- In Marvel: I Start by Marrying Scarlett Witch [Complete]
- MWM Chapter 572
“Master, this humble disciple isn’t very talented. Before coming to seek your tutelage, I happened to come across a cultivation manual and practiced for a few years. At present, I’ve only reached the ‘Refining the Void, Merging with the Dao’ stage and have yet to attain immortality.”
At this moment, Leo subtly revealed a small ripple of his magical power.
From his memories, he knew that in this world, the cultivation stages before immortality were different from those in the Shu Mountain world. The stages were not Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, and Nascent Soul, but instead, *Qi Absorption*, *Refining Qi to Form Spirit*, *Transforming Spirit to Return to Void*, and finally *Refining the Void to Merge with the Dao*. After merging with the Dao, one could automatically become an immortal without needing to endure a tribulation.
This was still before the *Investiture of the Gods*, so the laws of the primordial world hadn’t yet changed, and becoming an immortal wasn’t as difficult. After the *Investiture of the Gods*, however, it would become much harder for mortals to achieve immortality, and those who did would often have to enter the heavenly court.
Before the *Investiture of the Gods*, the heavenly court was nominally granted the responsibility of overseeing the three realms by Hongjun, but in practice, it didn’t have the power to govern them. Apart from a few like the Ten Golden Crows, Marshal Tianpeng, Ju Lian, and Yao Ji, most of the heavenly soldiers were rather weak.
It wasn’t until after the *Investiture of the Gods*, when numerous mystic cultivators joined the heavenly court, that it truly became the ruler of the three realms.
“Only a few years to reach ‘Merging with the Dao’? What kind of technique have you been practicing?”
Yu Ding Zhenren had just taken a sip of the fine wine on the table but almost spat it out when he heard Leo’s response.
Reaching the *Refining the Void, Merging with the Dao* stage in just a few years of self-study was an extraordinary feat of cultivation genius.
Even the disciples of his senior brothers, who practiced the best mystical techniques of the Daoist sects, took over ten years to progress from *Qi Absorption* to *Merging with the Dao*.
According to Taiyi Zhenren’s recommendation letter, this Li Qing was a nephew of General Li Jing from Chentang Pass, and he couldn’t be older than twenty. Even if Li Qing had been cultivating for over a decade, he would still meet the standards for apprenticeship.
“Master, it’s this one.”
Leo pulled out the scroll of the *Shangqing Great Cave True Scripture* that he had been practicing from and handed it to Yu Ding Zhenren.
Yu Ding Zhenren opened it, and his eyes lit up. He immediately grabbed hold of Leo and said:
“Your aptitude may be lacking, and the technique you’ve been practicing is of a lower level, but I see your sincerity. I’ll make an exception and skip the test—you’re now officially my disciple!”
“Come, serve your master some tea. From today onwards, you are the direct disciple of Yu Ding Zhenren, under the lineage of Yuan Shi Tianzun!”
Yu Ding Zhenren, who had thoroughly studied all the techniques of the Chan Sect, saw the *Shangqing Great Cave True Scripture* as a very basic technique. Other than its somewhat efficient energy absorption, it had few advantages.
For someone to reach the *Merging with the Dao* stage within just a few years or even a decade using such a basic technique was nothing short of a prodigy.
There was no need for a test—he had to accept Leo as his direct disciple immediately. The next time he returned to Kunlun Mountain, he would finally have a disciple with decent strength, and he wouldn’t have to endure the mockery of his senior brothers anymore.
Taiyi had really done him a favor this time, sending him such a talented disciple. Yu Ding Zhenren made a mental note to express his gratitude the next time they met.
“Master, this is wine.”
Leo couldn’t help but chuckle as Yu Ding Zhenren handed him a cup of wine instead of tea.
Waving his fan, Yu Ding Zhenren quickly took the wine from Leo’s hand:
“No matter, wine can substitute for tea—it’s all the same.”
“My sect is not like my senior brothers’. We don’t have so many strict rules or elaborate ceremonies. Today, by drinking this cup of wine, you officially become my direct disciple, a member of the Chan Sect!”
With a laugh, Yu Ding Zhenren downed the cup of wine.
“My dear disciple, what technique do you wish to learn?”
After finishing the meal and drinks, Yu Ding Zhenren pulled out dozens of scrolls and placed them in front of Leo.
These were all the finest cultivation techniques of the Chan Sect, far superior to the *Shangqing Great Cave True Scripture*.
Since he had already accepted Leo as his direct disciple and hoped to have him represent the sect in the future, Yu Ding Zhenren wouldn’t be stingy. He wanted Leo to find the best technique suited to him so that his cultivation could progress even faster.
“This one!”
Scanning the array of scrolls, Leo immediately pointed to one at the very end.
Yu Ding Zhenren scratched his head and said:
“Disciple, the *Nine Turns Primordial Art* is indeed powerful. If you can master the *Eight-Nine Mystical Arts*, you can walk freely through the world. However, it’s not something the average person can cultivate—it requires an exceptionally strong body.”
The *Nine Turns Primordial Art* was indeed the most powerful technique in Yu Ding Zhenren’s collection. By cultivating it, one could refine their body to shed all the limitations of the mortal world, embodying pure yang energy and refining the three souls and seven spirits until they merged into one. The body would become imperishable, capable of withstanding any calamity.
It was a technique for attaining the Dao.
However, none of the Chan Sect disciples had managed to master it—not even the Twelve Golden Immortals. Perhaps only their master, Yuan Shi Tianzun, could.
The main issue was the extremely high requirements for both cultivation aptitude and physical talent.
Li Qing, a mere mortal without the bloodline of a deity or a spirit born of heaven and earth, had virtually no chance of mastering this technique.
“Master, I’d like to give it a try. My instincts tell me this is the technique best suited to me. If I fail, I can always switch to another.”
Leo smiled as he spoke.
The *Nine Turns Primordial Art*, also known as the *Eight-Nine Mystical Arts*, was a top-tier cultivation technique. If he could master all nine turns, he would essentially become immortal and indestructible.
Unless a Saint intervened, or someone used an extremely powerful artifact like the *Immortal-Slaying Flying Daggers*, his enemies might be able to defeat him but would never be able to kill him.
Additionally, the *Eight-Nine Mystical Arts* allowed for true shape-shifting—not the kind of illusions or transformation techniques used by magic or ninjutsu, but real physical and spiritual transformations. Whatever form he took, he would inherit the abilities and attributes of that species.
Although he knew the *Eight-Nine Mystical Arts* were difficult to master, Leo had confidence in himself.
In terms of cultivation, his celestial energy, if converted to the celestial qi of this world, would be at least at the Golden Immortal level.
As for his physical body, it had undergone countless refinements, including consuming the Divine Tree’s fruit and being nourished by the origin of the Tsukuyomi world.
In terms of raw physical strength, he wasn’t far off from someone who could master the *Eight-Nine Mystical Arts* at the same level. The only difference was that he didn’t yet possess the miraculous abilities that came with the technique.
“If you want to try, then try.”
After a moment of hesitation, Yu Ding Zhenren nodded.
He didn’t believe Leo would be able to master the *Nine Turns Primordial Art*, but it wouldn’t hurt to let him try and learn from the challenge.
Once Leo realized it wasn’t possible, Yu Ding Zhenren would help him find a more suitable technique, and it wouldn’t take much time.
So, Yu Ding Zhenren began guiding Leo through the steps of cultivating the *Nine Turns Primordial Art*.
Yu Ding Zhenren, a true master of theory, gave incredibly detailed explanations of the *Eight-Nine Mystical Arts*. His insights even delved into many profound Daoist principles, leaving Leo deeply engrossed in the teachings.
(End of Chapter)