Chapter 1212: Are You the Immortal, or Am I the Immortal?
Meng Junzi wasn’t an idiot. You must be joking. She’s obviously absurdly strong. Why would I be so hard-headed as to fight her?
So what if I’m an immortal? The word “immortal” comes from “mortal,” and mortals know when to back down. That’s only natural. As for this kid, Jingzhou, your old ancestor has to let you down. I’m sorry, but you should just be the Qilin prodigy child.
Lu Yang grinned as he hauled Meng Jingzhou out of the crater. Seeing Meng Jingzhou glare at him with such resentment, even he felt a bit embarrassed. “Alright, just admit you can’t beat me. You know what I was doing before you came looking for me?”
“What could you be doing?” Meng Jingzhou asked grumpily.
In truth, Meng Junzi could have lent the Borrowing-Lending Incipient Dao Fruit to Meng Jingzhou, but the problem was that he didn’t know how to use it.
“I’m adding a special issue of the Cultivation Monthly. The main story will be about your advancement to the Transcendent Tribulation Stage.”
Meng Jingzhou was so excited that he pinched Lu Yang’s wrist like a vise, suddenly forgetting the pain from the explosions. “Good brother!”
Lu Yang winced in pain. He had already dispelled the Animal Form Fist, and Meng Jingzhou’s grip was excruciatingly painful.
“Since people seem to like the newspaper, I’ve been considering whether I should change it from a monthly publication to a weekly one.”
Cultivation Monthly covered major events in the cultivation world. However, Lu Yang had observed that the common folk also loved the smaller news, such as the location of a new third-class sect, which two sects had allied or feuded, the results of cultivation tournaments organized by various provinces, and so on.
Such events occurred every day, enough content for a weekly publication.
Small sects often contacted Lu Yang, hoping to publish advertisements for recruiting disciples, but space constraints usually made it impossible to accommodate their requests.
Guan Shanhai and the Fate Arbiter were full of fighting spirit, secretly vying with each other, so slacking off was never an issue.
“That’s a pretty good idea. I noticed the same thing while tempering myself in the mundane world recently. One issue a month just isn’t enough for the common folk.” Meng Jingzhou had tempered himself in the mundane world again to break through the Void Refinement Stage successfully.
Meng Junzi interrupted their conversation and said seriously, “Jingzhou, since you’ve successfully reached the Transcendent Tribulation Stage, it’s time your old ancestor imparts to you the knowledge on condensing an Incipient Dao Fruit.
“Condensing an Incipient Dao Fruit and becoming a half-immortal shouldn’t be difficult with your talent. Even becoming a true immortal is highly likely.”
Meng Jingzhou raised his hand gingerly. “Old Ancestor, regarding the knowledge on condensing Incipient Dao Fruits, could I have the Everlasting Immortal Fairy explain it to me?”
“Everlasting Immortal Fairy?” Meng Junzi raised an eyebrow. So that’s what the immortal inside Lu Yang is called.
“Although I don’t know her identity, since there hasn’t been any trace of her in the last three hundred thousand years, she must be an ancient immortal.
“But don’t assume that an immortal is stronger the more ancient they are. Regardless of her identity, she can’t possibly know more about Dao Fruits than I do.”
Meng Junzi knew that his combat prowess wasn’t the strongest among immortals. At the very least, Yun Zhi and Hui Doudou ranked above him.
But I dare claim that my understanding of Dao Fruits is unprecedented.
Meng Jingzhou still felt that the Everlasting Immortal Fairy’s explanation would be better. He quietly asserted his view. “But she created the concept of Dao Fruits.”
Meng Junzi. “...”
The other party’s identity is rather frightening.
But it doesn't matter. Those of the present need not be inferior to those of ancient times.
“Your old ancestor has a different understanding of Dao Fruits. Others wield Dao Fruits that possess the oblivion attribute, but I blazed a new trail and condensed one without it. As far as I know, no one else has condensed a Dao Fruit like this before.”
“But her Dao Fruit also doesn’t have the oblivion attribute,” Meng Jingzhou continued to whisper.
Meng Junzi silently turned to face the Everlasting Immortal Fairy. “Fellow Daoist, please explain to my descendant how to condense a Dao Fruit.”
He paused, then added, “And if possible, could I sit in as well?”
The arduous task of surpassing the ancients can be left to Fellow Daoist Yun Zhi. I shall not concern myself with such matters.
“Immortal Fairy, could you explain it to Old Meng?” Lu Yang asked.
“Sure.” The Everlasting Immortal Fairy had never kept the method of condensing Dao Fruits a secret; otherwise, there wouldn’t have been so many half-immortals in the ancient era.
Yun Zhi was considerate enough to bring out a monarch chair for each of them before the Everlasting Immortal Fairy’s lecture began.
Lu Yang had heard the Everlasting Immortal Fairy’s explanation multiple times before. He was now simply keeping Meng Jingzhou company.
Meng Jingzhou didn’t think much of the Dao Fruit theory. After all, Lu Yang often dropped bits of Dao Fruit knowledge in their conversations, pretending to be erudite.
But Meng Junzi was different. It was the first time he heard how Dao Fruits were derived, learned they could be categorized into “karma-tainted” and “karma-severing” types, and discovered that beyond Dao Fruits were Omniscience and Transcendence...
He couldn’t help but sigh in admiration. This trip to the Dao-Seeking Sect wasn’t in vain. Jingzhou getting blasted twice is a small price for such an immense fortuitous opportunity. It has totally illuminated my path ahead.
From the corner of his eye, he noticed Meng Jingzhou losing focus, and he chided him through an auditory message. “Pay attention! This knowledge will benefit you greatly!”
“Ah? Don’t you already know this, Old Ancestor?”
Meng Junzi was speechless. Hold on, are you the immortal, or am I the immortal?
Although it was a brief lesson, it was monumental for Meng Junzi. So this is the worldview of the Dao Fruit’s founder? Truly extraordinary. The things I’ve struggled to comprehend for a hundred thousand years have been resolved today.
“Fellow Daoist Everlasting, how does one walk the path of Transcendence?” Meng Jingzhou couldn’t resist asking, but he regretted it immediately.
Such a question involved the very foundation of Dao Fruits. I’ve just met the Everlasting Immortal Fairy. How could I ask such a fundamental question?
“Of course, it’s... Eh, how does one walk this path again?”
Although he didn’t receive an answer, Meng Junzi wasn’t disappointed. His gains today had far exceeded his imagination. He dared not ask for more.
“Fellow Daoist Everlasting, Fellow Daoist Yun Zhi, I shall take my leave then.” Meng Junzi cupped his fists.
The moment he left the Dao-Seeking Sect, he could no longer suppress his speed, flying straight back to the imperial city. I’ll have to go into seclusion and cultivate properly. Perhaps I’ll be able to deepen my comprehension of Dao Fruits.
~~~
In the following days, Meng Jingzhou focused on his seclusion, while Lu Yang worked on reporting Meng Jingzhou’s feat, printing the newspapers, and drafting the plans for Cultivation Monthly.
As for the manpower to implement the plan, Lu Yang posted it as a mission in the Great Mission Hall. He believed the junior disciples would take it up.
“No wonder they say a high cultivation realm is great. Back then, I used to go through hardships to complete missions. When have I ever issued one myself?”
He paused. Come to think of it, I’ve only completed two missions—catching a parrot and fighting a tiger demon.
~~~
Ten days later, Lu Yang received a letter.
“A letter from Man Gu?”
He opened it casually. Since Man Gu became the zhuangyuan, the top scorer in the palace-level examination, and became a county magistrate, the two had exchanged letters frequently.
It’s probably another account of some minor happenings in the county.
“Haunting in the city?”