Cultivating Immortality in Two Realms

Chapter 7 Immortal Fate

"Mmm...delicious."

This fish soup, with just a sprinkle of salt, tastes completely different from before.

Besides the freshness of the fish, it also has a sweet taste, like a clear mountain spring, which is refreshing and delightful.

More importantly... after swallowing the fish soup, it continuously transformed into internal energy, even making Fang Qing feel like he was about to burst.

"Having eaten two and a half tuna in one go has definitely made me a bit too weak to handle the nourishment..."

"Others would simply use the 'release' method to expel the excess drug's effects from their bodies... but I'm different."

Fang Qing took a deep breath, and the Dao Sheng Pearl spun around, instantly transforming his own power into pure primordial energy.

In an instant, his body was completely empty, like a sponge, frantically absorbing the medicinal power.

Once his power accumulated to a certain critical point, it was transformed, allowing Fang Qing to maintain a state of 'desire'.

As dawn broke in the east, he let out a long breath and looked inward at the "Tao-born Pearl".

Inside the Dao Sheng Pearl, there was a wisp of strange 'primordial energy,' rising like clouds and glowing with light.

"Half a strand?"

"According to the records of our family's Qi gathering technique, a hundred threads form a silk thread, and a hundred threads form a Dao... We are still very far from reaching the Dao."

"I just don't know if a complete wisp of primordial qi can be used as the first breath of true qi for a Qi-cultivating cultivator in the Ancient Shu Qi-gathering Realm... Wait, even if it can, I don't have any cultivation techniques for 'primordial qi'..."

Fang Qing shook his head, putting those distracting thoughts aside, and began to try to transform the power of the Red Sand Hand.

This time, with active control over his own body, his internal energy was incredibly powerful and there was no risk of it leaking out, allowing him to break through the barrier with ease.

Crackling sounds!

His joints cracked, and he seemed to grow taller.

"drink!"

Fang Qing casually tore his clothes apart, and they shredded like paper.

He looked at his leopard-like physique, the muscles that were subtly defined but not bulky, but rather more sculpted, and nodded involuntarily: "This is the real me... My previous body was too weak."

Fang Qing had grown up in a small farming family for more than ten years and had never eaten anything good. He was not only thin and small, but also lacked vitality.

Even if he practiced martial arts later, it wouldn't make up for much of the damage.

But he felt that after this experience, all his inherent shortcomings had been made up!

Not only that!

Fang Qing extended his right palm and pressed it onto the green rock beside him.

He didn't seem to exert much force, but when he removed his hand, a clear palm print could be seen with perfectly smooth edges.

"Good! The Red Sand Hand technique has been mastered... This is at least equivalent to someone who has cultivated diligently for ten years, and is a disciple of a wealthy family who has no shortage of tonics and flesh."

He withdrew his hand and smiled with satisfaction.

Although in popular legends, even the strongest martial arts masters are no match for immortals.

However, with this level of cultivation, it is enough to protect oneself in the fishing village of Dahua.

Fang Qing hadn't forgotten that there was also Ruan Qi, who still couldn't forget him...

"There's no need to do anything for now; just wait for the Immortal Destiny Conference."

He took a deep breath and looked outside again: "As for the ancient Shu region, we should remain dormant..."

……

Chushan Town.

This ordinary little town was unusual today. The townspeople, led by the old mayor, had swept the only square paved with bluestone slabs clean, especially the high platform, which was spotless.

After all, this is to welcome the immortals!

How could there be dust where immortals dwell?

Before dawn, parents from all directions would arrive here with their children of school age, some by horse-drawn carriage, some by oxcart, and some on foot.

Although arriving a few hours earlier wouldn't affect the results of the spirit-testing at the Immortal Fate Assembly, they were simply hoping for the best.

"There are quite a few children."

Fang Qing mingled in the group from Dahua Fishing Village, and because he was the oldest, he had become the king of the kids.

Pearl followed behind him, feeling both expectant and nervous.

"Of course... there are thousands of children at each Immortal Destiny Gathering."

Old Man Cha, carrying a pipe, looked on with a nostalgic expression: "Back in the day... I came here too."

As he spoke, his voice grew low and his expression became somewhat somber.

Clearly, neither Old Man Cha nor his children had any "fate to the immortals"!

"What exactly is this cultivation aptitude? Is it a spiritual root?"

Fang Qing was a little curious and looked at the line again.

Ruan Qi was long past the age and had no relatives who could perform spirit readings, so he was not in the group.

Furthermore, he stayed home during this period, giving the other party no opportunity to cause trouble.

In fact, if it weren't for the need for a smooth transition, Fang Qing's current martial arts skills would have easily crushed his opponent.

"Haha... I have heard the town mayor say that humans are the most intelligent of all beings, born with all five elements... Everyone has the potential to cultivate and gain wisdom, but the vast majority of people have extremely low aptitude, which is equivalent to nothing... Those who can stand out are those who have a destiny for immortality. This destiny for immortality is divided into several levels, but I am not quite clear about them."

Since catching Little Green Dragon, Old Man Cha has been completely open with Fang Qing, answering all his questions honestly.

"I see."

Fang Qing nodded and followed the others to the bluestone square, where he occupied a corner.

As the sun rose higher, more and more people gathered in the square.

"They're here!"

Suddenly, someone exclaimed in surprise.

Fang Qing looked up and saw a blue leaf magic boat hovering in the sky, from which several colorful rays of light flew down.

Enveloped in the radiance were women in palace attire and young men in blue robes, each exuding an air of otherworldly grace and an indescribable aura of power.

One of the girls, with just a curious glance, made people afraid to meet her gaze.

"So strong!"

Fang Qing lowered his head slightly: "I'm already considered a martial arts master in the secular world, but facing cultivators, I feel like an ant... But what can I do? They can fly."

"What if I'm not qualified... then I'll think of other ways!"

"With the accumulated experience from two worlds, I'm sure I can reach the pinnacle!"

He clenched his fist.

At this moment, the town mayor and other high-ranking officials stepped forward with fawning smiles. After exchanging a few flattering words, a local militiaman immediately struck a gong and announced loudly, "The Immortal Affinity Assembly is now beginning... Each household, according to their registered address, should have their spirits tested..."

"Chushan Town... Huo Sandong!"

A plump-looking boy dressed in silk clothes immediately stepped forward and was led onto the high platform.

A young man in a blue shirt held a Bagua stone plate in his hands and made a hand seal.

hum!

A beam of light emerged from the Bagua stone plate, enveloping the chubby boy.

A sudden burst of five-colored light erupted from the stone disc, though it was extremely faint.

"Qualifications... None, next."

The young man in the blue shirt announced it expressionlessly, seemingly already used to it.

"Waaah... Mother..."

The chubby boy went downstairs crying, and then the town mayor continued calling out names: "Chushan Town...Wang Erya!"

Wang Erya's attire was slightly worse than the previous chubby boy's, but she still seemed to come from a well-off family with no worries about food or clothing.

"Aptitude... None!" The young man in blue, as usual, made a hand seal to cast a spell, looked at the stone plate, and shook his head expressionlessly.

Wang Erya immediately pouted, her eyes reddening, but she still bowed before running down the platform and being comforted by her parents.

"Song Liuque... lacks the necessary qualifications!"

"Zhang Dadan...is unqualified..."

As the sentences of the young men in blue shirts were pronounced one by one, sobs rose across the square, and the atmosphere grew increasingly somber.

Finally, after passing over a hundred children, the young man's eyes lit up: "Li Yudan... his spiritual root leans towards wood, with average aptitude... qualified!"

The crowd stirred, and many townspeople immediately congratulated the child: "Congratulations, Immortal Master..."

Fang Qing looked at Li Yudan and saw that his clothes were full of patches, and he was thin and dark-skinned. He was standing there dumbly, and it was impossible to tell that he was shrewd.

His parents, however, hugged him tightly, tears streaming down their faces.

"This talent... really has no pattern whatsoever, it's all about fate... Wait, fate?"

Fang Qing's heart skipped a beat: 'Ma Laosan once said...that my Fang family...seems to have good fortune?'

After Li Yudan, another series of products failed to meet standards.

The young man in blue tested hundreds of people before his magical powers gave out and he had to retreat to meditate. A woman in palace attire took his place, and the queue stretched all the way to the fishing village outside the town.

During this time, two more qualified children appeared, but both were of inferior quality.

Fang Qing possessed martial arts skills and exceptional patience, and waited until the afternoon.

On the high platform, a middle-aged man dressed in the attire of the Azure Sea Sect, his face showing a hint of weariness, numbly said, "Next..."

"Dahua Fishing Village... Luoping..."

"Dahua Fishing Village... Fang Qing!"

Finally, I heard my own name called.

Fang Qing made no attempt to hide anything, his face showing both youthful anticipation and nervousness as he stepped onto the high platform.

"Hmm? Your qi and blood are quite good... It seems you've mastered mortal martial arts to a high level."

The middle-aged man in the blue shirt nodded and made a hand seal: "Rise!"

Spiritual energy surged, and an inexplicable aura enveloped Fang Qing.

Fang Qing stared intently at the Bagua stone disc, where five colors—black, white, red, yellow, and blue—flashed alternately before finally bursting forth with a burst of black light, growing several inches longer.

"Hmm, the spiritual root's element is predominantly water... average aptitude, acceptable!"

The middle-aged man in blue nodded slightly: "Junior brother, my name is Wei Gutong. From now on, we are all disciples of the Bihai Sect."

"Greetings, Senior Brother." Fang Qing quickly clasped his hands in greeting and walked into the ranks of the new disciples.

"Junior brother... I am your senior sister, Gong Susu..."

The palace-dressed girl, who was meditating, opened her eyes, smiled slightly at Fang Qing, and her attitude was completely different from those of the lower-quality girls.

Fang Qing was about to reply when he suddenly heard the middle-aged man exclaim in surprise, "Super...superior aptitude!"

"Um?"

Fang Qing and Gong Susu looked over and saw Cha Zhuer standing helplessly on the high platform, while Old Man Cha below was so excited that he almost fainted.

"Superior aptitude?!"

"Aside from rare and heavenly grades, his superior aptitude is already outstanding; he might even have a chance to establish his foundation in the future!"

The disciple of the Azure Sea Sect, who hadn't spoken earlier, looked at Fang Qing with burning eyes and a beaming smile, saying, "This junior sister... welcome to the Azure Sea Sect. My name is Kan Zimeng..."

Gong Susu no longer cared about Fang Qing and surrounded Cha Zhuer as well, her face beaming with a gentle smile.

Seeing this, Fang Qing found it extremely amusing, and inwardly breathed a sigh of relief: 'Regardless... possessing the aptitude for cultivation is wonderful.'