyss.

A sea dragon covered in black scales roared through the waves, from time to time, letting out soul-shaking roars and causing terrifying waves that flooded the sky.

His mind gradually submerged into it.

Unbeknownst to Zhang Jing, in a corner.

The moment the scroll unfolded.

The faint shadow of a sea dragon engulfing the sea within him, albeit broken, began to stir, in the end, it seemed like a baby bird returning to its nest, withdrew into the scroll.

In an instant.

As if possessed by a god.

Zhang Jing's understanding of the "Sea Dragon's True Method" deepened substantially.

...

The Jade Talisman emerged.

"Sea Dragon's True Method · Level One (1/300)"

Skill Attributes: Sea Dragon Form (Advanced)

More complete Taoism Rhyme suddenly emanated from Zhang Jing's heart, spreading throughout his body in an instant.

A blessing for the heart and mind.

He instinctively opened his mouth, inhaling forcefully.

In a flash.

A large funnel of spiritual energy slowly appeared above Zhang Jing's head.

Vast amounts of spiritual energy were swallowed by him into his belly.

Only this time, the spiritual energy merged completely into his flesh and blood!

Zhang Jing's body began to transform in an instant, filled with a vast power as if that of a sea dragon, spreading through every limb and bone.

Skin, muscles, organs, even hair, all underwent inconceivable changes.

In just a few breaths.

He felt as though he could crush any low-level devil he had encountered before to death, even without using any mana, simply by using his body.

But the transformation hadn't stopped there!

At the same time.

Within his Dantian.

Spiritual power began to condense spontaneously, becoming more profound and oppressive, exuding a hint of danger.

At this moment.

In the Spirit Beasts room.

Lu Thirty-Eight seemed to sense a unique aura, involuntarily raising its head and staring blankly in the direction of Zhang Jing.

It shrank its neck, a trace of fear appearing in its eyes.

...

The next day.

Zhang Jing slowly woke up.

He scanned his body with his spiritual senses while gradually recalling his cultivation experience from last night.

A moment later.

Zhang Jing revealed a wry smile.

Not only had his cultivation not progressed, it seemed to have even regressed slightly.

Fortunately, he was still at Qi Refinement fifth level. If not, Zhang Jing would have nearly lost his will to live.

However, on second thought.

The reason for his cultivation regression was not due to any other factor, but because after he practiced the Sea Dragon's True Method, his spiritual power had multiplied several times over compared to before.

Every thread and strand of it gave Zhang Jing a sense of being condensed to the extreme.

Very terrifying!

For instance, with the Five Treasures Spirit River.

Compared to before, he could now control the Five Treasures Spirit River with ease, no longer feeling overwhelmed as if a small horse was pulling a huge cart.

And also—

Zhang Jing stretched out one finger, the Ice Transforming Edge quietly appeared, shimmering with a terrifying edge.

Then.

Under his control.

Accompanied by an extremely sharp shriek, the Ice Transforming Edge slashed fiercely at his arm.

Ding! A violent metal collision sound reverberated in all directions.

The Ice Transforming Edge directly shattered.

There was only a faint white mark on his arm!

...

In the afternoon.

Inside a building at the center of Luodu Island.

Two men with powerful auras occasionally looked at one of the closed rooms, curiosity in their eyes.

Having finished their duties, they wanted to leave, but someone's arrival caused them to stay.

"I wonder if this cultivator will succeed."

"He dared to come here for the Deacon's assessment, so he must have some confidence. However, Talisman Making is said to depend on the state, let's wait and watch."

"In any case if he doesn't make it this time, he can always come back next month."

"Tsk tsk, such is youth!"

There was a hint of envy in their voices.

...

At this moment.

In the secret chamber.

"Junior Brother Zhang, congratulations! If I'm not mistaken, you should be the youngest deacon in the history of our Luodu squad."

Senior Brother Yan put away the recording spirit crystal, carefully placed it into a jade box, then turned and smiled at Zhang Jing, congratulating him.

At this moment.

The look in Senior Brother Yan's eyes was somewhat unfocused as he looked at Zhang Jing.

When he first met Junior Brother Zhang, he was just a Qi Refinement third level cultivator who wasn't even a senior member.

But in the blink of an eye.

The other had become a squad deacon like himself.

Following this growth rate, he didn't know what Zhang Jing would look like the next time they met.

Perhaps — he would become the deputy team leader.

Of course, this was just a joke.

However, how could one not marvel at seeing him rise like a comet?

On the other side.

"I appreciate your kindness, Senior Brother," said Zhang Jing politely.

His heart was somewhat surging with excitement.

He had finally become a deacon.

This would reduce the cost of exchanging cultivation resources by 40%!

In order to accumulate enough Sea Dragon Photographic Merit Method before, Zhang Jing had swallowed his pain and sold the demon core, which was an excellent cultivation resource. Now, he could finally replenish it.

...

The door of the secret chamber slowly opened.

Watching Senior Brother Yan and Zhang Jing come out together, their faces filled with smiles.

Waiting outside, the two men looked at each other, instantly understanding - another new deacon had been born in the Luodu squad!

Without any hesitation.

They walked up in unison, their faces full of kind smiles, saying in sync:

"Junior Brother, congratulations!"

Afterwards.

They each took out a small jade box and enthusiastically said: "Junior Brother, this is a small token from your senior brothers, we hope you don't refuse."

This —

Zhang Jing stared in bewilderment at the two unfamiliar senior brothers in front of him.

These two should also be the squad's deacons from the Luodu squad, but why were they suddenly giving him gifts?

After a brief moment of thought.

He understood their intentions.

Although he didn't really want to accept.

The so-called saying 'do not slap a smiling face' exists for a reason.

Seeing the kindness of the two senior brothers, Zhang Jing naturally didn't want to disappoint them and cause an awkward situation for both parties.

The next moment.

Zhang Jing was seen accepting the gift with a smile, politely saying: "Thank you, senior brothers."

Seeing that Zhang Jing had accepted their presents, the two men breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed Zhang Jing was not a difficult person to deal with.

Their purpose of delivering gifts was simply to build familiarity.

They knew exactly what it meant to be both a Talisman Master and Pill Master - they were essentially the god of wealth.

Establishing good relations in advance would always be beneficial.

...

At the resource storehouse.

In a certain room.

Zhang Jing was staring intensely into the eyes of the woman opposite him, his voice unconsciously lowering.

"Are there really no water-attributed demon cores for sale?"

Perhaps it was due to the recent practice of the Sea Dragon Photographic Merit Method, it was hard to control. At this moment, his gaze carried a slight touch of the terrifying Sea Dragon Taoism Rhyme, terrifying beyond words.

The woman opposite him was close to tears.

The man in front of her looked like a human, but in her senses, he had abruptly turned into a terrifying sea dragon causing storms.

"Senior Brother, there are indeed no water-attributed demon cores. And... even common demon cores, as soon as they are stored, they will be grabbed by Pill Masters," the woman explained, stuttering in fear.

Is that so?

Zhang Jing lowered his gaze.

Then, noticing the woman's odd state, he instantly understood, and hurriedly controlled the Taoism Rhyme that was spilling from his gaze.

He returned to his normal state.

With a sigh of relief -

the pressure on the woman's body suddenly disappeared.

She took a long breath as if she had been reborn.

"Are there any water-attributed spiritual medicines?" Zhang Jing asked.

"Yes, yes, Senior Brother, please wait."

In the end.

Zhang Jing bought three water-attributed spiritual medicines at nearly half the price.

However, their quality was not high, it was only slightly better than the Mist Root Water Ginseng.

It wasn't that he was unwilling to use his Tao merits, but... that was all the spiritual medicine available in the resource library.

Even if he wanted to buy more.

Zhang Jing couldn't get them.

This incident reminded him that spiritual medicine, after all, is a scarce resource. The resources for his rapid advancement in cultivation are supposed to be water-attributed Demon Cores.

From his experience in Langya County, that stuff should be fairly abundant.

....

Leaving the resource library.

Zhang Jing hurried to the Merit Tower again.

That was where personal tasks were posted.