Chapter 730: Immortal

Unspoken Daoist, a cultivator of unwavering Dao heart, stayed at Wen Dao Sect for three full days, hoping to meet Patriarch Vast Ocean. Unfortunately, his sincerity did not move Dao Lord Vast Ocean, who never appeared. Left with no choice, Unspoken Daoist abandoned the idea. After teaching Lu Yang for three days, he gracefully departed.

Lu Yang, respecting his teacher, waved goodbye to Unspoken Daoist at the mountain gate. Once Unspoken Daoist had walked a short distance from the gate, the Integration Stage cultivators, who had been waiting there for days, saw their chance. They swarmed forward, determined to execute the old rogue Unspoken Daoist on the spot. The scene was extremely chaotic. Lu Yang was still young and couldn't bear to witness scenes of life and death separation. He bravely held back his tears, silently turned away, and chose not to look at what was happening behind him.

Upon returning to Tianmen Peak, Lu Yang saw his Senior Sister, whom he hadn't seen for three days.

"Senior Sister, are you done with the interrogation?" Lu Yang asked.

"Yes, I'm finished," she replied. "I still stand by what I said: the matter of the Tinder Dynasty is very dangerous, and you should not get involved."

His Senior Sister thought for a moment, realizing that her words might lack sufficient deterrent power. She then added, "Do you remember the Flower of Time's End in the medicine garden?"

Lu Yang nodded, naturally remembering it. The Little Medicine King's Flower of Time's End was an exceptionally beautiful flower. Legend had it that it would only bloom in its most magnificent form when the world ended and all life perished, freezing even time itself.

"Previously, I always found it strange," his Senior Sister continued. "According to historical records, there was no major event that could be described as the end of the world or the perishing of all life. Yet, when our sect's ancestors found the Flower of Time's End, it was already in full bloom. I initially thought the legend was mistaken. It wasn't until just now, when I visited the medicine garden and asked the Flower of Time's End a few questions, that I finally confirmed it blossomed precisely at the time of the Tinder Dynasty's downfall. Of course, it doesn't know this itself. Do you understand now? Only an immortal, and an evil one at that, could bring about the end of the world and the perishing of all life. This is not someone you can afford to provoke."

Lu Yang nodded vigorously like a pecking chick. Given his weak physique, he certainly wouldn't get involved with the Tinder Dynasty.

"Oh, Senior Sister," Lu Yang suddenly asked, "I remember you once said there are no immortals in this world. What did you mean by that?" This was something his Senior Sister had casually mentioned during his first year at Wen Dao Sect, before he had established his foundation, while he was cultivating on Tianmen Peak. With the Five Ancient Immortals and the Imperial Preceptor of the Qian Emperor Yu Empire, there were quite a few immortals, so how could there be no immortals in the world?

"The 'immortal' I refer to isn't merely a cultivator who has condensed a Dao Fruit," his Senior Sister explained. "Regarding this point, Senior Immortal should understand."

Immortal Fairy of Incorruption emerged from Lu Yang's body, materializing to explain: "What Yun girl said is correct. This was the initial definition of an immortal. 'Immortal' means never aging, never dying, never being born, never perishing, having no lifespan limitations, roaming freely between heaven and earth, and being unbound by any rules. This is the content of 'Sayings of the Sages' and also the original definition of 'immortal,' appearing even earlier than the Nine-Layer Immortals and others. Later, as we gradually explored and developed the 'embryonic Dao Fruit' and 'Dao Fruit,' we began to refer to cultivators who condensed Dao Fruits as 'immortals'."

Lu Yang instinctively nodded, then suddenly realized something was amiss in Immortal Fairy's words: "So that's how it is... Wait, Fairy, did you just say 'we explored and developed the embryonic Dao Fruit and Dao Fruit'?"

"Yes," she affirmed, "the embryonic Dao Fruit was something we, the Five Ancient Immortals, devised. You remember that Immortal of Ages' true form is the Jianmu tree, right? His strength was equivalent to the Tribulation Transcending Stage. Why do you think he was in the Tribulation Transcending Stage when I was in the Qi Condensation Stage, and still in the Tribulation Transcending Stage when I reached the Nascent Soul Stage, and even when I reached the Tribulation Transcending Stage myself? Was it because he didn't want to obtain the embryonic Dao Fruit?"

Lu Yang faintly grasped a shocking possibility but still followed Immortal Fairy's lead and asked, "Why?"

Immortal Fairy of Incorruption chuckled, "Because he couldn't deduce the embryonic Dao Fruit on his own. It wasn't until all five of us reached the Tribulation Transcending Stage and worked together that we were able to deduce it. Of course, I did most of the work; Immortals Ying Tian and the others were merely freeloaders. When we created the embryonic Dao Fruit and the Dao Fruit, and it came time for naming, we thought 'immortal' was a good term, so we named cultivators who possessed a Dao Fruit 'immortals'."

Lu Yang gasped, realizing, "So, Fairy, you're a founder of the cultivation system!" Her naming skills weren't bad either; Lu Yang had thought Immortal Fairy would come up with names like "Invincible Stage."

Immortal Fairy of Incorruption then added, "According to the original, fundamental definition of 'immortal,' it's true that no one in this world can truly be called an immortal."

Lu Yang decided that perhaps he should treat Immortal Fairy with more respect from now on, considering she was both the founder of the Dao Fruit concept and the founder of Buddhism.

"Oh, the name 'immortal' was coined by Immortal Ying Tian," Immortal Fairy interjected. "My suggestions, 'Invincible Stage' and 'Bean-Bean Stage,' were unanimously rejected by them." She stomped her foot in anger. "Since I put in so much effort, what's wrong with naming a cultivation stage after me? They opposed it—how infuriating!"

Lu Yang: "..." He wished she hadn't added those last two sentences.

Having witnessed grand spectacles with Immortal Fairy, Lu Yang quickly composed himself after learning such a world-shaking historical secret. He still chose to continue his cultivation systematically. He was still far from becoming an immortal and wouldn't dwell on such distant matters.

Cultivation knows no time; time flies, and days and months pass like shuttles. In the blink of an eye, Lu Yang had been cultivating for half an hour.

"Old Lu, wanna go out and play?" Meng Jingzhou, unable to stand seeing Lu Yang cultivate, excitedly arrived at Tianmen Peak to urge him to go out and have fun, which was truly abominable. Fortunately, Lu Yang's mind was like an old Buddha meditating, unshaken by external influences.

"Let's go play in the East Sea."

"Let's go." Lu Yang hopped off the large rock.

His Dao heart wasn't firm; swayed by Meng Jingzhou, a promising cultivation talent thus fell, a truly regrettable sight.

"But why did you suddenly think of going to the East Sea?" Lu Yang asked, puzzled, thinking there must be a reason.

"Isn't Old Ma a Dragon Horse, and its hometown is the East Sea? It wanted to visit its relatives, so of course, I agreed," Meng Jingzhou explained. "I thought if Old Ma went to the East Sea, we could use this opportunity to go together, since neither of us has ever been there."

"Good brother," Lu Yang said, deeply touched that Old Meng never forgot him when it came to fun outings.

In reality, Meng Jingzhou had another reason for wanting to go to the East Sea. For the past few days, people had been calling him the "strongest bachelor" and encouraging him to remain single for a bright future. Being thin-skinned, he couldn't handle such praise and wanted to find a quiet place to hide. The East Sea was a good place—far away, with no acquaintances. There was no need to tell Lu Yang about this, lest Lu Yang also start praising him. Otherwise, what would be the point of leaving?

"Just the two of us?" Lu Yang asked.

"I was just about to call Junior Sister Tao and the other two," Meng Jingzhou replied. "After all, it's rare to take such a long trip."