Adapting to local customs, Yu Banshan and Qi Jinxiu did not refuse the “Recruitment Brochure of Weishan Sect” from a passerby, so as not to appear different. They hurried into the city and found a secluded alley before carefully reading the brochure, confirming that the characters used in the immortal world were similar to what they knew:
“Our sect has a long and distinguished history, originating as an offshoot from the third patriarch of the Hidden Sword Tower. We maintain good relations with various factions… Our strength is formidable, currently boasting fifteen experts at the External Scenery level, including one Grandmaster. Most of our experts gained power through the ‘Starfire Great Art,’ and we have extensive experience in guiding disciples. It is common for our disciples to possess the Nine Apertures, and their future prospects of reaching the External Scenery level and becoming top-tier experts known as Grandmasters are not mere fantasies. Moreover, as the ‘Starfire Great Art’ continues to improve, even ascending to the ranks of immortals is within reach…”
This method of recruiting disciples was unheard of to Yu Banshan and Qi Jinxiu. Much of the description failed to move them, as the classification of cultivation levels in their mortal world differed from that of the immortal realm, making it difficult for them to grasp the true meanings of External Scenery, Top-tier, and Grandmaster. However, one thing was clear to them: the phrase “ascending to the ranks of immortals” was not something to be said lightly, especially in the immortal world.
“Can this ‘Starfire Great Art’ truly lead one to immortality?” Qi Jinxiu murmured in astonishment.
Yu Banshan frowned slightly and said, “And it seems to be a technique that’s easily accessible, something many people possess…”
In their original world, such a divine art capable of leading to immortality would ignite bloody conflicts across the martial world, causing the downfall of countless sects and families.
Yet in the immortal realm, such a supreme technique was within easy reach, requiring no great sacrifice?
And sects competed so fiercely for disciples?
The two were both shocked and amazed, gaining a deeper sense of awe and longing for the immortal realm.
“Jinxiu, let’s walk around the streets and see what kind of currency they use and what books are available in the shops,” said Yu Banshan, whose mind had been tempered through twenty years of martial exploits, quickly regaining his composure.
Qi Jinxiu snapped back to reality, looked at him, and smiled softly, “Banshan, you’re still as meticulous as ever.”
She subtly changed how she addressed him.
Hand in hand, they stepped onto the street, looking left and right like travelers from afar. They noticed many mechanical devices for transportation, far superior to wooden oxen and horse carts, convenient and wondrous. The buildings on both sides were tall, with four or five stories being common, each with unique designs unlike anything in the mundane world. They also frequently encountered individuals exuding powerful auras, each one making Qi Jinxiu’s heart race. Any few of them together could easily overpower the entire martial world beyond Yu Banshan’s realm.
This is the immortal realm… she sighed again.
After careful observation, Yu Banshan exhaled in relief, “Good, the immortal realm still uses gold and silver.”
Although he hadn’t specifically prepared such items when he ascended, as the leader of the martial world, he certainly wouldn’t lack for money.
With wealth in hand, confidence followed. The two focused on finding bookstores and soon discovered a shop named “Golden House” at a street corner.
Yu Banshan, calm and composed, led Qi Jinxiu into the shop. As his eyes swept the shelves, he nearly gasped aloud. Everywhere were books related to the “Starfire Great Art,” such as: “The Starfire Great Art: Qi’s Commentary,” “The Starfire Great Art: Lu’s Commentary,” “The Starfire Great Art: Southern Wilderness Compilation,” “The Starfire Great Art: Sword Cultivation Edition”… the selection was dazzling and endless.
A divine art capable of leading to immortality was available casually on the streets?
This completely defied Yu Banshan’s understanding of the world built over decades. Despite his strong will, he couldn’t help but be stunned.
Even more surprisingly, the most expensive book, “The Starfire Great Art: Qi’s Commentary,” cost only two taels of silver, so cheap it made one suspect it was counterfeit!
Such a dragon-slaying technique, such a secret to immortality, worth only one or two taels of silver?
Is it truly a world without social classes in the immortal realm, where anyone can cultivate?
Compared to this divine art, the secret manuals they cultivated were worth only tens of copper coins? And for those few copper coins, sects guarded them day and night, strictly selecting only the most gifted disciples as direct successors?
Just thinking about it made Qi Jinxiu feel absurd, her heart in turmoil, unwilling to believe. She couldn’t help but ask, “Shopkeeper, may I browse a few pages?”
The shopkeeper, holding a book, didn’t even look up, “Could there be any fake? You can learn it for free through the Multiversal Common Knowledge Symbol. I’m just making a living by organizing and collecting these books. The Starfire Great Art annotated by Master Lu is scattered here and there, and it’s hard to collect all parts without painstaking effort. The original annotated version by the Devil Emperor Qi Zhengyan is restricted by the Six Ministries. Seeing one or two chapters isn’t difficult, but reading all of them is a real challenge. Considering the paper cost, selling it for two taels of silver is already very generous…”
He rambled on while Yu Banshan and Qi Jinxiu were confused by terms like “Multiversal Common Knowledge Symbol,” “Master Lu,” and “Devil Emperor Qi Zhengyan.” But after decades of life experience, they roughly understood the gist: these two were likely high-level immortals who had already ascended, each having annotated and explained the “Starfire Great Art.”
Yet, the annotated version of a supreme martial art by a deity was sold for only two taels of silver?
It was simply indescribable! Yu Banshan and Qi Jinxiu, somewhat embarrassed, each picked up a commentary version of the “Starfire Great Art” and started flipping through them, wondering what the “Multiversal Common Knowledge Symbol” was and how one could learn divine techniques for free.
As they read, they couldn’t tear their eyes away. After years of martial cultivation, they could still discern the quality of a manual. Especially Yu Banshan, who had surpassed his predecessors and advanced further in martial cultivation, had an extremely discerning eye.
Yet this “Starfire Great Art” directly pointed to the essence of martial arts, from internal cultivation to external manifestation, from one’s own world to the natural universe, touching upon the laws of heaven and earth. It indeed seemed capable of leading one to immortality, truly deserving the title of “divine art”!
Qi Jinxiu’s expression kept changing as she read, feeling her past understandings shattered, yet before her emerged a broader and grander world, intoxicating and inviting. Yu Banshan, on the other hand, was visibly delighted, as many doubts he had encountered in cultivation were resolved. With such a divine art, how could he not worry about attaining immortality?
Yet, such a divine art was worth only two taels of silver?
At the thought, they felt the scene before them was as absurd as a dream.
“Finished reading?” the shopkeeper interrupted them impatiently.
Qi Jinxiu glanced at Yu Banshan, gritted her teeth, took out her money pouch, and paid the shopkeeper for several manuals.
If they didn’t buy these divine arts, they surely wouldn’t be able to sleep at night!
Although the sights of the immortal realm were bizarre, the power of these divine arts was undeniably real!
After tucking two manuals under their arms, Yu Banshan and Qi Jinxiu walked silently along the street, as if their entire past lives had been “denied.”
“Divine arts readily available, the immortal realm truly is extraordinary…” Yu Banshan finally sighed after a long silence.
Qi Jinxiu inhaled deeply and said, “This is our chance.”
Ahead was a tavern. After experiencing intense emotional fluctuations, the two felt weary and entered to have lunch and rest briefly.
Inside, it was quieter than expected, as some people were engrossed in strange devices, reading intently with few making noise. On the wall directly opposite the entrance, there were flickering images—intense battle scenes of humans fighting monsters and evil spirits, drawing the attention of many diners. Occasionally, explanatory voices emerged from the images:
“The live broadcast of the battle in the Zangshen Desert, where humans, demons, and monsters clashed, has concluded. Next up is the South China Sea exploration. Let us experience together the charm of the vast ocean…”
The rolling blue waves and lurking sea monsters left Yu Banshan and Qi Jinxiu astonished, their minds racing with countless thoughts, yet unable to sort them out for the moment.
After a long while, Yu Banshan finally expressed his admiration through secret transmission: “Miles away feel as close as a doorstep, the distant heavens appear before one’s eyes. This is the power of immortals!”
He roughly understood the situation: events happening far away could be seen here, and communication could still occur despite thousands of mountains and rivers. What is the power of immortals? This is it!
“Letters and correspondence…” Qi Jinxiu, deeply moved, gave a self-mocking smile.
Yu Banshan’s ears twitched as he listened to the idle chatter and transmitted secretly: “Jinxiu, I’ve heard their discussions. This immortal power seems to come from what they call the Multiversal Common Knowledge Symbol.”
“The shopkeeper at the bookstore mentioned it too…” Qi Jinxiu recalled.
“After lunch, let’s see where we can buy one,” Yu Banshan suggested.
Qi Jinxiu naturally had no objections. The two went upstairs to a secluded seat and continued flipping through different annotated versions of the Starfire Great Art while waiting for their meal, but this time they skimmed, focusing on gaining an overall understanding.
“Jinxiu, your realm is roughly equivalent to the Nine Apertures in the immortal realm, while I have just entered the External Scenery,” Yu Banshan compared the realm descriptions and made a preliminary judgment.
Different universes had different rules, and the realms for ascension varied. Seeing that he had only just entered the External Scenery, Yu Banshan felt momentarily disheartened.
The External Scenery had nine heavens and three heavenly ladders!
“So that’s why Supreme, Grandmaster, and Great Grandmaster are different titles for the External Scenery realms…” Qi Jinxiu turned to a page in the compilation version, where there was a detailed division of realms for newcomers to grasp, “And after the External Scenery comes the Dharmakaya. Only then can one ascend to the ranks of immortals. Daoists call it Human Immortal, and Buddhists call it Arhat.”
Yu Banshan put down his book and moved beside Qi Jinxiu to read the realm description together.
“After Human Immortal comes Earth Immortal and Heaven Immortal, corresponding to the Bodhisattva, Great Bodhisattva, or Great Arhat in Buddhism. Beyond that are the one-of-a-kind legends in all realms, known as Great Beings, possessing tremendous supernatural abilities. In Buddhism, they are called Buddhas. The phrase ‘attaining Buddhahood and becoming ancestors’ refers to this level…” Qi Jinxiu marveled.
This was the classification of immortals!
“After that, there are Creation and the Other Shore, but there’s not much description,” Yu Banshan mused about immortal matters, his heart stirred.
Just then, several more diners arrived, young and loud, their voices clearly audible to others.
“Old Nine, it’s recruitment season again. Are you going to Weishan Sect or heading south?” someone asked.
A youth with a proud demeanor replied, “I’ll keep cultivating on my own. The Multiversal Common Knowledge Realm has plenty of experience summaries. Why bother joining those sects?”
“Experience summaries are just summaries. Everyone’s path is different. You can’t completely replicate someone else’s way. You still need a master’s guidance,” the one who first spoke tried to persuade him, “Plus, joining a sect gives you connections. In the future, your sect can be your backing, making things easier…”
Yu Banshan and Qi Jinxiu nodded slightly, acknowledging the truth in his words.
Their attention unconsciously shifted to that group.
The proud youth sneered, “How can you understand my aspirations? Why did I travel thousands of miles to this city? Why do so many people come here to settle every year?”
He suddenly pointed out the window, where a beautiful mountain peak was shrouded in clouds and mist, breathtakingly beautiful:
“It’s all for the chance of encountering an opportunity, all to join the immortal sanctuary, the Kunlun Mountain’s Jade Void Palace!”
Kunlun Mountain’s Jade Void Palace? Yu Banshan and Qi Jinxiu were momentarily stunned, their minds simultaneously recalling the temple they had encountered the previous night.
It looked ordinary, but it bore the plaque “Jade Void Palace.”
An immortal sanctuary?
That was an immortal sanctuary?
The proud youth continued, “Deep in the clouds, without the right opportunity, one cannot reach Jade Void Palace. But I try every month until I turn twenty-five. If I’m fortunate enough to become a disciple of Jade Void, it would surpass Weishan Sect by countless times.”
“The Grand Abbot of Jade Void, the Primordial Emperor Immortal Venerable, is the only self-proclaimed legendary being in the present world. If I could gain his favor, how could my martial cultivation fail? His two disciples are now renowned martial experts in the world!”
“With the stars returning now and the restoration of the True Realm’s ancient appearance, how can we not aim high and live up to this era?”
Yu Banshan and Qi Jinxiu looked at each other in bewilderment.
A legendary being? The only legendary being across all realms?
Was the robed Daoist they saw in the night the legendary Primordial Emperor Immortal Venerable?
Without the right opportunity, one cannot reach Jade Void Palace?
They had once stayed at Jade Void Palace and then left without a second thought…
The two abruptly turned their heads, looking through the window at the mountain peak they had left behind. The mist was thick, the path unclear, truly a place lost in the clouds.
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