Chapter 3, Night Conversations

Lian Yan suddenly laughed and said: "The way of heaven is natural; it is not a tangible thing, but rather a state of understanding that one can only grasp personally, yet find difficult to articulate. Some may achieve postnatal perfection for decades, yet still fail to comprehend and break through the final step, remaining unable to become innate masters for their entire lives. Once one becomes an innate master, they will have a lifespan of around five hundred years."

Soaring through the Nine Heavens

"Five hundred years!" Qin Yu's small mouth was wide open.

"Uncle Wind?" Qin Yu recalled his Uncle Wind, the one who always wore white and sat atop a white crane, was actually a celestial being

In Qin Yu's mind, a vivid image naturally emerged: standing on a flying sword, soaring high above the nine heavens. That sense of exhilaration, that feeling of unrestrained freedom, made young Qin Yu yearn deeply, and he couldn't help but desire to become an immortal.

"Take a break, don't rush, let's talk when things have calmed down." Lian Yan saw that Qin Yu wanted to say something and hurriedly spoke. Qin Yu took a deep breath, then fixed his gaze on Lian Yan and said firmly, "Grandpa Lian, I want to cultivate"

Lian Yan, referred to as "Grandpa Lian" by Qin Yu, is an elder of the Qin family. The current Lord of Zhendong, Qin De, was raised by Lian Yan, who still holds significant influence within the Qin family. Two years ago, Qin De entrusted Lian Yan with the care of Qin Yu at Yunwu Mountain Villa.

Qin Yu shook his head and said, "I only know that practicing martial arts makes one very powerful; beyond that, I am not very clear. It seems there is also internal energy and some books or something like that." An eight-year-old child, although he has read quite a few books, still does not know many things.

"Immortal? What a dazzling name. Countless masters across the continent are going crazy for it, and many aspire to become an immortal. When the flying sword is unleashed, it can kill from a thousand miles away; what extraordinary power is this?" Lian Yan's eyes held a hint of longing, and then he sighed, "Even your father constantly seeks the assistance of an immortal. If there were another immortal to aid your father, perhaps his goals could be realized."

Qin Yu paused slightly, then burst into laughter: "It's nothing, I just saw how impressive those uncles at the villa are, and I want to practice martial arts. Even grandpa, can I practice martial arts too?"

The two black-armored warriors looked at Qin Yu's back with confusion

A kind-hearted elderly man, wearing a coat, appeared before Qin Yu

"A hundred people?" Qin Yu was taken aback, "Isn't the Chu Dynasty supposed to have nearly 4 billion people? How come there are so few innate experts, one in several tens of millions?"

The lamenting words stated: "A postnatal master can become one as long as there is a method for cultivation, but becoming a master at the innate level is exceedingly difficult. To reach the innate level, there are two requirements: first, one must achieve the great perfection of the postnatal realm; second, one must have some understanding of the natural way of heaven."

"For the sake of my father and the books, I must become an immortal." Qin Yu bit his lip, a determined light flashing in his eyes

"Oh dear, Xiaoyu, what happened? You're sweating profusely." Lian Yan looked at Qin Yu in surprise. Just as Qin Yu was about to say something, the intense running left him gasping for breath. Noticing Qin Yu's rapid breathing, Lian Yan quickly said, "Come on, let's go inside. You can tell me what's going on in there." With that, he took Qin Yu's hand and led him into the room.

Ah, even Grandfather, isn't there still the "Immortal" above the innate masters? How powerful are they?

"Grandpa Lian, please open the door, it's Xiao Yu, I have something to discuss with you, hurry up and open the door." Qin Yu called out anxiously. After a moment, the light in the room turned on. "Xiao Yu, Grandpa just fell asleep not long ago and you've woken me up," came the warm voice as the door opened.

If even the innate masters are this formidable, then how powerful must the celestial beings be

"Xiao Yu, do you know what martial arts are?" Lian Yan, however, did not answer and instead asked in return.

Qin Yu was immediately puzzled: "What is the natural way of heaven?"

Qin Yu suddenly felt a tremor in his heart

Then I will carefully explain it to you first said Lian Yanxiao

The thought of becoming a celestial being, being able to assist his father and earn his father's approval and attention, ignited Qin Yu's lonely heart, which longed for paternal love.

Lian Yan suddenly stood up and looked out the window with the *illustrated* book.

Qin Yu's eyes immediately lit up as he said, "Grandfather Lian, isn't there a total of ten overseas immortal islands each year? Then why are there still so few immortals in the Hidden Dragon Continent?"

Even though they are aware, the Overseas Immortal Island is indeed too far from the Qianlong Continent. Every year, tens of thousands of people from the Qianlong Continent seek out the Overseas Immortal Island in hopes of finding a master to learn skills. They aspire to stand out, yet dangers lurk in the sea, and only one out of a thousand manages to reach the Overseas Immortal Island alive

The entire Chu Dynasty has nearly one hundred innate masters, yet... the entire Chu Dynasty has struggled for a century to produce a single immortal. Currently, there are only three immortals in the entire Chu Dynasty. Among the three great immortals, two have already attained immortality over three hundred years ago. In these three hundred years, only you, Uncle Feng, have become an immortal.

Lian Yan continued, "However, the best way to become a celestial being is to travel to the overseas celestial islands to seek a master and learn the arts. Yet, apart from the celestial beings from various countries, who knows about the overseas celestial islands? Can an ordinary person even see a celestial being? Do they have the qualifications to inquire about the route to the overseas celestial islands?"

What is the goal of Father King? At the same time, a warm current flowed through Qin Yu's entire body, instantly filling him with vigor. If I cultivate and become a celestial being, I believe Father King will be very pleased. At that time, I will also be able to assist Father King.

Ah, does that mean that among those who go to the overseas fairy islands, only about ten survive each year to reach the destination, and it takes nearly a hundred years for one to cultivate into a celestial being? Qin Yu suddenly felt the immense difficulty of becoming a celestial being

Qin Yu was running with beads of sweat forming on his forehead, yet his eyes sparkled brightly, and his face was flushed: "You all hurry up and get up." As he spoke, he smiled at the two black-armored warriors, and then he bounced and dashed into the Yunwu Villa.

Qin Yu's eyes immediately lit up as he fixed his gaze on Lian Yan, listening intently.

The two individuals then sat down at the square table

... ...

The longing for paternal love is buried deep within Qin Yu's heart. He only wishes to keep it inside and then continuously strive and work hard towards his goals.

"His Highness the Third Prince usually returns from the mountaintop after waiting for the dawn to gaze at the starry sky. Why has he come back so early this time?" the black-armored warrior on the left asked in confusion.

"Cultivation?" Lian Yan was slightly taken aback, then smiled and asked in return, "Xiao Yu, how did you come to think about cultivation?"

"Becoming an immortal is not something that can be easily achieved," Lian Yan sighed. "Immortals are so revered that even the emperors of various nations must bow and address them as 'Immortal.' These emperors are indeed fearful of being killed by the immortals, who can wield flying swords and soar through the nine heavens, far beyond the realm of ordinary mortals"

"Who is it?" A black-armored warrior from Yunwu Mountain Villa shouted coldly. The other black-armored warrior also turned to look at the figure in the distance. After a moment, the two black-armored warriors finally recognized that the visitor was none other than His Highness, the Third Prince Qin Yu. They couldn't help but be greatly astonished, yet they still knelt on one knee and respectfully said, "Your Highness!"

According to Qin Yu's understanding, there are ten celestial beings in a year, so doesn't the Qianlong Continent have many celestial beings?

Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! ... ...

First, let us discuss the masters. Masters can be categorized into acquired masters, innate masters, and... transcendent beings who surpass innate masters. Lian Yan smiled and said, "As for acquired masters, there are countless numbers in the Qianlong Continent, like carp crossing the river; however, as for innate masters, there are probably only about a hundred in the entire Chu Dynasty."

"Can one become a celestial being upon arriving at the overseas fairy island?" Lian Yan shook his head and said, "What an extraordinary feat it is to become a celestial being; how could it be possible for everyone to cultivate to that level? Even if I were to tell you the methods of cultivation, only one in a thousand possesses the aptitude to cultivate."

Qin Yu, like a gust of wind, rushed directly to the outside of Lian Yan's room, and then immediately raised his small fist and knocked fiercely on the door.

However, there are very few immortals on the entire Qianlong Continent, with the accumulation over hundreds or even thousands of years totaling less than ten.

Seeing Qin Yu's adorable expression, Lian Yan smiled and said: "To become a congenital master is quite difficult. Once you achieve that status, the benefits are numerous. Five hundred years is merely a lifespan. The innate true energy of a congenital master is fundamentally different from that of an acquired master; they are entirely two different levels."

The black-armored warrior on the right also shook his head in confusion, clearly unaware of the reason