Inside the hospital room, Su Ping, who had gathered information with the help of the two Spirit Rats, Little White and Little Grey, felt he had a good grasp of the situation.
He slowly opened his eyes, stood up, and after seeing that his Invisibility Talismanic Incantation had expired, he took out another Invisibility Talismanic Incantation and placed it on himself.
Only then did he leap up, leaving this spawn point directly from the window, and heading towards East King Temple.
Inside East King Temple.
The young Daoist who managed this temple was named Zhou Xuan. He had just turned twenty this year, and his background was not bad at all.
When he was studying at the Daoist Academy, he was the kind of enviable existence who, even if he couldn't cultivate the Dao or get a certificate, could still go home and inherit several buildings to collect rent.
It was just that Zhou Xuan, if placed in ancient texts, would be the type of 'superior Cultivator who seeks the Dao and diligently practices it'.
As if born with a Dao seed, when he was young, his health was not good, and his family's elders took him to a Daoist temple to burn incense and worship gods.
It was through this that he came into contact with Daoist knowledge and became completely engrossed in it.
Moreover, his academic performance and talent were all excellent, which amazed the people of the Daoist Academy, and after much persuasion, his parents finally agreed for Zhou Xuan to embark on the path of Dao.
Although in this day and age, cultivating the Dao could not produce Divine Abilities that could 'steal the sky and change the sun'.
And not many people believed in the existence of ghosts and gods above them anymore.
But to truly make a name for oneself in this field, it was actually considered a decent path for an individual.
As a great Cultivator, one could also have a certain social status.
And most importantly, the sect Zhou Xuan joined did not forbid marriage.
Furthermore, it upheld the principle of 'cultivate if you want, don't if you don't, it's all voluntary', meaning that as long as the person was willing, they could withdraw at any time and become an ordinary layperson.
And Zhou Xuan himself was highly regarded; this time at East King Temple was merely a period of experience.
In as short as half a year, or as long as a year, he would be selected to go to a famous mountain temple to continue his cultivation and further studies.
After finishing his call with a friend and concluding his meditation practice, Zhou Xuan, however, did not care about these empty titles.
Whether in the Daoist Academy or in this small Daoist temple.
What he cared more about was his own cultivation.
It's just…
"Can True Immortals truly not be cultivated in this world anymore?"
Zhou Xuan looked down at the floor and sighed softly, a hint of unwillingness in his voice.
Although he had cultivated Daoist methods for many years, he was still a young man who had just turned twenty.
Coupled with the current information age, Zhou Xuan inevitably came into contact with many related fantasies and yearned for the Cultivators in those anime and novels.
As a young Daoist priest.
He also wanted to be able to fight ten people at once, or even fly on a sword to slay demons and monsters.
Unfortunately, the cultivation in the fantasy world and the real world... one cannot say they are exactly the same, only that they are completely unrelated.
Cultivating one's body and mind through meditation was not a big problem.
As for slaying demons and monsters, that could truly only be achieved through daydreaming.
"Alas, it's time to cook."
Zhou Xuan stretched his limbs; there was no need to look at a clock.
After years of cultivation, he could already determine the times for breakfast, lunch, and dinner each day by feeling.
Washing rice and cooking, thanks to the Daoist temple having electricity and water, Zhou Xuan could directly use an electric rice cooker, so he didn't need to chop wood and make a fire like in cultivation novels.
"Hmm?"
"Is someone in the main room?"
After cooking the rice, Zhou Xuan entered the backyard, planning to make some cold dishes to go with the meal, when he suddenly found that the door to his own room had been opened.
And looking through the window, there was a figure inside!
He was slightly startled and quickly walked over.
"Could it be some wandering Daoist? My Daoist temple doesn't provide food or lodging."
Stepping over the threshold, Zhou Xuan, who first saw a person in a green Daoist robe, was still thinking it was some Fellow Daoist who had come upon this Daoist temple and entered. With his hands performing a Daoist salute, he was about to speak.
His mouth slightly opened, but upon seeing the other party turn around, he instantly lost his voice.
There was no other way.
Su Ping, who had appeared in this room and was already at the fourth layer of Qi Condensation.
Dressed in a brand new dust-repelling Daoist robe, with cloud-patterned cloth shoes on his feet, and an ancient sword sheath on his back, his demeanor was truly too ethereal, mysterious, and awe-inspiring.
At first glance, he reminded Zhou Xuan of the descriptions of banished Immortals in ancient texts.
Even though he no longer believed that Immortals truly existed in this world.
After seeing Su Ping's Immortal countenance, his eyes still flashed with admiration, and he quickly performed a Daoist salute and changed his prepared words:
"Greetings, Fellow Daoist. I am the current abbot of this East King Temple."
"Fellow Daoist, is there anything I can help you with during your visit to East King Temple?"
Looking at the young Daoist who had become humble in the blink of an eye.
Su Ping stroked his flawless chin, looked at the changed room layout, and slowly said:
"The previous abbot… where is that Fellow Daoist Yu?"
"Fellow Daoist Yu? The previous abbot was Fellow Daoist Niu… Wait, Fellow Daoist, are you asking about that Abbot Yu who passed away twelve years ago?"
"Passed away twelve years ago?"
Although he had already guessed as much, Su Ping still shook his head slightly with a hint of emotion.
Zhou Xuan cautiously observed Su Ping, seeing that his reaction seemed to confirm his guess. Looking again at his ethereal demeanor and face whose exact age was difficult to discern.
He vaguely realized something, and his gaze towards Su Ping carried a hint of eagerness.
"I was an old acquaintance of that Abbot Yu."
"Today, I felt a calling, so I returned to this old place, but I didn't expect that the person was already gone."
Su Ping said softly, and everything he said was true.
He truly knew the abbot of this East King Temple.
It was just not the kind of acquaintance the other party was guessing.
"This temple has always had a connection with me. This time, descending the mountain, I plan to stay here for a period."
"Please keep these gold pieces, young friend, so you can help me purchase some necessities."
Saying this, Su Ping extended his right hand and gently brushed it over the wooden table in the room.
Three small gold bars were neatly laid out on the tabletop, making Zhou Xuan's eyes widen instantly.
"A trick? Or magic?"
Zhou Xuan looked at the gold bars that had suddenly appeared on the table, then at Su Ping, who looked calm, as if conjuring gold bars with a mere brush was a perfectly normal thing.
He struggled internally for a moment, then made up his mind, quickly bowed, and said with conviction:
"Daoist, as an old friend of Abbot Yu, it is my Junior's honor that you are willing to stay here!"
"However…! Please enlighten this humble one, Daoist!"
"May I ask, Daoist, is there truly a method for cultivating Immortality and achieving longevity in this world?"
Gathering his courage to ask the question, Zhou Xuan tensed his body and looked at Su Ping.
"A true method for cultivating Immortality and achieving longevity?"
Su Ping heard these words, looked at Zhou Xuan's sincere and expectant gaze, and the corners of his mouth curled slightly.
He chose to first settle down at East King Temple.
Naturally, it was to quickly integrate into Water Blue Star society and utilize its resources.
And the best way to quickly integrate, and to avoid attracting too much attention from the authorities, was naturally to find a local spokesperson to help.
After gathering information, Su Ping conducted a preliminary analysis.
Zhou Xuan, with his heart set on the Dao, as a Cultivator of East King Temple who held a certain status and was more eager about the mysterious than others, naturally entered Su Ping's sight immediately.
Would he foolishly report clues of the extraordinary in exchange for non-existent rewards, or would he obey and act, in exchange for that slim possibility of stepping into the extraordinary!
Su Ping believed that Zhou Xuan, who was recognized by the Daoist Academy, received his certificate, and became the abbot of a temple.
Was a smart person, and would make a smart choice!
Furthermore, if the other party's desire for the Dao was not feigned, then for such a Cultivator, what could be more important than the opportunity to cultivate a true method!
Su Ping had seen too many such people's obsession with cultivation in his twenty years in the Cultivation World.
Coincidentally, he was a genuine Cultivator, capable of becoming the greatest Heart Demon in Zhou Xuan's heart!
"Hahaha!"
"The method for cultivating Immortality and achieving longevity is fraught with countless difficulties, but it ultimately exists!"
Su Ping waved his sleeves, laughing heartily and unrestrainedly.
Immediately, he silently activated his Object Manipulation Divine Ability.
Clang!
The Blazing Flame Wooden Sword flew out with a clang from the sword sheath on Su Ping's back. After flying a circle in mid-air, it swooshed and hovered in front of Zhou Xuan.
At this moment, the sun was setting in the west.
Some dazzling red light shone through the window into the small room.
Illuminating the hovering wooden sword, making it shimmer brightly.
Zhou Xuan, staring at the wooden sword without blinking, felt his eyes begin to sting.
He could no longer bear to blink.
Having seen a truly extraordinary method for the first time in his life...
He was, because of this—entranced!