The End of the Immortal Path

"By then, it’ll be too late to ask."

Jiang Man thought for a moment before saying, "I’m in a Sword Tomb right now. There should be something essential at its core. I want to know where it is and how I can get to it."

"Head downward. Go as far down as you can, and you’ll see it," Ting Fengyin said.

Jiang Man marveled. ’With Ting Fengyin around, so many problems can be solved with ease.’

Then, he suddenly thought of something.

’The things I’m encountering... It isn’t entirely because of me.’

’Ting Fengyin is definitely involved.’

"Anything else you want to ask? There’s nothing I don’t know, only things I can’t tell you," Ting Fengyin said casually.

"I can ask anything?" Jiang Man asked, testing the waters.

Ting Fengyin nodded. "Yes. You can even try to stump me."

Since he’d said as much, Jiang Man naturally gave it some thought. He then pointed to Meng Qiewei’s Iron Sword and asked, "Here is a sword. Let’s assume this is a sword that cannot be lifted or swung. How would you lift and swing it?"

Hearing this, Ting Fengyin paused. He slowly stood up, stuffed the remaining fruit into his mouth, and said, "That’s it?"

Jiang Man nodded, watching him. "Yes."

Ting Fengyin walked up to the sword and grasped its hilt.

Jiang Man stared, waiting to see what would happen.

While he waited, Ting Fengyin suddenly released the sword and pulled back his hand.

Jiang Man was confused. "Why didn’t you try to lift it?"

"I did lift it. And I swung it," Ting Fengyin said with a mysterious smile.

Jiang Man was flabbergasted. "But I didn’t see it."

"If you saw it, could it still be called a sword that can’t be lifted or swung?" Ting Fengyin retorted casually.

"Then doesn’t the fact that I didn’t see it mean you failed?" Jiang Man asked.

Ting Fengyin smiled faintly. "What’s the rush? You’ll see it eventually."

Jiang Man felt a sense of bewilderment. ’I was just asking for trouble, wasn’t I?’

’For now, I should focus on learning the Evil God Technique.’

’I also have to go back, find the Sword Intent, and touch it to continue unlocking my Talent.’

’As for everything else, there’s no rush.’

Afterward, Jiang Man did as Ting Fengyin said and closed his eyes.

In an instant, Jiang Man felt as if he were looking upon an endless, starry sky.

At that moment, Ting Fengyin’s voice sounded: "The Evil God’s Technique is divided into three parts. I’ve categorized them into three volumes: upper, middle, and lower.

"This first volume has nine layers and is a Concealing Skill.

"Compared to modern Cultivation Skills, this one only requires Inner Cultivation, not Outer Cultivation.

"The higher your level, the more completely you can channel the Evil God’s power, and the better you can conceal your appearance and aura.

"I will now begin my explanation."

Afterward, Jiang Man heard incomprehensible sounds, but their meaning rapidly materialized within his mind.

It was incredibly fast.

In what felt like the blink of an eye, he had absorbed the entire explanation. It was simple and easy to understand—leagues better than Old Huang’s teaching.

"Do you understand?" Ting Fengyin asked.

Jiang Man recalled the information for a moment, then quickly nodded. "I understand."

"Then begin your Cultivation. Once you reach the Entry Level, we’ll move on to the middle volume," Ting Fengyin’s voice said.

Without further hesitation, Jiang Man began his Cultivation.

This time, the process wasn’t nearly as smooth.

He completed one cycle of Cultivation in an hour, but he still hadn’t reached the Entry Level.

He realized then that this Cultivation Skill was not easy in the slightest.

After all, with a Top-grade Golden Core Technique, he had reached the second layer in just two cycles.

’Looks like I haven’t unlocked enough of my Talent yet.’

Jiang Man continued his Cultivation. Half a day later, after five full cycles, he finally reached the Entry Level.

’How many years will it take to reach Great Success at this rate?’

"This speed is acceptable. At this pace, you really should have reached the Late Stage of Golden Core by now. You’ve been slacking," Ting Fengyin’s voice remarked.

Jiang Man fell silent, feeling a surge of frustration.

"Alright, let’s begin the second volume. Like the first, your mastery of the Cultivation Skill determines the extent to which you can channel the Evil God’s characteristics.

"However, it also depends on how cooperative the Evil God is.

"Once you activate it, you can channel the Evil God’s power and exert immense pressure on others," Ting Fengyin’s voice explained.

Once again, Jiang Man understood Ting Fengyin’s explanation in an instant.

He then began to cultivate.

This time, it took six cycles to reach the Entry Level.

"Consistent performance. Now for the third volume. Unlike the previous two, this one is focused on offense. Its offensive techniques are divided into three forms.

"It channels the accumulated power of either yourself or the Evil God, though it can also be used independently by channeling only your own power.

"I will only explain the basics. When you actually learn it is up to you. This qualifies as a Magic Skill.

"It’s quite difficult."

This time, Ting Fengyin’s explanation went on for a very long time.

Jiang Man found it difficult to follow, with its vast theories, complex Magic Skill pathways, and progressions of power.

Three days later, cold sweat was beading on his forehead.

Only then did he barely manage to memorize everything.

Only after he had properly sorted through the information in his mind did he open his eyes.

But what met his gaze was no longer a lake, but countless Spirit Swords embedded in the ground.

’I’m out?’

Jiang Man was a bit surprised.

He hadn’t expected to be out as soon as he had finished memorizing the Evil God’s Technique.

"You’re awake?" Lin Fei’s voice called out.

Jiang Man turned to see a nervous-looking Lin Fei, and beside him, Steward Luo.

"What’s wrong?" Jiang Man asked.

"You were missing for five days," Lin Fei explained. "Then you suddenly appeared here, looking like you were in the middle of Cultivation, so we didn’t dare disturb you."

Jiang Man stood up and stretched. "It’s been five days?"

Lin Fei nodded.

As he got to his feet, Jiang Man noticed a slip of paper fall from his robes.

It read: Here’s some information I obtained while fighting someone. It’s said to be useful against certain Demon Lords. You should try it.

It was from Ting Fengyin.

Jiang Man saw that the note mentioned a place: Fire Spirit Lake, Hundred Flowers Pavilion.

’What use is this?’

Jiang Man didn’t know, but he decided to take it back to Old Huang. He might know what it meant.

He had gained a lot this time.

He had obtained his father-in-law’s heirloom and his wife’s cherished sword, confirmed that being the Evil God’s proxy wouldn’t cause him harm, and even learned the Evil God’s Technique.