Chapter 339: Cultivation Methods of Ancient Immortals

In truth, one could not blame Lu Yang for being incompetent; indeed, composing a cultivation method with only a Foundation Establishment cultivation was simply forcing someone to do the impossible, as both his horizon and experience were severely lacking, so how could he possibly compose one?

Leaving aside the fact that Lu Yang himself could not achieve it, even the Immortal Fairy was incapable of such a feat.

Walking along the path toward the Scripture Pavilion, Lu Yang chatted idly, "Fairy, what cultivation method did you originally practice back then?"

"The 'Profound Extreme Method,' a rather ordinary cultivation method, though it suited me quite well at the time; I relied on this very method to cultivate all the way to the Tribulation Transmutation Stage, whereupon I discovered that this method had its limits and could not lead to immortality, which brought about a sudden enlightenment, allowing me to comprehend the 'Immortal Celestial Method,' alter my path, switch my cultivation method, and prove my Dao to attain immortality."

"Once you reach the Tribulation Transmutation Stage, you will realize that the limit of any cultivation method is the Tribulation Transmutation Stage, for after all, the limit of living beings is the Tribulation Transmutation Stage, and becoming an immortal is an act against Heaven, where one can only attain immortality by breaking through limits, so the cultivation methods of the past are all useless, and if one wishes to prove the Dao and become an immortal, one can only tailor a cultivation method to oneself, based on one's own insights and individual circumstances."

"It was so for me, and it was the same for the four of them, including the Ninefold Immortal and the Heaven-Compliant Immortal."

"However, I encountered difficulties when writing my cultivation method, so my speed was a bit slower than theirs, making me the last one to become an immortal."

"I actually thought you would name your cultivation method the 'Invincible Celestial Method,'" Lu Yang muttered softly in critique.

The Immortal Fairy waved her hand grandly, acting with great magnanimity, "That would not do, for that is the cultivation method of the Heaven-Compliant Immortal, and I cannot usurp someone else's title."

Lu Yang was speechless.

What is the matter with you, Heaven-Compliant Immortal? Have you been assimilated by the Immortal Fairy?

He discovered that compared to the Ninefold Immortal's 'Chaos One Qi Two Polarities Four Phenomena Six Harmonies Eight Desolations Nine Earths Ten Heavens Solely I Am Supreme Celestial Method' and the Heaven-Compliant Immortal's 'Invincible Celestial Method,' it was actually the Immortal Fairy's cultivation method that possessed the most decent name.

Of course, it was also possible that the Immortal Fairy was simply uncultured, thinking that since she proved the Immortal Dao Fruit, she would name her cultivation method the 'Immortal Celestial Method.'

"What is the Qilin Immortal's cultivation method called?"

"The 'Even More Invincible Celestial Method.'"

"In truth, I wished to use that name as well, but alas, the Qilin Immortal was a step ahead in skill and also claimed my name."

Considering that the Qilin Immortal and the Heaven-Compliant Immortal frequently argued over who shared the closest relationship with the Old Man of the Heavens, his giving the cultivation method such a name was also well-founded... Lu Yang did his best to smooth things over for the Qilin Immortal.

"What is the Time Immortal's cultivation method called?"

"The 'Everlasting Primordial Evergreen Method.'"

Lu Yang drew in a sharp breath of cold air; as expected of the oldest Time Immortal, this naming standard was far superior to the four illiterates like the Immortal Fairy.

The Immortal Fairy swayed her head back and forth, "I feel that the name chosen by the Time Immortal is the worst, sounding just like a common cultivation method found all over the streets."

"Back then, the cultivation methods practiced by those at the Tribulation Transmutation Stage and the Body Integration Stage were all called things like the 'Undying Imperishable Scripture,' the 'Heavenly Evolution Dao Register,' or the 'Five Elements Rotation Method,' so the Time Immortal's cultivation method appeared completely unremarkable among them, looking nothing like an immortal's cultivation method."

Lu Yang thought to himself that it turned out your own naming standards were terrible, yet you still wanted to drag the Time Immortal down into the water with you.

Wait, the Heaven-Compliant Immortal is an immortal who cares deeply about face, so how could he choose such a name?

"Does the Heaven-Compliant Immortal's cultivation method have any other name?"

"Yes, externally he refers to his own cultivation method as the 'Innate Boundless Celestial Method.'"

Lu Yang walked into the Scripture Pavilion while reaping ancient secrets.

The first thing he did upon entering the Scripture Pavilion was to find that book which recorded the experiences of his senior brothers and sisters in forming their Golden Dans.

It was time to add his own Golden Dan to it.

"Lu Yang, Invincible Dan, First-Grade Golden Dan; he who cultivates this Dan can clearly discern strength from weakness, and an invincible intent will naturally rise within his heart, making him feel that he can sweep through all obstacles, win a hundred victories in a hundred battles, and be invincible under heaven."

Originally, Lu Yang wanted to listen to the slanderous instigations of the Immortal Fairy and add the line "This Golden Dan is truly the number one Golden Dan under heaven," but upon second thought, the Eldest Senior Sister's Golden Dan was right at the very front, so he decided to let it go.

"Cultivation Method: Challenge those of a higher level, remain undefeated in a hundred battles, generate an invincible momentum, rise by leveraging that momentum, and condense the Qi of the Dantian, only then can the Dan be formed."

"Item of Note One: Challenging those of a higher level means challenging upward by one level, not challenging downward by one level."

"Item of Note Two: This Golden Dan may lead to blind self-confidence."

"Item of Note Three: The name of the Golden Dan is for reference only, and the actual combat effect shall prevail."

"Done!" Lu Yang closed the book with great satisfaction.

"Let's look at the Golden Dan Stage cultivation methods." Lu Yang walked up to the second floor.

The first floor displayed secular books, as well as the Qi Refining Stage and Foundation Establishment Stage portions of major cultivation methods.

The subsequent portions of the cultivation methods were on the second floor, and the second floor held the Golden Dan Stage and Nascent Soul Stage cultivation methods.

"The 'Mortal Dust Heavenly Method,' being within the mortal dust while the heart resides in the pure land. Only by sinking into the mortal dust, experiencing the hardships of the human world and the seven emotions and six desires, and thereafter achieving great awakening, can one shatter the Dan to form the Nascent Soul."

"To think the first book would be this cultivation method."

"Have you read it?" In the Immortal Fairy's era, there were no such concepts as mortal dust cultivators or reclusive cultivators.

"Eldest Senior Sister told me about this matter; previously, were there not many old beggars on the streets of the Great Xia? Many cultivators who practiced this cultivation method would masquerade as old beggars and mingle among them, for after all, being a beggar is the most efficient way to experience the hardships of the human world."

"Previously? Is it no longer like this now?" The Immortal Fairy noticed the key word within his speech.

Lu Yang rolled his eyes, "With the development of the Great Xia Dynasty, the increase in grain production, and the construction of welfare institutions, there are already no beggars left; the old beggars on the streets now are all at the Golden Dan Stage."

"I reckon it won't be long before this group of Golden Dan Stage cultivators will have to change their method of experiencing the mortal dust."

"Eldest Senior Sister also said that the imperial court prepares to open up a few minefields to let this group of Golden Dan Stage cultivators go inside to mine."

The Immortal Fairy was speechless.

"The 'Hundred Flowers Method,' where at each stage one collects thirty-three different varieties of rare flowers, and upon reaching the Great Perfection of the Golden Dan Stage, one merges the ninety-nine varieties of rare flowers into a single flower bud; when the flower bud blooms, it is the time to shatter the Dan and form the Nascent Soul, a cultivation method that many female cultivators favor, as it is simple to start and possesses great aesthetic value."

"However, with the popularity of this cultivation method, several varieties of the rare flowers were plucked to near extinction, and only one person held the final few flowers in his hands; he held an auction and sold those final few flowers for astronomical prices."

"After another period of time, he claimed again that he still had a few flowers in his hands and wished to auction them once more."

"After another period of time, it was the same situation again."

"Only later did people learn that this cultivation method was written by him, and he had collected all the varieties of flowers well in advance, releasing a few flowers every interval of time solely for the purpose of making money."

"The 'True Explanation of the Sword Dao,' this is the cultivation method practiced by Master, which is just like the Qi Refining Stage and Foundation Establishment Stage; so long as one continuously comprehends the Sword Dao, no bottleneck exists in cultivation, making it the cultivation method most suited for our Sword Spiritual Root lineage."

"Back then, I wished to directly practice this cultivation method, but unfortunately, only one person in the world can practice this book; since Master practiced it, I could not practice it."

The Immortal Fairy was lost in thought; based on her observations of the Sword Dao mastered by the Unspeaking Daoist, he did not quite resemble someone who would be blocked at the threshold of the Tribulation Transmutation Stage.

(End of Chapter)