Chapter 79: True Cultivation in the Mortal World

June 6th, with clear skies, Soul-Bewitching Bay was livelier than ever. Boats converged from all directions, and the ferries transporting guests were packed to capacity every trip. Most of these people hailed from Qinghe County, nearly every notable figure present. Beyond that, many came from Qingxi and Qingquan Counties as well, for today marked the official founding ceremony of the Taiping Sect.

In recent days, the legendary deeds of the Rainbow Sword Immortal had spread throughout Qinghe County, even reaching the neighboring counties. Everyone was filled with curiosity about this Rainbow Sword Immortal. The Taiping Sect's doctrine of universal education, merging both immortal and martial paths, further stirred many to come and witness it themselves.

The world knows that the pursuit of immortality is good, yet the path is high, distant, and difficult. The existence of spiritual apertures alone blocks most from the immortal way. Though the clever know that the so-called union of immortality and martial arts is merely a slogan, their unwillingness and longing for the immortal path make them hope, if only a little.

Thus, more and more people arrived at Soul-Bewitching Bay.

A deep, resonant bell tolled, dispersing the mist that shrouded the bay, revealing Wooden Fish Island in its entirety. The river was clear as a mirror, schools of fish frolicked, birds soared overhead, and vibrant life abounded. Wooden Fish Island lay in the deepest bend of the river, shaped like a giant fish with its head raised, poised to leap from the water. The island’s lush trees resembled verdant scales on its back.

Pavilions, bridges, and streams were artfully hidden among the foliage, exuding tranquility. From afar, the scene evoked the ethereal, transcendent spirit of the immortal path.

“A sect worthy of legends, truly otherworldly.”

“A green fish leaps from the water, transforming into a dragon—what a magnificent layout, fitting for an immortal sect.”

Enchanted by the scenery, the crowd’s impression of the Taiping Sect became vivid; their earlier dreams seemed to materialize before their eyes.

Most who came had no real concept of an immortal sect, but upon seeing Wooden Fish Island, they suddenly understood: this was it. The first impression was indeed crucial.

Seeing the crowd’s reaction, Wang Yuan, who was in charge of reception, smiled. The reconstruction of Wooden Fish Island had cost the Taiping Sect dearly, even leveraging connections with the Lu family to hire the finest architects from the provincial city. Judging by the results, the investment had paid off.

As one who followed Jiang Chen closely, he knew the master’s plans for the sect. Though Taiping was an immortal sect in name, it was only just beginning; rapid growth required support from the secular world.

In such circumstances, reputation mattered, and so did appearances. Most people are shallow, seeing only what is obvious.

“To refurbish the sect, most of our savings are gone, but if all goes well, we’ll make it back soon enough,” Wang Yuan mused, calculating silently.

With the guests arriving at Wooden Fish Island, the founding ceremony of Taiping Sect officially began. Amidst the crowd’s anticipation, Jiang Chen appeared, adorned with a golden lotus crown, feathered robe, and holding a dust whisk, arriving as if riding the wind.

Seeing Jiang Chen’s immortal bearing, awe and reverence filled the crowd’s eyes. To ride the wind and command the air was the power of immortals.

“I, Jiang Chen, open this mountain today and establish my sect, hoping for a world of clarity and peace.”

His voice rang clear, carried by the wind, heard by every soul on the island.

Then, Jiang Chen condensed his qi into threads, and with his fingers as a sword, personally inscribed two characters—“Tai” and “Ping”—on a massive boulder perched atop a cliff, as if held in the fish’s mouth like a dragon’s pearl.

As the words were etched, the ordinary stone glowed with a gentle azure light, dreamlike and ethereal.

Witnessing this, the crowd marveled at the sign of immortality. Jiang Chen, however, remained composed; there was no true miracle, only a subtle technique when inscribing “Taiping,” infusing a portion of his soul power into the stone to create the illusion of sentience.

Among the four soul arts he had developed, soul infusion was the most complex and mysterious—capable of both creation and destruction. The creation could animate dead objects; the destructive side could slay enemies at the cost of one’s own soul.

Yet such methods were extreme and costly, reserved for dire moments.

While the crowd was mesmerized, Jiang Chen quietly withdrew his soul power. To truly animate the dead, he’d need to tear his own soul; what he had done was merely a clever trick, with many limitations.

“The Taiping Sect aims to preserve unity and nurture spirit, to do good and accumulate virtue, to pursue the Great Way together and build an era of peace. Now, as monsters bring chaos to Qinghe, harming innocents, their crimes cannot be forgiven, and their blood shall consecrate Taiping.”

Righteousness surged; Jiang Chen was like a drawn sword, sharp and commanding, his presence pressing the crowd to lower their heads.

At that moment, two monsters, heavily restrained, were brought forward by Taiping disciples. One was a green ape, over two meters tall, with long arms and a ferocious, snarling face. The other was a giant tiger, its fur dull yellow, eyes glowing green, whose gaze made all who met it shudder.

Feeling the monsters’ evil aura, the crowd’s spirits were shaken.

“It’s the Green-Armed Ape! Not long ago, it tore apart the famed Liu Xing, master of a thousand blades. It’s terrifying—who would have thought Taiping could capture it!”

“That’s the Man-Eating Tiger! It devoured an entire village, and the government tried to hunt it down several times, but it always escaped. I can’t believe it’s here!”

Exclamations erupted as many recognized the monsters.

As if stimulated by the crowd, the green ape and tiger began to struggle, their chains groaning under the strain.

With a crisp clang, the chain binding the Green-Armed Ape snapped.

Those nearby recoiled in terror, martial heroes grew tense, gripping their weapons—only a few remained calm.

A cold snort sounded, calming the crowd’s anxiety.

“Mere beasts—how dare you act out!”

With murderous intent, Jiang Chen pointed at the ferocious ape.

Spiritual energy surged, and a massive finger, thick as an ancient tree, formed and pressed the ape to the ground. The once fearsome monster now appeared weak, like an ant.

Witnessing this, the crowd’s admiration and reverence for Jiang Chen, and their yearning for the immortal path, reached a peak—but this was not the end.

“The Green-Armed Ape killed eleven innocents, its crimes grave. Its body shall now protect Qinghe and atone for its sins.”

With solemn expression, Jiang Chen summoned the power of Blood Fiend True Flame, and before all, he refined the freshly slain ape into a piece of monster hide.

“Li Buqi, you were born orphaned, raised by the kindness of many, and grew up with virtue. This monster hide contains the beast’s power and its malice. Today, I grant it to you to defend the people of Qinghe. Do you dare take it?”

His gaze pierced like a sword, fixing upon Li Buqi, also known as Skinny Monkey.

“Disciple is willing, I ask the sect leader to grant the method.”

Robed and crowned in iron, Skinny Monkey bowed deeply to Jiang Chen, unwavering and resolute.

“There is good and evil in the method; power itself is neither righteous nor wicked. Used rightly, it is right; wrongly, it is wrong. Do not disappoint me.”

With a touch, Jiang Chen placed the ape’s hide upon Skinny Monkey, who swiftly refined it.

With a roar, the monster hide merged, transforming Skinny Monkey into the Green-Armed Ape, his body brimming with monster qi, as if the ape had been reborn.

“So this is the power of monsters…”

Strength surged within him, and Skinny Monkey felt exhilarated. Thanks to prior training with the Heart Refining Stone, his will held firm and he did not lose himself.

“Such power needs to be demonstrated…”

Eyes flashing with ferocity, Skinny Monkey, now the ape, locked his gaze on the Man-Eating Tiger.

Sensing danger, the tiger grew uneasy, but bound as it was, could do nothing.

“Let me test this monster’s power.”

With killing intent, Skinny Monkey unleashed the ape’s magic. Spiritual energy gathered, and a stone the size of a human head formed in his palm—the Flying Stone Technique.

“Die!”

Fully exerting the technique, Skinny Monkey hurled the stone.

With a whoosh, the stone shot through the air. Amid a furious roar, the tiger’s head exploded in a bloody blossom, splattering the ground—violent and brutal.

Seeing this, regardless of status—villager, hero, or cultivator—all were moved. After a brief silence, countless eyes burned with feverish desire: Taiping Sect truly had methods to grant ordinary people the power of immortals.

That the power came from monsters didn’t matter; power itself is neither good nor evil. Everyone believed they could master it.

Jiang Chen, observing all this, was quietly satisfied.

Just then, a flock of immortal cranes soared overhead, their calls ethereal, like celestial music, refreshing the soul. Bathed in golden sunlight, they seemed especially sacred.

As the cranes flew over Wooden Fish Island, the leading crane seemed attracted by something, glancing downward and locking eyes with Jiang Chen.

Startled, the crane cried out and led its flock skyward, vanishing into the clouds. Only a single green lotus, held in its beak, drifted down.

Jiang Chen reached out and caught the lotus, surprise flickering in his eyes. Though he possessed the Crane Master’s secrets, he had never bred immortal cranes—this scene was not his doing.

Others, seeing the lotus fall into Jiang Chen’s hand, became even more convinced of his genuine cultivation. After all, both immortal cranes and green lotuses hold special meaning in the immortal way. A destitute scholar, moved by the sight, recited:

“Say not that the mundane has no crane messenger,
For a green lotus is brought from the clouds.
True cultivation lives among men,
Why search for distant Mount Penglai?”

As he finished, tears streamed down his face. Encountering the immortal path had ruined his life, yet today, seeing true cultivation, all his regrets faded away.