Chapter 398
The Path to Immortality
"Bigger, bigger, even bigger!"
On the summit of Zhongnan Mountain, an excited voice rang out, as if someone was watching some kind of magical performance and marveling at it.
As the old man from Niushan exclaimed in amazement, the many medicinal herbs floating in front of Zhou Sheng were visibly expanding and growing...
The wild ginseng, which originally had only four leaves, has now grown a ninth leaf and its size has almost doubled. It vaguely resembles a human figure, with long, gnarled roots that are dense like a net and emit a rich medicinal fragrance.
Precious medicinal herbs such as Zhu Guo, He Shou Wu, and Huang Jing are also undergoing astonishing changes.
Although they float in the air, they seem to be planted in the legendary divine soil, where a hundred years pass in the blink of an eye and a thousand years in the blink of an eye, and the medicinal power condenses and rises at an astonishing speed.
In just a short time, the value of these medicinal herbs has changed dramatically.
Nine-leaf ginseng king, thousand-year-old vermilion fruit, dragon-shaped he shou wu, thousand-year-old huang jing...
The mighty night wind blew by, yet it couldn't dispel the rich medicinal fragrance, which invigorated the spirit, made one feel relaxed and refreshed, as if one's body had become lighter.
Only then did Zhou Sheng open his tightly closed eyes, his gaze revealing a mixture of excitement and exhaustion, and a fine layer of sweat appeared on his forehead.
He exhaled a long breath, and the white hair at his temples seemed to have deepened.
The moment he put away the Great Dao of Time, those ordinary medicinal herbs scattered and fled, turning into rainbows and disappearing. They were transformed into spirits, cultivating intelligence and supernatural powers.
But they were clearly overthinking it. Before they could escape the area on the mountaintop, the old man of Niushan swept them all away with a wave of his sleeve.
"As expected of the Great Dao of Time, it can turn stone into gold and a thousand years in an instant. With these precious medicines, and after being refined by the old beggar, it will be enough to help you reach a thousand years of cultivation!"
This is the most extraordinary aspect of the Great Way of Time.
If applied only to medicinal herbs, it can forcibly cultivate rare and precious medicines in a short time. Even with a thousand years of cultivation or ten thousand years of experience, it is not a difficult task.
"A tremendous fortune, yet you can do it with a mere flick of your wrist. With such extraordinary abilities, it's no wonder even Heaven doesn't want to tolerate you."
The old man from Niushan gave him a final piece of advice: "Junior brother, remember this: do not use this lightly in the future. First, it will shorten your lifespan. Second, even an innocent man can be guilty of possessing a treasure. If word gets out, I don't know how many eyes will be on you."
"With your cultivation level, it's fine if they're enemies; you can just run away if you can't win. But what if they're friends? What if they're friends of your master or wife?"
"They come to ask for medicine for their relatives or disciples. Will you give it to them or not?"
Zhou Sheng had finished adjusting his breathing. Upon hearing this, his expression turned solemn, and he said earnestly, "Thank you for your teachings, Senior Brother. I will remember them."
"Yes, Junior Brother, focus on your cultivation and studies. Leave the hard work of alchemy to your Senior Brother. I will surely produce a batch of superior immortal pills within nine days!"
After having his junior apprentice, Old Man Niushan underwent a tremendous change in his demeanor. He was no longer lazy and undisciplined, but instead became energetic and full of vigor.
He excitedly went down the mountain, rolled up his sleeves, set up the alchemy furnace, and began refining elixirs.
Gazing at the dancing golden waves of fire, the old man of Niushan's eyes shone brightly, and a smile appeared on his face, as if a lone boat that had been adrift for a long time had finally found its direction.
Especially when they saw the figure on the mountaintop, dressed in a plain robe and wearing a jade thumb ring, with his black hair flying and as light as pine smoke, his clear and handsome eyes gazing at the distant starry sky, his whole person seemed to be shrouded in a hazy glow.
His heart skipped a beat, and the image of his mentor flashed into his mind.
"It looks just like it, so much like it."
A smile appeared on the old man's face, as if he had been relieved of a long-held burden, and the wrinkles on his face smoothed out.
“Master, you have taken two disciples in total. I am useless; my aptitude and character are both inadequate. I am not worthy of your mantle and the karma you have entrusted to me. As for the other one…”
"Although that person was a genius, he went astray and betrayed the sect."
"Three hundred years have passed, Master. Your disciple has finally found someone truly capable of inheriting your mantle. With him here, your disciple can finally sleep soundly." ...
Time flies, and in the blink of an eye, nine sunrises and sunsets have passed.
Zhou Sheng finally managed to quickly read through the 1,374 unique martial arts manuals. He still hadn't fully grasped many of the profound parts, but he had gained a basic understanding.
He finally stopped stroking the Xuanji Jade Balance ring and slowly opened his eyes.
His gaze was deep, as if a galaxy were flowing within it, and his pupils were three times darker than those of ordinary people. Looking into them was like peering into an ancient well without a moon, at the bottom of which lay countless hexagrams and star charts.
After nearly a month of diligent study and focused reading, he benefited greatly, and his temperament became more serene, like a mountain and a deep pool.
He extended a few slender fingers, lightly tapping his jade-like knuckles. A mysterious, ethereal light rippled from his fingertips, and he then softly uttered a few words.
"Shenshi 3:45".
The sundial cast shadows in the thatched hut. When the time reached the third quarter of the Shen hour, an explosion was heard. The alchemy furnace shattered into pieces, and seven immortal pills burst out, shimmering with brilliant light.
However, before the medicinal fragrance could be released, it was all absorbed by a purple-gold gourd.
Boom!
Thunderous energy gathered, and calamity clouds suddenly arose.
But Zhou Sheng only glanced at it.
The next moment, in the long river of time, a strange figure, nine feet and nine inches tall, with three eyes on its forehead, stepped out. It had wind and thunder wings on its back, held a thunder chisel in its hand, and with each breath, two wisps of wandering ball lightning shot out from its nostrils. Its ears reached its shoulders, and its auricles were covered with fine thunder patterns.
This is the image of the Thunder God that he summoned using the art of summoning spirits and commanding generals.
After overcoming his tribulation, and with his profound understanding of the Great Dao of Time, the Yin Opera technique he created underwent a complete transformation.
It is no longer limited to Guan Yu and Huan Hou, but encompasses everything. To outsiders, it seems like a celestial master in charge of troops, summoning gods and immortals, and driving away ghosts and commanding spirits.
Thunder God, having received Zhou Sheng's decree, brazenly stormed into the still-forming Dan Tribulation, causing thunder to rumble and lightning to flash.
In just a moment, the thunderclouds of the tribulation were pierced through and finally vanished.
After nodding to Zhou Sheng, the image of Lei Gong disappeared, transforming once again into a mark in the long river of time.
"Without using any great supernatural powers, relying solely on this method of binding spirits and commanding generals, I should be considered one of the best among those undergoing tribulation."
Zhou Sheng nodded, having gained a more objective assessment of his own abilities.
His supernatural power is just a branch of the Great Dao of Time, so using it will not consume his lifespan, making it perfect for fighting enemies.
With the cultivation techniques and secret manuals he received from the Bodhisattva, as well as the thousands of years of Louguan Dao's heritage, he was confident that, not to mention killing enemies beyond his realm, he was at least unmatched among those of the same realm.
If we utilize the Great Dao of Time, even crossing borders to kill enemies is not necessarily out of the question.
Of course, if you can crush others with your realm, why bother trying to cross realms?
Zhou Sheng stretched out his hand, summoned the purple-gold gourd, and couldn't help but smile as he looked at the seven dazzling immortal pills inside.
Becoming an immortal doesn't seem so difficult after all.
...(End of this chapter)