Eternal Life Begins with Learning

Jingmen.

It was early morning.

The chill of late autumn was already apparent, and the city’s proximity to the vast East Lake lent the air an even deeper cold.

The city gates were already wide open. Amidst the shouts of the Inspector soldiers, the people gathered at the entrance filed into the city in an orderly fashion.

Within the stream of people, Chu Mu, dressed in a green robe, gazed at the city gates ahead, a wistful, faraway look in his eyes.

The scene of him leaving Jingmen seemed as if it were just yesterday. The Immortal Path was long, and yet several years had already passed.

And he, after years of struggle, had progressed from a Divine Appearance Cultivator to officially stepping onto the Path to Immortality, becoming a true Cultivator.

By now, he had finally accumulated some foundation, and the future held a little more hope.

Following the flow of people into the city, he saw that after several years, Jingmen City hadn’t seemed to change much from when he left.

Following a familiar route, he walked through the city for a moment before the sign he remembered writing himself came clearly into view.

Hundred Herbs Pavilion.

Chu Mu gazed at the sign in a daze, his mind awash with memories.

Nanshan Mine, Nanshan Town, down the river, and then to Jingmen...

The scenes of the past seemed to play out vividly before his eyes.

"WOOF WOOF WOOF WOOF!"

"WOOF WOOF WOOF!"

"Wangcai, what are you doing!"

"Wangcai, come here!"

A familiar frantic bark suddenly rang out, immediately followed by a clear shout from the backyard.

A slight smile touched Chu Mu’s lips as he looked in the direction of the sounds.

Just then, a black shadow leaped directly over the courtyard wall and bolted toward him!

"Hahahaha!"

Chu Mu caught the lunging Wangcai in his arms, his face wreathed in a smile as he let out a heartfelt laugh.

"Wimper, wimper..."

Wangcai whimpered, rubbing its head against him nonstop, clearly just as excited.

"You little mutt, you’ve got a sharp nose!"

Chu Mu ruffled the dog’s head, grinning broadly. He hadn’t seen him in years, and the mutt had clearly filled out. He looked almost like a black panther now.

"Brother Mu!"

"Brother Mu, is that you? Are you back?"

Immediately after, a surprised and happy voice came from behind the courtyard wall. Xu Yuan then vaulted over, his joy impossible to hide when he saw Chu Mu ruffling Wangcai’s fur.

"Come on, let’s get inside before we talk."

Chu Mu glanced at their surroundings and waved his hand. He then scooped up Wangcai, leaped into the air, and landed inside the Medicine Hall’s courtyard.

"Brother Mu!"

Xu Yuan vaulted back into the courtyard right after him, once again standing by Chu Mu’s side.

"You’ve reached Divine Appearance, haven’t you?"

Chu Mu asked casually, surveying the courtyard before him.

"I reached Divine Appearance just before the new year last year."

After answering, Xu Yuan couldn’t hold back his curiosity.

"Brother Mu, did you find the Cultivation Immortal Realm?"

Chu Mu nodded. "I came back this time specifically to take you there."

"Wimper, wimper..."

Beside them, Wangcai seemed to understand, suddenly lifting his head and whining softly.

"Hahahaha, right, and Wangcai too. We’ll all go together."

Chu Mu laughed. ’This mutt’s almost as smart as a person.’

"Then I’ll go pack. Oh, right, Brother Mu, when are we leaving?"

Chu Mu pondered for a moment before making a decisive call. "Things aren’t peaceful here in Jingmen. We leave Jingmen first!"

Xu Yuan paused, then, as if remembering something, immediately asked, "Brother Mu, is it because of what’s happening at East Lake?"

"For the past two years, Cultivators have often been seen around East Lake. The stories about it are getting wild."

"I heard that a white fog appears out of nowhere and then mysteriously vanishes. What’s really in there?"

Chu Mu’s brow furrowed. "I don’t know. I heard it might be some kind of Secret Realm, but it has nothing to do with us. It’s best to stay away for now, so we don’t get swept up in it."

"Alright, I’ll go pack my things then."

Xu Yuan excitedly trotted off. Chu Mu stood in the courtyard, stroking the dog’s head absently, a thoughtful look flickering across his face from time to time.

He was considering where to go upon returning to the Cultivation Immortal Realm.

The slightly larger Marketplaces in this vicinity were all basically the Sun Family’s territory.

From what he understood, aside from the distant Jade Emperor Valley Marketplace, there were three other Marketplaces nearby belonging to the Sun Family: Changping City, Jingxiang Island, and Crescent Bay.

The closest to Jingmen was Jingxiang Island, located right on East Lake.

In his own opinion, although the Fengming Mountain Black Market was fraught with danger, its environment was undoubtedly the best for a Loose Cultivator.

There were no monopolistic restrictions; as long as you had something, you could buy or sell it.

It wasn’t like his time in the Jade Emperor Valley Marketplace, where knowledge and materials were completely monopolized.

But clearly, the Fengming Mountain Black Market was no place for him in his current state. Besides, the Fengming Mountain Black Market had no Spirit Vein, so the Spiritual Qi was thin.

As a trading hub for the Black Market, it was acceptable. But as a place to settle down, it was sorely lacking.

As for the other Marketplaces ruled by the Sun Family... after his years of struggle in Jade Emperor Valley, Chu Mu truly disliked the idea of Clan rule.

A system based on a single Clan tied by blood was destined to be extremely exclusionary.

This had been clearly demonstrated back in Jade Emperor Valley.

All the prosperity lining the streets belonged to the Sun Family and those connected to them. It had nothing to do with outsiders.

Settling there meant that he would inevitably be heavily restricted in every aspect of his life.

This was especially true since he was still studying his Alchemy Skill and planned to use Grain Avoidance Pills to generate income. This, however, was explicitly forbidden in the Sun Family’s book of laws. Elixirs were also an exclusive monopoly of the Sun Family. If he wanted to sell them, he would have to pledge allegiance to the Sun Family, become an Honored Guest Elder, and obtain their permission.

’Jade Emperor Valley...’

Chu Mu’s gaze flickered. The place names in his mind flashed and disappeared, finally settling once again on Jade Emperor Valley.

According to what that Puppet from the Blood Killing Pavilion had said, the Longevity Sect probably wouldn’t hold him accountable for his actions back in Jade Emperor Valley.

Most importantly, Jade Emperor Valley was now ruled by the Longevity Sect.

And the Longevity Sect...

Chu Mu pressed his lips together. The idea of finding a backer, which had gradually faded as his alchemy preparations were completed, was now irrepressibly bubbling up again.

If possible, he would naturally prefer to be a free and unfettered Loose Cultivator.

He now had some capital to do so.

But...

The scene of the Longevity Flying Boat’s confrontational arrival at Jade Emperor Valley was still vivid in his mind.

What did that mean?

Although Chu Mu wasn’t certain, he naturally had his suspicions.

After all, it wasn’t hard to analyze the situation.

What was the relationship between the Sun Family and the Longevity Sect?

From what he understood, the Sun Family was equivalent to a part of the Longevity Sect.

But why would they display a scene that bordered on a complete falling-out that day?

One had to understand that the Longevity Sect wasn’t just the Sun Family Clan. For example, if he were to join the Longevity Sect, marry and have children, and his line were to propagate for a hundred years, it would be as if he had founded his own Cultivation Immortal Clan.

And he would be a member of the Longevity Sect, and many of his clan members would absolutely be members of the Longevity Sect as well.

Translated to the secular world, it was clearly the old system of ruler and subject, just adapted to the environment of the Cultivation Immortal Realm and evolved into a different model.

If such a relationship was suppressed, or even showed signs of a rupture, wouldn’t that be equivalent to an Emperor in a secular dynasty fearing a certain official, or even a faction of officials, and thus suppressing or even breaking with them?

His sources of information were limited, so Chu Mu couldn’t be sure if his speculation was correct. But if it was, then at some point, a storm would surely brew in the Great Chu Cultivation Immortal World.

When that time truly came...

The Sun Family’s book of laws described it all very clearly.

Forced Labor, compulsory conscription... the Cultivation Immortal Realm had learned all the tricks of a secular dynasty.

In other words, as long as he remained in the Great Chu Cultivation Immortal World, if trouble truly started, there would be no way for him to hide from it.

If he truly had to make a choice, a Sect that accepted all comers was clearly a much better option than a Clan bound by blood ties.

’I’ll just take it one step at a time...’

Chu Mu shook his head and sighed softly. He had already endured the most difficult initial stage of a Loose Cultivator’s Immortal Path. From now on, he just needed to proceed step by step.

’Perhaps these speculations are just me worrying for nothing.’

But regardless, he had to go back to Jade Emperor Valley. If he could settle down there, it was his best option for now...

...