Eternal Life Starts from Tai Chi

Chapter 340: Weakness is the Original Sin, Refining the Heart in the Red Dust

On the Qingyuan River, some rowed against the current to flee, while others sped toward its heart. The difference between them was information.

Those who knew the reason understood that opportunity lay within the whirlpool. Those who didn’t were afraid of perishing in the Qingyuan River.

The massive whirlpool in the middle of the river was a natural disaster. Without sufficient Martial Arts Cultivation, one was like an ant before such a catastrophe, with no control over life and death.

The Cyan Yuan Sect was relatively close to where the whirlpool appeared on the Qingyuan River. After seeing the Six Gates take action, the Direct Disciple in charge followed suit.

He had already sent word back to the Cyan Yuan Sect before leading the other disciples from his Sect into the whirlpool first.

It was a choice to gamble with one’s life, but there weren’t many opportunities in a lifetime worth such a risk. The scene before him was one of them.

With his Talent, breaking through to the Inner Master realm was extremely difficult. In a few more years, he would be stripped of his status as a Direct Disciple and could only become a Sect Steward. But now, if he could find an opportunity in this strange Secret Realm, he might just have a chance to become an Inner Master.

For him, this was a risk worth taking.

Whether for powerful Martial Arts Cultivation or the increased Lifespan that came with becoming an Inner Master, the potential reward made the danger worthwhile.

The people on the shore were panicked at first, but they soon saw the situation in the Qingyuan River. The extremely conspicuous Red Ship of the Six Gates, in particular, charged directly into the central whirlpool, allowing many to figure out what was happening.

Those on the shore naturally had a clearer view of the situation in the river.

The quick-witted had already boarded boats and entered the Qingyuan River, following in the footsteps of the Six Gates.

Everyone realized a Secret Realm was about to appear in the Qingyuan River. The first to enter would be the first to find opportunities, and those who wanted them had to seize the initiative.

Even if they couldn’t be first, they had to at least keep up and claim their own share of the opportunities.

Previously, in the Silver State Secret Realm, many Loose Cultivators had obtained all sorts of Spirit Medicine at the beginning, which they later exchanged for a great deal of Cultivation Resources.

It was the same this time. One by one, they followed, willing to face any risk.

High risk meant high reward. The appearance of a Secret Realm was worth staking one’s life on. With good luck, one’s cultivation could reach a new level. One could even change their fate and establish a powerful family.

Among the various states, many powerful families had been founded by a Loose Cultivator who rose up after obtaining an opportunity, gradually developing and growing until they became a family that controlled a region. This was what most Loose Cultivators dreamed of.

Even if they couldn’t reach that stage, as long as they obtained an opportunity and raised their cultivation, they would have the chance to join other families. They would no longer have to wander alone, helpless and without support, but would have a backer.

Someone had once obtained an opportunity, married into a Noble Family, and later even became the family’s patriarch, using it to establish a new Noble Family of his own.

Although many looked down on his actions with contempt, they were also extremely envious.

If you could marry into wealth, who would want to struggle so desperately? Was the easy life not good enough, or did they just have a death wish?

The birth of one legendary story after another seemed absurd, yet they happened all around these people, even frequently. These stories naturally made these Loose Cultivators even more willing to risk their lives.

In the chaos of the Imperial Dynasty, life was cheap. What was valuable were the things everyone chased after: Cultivation Resources, supreme power, and the like.

As soon as one person made a move, countless others followed. It was as if they had a leader, but this was just the reality of the world.

Weakness was the original sin. To change one’s fate, one had to put their life on the line.

On the great river, some people came to their senses and headed toward the Six Gates’ Red Ship. They knew the Court’s watchdogs must have information others didn’t, which could help them avoid risks. Some large ships even tried to sail alongside the Red Ship.

In response, Jin Feihua gave a single command. Giant crossbow bolts pierced through the ships that got too close, while archers shot down the people on board.

Jin Feihua naturally knew that these people from the Jianghu were not exactly friendly toward the Six Gates. If they got close, they might resort to all sorts of insidious tricks.

She knew these people all too well, especially the Loose Cultivators. They were capable of using all kinds of vicious and despicable methods. The number of such people who had died by her hand was too great to count.

To deal with these people, one had to use iron-fisted methods to make them not dare to approach and to instill a sense of awe and fear.

Mercy doesn’t bring peace, but absolute force can suppress all dissent.

Only through iron-fisted methods could she avoid being swarmed and attacked.

"Anyone who comes within a hundred meters will be killed without mercy!"

As corpse after corpse fell into the river, dyeing the water red, Jin Feihua’s cold gaze swept over all the ships. Her gaze fell not only on the large ships nearby but also on the vessels of the great sects in the distance, like the Supreme Sect, the Celestial Fragrance Sect, and the Taiyin Demon Sect.

She had a great deal of intelligence and naturally had some understanding of these great sects. They all had Martial Saint experts presiding over them and were extremely powerful.

Their residences even contained Spirit Veins and were rare Cave Heaven Blessed Lands, which naturally allowed them to nurture many experts.

However, these great sects stood aloof from the mundane world. Their goal was longevity and carefree immortality, and they coexisted peacefully with the various Imperial Dynasties, even cooperating to a certain extent.

The Supreme Sect and the Celestial Fragrance Sect had outposts within the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty. They called it ’Refining the Heart in the Red Dust’ and would also search for various Secret Realms that appeared in the world.

Once, a peerless great sect emerged from a Cave Heaven Blessed Land, wanting to unite the world under its imperial rule. In the end, it was attacked by all sides, and the great sect was annihilated, disappearing into the river of history.

This served as a warning to the other great sects to no longer involve themselves in imperial power.

Some great expert had deduced that the fortune of an Imperial Dynasty was incompatible with the path to immortal longevity, which was what led to the peerless sect’s downfall. This claim was never verified, but it was enough to extinguish the ambitions of many who were stirring with similar ideas.

Furthermore, cultivation within an Imperial Dynasty was inferior to that in a Cave Heaven Blessed Land. The benefits of a Spirit Vein alone could replace a great deal of Spirit Medicine.

As for Cultivation Resources, they were obtained through various trades, and each of the great sects had its own methods for gathering them.

The Supreme Sect Saintess noticed Jin Feihua’s gaze and gave a slight nod.

She had been in the Great Zhou Imperial Dynasty for a long time, so she was naturally aware of Divine Constable Jin Feihua, who loathed evil as a personal enemy. It was no simple feat for a woman to command the Six Gates and slowly raise it from obscurity.

In addition, Jin Feihua’s cultivation Talent was outstanding. She was just a step away from becoming a Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster. Their strengths were not far apart, making her a formidable rival.

As the Saintess of the Supreme Sect, breaking through to the Bone Marrow Cleansing Grandmaster Realm was not difficult for her. However, she needed to Refine her Heart in the Red Dust while also accumulating her foundations to prepare for the Martial Saint Realm.

The goal for Saintess-level figures from the great sects was naturally the Martial Saint Realm, or even the legendary Longevity Carefree Immortal.