novelraw Chapter 33 : Chapter 33
Chapter 33 : Chapter 33
Chapter 33: What is a Pure Immortal Body?
“What’s a pure immortal body?”
Gao Huan’s physique seemed extraordinary, catching the attention of both Shi Jiuzhai and Cangli, two figures of unfathomable cultivation. I couldn’t help but ask.
Zhao Zhizhuo explained to Cangli, “They haven’t formally trained in martial arts, just fumbling on their own. As for Brother Gao Huan, he recently had an extraordinary encounter, transforming into a pure immortal body.”
Cangli didn’t suspect.
Who’d ask such basic questions if they weren’t genuine?
He told me, “The world’s never fair— people are divided into tiers. Mortals, mutants, and pure immortal bodies are the three main types.”
“Mutants make up about a tenth of mortals. Some inherit traits from ancestors, others drink the blood of ancient immortal beasts, growing beast-like features— wings, claws, tails…”
“Not just appearance changes drastically— influenced by the beast blood, their bodies often grow massive.”
“So, in the same realm, mutants typically outmatch mortals by a wide margin.”
“Pure immortal bodies are rarer, about one in ten thousand mortals, maybe less. In Leizhou, among those aged fifteen to thirty, there aren’t even a hundred. Each is renowned, synonymous with heaven’s chosen.”
“Pure immortal bodies come from bloodline inheritance, consuming rare herbs, drinking ancient beast blood, or being nurtured by immortal soil… Many causes. Some, without doing anything, break through a realm and transform.”
“Pure immortal bodies have jade-like, glass-like, or silver-like skin. Women are fairy-like, men saintly— heaven’s darlings, flawless, with wondrous bones and top-tier cultivation talent.”
“Every pure immortal body is sought by sects for discipleship and by clans for marriage. Not just for their looks and talent, but their offspring have a chance to inherit the trait.”
“In the same realm…”
“Pure immortal bodies slaying mortals across realms is common, almost expected. Failing to do so makes them a laughingstock in the immortal forest.”
“The immortal forest is a circle for pure immortal body martial cultivators or spiritual mind masters.”
“To put it simply, among the world’s top experts, pure immortal bodies and mutants are only slightly fewer than mortals.”
“In other words, mutants’ cultivation talent is nearly ten times that of mortals. Pure immortal bodies… saying ten thousand times is exaggerated, but their path to the top is thousands, maybe ten thousand times easier.”
The battle at Immortal Burial Town cost the Cangli tribe dearly, losing promising cultivators.
But finding a pure immortal body here was an unexpected boon.
Cangli was thrilled!
If Gao Huan had high cultivation, he’d be suspicious, but with no trace of training, it was perfect.
Cangli said to me, “The Cangli tribe has one last slot. I want to bring him to the Jiuli Academy to train for the Mang Mountain Grand Festival in six months. But he must join the tribe as a formal member. Ask his opinion.”
I understood— emphasizing the last slot was for me.
I believed Cangli wasn’t deceiving, but I felt a pang of loss.
Was the gap between mortals and pure immortal bodies so vast?
In a moment, my disappointment faded, replaced by resolve to face all challenges. Cangli said mortals still outnumbered mutants and pure immortal bodies among top experts.
The path was harder.
But it existed.
…
We spoke in our “hometown dialect.”
“Joining the Cangli tribe? Absolutely, I’d love that,” Gao Huan said excitedly. “What about you? Join me at the Jiuli Academy? Can training make me as strong as you?”
I laughed, “My strength’s nothing. You’re a pure immortal body— you’ll reach Shi Jiuzhai’s level, or higher.”
Gao Huan’s heart blazed, unable to contain his excitement.
I said, “I can’t go yet. I need to return to the bronze ship, bring the team here. Once settled, I’ll bring Senior Brother to Jiuli City to see you.”
“Then I’ll go with you, get the team, then head to the academy,” he said.
I shook my head: “First, the young chief leaves at noon— they won’t wait.”
“Second, to hide the ship and our origins, you must go with them. Otherwise, they might send experts to protect you, tracking us.”
“Third, for our group to settle in a foreign land, it’s not easy. If you rise in the academy, won’t we stand taller in the tribe? We each have roles, working together.”
Gao Huan saw my logic. “Rising above” struck his core.
He shoved all his looted money pouches into my hands: “With the young chief, I won’t need these. Take them all. What’s that saying? No more beasts of burden or slaughtered sheep— we’ll meet at the peak!”
…
Leaving, I and Zhao Zhizhuo sat outside the carriage.
“Becoming superior takes decades of hard training. Pure immortal bodies are born superior,” Zhao Zhizhuo said, glancing at me. “Disappointed?”
“At first, but now I’m more driven!” I smiled.
Whether I meant it or not, he explained for Cangli: “Entering Jiuli Academy is strict. The nine tribes’ slots are set.”
“For the Mang Mountain Grand Festival on the ninth of the ninth month, those entering now are the tribes’ final picks for a last push.”
“In these six months, the academy offers masters’ guidance, open access to texts— secondary. The key is unlimited cultivation resources.”
“Everyone in the tribe covets it— one slot, one contender.”
“The battle at Immortal Burial Town killed a chosen one, freeing a slot.”
“Most importantly, a pure immortal body guarantees results at the festival, securing benefits for the tribe. Where else do you find such a deal?”
“You know so much about the academy?” I was surprised— his two-fountain cultivation didn’t seem high enough.
He gave a bitter smile, reminiscing proudly: “In my youth, I entered the academy, won great results at the festival, a tribe’s pride. But later… why dwell on sad things? Cough… cough…”
Covering his chest, he rasped, “How else could I speak to the young chief and Miss Ling?”
I realized my guess was right.
Zhao Zhizhuo’s setbacks made him despondent, ambitionless, timid, exaggerating hardships.
Carefully choosing words, I said, “Old Zhao, life’s tough, but keep moving forward, and you’ll overcome. Cultivation isn’t that hard— not as you think. Why not start over?”
He nodded, smiling, taking my words in.
Without strong will, restarting cultivation, how’d he open two fountains?
Seeing his pained expression, I knew my words were presumptuous, hard to retract. I changed topics: “Ever heard of Zen Sea Mist Watcher or Yutuonan?”
He pondered.
I added, “Likely ancient figures, not of this era.”
“You’re right about ancients!”
He said, “A thousand years ago, Zen Sea Mist Watcher was Lingxiao Palace’s lord, our realm’s top expert. Her disciple, Yuyaozi… better not mention her, a taboo. The decade of chaos stems from her.”
I was stunned by Zen Sea Mist Watcher’s stature and asked, “What about Yutuonan?”
He thought, then shook his head— never heard of him.
Odd!
From Yutuonan’s tone on the ship, he wasn’t weaker than Zen Sea Mist Watcher.
In Yao Pass City, I bought food, loaded it on the carriage, and parted with Zhao Zhizhuo by the Sui River.
“Don’t need me to help fetch your people?”
“With your old and new injuries, stay and recover. I’ll bring my companions and meet you, then head to the Cangli tribe.”
I’d asked Cangli for two favors: identity for our dozens of refugees and cultivation texts.
The first was simple for Cangli— he tasked Zhao Zhizhuo.
The second was handed to me at Date Plum Manor.