A Pawn's Passage

After meeting the two of them, the Heavenly Preceptor mainly asked about their coursework.

Among the Three Deputy Grand Masters, the Heavenly Preceptor was the most approachable, like an ordinary elder. The Imperial Preceptor and the Earthly Preceptor would never bother with asking their juniors about such trifles.

Zhang Yuelu and Qi Xuansu took turns answering. Qi Xuansu then took the chance to ask about the Ancient Wuist pseudo-ascension method.

When dealing with elders who could see through one’s thoughts, Qi Xuansu would not try to be clever by beating around the bush. Instead, he spoke frankly and went straight to the point. Given that these elders had good impressions of him, this approach often earned their favor.

After hearing him out, the Heavenly Preceptor showed little surprise and merely said, “It seems you have already grasped the secrets of the Longevity Stone.”

Only Zhang Yuelu was left utterly confused. She knew of the Longevity Stone but had no idea what a pseudo-ascension was. Still, she was no fool and immediately realized this must be related to Qi Xuansu’s visit to the Tianshui Core Tower. She had not pressed him at the time and only knew that he had gone to read the ancient records on Ancient Wuism. With the past two days filled with regular classes, she had completely forgotten about this matter.

Seeing Zhang Yuelu’s confusion, Qi Xuansu replied to the Heavenly Preceptor while also explaining to her, “I wouldn’t dare say I’ve fully grasped it. I merely consulted earlier texts concerning Ancient Wuism and learned that the Ancient Great Witches had a pseudo-ascension ritual. Rather than leaving the mortal world, they would ascend to the Lingshan Paradise.”

The Heavenly Preceptor said, “There is indeed such a ritual. It’s recorded in the notes left behind by the Ancestral Heavenly Preceptor.”

As he spoke, the Heavenly Preceptor reached out with one hand, as though passing through layers of space between the Wanxiang Daoist Palace and the Dazhen Mansion to retrieve a bamboo scroll out of thin air. Although papermaking already existed in the Ancestral Heavenly Preceptor’s era, bamboo slips were still the mainstream medium at the time. The replacement of one thing by another was always a gradual process and could not happen overnight.

The Heavenly Preceptor unrolled the bamboo slip and glanced over it quickly. “In fact, the pseudo-ascension you speak of isn’t unique to the Ancient Wuist Sect. The Daoist Order once had such a method, though Daoists who underwent pseudo-ascension went to the Kunlun Paradise. In ancient times, the Kunlun Paradise had another name—the Earthly Immortal Realm. At its height, Kunlun had four continents—Purvavideha, Aparagodaniya, Jambudvipa, and Uttarakuru. As the end of the era approaches, Kunlun Paradise has gradually descended. Today, it’s no longer at its peak and only has half a continent remaining.”

Zhang Yuelu was somewhat surprised. “Kunlun Paradise has declined so quickly? I once read records stating that there was still one continent left during the Holy Xuan Era.”

The Heavenly Preceptor replied, “In a few hundred years, even the remaining half of the continent will be gone.”

Qi Xuansu interjected, “Which continent is that? If we speak purely of size, the difference between Xizhou and Jiangzhou is enormous. Even among overseas lands, Fenglin cannot be compared to Poluo.”

Zhang Yuelu replied, “It’s about the size of the Central Plains.”

Qi Xuansu understood at once.

He had been to the Kunlun Paradise before, when he got into a fight with Wang Danqing. He had also learned a general outline of Kunlun Paradise from various Daoist texts.

The structure of Kunlun Paradise was extremely wondrous. At first, it seemed very small, but the deeper one went, the more expansive it became. Leaving aside the various side gates opened by the Daoist Order, if one entered Kunlun Paradise through the normal route, it would seem like a normal mountain. But upon reaching God Luwu’s dwelling, the view suddenly opened up into the Five Elements Cave, also known as the Daoist Order’s medicinal garden. Back then, the Six Enlightened Witches challenged the Kunlun gatekeeper—God Luwu—here and refined the second generation of the Longevity Stone.

This place alone was already comparable in size to several prefectures.

Beyond the Five Elements Cave was Kunlun Paradise. In the past, Zixiao Palace had been located within Kunlun Paradise. However, as Kunlun descended and merged with the mortal world, the Zixiao Palace was no longer inside Kunlun Paradise but appeared atop Kunlun Mountain itself.

This confirmed the Heavenly Preceptor’s claim that Kunlun Paradise was continuously shrinking.

Viewed as a whole, Kunlun Paradise resembled an inverted mountain. Its tip was connected to the Yuxu Peak of Kunlun Mountain in the mortal world. Thus, entry into Kunlun Paradise began at the mountaintop, followed by an upward journey that ultimately reached the vast “foothills.”

The Heavenly Preceptor explained, “In ancient times, before Kunlun Paradise was sealed, those who had attained immortality would often depart for Kunlun Paradise upon completing their hundred years in the mortal world. In the eyes of ordinary people, this was ascension and attainment of the Dao.

“At that time, many great cultivators with strong powers had not yet departed from the world, giving rise to a situation where humans and gods lived side by side. Kunlun Paradise was rich in spiritual energy, and numerous Earthly Immortals cultivated there in seclusion in hopes of surviving a Heavenly Tribulation. Although Kunlun Paradise was not the Thirty-Three Heavens, it wasn’t far off. Thus, those capable of going to Kunlun Paradise were no different from Immortals. This was why the Daoist Order revered Earthly Immortals above all.

“However, as the incarnations of the Primordial Daoist Ancestor and the Heavenly Emperor ascended and departed, followed by the Battle of Muye, many Earthly Immortals were killed or injured. Most of the survivors chose to ascend and leave the mortal world, so the number of Earthly Immortals within Kunlun Paradise dwindled. When the Zixiao Palace was sealed, Kunlun Paradise became a land without a master. Daoists then fought fiercely over its ownership, ultimately prompting Daoist Master Nanhua to intervene and seal Kunlun Paradise. God Luwu was left behind to guard it, forbidding anyone from entering at will. Only then did Kunlun Paradise gradually become a legendary realm in the eyes of later generations.

“Later on, the name ‘Kunlun’ no longer symbolized an immortal realm, serving instead as a general term for the Daoist Ancestral Court. Many who followed textual records to Kunlun saw only snow-covered landscapes, without the slightest hint of immortal splendor. They assumed the accounts in books were merely exaggerations or fantasies of the ancient people.

“It was not until the Holy Xuan unified the Daoist Order that Kunlun Paradise reappeared and descended into the world. Oh, speaking of which, the Three Treasures Scepter is the key to Kunlun Paradise.”

After hearing this, Qi Xuansu was deeply shaken. He asked, “Is there a relationship between Kunlun Paradise and Lingshan Paradise?”

“Of course, there is a connection,” the Heavenly Preceptor said unhurriedly. “Though they take different paths, they arrive at the same destination. I don’t know about the Great Witch ascension ritual because that requires blood sacrifices on the Ancient Wuist altars, which have long since been destroyed. The Daoist Order opposes blood sacrifice and will not rebuild them. However, the Daoist pseudo-ascension method is essentially the same as the Ancient Wuist ascension method, and that I do have.”

Zhang Yuelu asked curiously, “Does going to Kunlun Paradise also require ascension? Aren’t there normal entry gates?”

The Heavenly Preceptor replied, “Since the normal route passes through the Five Elements Cave, where the Six Enlightened Witches and God Luwu preside, one must use the pseudo-ascension method to enter Kunlun Paradise. Later, when Kunlun Paradise was sealed, this pseudo-ascension method could no longer reach Kunlun and thus existed only in written records, nearly becoming lost. It is only because the Zhang family’s lineage was never severed that the complete pseudo-ascension method was preserved.”

Qi Xuansu could not help but ask, “Does the Daoist pseudo-ascension method not require altars or blood sacrifices?”

The Heavenly Preceptor shook his head. “It does not. The reason the Great Witches required altars and blood sacrifices was not for pseudo-ascension, but to alter their physical bodies. The Ancient Witches merely merged pseudo-ascension and bodily transformation into a single process, making them difficult to distinguish. Thus, pseudo-ascension came to require altars. Blood sacrifice did not necessarily mean human blood. Sometimes, blood from feral beasts could also be used.”

Qi Xuansu recalled the appearance of the Great Witches he had seen in his dreams and realized something. “The Ancient Great Witches weren’t just gigantic in stature but also bore various bestial traits because of the blood sacrifices.”

The Heavenly Preceptor nodded. “Exactly so. After performing the pseudo-ascension ritual, the Ancient Great Witches underwent drastic changes in appearance, their strength increased greatly, and they went to another world. In the eyes of ordinary people, this was ascension.”

Qi Xuansu asked again, “Now that Kunlun Paradise has reopened, if I use the Daoist pseudo-ascension method, will I go to Kunlun Paradise directly?”

The Heavenly Preceptor replied, “No, because the Zixiao Palace is no longer within Kunlun Paradise. The Zixiao Palace is the key to this pseudo-ascension method. It serves as the guiding beacon that fixes the coordinates. Since it is no longer there, the destination cannot be reached. Of course, you also can’t reach the Purple Mansion where the Zixiao Palace is now situated. So for most people, it is a useless method.”

Qi Xuansu felt he had grasped something in his words but still wanted to clarify. “If it is a useless method, then how can I get into the Lingshan Paradise?”

The Heavenly Preceptor pointed at Qi Xuansu’s chest. “When others use this pseudo-ascension method, nothing will happen. But you possess the Longevity Stone Heart inherited from the Ancient Wuist Sect. It will guide your ascension to Lingshan Paradise, without the need to search for its entrance.”

Qi Xuansu said, “Does that mean only I can go, but others cannot?”

The Heavenly Preceptor flicked his finger, and a point of spiritual light entered Qi Xuansu’s brow. “This is the Daoist pseudo-ascension method. It’s not particularly difficult, but there is a threshold. It requires a Zaohua-stage cultivation.”

Qi Xuansu asked, “Is it the same for the Ancient Wuist pseudo-ascension?”

The Heavenly Preceptor replied, “As far as I know, the Ancient Wuist pseudo-ascension method also required a Zaohua-stage cultivation. However, after bodily transformation through blood sacrifice, the Great Witch who completed pseudo-ascension would gain Pseudo-Immortal strength. The Daoist ascension method is simpler, but it does not enhance one’s cultivation.”

Qi Xuansu nodded, understanding that he first had to reach the Zaohua stage before there could be any possibility of exploring Lingshan Paradise.

At present, Qi Xuansu was only one step away from the Zaohua stage. More specifically, he lacked just a single piece of Xuan Jade.

He figured that the Yao family would provide him with this Xuan Jade, as it was one of the many gifts of fate whose price had long been secretly marked.

In order to learn the hidden price as soon as possible, Qi Xuansu had no choice but to once again accept a gift from the unseen hand of fate.

In any case, when debts piled up, he stopped worrying, so he simply let it be.