Chapter 33: The Method of Immortality

Liang Yuan shook his head and gazed at Quanxi, who was bowing devoutly at his feet, but said nothing. Then, turning to the Xuan Bird, he smiled and spoke:

“You’ve done well. You survived the centennial deadline and ate the leaf of the world's first lotus, restoring your youth. By the look of it, you should live past two hundred years now.”

The Xuan Bird bowed its head, not daring to speak, hiding its face beneath its feathers, its body quivering slightly.

It seemed extremely nervous, even frightened.

Having lived so long, what was there to fear?

“Do you wish to take human form?” Liang Yuan asked.

At this question, the Xuan Bird, still concealed beneath its feathers, suddenly perked up. It stretched out its head and nodded eagerly like a pecking chick, then opened its beak to speak: “Primordial God, I… I want to take human shape, please…”

Taking human form had become a cherished wish for the Xuan Bird.

Once, it considered itself clever and felt superior, but after coming to the Ancestral Land, it found the feathered people with human shapes to be extraordinarily wise. They conversed endlessly about matters the Xuan Bird could not comprehend.

Moreover, aside from Quanxi, no one could understand the Xuan Bird’s speech, which made it feel somewhat inferior.

It believed the source of its insecurity was the lack of a human body.

“Raise your heads and look to the sky,” Liang Yuan instructed—not only to the Xuan Bird, but also to Quanxi. “The sun, moon, and stars above represent infinite possibilities.”

The Xuan Bird froze in confusion, and Quanxi, also uncertain, dared not speak directly but ventured a cautious question: “Primordial God, do you mean that if the Xuan Bird wishes to take human form, it must draw upon the power of the stars?”

“To absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, to gather the essence of sun and moon, is the way to longevity,” Liang Yuan replied. “All things arise from heaven and earth. In this world, if you practice breathing and meditation, you can stir the spiritual energy between heaven and earth and the essence within sun and moon. This power can grant all your desires.”

“Whether you wish for long life or to become human, this power will nourish and strengthen your bodies.”

Liang Yuan’s words echoed in Quanxi’s ears, leaving him astonished. Coming to his senses, he asked quietly, “Primordial God, is this… the method to become a god, to become a being like you?”

Quanxi knew his father harbored another wish: to become a god.

But within the Merman Royal Court, many merfolk believed the old king was senile—there was only one deity in all the world, how could there be a second?

Yet Quanxi knew there was more than just the Primordial God; there was the Feathered God of the avian people, and perhaps other deities unknown to him.

The merfolk believed in a sole god, but Quanxi thought otherwise—he believed there were many gods.

Yet Liang Yuan’s words left Quanxi somewhat disheartened: “No, this cannot make you like me.”

It was an undeniable truth—no one could surpass Liang Yuan.

This universe was born from Liang Yuan’s consciousness; the world belonged to him. Even if all the spiritual energy in heaven and earth were gathered into one being, it would be but a fraction of his power.

“‘God’ is but a title. The feathered people call me the Feathered God; you call me the Primordial God,” Liang Yuan continued. “What is the Feathered God? What is the Primordial God? To me, there is no difference between the avian and the merman peoples, nor between any living thing in this world. You all were born from me, you all originate from me. There is not the slightest difference.”

“Godhood is ephemeral—I have never truly acknowledged the title. It is you who have placed this intangible name upon me, and I have simply let you do so.”

“When you absorb the spiritual vitality of the world and the essence of sun and moon to achieve immortality, you have already transcended the mundane.”

“Whether you are gods or merfolk, what you are called does not matter.”

“If you must have a name for such a state, then call it ‘immortal.’”

Liang Yuan’s tone was light, as if he had found a chance to speak after a long silence, and continued: “Those who transcend the ordinary, who step beyond the three realms and escape the five elements, who achieve enduring life—these are immortals, and they are gods.”

Quanxi was left in awe, as if he had heard something impossible, feeling as though he were dreaming.

The Feathered God and the Primordial God… turned out to be one and the same!

If that was so, then his belief in the existence of multiple gods was also refuted.

Of course, this wasn’t the main reason his worldview was shaken.

The method for becoming a god, the path to immortality!

This was what truly filled Quanxi with ecstatic joy!

And since these words came from the Primordial God himself, there could be no doubt or falsehood.

There was, indeed, a way to become immortal or divine under heaven and among the sun and moon!

Overwhelmed with joy, Quanxi was about to bow in thanks when the Primordial God turned again to the Xuan Bird: “If you wish to gain something, then head south. The Bi Fang dwells in the Southern Province. When you arrive, the trace of my aura on you will make your purpose clear to Bi Fang.”

“The method for eternal life has been revealed to you. Whether you can achieve it depends on your own insight.”

The Primordial God’s words echoed in Quanxi’s mind. When he next looked up, the deity was gone, and he found himself lying on the shore.

He blinked and looked at the excited Xuan Bird nearby. A single glance between them confirmed the reality of what had happened.

It was real, not a dream!

Meanwhile, a gray wolf lying in the forest could not help but look up at the moon, a strange itch in its throat urging it to howl at the sky.

Having eaten the fruit of the Feathered God, it felt somehow different.

Though it had not fully understood what was said, it grasped something about the sun and moon.

After all, Liang Yuan’s words were not spoken aloud, but transmitted as meaning; any creature could comprehend his intent.

To absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, to gather the essence of sun and moon!

This was the phrase the gray wolf remembered most vividly.

Unable to endure the itch in its throat any longer, the gray wolf threw back its head and howled: “Awoooo—!!”

The call echoed through the land, powerful and clear, prompting the other wolves to join in. For a time, the entire shoreline was filled with the sound of wolf howls.

High above on the clouds, Liang Yuan watched and sighed inwardly.

After all he had said, the first to truly understand him turned out to be that foolish gray wolf.

He had noticed that not-too-bright wolf listening in, but had no habit of keeping secrets from those willing to listen, so he let the beast be.

“Well, in my idle moments, I may as well keep an eye on this wolf and see if they can find a way to cultivate.”

If it truly worked, the practice could be spread among the feathered people and the Merman Royal Court, using all their kind to perfect the method of immortality.

It might be a long process, but one day, a complete system for immortality would be born.