What was his greatest ambition?
The question sent Fang Qingyuan into a spiral of thoughts.
Having lived two lives, the conflict between two different worldviews gave Fang Qingyuan different pursuits.
In his past life, Fang Qingyuan had craved wealth and power most of all, because that was what everyone in his world pursued.
In this life, though he still desired wealth and power, Fang Qingyuan lived with greater clarity. He wanted a powerful Cultivation Realm to see more of the world.
But even that wasn’t his ultimate goal. Cultivation and realms were rely the ans, not the end.
’So why do I want a higher realm? What is it all for in the end?’
Fang Qingyuan stood rooted to the spot, pondering this difficult question. Seeing this, Lechuan didn’t rush him. Instead, a gratified smile appeared on his face.
....
A short while later, as the morning mist dissipated and the great sun rose, casting its gentle light upon Fang Qingyuan and Lechuan.
Fang Qingyuan finally spoke.
"I want longevity!"
The words had barely left Fang Qingyuan’s mouth when Lechuan burst into laughter. He pointed at Fang Qingyuan and said,
"Longevity? It’s too vague, too lofty. It’s not suitable as your Pill Discussion."
Fang Qingyuan was taken aback. He asked, perplexed,
"Why do you say that? Are there no examples of Cultivators in this world using longevity as their Pill Discussion?"
"There are, of course there are. It’s just that the Cultivators who choose longevity for their Pill Discussion all et a miserable end.
When a Foundation Establishnt Cultivator chooses a Pill Discussion, it’s not a matter of the loftier the better. It must match one’s own Talent, circumstances, and opportunities.
The Longevity Pill Theory is one of the highest Pill Discussions. You, well, you just don’t have the fate for it."
Lechuan said this placidly. Seeing the unconvinced look on Fang Qingyuan’s face, he continued to explain,
"Pill Discussions are divided into nine grades, with the first grade being supre. But above the first grade, there are several ultimate Pill Discussion paths, and longevity is one of them.
"Besides longevity, there are also Yin-Yang, Life and Death, Motion and Stillness, Void, Creation, and Reality and Illusion—these are the Nine Celestial Techniques. The Longevity Pill Theory is actually known as the Path of Ti. With your current foundation, you could barely touch its edge. If you were to use longevity as your Pill Discussion, the mont of your Core Formation would be the mont of your death."
’The Nine Celestial Techniques? The Path of Ti?’
Fang Qingyuan had so vague knowledge about Pill Discussions before, but no one had ever explained it to him so clearly.
Pill Discussion and Lifebound Talent were both extrely important pieces of cultivation knowledge. Ordinary Loose Cultivators had no way of learning about such things.
Knowledge itself represented power. Zhao Liangde had previously explained Lifebound Talents to him; now, it was Lechuan’s turn to explain the great Dao of Pill Discussions.
"The Nine Celestial Techniques represent the highest achievent in this world. Even in the Beast Taming General Mountain, few can use them for their Pill Discussion. Among the eleven Divinity Transformation Ancestors in the General Mountain, no more than three have been able to use one of the Nine Celestial Techniques as their great Dao."
Hearing that even Divinity Transformation Cultivators struggled with them, Fang Qingyuan now understood why Lechuan had laughed earlier.
Fang Qingyuan gave an embarrassed chuckle and continued to ask,
"Then what kind of foundation is needed to use the Longevity Dao as one’s Pill Discussion? Is there really not a single peerless genius in this world who has succeeded on this path?"
Lechuan’s expression slowly turned serious as he began to recount a story.
"There was one. But for this person, the Longevity Dao was nothing particularly special, because the great Dao they cultivated encompassed a full three of the Nine Celestial Techniques."
’Three of them?’
Fang Qingyuan was instantly stunned. The Longevity Dao was profound even for Divinity Transformation Cultivators, yet this person not only cultivated it but also two others besides. Just how terrifyingly powerful was this individual?
"Who is this person? Are they still alive?"
Lechuan glanced around, raised a sound-insulating Spirit Shield, and then whispered cautiously,
"The Master of Qiyun Heaven and Earth Peak. They haven’t made a public appearance in many years."
"Soone from Qi Yun, huh... Does our Beast Taming Sect have anyone that powerful?"
"Our Guardian Envoy is also formidable. However, the two of them have never truly fought, so we don’t know who is stronger. These secrets were passed down to by my master. The newly ascended Nascent Soul Cultivators in the General Mountain don’t know as much as I do."
Seeing Lechuan’s rather smug look, Fang Qingyuan played along and offered a few words of praise.
Lechuan, now getting into it, also began to speak of the strongest combatant of the Great Zhou Academy and the rumors about the Realm Master.
Only after he had finished did Lechuan realize he had gone off-topic.
So, with a cough, he abruptly steered the conversation back.
"Alright, you can listen to these secrets of the higher-ups, but don’t dwell on them. They are too far removed from us. One must remain grounded and build a solid foundation. Although you have the ’Pre-heaven Qi’ Divine Technique, which allows you to make so headway on the path of longevity and ti, the Longevity Pill Theory is like trying to scoop the moon from the water for you.
I will give you a few directions. For the next few decades before you reach Foundation Establishnt Perfection, try to work toward one of them.
The first Pill Discussion focuses on ’Nine Orifices Unblocked, perceiving spiritual stagnation, and extending lifespan.’
The second Pill Discussion is ’Heaven Protects and Establishes Thee, Causing All to Flourish, Like the Mountains and the Foothills, Like the Ridges and the Hills...’ This is the Heavenly Protection of Nine Similes.
The third..."
Lechuan went on to list three or four more, all of them Pill Discussions that focused on longevity. When Lechuan finished, Fang Qingyuan asked in detail about the grades of these Pill Discussions.
But in the end, Fang Qingyuan was greatly disappointed, because the highest among these Pill Discussions was rely fifth-grade.
For a Loose Cultivator, a fifth-grade Pill Discussion would be an incredible blessing, sothing to burn incense for.
But for a mber of the Beast Taming Sect, a fifth-grade Pill Discussion was rely upper-tier.
With a top-three-grade Pill Discussion, a Golden Core Cultivator had a thirty percent chance of reaching the Nascent Soul Realm. With a middle-three-grade Pill Discussion, that chance dropped to less than ten percent.
As for those Golden Core Cultivators with a bottom-three-grade Pill Discussion, without so earth-shattering opportunity, they would be stuck at the Golden Core Realm for the rest of their lives.
So far, Fang Qingyuan had only revealed his ’Pre-heaven Qi’ Lifebound Talent. Unaware of his other circumstances, Lechuan was not optimistic about the grade of Pill Discussion Fang Qingyuan could achieve.
But while Lechuan was pessimistic, Fang Qingyuan himself did not think so. Setting aside everything else, just the existence of the Immortal Mansion was enough for him to refuse to believe he was destined for a re fifth-grade Pill Discussion.
After Lechuan finished explaining the lore of Pill Discussions, he fell silent for a mont before asking about Fang Qingyuan’s future plans.
At this, the atmosphere between them lost its earlier cheerfulness.
Zhao E Lian’s arrival was a foregone conclusion, making Lechuan’s own fate the key issue.
According to the wishes of the Nascent Soul Cultivator from the General Mountain who was orchestrating all this, Lechuan was to stay on as Zhao E Lian’s deputy.
But Lechuan had flatly refused. He had been the master of the Southern Border Beast Taming Sect for thirty years. To not only be dragged down from his position but also be forced to serve as Zhao E Lian’s deputy—he couldn’t afford to lose that much face.
Upon learning of Lechuan’s attitude, the Nascent Soul Cultivator did not insist. He gave Lechuan two choices.
First, he could return to the General Mountain and resu the life he had before going to the Southern Border. As compensation, the Nascent Soul Cultivator was willing to arrange a sect position for him there.
Second, he could move to the White Mountain Territory, establish a beachhead near the Wilderness Forest, and then, after five years, earn rits in the pioneering war to establish a new branch sect.
This enfeoffnt wouldn’t just be an internal matter of the Beast Taming Sect; it would be officially recognized by the Great Zhou Academy. Even if soone from the Beast Taming General Mountain wanted to seize it, they wouldn’t be able to do so easily.
Now, Lechuan had co to ask for Fang Qingyuan’s opinion, as he had few people left with whom he could discuss such matters.
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