The Immortal Cultivation World Is Too Dangerous: I Return to Earth as a Divine Sage
Chapter 13 - The Origin of Immortal and Divine Tales, “Kunlun”

Chapter 13: The Origin of Immortal and Divine Tales, “Kunlun”

“There’s no need to repay any kindness. Back then, I enlightened you only because I couldn’t bear to see such wisdom shrouded in dust, reduced to a mere mortal.”

After a moment of inner reflection, Ye Yang looked at Zhao Qingzhi and shook his head.

“Mr. Ye, I may not have known back then, but now that I know your enlightenment was real, how could I not repay you? To receive kindness without repaying it—would that make me a proper human?

“The Zhao Family’s success today is entirely thanks to you, Mr. Ye. Without you, the Zhao Family would, at best, still be a minor magnate, or perhaps even have fallen into obscurity among commoners over the past century. If you don’t mind, I’m willing to offer ninety percent of the Zhao Family’s assets to you as repayment for your kindness.”

Hearing Ye Yang’s words, Zhao Qingzhi responded with utmost sincerity.

Zhao Wuji and the others nearby were initially shocked by Zhao Qingzhi’s words but quickly realized their patriarch was as shrewd as ever. In the past, if Zhao Qingzhi had proposed giving away ninety percent of the family’s assets, they would have objected.

Handing over such a portion would mean the Zhao Family’s immediate expulsion from dynasty status, and their past enemies would surely seize the chance to retaliate, potentially wiping out the family entirely. But now, the assets were to be given to Ye Yang, a figure akin to a god or immortal.

What was ninety percent of their assets compared to forming a connection with such a being?

“Do you think, with my abilities, acquiring worldly wealth would be difficult?” Ye Yang looked at Zhao Qingzhi and said calmly.

Acquiring ninety percent of the Zhao Family’s wealth would essentially mean taking control of the entire family.

If Ye Yang hadn’t seen the Longevity Flower earlier, he might have accepted the offer, achieving his goal of subduing the Zhao Family. But now, with his need to collect Earth’s spiritual herbs, he couldn’t afford to lower his stature by accepting whatever was offered. He had to reject all of Zhao Qingzhi’s attempts at repayment.

Besides, once his purpose here was fulfilled, whether the Zhao Family’s wealth was formally given to him or not was merely a matter of title.

With a single word from him, the Zhao Family would still dedicate their entire clan to serving him.

…

“With your godlike abilities, Mr. Ye, acquiring worldly wealth would be as easy as picking something from your pocket. But using such divine methods to obtain mundane things like wealth would diminish your stature.” Zhao Qingzhi looked at Ye Yang earnestly.

“Enough. I have no interest in worldly possessions. Let’s get to the real reason for my visit.” Ye Yang looked at Zhao Qingzhi and said calmly.

“Qingzhi is all ears.” Hearing Ye Yang’s words, Zhao Qingzhi’s expression tightened, and he responded with utmost seriousness.

The other Zhao Family members also became intensely focused. They were all eager to know why a godlike figure like Ye Yang had come to their family.

“Do you think Earth is large?” Ye Yang looked at Zhao Qingzhi, who was listening intently, and posed a question. “Before technologies like airplanes were invented, Earth was vast. People could spend their entire lives without ever setting foot in every corner of the globe. But after the advent of airplanes and similar technologies, Earth no longer seemed so large. If you wished, you could circle the globe by plane in little time.”

Though Zhao Qingzhi didn’t understand why Ye Yang asked this, since he had, Zhao Qingzhi answered seriously.

“Indeed, with the rise of technology, even you mortals can circle the Earth and feel it’s not so vast. But for someone like me, who has existed for countless years, how large could Earth possibly be? To me, Earth is merely a slightly larger cage.

“I wish to leave Earth and explore the cosmos. But alas, the universe is too vast. Even if I can leave Earth, I cannot truly roam the stars freely. In the past, I thought my perspective was limited. I needed more people to help me think about how to escape Earth and venture into the cosmos.

“To that end, long ago, I founded an organization called Kunlun. After establishing Kunlun, I recruited countless heroes and talents from Earth to join. It could be said that nearly every legendary figure recorded in history books was approached by me when their lifespans neared their end. I extended their lives and brought them into Kunlun to search for a way to leave Earth and freely travel the cosmos.

“But unfortunately, they failed. I extended their lives by a thousand years, yet none provided even a glimmer of hope. Thus, I lost faith in them and shut down Kunlun. After I closed Kunlun, new myths and legends ceased to appear on Earth.

“The reason is that many of Earth’s myths were created by Kunlun’s members, who, with Kunlun’s power, performed extraordinary feats and were seen as gods or immortals. After I shut down Kunlun, they either clung to the remaining lifespan I granted them or exhausted their lives and returned to dust. Perhaps that’s the impermanence of fate.

“They failed to find answers not because they lacked intelligence but because their thinking was too constrained, unable to expand to broader horizons. If they had lived to see today’s technology, with their abilities, they could have advanced modern technology by centuries or even millennia.

“Today’s technology can carry people beyond Earth, though only just. But this proves that technology is a viable path to the cosmos. But alas, Kunlun was closed countless years ago. Those members have returned to dust, unable to help me rapidly advance technology or find a way to freely travel the cosmos.

“However, today’s people are no less capable than those of old. I have ample time to reopen Kunlun and find a new group as talented as they were to develop technology and discover a path to freely roam the cosmos.

“Zhao Qingzhi, you possess great wisdom. Among the previous generation of Kunlun members, you would rank in the top hundred. I now intend to reopen Kunlun. Are you willing to join as its first member? Once you join Kunlun, under the new rules I’ve set, you can obtain anything you desire—be it supernatural abilities or immortality—with ease.”

Ye Yang looked at Zhao Qingzhi and calmly stated his purpose.