Stealthily cultivating in the chaotic world of demons and martial artists
Chapter 1162 - 1016: The Four-Step Prime Taoist Master

Chapter 1162: Chapter 1016: The Four-Step Prime Taoist Master

In the True Immortal Realm, somewhere within the Beichen Immortal Domain.

A group of Six-Winged Purple Mane Lions was leisurely roaming about.

Upon reaching adulthood, the members of this clan would become Mahayana Wild Beasts, with their kings being formidable enough to contend with Immortals.

Whooosh!

Suddenly, a fierce snowstorm appeared in the distance.

Where the storm swept through, the ground froze over, and some Wild Beasts that failed to evade in time were instantly turned into vivid ice sculptures.

"Roar, roar!"

The Six-Winged Purple Mane Lions roared furiously, summoning the Heaven and Earth Primordial Energy to create a tidal force, prepared to withstand this natural disaster.

Just then, deep within the pride, a lion with especially glossy fur and a purple flame mark on its forehead let out an enraged roar, gazing into the depths of the storm with a hint of wariness before suddenly bellowing loudly.

A path was instantly cleared by the group of Six-Winged Purple Mane Lions, allowing the storm to pass through their territory unhindered.

In the depths of the storm, there seemed to be a glimpse of a palace flashing by.

The lion king, at the Immortal Beast Stage, could sense that the palace was not to be trifled with and decisively followed the guidance of its heart.

Inside a palace seemingly constructed from ice crystals.

Fang Xi, clad in a yellow robe, looked out the window below.

"Sir, are you watching that group of Six-Winged Purple Mane Lions?"

A young-looking Earth Immortal approached, holding an unremarkable wooden staff enveloped in a halo of green light.

It was none other than Yu Xiu, the former Master of the Abundant Karma House!

This time, for the Grand Assembly of Ten thousand Immortals, the Abundant Karma House dispatched its elite members, including the former Earth Immortal Master leading the group, plus Fang Xi, Xuan Qing, and a total of nine Immortals.

Of course, it was up for debate how many of these were Externalizations.

With so many Immortals gathered, plus the battle Immortal Weapon ’Ice Snow Palace’ forged by the Abundant Karma House, it’s no wonder the Six-Winged Purple Mane Lion King dared not confront their sharpness head-on.

The Void Laws of the Immortal Realm are immensely powerful, and its territories vast, making the majority of teleportation arrays more showy than practical.

The primary means of travel for Immortals, it turns out, is to simply fly honestly.

"Indeed... That lion king, inside its body might be nurturing a whiff of ’Purple Luo Beast Fire’... If we could obtain its original flame seed, it would be greatly beneficial for pill making and talisman forging," Fang Xi said with a light chuckle as a glint flashed in his eyes.

"It’s a pity that our Master Zhang Danshi has already sacrificed and refined a wisp of Heaven and Earth Spirit Fire, so this ’Purple Luo Beast Fire’ may not be suitable. Furthermore, the Grand Assembly of Ten thousand Immortals is imminent, so it’s best not to stir up unnecessary trouble..." Yu Xiu said with a hint of regret.

Zhang Danshi was the only True Immortal-grade pill maker in the Abundant Karma House, held in extremely high esteem.

He, too, joined everyone this time.

"I heard that Sir plans to purchase a Primordial Soul Pill for your disciple... Should you find yourself short of Immortal Jade, please feel free to speak up; I have some private savings," Yu Xiu said, his gaze seemingly piercing through the layers of palaces to see the cultivating Little Immortal Fang in a dongfu: "Sir, your disciple’s talent seems no less than that of Dugu Fang..."

This assembly was indeed a rare opportunity to widen one’s horizons, and seeing Little Immortal Fang always practicing diligently yet living modestly, Fang Xi took the young immortal along.

"Little Immortal Fang’s talent is far inferior to Dugu Fang’s, what’s more, he follows the Way of the Earth Immortal, not that of Celestial Immortal..." Fang Xi shook his head, not saying much.

After all, Yu Xiu had been a hero in his time but ended up suffering at the hands of Dugu Fang. It was best not to bring up such face-slapping matters.

"Indeed, being an Earth Immortal is good. Once you become a Celestial Immortal, your aspirations soar. In our Abundant Karma House, there is no room for such a grand Buddha," Yu Xiu sighed.

Silently circulating his Origin Soul, Fang Xi looked at the Mixed Origin Immortal Talisman within his Origin Soul and did not speak.

At this point, he could almost be considered a Celestial Immortal himself.

A moment later, he said, "I have some modest family wealth; should there be a shortage of Immortal Jade at the auction, I will definitely approach Sir..."

"That would be very good."

Yu Xiu nodded with a smile, proceeding to a palace with Fang Xi.

Inside this palatial hall, rows of musicians played instruments while numerous celestial maidens, clad in sheer fabric, danced gracefully.

Xuan Qing and several Immortals were reveling in wine and merriment, occasionally discussing insights into cultivation, thoroughly enjoying themselves.

"Yu Daoist Brother, Mr. Fang..."

On seeing Fang Xi and Yu Xiu, Xuan Qing and the other Immortals smiled, "We were just discussing the Dao of cultivation; Master Zhang Danshi recently gave a profound discussion on cultivation as if it were alchemy... It’s a pity that you missed it."

Fang Xi looked over and saw Master Zhang Danshi dressed in a black cassock, with a youthful face and white hair, exuding a light medicinal fragrance, stroking his beard and smiling.

"In the Hundred Arts of Immortal Cultivation, indeed, it all converges to the same path in the end, such as the path of talismans and alchemy... Ultimately, they are all about comprehending the Dao," Fang Xi expressed his thoughts.

"The Dao..." Immortal Xuan Qing sighed somewhat.

Among the immortals present, apart from the Immortals and Ghost Immortals who had completely lost hope in the Dao, actually, everyone who had become an immortal possessed a profound yearning for the Dao.

Seeing the atmosphere, Yu Xiu couldn’t help but smile slightly, "Mr. Fang, you must have some insightful opinions?"

"I’ve just been drawing too many talismans lately; after becoming an immortal, I started delving into the array path and had some spontaneous insights..."

Fang Xi gracefully took a seat, casually sharing some of his enlightenment.

Immortals like Xuan Qing, however, were utterly fascinated, "Using talismans and arrays to enter the Dao... indeed marvelous, it’s just a pity that it’s extremely difficult and demands too high a talent..."

Observing this scene, Yu Xiu picked up where Fang Xi left off and talked about how to Combine Taoist after cultivating to the pinnacle of the True Immortal Realm.

Although none of them had cultivated to the peak of immortality, they were all attentive, with eyes shining bright, listening carefully.

In terms of cultivation, Yu Xiu was considered to be at the forefront among them, even harboring a glimmer of hope for Combining Taoist!

Of course, it was just a sliver of hope.

"To cultivate as an immortal, one’s magic power needs to reach perfection, and the comprehension of laws must reach the state of condensing Taoist Species to be considered at the peak of True Immortal!"

Yu Xiu spoke, "After years of arduous cultivation and relying on the resources of Abundant Karma House, I’ve barely managed to train my magic power for the most part, but my Law Comprehension has always been stuck at a bottleneck, unable to break through..."

"Brother Yu’s progress is something we all look up to..."

Zhang Danshi sighed, "Although I have the help of divine pills, within a million years, I’m not very confident about perfecting the magic power of the True Immortal... as for Law Comprehension? It’s even more dependent on sudden enlightenment. If one can’t comprehend, then they simply can’t, and it’s normal to be eternally trapped..."

Fang Xi nodded in agreement on hearing this.

Among immortals, pills that could increase the probability of comprehending the Dao were even rarer than those that increased magic power!

If he was willing to release his "Taoist Master Pill," it would absolutely be in high demand among immortals, far more effective than Immortal Jade.

"Today I shall discuss how an immortal at the peak converges with the Dao?"

Yu Xiu looked around with a smile, "This is a synthesis of the records of many ancient cultivation methods... I hope it will be of some benefit to all of you."

"Good!"

Fang Xi’s eyes lit up, speaking out first.

Although the Evergreen Skills and the Heavenly Immortal Law within the Yuanli Secret Realm contained descriptions about Combining Taoist, some areas were still vague.

Fang Xi would inevitably reach such a threshold and was eager to hear the opinions of others.

"We immortals, as long as we haven’t reached the pinnacle of the True Immortal, the strength gap is actually not too vast. At most, a Celestial Immortal is stronger than an Earth Immortal, and an Earth Immortal is stronger than a Human Immortal... Beyond that, arrays, Immortal Weapons, talismans, Secret Skills, and Divine Skills all have significant impacts. Just like me, I’m no match for Dugu Fang..."

Yu Xiu seemed unfazed by the previous events, continuing, "The pinnacle of True Immortal is a threshold. Countless immortals cultivate arduously, yet in the end, find it difficult to cross this threshold and seek the path of Dao Monarch..."

Reaching the pinnacle of True Immortal not only requires perfecting one’s magic power but also comprehending a law to the extent of the Taoist Species.

Fang Xi, now, was somewhat distant from this, let alone the immortals present.

And only then would one have a mere chance to peek at Combining Taoist.

"One who combines with the Dao can be called ’truly united with the Dao.’ This step is fraught with danger; after all, how vast is the power of the law in the True Immortal Realm? A careless step means the death of both body and Dao, and not even a Daoist Master can save one... Worse still, being influenced by the power of the laws, becoming a Taoist Transformation Monster that harms the world."

"A Taoist Transformation Monster?"

On hearing this, Fang Xi felt a surge within, "Is it akin to the transformation that immortals undergo during their cultivation?"

"Somewhat similar, but far more terrifying. After all, can the transformation of the lower realms be compared to that of the True Immortal Realm? And besides, Immortals sever themselves with a cut after their transformation, damaging their foundation. Fortuitously, it prevents them from being further troubled by transformation erosion... Even so, their cultivation can hardly make any progress, and they lose hope of becoming a Daoist Master."

Yu Xiu smiled slightly, "In fact, I believe if Ghost Immortals and Immortals could cultivate and break through to become Daoist Masters, they would likely be extremely fearsome beings among Daoist Masters."

Fang Xi nodded in agreement.

The greater the difficulty, the greater the benefits after breaking through!

Although it’s almost an ironclad rule that neither Ghost Immortals nor Immortals in the True Immortal Realm can achieve Daoist Master status, there are always exceptions.

For instance, before becoming immortal, he didn’t know that Immortal Grade could be promoted through secret methods!

If it’s a Taoist Master, or even someone above them, they might know the methods for Ghost Immortals and Immortals to cultivate, but perhaps the cost is too great, the gains do not offset the losses, or it involves some taboos, which is why it has not been spread...

With "Mortal Skills," everything is possible!

Yu Xiu went on to say, "If the achievement of Dao Monarch is divided into several steps, the first step is naturally to cultivate to the pinnacle of True Immortal. The second step is to condense the Void Platform, where one needs to build a ’Void Platform’ within the Origin Soul that is sturdy enough to carry the ’Taoist Species.’ The third step is ’Sitting in Forgetfulness.’ As soon as the Taoist Species enters the Void Platform, many delusions and transformations will attack, known as the ’Taichi Seven Declines’, even more daunting and terrifying than the ’Five Decays of Heaven and Man...’ "

"The Taichi Seven Declines have two more decays than the Five Decays of Heaven and Man... It must be extremely difficult to overcome."

Fang Xi felt a movement in his heart.

Before becoming a Celestial Immortal, one must first experience the ’Five Decays of Heaven and Man.’ Perhaps this is a rehearsal for the ’Taichi Seven Declines’ of Dao Monarch?

In light of this, Celestial Immortals indeed have a bit more assurance than Earth Immortals when it comes to achieving Dao Monarch.

"After the three steps, is it then Dao Monarch?"

Immortal Xuan Qing, with an eager look in his eyes, asked.

"No, there’s still one more step... Even after overcoming the Taichi Seven Declines and housing the Taoist Species in the Origin Soul, one is still not a Dao Monarch. One can only say they’ve come halfway in combining with the Dao but have not yet taken the most crucial step..."

Yu Xiu said, "This fourth step, which is also the last, is called ’Zhendao.’ It’s profoundly mysterious and exceedingly difficult. The favored of great powers, like Zi Yin Daozi and the like, often get stuck at this step. They fail to make any progress for billions of years, earning the title ’Master Half-Step.’ In truth, the difference of half a step is as vast as the difference between heaven and earth!"