At this point, Li Yan fully understood what had happened to him. He also recalled how, when he later regained consciousness, the old man had forbidden him from opening his eyes. Now he clearly grasped the purpose behind that command. If he had opened his eyes as soon as he woke, his instincts would have driven him to sit cross-legged and resume channeling his inner energy to refine the medicinal potion. That very act would have jostled the freshly suppressed poison within him—and before he knew it, the dangerous fire poison would erupt again. There was simply no chance that fate would have stepped in with a powerful immortal like the gray-robed old man to save him in that crucial moment. The thought alone filled him with lingering dread.
The old man's voice drifted back, now sounding somewhat wavering: "Alright, having said all this, you must have guessed by now why I saved you, haven't you?"
Li Yan lifted his head to meet the ethereal gaze of the old man and answered softly, "Yes, Master—I know. I must be the one with the Gui Water Immortal Sect's spiritual root you've been seeking." Ever since the old man had described how the five ancient sects sought out individuals with rare and special constitutions, it had been clear to him. The fact that the old man rescued him—and then revealed his own origins and mission—left little room for doubt.
The old man continued, his tone both proud and wistful, "Indeed, you are the one I have searched for for countless centuries. My fragment of divine consciousness is nearly about to dissipate, but before it does, I've already embedded our sect's 'Gui Water True Scripture' into your mind. Soon enough, you'll be able to sense its presence. It's a complete method of cultivation that spans from the Qi Condensation stage right through to the Grand Ascension stage. However, you can only perceive the portions that match your current level. For now, you will see only the incantations appropriate for the Qi Condensation stage, and as your power grows, more advanced passages will reveal themselves. But know this—if you perish, this entire method will vanish in an instant." He sighed deeply before adding, "Had I found you at the proper time—even with only my remaining divine sense—I could have accompanied you for thousands of years, guiding your cultivation so you'd avoid unnecessary pitfalls. But after spending that effort to rearrange your meridians and suppress the poison, I am now bereft of the power to guide you further. The journey ahead is yours alone; how far you progress will depend solely on your own fortune."
Hearing this, Li Yan could only stammer, "Master... I— I don't want to continue on this path of cultivation. I long to return home and be reunited with my parents."
For a moment, the old man was taken aback. In his eyes, the pursuit of immortality was the dream of every soul—even a lowly cultivator desperate for even a taste of that celestial promise. Few would refuse the opportunity to become a disciple of a reputed master. Yet the old man did not dwell on Li Yan's naïve longing. With a cold, dismissive laugh he replied, "Hmph—do you really think you have a choice? If you abandon cultivation, the poison in your body will only grow stronger over the next few years. Once its suppression fails, death is inevitable. And even if you were to awaken with your current master by your side, mark my words: he will sooner or later begin siphoning away your spiritual energy—an act that spells your doom. But if you follow the immortal cultivation method I have provided, you might yet find a chance to survive. So tell me—are you really willing to give up on cultivation?"
Li Yan paused, his mind racing. Just moments before he had been wholly fixated on the idea of returning to his family. Yet now, the reality was clear: he was riding a tiger. Not seeking immortality meant certain death, while embracing the path—hazardous as it was—might be his only slim hope.
The gray-robed old man observed Li Yan's silence before speaking again, his tone turning even colder: "Discard such childish dreams. Your foremost concern must be to save your own life. With the poison inside you, once you manage to cultivate the 'Gui Water True Scripture' to the peak of the Qi Condensation stage, it will forcibly expel the toxic energy from your body. You'll come to understand this when you examine the method's details. Now, I advise you to remain by this pool for a while. The water here bolsters the water elemental spiritual roots—this is precisely why Master Ji chose this valley as his domain. It is the only place in the vicinity where even a little spiritual energy lingers; without it, no cultivation could ever succeed. But be warned—the spiritual energy in this valley is meager, and the spiritual eye here is tiny. Otherwise, the city of Qingshan Ai would have long been overrun by sects of cultivators.
"Furthermore, I must confess: the poisonous nature of your spiritual energy, which is bound to the 'Dao through Poison' method—even after I've rearranged your meridians—remains unalterable. As your spiritual energy circulates throughout your body, the hidden toxin will continue to grow and seep into your muscles and bones. However, once you switch your cultivation to the 'Kui Water True Scripture' and push it to the peak of Qi Condensation Stage One, the toxin can be refined away. Thus, your primary focus must be on mastering the 'Kui Water True Scripture' and finding a way out. Everything else can only be planned once you have escaped."
Here the old man's voice grew gravely intense, betraying a hint of worry. After two million years of searching, he had finally found the inheritor of this sacred method. The very thought that such a precious disciple might ultimately perish in the hands of a mere Qi Condensation novice filled him with profound frustration. In the past, he could simply erase such insignificant lives with a mere thought, but now he found himself powerless to do so if necessary. Moreover, with his own divine essence almost on the verge of collapse, he had neither the strength nor the luxury to dispatch Li Yan's current master immediately. His primary concern was for Li Yan's survival—even if it meant expending what remained of his power.
The old man continued, "You likely have around a year at most before Master Ji is forced to act—whether or not you manage to push your cultivation to the peak of Qi Condensation Stage One, his own poison can only be suppressed for roughly a year. But should you manage, in that time, to diligently cultivate the 'Gui Water True Scripture' until you reach that apex, there may yet be a chance at reversing your fate… perhaps even an unexpected breakthrough." A disconcerting, sly chuckle slipped into his voice. Then he shifted subjects abruptly: "If you wish to escape from this place, you might consider using Marshal Hong. He is exceptionally skilled in the martial techniques that Master Ji claims to possess. I have also sensed that besides Hong Linying in the Marshal's residence, there is another martial artist whose abilities rival his. Though together they would never overpower Master Ji permanently, they could at least keep him occupied for a short while.
"And do not worry about your parents for now. If you manage to escape, they will merely serve as attachments—for Master Ji would never forego the possibility of using them as bait.
"Oh, and one more thing: Master Ji has already acquired several entry-level immortal techniques, such as the Wood Thorn Skill, Fire Bomb Technique, and Wind Blade Technique. You must be cautious when dealing with them. Although these techniques are rudimentary, they are still immortal arts. Ordinary mortals—and someone like you, just beginning your cultivation—cannot easily withstand them."
Li Yan listened intently, though he was perplexed by the unsettling tone in the old man's laugh as he spoke. It did not seem directed at him personally, but then the old man mentioned Marshal Hong's intentions. Li Yan's eyes brightened in remembrance of an incident at the military training ground—back then, he had not understood Marshal Hong's motives, only recalling that the man had once let his inner force wander through Li Yan's body. It now dawned on him that Marshal Hong might be interested in Master Ji's cultivation method—perhaps an opportunity he could exploit. Yet, the challenge of confronting Master Ji's immortal techniques was utterly daunting for someone of his current level.
Finally, the old man said, "Alright, boy—there's no time left for more words. I look forward to the day when my true self can meet you again. But for now, you must at least address me properly as 'Sect Leader.' Remember, I go by the name 'Fushi Zunzhe'–Dong Fu Yi." Even as these words faded, his ghostly voice became almost inaudible, and his form gradually dispersed into drifting mists.
Desperate, Li Yan called out, "Elder! Elder! You haven't told me how to get out!" But no sound answered from the dissipating mist. As he pondered, he realized: Who is this 'Sect Leader'? Nothing had been explained clearly. Moreover, he had suddenly become a disciple of an immortal sect—a sect that, by all appearances, had no firm roots. In fact, he might be the only one belonging to it. Where, then, was the immortal method? How was he meant to leave this spirit realm? Before he could resolve these questions, the mist vanished, and with its disappearance his vision blurred. In a moment of disorientation, darkness enveloped him.
A chill ran through Li Yan's body. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open—and a glaring whiteness from the sun made him quickly shut them again. Then a familiar voice gently called out, "Disciple, you have finally awakened. How do you feel? Are you feeling any better?"
At the sound of that voice, Li Yan froze. After a brief pause, he slowly reopened his eyes. Before him stood a man in a black robe, slightly stooping to shield his eyes from the brightness. His face was gentle and caring—none other than his master, Master Ji. Forcing a weak smile, Li Yan looked around. He realized he was lying on the ground, soaked through, his hand propping him up as he sat. It seemed he had been rescued beside the pool—and the sunlight streamed in from the east, clearly indicating morning. After a moment's hesitation, he managed to ask, "Master... Master, what exactly happened to me?"
Master Ji, visibly relieved to see Li Yan awake, straightened himself and spoke kindly, "You lost your way when you were channeling energy during cultivation and misaligned your meridians, causing you to fall into the pool. I rescued you just a short while ago—around fifteen minutes have passed. You had been unconscious all that time, so I had no choice but to continuously direct my inner energy to heal you. Now, you're safe—almost. But… hmm?" As he spoke, Master Ji instinctively swept his divine sense over Li Yan's body. He was startled to observe that with Li Yan's revival, the aura around him was gradually changing and strengthening. Even his face—which had been distorted and puffy moments before—was visibly beginning to recover. He recalled that when he first drew Li Yan out of the water and began his healing, Li Yan had shown only a fleeting response. After he injected several strands of divine energy, nothing more happened. When he checked Li Yan's breathing, it was steady. Yet his earlier scans had revealed severe injuries; Li Yan's cultivation was still in the stage where he merely absorbed Qi into his body—he hadn't yet successfully broken through to the Qi Condensation stage.
Master Ji couldn't hide his disappointment. But as long as Li Yan lived, there was still hope for another breakthrough. He resumed channeling his Qi, striving to alleviate the fire poison lurking within. Still, Li Yan lay perfectly still, unconscious. All Master Ji could do was stand by, observe, and silently ponder. After roughly the time it took to finish a cup of tea, Li Yan gradually began to stir. He wondered: during that habitual scan, had he truly advanced to Qi Condensation Stage One? Or was he merely mistaken? Master Ji again directed his divine sense over Li Yan. Although he doubted that anyone in this realm truly comprehended the nature of divine perception, a few moments later—even his limited insight confirmed that Li Yan's aura undeniably now matched that of someone at Stage One. He also noted that Li Yan's eyes had grown even clearer, the contrast between dark and light far more pronounced than before. Yet a sliver of doubt lingered: just moments before, multiple scans had confirmed that Li Yan had not yet reached Qi Condensation Stage One. What could explain this sudden change?
Eventually, Master Ji dismissed his worries. Li Yan had been cultivating under his keen watch for 49 days—there was little room for error. Perhaps the strands of divine energy he had planted earlier had finally taken effect, or maybe Li Yan's unique constitution simply defied expectations. Whatever the reason, any uncertainty from when Li Yan was unconscious—when his Qi was unstable—was now fading as his aura reasserted itself with growing clarity.
As Li Yan regarded his master, he began to speak when suddenly he felt an invisible force envelop him—a sensation as if unseen eyes were scrutinizing every part of his being, leaving no secret hidden. The word "divine sense" flashed unbidden in his mind. In that instant, he became keenly aware that he was being observed from head to toe by an unseen presence. It was as intangible as it was real, and the feeling left him deeply unsettled. At the same time, he discovered that his sensory perception had become astonishingly acute. He could hear even the faint whisper of fish swimming in the pool and the soft chirps of insects in the valley. A casual glance at a patch of dew on the grass—several dozen meters away—revealed droplets so sharply defined they appeared almost tangible. He even noticed ants diligently hauling away tiny bits of debris, their antennae trembling in constant motion. When he turned his gaze back to the pool, he saw thin streams of energy twisting and spreading out. He guessed immediately that these were the spiritual energies emanating from deep within the pool, just as Master Dong Fu Yi had described. Everything around him appeared almost miraculous.
Yet there was another perplexing detail: although Li Yan had only been unconscious for about fifteen minutes, in that mysterious space he had conversed with Dong Fu Yi for what felt like a very long time—perhaps even an hour or more. How could that be?