However, as long as these people possess the means to achieve immortality, are exceptionally talented, and have a resolute mind, they can all cultivate immortality.
Heaven is impartial, neither good nor evil.
Unless one day humanity can rule the heavens and transform human ethics and norms into the laws of the universe, that would be a different concept altogether.
Although it is said that even gods are made from mortals.
But when mortals cultivate themselves into immortals and live forever, they no longer need to desire worldly things, and naturally they have a different mindset.
Even if one cultivates great magical power that reaches the heavens and the earth, and lives a carefree life, why would one be interested in the mundane matters of birth, aging, sickness and death?
At least, Lin Yi himself had no interest in it.
Although the path of sainthood he followed emphasized conforming to Heaven and responding to the people.
But following the will of Heaven is for the purpose of better comprehending the principles of the Great Dao; responding to human affairs is for exploring the mysteries of Heaven and Earth through changes in human behavior.
As the saying goes: going with the flow makes you a human, going against it makes you an immortal; I am caught in the middle, going upside down.
In essence, cultivators can be considered the most selfish group of people in the world. But when this selfishness extends outward, encompassing the people, things, and events around them... even including their own ethnicity, their own country, the world, and the universe.
To regard all of this as part of "me" is to be an existence equal to "the Way," independent and unchanging, ever-flowing and inexhaustible, a supreme sage of heaven and earth who transcends all eons.
Some people call this kind of selfishness "great love," which is an infinite love for all living beings, for heaven and earth, and for the universe.
Enough with the rambling, let's get back to the main point.
Lin Yi walked around the ruins of the Taoist temple but did not see Jiao Fei.
However, he knew that the yellow-faced boy was clever and quick-witted, and guessed that he was probably hiding somewhere to avoid trouble.
This matter is closely related to Emperor Li Ying of the Tang Dynasty. He somehow obtained a magical artifact called the "Chun Jun Pot" from an ancient immortal and used it to convene this grand water and land assembly. His intention was to have those greedy cultivators use this treasure to extend his lifespan.
Then, what happened last night occurred: the Chun Jun teapot was taken away by Jiao Fei's teacher, the Taoist Lan Li, and the Taoist temple where they were staying suffered.
Lin Yi found a relatively secluded spot nearby and waited quietly.
At noon, a sallow-faced boy walked from afar; it was Jiao Fei. He pretended to casually pass by the ruins of the Taoist temple. After walking back and forth several times, he didn't see anyone particularly remarkable.
Just as Jiao Fei was feeling disappointed, a dashing man with a noble bearing and two swords stuck in his back suddenly appeared in front of the Taoist temple ruins.
The man glanced around casually, a hint of anger flashing in his eyes. Seeing Jiao Fei not far away, he took a step, covering dozens of feet, and arrived in front of Jiao Fei, hissing in a low voice: "Do you know anyone from this Taoist temple?"
Jiao Fei answered without hesitation, "This Taoist temple does have a few Taoist priests, but they never go out and rarely interact with people. I've only heard that the abbot of this temple is called Nushan Zhenren, and his two disciples are named Qingxuzi and Yan something..."
"Master Nushan? What nonsense are you spouting? Master Nushan is the head of the Kunlun Scripture Pavilion, how could he be hanging around in this dilapidated Taoist temple?"
The handsome man casually struck Jiao Fei with a palm strike, sending him tumbling to the ground. He muttered to himself, "Could this really be the villa of the Angry Mountain Immortal? Or perhaps it's a different person despite sharing the same Daoist name?"
As he spoke, the man seemed to remember something. With a flick of his sleeve, a sharp light flashed, protecting his entire body, and he soared into the sky in broad daylight.
Jiao Fei's face was swollen and red from the blow, and he could barely open his eyes.
The man had incredible strength; had he not also achieved some level of mastery in his cultivation, he probably would have knocked out all his teeth in one blow.
Jiao Fei secretly activated the Black Water True Technique, stirring up the essence of the true water to digest the stagnant blood. Countless thoughts flashed through his mind, growing more and more vicious with each thought. But then, a chill ran through him, and he regained the clarity of his mind that had been clouded by anger. He muttered to himself, "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth. He slapped me once, and I will retaliate when I have the ability. But to keep this matter in my heart is not a thought that a cultivator should have."
Hearing this, Lin Yi nodded secretly, thinking that Jiao Fei was indeed a born cultivator.
With that thought in mind, he got up and walked over. He had only taken a few steps when a beautiful woman of about twenty-two or twenty-three years old appeared beside Jiao Fei, and they began to talk.
The woman was dressed in a pale yellow Taoist robe, like a female Taoist priest. Although her face had a faint look of languor and weariness, her eyes occasionally shone with an indescribable brightness.
Since Lin Yi had stepped forward, he naturally couldn't back down. So he walked over confidently and said, "Lin Yi, a rogue cultivator from overseas, greets you two fellow Daoists."
Jiao Fei looked up and said, "So it's Master Lin."
The woman in yellow parted her lips slightly and said, "Meng Tianzhu of the Lijiang Sword Sect greets Fellow Daoist Lin."
Lin Yi bowed and said, "So you are a true disciple of the orthodox Taoist sect. My apologies for my disrespect."
The Lijiang Sword Sect is one of the nine major sects of the Seven Phoenix Realm, and this generation has only four true disciples.
Taoist masters conduct endless trials and arduous training before accepting disciples, only granting them the qualification to be recorded in the register. Then, they must spend more than ten years examining their cultivation to see if they can become accomplished before they are truly accepted into the fold.
Those rigorous tests will eliminate countless people.
To become a true disciple of the Daoist sect, Meng Tianzhu's talent, temperament, and cultivation were all impeccable. She smiled slightly and said, "Fellow Daoist Lin, instead of enjoying your life overseas, why have you come to Chang'an? Could it be that you also covet the wealth and glory promised by the Li family emperor?"
Lin Yi shook his head and said, "I came to Chang'an City on other important business, but I didn't expect to witness such a grand spectacle. Alas, even if one escapes the cycle of life and death, one cannot escape the upheaval of heaven and earth. The Great Dao is vast and boundless, truly without end."
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Chapter Forty-Seven: The Pure Jun Immortal Pot, Secluded Cultivation on the Huai River
Jiao Fei asked, rather curiously, "Senior Sister Meng, Daoist Lin, what are you two talking about?"
Meng Tianzhu gently brushed her hair back and smiled sweetly, saying, "We are talking about the 'Chun Jun Pot' that has appeared this time. Even I don't fully know the value of this magical treasure. I only know that it was a personal item of the ancient immortal Chun Jun, who had already cultivated a grotto-heaven within it."
"Among the four grades of magic treasures—illusionary, true form, divine illusion, and pure yang—this treasure ranks as divine illusion, second only to the pure yang treasure, which is known as an ancient rare treasure. No matter which school or sect it belongs to, it can be considered a treasure that protects the sect."
After Meng Tianzhu finished speaking, her gaze, as cold as a star, turned to Lin Yi.
Lin Yi rubbed his nose, and said with a hint of helplessness, "I only know that the grotto-heaven treasure is the key to dealing with a future calamity, which is why so many cultivators have gathered in Chang'an to compete for it. I don't know any more details."
Jiao Fei had just begun his cultivation journey and knew nothing about the "Chun Jun Pot" that Meng Tianzhu and Lin Yi had mentioned. However, he did know a little about fourth-grade magic treasures.
Generally speaking, the power of a cultivator's magical artifact depends on the power of the restrictive spells used to refine it. For the same restrictive spell, the key is how many layers of restrictions can be incorporated into a single artifact.