Attaining Immortality, Starting From Slaying Demons

[The first year, you opened the Six Pillars Nanyang Ascension Method, only to see that the content in the front was all about the explanation of the Dao Palace, not as complicated and obscure as you had expected, and your heart filled with joy, reading it with rapt attention.]

In an instant, a vast amount of information flooded into Shen Yi's mind.

He closed his eyes to digest it all, and soon he had a more complete understanding of the so-called Dao Palace.

The Ascension Method was akin to building a road to immortality.

The Dao Pillars within must be visualized as distinct stabilizing entities based on the type of Dao Palace, but despite different approaches, they were broadly categorized into four grades.

The first grade was the best, and the fourth was the least.

Those with excellent talent and comprehension naturally aimed for high-grade Dao Pillars, but correspondingly, the higher the grade, the longer the visualization time required.

Even with successful visualization, the precious materials needed had to be of corresponding quality.

And all this, for ordinary cultivators, was to increase the probability of a successful breakthrough, but for the true geniuses, breakthroughs were inevitable; they yearned more for the gifts from heaven and earth.

Above the ordinary Dao Palace, adding a wisp of hazy spiritual energy that appeared as a white mist would qualify it as a Ling Palace.

If it received the breath of a Qingluan, it could even be deemed an Immortal Palace, without fear of overreaching, as this acknowledgment came from heaven and earth itself.

Above both, there was the Hongmeng Purple Qi arriving from the east, revered as the Heavenly Palace.

With these gifts from heaven and earth, one's Dao practice and cultivation would receive tremendous aid; there were rumors of destiny's protection, direct communication with heaven and earth, and even attracting the attention of the Celestial Court.

To obtain better gifts...

The first Ascension is the simplest one, but as one's realm breakthroughs progress, the gifts from heaven and earth become increasingly stingy.

Thus, within the Nanyang Sect, it was usually sufficient to observe a Returned Void Cultivator's first Ascension to deduce their potential.

Those with a three-tier Ling Palace could be taken as direct disciples.

[The thirty-seventh year, within the Six Pillars Nanyang Ascension Method, you acquired a minor technique that disciples could use to measure the grade of their Dao Pillars.]

[Measuring Ruler: Perfect]

Just as Shen Yi was pondering how to determine if the Town Stone was indeed a Dao Pillar, he suddenly saw a prompt leap up.

He felt a slight elation in his heart.

As expected of a prestigious sect - the supplementary tools were complete.

Continuing to infuse the lifespan of demons, Shen Yi moved his mind, channeling a trace of the world's energy into his brow, forming a perfectly straight jade ruler.

Inside his Sea of Consciousness, the Dao Palace that had solidified from the Returned Void stood tall.

In it were placed exactly five statues of Town Stones.

Shen Yi brought the jade ruler close to them one by one, first to the fourth cavern's Golden-Winged Nine-Patterned Tiger.

As the ruler approached, it remained still for a moment before a golden light surged, filling a quarter of the entire ruler.

"..."

Shen Yi felt mixed emotions.

He was pleased that his guess was correct; if the ruler could measure it, it meant that the Town Stone had a high probability of replacing the Dao Pillar.

But he was concerned that the grade was too low.

A Great Demon, ranking among the top ten in the entire Nanyang Sect, turned out to be only fourth grade.

Unwilling to give up, he moved the ruler toward the other Town Stones.

Bai Hong, fourth grade.

Shen Feng... fourth grade.

Not until the Red-Eyed Mysterious Phoenix did the golden light on the ruler finally rise slightly, barely covering a little over thirty-percent.

Even Shen Yi hadn't noticed that he had become somewhat anxious until he saw a third-grade; he couldn't help but exhale a breath, "Phew."

He then directed his Divine Soul to the old dog.

Slowly, he brought the jade ruler closer.

As a fourth-tier Returned Void Great Demon, it represented Shen Yi's greatest hope.

The golden light emerged once again.

"Tsk!"

Shen Yi reluctantly withdrew his gaze, only to see that the ruler barely exceeded the fourth-grade line, still nearly half away from the third grade.

It seemed that a demon's cultivation was related to the Town Stone; otherwise, the old dog could not possibly surpass the other few demons. However, from the Mysterious Phoenix's case, lineage seemed to weigh heavily as well.

"Take it slow, at least I can directly use the Six Pillars Method, which puts me well ahead of others," Shen Yi reassured himself.

If quality was insufficient, quantity would compensate.

The Deputy Sect Leader Liu called herself mediocre and could only practice the Four Pillars Method, likely unable to visualize any high-grade Dao Pillars; yet, she managed to breakthrough to the third layer of Returned Void.

Shen Yi adjusted his mindset.

For now, all he needed was one more Town Stone, and he could attempt to break through to the second layer of Returned Void.

As time passed...

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[In the three hundred and twentieth year, you have successfully mastered this Cultivation Technique]

[Return to Void (Rare). Six Pillars Nanyang Ascension Method: Perfection]

This was probably the easiest Cultivation Technique for Shen Yi to practice. Although it was sufficient to master it, reaching Perfection could also reduce the chances of mistakes during a breakthrough.

"I'll ask Steward Liu again tomorrow," Shen Yi thought.

With nothing else to do, Shen Yi simply began to search through the Law Storage Pavilion to see if he could find some useful means.

This casual look was significant; he found three floors related to Return to Void.

Over eighty percent of the Cultivation Techniques there were related to Dao Palace, similar to Daoist magic, yet each was distinct.

Shen Yi suddenly realized why the Jade Slip from the Immeasurable Dao Imperial Palace contained a warning... No one practiced that Dao Palace, so naturally, no predecessors would create Cultivation Techniques for it.

Then looking at the Thunder Sword Palace, even the variations of the Shenxiao True Thunder Sword Technique alone amounted to dozens of different applications, each application a wholly new Cultivation Technique.

Considering the empty bookshelves, it seemed likely that Nie Jun had taken some parts away.

"..."

Shen Yi was not annoyed, after all, without the Immeasurable Dao Imperial Palace, he should have died long ago in the spiritual plant garden.

He was just a bit envious.

However, it didn't matter; even without Cultivation Techniques, the Daoist magic that he comprehended from his demon bloodline was not much inferior to others.

"Let's look for something else."

Shen Yi settled back down, summoning Old Dog and Xuan Ming. Since there was a Teleportation Technique like Dragon Leap, there must be other similar things, but he needed to search slowly for them.

For a cultivator, a day passed in the blink of an eye.

Soon, the Dao Plate in Shen Yi's finger ring trembled lightly.

Liu Qianyun arrived half an hour early to wait outside the Nanyang Sect, showing sufficient courtesy.

Shen Yi didn't let others wait for long. He stepped out of the Law Storage Pavilion, used the Dragon Leap to move to the main hall, and then saw Li Qingfeng speaking to a piece of wood.

Li Qingfeng's eyes were dull, his voice hoarse.

Shen Yi raised an eyebrow, looked at the wood in front of him, then at Li Xuanqing in the hall, "Have you mistaken your audience?"

"What's the difference..." Li Qingfeng swallowed, his throat raspy, as he got up bewildered, "Anyway, neither will move, and neither will respond."

"..."

Shen Yi fell silent for a moment, realizing that this Direct Disciple was actually being quite polite to him.

He picked up Li Qingfeng, activated the Sect Protection Array, and emerged outside the Sect.

"Sect Master Shen."

Liu Qianyun courteously welcomed the two aboard the treasure ship, not setting off immediately.

After a moment of hesitation, she then said, "Before we go, there's something I'd like to discuss with you."

"Steward, please speak freely," Shen Yi replied, standing on the treasure ship, casting a side glance at her.

"Then I'll be straightforward," Liu Qianyun smiled, tactfully saying, "As you know, the Nanyang Sect encountered troubles in the past. Although many years have passed, some troubles are better avoided if possible."

With that, she paused and looked at Shen Yi.

"..."

When facing these matters, Shen Yi was clear in his mind, "No matter, Steward, please arrange as you see fit."

As he spoke, he removed the Nanyang white robe and changed into his usual ink robe.

Having attained the Heavenly Phoenix Immortal Body, he no longer needed to always rely on a vestment robe for protection; it wouldn't be too late to change in case of real danger.

What the other party wanted to express was nothing more than the fact that the Nanyang Sect had made enemies and attracted trouble. They were concerned about the revival of the Sect becoming known, leading to unnecessary contention.

Yet Shen Yi was still somewhat surprised.

From the implication, it sounded like even after a hundred thousand years, those supposed enemies were still in Hongze and hadn't let go of the past?

Probably besides this, his own strength was also a factor.

"It's good that Sect Master Shen is understanding," Liu Qianyun was growing increasingly satisfied with the young man.

Not only was he extremely talented, with a profound grasp of formations, but he also knew when to advance or retreat. Except for his somewhat limited experience, he had practically no faults. If he had been a disciple of Pure Moon Sect, he would surely have a promising future.

The matter she had mentioned earlier was not a false concern.

After all, Hongze was under the control of the Aquatic Race. Any leak could easily reach the ears of that individual.

However, even Li Xuanqing, the predecessor, was still alive today; it was unlikely that the other party would still consider the Nanyang Sect important.

The main reason...

Liu Qianyun simply couldn't proclaim to the outside world that Shen Yi was the Sect Master of Nanyang Sect.

Every Sect Master of the Nan Hong Seven Sons was an Earth Immortal at the Union Dao Realm.

Suddenly having a Sect Master who was only at the first layer of Return to Void would not only fail to make others revere Shen Yi, but it would also make the Nan Hong Seven Sons a laughing stock behind their backs.

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