Cultivation: Being Immortal

Qing State, Green Emperor’s Tomb

Lin Jiang took the lead and rushed into the Seven-colored Rainbow Gate, instantly feeling like he entered a new space. It seemed to be a grand hall, occupying a vast area of at least tens of thousands of square feet. The pillars in front of him were very unique, resembling the bones of some kind of mythical creature.

"My spiritual power."

"I’ve lost my spiritual power."

"My dantian has solidified."

However, the people who came in afterwards exclaimed in surprise. Lin Jiang was shocked too, as he had also lost his spiritual power. Moreover, his dantian felt sealed off like it was covered in cement, unable to mobilize even a trace of spiritual power.

"What’s going on?"

"How could this happen?"

Everyone was scared. Cultivators without spiritual power are no different from ordinary people. The enemy is still outside.

Someone started to bleed, and some even fainted.

"They used secret techniques to suppress their injuries. We can’t mobilize our spiritual power here. Their injuries are erupting. Does anyone have any elixirs?"

A few of the people who fainted were examined. Soon, some people realized that after they came in, we lost our cultivation. Most of the injuries were suppressed, but now they were all erupting.

"I have elixirs."

Someone’s elixirs were not in their storage bag, but on their person.

"Quick, take it! The potency of the elixir is quickly fading."

"Too late, the elixir is broken."

"What should we do?"

However, he was still too slow. In the blink of an eye, the spiritual power in the pill disappeared and the pill shattered.

"Don’t panic! Take the unconscious people inside, attend to the external injuries, and those with weapons should defend."

Lin Jiang quickly calmed down and shouted to the crowd. People from the four major families, including the three sects of Yun State, also realized that the people who fainted were being carried to the depths of the hall.

Lin Jiang looked around, feeling bitter in his heart. After a fierce battle, almost everyone was injured, varying only in severity.

"Ah!"

The representatives of the four families entered, and as soon as Yu family’s Ancestor came in, he immediately let out a scream. His injuries had erupted.

"My spiritual power!"

The Tao Achieving members were not exempt either. They also lost their cultivation. Lin Batian directly collapsed on the ground, and Lin Ying quickly rushed forward to support him.

"Dad, are you okay?"

"I’m fine, I just can’t exert any strength."

Lin Batian shook his head, not fine at all. His secret technique, which relied on his remaining blood, became stronger the more injured he was. But when he was outside, it backfired and drained his cultivation, nearly costing him his life.

"Lin Ying, take him inside."

Lin Jiang stepped forward to check on Lin Batian. He had many external injuries, but they were just flesh wounds. As long as they stopped the bleeding, he should be fine overall.

"No need, I’ll stay here."

Lin Batian waved his hand and then summoned three families’ Tao Achieving cancestors. Among them, Ancestor Yu suffered the most. After entering, he felt as if he had lost his life.

"Ancestor, how could this happen?"

Someone asked Tao Achieving Ancestor, who was currently filled with fear and shock. A cultivator’s strength and confidence come from their cultivation, so it’s only natural to panic when their cultivation is gone.

The four people looked at each other and shook their heads. Finally, the Lu Family Ancestor said. I have heard from our ancestors that when the Green Emperor Tomb was built, our Lu family had a Grand Master who was skilled in traps. He could build the most dangerous tomb in the world and ensure that no tomb raiders would return.

However, the Green Emperor refused. The Green Emperor believed that no formation or trap could match the cleverness and wisdom of cultivators. They would eventually be deciphered. So, the best way to protect the Green Emperor Tomb was to continuously strengthen the four major families. As long as we remain strong, no one can steal the treasures inside."

"I have also heard of this. My Chen family ancestor only mentioned that if our family faces difficulties, we can seek refuge in the Green Emperor Tomb. It can withstand a major catastrophe for the family. But they didn’t provide specific details."

"It’s almost the same."

The three Tao Achieving families nodded. The Green Emperor Tomb doesn’t have elaborate traps because even the most powerful traps can be deciphered. The true protection for the Green Emperor Tomb lies in the strength of the four major families.

"It’s better this way now. We have all lost our cultivation. If Yang Luo and the others enter, they will also be ordinary people. We don’t need to fear them anymore."

Lin Batian said. Before, we would undoubtedly lose if we fought against them. But now, it’s different. We are all ordinary people, starting from the same line.

"The question now is, will Yang Luo come in?"

The Lu Family Ancestor said. The Seven-colored Rainbow Gate looks too much like a trap. Yang Luo shouldn’t be so foolish to fall for it.

"From what I know about Yang Luo, she will…"

"What do you mean?"

"Yang Luo is a very proud person. She is so confident that she looks down on everyone, even the Green Emperor. Our previous acting was actually very bad, and Yang Luo saw through it long ago. But she still took matters into her own hands because she believed she had the ability to overcome our trap.

In addition, we have what Yang Luo needs here, whether it’s the Green Emperor Tomb or my Sixth Brother. Yang Luo is determined to obtain them.

"Your Sixth Brother?"

Lu Family Ancestor unconsciously looked at Lin Jiang. Lin Jiang, a beginner in Soul Changing, was able to turn the tide of battle and everyone saw the methods he used.

"It’s just some unexpected encounters."

Lin Batian said calmly, knowing that the secret of longevity could not be kept hidden anymore. So many people on the battlefield witnessed it. They couldn’t possibly kill all their own people.

Lin Batian glanced at the hall. The crowd divided into two groups – one from Qing State and the other from Yun State. Even though they are cooperating now, the hatred between them hasn’t disappeared. It’s impossible to expect them to cooperate seamlessly.

"Get ready for battle."

Lin Batian sighed, realizing that he couldn’t end it without defeating one side.

·······

"Master, how are you?"

Cao Ying helped Feng Zhang to a corner. Feng Zhang was in a very bad condition, with several wounds on his body. If he were an ordinary person, he would have died already. It was only because cultivators had trained bodies that he managed to hold on.

"I’m fine for now, Cao Ying. You need to be careful from now on. The fate of Zhonghang Sect rests on you."

"Master, it’s not like that. I’m still young. Without you supporting me, I won’t be able to accomplish anything."

"You’re not young anymore. It’s time to take responsibility."

Feng Zhang forced a smile, but upon seeing the Zhonghang Sect’s team, he couldn’t find any joy. Zhonghang Sect used to be so powerful, with five or six Soul Changing and dozens of Nascent Soul cultivators. But now, there was only one Soul Changing cultivator left and three Nascent Soul cultivators.

"Ancestor…"

Cao Ying felt like crying, Feng Zhang had always been good to her. Over the past thousand years, it was Feng Zhang who had been supporting the overall situation. She hadn’t done anything. Now, looking at Feng Zhang’s aging body, Cao Ying felt as if she were seeing her master’s death again.

"Don’t be sad, cultivators are also human. As long as they don’t become immortals, they have to experience birth, old age, sickness, and death. Listen to me, after the war…"

Feng Zhang whispered in Cao Ying’s ear. He was full of despair for the upcoming battle. He felt like he was going to die here, so he had to make arrangements for after his death.

Lin Jiang silently walked into the camp of the Five Elements Sect. Among the forces in the Yun State, the Five Elements Sect had the richest background, but now there were less than ten people left.

"How should I call you, Lin Family’s Sixth Brother Lin Jiang, or me, the disciple of the Five Elements Sect, Xiao Yi?"

Shi Yuntang looked at Lin Jiang and said.

"Either is fine. A name is just a codename."

"It’s different. A name represents identity. It shows whether you are a member of the Lin Family or a disciple of the Five Elements Sect."

"Grandmaster, do I have to make a choice?"

"Yes, look around you. These are all your fellow disciples. There are only a few of you left. Your master, Zhang Wanjing, is an extraordinary person. As his disciple, I hope you can carry on his legacy."

"I am different from my master."

Lin Jiang said, he cannot be like Zhang Wanjing. Zhang Wanjing is willing to sacrifice everything for the sect, but Lin Jiang can’t do it. He doesn’t have that selflessness.

"Do you really want to see all your master’s efforts go to waste? Do you remember your fellow disciple, Zhang Shuhua? He was the first golden core disciple to die in battle. He…"

"Grandmaster, it’s actually quite irrelevant to talk about this. When I left back then, it already represented my choice."

Lin Jiang interrupted him. Shi Yuntang was trying to morally blackmail him, but Lin Jiang wasn’t buying it. If he gave in, he would be bound by the sect for his whole life.

"Alright, I won’t say much more. You have always been a disciple of our Five Elements Sect. I hope you can take care of the sect in the future, can you?"

"Of course, I will do it to the best of my abilities, without hesitation."

Lin Jiang agreed. Within his abilities, he didn’t mind taking care of the Five Elements Sect. After all, he had spent many years there and done many meaningful things.

"Thank you all very much. Remember, in the future, if our senior brother Xiao Yi needs help, the Five Elements Sect will always be there for him, without hesitation."

"Yes, Grandpa."

Everyone in the Five Elements Sect agreed, Lin Jiang looked at them, they were all unfamiliar faces, all of his old acquaintances had either died in battle or passed away peacefully.

Since Lin Jiang no longer had any familiar acquaintances, he also had no interest in talking to them, so he turned his gaze elsewhere.