Chapter Six: The Path Has No End

“Are you certain you’re truly ready to embark on the path of cultivation and pursue the Dao?” Ye Yu gazed intently at Ye Yun, his expression grave as he asked once more.

“I am certain, Master!” Ye Yun nodded, his eyes unwavering.

A smile finally appeared on Ye Yu’s face—not because he had painted the road of cultivation as overly perilous and arduous. In truth, the tribulations that awaited on this path were far greater than anything he had described.

Had Ye Yun hesitated even for a moment, Ye Yu would have felt a measure of disappointment, perhaps even questioning whether now was the right time to begin teaching Ye Yun the true arts of cultivation.

Yet Ye Yun showed no fear. In the past two years, he had read countless books and naturally understood that undertaking anything involved risk; seeking the way of immortality was even more fraught, shrouded in legend. If it were a smooth path, he would not believe it at all.

From childhood, under the guidance of Ye Zili, and later with Ye Yu’s careful nurturing, Ye Yun’s unique character had gradually formed. Though only eight years old, he had learned much already.

What he lacked was the tempering that comes from venturing into the world, to broaden his horizons and deepen his understanding.

“The methods of cultivation are complex: to enter the Dao through martial arts, to pursue knowledge through study, and to proceed step by step. From today onward, I shall instruct you in the cultivation of martial arts,” Ye Yu declared in a clear voice.

“Martial arts…” Ye Yun’s face lit up with excitement and anticipation.

“Indeed. The world knows that martial arts are difficult to master, yet among the five branches of the Dao, they are unparalleled for combat. Internal cultivation focuses on refining one’s vital energy, while external training forges the body, muscle, and skin—the essence of martial techniques.

“Martial arts, alchemy, artifact forging, talisman crafting, formation arts, and miscellaneous studies—no matter which path one chooses, the ultimate aim is to attain immortality. Refining the vital energy is the foundation for all.”

As Ye Yu explained, Ye Yun nodded inwardly. Having read broadly, he had some understanding of martial arts.

To his knowledge, martial arts placed no requirement on one’s innate talent: anyone could begin the practice. However, one’s talent determined how far they could go. Without exceptional aptitude, one would not receive the support of a powerful sect, and even if they did embark on cultivation, they could only practice rudimentary techniques for refining energy.

The truly advanced methods were all held by the various great powers.

The path of martial cultivation was arduous; even those with good talent were often unwilling to pursue it. Typically, after advancing past the stage of refining energy and reaching the foundation-building phase, practitioners would turn to cultivating magical arts and wielding weaponry and talismans in battle.

Among those who tread the path of immortality, ninety-nine percent chose this route, for martial cultivation beyond foundation building was a hundred times harder than mastering spells. Even those who started with martial arts often could not persist, with most giving up halfway.

Yet if one succeeded in martial arts, their power was formidable; after reaching foundation building, they would far surpass spell cultivators of the same rank.

Some sought to master both martial techniques and spells, but both were vast and profound—attaining true mastery in even one could consume a lifetime. Most who pursued both ended up achieving little in either, hampering their own progress.

“The path I have arranged for you is to begin with martial arts. Of all branches of the Dao, martial techniques are the most difficult. Are you willing to learn?” Ye Yu asked.

“I will follow Master’s guidance in all things,” Ye Yun replied obediently. Though he knew martial arts were the hardest, he felt no fear; from a young age, his father Ye Zili had taught him always to possess a courageous heart.

“Very well!” Ye Yu smiled with satisfaction. “I have twenty-three martial cultivation manuals here. Which one would you like to practice?”

With a wave of Ye Yu’s hand, a shimmering light appeared, and twenty-three thin, yellowed booklets materialized, floating before Ye Yun.

“Master, is this the power of cultivators? Martial arts and spells—may I ask which path you have taken?” Ye Yun couldn’t help but inquire curiously.

Ye Yu chuckled. “So, you’re already probing your master’s secrets…” A proud aura emanated from him as he responded, “Very well, I’ll tell you. I practice both martial and magical arts, and within my realm, I have few equals.”

“Dual cultivation of martial and magical arts? Master, you’re amazing! May I ask how far you’ve progressed on the path? What is your current cultivation level?” Ye Yun pressed on, full of curiosity.

“You’re quite persistent, aren’t you? As for my cultivation, I won’t tell you—lest you become overambitious, which would do you no good.”

Ye Yu laughed, then pointed at the floating, yellowed booklets. “These are the martial manuals I have collected over the years. Take your time and make your choice.”

Each booklet was slender, containing few words; after all, the essence of a manual lay in its core principles, requiring comprehension and insight.

Golden Bell Body, Iron Bone Forging Method, Azure Demon King Physique, Northern Sea Divine Art, Heaven and Earth Totem Technique…

Ye Yun examined each one carefully, reading their titles.

He picked up the first, the Golden Bell Body, and upon opening it, found that it focused on tempering the flesh, with an accompanying technique called the Golden Bell Barrier. Once mastered, its defense was formidable, but the training was arduous and involved frequent physical pummeling, resulting in much pain. The method for refining essence into energy was simple and easy to understand, not particularly profound.

He set that one aside and opened the second, the Iron Bone Forging Method, which was slightly more advanced. Its cultivation required rare medicinal herbs to temper the body, building upon energy refinement and forging the bones and sinews.

The Azure Demon King Physique was a demonic technique; cultivating it would cause eerie azure demonic marks to appear on the body, giving off a sinister aura.

After leafing through seven or eight manuals, Ye Yun had yet to find one that truly interested him, and he couldn’t help but frown.

It wasn’t until he reached the twenty-third and final booklet that his eyes lit up with genuine interest.

Scarlet Flame Demonic Art—a martial manual lost since ancient times. Once mastered, its power would enable one to soar to the heavens or plunge into the abyss, to slay gods and immortals, to shatter the void, to reach the highest heavens and descend to the depths of the Yellow Springs, becoming unrivaled beneath the sky!

As Ye Yun carefully perused the incantations and principles of the Scarlet Flame Demonic Art, he immediately sensed that this manual was far more profound than the previous twenty-two.

Within the Scarlet Flame Demonic Art were methods for the stages of Refining Essence into Qi, Foundation Building, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul, encompassing the entire first great phase of cultivation.

“Oh? It seems your two years of reading have not been in vain. You managed to recognize the finest manual among all my collections,” Ye Yu said with a smile.

“Master, this is the one I want to cultivate,” Ye Yun replied without hesitation.

“I acquired this Scarlet Flame Demonic Art by chance while traveling in my youth, stumbling into an ancient secret realm. This manual demands high innate talent and aptitude. I exhausted myself trying to master it, but failed.”

Ye Yu sighed. “Though I have only these twenty-three manuals in my collection, I have seen countless martial techniques in my life, and I have never encountered one to rival the Scarlet Flame Demonic Art.”

“No, to be precise, no martial manual in the world can compare; it stands in a class of its own!”

Ye Yu’s appreciation for the Scarlet Flame Demonic Art was clear. He gazed at Ye Yun, his eyes full of hope. “Though this art is mighty, it is the most difficult to master among all I have seen. Do you know why?”

“Why is that?” Ye Yun asked, full of curiosity.

“Read the opening preface,” Ye Yu instructed instead of answering.

At his master’s words, Ye Yun opened the manual again, and the first line of the opening preface leapt out at him.

“The evolution of the Great Dao—nine is the ultimate limit!”

“Yet the Dao is boundless; how can there be any true limit?”

“Alas! All things are governed by the Dao; to yearn for transcendence, yet find no means to surpass.”

“The Dao is heaven. To transcend the Dao is to defy heaven itself; the Dao will not permit it, and such is the way of demons!”

“The demonic path seeks to defy heaven in pursuit of transcendence; only those with innately perfect souls can walk it. The Dao is endless, the immortal path has no bounds!”

Ye Yun read these lines aloud. The words seemed imbued with some mysterious power; merely speaking them aloud was enough to grasp their meaning.

Nine is the ultimate, and beyond that lies only the desire to transcend—an act of defiance, the way of demons. To cultivate this Scarlet Flame Demonic Art, one must possess a perfect, innate soul. The Dao is endless; the immortal path knows no boundaries. The aim is to break free from the limits of the Great Dao itself.

“Precisely. The brilliance of this Scarlet Flame Demonic Art lies in that one phrase: ‘The Dao is endless, the immortal path has no bounds!’” Ye Yu’s expression was grave. “The one who created this art must have been a supreme genius. Within this demonic manual, it is expounded that after the five major steps—Refining Essence into Qi, Refining Qi into Spirit, Transforming Spirit into Void, Returning to the Dao, and Becoming Immortal—there may well be realms even higher.”

“Unfortunately, the manual I obtained is much too incomplete, containing only the methods for the first great stage—Refining Essence into Qi, up to the Nascent Soul. What lies beyond those five steps is unknown.”

“The phrase ‘the immortal path has no bounds’ means that the Dao is endless, without limit; even becoming an immortal is not the ultimate end.”

Ye Yu’s eyes shone with yearning and hope. After a long silence, he collected himself and fixed his gaze on Ye Yun. “This rebellious demonic art can only be cultivated by those with a perfect, innate soul. Of all the talents and aptitudes, only you possess what is required!”

“Since I obtained this Scarlet Flame Demonic Art, I have scoured countless texts and learned that a perfect soul corresponds to the tenth degree of aptitude. Although your tenth degree is only at the level of ‘bright as a lamp’ for now, the unique quality of a perfect soul is that it can improve itself!”

“If one day you elevate your perfect soul to the level of containing worlds within, and then acquire the subsequent methods of the Scarlet Flame Demonic Art, you will become a peerless demon, invincible under heaven!”

“I will cultivate it!” At that moment, the eight-year-old Ye Yun’s eyes were filled with unwavering determination.