Under One Person: The Seeker of the Dao in the Lü Family

Chapter 71 Xuanwu? The Existence of Immortals

"Boy, stop your supernatural powers at once!"

The old woman on the stone platform stared at Lü Qian's imposing figure, which resembled a true martial arts master descended to earth, for a while. "Now those two old bastards have a good place to go!"

"yes!"

Upon hearing this, Lü Qian retracted the Xuanwu divine form, and the surging, wave-like energy gradually dissipated into the void, the ripples gradually subsiding.

The old woman in black gathered her thoughts, "Well... it's like this, young man from Wudang, I wonder if you'd like to acquire a Xuanwu?"

Her words left Lü Qian completely baffled. What did she mean by "collecting a Xuanwu"?

Are there still real Xuanwu mythical beasts these days?

Seeing the bewildered look on Lü Qian's face, the old woman knew she hadn't explained clearly. "I have two old friends. Due to the war of yesteryear and the oppressive environment of today, their physical bodies have long since disintegrated. Their souls are nourished by the earth's energy from the dragon vein of Changbai Mountain, but they are also nearing the end..."

The old woman sighed sadly, a look of sorrow on her face. "Alas, in the end, cultivation is not easy!"

As she spoke, she looked up at Lü Qian opposite her, "Since I'm asking for your help, I should explain the whole story to you so you can think it over yourself."

"I am all ears."

Lu Qian sat back down cross-legged on the futon, looked up at the old woman in black on the opposite stone platform, and looked serious.

"Well then, let's start with the cultivation of our immortals."

The old woman cleared her throat and began her story.

"We, these beings, are actually the animal spirits in those mountain valleys who have gained intelligence and been granted a destiny."

"They call themselves immortals, but that's just self-aggrandizement. In essence, they are just some insignificant spirits and scattered souls who pretend to be kings just because they have some tricks up their sleeves."

The old woman patted her face and continued explaining, "Ordinary animal spirits usually have three paths to gain intelligence."

"The first rule is to be close to people and use their popularity to cultivate oneself. Humans are the most intelligent of all beings, and the human body is equal to heaven and earth. The popularity of humans is naturally extraordinary for animal spirits as well."

"The second principle is to cultivate one's spirit through long slumber. In winter, when all things wither, some animal spirits fatten themselves up and then enter a deep sleep. The body and soul are inseparable. The primordial spirit is nourished by the physical body and naturally grows stronger day by day. When it accumulates to a certain degree, it will naturally awaken its intelligence."

"The third point is to absorb the essence of the sun and moon, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. The Emperor's Dew, which occurs only once every sixty years, is an immense blessing!"

As she spoke, the old woman smacked her lips, seemingly savoring the taste of the imperial nectar.

The Emperor's Dew is formed from the essence of the moon, and is essentially pure Yin. It is a great tonic for Yin beings such as mountain spirits and wild monsters.

The old woman realized she was explaining something to a younger person, so she straightened her tongue and said, "Ahem, where were we again... the third way."

"After the animal spirits develop their intelligence, they become what are known as mountain spirits and wild monsters, and they also begin to cultivate."

"Unlike humans, the cultivation of mountain spirits and monsters is very difficult; the kind of long-term, painstaking effort is not suitable for them."

"So after that, some clever mountain spirits and monsters would take a shortcut, which was to use incense offerings, good fortune, and merits to cultivate themselves."

As she spoke, the old woman counted on three fingers and gestured to Lü Qian, "In this world, if we're talking about these three things, then people are the most prosperous!"

"Therefore, some mountain spirits and monsters have come to people for these three things. Those who follow the right path do good deeds and accumulate merit, so that people can set up a shrine for them and seek incense offerings; those who do not follow the right path will seek out those with great fortune and merit to demand titles and seize their destiny."

"The five great immortals in the Northeast also came about in this way, except that they are more clever."

The old woman gave an example: "At the end of the Ming Dynasty, these five immortals participated in the change of dynasty in order to cultivate their spiritual practice, and they succeeded."

"With the imperial decree bestowing titles, those five families directly received imperial offerings and the nation's good fortune and blessings. It can be said that they won big."

"But hehehe..."

At this point, the old woman's disdain turned into deep sarcasm and ridicule. "They are tied to the dynasty, so of course they rise and fall together. Since ancient times, what dynasty has never fallen?"

"A hundred years ago, there was another upheaval, and these five families almost perished. They only survived because of the accumulated faith and incense offerings of the people."

"But I'm different. I'm clever enough to have found a good backer."

At this point, the old lady proudly waved the whisk in her hand, "Back then, Master Guo was unlucky, but it was my opportunity."

"I directly followed him to cultivate. He saw that I was destined for it, so he taught me alchemy and the Great Dao. I was thus considered to have entered the Daoist school and was now officially registered."

Recalling old friends and past events, the old lady's smugness faded again. "Later, I helped Master Guo attain enlightenment and became the guardian deity of the Quanzhen Taoist lineage in Northeast China. I had a proper identity and official position, and incense offerings came in an endless stream."

"But cultivation is truly difficult for demons. I have obtained the alchemy method and have incense offerings, but I still cannot achieve enlightenment. I am not pure yang, nor am I a complete yang spirit. I am just a yin spirit."

The old woman sighed and looked at Lü Qian, who was listening attentively. "As for the favor I need from you, it is also related to the path of immortal cultivation."

"Please speak, senior."

The old woman continued, "A hundred years ago, this land of China was engulfed in war, and we mountain spirits and wild monsters naturally understood the principle of 'if the lips are gone, the teeth will be cold'."

"Many immortals came down the mountain to help, but war is not a matter of reason, and seven or eight out of ten of those immortals who came down the mountain did not return."

"As for those who returned, many of them suffered serious damage to their foundations and were merely clinging to life. Moreover, the oppression of this world on cultivators is becoming increasingly intense."

"Some of my old friends directly dispersed into the Dao, while others had their physical bodies collapse and sent their souls to Changbai Mountain to be nourished by the dragon vein's earth energy."

"Now only two remain, barely clinging to life: a long snake that has become a spirit and a divine tortoise that has attained enlightenment."

"They were wounded by the war and are now nearing their end. If you, Zhenwu, don't come, they will truly perish in two years."

Listening to the old woman's story from the prayer mat, Lü Qian finally understood the cause and effect.

He pondered for a moment, then looked up at the old woman in black opposite him. "So, senior, do you mean for me to use the [True Meaning of Xuanwu] as a vessel to transform those two seniors into personal Dao spirits, under my command?"

"That's right, it's crystal clear!"

The old lady looked at Lü Qian approvingly, then slapped her thigh and said, "This is a good thing for you and for them. It all depends on how you think about it."

"This junior agrees!"

Lu Qian bowed to the old woman in black, saying, "To serve one's country and family is a matter of great righteousness!"

Those who uphold righteousness should not be let down!