"Earlier, I heard that the dream of immortal cultivation is like a server.
"Some people play single-player games, enjoying a server by themselves.
"Some play multiplayer games, sharing a server with others.
"So, the two of us are playing multiplayer."
In the dream, Zhang Shan and Lu Yang were working together. Under the grey sky, by the river valley, they scavenged for trash amidst the ruins of palace complexes.
Zhang Shan was in a daze, his back wound still aching. He promised Bai Mo not to speak about what happened yesterday.
Lu Yang, who also studied at No. 47 Middle School, was Zhang Shan and Bai Mo's classmate. In this dream, he coincidentally became Zhang Shan's fellow disciple.
"Come on, help me lift this stone."
The two grimaced and overturned a large stone.
Boom!
The stone rolled to the side, revealing a broken stone slab beneath it.
Upon close inspection, the slab bore a dozen scribbled symbols they couldn't understand.
"Look, there are words on this slab! Haha, we can complete our task today."
Scavenging trash was the mission assigned by the master. He specifically wanted those with writing.
The words weren't Chinese characters, nor oracle bone or seal script. Instead, they were another type of hieroglyphics, quite ancient.
Zhang Shan was pulled at his wound again, his face pale, wiping sweat from his forehead.
The two decided to sit down and rest for a moment.
"What do you think the master is up to?
"Why does he insist on us excavating this annotated trash?"
Lu Yang looked around, seeing no one, then leaned forward and whispered.
"Haven't you noticed? He's lost his memory!
"I guess he wants to read the words on these slabs to recover his memory!"
Zhang Shan was slightly taken aback, half-believing.
"Isn't he an ancient immortal? Can they also lose their memory?"
Lu Yang replied.
"It's precisely because they're ancient immortals that they lose memory!
"Look around, all these ruins, barely any immortals left. What does that suggest? That the immortal realm once faced a catastrophic disaster! Our master, an ancient immortal, was asleep for who knows how long and only woke up years ago, accepting disciples in dreams. If he really slept for thousands or tens of thousands of years, isn't amnesia somewhat normal?"
Zhang Shan smacked his lips, feeling this explanation quite logical!
Lu Yang continued.
"Haven't you noticed? Sometimes he resembles a robot, repetitively saying things, with stiff movements.
"I suspect he hasn't fully awakened yet. He needs us to excavate more annotated slabs and copper plates, uncover more ancient knowledge, for his complete awakening!"
Zhang Shan looked at Lu Yang, seeing the latter's fair, delicate complexion and triangular eyes glowing with wisdom, evidently a talent.
After chatting for a while, they carried the excavated slab back to their master.
Through ruins, to a riverside thatched hut, they saw hundreds of slabs laid along the river. Other disciples were also bringing slabs there.
The master examined these slabs very slowly, often staring blankly, taking days to finish one slab. With all these slabs, he had plenty to look at!
...
Inside the main hall, a newly bought yoga mat was laid out. Bai Mo sat cross-legged on it, examining the slabs delivered by several fox disciples, carefully reading the inscriptions.
"Hmm... this slab belongs to Sequence Eight, not a pill formula, it documents a ceremony similar to tea culture."
Every path, every sequence, has its corresponding script! These scripts are special symbols, illegible to those outside the path or below the sequence. They are profound, with even a few characters carrying terrifying amounts of information, requiring extensive study even when understood.
"Don't know what its purpose is. Store it in Warehouse One."
The five fox disciples nodded promptly, lifted the slab, and moved it to Warehouse One with effort.
Pill formulas, path knowledge, or any slab or copper plate related to Ancient Immortal Kingdom culture were stored in Warehouse One for preservation.
Bai Mo touched the newly bought yoga mat under him. It was quite good! Only cost a dozen yuan on Taobao for a large sheet, very cheap. On the ground, it wasn't cold and prevented moisture. Much better than a cushion. Consider buying more for the fox disciples later!
Before long, the five fox disciples delivered a copper plate.
The plate was pot lid-sized, thickly rusted, already polished by the fox disciples, revealing densely packed tiny characters.
"Be careful while polishing; see this area, the inscription is scratched off."
Bai Mo pointed at a corner of the copper plate, addressing the disciples.
The five fox disciples gathered around, their heads squeezed together, eyes wide, nodding simultaneously.
"But the scratch is small, and it can still be read with the context."
This was a text from Sequence Eight. Bai Mo scrutinized closely, gestures accompanying his thoughts, pondering deeply. After half an hour, he preliminarily understood it to be a pill formula enhancing animal olfaction!
"That's quite useful.
"The required herbs are also in the warehouse, could be arranged for the disciples."
Bai Mo transcribed the text beside him using pen and paper.
The pill formula was highly intricate, necessitating more research and contemplation for full comprehension and to begin crafting.
So far, Bai Mo has learned many pill formulas, too many to count himself... Though most are largely useless, it was "a skill to fall back on," Bai Mo diligently studied each one. Every pill formula excavated from ruins was mastered without exception. Given Alchemy Dao, like any other knowledge, relies on quantity to yield qualitative change.
The scavenged Alchemy Dao from the ruins lacked systemization, hence the importance of learning more.
Sometimes, Bai Mo wondered.
"With ten thousand fox disciples scavenging for me, the ancient knowledge discovered was sufficiently vast for my learning, able to sustain me.
"Other immortal-related personnel, without disciples, is their ancient knowledge discovery sufficient?"
Regarding this issue, just moments ago, Bai Mo suddenly realized.
"It should be sufficient!
"Though they excavate slowly, their learning pace is also slow.
"They excavate slowly, learn slowly.
"I excavate quickly, learn quickly.
"Everyone's excavation and learning speed can complement each other."
...
In the evening, as it grew dark, the school canteen illuminated brightly.
People came and went, lively with chatter.
Zhang Shan, Lu Yang, and a group of classmates gathered, eating and bragging.
"The master says both our skills are adequate, we're ready to consider advancing to Sequence Nine!"
"That's awesome, brother Shan! After Sequence Nine, can you join the Immortal Technique Committee as a member? Get a position?
"You're gonna get a position before even graduating high school?"
Zhang Shan was proudly preparing to boast when he suddenly noticed Bai Mo's silhouette approaching with a tray, compelling him to stifle his words, awkwardly grinning before resuming bragging as Bai Mo walked away.