As Yi Tianxing sat down, he observed the cultivators around him.
There weren't too many—but certainly not few either. They came in all forms: Daoists, monks, and others. Many radiated profound and unfathomable auras, so deep they invoked involuntary awe.
More cultivators continued to arrive over time.
One woman in particular sat down beside Yi Tianxing, drawing his attention.
She radiated an innate aura of nobility, a presence that inspired reverence. It was as if she was born to rule over all living beings. At the same time, she carried a unique quality that set her apart.
Her appearance was stunningly elegant, commanding attention and leaving a lasting impression.
As she sat, other cultivators subtly nodded to her—clearly, her status was extraordinary.
Ding ding ding!
Soft chimes rang out. The venue was now full; no more guests were arriving.
"Fellow Daoists, it is my honor that you have come to the Temple of Longevity," said the Dao Lord of Longevity, seated at the head."As the host of this gathering, I will begin per tradition—with a discussion of the Dao, followed by exchanges. Does this arrangement suit everyone?"
"Let the Dao Lord decide," replied the audience in unison.
Clearly, such gatherings had long-established protocols. No one had objections.
"Very well. I'll begin by offering a humble insight."
The Dao Lord wasted no time. He began his discourse:
"From the chaos of heaven and earth, from the primal void of the universe, all things are constructed by laws and born of spirit.The foundation of all: yin and yang, and the five elements. Yin and yang, the parents of all. The five elements, the root of the world…"
As he spoke, every word was infused with a resonant Dao-rhythm, like the music of heaven itself. This invisible Dao-rhythm drifted into the listeners' minds, allowing them to directly experience the workings of cosmic laws and the Dao Lord's personal understanding of the Dao.
One could even absorb these Dao-rhythms, transforming them into personal insights and spiritual nourishment, thereby strengthening one's foundation.
The process was deeply mysterious.
Yi Tianxing, too, sank into the lecture. As the Dao-rhythm intensified, his perception of the world became sharper. He began to perceive the Dao of the Dao Lord of Longevity with great clarity.
But after some time, a thought rose naturally in Yi Tianxing's mind:
"This... isn't Zhenyuan Zi's Dao."
He could tell—this wasn't the Earth Immortal Dao that Zhenyuan Zi, the Ancestor of Earth Immortals, was known for.
🟩 The Earth Immortal Path
Zhenyuan Zi's Dao was the path of the Earth Immortal. He was known as the founder of the Earth Immortal lineage, whose cultivation method involved the creation of an internal "blessed land" (福地), which formed the basis of his strength.
Unlike ordinary cultivators who refined treasures to create inner worlds, Earth Immortals merged their essence with the actual land.
Their process:
Use a sacred treasure as a medium to connect to the earth's energy meridians.
Infuse one's Dao into the earth, becoming linked to mountains, rivers, and ley lines.
Cultivate a Blessed Land within the Sea of Divine Power (神海) inside the body.
This inner Blessed Land is fed by an external Blessed Land—a geographical location in the real world linked through Dao.
Through this connection, an Earth Immortal could draw endless spiritual energy from nature itself.
Over time, the cultivator's spiritual brand fuses deeper into the earth's ley lines, giving them the ability to command the power of the land at will.
Standing atop their land, Earth Immortals possess nearly unlimited energy, becoming sovereigns within their domain.
Zhenyuan Zi, as the originator of this path, wielded a top-tier innate treasure—the Earth Book (地书). With it, he could claim vast regions into his Blessed Land, tapping into the power of entire realms.
This made him a near-equal to even saints, especially on solid ground. On land, even saints couldn't kill him. He could contest any opponent and potentially prevail.
The 36 Daoist Heavenly Caves and 72 Blessed Lands known in legend were all remnants of Earth Immortal Blessed Lands. When an Earth Immortal dies, their Blessed Land becomes a secret realm—a sacred ground for cultivation.
Thus, the Earth Immortal Dao was a path of great creation and one widely respected—especially by wandering cultivators. It offered:
A self-sustaining cultivation environment.
Access to rare spiritual herbs and materials.
Internal feedback for growth.
However, it also came with a downside: deep dependence on the material world, binding the cultivator to the earth. It was both a blessing and a shackle, depending on one's perspective.
Yet now, the Dao Lord was preaching not the Earth Immortal Path, but a new Dao— the Dao of Longevity.
This new path:
Took Wood as its foundation.
Combined Metal, Water, Fire, Earth into harmony.
Built a cyclical Five Element system—life from death, growth without end.
Emphasized evergreen vitality and unending spring.
This was Longevity.
It was still incomplete, but clearly well-developed. It would one day become a true Immortal Scripture. The Dao Lord's teachings were part of this grand Longevity Dao.
Yi Tianxing listened with admiration.
Though puzzled by Zhenyuan Zi's choice, he didn't resist. Under the influence of the Dao-rhythm, he drifted into a state of realization.
His Heavenly Emperor Dragon-Taming Scripture began to operate naturally—though in truth, it had never ceased, always absorbing heaven and earth's energies.
Yi Tianxing had long since stepped into the Yang God Realm.
At this level, he had:
Cultivated the Five Qi in the Chest
Achieved the Returning to the Origin (朝元)
Now, he was progressing into the Auspicious Cloud Realm (庆云)
The Yang God Realm was about:
Growing the Yang Spirit
Forming the Pure Yang Immortal Body
Condensing the Celebration Cloud
The Celebration Cloud represented one's Dao made manifest—it was a Dao Fruit, a visible symbol of one's ultimate path and power.
Each cultivator's Celebration Cloud was unique. Examples:
The Five Emperors Canopy Cloud
The Crown of Ice and Snow
These clouds were not only symbols but also potent defensive divine powers—often manifested spontaneously during Dao breakthroughs.
Yi Tianxing had deliberately suppressed this transformation, allowing his Dao to evolve naturally without force. He waited for the moment when it could no longer be held back and would emerge spontaneously and perfectly.
And now—that moment had come.
Stimulated by the Dao Lord's lecture, the suppressed power within him began to erupt.
Inside the Dragon-Taming Life Diagram, his Heavenly Emperor Dharma Body lit up with divine brilliance. Its eyes opened, and it stepped out of the diagram, walking atop it like walking on the land itself—merging with it.
All his acupoint nodes (命窍) shone, projecting starlight into his Divine Sea (神海), where they transformed into celestial bodies, illuminating the Dharma Body.
Above his head, the Innate One Qi burst upward, condensing into a cloud of primordial mist.
This cloud, formed from the Five Qi and cultivated through Returning to Origin, absorbed light from the life acupoints and condensed into profound runes, continuously expanding.
At first the size of a fist, it rapidly grew as it absorbed energy from his internal world.