Pillborn Immortal

The chamber was a testament to opulence and authority, its towering walls adorned with intricate carvings of mythical beasts and swirling clouds, all gilded in gold. The flickering light of enchanted lanterns cast a warm glow over the room, reflecting off the polished marble floor. At the far end, a massive golden door stood ajar, its surface etched with symbols of power and dominion.

An elder man, his back slightly stooped with age but his eyes sharp and piercing, stepped through the doorway. His robes, though simple in design, were woven with threads of silver and gold, marking his high status within the sect. He bowed deeply, his hands clasped in respect. "Greetings, Sect Leader," he intoned, his voice steady but carrying a weight of reverence.

The Sect Leader, seated on a throne carved from a single block of jade, turned his gaze toward the elder. His presence was commanding, his aura radiating an almost palpable pressure. His robes shimmered with the colors of the dawn, and his eyes, like twin pools of molten gold, bore into the elder. With a slight nod, he acknowledged the greeting and uttered a single word, his voice deep and resonant. "Speak."

The elder straightened, though his head remained slightly bowed. "We have made significant progress in the exploration of the Beast Mountain Range," he reported, his tone tinged with pride.

The Beast Mountain Range was the third danger zone encircling the Azura Sky Sect, a place where the air itself seemed to pulse with energy. It was a land of untamed wilderness, where ancient beasts roamed freely. It was also the place where the inheritance Zhuan Ming sought was located.

The Sect Leader's lips curved into a faint smile, his expression one of satisfaction. "Good work," he replied, his voice carrying a rare note of approval. The elder's shoulders relaxed slightly.

Meanwhile, in a secluded cave bathed in a soft, ethereal blue light, Zhuan Ming stood before a spirit spring. The air was thick with spiritual energy. He stripped off his clothes, revealing a muscular frame. Stretching briefly, he stepped closer to the spring and peered into its clear, reflective surface.

"It will soon be time for them to discover the hidden ruins of the Azura Mist Sect," he muttered to himself, his voice low and contemplative. "I must advance to rank 3 quickly, but I can't force the process, or my body will corrode. For now, I'll focus on purifying it with pure spiritual energy to strengthen my nirvana roots and improve their capacity to absorb blood path energy."

Every cultivator had to balance the progress of their cultivation with the strength of their body and mind. Failure to do so risked corruption by the nirvana tree, transforming them into tree-like monsters driven by instinct. For Zhuan Ming, the mind was not a concern—his past life as a rank 6 cultivator had hardened his will. However, his current body was still lacking. To reduce the strain, he was using pure spiritual energy to fortify his nirvana roots, preparing them to handle the influx of blood path energy required to reach rank 3.

"Hey, kid," Qi Pill Ancestor's voice echoed in his mind, breaking his concentration. "If you want to reduce the corrosion caused by absorbing blood path materials, I can teach you a pill path technique."

Zhuan Ming raised an eyebrow, his expression skeptical. "Oh? And here I thought you didn't approve of my methods."

"I just want what's best for you," Qi Pill Ancestor replied, his tone firm. "If you acquire a furnace, you can significantly reduce the strain on your nirvana roots when forming blood marks and processing blood path energy. By refining the materials into pills, you'll make the process far more efficient."

Zhuan Ming leaned back in the spirit spring, the cool energy of the water soothing his muscles and bones. The blue light of the cave danced across his chiseled features, casting faint shadows that made him look almost otherworldly. He closed his eyes, letting the spiritual energy flow through him, strengthening his nirvana roots and preparing his body for the next step in his cultivation.

"A furnace, huh?" he mused aloud, his voice echoing softly in the cavern. "I suppose it wouldn't hurt to have one. But finding a decent furnace in this backwater region won't be easy. Most of the ones here are crude and barely functional."

Qi Pill Ancestor's voice carried a mix of amusement and exasperation. "You don't need a top-tier furnace right now, boy. Even a basic one will do. The key is in the technique, not the tool. Once you master the pill path method, you can refine the blood path materials into a form that's easier for your body to absorb. It's far more efficient than your current brute-force approach."

Zhuan Ming opened his eyes, his gaze sharpening as he considered the old man's words. "Efficient, yes, but also time-consuming. Crafting pills isn't exactly a quick process, especially for someone like me who's still getting familiar with the pill path."

"True," Qi Pill Ancestor conceded, "but think of it as an investment. The time you spend now will save you countless hours—and potential damage—later. Besides, once you've mastered the technique, you can produce pills in bulk. That will give you a significant advantage, especially when you're out in the wilds with limited resources."

Zhuan Ming smirked, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "And here I thought you were just trying to steer me away from the blood path. You're not secretly hoping I'll abandon it altogether, are you?"

The old man snorted. "Don't flatter yourself, boy. I've had countless people beg me to teach them, and I turned them all down. It'll be a long time before I start teaching you the pill path in earnest. But that doesn't mean I can't help you minimize the risks."

Zhuan Ming chuckled, the sound low and rich. "Fair enough."

"Now, focus," Qi Pill Ancestor said dryly. "I'll guide you through the basics of the pill path technique. Once you've absorbed enough spiritual energy from this spring, we'll start practicing."

Zhuan Ming nodded, his expression turning serious. He closed his eyes again, letting the cool energy of the spirit spring wash over him. As he focused on his breathing, he could feel the nirvana roots within him stirring, growing stronger with each passing moment. The process was slow, but he could already sense the difference—the faint strain in his body was easing, and his capacity to absorb blood path energy was increasing.

"Good," Qi Pill Ancestor said, his voice calm and steady. "Now, visualize the energy flowing through your meridians. Imagine it as a river, pure and untainted. Guide it to your dantian, where it will nourish your nirvana roots."

Zhuan Ming did as instructed, guiding the energy to his dantian. He felt a faint warmth spreading through him, a sign that his nirvana roots were growing stronger.

"Excellent," Qi Pill Ancestor said, a note of approval in his voice. "Now, let's move on to the pill path technique. Pay close attention."

As Qi Pill Ancestor began explaining the intricacies of the pill path technique, Zhuan Ming listened intently. Though he had some knowledge of the pill path, it was like a drop in the ocean compared to the vast expertise of the Qi Pill Ancestor.

The cave fell silent, save for the soft hum of spiritual energy and the occasional ripple of water as Zhuan Ming adjusted his position. The blue light of the spirit spring cast long shadows on the walls, creating an almost surreal atmosphere.