This mental cultivation technique had a very low entry barrier—almost anyone could learn it. But as one progressed, it became increasingly difficult, like climbing a miraculous peak. From Feng Miaojun’s own experience, it was supremely profound and exquisitely subtle. Learning the later stages even gave one the sense of encompassing all things, far beyond an ordinary foundational technique.
She finally understood why Emperor Haoli named it the “Path to Immortality”: he was confident that as long as mortals practiced this technique, they could transform step by step from mortal flesh to immortal beings!
For this very reason, it could guide one through the entire foundational cultivation process, until the practitioner was prepared to face the heavenly tribulation and transform into an immortal.
Simply put, though it appeared mediocre and unremarkable, it was a technique that could directly cultivate one into immortality!
Therefore, Emperor Haoli had done a tremendous service, accumulating boundless merit that could have benefited countless generations. Unfortunately, the heavenly demons later disrupted the world, the Boundary Gods disappeared, and the heavenly tribulations vanished with them. The world’s spiritual energy steadily declined, making it impossible for ordinary people to even practice this technique, let alone achieve immortality.
Another important reason why later generations belittled the “Mortal’s Path to Immortality” was that it didn’t address soul cultivation. However, the advanced mental techniques required great spiritual strength. The circulation of blood essence, spiritual power, and energy was extremely delicate, requiring equally powerful mental focus and soul support.
It was like performing complex surgery—beyond having all the necessary instruments, the practitioner’s experience and concentration were the greatest challenges. Due to practical limitations, modern cultivators didn’t emphasize soul tempering, making them truly experience the frustration of willing minds but incapable bodies when practicing this Path to Immortality.
Shifting perspective to the early Haoli Empire, the author’s intention became clear: since ancient times, which cultivator hadn’t trained external muscles, tendons, skin, and membranes while internally transforming heart, spirit, and soul? Soul cultivation was as natural as eating and drinking, and countless techniques were left behind by other races and immortals. As an esteemed emperor, Haoli could hardly be expected to reorganize all this.
Unfortunately, despite his extraordinary talent, he couldn’t foresee future calamities.
Fortunately, Feng Miaojun was different.
She had obtained both volumes of the Heavenly Demon’s secret techniques. The Heavenly Demons’ deep research into soul cultivation was unmatched in the current era. Therefore, she could fully meet the requirements of the Path to Immortality.
It was precisely because all these conditions happened to be satisfied that she was able to complete the final move of the Path to Immortality.
This was something Mo Tizhun, who had initially guided her into cultivation, could never have imagined.
The purpose of the Path to Immortality was to clear all obscure meridians, maximizing the body’s potential to prepare for the next step—the “non-human” immortal state.
The power of immortals who had passed the heavenly tribulation belonged to an entirely different concept of species compared to cultivators. Similarly, to accommodate such rapid and vast spiritual energy circulation, one’s physical constitution had to be astonishingly robust.
This was the foundation that the Path to Immortality laid for cultivators.
From this moment on, Feng Miaojun’s energy flowed without cessation or blockage. More remarkably, her meridians had expanded to become exceptionally broad and solid after years of gradual development. Feng Miaojun could say without false modesty that even if she borrowed all of Yun’s spiritual power now, it wouldn’t harm her body as it had before.
At the same time, she felt her dantian so full it was bulging outward, like a cup filled with water—adding even a drop more would cause it to overflow. Of course, the dantian itself wasn’t a physical object, but this meant she had reached a bottleneck. Only by replacing this “cup” inside her body with a large jar could she continue to draw in external spiritual energy, refine it, and continue cultivation.
It seemed necessary to seek opportunities elsewhere.
Gazing at the bright moon above, Feng Miaojun once again felt stirrings of ambition. The outside world was vast, and wars raged fiercely, yet she remained confined in this small space, unable to move freely.
It was time to venture out. After all, New Xia’s internal politics were stable, disorder had long subsided, the people lived in peace and prosperity, and everything was in order. Even if she continued diligent cultivation here daily, she might not break through the bottleneck to advance to the next level.
Cultivation was a profound and mysterious matter. The opportunity Feng Miaojun sought likely lay somewhere in the vast world.
She needed more real combat, more insights to break through and advance. Only now did she understand why the Yan King, despite his lofty position as ruler, didn’t stay honestly in his palace but occasionally ventured into the world under the name Lord Yangshan.
Fundamentally, they were still cultivators, instinctively placing “self-cultivation” above family management, state governance, and world peace.
On the third day, an urgent report was delivered to the royal court.
This report was marked as extremely urgent, the highest level of emergency, and sent via flying message rather than ground transmission. Though costly, its content was indeed world-shocking:
Wei forces had launched a surprise attack on Yinzi City!
While the court officials were still stunned, Feng Miaojun had already slammed the table and risen to her feet, exclaiming: “Damn it!”
With two major Wei armies intercepted en route, could there be a third force that had silently infiltrated Yinzi City? In a flash, this was the only thought in her mind.
But the city guards of Yinzi weren’t fools. How could they not notice a large influx of outsiders?
Sure enough, a scout who had hurried back from the front lines urgently reported: “The State Preceptor of Wei led two hundred cultivators to infiltrate Yinzi City and the temporary palace, then launched a surprise attack. Although protected by multiple formations, by the time I left, many layers of the barrier formations had been breached.”
The State Preceptor of Wei! Feng Miaojun unconsciously gripped the armrest tightly: “What about Yinzi City’s garrison? Are they just watching these two hundred men strike at the heart of the city?”
“The city guards and imperial guards have rushed over, but these two hundred cultivators are formidable, withstanding all attacks,” the scout answered quickly. “Moreover, less than half of Yinzi City’s garrison remains, with few elites.”
“I see,” Feng Miaojun suddenly understood, murmuring, “Most of the forces were requisitioned by the Crown Prince to intercept the northwestern Wei army.” At that critical moment, the Kingdom was desperate to block Xiao Yan’s advance, and with few troops stationed near the capital, they could hardly consider everything thoroughly. They had temporarily drawn most personnel from the city garrison and incorporated them into battle formations.
So at this time, Yinzi City’s defenses were at their weakest, and Yun had seized this opportunity to strike when they were vulnerable.
No, it wasn’t just the weak city defenses. Feng Miaojun instinctively covered her forehead: “And the Golden City!”
To transport the army, Miao Fengxian had once again employed the Golden City. This meant the royal family had to temporarily move out of the Golden City and reside outside. Otherwise, if Miao Fengxian were defeated, the entire royal family would be captured in one fell swoop.
The Golden City was renowned not only for its magnificent splendor but also for the meticulous protection it provided its owner. Those who dared to enter lightly were often captured by the magical tool, no longer posing any threat.
Originally, the Kingdom’s royal family members residing within were extremely safe, as enemies could hardly breach this golden fortress.