Chapter 14: With a Mortal Body, Standing Atop the Peak of the Immortal Path
"Who says a mortal body cannot climb the immortal path?"
"What does it matter to have no Spiritual Root?"
"So what if you have a mortal body?"
"As long as you carry a heart that yearns for immortality, your most brilliant figure will surely be etched upon the immortal path one day."
"So — will you join my sect?"
Su Bai said softly.
In an instant, the girl froze. A glimmer of light flickered through her dim eyes.
The young man before her wore white robes that outshone snow. His bearing was peerless, his temperament extraordinary — like an exiled immortal descended to the mortal world.
She felt a little dazed. For reasons she could not explain, a profound sense of security welled up from the depths of her heart.
"Can I... really cultivate?" Ye Qingyao asked with great difficulty, her voice trembling.
"There was once a person, just like you — a mortal body, with no cultivation talent whatsoever," Su Bai said.
"She... what happened to her afterward?" Ye Qingyao asked, a trace of anxiety in her voice.
"She carried a heart that sought immortality. Though she had a mortal body, she still relied on her unparalleled talent and unwavering determination to rise — with a mortal body — to the very peak of the immortal path," Su Bai said slowly.
"A mortal body becoming an immortal? Are you seriously bragging like that?"
"Heh, the 'peak of the immortal path' he's talking about — couldn't that just mean the first or second level of the Qi Refining Stage?"
"Hahaha! If a mortal body can ever reach the Third Level of the Qi Refining Stage in this lifetime, I'll Damn it stand on my head and eat two buckets of shit!"
The crowd burst into laughter, none of them believing a word of it.
In their eyes, Su Bai was simply making things up and putting on a show.
Cultivation was difficult — even those with Spiritual Roots struggled. To say nothing of a mortal body with no Spiritual Root at all!
In ten thousand years of history across the continent, no one had ever heard of a mortal body cultivating all the way to the Foundation Establishment Stage!
"With a mortal body... standing... atop the peak of the immortal path..." Ye Qingyao murmured in a daze. "Can I... do that too?"
She was not swayed by the crowd's mockery. On the contrary, her longing only grew stronger, and a sharp light gleamed in her eyes.
"The future holds many variables. Anything is possible."
"I see that your character is resilient and your will is unyielding. Your future is destined to tread an extraordinary path — and so, I have decided to take you as my Personal Disciple."
Su Bai extended his hand and held it out before Ye Qingyao.
Ye Qingyao hesitated for a moment, then slowly placed her hand in his.
A soft, warm sensation spread through her entire body. This was the first time she had felt this way since her sister had left.
It was the warmth of the human world, scattering the cold wind that clung to her existence.
She wanted to kneel in reverence, but found that her legs had long since stopped obeying her. It was already a miracle that her iron will had carried her this far.
"Immortal Master... thank you..."
She could hold on no longer. Darkness swallowed her vision, and she fell straight forward — into a warm embrace.
Su Bai caught her and carried her over to Xiao Lingxi's side.
Without a word from Su Bai, Xiao Lingxi stepped forward on her own to receive Ye Qingyao, paying no mind to whether her newly bought dress might get dirty.
"Take her back first. Your master will return a little later."
Su Bai instructed Xiao Lingxi and Zhuge Feng.
"Yes." The two nodded, then departed with Ye Qingyao.
After his disciples left, Su Bai quietly concealed his presence and followed behind them.
* * *
Outside Yunshui City, on the road leading to the Heavenly Dao Sect.
Behind Xiao Lingxi and Zhuge Feng, four shadowy figures trailed silently. Their gazes fixed on the two, gleaming with greed.
"Are you sure? Is she the second young miss of the Xiao family that the Lingxiao Sect is looking for?"
"Can't be one hundred percent certain, but it's close enough."
"How many people in Yunshui City own a storage ring? Even the Lingxiao Sect's Stewards don't have one. Even if she isn't the one, just that storage ring alone makes it worth it!"
"If we capture them, that's a hundred gold taels!"
"Hehe, a hundred gold taels — enough to buy another one or two immortal arts!"
"These two have such low cultivation, and they still dare to travel with a deadweight in tow. This suits me perfectly!"
The four figures whispered among themselves, their gazes burning with eagerness, itching to make their move.
However, just as the group was about to strike, a white-robed figure suddenly appeared before them.
"Gentlemen, please stop right there." Su Bai looked at them with a calm smile.
The appearance of Su Bai startled them, but they quickly recognized that this young man had appeared earlier. They hadn't paid him much attention — he was probably just a disciple of some sect.
Given his age, his cultivation couldn't be anything impressive!
"Kid, you're not our target. Get lost!"
"We're advising you to step aside nicely!"
"Otherwise, you might not make it out of this forest alive!"
The group threatened him with bluster that masked their inner cowardice.
Four people — two at the Third Level of the Qi Refining Stage, two at the second level of the Qi Refining Stage. Their auras were unstable and hollow, a clear sign that the immortal arts they cultivated were mediocre at best.
"If you won't get lost, then leave your life behind!" One of them barked coldly, drew a long blade, and charged straight at Su Bai.
Su Bai stood his ground and threw a single punch.
The force of the fist tore through the air, condensing into a fierce fist imprint that smashed the long blade in the man's hand to pieces.
The momentum carried on undiminished, slamming hard into the man's chest.
Thud. The man spat blood and was sent flying.
He struggled for a long while but could not get back up, his breath faint and feeble.
The remaining figures exchanged glances, a vicious light flashing in their eyes.
"Attack together!"
"Fireball Art!"
"Frost Arrow Formula!"
"Eight Palms Strike!"
They unleashed their combat techniques all at once. Various flashy skills gleamed brilliantly under the sunlight.
Not particularly threatening, but certainly a spectacle.
"It seems the sect needs to be upgraded soon. The Combat Arts Pavilion should have some powerful combat techniques that can boost the disciples' strength."
The stronger his disciples, the stronger he would become!
His own power was not merely the sum of all his disciples' strength multiplied tenfold — he also inherited all of their techniques, likewise amplified tenfold.
Su Bai's figure blurred into an afterimage. Even without any combat techniques of his own, the sheer crushing weight of his cultivation realm was more than enough. With barely a move each, he dispatched the group in the blink of an eye.
Once it was done, Su Bai dusted off his hands and headed back toward Yunshui City.
* * *
At dusk, not far from the entrance of the Hundred Sects Assembly, two figures stood together.
One of them was none other than Xiao Yan, whom Su Bai had encountered before!
Beside Xiao Yan stood a young girl.
"Xixi, why did you come here?" Xiao Yan looked at the girl who had followed him and smiled wryly.
"Xiao Yan brother, do you even know anything about this Heavenly Dao Sect before deciding to join it?" The girl called Xixi frowned.
"I... I don't know. But even if there's just a sliver of hope, I don't want to give it up. I want to get stronger — strong enough to defeat Liu Yanran!"
Xiao Yan gritted his teeth, clenching his fists, hatred and fierce determination blazing in his eyes.
Such humiliation — he would carry it for the rest of his life!
Xixi furrowed her brow slightly. Seeing the resolve etched on Xiao Yan's face, she let out a soft sigh.
"Alright. If Xiao Yan brother is set on going, then Xixi will support you. But to make sure Xiao Yan brother doesn't run into danger, Xixi is coming along too," Xixi said earnestly.
"Xixi..." Xiao Yan's eyes filled with a tangle of complex emotions, his heart a swirl of mixed feelings.
"Don't worry, Xiao Yan brother. Xixi won't let any bad people hurt you!" Xixi declared solemnly.