Chapter 456: Longevity Cultivation Method

Save for Heavenly Gate Peak, the Pavilion of Sutras was where Lu Yang spent the greatest measure of his time.

While the cultivation methods of the world were all authored by predecessors, Lu Yang's was of his own composition.

To write this method, he had lived within the Pavilion of Sutras, devouring countless volumes and gathering the mastery of a hundred schools into his lone self, until he finally penned a technique that defied all conventions—the Sutra of Direct Mind and True Nature.

In the process of browsing that vast sea of literature, he vaguely recalled seeing a certain spell related to longevity.

He had paid it no mind at the time, offering it only a fleeting glance.

He was then a mere Golden Core cultivator, young and vigorous, with blood like a surging tide; the crisis of an expiring lifespan remained a distant, unfathomable horizon.

"Fairy, do you possess any longevity spells or cultivation methods?" As an immortal, even if she did not practice them herself, she ought to know a few, right?

The Immortal Fairy let out a low, thoughtful hum from her throat, pondering the question in earnest.

"None for longevity, though I do know a few spells that burn one's lifespan to temporarily boost combat power on the battlefield. I used them a couple of times before achieving immortality."

Lu Yang knew without asking that for the Immortal Fairy to resort to life-burning spells, the situation must have been dire indeed. Seeing her nonchalant demeanor, he refrained from probing deeper into those ancient perils.

"And after achieving immortality?"

"After achieving immortality, there was simply no need. Think about it: a half-immortal certainly cannot defeat a true immortal, so an immortal's only worthy opponent is another immortal. Since the lifespan of an immortal is infinite, if two immortals burn their lifespans during a duel, how is that any different from not burning it at all?"

Upon reflection, Lu Yang realized there was indeed profound truth in her words.

When immortals fought, their primary means of combat should be their respective Fruits of Dao.

"Though burning lifespan is useless, self-detonation is still quite potent."

The Immortal Fairy gave a mischievous chuckle. The self-detonation of an immortal possessed enough might to sweep across an entire galaxy or even further, a world-shaking force that defied imagination.

And her particular Fruit of Dao was best suited for self-detonation.

If Ying Tian and the other immortals blew themselves up once, they were finished; she was different. After self-detonating, she could instantly resurrect and do it again without even losing her breath, unable to stop unless ordered to.

Lu Yang stared at the Immortal Fairy with a bizarre expression, hearing of consecutive self-detonations for the very first time.

The Immortal Fruit of Dao was truly terrifying; if one fought in such a manner, who wouldn't be stricken with dread upon meeting her?

The man and the spirit arrived at the Pavilion of Sutras, where Senior Sister Zhou Lulu happened to be on duty that day.

Senior Sister Zhou sat with her head bowed over a book, a few strands of dark hair falling softly to frame her delicate visage. From afar, she resembled a flawless painting, exuding an aura of serene and peaceful years.

If the Immortal Fairy could adopt even a fraction of such grace, her standing in Lu Yang's heart would be significantly elevated.

"Senior Sister Zhou, it has been a long time," Lu Yang greeted her with a smile. When he had first entered the Dao Seeking Sect, this senior sister had granted him much assistance.

Back then, he had first been poisoned into unconsciousness by a senior brother's medicinal fragrance, then boiled alive in a bath by the Eldest Senior Sister, spending his days lifting heavy vats and pinching tofu to train his stances.

By comparison, Senior Sister Zhou's advice on which book could grant a quick initiation, which volume was crucial for traveling abroad, and her tip that the cafeteria's weapons were cheaper than those in the Mission Hall... felt exceptionally precious.

Zhou Lulu was deeply engrossed in her reading, and upon hearing Lu Yang's greeting, she let out a soft gasp of fright, instinctively hiding half her face behind her book as her eyes darted away nervously.

"Ah, it is Junior Brother Lu."

Lu Yang looked at Senior Sister Zhou with a touch of helplessness, fearing that speaking too loudly might frighten her further.

Senior Sister Zhou was the daughter of the Fifth Elder, Zhou Xin. Possessing a Nascent Soul cultivation, her strength was absurdly formidable. During the exchange with the Five Elements Sect, she had been the mainstay of the Nascent Soul stage, thrashing the opposing cultivators so thoroughly it was a pitiful sight to behold.

If he were to fight Senior Sister Zhou himself, he would be the one unilaterally pulverized. It was only that her courage was too small, making her timid in conversation.

Considering her temperament, it was not entirely impossible to defeat her using an Invincible Pill.

Lu Yang noticed that the book she was currently reading was titled One Hundred and Eight Hammer Techniques, which stood in stark contrast to her delicate image, though it matched her lineage perfectly.

"Have you come to the Pavilion of Sutras to study?" Senior Sister Zhou asked, gathering her courage, hoping to see if she could be of any help.

"I am looking for a spell, one related to extending longevity." Lu Yang did not elaborate. The crisis surrounding the Emperor of Xia's lifespan would trigger various chain reactions; the fewer people who knew, the better.

"A spell to extend longevity? Let me think... Is it the Eternal Green Method, which allows one to transform into a tree, rooting into the earth to watch the shifting clouds?"

"Or the Tortoise Longevity Law, which extends life by mimicking the behavior of a tortoise?"

"It seems to be neither." Lu Yang found both names unfamiliar, unable to match them with the spell in his memory.

"Then I do not know." Zhou Lulu shook her head gently. She had not read every single book in the Pavilion of Sutras either.

The volumes within the Pavilion of Sutras were as vast as a sea of smoke; the only one who might have read them all was Old Man Tao, the retired keeper of the pavilion.

Lu Yang thanked Senior Sister Zhou and stepped into the interior of the pavilion.

Zhou Lulu kept her gaze fixed on Lu Yang's back until she was certain he had no intention of turning around, only then safely resuming her reading, quickly immersing herself once more in her own private world.

Many senior brothers and sisters chose to study in the Pavilion of Sutras, deliberating over spells and cultivation methods to modify them so they better suited their individual traits.

However, there were also stubborn disciples who insisted on learning spells that were completely unsuited to them.

Lu Yang had heard of a certain senior brother who loved wealth and had specifically borrowed the Touch of Gold Technique from the Pavilion of Sutras a few years prior.

This senior brother cultivated diligently, poking stones daily, meditating to comprehend the law, nurturing his mind, and seeking guidance everywhere in an endless cycle without a single day of negligence.

Finally, after a full rotation of spring, summer, autumn, and winter, Heaven rewarded his earnest devotion; his sacrifices bore fruit, and he mastered the One-Finger Chan.

Upon mastery, a single finger could shatter mountains and cleave the earth; when thrust into a body, it left a bloody crater, proving utterly terrifying and fitting as a hidden trump card.

One could hardly blame him for failing to learn the actual spell; the principle of the Touch of Gold Technique involved the deconstruction and reorganization of internal matter, a task of extreme difficulty that ordinary men could not grasp.

Yet there were always alternative methods when a spell could not be learned. Another senior sister had achieved the magnificent feat of squeezing a common stone into a diamond through sheer, overwhelming grip strength without a single ripple of spiritual power, a tale that remained a popular topic of amusement within the Dao Seeking Sect.

Bypassing the studying disciples, Lu Yang followed his memories to a corner of the Pavilion of Sutras and knelt to search.

The books were coated in a layer of dust, evidently untouched by anyone for a very long time.

The Pavilion of Sutras was too vast and contained too many volumes; it was only natural that some books would be forgotten over time.

For instance, during his very first visit to the Pavilion of Sutras, Lu Yang had stumbled upon the forbidden text, the Dragon-Phoenix Transformation.

"I recall it was right here..."

"Found it!"

Lu Yang's eyes lit up as he pulled a volume from a narrow crevice. Its title was archaic and grand, simple and clear.

The Method of Longevity.

"I knew my memory had not failed me." Lu Yang felt a surge of excitement. The Pavilion of Sutras was truly a treasure trove, containing even such legendary spells.

"To think such a spell actually exists?" The Immortal Fairy clicked her tongue in wonder, finding it quite a fine object.

Though she had no use for it, Lu Yang would certainly find it valuable in the future.