Cultivating with Bragging System

Chapter 727 367: Methods of Becoming Immortal_1

Upon hearing Wang Xiu's words, the expressions of both Wu Lingshu and her companion changed. But they quickly expressed disbelief, "Impossible."

The Painting Immortal was a supreme Quasi-Emperor of the current age!

Throughout the entire Yaoguang Heavenly Realm, there were very few who could be his equal.

Who could possibly injure him? Let alone bring any sort of calamity upon him.

Wang Xiu said calmly, "Nothing is impossible. The Demon Race has already made its move... I fear your grandfather only sent you away with such a pretext because he sensed imminent danger. He wanted you to go as far away as possible!"

Wu Lingshu's eyes flickered as she pondered for a moment, but she still shook her head. "If that's the case, why would my grandfather hold a birthday celebration and attract so many people to Cold Mountain City? Wouldn't that be incredibly dangerous?"

Wang Xiu was silent for a moment before speaking. "Is it possible that he wants to use the combined power of all the top Painting Dao Cultivators in the world to break through to a higher realm..."

The old man standing behind Wu Lingshu frowned. "Are you suggesting the Painting Immortal plans to sacrifice everyone to step into the Great Emperor Realm?"

As soon as he finished speaking, Wu Lingshu hurriedly shook her head.

She was the person in this world who understood her grandfather best. He was not that kind of person.

The aged Sword Cultivator also added, "To my knowledge, although the Painting Immortal has reached the Quasi-Emperor Realm, he is still many Heavenly Tribulations away from the peak. That explanation doesn't make sense!"

Wang Xiu sighed. "The purpose of cultivation is to attain the Dao and become an immortal! However, accumulating a high Cultivation Level isn't the only method to attain the Dao!"

"In ancient times, there were sages who, from the day they were born, never touched a single cultivation method! Yet, they were capable of achieving sudden enlightenment and becoming immortals overnight, ascending amidst rosy clouds! Where did their cultivation accumulation come from?"

His questions left the two of them speechless.

After fumbling for words for a moment, the worry in Wu Lingshu's eyes deepened. "Those are just legends. They're far too mysterious to be believed!"

Wang Xiu looked at her. "The so-called True Meaning of the Dao of Painting is also mysterious, with a thousand different answers for a thousand different people. Why, then, do you pursue it so relentlessly?"

Wu Lingshu was once again at a loss for words.

Wang Xiu turned, clasping his hands behind his back as he gazed at the sky, his eyes profound. "In this world, besides the conventional path of Tribulation Transcendence, there are two other Methods of Becoming Immortal!

"One is called Mending the Heaven, and the other is Uniting with the Dao!"

Upon hearing this, the two exchanged a glance, confusion apparent in their eyes. They had never heard of such theories.

"What is Mending the Heaven? Does the sky have a tear in it?"

Wang Xiu slowly shook his head. "Mending the Heaven refers to completing the Heavenly Dao! Throughout history, there have been countless Daos: the Sword Dao, the Blade Dao, the Thunder Path, the Dao of the Five Elements, the Dao of Daoist Magic... These Daos were not naturally formed; they were pioneered by later generations of living beings! They are known as Acquired Daos.

"Although these Daos do not point directly to the origin of the Great Dao like the innate ones, they are still recognized by the Heavenly Dao. Once one of these Daos is pioneered and brought to completion, it is considered a completion of the Heavenly Dao itself. A tremendous amount of merit will descend, guiding the Cultivator into the ranks of the immortals!"

Pausing for a moment, Wang Xiu added, "In this era, the Heavenly Dao is still young, and many Acquired Daos have yet to be perfected! The Dao of Painting is one of them... If the Painting Immortal can harness the power of all the Painting Dao Cultivators from the Nine Heavens and Ten Earths to complete this Dao, the merit he would gain, even if it's not enough to let him step into the Great Emperor Realm, would undoubtedly cause his realm to soar. He would monopolize the Fortune of the Dao of Painting!

"As long as the Dao of Painting is not extinguished, the Painting Immortal will never die!"

The two of them were dumbfounded by what they heard.

Such a path actually existed in the world?

"Then what about the method of Uniting with the Dao?"

"The method of Uniting with the Dao involves abandoning one's human consciousness to merge with one of the Three Thousand Innate Daos. From that point on, one is free of all desire. You become the Dao, ascending directly to the Immortal Path! Those who ascend using this method have a chance to merge with a Dao's origin in the Immortal Realm, becoming the master of that Dao!" Wang Xiu explained slowly.

The aged Sword Cultivator listened with rapt attention and asked, "Of these three methods, which is the strongest?"

Just as Wang Xiu was about to speak again, he suddenly remembered something and couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Aren't we getting a little off-topic?"

The two fell silent, finally snapping back to reality.

"So, you're saying my grandfather intends to use the Mending the Heaven method to try and ascend to immortality and defeat the Demon Race?" Wu Lingshu asked.

Wang Xiu nodded. "That's most likely the case!"

The method of Tribulation Transcendence was the mainstream path in this era. As for the other two methods, Wang Xiu had never heard anyone else mention them. He had only found this information within the many inheritances he had obtained. Very few people in this era were likely aware of them.

However, he couldn't exclude the possibility that the Painting Immortal had stumbled upon fragments of knowledge left over from a previous era. Or perhaps, since the Painting Immortal already stood at the pinnacle of the current Dao of Painting, the Heavenly Dao was subtly inspiring him, guiding his actions. Such things had happened before.

"The Demon Race hasn't invaded the Nine Heavens for many years. For them to appear so brazenly this time, sneaking into the heartland of the Human Race, is definitely not a coincidence! The Painting Immortal wishes to use this method to resist the Demon Race. Even if it means sacrificing billions of lives, success would allow him to stop the impending great calamity and save countless more. So this isn't a matter of right or wrong, only success or failure!"

Wang Xiu looked at Wu Lingshu and spoke slowly. "Therefore, you don't need to feel burdened by this!"

After a pause, Wang Xiu sighed. "Actually, I also hope the Painting Immortal doesn't use this method!"

Wu Lingshu looked at him, puzzled. "Why?"

Wang Xiu didn't explain. Instead, he said, "I've said what I needed to say. Whether you believe it or not is up to you!"

As his words fell, he turned and went into the house.

"Miss, don't you have a way to contact Little Cold Mountain? Why not just ask them and find out?" the aged Sword Cultivator reminded her.

Wu Lingshu's expression was troubled. "I... I haven't been able to contact them for three years! I always thought Grandfather was ignoring me because he was disappointed in my lack of progress!"

Hearing this, the aged Sword Cultivator's expression changed dramatically. "So, what Young Master Wang said could very well be true?"

Wu Lingshu hesitated no longer. She ran quickly into the house. "Young Master..."

Before she could finish, she stopped in her tracks with a baffled expression.

Wang Xiu was just walking out, followed by two Attending Maids. The house was already tidied up, looking as if they were preparing for a long journey.

"Young Master, where are you going?"

"Where else? Cold Mountain City..." As he spoke, Nie Linglan had already brought over a carriage drawn by a Spirit Beast. Wang Xiu boarded it, and a lazy voice drifted out from within. "I don't have many hobbies. I just like watching a good show!"

Wu Lingshu was slightly taken aback, then she quickly asked, "I was wondering... could I travel with you?"

A teasing look appeared on Wang Xiu's face. "So, you believe me now?"

Wu Lingshu's face flushed slightly. "This matter is too important. I have to go back and see for myself. The worst that can happen... is that I get a scolding from Grandfather!"

A slight smile touched Wang Xiu's lips. "Come on up."

The aged Sword Cultivator suddenly glanced at the two men still contemplating the painting scroll inside the house. "What about them?" he asked.

Wang Xiu's voice came from inside the carriage. "They'll probably need another ten days to half a month to comprehend it. There's no rush!"

And just like that, the group set off, much to everyone's surprise.

No one knew why the prominent Young Master Wang had departed so suddenly. Didn't he want to attend the grand feast at Little Cold Mountain?

...

A streak of light shot across the sky.

Sitting inside the carriage, Wang Xiu watched the clouds recede beyond the barrier and sighed internally.

He truly didn't want the Painting Immortal to walk the path of Mending the Heaven. According to the logic of that method, the person currently closest to the true Dao of Painting wasn't the Painting Immortal... it was him!

Once the Painting Immortal triggered a resonance with the Heavenly Dao and activated its consciousness, the Heavenly Dao's will would descend. It would likely pour all the Fortune of the Dao of Painting onto him, not the Painting Immortal!

This was beyond his control. If it happened, there would be no way for him to explain it!

Earlier, when the aged Sword Cultivator had asked which of the three ascension methods was the strongest, Wang Xiu hadn't answered. He couldn't answer. Because what happens in the Immortal Realm is unknown to those outside it.

But the one thing Wang Xiu was certain of was that both the Mending the Heaven method and the Uniting with the Dao method would ultimately result in the Cultivator no longer being themself.

That was absolutely not a path he was willing to take.

If it really comes to that, I'll have to split off an incarnation to bear it all... As for me, the Flawless Immortal Path... that is the choice I must stick to!