Seeking Immortality in a Bizarre World-Chapter 581 - 576: Immortal Dao Ancestor, Will Knowledge Always Lead to Strength?_1
"Where did he find this Heavenly Earth Elixir?!"
The Sect Master of Taiqing, a figure of considerable stature, had reached an extremely profound understanding of Spiritual Energy and detected a powerful contaminating force within the Heavenly Earth Elixir. This Spiritual Power seemed to possess its own will, far removed from ordinary Spiritual Power! Even a Mahayana Stage Cultivator couldn’t compare. The Sect Master of Taiqing noticed the anomaly and felt apprehension, not daring to touch the altered Heavenly Earth Elixir.
"Sect Master, could the Spiritual Medicine be poisoned?!"
Shen Ruyin’s face paled with fright, and she quickly threw the Heavenly Earth Elixir away.
Memories of Jia Ren’s face flashed through her mind. She had thought him a good person who had saved their lives... Little did she expect that this person wanted to poison her and the Sect Master! Truly, the human heart is unfathomable. Her favorable impression of Jia Ren plummeted to rock bottom.
"As long as one does not refine the Heavenly Earth Spiritual Energy within it, there should be no major issue."
"Where did he find such a Heavenly Earth Elixir? Has the person visited the Taiqing Sect? I wish to meet him."
The Sect Master of Taiqing shifted his gaze away from the Heavenly Earth Elixir, a strange light flickering in his eyes. Heavenly Earth Elixirs are generated by nature itself. Only when the Spiritual Energy and Laws within Secret Realms and the world itself become problematic do the Elixirs change. What kind of variable could cause an Elixir, born of the world, to mutate as well?
The Sect Master of Taiqing thought of the Immortals who mastered the Heavenly Spirit Law—beings of such stature could change the Laws of a region and possess the might to transform the heavens and the earth. An Immortal descending to the world? Appearing in which Secret Realm? Could it be possible to resolve the affliction of Bizarre Demons in the Mysterious Realm? Did this person find the Heavenly Earth Elixir in another Cultivation World?
The Sect Master of Taiqing dismissed the latter idea. Only those at the Mahayana Realm have the capability to enter the Void in search of other Cultivation Worlds. However, without special means, even Mahayana Stage Cultivators would perish in the boundless Void. Tens of thousands of years ago, explorers from the Mysterious Realm ventured into the Void. But after several Mahayana Stage Cultivators entered it and subsequently perished, none dared to delve deeply into it again. This individual likely doesn’t have such capabilities; it was more likely a Secret Realm. There are True Immortals in Secret Realms!
"Sect Master, how should we reply to this person’s request?"
Shen Ruyin, realizing she had misunderstood her savior, felt a pang of guilt and instinctively asked.
The Sect Master of Taiqing shook his head. "The Taiqing Sect indeed has a solution. As long as he assists the Taiqing Sect in sealing fifty Bizarre Demons, we can share the solution with him."
Shen Ruyin nodded, quickly responding with respect, "I will deliver the message right away."
The few disciples left respectfully, leaving the Sect Master of Taiqing alone in the grand hall. He donned a pair of gloves and carefully examined the Heavenly Earth Elixir he had obtained.
"Sect Master, I do not believe the Sect has the means to resolve this." At that moment, a dispassionate voice arose. A Cultivator clad in a moon-white Daoist Robe appeared out of thin air, gazing intently at the Sect Master of Taiqing.
"It doesn’t seem like ordinary Heavenly Earth Spiritual Energy; it’s more like its very essence has changed," the newcomer stated. "Uncle Master Xuanqing probably can’t resolve the issue. After all, this involves the Laws."
"Unless a True Immortal who controls the Heavenly Spirit Law intervenes, there is simply no possibility of restoring the Heavenly Earth Elixir to its original essence."
The Sect Master of Taiqing sighed. "I am left with no choice, as the Taiqing Sect cannot fulfill his request."
"This person is proficient in dealing with Bizarre Demons, and the Sect needs to make full use of him. We can’t just turn away such a valuable talent."
"Of course, I will hand this Heavenly Earth Elixir to Uncle Master Xuanqing and ask him to make every effort to find a solution."
"Humph! How is that fundamentally different from deception?!" the young man in the moon-white robe retorted, his face full of resentment and extreme dissatisfaction with the Sect Master’s actions. "This is destroying the reputation that the Taiqing Sect has built up over tens of thousands of years!"
The Sect Master of Taiqing responded helplessly, "All the Great Sects are still clinging to their own small plots of land, leaving the Taiqing Sect to bear the burden. The day of our Sect’s demise is near; how can we afford to care about such things?"
"What use is reputation if the Sect is no more?!"
"If the Taiqing Sect can endure, he will have contributed to its survival, and naturally, he will be compensated."
「 」
Jia Ren did not enter the Taiqing Sect, wanting to avoid any trouble the mutated Heavenly Earth Elixir might cause him. He made his way to the market near the Taiqing Sect and chose to wait there.
The Evil-Repelling Spirit Treasure Jade Mirror hung high at the entrance of the Taiqing Marketplace, its jade light falling on his body to confirm the absence of any bizarre forces. The Guards stationed outside the market, seeing no anomalies, finally lowered their guard and spoke dispassionately, "The entrance fee is One Hundred Spirit Stones."
Jia Ren paid the entrance fee of One Hundred Spirit Stones, received a residence Token valid for one month, and entered.
The Taiqing Marketplace was teeming with people. A great crowd of Cultivators and mortals had gathered there, making the market bustling and crowded. Within the domain of the Taiqing Sect, Bizarre Demons ran rampant, causing countless deaths and injuries. Mortals, Cultivators, and families, powerless against the formidable Bizarre Demons, could only come to the Taiqing Sect’s market in search of the Sect’s protection. It wasn’t surprising that so many people had gathered here.
As Jia Ren walked along the streets of the marketplace, an unseen force pushed everyone—mortal or Cultivator—away if they came within a foot of him. Not a single insect could land on him, not a feather could be added to his person.
He didn’t need to actively seek out information. Unprompted, news from teahouses, brothels, shops, and secret markets continuously flowed into his ears. Their conversations revolved around which regions had fallen, where powerful Bizarre Demons were rampaging, and areas where all life had been extinguished for thousands of miles around.
In contrast to other regions enjoying peace and harmony, the Taiqing Sect alone faced the greatest trouble; it was truly a dire situation. The people who had arrived were just a fraction; many more had perished on the journey. Bizarre Demons roamed freely, and human lives were as insignificant as weeds. Jia Ren felt as if he were in a Sealed Land.
"The Life-Protection Charm will protect you completely! Bizarre Demons and evil spirits, stay away! Affordable price, just twenty Spirit Stones each!"
"The Evil-Dispelling Charm! A single sheet will make Bizarre Demons disperse! Paste it where you live, and no evil will enter!"
"Believe in the Lifeless Cult, and you will be blessed with everlasting life!"
"..."
In times of chaos, all sorts of charlatans and opportunists would emerge, selling so-called Evil Warding and Evil-Dispelling Charms.
Dozens of Spirit Stones for a charm that could make powerful Bizarre Demons stay away?
Jia Ren fixed his gaze and swept it across the vendors, his expression turning unsightly. What were these so-called Evil Warding Charms? Most of them didn’t even qualify as low-grade Talismans; they were just ghostly scribbles, completely worthless, designed only to cheat people out of their Spirit Stones.
Cultivators, of course, wouldn’t believe such claims. They preferred to pay a high price for genuine Evil Warding Talismans. Although these couldn’t deal with powerful Bizarre Demons, they could at least offer a chance of survival against weaker ones. Ordinary people, however, had already been scared out of their wits by the Bizarre Demons. Living in constant fear, they preferred to believe such protections might work rather than risk disbelief. There were bound to be those who would spend their entire fortunes, bankrupting their families, to buy a single so-called divine Talisman.
And now, a cult too?
His Heart-Mind Sensing technique detected a sect named the Lifeless Cult in the Taiqing Marketplace. It claimed to offer shelter in a "pure land" free from the influence of Bizarre Demons...
Jia Ren had initially thought it was just another group looking to make money. But when he saw the deity they worshipped, a chill ran down his spine. Bizarre Demons?!
Their idol appeared normal, yet a faint and eerie aura gathered around it. The aura appeared and vanished quickly, as if it were merely an illusion. Jia Ren was always vigilant about such abnormalities.
With millions of Cultivators and ordinary people in the Taiqing Marketplace, if there truly are Bizarre Demons within the city, I can’t turn a blind eye after discovering them. At the very least, I have to investigate and report the situation to the Taiqing Sect, letting them handle it. I can’t just selectively ignore it and let them die at the hands of Bizarre Demons.
He made his way to a remote courtyard in the West District, where a large number of black-robed figures were gathered. When they saw Jia Ren approach, they cast cold glances his way, sizing him up with a scrutinizing look. Both ordinary people and Cultivators were gathered here, quite a number of them.
"Do you have a referrer?" one of them asked.
"Strangers are not welcome here."
Mirror Flower Divine Moon was silently cast, plunging the questioners into an illusion, making them see what they expected to see. Jia Ren successfully bluffed his way through. A leading Golden Core Stage Cultivator then led him into the courtyard.
The large courtyard was densely covered with numerous restrictive formations and was heavily guarded. Upon entering the house, a strong scent of incense assailed his nostrils.
Many ordinary people and Cultivators were burning incense sticks they placed into a giant censer. They knelt before a clay statue, worshipping devoutly. The clay statue depicted a kind-eyed old man dressed in a Cyan Daoist Robe, exuding the distinct air of an immortal sage.
The Golden Core Stage Cultivator who led him in explained, "This is the Immortal Dao Ancestor."
"The Immortal Dao Ancestor is The One. He is the beginning of the Great Dao, and He is the end of the Great Dao. Believing in the Immortal Dao Ancestor grants one His protection and everlasting life."
"As long as you are chosen by the Immortal Dao Ancestor, you can enter His pure land and stay away from the troubles of Bizarre Demons."
Dozens of followers lit incense, offering their most respectful worship to the statue of the Immortal Dao Ancestor. An unknown energy rose from the heads of those kneeling, drifting into the statue of the Immortal Dao Ancestor. At that moment, the Bizarre Demon aura Jia Ren had sensed earlier emerged again.
This aura was exceedingly faint. If Jia Ren’s Life-bound Magic Treasure were not the Demon-Sealing Spirit Tower, and if he had not encountered a considerable number of Bizarre Demons before, he would never have detected these hidden, faint traces of a Bizarre Demon’s aura.
Bizarre Demons? No, this statue must be a medium through which Bizarre Demons draw power. What kind of Bizarre Demon is this? Does it draw power through a clay statue by absorbing faith? A new way for bizarre power to spread?
Jia Ren recalled a peculiar type of Bizarre Demon he had heard about in the Sealed Land: To be known is to become stronger.
This one acted in secrecy, and it wasn’t yet confirmed if it absorbed the Power of Faith. Who knew if this was one of the most difficult Bizarre Demons to deal with? A special Bizarre Demon that grew stronger merely by its name being known? The Hidden Cultivation Sect, operating like a religious order, was silently spreading its name among the lower echelons. The more people who knew of it, the stronger it became. Like a growing cancer, it quietly drew strength from the chaos, steadily growing without a sound.
Discovering such a problem early meant there was still a chance to eliminate it. If it were discovered too late, once its power had grown and awakened, it would become an unsolvable catastrophe, and sealing it would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens.
"What are you standing there for?" the Golden Core Stage Cultivator urged. "Why aren’t you paying your respects to the Immortal Dao Ancestor?"
I would never kneel to something of unknown origin. Who knows if this is part of some ritual? Even the slightest misstep could have severe consequences.
Jia Ren subtly employed Mirror Flower Divine Moon again, deceiving the Golden Core Stage Cultivator. Seeing Jia Ren seemingly kneel and sincerely worship the Immortal Dao Ancestor, a smile appeared on the Cultivator’s face.
"Your faith is comforting," he said. "The more people you convert, the easier it will be to receive the Immortal Dao Ancestor’s favor."
