Spirit Ruin, Sword Coffin, Blind Swordsman - Chapter 17 What is an Immortal?

The Elders nodded in agreement one after another. After all, they knew Li Nanting’s strength. With such talent, Li Guanqi would benefit greatly from taking him on as a master, and Li Nanting would finally get the opportunity to train a closed-door disciple. After all, no one wanted to go through life in vain. Everyone wished to pass down their skills.

The crowd dispersed. Li Nanting and Li Guanqi returned to his private courtyard. The two of them conducted a simple apprenticeship ceremony. They knelt, offered tea, and completed the rites.

Li Nanting spoke softly, “Guanqi, today, we become master and disciple; it’s fate.”

“As your master, there’s not much I can offer you aside from my teaching. So for now, I’ll give you this pill.”

Swish!

Li Nanting’s left ring emitted a bright light, and in his hand appeared a jade box. Li Guanqi carefully took the jade box and, upon opening it, found a round, smooth pill. Inside, the pill glowed with a shimmering fluorescence.

“Master, this is…”

The old man smiled faintly and said, “A high-grade Foundation-Establishing Pill.”

Li Guanqi was stunned, quickly closing the jade box and handed it back to the old man.

“No, Master, this is too precious.”

The old man chuckled and whispered, “Take it. I don’t have much else of value anyway.”

“Originally, the sect leader also wanted to grant you a Foundation-Establishing Pill, but decided it was too conspicuous, and he was afraid it would bring you trouble if he announced it.”

“So, he planned to wait until you reached the tenth level of Qi Refinement. but I’m different.”

“Since I have one, I’ll give it to you!”

But Li Guanqi still insisted, “Master, if I have this thing on me, I won’t be able to sleep well.”

“Let’s do this instead; keep it for me until I need it.”

Seeing the young man’s persistence, the old man didn’t argue. He put the jade box away.

“If you insist, I’ll keep it for you.”

“Hmm… I see you have abundant vitality, and your physical foundation is truly solid! Did your family elders teach you?”

Li Guanqi scratched his head, recalling his grandfather’s stern demeanor.

Respectfully, he replied, “My grandfather used to give me herbal baths from a young age, made me carry weights up and down the mountain every day, and even had me practice by punching wooden stakes.”

“I didn’t even realize how I got to this point.”

A glint of insight flashed in Li Nanting’s eyes.

No wonder he sensed a fresh herbal scent when he saw Li Guanqi.

“Is the thing on your back given to you by your grandfather too? Is it a sword sheath? It doesn’t seem like it… How could a sword sheath be so large and made of stone?”

Li Guanqi scratched his head and whispered, “My grandfather gave it to me before he left, but he said it’s a sword coffin, not a sword sheath.”

Boom!

These words echoed like thunder in Li Nanting’s mind! With a wave of his hand, the wooden door of the hall slammed shut with a heavy thud. Then, a surge of elemental energy formed a barrier in front of the two of them. Li Guanqi didn’t understand why the old man suddenly became so cautious.

Li Nanting stood up with a solemn expression and said, “If anyone asks you in the future, you must say that it’s a sword sheath!”

“Why?”

“Why… Because it’s more than likely that someone will learn of its nature and have evil intentions, even resorting to murder for it!”

“A sword coffin! At minimum, only a longsword beyond the Magical Item level or even an Ancient Treasure would be sealed like this!”

“From low to high, tools are categorized as Mortal Items, Magical Items, Spiritual Items, Magical Treasures, Ancient Treasures, Spiritual Treasures, and Divine Treasures!”

After his master explained it this way, Li Guanqi finally understood just how precious the sword coffin behind him was.

Li Nanting continued to explain, “Even Nascent Soul cultivators rarely have access to Ancient Treasure-grade swords!”

The young man nodded solemnly, deeply internalizing this matter.

The elemental energy barrier dissipated and Li Nanting spoke softly, “It seems your grandfather was also a cultivator, and he must have had formidable strength.”

“To allow you to carry a sword coffin on your journey…”

Li Guanqi awkwardly touched his nose; after all, he didn’t really know how powerful his grandfather had been.

Li Nanting sat in his chair and gestured for Li Guanqi to sit on the cushion in front of him.

After gathering his thoughts, he asked softly, “What do you think it means to be an immortal?”

Li Guanqi pondered for a moment and replied softly, “Immortality means longevity, free control of one’s sword, following one’s heart’s desires, and achieving great personal freedom.”

Li Nanting smiled warmly upon hearing this.

He pointed his finger toward Li Guanqi and said, “Your understanding at such a young age is impressive.”

“Some say that immortals live carefreely, are virtuous and kind.”

“They vanquish demons and uphold justice.”

“They draw upon the qi of Heaven and Earth and enjoy boundless lifespans.”

“They observe the ever-changing world while remaining unmoved, like a mountain, and savoring wine.”

“That’s what an immortal is, but not entirely.”

Li Guanqi’s thoughts were now deeply immersed in his master’s description of “immortality.”

However, the Li Nanting’s tone suddenly turned stern.

“In your master’s eyes, immortality takes on another form!”

“What form is that?”

His eyes shimmered with intensity as he stood up and gazed at the sky, speaking in a solemn voice.

“The path of cultivation is long and filled with intrigue, scheming, and political maneuvering!”

“Naturally, there will be bloodshed and chaos, especially when precious treasures emerge, leading to battles and sword clashes.”

“Once you reach the Nascent Soul stage, you’ll have to undergo a small heavenly tribulation every three hundred years.”

With this, he turned abruptly to face the young man.

“So, in my view, entering the path of immortality is like entering an endless sea; there’s no turning back in this lifetime.”

“What it means to be an immortal is all about competition!!”

A look of puzzlement appeared in the young man’s eyes.

“Competition?”

“Yes! Competing with others! Competing with the land! Competing with the Heavens!”

“Seizing spiritual energy! Seizing luck! Seizing opportunities!”

“Living for countless eons, devoid of joy or sorrow, sometimes immortal, sometimes demonic!”

“Cultivation is about going against the natural order, plundering the qi of Heaven and Earth, achieving an unparalleled body, and ascending to the immortal realm.”

“On this path, you’ll encounter countless obstacles. So, you must carve your own prosperous road, whether by moving mountains, building bridges over rivers, or cleaving open a grand path with the sword in your hand!”

The old man’s impassioned voice conveyed the insights he had gained over the past few centuries. He wanted to make the young man understand these principles, born from the countless hardships he had experienced in the mortal world. He didn’t want the young man to become too naive or excessively kind-hearted.

A hint of something new appeared in the young man’s bewildered eyes as he respectfully bowed. “Master, even though I may not fully understand it now, I will engrave these words in my heart.”

Li Nanting looked at the young man, whose eyes were filled with innocence, and didn’t say anything to suggest he needed to understand it all at once. He had shared these words to make the young man comprehend the harsh reality of cultivation.

Li Nanting waved his hand and said, “You should return home early today. Tomorrow, at the hour of the Rabbit, go to Heavenly Water Peak for a class. Elder Lan will be your teacher and will give you the first lesson in your cultivation journey. Be sure not to be late.”

Li Guanqi respectfully took his leave.