The night curtain falls, the stars align.
The bloodstains at Lake Heart Pavilion had been cleaned, and the Lao Mountain Taoist was wrapped in gauze, his complexion pale, his expression aged by several years.
Song Lin walked to Lake Heart Pavilion and sat opposite the Lao Mountain Taoist.
"Drink," said the Lao Mountain Taoist, pointing at the empty water jug before him. The jug miraculously transformed into one filled with wine.
Neither spoke; they drank their wine in silence.
A gentle breeze caressed the lakeside, scattering yellow leaves onto the ground.
The Lao Mountain Taoist did not inquire about Song Lin's influence or Taoist realm; all he needed to know was that Song Lin was a good man.
"Why do you pursue cultivation?" The Lao Mountain Taoist suddenly asked.
"..."
The question stunned Song Lin into silence.
Why did he dedicate himself to cultivation?
It was none other than because of the crises in the real world. As a Taoist disciple in a temple involved in dangerous matters, diligent cultivation was merely a means to avoid being eliminated.
If one day those crises were to be resolved, would he still have the motivation to cultivate? Perhaps he would indulge in wine and lust or lose himself in commanding the wind and rain in fantasy worlds.
"Cultivation is to refine the truth, to seek the true self, stripping away falsity and preserving authenticity. All things are illusions; perhaps the world itself is an illusion. We cultivators climb ever higher, seeking the ultimate truth of existence, refining a truth that remains unbroken through countless tribulations."
This reflection from the Lao Mountain Taoist was meant for Song Lin.
He did not want Song Lin to follow the misguided paths of previous disciples.
"I am grateful for the lesson," Song Lin solemnly expressed his thanks.
These words gave him profound insight.
The path of immortality is long, and its landscapes are enchanting; the world's riches and glory are trivial compared to the sublime Taoist arts and the allure of becoming an immortal.
"Master, why do you cultivate?"
"Me? I don't know. Since I can remember, I've followed my master. Later... later, it just became a habit."
The Lao Mountain Taoist's face darkened: "What a pity... I never got to witness the flourishing of Lao Mountain... Haha, Lao Mountain is yours now. I am off to meet the Great Destiny."
"Wide is the Heavenly Gate, I traverse the dark clouds; Whisking winds lead the way, icy rains scatter the dust..."
Reciting ancient verses, the Lao Mountain Taoist seemed to rise on dark clouds, the whirlwind clearing the path ahead, the driving rain washing away all impurities.
After a long while, the Lao Mountain Taoist fell silent.
"Travel well," Song Lin murmured.
For the first time, he realized that the characters within the story world were flesh and blood.
Previously, Song Lin had treated them as NPCs, but after more than ten years together, it was impossible not to feel any attachment.
After composing himself, Song Lin ensured that the Lao Mountain Taoist received a proper burial.
The Lao Mountain Taoist's true name was Changjing.
Following Changjing's burial, Song Lin became the new Lao Mountain Taoist.
"To revive Lao Mountain to greatness..."
Song Lin understood that this was the final karma.
In his first year as the new Lao Mountain Taoist, Song Lin announced the establishment of Lao Mountain Dao, appointing the Yan Yun Eighteen Riders to lead the Three Capitals and assigning positions like the Eight Deacons.
They managed the internal and external affairs, as well as the fields below the mountain.
By the third year.
Song Lin had accepted fifty disciples. Using Hidden Dragon Breath Emission Powder, he stimulated their potential, and eventually, twelve of them passed the trials.
By the tenth year, at the age of forty, Song Lin sent disciples down the mountain to heal the sick and exorcise evil spirits, significantly boosting Lao Mountain Dao's reputation.
By the twentieth year.
The senior disciples had taken on students of their own, marking the emergence of a third generation within Lao Mountain Dao.
After two decades of effort, Lao Mountain Dao's reputation surged, with countless sects aligning themselves with them, tens of thousands of acres of fields under their control, and countless tenant farmers.
By the thirtieth year.
Song Lin had aged into a man with snow-white hair.
Due to his earlier excessive use of potential, he had only about sixty years' worth of lifespan.
"Master, the Emperor is visiting."
Senior disciple Zhongtong and second disciple Shentong rushed over—names clearly reflecting Song Lin's quirky sense of humor.
"Excellent. Let him meet me at Lake Heart Pavilion," Song Lin replied with a smile.
He walked out of the Taoist Temple; outside the temple gates stood soldiers stationed in every corner.
Yet instead of walking through the main gates, he employed the Wall-penetrating Skill to pass through walls and doors as though they were air.
The soldiers stared at him in awe and reverence.
A yellow-robed elder sat at Lake Heart Pavilion, surrounded by at least a thousand elite soldiers armed with steel crossbows and spears.
Even without looking, it was evident that this elder was the Emperor of Lin Kingdom.
Facing the gaze of thousands, Song Lin remained fearless, taking his seat directly opposite the Emperor.
"How dare you! In the presence of His Majesty, why don't you..."
The yellow-robed elder waved his hand dismissively, silencing the eunuch instantly.
"I've heard the Taoist has the ability to summon the moon. I wish to see it," the Emperor said.
Given that it was broad daylight, there was no moon, and so the Emperor was clearly trying to challenge Song Lin.
"Ha-ha, what's so difficult about that?" Song Lin waved his sleeve, and a brilliant full moon appeared in the sky.
The Emperor showed no reaction and merely said with a smile, "Such a fine evening and scenery, a joy indeed. How can we have a feast without wine?"
Smiling faintly, Song Lin produced a wine jug that seemed never to run dry. Then, picking up a pair of chopsticks, he tossed them toward the moon.
Under the moon's glow, two elegant women materialized and began to dance gracefully.
Even a monarch accustomed to countless beauties was captivated.
"The immortal is indeed endowed with great divine skills," the Emperor hesitated slightly, a hint of greed flickering in his eyes. "Immortal, do you possess the longevity technique?"
The Emperor personally bowing before Song Lin marked Lao Mountain Dao's peak of reverence.
At this moment, the cycle of karma came to completion.
[This realm has been transcended. Returning in ten breaths.]
"The longevity technique? Of course, I have it!"
Just then, amidst the uproar of soldiers, a dazzling white portal materialized in the ten-zhang void.
In the eyes of the crowd, Song Lin ascended into the skies.
"I, a humble Taoist, have achieved merit and ascended to the ranks of immortals; Your Majesty's lifespan is not yet exhausted. When your earthly days end, I will personally send immortal children to welcome you."
Clang!
With a brilliant flash of white light, Song Lin vanished entirely.
Future generations claimed this was none other than Rainbow Ascension.
Countless prodigies pursued Rainbow Ascension tirelessly, yet only Song Lin had achieved it.
What they could not fathom was that so-called immortality was simply Song Lin showing off before his departure, and Rainbow Ascension was nothing but a fabrication.
"Thank you, Immortal! Thank you, Immortal!"
The Emperor fervently kowtowed repeatedly. Truthfully, he had no intention of ascending so soon; there was still much worldly pleasure to be savored.
The events of daytime ascension quickly spread throughout the Lin Kingdom.
From "Lin Country Strange Tales": There is the hill of Lao Mountain, from whose belly immortals emerge. The Emperor crowned him Three Realms Great Master and erected a temple for him.
In the real world.
Song Lin slowly opened his eyes, a flicker of melancholy flashing through them.
It was the familiar sense of disparity again.
In the Lao Mountain World, he was a revered Lao Mountain Taoist worshiped by the masses.
In this world, he was merely a humble Taoist disciple.
A box appeared before Song Lin.
Opening it, a faint green light glimmered—a Miasma Green Pearl lay inside.
With a single thought, miasma began to seep out.
This item was exchanged using karma, possessing considerable power and serving as a trump card.
This excursion to Lao Mountain had lasted one and a half months, yielding abundant rewards: "Eight Great Secrets of Taoist Zhigang," including Moon Summoning, Wine Manifestation, Summoning Moon Immortal, Wall-penetrating Skill, Bat Night Bright, Qi Refining Skill, Avoiding Filth Talisman, and Fire Light Talisman.
Of these, Wall-penetrating Skill, Night Brightness Technique, Avoiding Filth Talisman, and Fire Light Talisman were the most practical.
Besides these, he had accumulated fragments of Taoist techniques over thirty years, including Blood Stopping Spell, Summoning Birds Technique, Instant Flowering Method, Mosquito Repellent, and Firefly Gathering Fish Technique.
Most of these spells amounted to little more than simple tricks, but over this month in the real world, Song Lin had only mastered five techniques: Bat Night Bright, Avoiding Filth Skill, Fire Light Talisman, Hemostatic Method, and Wall-penetrating Skill.
"Magic is about quality, not quantity."
His time was limited; mastering practical skills was sufficient. Song Lin christened these five techniques the "Lao Mountain Five Skills."
After summarizing his gains, Song Lin did not immediately use essence blood to open the next world.
"The quality of essence blood determines the quality of the world. I'm still a step away from breaking through from Meditation to fetal breath. I'll reach fetal breath first, then proceed."
Song Lin thought.
He swallowed the last Qi Nourishing Pill.
Boom!
A torrent of power surged through him.
He chanted the Peace Qi Cultivation Song, and dim black mist enveloped him, causing the room temperature to drop.
His True Qi had reached an immensely powerful level, nearing the gateway's breakthrough, about to form the Small Circulation.