“No need to worry. Bai Yu Jun is perfectly fine—perhaps it is undergoing a transformation.” Yu Rong spoke calmly.
Xu Ling let out a sigh of relief, while Yang Mu remained silent and indifferent as usual.
“What has the serpent been eating these past few days?”
Yu Rong pondered, realizing that such rapid cultivation progress couldn’t be natural. It must have consumed something extraordinary.
“Uh…”
Xu Ling and Yang Mu exchanged awkward glances.
“What? Did you two feed it your monthly alchemy pills?”
Yu Rong’s expression darkened.
“Absolutely not! Bai Yu Jun has just been eating a lot of discarded pills and medicinal residues from Spirit Void Palace. Senior Brother Du, who manages the waste, has had an easier time lately. Hmm… I think it’s eaten almost a whole basin’s worth?”
Yu Rong’s lips twitched.
As someone well-traveled, she quickly understood the situation.
A human’s digestive system couldn’t compare to a snake’s. Waste pills and medicinal residues were practically supplements for it. Those alchemy ingredients were all highly nourishing—meant to boost cultivation or heal injuries. Eating an entire basin?
Was it evolving?
The master and disciples stared intently at the serpent coiled around the ancient pine.
Before long, the serpent began slithering against the rough bark, rubbing its head against the edges. Soon, the scales on its head loosened, revealing fresh new skin beneath…
“This is… shedding.”
Slowly, the serpent used the branches to hook its old skin, pulling itself free—first the head, then the body. The usually idle trio watched attentively from the cliffside.
For a snake, shedding was perilous. Failure meant certain death.
After over an hour, when the tail finally slipped free, Xu Ling clapped excitedly. Yu Rong smiled faintly, deep in thought.
Strangely, witnessing the serpent’s rebirth had subtly elevated her state of mind.
Shedding the old to embrace the new—such was the natural order of all things.
After shedding, the serpent coiled around the pine and fell into a deep slumber.
When it awoke, it had grown to nine meters long.
Within this renowned immortal sect, the white serpent had found its own way of life.
At dawn, it meditated on mist by the cliff. When hungry, it visited the kitchen for meat or scavenged Spirit Void Palace for cultivation-boosting scraps. Then, it returned to Clear Void Palace to laze around as a gate guard.
…………
Xu Ling soon noticed that Bai Yu Jun had been frequenting Taiji Plaza lately.
Taiji Plaza was where Pure Yang disciples practiced martial arts. From above, the plaza resembled a massive Bagua formation, with a yin-yang symbol at its center. The area was enormous—at least ten soccer fields in size. The serpent suspected some mighty figure had flattened the mountaintop with sheer power to create it.
Over a thousand disciples practiced swordplay here, their sword energy surging like mountains, seas, and wind.
Some drilled in sword formations, while others honed individual techniques. Here, one could sense sword intent, observe senior disciples, or spar freely. Most importantly, top disciples from each branch would occasionally come to teach and resolve cultivation dilemmas.
Today’s instructor was Chu Zhe, the top disciple of Jade Void and Sect Master Li Xiangyan’s personal student.
With his jade crown, flowing robes, and elegant sword, Chu Zhe was the most handsome man in Pure Yang for six consecutive years—the dream Dao companion of countless female cultivators.
“Remember, swordplay should flow like a dragon emerging from water, yet remain as still as a cat stalking prey. In motion, the hands divide yin and yang; the body conceals the eight trigrams…”
Occasionally, he glanced at the white serpent nearby.
No one had ever heard of a demon beast learning martial arts, so no one bothered to question its presence.
But the serpent was indeed stealing knowledge.
Taiji Plaza was for low-level disciples, and high-level techniques would be incomprehensible to it anyway. Mastering the basics was crucial, so it lingered here to absorb foundational skills.
After a while, it slithered toward Zuowang Peak.
New disciples not only practiced swordplay at Taiji Plaza but also came here to meditate and learn proper cultivation techniques.
Zuowang Peak was vast, dotted with open platforms and cascading waterfalls that enhanced its immortal aura.
The name “Zuowang” (坐忘) held deep meaning.
To cultivate, one must first enter a state of stillness (坐) and forgetfulness (忘)—a genuine pursuit of the Dao’s true essence.
Forgetting wasn’t necessarily bad.
Remembering wasn’t necessarily good.
What suited oneself was best.
“Zuowang means discarding the body, abandoning cleverness, departing from form and knowledge, and merging with the great Dao.”
“Through contemplation, one attains; through contemplation, one forgets.”
It was about returning to simplicity, liberating one’s nature to achieve tranquility, detachment, and harmony with the universe—ascending to the realm of “awakening the self.”
At the peak stood a massive boulder, its flat top as large as a basketball court. A weathered stone pavilion stood at its edge, beside an ancient peach tree. You are reading on g.com, the official source.
Only the most gifted disciples were permitted to cultivate here, receiving guidance from elders or even the Sect Master himself. Of course, Yu Rong also taught here, and Yang Mu and Xu Ling were regular attendees.
Today’s lecturer was an elder—though “elder” didn’t necessarily mean old. Anyone who reached a certain cultivation level could hold the title.
The youngest disciple, barely five or six years old, kept glancing curiously at the peach tree, where a massive white serpent coiled, its head lowered as if listening intently.
Yet again, this elite training ground had become the serpent’s secret classroom.
“Know the masculine, hold to the feminine, and be the ravine of the world…”
“Being the ravine of the world, eternal virtue never departs, returning to the state of an infant…”
“Know the white, hold to the black, and be the model of the world…”
“Being the model of the world, eternal virtue never falters, returning to the limitless…”
The serpent flicked its tongue habitually, memorizing scriptures it had once heard but never truly studied.
These young disciples couldn’t fathom how rare an opportunity it was for a beast to cultivate. Merely gaining sentience was a barrier that blocked 99% of animals from the path.
No master. No method. No guidance.
Cultivation was agonizingly difficult.
Now that it had this chance, it would remember everything with all its might.
The path of immortality was fraught with hardship—all it could do was climb with every ounce of strength.
Compared to humans who squandered their opportunities, the serpent was undeniably diligent.
Understanding the meaning, sensing the intent—many cultivation methods could be adapted for beasts.
A creature practicing human techniques was truly a rare wonder in cultivation history…
By sunset, the serpent had learned much.
As the crimson sun dipped westward, it slithered back to Spirit Void Palace, needing time to digest and assimilate the day’s lessons.
Some techniques might be impossible for a snake, but comprehension bred versatility.
By the time it returned to Clear Void Palace, the hall’s lanterns had automatically lit, their soft glow illuminating the grand space.
Coiling around a thick, towering pillar, the serpent blended seamlessly—like an exquisite jade ornament adorning the gate.