In Order to Live as an Immortal, I changed a martial artist world to a xianxia world

Chapter 39: The True Divide Between Immortals and Mortals

The crowd on the plaza erupted into murmurs, their faces alight with wonder.

“So this is immortality?”

“Such a mighty cultivation system!”

“Do you think I could become an immortal? The thought alone excites me!”

“…”

The undeniable power of immortality had thoroughly captivated the martial artists.

“Damn it!”

A venomous glint flashed in the eyes of Pu Zhi, who had been subdued by Zhang Sanfeng. Lowering his head, he muttered bitterly to himself, “Why wasn’t it me who obtained the immortal inheritance?”

Had the immortal inheritance fallen into his hands rather than Zhang Sanfeng’s, he wouldn’t be in his current state—gravely injured, his zhen qi sealed, and condemned to sweep the grounds of Wudang for ten years.

“I must have that immortal inheritance,” Puzhi vowed silently. “I will become a high and mighty immortal cultivator!”

Nearby, Miejue Shitai sighed inwardly.

When compared to the immortal path, even the Dragon-Slaying Saber feels insignificant, she thought, her heart heavy.

Unlike most martial artists, Miejue was privy to the secret of the Dragon-Slaying Saber. She knew that it, along with the Heaven-Reliant Sword, concealed powerful martial arts techniques and strategic texts. Only by combining the two could their secrets be unlocked.

This goal had driven her for years.

Yet, as Zhang Sanfeng spoke of the overwhelming power of immortality, Miejue realized the futility of her ambitions. Even the most supreme martial techniques would only elevate her to the realm of Ludi Shenxian (Earthly Immortal). But immortality dwarfed such achievements—the strength of even a beginner immortal cultivator eclipsed that of an Earthly Immortal.

“Perhaps my aspirations have been too narrow,” she reflected, her heart sinking further.

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“Indeed, the true might of the immortal path far surpasses even what I’ve shared,” Zhang Sanfeng said, shaking his head with a wry smile.

“Immortals and mortals are fundamentally distinct.”

“No matter how profound a martial artist’s zhen qi or how transcendent their techniques, martial arts remain mortal endeavours. Immortal cultivators, however, commune with the Tao (天道, Heavenly Way), wielding fa li (法力, mystical energy) that empowers not just martial techniques but also immortal spells and divine abilities.”

“Once one becomes an immortal cultivator, abilities once thought to belong only to the realm of myth—summoning rain, shifting mountains, and overturning seas—become reality.”

“An Earthly Immortal might be brought down by an army through attrition. But against an immortal cultivator, no amount of manpower will suffice. One spell alone could annihilate entire battalions.”

Zhang Sanfeng’s voice carried the weight of experience.

In his cultivation of the Xuanwu True Scripture, he had already mastered several basic spells. Though his current realm—Lianqi Huashen Houqi (Refining Qi into Spirit, Late Stage)—meant his fa li was not yet vast, it was enough for him to summon a torrential downpour to shield all of Mount Wudang.

The sheer scope of these abilities was something Zhang Sanfeng, a former Earthly Immortal, had never even dared to dream of.

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“What?”

“How can it be this powerful?”

“Is he sure he’s not already a celestial being?”

“No wonder the Qin Emperor was able to summon heavenly lightning and destroy Donghuang Taiyi!”

“…”

The gathered martial artists were left speechless.

Summoning rain? Shifting mountains? Such feats had only existed in their wildest imaginations. To hear Zhang Sanfeng speak of these abilities as attainable for immortal cultivators left them utterly stunned.

“Even at the early stage of Refining Qi into Spirit, one rivals an average Earthly Immortal!”

“At the mid-stage, an immortal is the superior of almost any Earthly Immortal!”

“The late stage of Refining Qi into Spirit doesn’t just rival—it surpasses Earthly Immortals entirely!”

“Beyond that, they can wield spells and divine abilities? It’s hard to fathom!”

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Duan Tianya, an elite agent of the Dragon Protection Villa, silently pieced together the puzzle.

“Back when Qin Emperor Ying Zheng ascended to immortality, he was only a Zhixuan Zongshi (Finger Profound Master),” Duan Tianya mused. “Yet his first and only move as an immortal was to annihilate Donghuang Taiyi, a mid-level Earthly Immortal.”

“Clearly, Ying Zheng was not yet at the same level as Zhang Sanfeng. His use of external methods to kill Donghuang Taiyi supports this.”

“It’s likely that Ying Zheng hasn’t even reached the Lianqi Huashen stage. If he had, Donghuang Taiyi would have been defeated without the need for outside aid.”

“Tianya,” Cheng Shifei, standing beside him, whispered eagerly. “Do you think we could become immortal cultivators?”

His restless, adventurous nature made the allure of immortality irresistible.

“I don’t know,” Duan Tianya replied with a sigh. “The Great Ming Dynasty might secure an immortal inheritance, but we’re just secret agents, far from the emperor’s inner circle.”

His voice grew quieter as he added, “Unless immortality becomes commonplace and accessible to all, I doubt we’ll get a chance.”