Martial Immortality: Starting with the Spirit Beast Scroll

Zhao Lin was secretly overjoyed. The medicine mountains were normally patrolled by deacons, and even Xingyun Sect disciples were forbidden from setting foot on them. But during the mountain sweep, he could hunt exotic beasts out in the open.

"Elder, which mountain will be swept this time, and what kinds of exotic beasts are there?"

The Water Mirror Elder thought for a moment before replying, "It hasn’t been decided which mountain. We’ll follow the Sect Leader’s orders when the time comes. As for the exotic beasts, they’re mostly Zhihao Boars, Armor-Keeping Beasts, and Iron Spike Lizards."

Zhihao Boars, Armor-Keeping Beasts, and Iron Spike Lizards were the exotic beast equivalents of wild boars, armadillos, and lizards. They weren’t high-level, but they were highly prolific. You could wipe out one generation, and another would spring up a few years later.

Zhao Lin, of course, had no interest in these types of exotic beasts. He asked in a casual tone, "Elder, are there any exotic beasts that live for an exceptionally long time?"

"The kind that live for thousands, or even tens of thousands of years," he added.

The Water Mirror Elder was taken aback by the question, then asked with amusement, "Why do you ask?"

"Just curious," Zhao Lin said earnestly.

The Water Mirror Elder didn’t give it much thought. Stroking his beard, he said, "Exotic beasts are still beasts. Living for several hundred years is already remarkable. Take the Earth-Spinning Turtle—it can live up to five hundred years. The Profound Stone Mirror might live a bit longer, but it’s absolutely impossible for one to live past a millennium."

The Earth-Spinning Turtle was a species of turtle-like exotic beast, while the Profound Stone Mirror was a tiny, mutated jellyfish. Both were famous for their longevity.

At this point, the Water Mirror Elder’s tone suddenly shifted. "For every gain, there must be a loss. Longevity comes at a price. The Earth-Spinning Turtle stays motionless year-round, like a dead thing. The Profound Stone Mirror is only the size of a fingernail, as thin as paper, and dies the moment it’s out of water."

"What’s the use of a long life like that?"

Zhao Lin sighed inwardly. ’The elder’s words are pearls of wisdom, cutting straight to the essence of things.’

’That’s right. There’s no such thing as an animal that lives forever.’

’Every animal has some special abilities, like running fast, jumping high, or possessing a keen sense of smell, but the ability to live forever is fundamentally impossible.’

’So-called immortality is mostly just a distorted rumor.’

The Water Mirror Elder continued, "To be blunt, humans are the most intelligent of all beings. If even we can’t achieve immortality, what right do those exotic beasts have?"

’Since this path is a dead end, I’ll have to approach it through martial arts,’ Zhao Lin thought. He pressed on, "Elder, I’ve heard that above the Primordial Realm is the Innate Realm. What is the lifespan of an Innate Realm martial artist?"

He had asked his master, Zhu Huaishan, a similar question. But Zhu Huaishan was only at the Blood Realm and held a low status in the Xingyun Sect. He surely knew fewer martial arts secrets than the Water Mirror Elder, who might offer a different answer.

The Water Mirror Elder shook his head and answered bluntly, "I don’t know."

Zhao Lin asked in surprise, "Has no one ever reached the Innate Realm?"

’I remember Master saying that Innate Realm martial artists can live to be one hundred and twenty. How could the elder not know?’

The Water Mirror Elder smiled freely. "That’s not quite it. People have indeed reached the Innate Realm and lived to the age of one hundred and twenty."

"However, the Innate Realm has three layers. No one has ever successfully cultivated the Third Layer, so nobody knows how long a martial artist can live if they reach the perfection of the Innate Realm!"

"I see."

A flicker of hope ignited in Zhao Lin’s heart. ’Regardless, I’ll focus on reaching that stage first.’

’The sea of learning is boundless. The path of martial arts should be equally limitless.’

...

Water Mirror Department, training room.

Zhao Lin was seated cross-legged on the floor, his arms wrapped around his chest and his shoulders slightly raised. This was the "Embrace the Sun and Moon, Carry the Mountains" posture from the Sea Return Skill.

His eyes were tightly shut as he drove two currents of energy through his meridians.

One current of energy traveled upward along the Ren Meridian, past the Huiyin, Qugu, Zhongji, and Guanyuan acupoints, arriving near the Shimen acupoint.

The other current traveled along the Du Meridian, past the Changqiang, Yaoshu, Yangguan, and Mingmen acupoints, until it reached the area around the Xuanshu acupoint.

The two currents of energy constantly prodded and ground against the acupoints.

After an unknown amount of time, both acupoints trembled slightly, revealing minuscule fissures.

The energy, which had been waiting for a long time, immediately surged through the fissures, tearing them wide open...

The Shimen acupoint opened!

The Xuanshu acupoint opened!

Zhao Lin slowly opened his eyes, his gaze brilliant.

’Everyone says the Third Layer of the Qi Realm is difficult to cultivate, but I never expected it to be so easy. I guess cultivation is like the story of the little pony crossing the river—the old ox said it was easy, but the squirrel said it was fatally difficult.’

The Ren and Du Meridians are significantly different from the six major Yang and six major Yin Meridians.

The Ren Meridian governs blood and is the vessel of all Yin Meridians; the Du Meridian governs qi and is the vehicle for all Yang Meridians. One could say these two meridians are the central hub of the body’s Qi and Blood.

Once these two meridians are cleared, one’s Qi and Blood will become abundant and flow unimpeded, allowing a further breakthrough into the Blood Realm.

However, the acupoints along these two meridians are also notoriously difficult to open.

The human body is bilaterally symmetrical, and its acupoints are also distributed in pairs, such as the Taiyang and Jianjing acupoints.

The Ren and Du Meridians, however, run along the body’s central axis, so all of their acupoints are singular.

Their positions are critical, making them easy to defend but hard to attack!

In the dozen or so days since his epiphany by the stream, Zhao Lin had already broken through ten acupoints.

At this rate, he would reach the peak of the Third Layer in two months at most—a simply incredible speed.

Then again, upon further reflection, it was quite logical.

His body had been transformed by the Spirit Beast Scroll and tempered by seven doses of Marrow-Cleansing Soup, raising his innate talent to a new level.

It was only natural that his cultivation speed would increase.

’No one has ever reached the Third Layer of the Innate Realm? I’d like to try.’

...

"Brother Xiang?"

Zhao Lin pushed open the stone door of the training room and was surprised to find Xiang Bao pacing back and forth outside, apparently waiting for someone.

"I knew I’d find you here!" Xiang Bao said, walking over excitedly.

"Long time no see," Zhao Lin said with a smile.

After a few pleasantries, Xiang Bao put on a mysterious air. "Guess who took first place in this year’s Spring Competition?"

Zhao Lin blinked. He was starting to understand. ’He’s here to show off.’

"You?"

"That’s right!"

Xiang Bao was immensely pleased. "After losing to Zhong Yewu last year and embarrassing myself during the Autumn Harvest, I’ve finally redeemed myself."

Zhao Lin offered a few words of praise, then asked, "What was the reward for the Spring Competition? I bet it was something good."

Xiang Bao snorted in disdain. "Far worse than the Autumn Harvest! They only gave me a single Blood Recovery Pill. It’s like they’re just tossing scraps to a beggar. Am I supposed to wait until I’m in my late thirties to break into the Blood Realm?"

"And the sect... ever since the Martial Arts Grand Assembly went so poorly, they’ve started cutting back on rewards for us Qi Realm disciples. You can tell the elders are tightening their..."

He stopped mid-sentence, realizing he had let something slip, and immediately clamped his mouth shut.

"What’s the Martial Arts Grand Assembly?"

Zhao Lin had heard the Water Mirror Elder mention that exact phrase back at Huilong Bay, but it hadn’t been a convenient time to ask. Hearing Xiang Bao bring it up now, he couldn’t resist pressing the issue.

"Did I say that? You must have misheard," Xiang Bao’s expression flickered, but he quickly tried to act nonchalant.

"’And the sect... ever since the Martial Arts Grand Assembly went so poorly...’"

Zhao Lin stared at him, repeating the phrase word for word. "I’ve heard it mentioned before, so I’m absolutely sure I didn’t mishear you."

"Who?"

"The Water Mirror Elder."

A hesitant look appeared on Xiang Bao’s face. Zhao Lin didn’t rush him, simply watching him in silence.