Chapter 773: The Essence of the Alien Immortal

The Head of the Heterodox Immortal Path was still speaking animatedly about the cultivation details of his path, appearing very enthusiastic. It seemed he had rehearsed this explanation many times in his mind but rarely had the opportunity to deliver it. Xu Qing’s arrival gave him the chance to be a teacher.

“Ancestor Li Xuanfeng, back in the day, was truly a prodigy seen only once in a thousand years! He comprehended thirteen soul-threads in a single month, establishing the foundation of our Heterodox Immortal Path!” the Path Master declared proudly. His disciple beside him, for once, did not refute him, merely sighing softly.

Clearly, to choose this path in an era of its decline, even if a significant part of it was due to persuasion, still showed a certain degree of recognition and sentiment for the Heterodox Immortal Path in their hearts.

“And Ancestor Chen Daoze was even more extraordinary! He was an astonishing genius, rarely seen in thousands of years, comprehending nineteen soul-threads in a month!” The Path Master looked at Xu Qing, speaking earnestly.

“So, you must work hard and cultivate diligently. As long as you can condense more than ten soul-threads in a month, then the future Head of the Heterodox Immortal Path will be you!” As he spoke, the Path Master patted Xu Qing’s shoulder, then took out a stack of jade slips and handed them all to Xu Qing. Only then, still unsatisfied, did he leave to continue organizing the White Pagoda’s jade slips.

Xu Qing stood there, feeling deep uncertainty. He carefully examined his sea of consciousness and found that there were indeed over ten thousand soul-threads spreading within it. Recalling the Path Master’s words, he felt that something wasn’t quite right.

“What, are you feeling pumped?” While Xu Qing pondered, the disciple from the White Pagoda walked over and sighed beside him. “Let me tell you, don’t believe that nonsense. When I and my two senior brothers joined, we were told the exact same thing, not a single word changed.”

“I warned you last time, but you wouldn’t listen. Now look, you’ve been branded as a core disciple… this means you’re completely tied to the Heterodox Immortal Path.” The disciple’s eyes showed sympathy. “But since you’re here, there’s no turning back. Follow us from now on. With you joining, our tabloid can produce even more issues.”

Xu Qing looked at the Heterodox Immortal Path disciple. He had some guesses about the “tabloid” mentioned by the disciple, so he asked about it. “There are many things happening in the various paths at the Grand Academy every day. To understand everything would take a lot of time, so some tabloids that compile a lot of information have appeared within the Grand Academy.”

“They include the actions of each path and the movements of well-known students within them. However, compared to other paths’ tabloids, our Heterodox Immortal Path, due to its seniority and good geographical location, means that while we’re not authoritative, our sales are still decent.”

“Moreover, our main focus is on gossip, which makes us more popular.” The disciple’s tone held a hint of pride when he spoke of the tabloid. “This is an enterprise we brothers started. Come, come, I’ll show you around.”

With that, he pulled Xu Qing to a distant spot where Xu Qing saw many blank jade slips. The disciple explained that these blank jade slips were the tabloids. Their job was to imprint various scandalous tidbits onto each jade slip and then sell them. As for the source of the information, it was recorded on several jade slips collected from unknown places.

Xu Qing picked one up and scanned it with his divine sense.“Last night, screams were heard from the Fusion Divinity Path. Who was causing mischief in the dead of night? Read the Heterodox Immortal Path Tabloid!”“The chief of the Botanical Path is actually *her*!”“Who is the true identity of Chen Yun from the Myriad Laws Path? Our tabloid has spent years investigating and finally uncovered it!”“Xu Qing from the Saint Lan Grand Domain has entered the Grand Academy! Do you want to know which path he belongs to? Our tabloid will track and secretly report this!”

Xu Qing silently put down the jade slip.

“How about it? Our Heterodox Immortal Path’s tabloid has enough hype, right?” The disciple chuckled.

“Not bad,” Xu Qing said calmly. He didn’t feel repulsed; embracing the local customs, since he had joined the Heterodox Immortal Path, he simply helped his senior brother with the imprinting.

During this time, the Path Master visited a few times. Seeing the newly joined Xu Qing also engaged in this, he sighed but didn’t say much.

Time passed, and as dusk fell, Xu Qing left the Heterodox Immortal Path.

When he walked out of the Grand Academy, snowflakes were still falling outside. Xu Qing pondered the cultivation method of the Heterodox Immortal Path all the way back to his residence, where he sat down in meditation.

“The Heterodox Immortal Path’s cultivation method involves drawing out one’s soul and, with specific formations, forming soul-threads.”“This places immense demands on the soul. If too much is drawn out, one’s soul will collapse, which is essentially courting death…”“This is also why the Heterodox Immortal Path’s cultivation is slow; one has to cultivate while also nourishing the soul.”“And the number of soul-threads…”

Xu Qing took out the jade slips for imprinting divine beings and examined them. The divine beings described seemed rather ordinary to him, as he had seen gods, and more than one. As for why he instantly manifested over ten thousand soul-threads when cultivating this method, Xu Qing found the answer while imprinting the tabloids during the day. “I possess a divine source.”

“Ultimately, this Heterodox Immortal Path’s cultivation method is actually an attempt to simulate the method of the divine source. The shadows of divine beings woven from one’s soul are also a simulation.”“Through this method, the soul gains the characteristics of a divine source, thereby transforming it to manifest externally like armor… until, with a single thought, one can change everything about oneself.”

“Therefore, its principle is ‘a single thought of the Summer Immortal, and the immortal body forms naturally.’”“If one could truly cultivate it to the extreme, it would theoretically involve simulating step by step, from divine beings all the way to weaving a god…”

“And since I inherently possess a divine source, I don’t need to simulate. With a single thought, I can unleash a considerable number of soul-threads, each one formed from the divine source.” Xu Qing pondered, a strange light in his eyes. Combining this method of the Heterodox Immortal Path, Xu Qing knew his previous judgment was correct. His divine form was indeed similar to the Heterodox Immortal Path in some aspects.

However, the form manifested by the Heterodox Immortal Path is essentially the aura of a cultivator; upon closer inspection, traces of soul-threads can be seen. When the divine form is manifested, it exudes divine pressure, seemingly a complete entity, but in reality, it transforms from the ethereal to the tangible. This difference can be easily perceived.

Additionally, human cultivation methods are diverse, with all sorts of cultivation techniques. Coupled with the existence of gods for countless years and the study of divine beings, there are too many ways to create a scene similar to Xu Qing’s divine form. However, if one were to study them closely, the essence would be completely different. Only this Heterodox Immortal Path… shares a similar essence.

“Then, by following the Heterodox Immortal Path’s method, I should also be able to master my own divine form more smoothly.” A sharp glint flashed in Xu Qing’s eyes.

“My previously manifested divine form was formed by the divine repository it originated from.”“But what if I fragmented the divine sources within my three divine repositories, refined them all into soul-threads, and then used the Heterodox Immortal Path’s method of manipulating and weaving soul-threads to form my three divine forms?”

“Theoretically, this could bypass the limitations of the divine form’s progressive unlocking, such as the third form… because I wouldn’t be relying on a single divine repository for support; I would be weaving with the divine sources of all three divine repositories.”“At the same time, I would no longer be limited to three forms. I could even create a fourth form, as long as I have enough soul-threads, a single thought could bring forth myriad transformations!”

Xu Qing was moved. He closed his eyes, formed hand seals, and, following the Heterodox Immortal Path’s method, began to form soul-threads again. Instantly, his first divine repository behind him manifested, and threads of divine source flew out from within, gathering in Xu Qing’s sea of consciousness. The number of his soul-threads instantly surged. Soon, it reached around one hundred thousand. “Continue!”

Xu Qing’s second divine repository appeared behind him with a roar, and threads of divine source rapidly surged forth under his refinement. One hundred thirty thousand, one hundred eighty thousand, two hundred fifty thousand… until finally, three hundred eleven thousand soul-threads appeared.

Xu Qing felt strained controlling such a large number of divine source soul-threads. He knew this was due to his unfamiliarity with the Heterodox Immortal Path’s weaving method. So, he temporarily stopped refining and, following the Heterodox Immortal Path’s reference diagrams, tried to form them one by one. Although he was not very proficient, Xu Qing had too many divine source soul-threads. Thus, terrifying figures emitting divine fluctuations quickly materialized one after another behind him. If any Heterodox Immortal Path disciple were here now, seeing this scene, they would undoubtedly be utterly shocked.

This was because, in their understanding, all the divine beings that could theoretically be formed within the path were now manifesting before Xu Qing. And each one was incredibly lifelike, exuding a pressure that surpassed the scope of the divine being itself.

But Xu Qing was not satisfied. For him, these were just ways to increase his proficiency. He continuously manipulated the soul-threads to form one divine being after another. Finally, with a thought, all these divine beings collapsed, transforming back into three hundred eleven thousand soul-threads, which then converged.

Xu Qing recalled his first divine form. Using it as a reference, he began to shape. Due to his sufficient understanding, coupled with Xu Qing’s certain degree of proficiency in the Heterodox Immortal Path’s soul-thread weaving method, his first divine form quickly appeared, standing in the secret chamber and emitting astonishing pressure.

That pressure was very different from Xu Qing’s normal manifestation of his first divine form. It encompassed both divine intent and the characteristics of the Heterodox Immortal Path. Most importantly, Xu Qing discovered that he could burn it with a single thought. This could act as a massive impact force, forcefully breaking through restraints and barriers, pushing his cultivation to ascend.

This realization caused Xu Qing’s breathing to quicken slightly, and his eyes suddenly opened. “The Heterodox Immortal Path is indeed a unique and extraordinary method!”“It appears to be about refining soul-threads and weaving divinity, but all of that is superficial. Its true terror lies in…”“It can transform the source of divinity into a force for breaking through realms!”“At the extreme, burning the divine shadow can create immense power, forcefully breaking through the barriers of ‘severing immortality,’ continuing the path forward, forging a new route, becoming an immortal by borrowing from the divine, and thus becoming a Heterodox Immortal.”

Xu Qing was deeply moved. It was precisely at this moment that a faint knock came from outside his secluded chamber, accompanied by the Captain’s voice.

“Little Junior Brother, are you there? Tonight, the moon is sparse, the wind is high, and snow accompanies the cold. That… it’s perfect for me to do a little something, but I need someone to stand guard and provide backup. Are you in?”