Immortality begins with becoming a master weapon refiner

"I am Yu Lu, courtesy name Ziqi, from the immortal cultivation sect [Taibai Mountain]. May I ask how you should address me, senior?"

Mount Taibai?
Gu Qing knew very little about the cultivation sects in the human realm. The entire human realm consisted of only four kingdoms, and its area was only half the size of the Cangwu Southern Wilderness. The human realm was very small.

It didn't match the breadth represented by the sphere of light when he first entered. He suspected that a large amount of territory had been invaded by other realms using spatial means.

Given its already small size, the Yan Kingdom, which occupied the Central Plains, was the most powerful and the most suitable for accumulating merit.

"I am Gu Qing, and also the Dao Master of Qing Palace."

"Young friend Yu, have you come on behalf of Mount Taibai?"

Yu Ziqi touched his nose awkwardly and said with shame.

"I had no choice but to come because my elders entrusted me with this task. The real reason is to invite Qinggong to participate in next month's Immortal Sect Competition. All the prominent sects in Yan Kingdom will be participating."

Contest?

Gu Qing pondered. Yu Ziqi's strength was not weak. His elders had the strength of a seventh-grade True Person at most. Based on this, considering the scale of Mount Taibai, the strength of the top cultivators in the mortal realm should be limited to the lower three grades.

Nothing to worry about.

"It's not just about the competition, is it?"

"……Yes."

Yu Ziqi sighed and explained.

"The twenty-four paths that Yan Kingdom currently has have long been divided by the four great immortal sects. Under normal circumstances, the disciples of these sects will do good deeds and accumulate merit within this scope."

So, Gu Qing understood; it meant that the interests of other immortal sects had been affected.

Since cultivation level is not important, the territory where one can do good deeds is very important. Gu Qing appeared out of nowhere and trained three thousand disciples, which far exceeded the size of the four major immortal sects.

The spiritual energy in the human realm is scarce. Compared to Gu Qing, the Daoist scriptures are like primitive people. Gu Qing's ability to solve many problems through weapon crafting is far superior.

Therefore, he never thought of collecting Taoist cultivation techniques; if he were to collect them, he would wait until he went to the Immortal Realm.

Aside from experiencing the benefits of ascension and the gains from Yin and Saintly virtues, the mortal realm offered Gu Qing no advantages whatsoever.

The so-called four great immortal sects could only have a hundred people at most. It's not that they didn't want to expand, but that the environment didn't allow it.

"No, young friend Yu, please leave."

"Ugh……"

Although he was prepared, Yu Ziqi left quite disappointed. After he left, Gu Qing immediately summoned the three meritorious old Taoist priests into the hall.

The booklets on condensing the [Azure Yang Spiritual Body] and [Azure Yang Profound Body] were distributed, with the intention of raising the upper limit for Azure Palace cultivators.

In the past five years, he has refined some array artifacts, making the entire Qifeng Mountain even more beautiful. He used array artifact techniques to condense the five elements spiritual veins, which rotate endlessly, just like the five elements peaks of Baiyue Mountain.

As time passes and the process unfolds, the five elements and their associated spiritual energy form a unified whole, mutually enhancing and benefiting future generations.

It's worth it to have come to this world.

Ignoring the clamor of the local cultivators, Gu Qing continued to accumulate good karma. In addition to personally treating the sick and saving lives, he also began to travel down the mountain.

But if there is injustice, I will intervene no matter what!

He could be described as a benevolent immortal, and he did indeed do a lot of good deeds. As for the troubles of the local sects, he was unwilling to get involved as long as they didn't completely break off relations or take action against the younger generation.

And so another five years passed.

In the fifth year since leaving the Green Palace to travel the world, the Yan Kingdom clashed with the nomadic tribes of the north, triggering a war.

Gu Qing happened to arrive at this place.

By sheer coincidence, I witnessed firsthand what is known as the ascension of those who have accumulated merit through good deeds.

It was an unequal battle between two hundred and three thousand.

The Ascended One was merely a subordinate general in the Yan Kingdom's army. He led two hundred men to escort thousands of civilians to safety, hoping to escape the plunder and slaughter by the steppe cavalry.

This was a one-sided massacre. The lieutenant was skilled in martial arts and led the charge, killing fourteen people before his strength suddenly gave out due to the momentum of his charge. He was struck by eight arrows and died.

As he lay dying, he was protecting a little girl who was barely clinging to life beneath him.

This is the result of sacrificing oneself for one's country and family. The accumulated merit after death erupts at this moment, enabling the soul to awaken and receive the protection of this merit.

It is essentially a yin spirit, but it possesses the aura of immortals.

A few melodious fairy tunes guided him to report to the immortal realm, and his spirit disappeared into the ripples.

This situation greatly surprised Gu Qing. A mere mortal warrior, not only young but also having not participated in many wars, had actually accumulated such a wealth of good karma.

And he died!

This doesn't match the effect of the Yin virtue that Gu Qing calculated. What happened to the promised avoidance of calamity?

As the saying goes: Heaven's cycle is forty-nine, but one is lost.

This "one" refers to the life force of all sentient beings. No matter what calamity they encounter, there should be a glimmer of hope for survival. There is no such thing as certain death in this world.

Two hundred against three thousand – it's a sure-fire defeat no matter how you look at it.

Unless the general abandons the people and flees alone, or... Gu Qing comes to his aid!
"Did you gain more merit because you didn't avoid death?"

"Yes and no..."

Gu Qing muttered to himself, realizing a more crucial issue.

He did good deeds for ten years, but the accumulated merit was less than half of what he expected. And an ordinary person could not possibly know about the ascension of merit, so everything he did came from his heart.

As stated in "Evening Talks Around the Fire": "Of all virtues, filial piety is the most important. One should judge by the heart, not by the deeds. If one judges by deeds, there will be no filial sons in poor families. Of all vices, lust is the worst. One should judge by the deeds, not by the heart. If one judges by the heart, there will be few perfect people in the world."

Yin De (a concept related to yin virtue) is actually an idealistic thing.

Doing things with a purpose will earn you good karma, but in small amounts. Doing things from the bottom of your heart, even if it's just one thing, will lead to your immediate ascension!

In fact, death itself amplified this effect.

They'll make it up to you after you die, and let you become an immortal.

Gu Qing was certain that there was something wrong with the Heavenly Dao of the Mountain and Sea Realm regarding this unhealthy method of acquisition. He should have noticed it when he learned that it dared to grant living beings eternal life.

"Ugh……"

"The ignorant attain the Way, while the diligent lose the Way."

"Does the principles and ethics of spiritual practice completely contradict the natural order, with those who follow the will of Heaven prospering and those who defy it perishing?"

"If you don't fight against fate, how can you attain true freedom and ease? You'll just be a stronger servant..."

Under these circumstances, Gu Qing had completely lost interest in the Taoist cultivation methods of the Mountain and Sea Realm, and he could foresee what kind of people were in the sky.

Let alone being ignorant, they probably only have a superficial understanding of spiritual practice.

Not to mention mastering the laws and principles, and wielding supernatural powers and secret techniques. No wonder bloodlines are so important. Without the convenience of bloodlines, even the Heavenly Dao would probably have a headache about how to give them power.

"The Immortal Clan, no wonder they use the clan name, it's so fitting."

Sighed again.

With a flick of his wrist, Gu Qing turned and swallowed up all three thousand grassland cavalry. Ignoring the refugees kneeling and shouting excitedly, he turned and flew towards the Qing Palace.

He has fully comprehended and comprehended the profound virtues of this world.

Since he couldn't speed things up no matter what, he decided to go back and accumulate experience. He had recently sensed a new force gathering, so he decided to go back and see what it was.

The war with the grasslands caused a large number of Qing Palace disciples to gather in the north. Some were killed and some were wounded, but Gu Qing did not interfere. Once they graduated, the mission was complete.

Simple and efficient.

It also reveals Gu Qing's coldness and ruthlessness, which is the true nature of a seeker of the Dao. (End of Chapter)