Perfect World: Dream of the Immortal Era

As he thought about this, Gu Wudi couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation creeping into his heart.

“Attendant, lead Wudi to the side hall to rest. I must first impart the Rebirth Sutra to Qingyue." The Lord of the Forbidden Zone spoke softly.

Upon hearing this, the Immortal Page immediately stepped forward with respect, indicating for Gu Wudi to follow him.

“I see that your cultivation is quite profound, showing signs of a breakthrough. Do not rush into it yet; I wish to review your path once I finish teaching Qingyue," the Lord of the Forbidden Zone instructed as Gu Wudi was about to depart.

Gu Wudi nodded in agreement.

He then followed the Immortal Page towards a low mountain, where an ancient hall stood serenely in contrast to the imposing metal halls. The Immortal Page explained that many peerless geniuses who had previously visited this place would rest and cultivate in this hall.

As Gu Wudi stepped into the storied hall, he saw things that did not belong to this era, such as the hall's overall style and the ancient engravings on the walls, all bearing the marks of passing time.

Walking through such relics evoked a sense of traveling through time, returning to the past.

The interior was simple, yet very comforting, lacking the coldness one might expect. It was clear that the place was frequently cleaned, preventing dust from accumulating.

Once the Immortal Page departed, Gu Wudi found a mat to sit cross-legged upon, his eyes slightly closed, recalling the entire process of bringing Qingyue into the forbidden zone in his mind, checking for any oversights, while contemplating the path ahead.

Using one's body as a seed does not equate to complete success; it's akin to a ticket to the supreme realm. Obtaining it simply means you qualify, not that you've reached the destination.

At present, Gu Wudi had merely broken the shackles of the Dao Seed Method that had lasted for billions of years, tearing a breach towards a new direction, gaining the potential and resources to develop a new system.

To truly forge a new cultivation system, he would still need to endure countless hardships and tribulations.

Before the new system could be established, he had to follow the Dao Seed Method's path, as all the particles in his body had turned into seeds. The Dao Seed Method could most effectively develop the potential of these seeds.

Therefore, the next step was to let the particle seeds within his body take root and sprout.

Of course, he would not forget the Lord of the Forbidden Zone's advice. For now, he would stockpile strength as much as possible. After the Lord imparted the Rebirth Sutra to Qingyue, it wouldn't be too late to break through.

Time flew by, days passing in the blink of an eye. During this period, Gu Wudi continuously made the final preparations before his breakthrough.

Within his body, each particle seed became incredibly full, radiating a clear luminescence as their potential was further unlocked, reaching the limit of the current stage. Tiny cracks had appeared on the seed coats, signaling the beginning of the seeds taking root, a process Gu Wudi was already familiar with.

After all, he had experienced it twice before: with the Supreme Soul Seed and the Celestial Seed.

Having come full circle, he had finally embarked on the path of using his body as a seed.

While meticulously examining the state of every microscopic seed within him, Gu Wudi felt a gentle breeze brush past, carrying with it a subtle fragrance that naturally calmed his mind and spirit.

He opened his eyes to behold Qingyue, a peerlessly beautiful woman with flawless features and a graceful physique. A serene azure moon hung behind her, casting ripples of blue light that made her appear ethereal and otherworldly.

Even with his composed state of mind, Gu Wudi found the sight of this Qingyue breathtaking, difficult to remain indifferent to.

Most notably, Qingyue now emanated an enigmatic aura, one reminiscent of time and reincarnation. Was it a trick of the mind, or had she transformed into a divine woman from an ancient past, peering silently across the river of time?

"Is this the Sutra of Transcendence?" He understood the illusion stemmed from the supreme scripture taught by the Lord of the Forbidden Zone—the Sutra of Transcendence.

Though Qingyue was already stunning, her earlier presence still belonged to the mortal realm, akin to an earthly fairy. Now, after studying the Sutra of Transcendence, she seemed distant, foreign, evoking a sense of detachment from worldly affairs.

"Indeed, just as the senior mentioned, the Sutra of Transcendence perfectly resonates with Qingyue Flames. Cultivating this scripture has granted me countless insights," Qingyue nodded.

"Congratulations," Gu Wudi congratulated her.

He then softly remarked, "I feel like you’ve changed."

Qingyue, upon hearing this, smiled faintly, exuding a saintly presence.

"Perhaps so. Cultivating the Sutra of Transcendence allowed me to unlock the treasures and heritage within the Qingyue Flames. For a moment, I gained a deeper understanding of this world.

In this vast dust, across these countless mountains and rivers, everything and everyone is destined to fade. Individual significance is minute, and all worldly thoughts are like floating dust, dissipating in an instant. Why linger?

Instead, why not step forward on the path towards transcendence and eternity? That is the only way."

Having listened, Gu Wudi was certain she had changed. At least in her mentality, she appeared to have seen through worldly illusions, akin to an ethereal saint.

He disliked this change. Gu Wudi believed transcendence had nothing to do with severing human emotions—a mere attempt by cultivators to imitate enlightenment. It was inferior.

"So, will you still marry someday?"

Gu Wudi’s unexpected question aimed to gauge how far Qingyue had fallen into this delusion.

The saintly, celestial Qingyue’s demeanor instantly broke upon hearing the question, her expression one of astonishment.

"I think beauty is but bones that will eventually return to dust. One should pursue higher ambitions, transcend beyond the mundane."

“Alright, it seems you really have fallen into madness.” Gu Wudi shrugged.

Qingyue couldn't help but roll her eyes and then added, “I just expressed my ambition. I didn't say I wouldn’t get married, did I?”

Then, she informed Gu Wudi that the Lord of the Forbidden Zone had summoned him, asking him to go over.

Gu Wudi nodded, stood up, and walked out of the ancient hall.

Following the path he had taken earlier, he walked all the way to those few thatched huts, where the Lord of the Forbidden Zone had been waiting for quite some time.

“Sit.”

The Lord of the Forbidden Zone pointed to the spot across the tea table.

Gu Wudi understood and sat down opposite him.

Soon after, an Immortal Page approached and served a cup of tea.

This time, it was no longer that bitter tea. Instead, it was another nameless ancient tea, which although not as extraordinary as the bitter tea, gave Gu Wudi the feeling that it was no ordinary tea, perhaps true immortal tea.

“Drink. Once you've finished this tea, you will go with me into the hall to break through your current realm.” The Lord of the Forbidden Zone spoke.

Gu Wudi nodded, picked up the tea, and drank it all in one gulp.

“Let's go.”

The Lord of the Forbidden Zone waved his hand, and in the next moment, they both appeared in an ancient metal hall.

Gu Wudi looked around in astonishment, seeing countless celestial sigils etched on the metal walls, glowing faintly, profound and intricate.

“No need to hold back any longer, release it all.”

Hearing this, Gu Wudi stopped suppressing and unleashed all the potential hidden in every particle seed within him.

“Boom!”

A clear light filled the air, saturating the entire metal hall and fully illuminating those celestial sigils, making them shine bright like stars across the heavens.

The Lord of the Forbidden Zone, clad in white, looked surprised, his eyes fixed on Gu Wudi's transformation, openly expressing his admiration.

“Using the body as the seed, it's truly astonishing.” He sighed in admiration.

As he spoke, Gu Wudi underwent a dramatic transformation.

A loud "crack" resounded.

Not just one seed, but countless seeds shattered simultaneously, sprouting dense roots.

This energy, vast and oceanic, left even the Lord of the Forbidden Zone astounded, his eyes filled with intrigue.

The pristine white roots extended from the cracks in the seeds, swaying gently in the breeze, exuding an aura of sanctity that permeated every corner of Gu Wudi's body.

“What is this…?”

The Lord of the Forbidden Zone looked on in amazement, having lived through such long aeons, it was his first time witnessing a rooting phase so extraordinary, beyond words.

In the next moment, an even more astonishing scene unfolded as the infinite particle seeds within Gu Wudi's body shed their white roots, drifting like dandelion seeds inside his body.

An uncountable number of these seeds swirled about, resembling dandelion seeds carried away by the wind.

Mysteriously, it was as if some force was guiding them, gathering them towards a single place.

Ultimately, a pure and flawless celestial qi was born, radiating dazzling immortal light, forming a complete entity, no longer fragmented.

Those particle seeds that lost their roots shed portions of their cracked seed coats, yet were restored entirely, leaving no trace of ever sprouting roots, as if the entire rooting spectacle was but an illusion.

“Manifesting celestial qi during the rooting phase?” The Lord of the Forbidden Zone’s jaw dropped in disbelief.

Historically, celestial qi emerged from the Dao Beginning Realm, known commonly as the Sprouting Realm, marking the beginning of the path. If a cultivator's path was powerful, celestial qi might arise.

Some beings opened new paths, acknowledged by heaven and earth, and first formed an Origin Qi, which then dissipated, and the next celestial qi would merge with them. Others, taking established paths, never produced an Origin Qi marking the path's beginning.

Simply put, celestial qi appeared from the Dao Beginning Realm onward, and never in history had it emerged before that stage, making Gu Wudi a pioneer.

“Boom!”

The celestial qi took form, now existing in the world, immediately surfacing outside his body, circling around him, making Gu Wudi resemble a youthful true immortal.

He concluded this breakthrough, yet his face was filled with confusion.

"Although the particle seed remains smooth and round, showing no signs of developing stable roots, the previous 'rooting' step seems merely to have been for gathering this celestial qi."

Gu Wudi inquired, "Master, have I truly stepped into the Rooting Phase? Will I forever remain in the Seed Cultivation Realm?"

"Of course you have," replied the Lord of the Forbidden Zone. "Your power has qualitatively leaped forward compared to before the breakthrough. With celestial qi imbued, your strength is unmatched, and overall, you've already reached the level of beings who've grown the Dao Sprout."

"I just witnessed the entire process. Rooting is an inevitable step in the seed's growth, not merely for manifesting celestial qi. Celestial qi is merely the byproduct of the Rooting Phase, symbolizing your extraordinary Dao fruit." The Lord of the Forbidden Zone furrowed his brow, falling into deep thought. "The reason there are no roots is that the seed's potential is so immense, roots can no longer bear it."

"Master, what is it? Is there a problem?" Gu Wudi's heart tightened, fearing the road ahead might hit a dead end.

"The immense potential of the Particle Seed is indeed a good thing; it means your future achievements could be unimaginably high. But it also indicates a rugged road ahead, with profound shackles to overcome. By the way, did you cultivate the Primordial Qi during your Seed Cultivation?" The Lord of the Forbidden Zone asked.

"Yes, the Primordial Qi did appear. It was robust, mysterious, and I have this feeling that if I could ever obtain that strand of Primordial Qi, I would possess unrivaled power capable of altering the heavens and the earth. Unfortunately, at that time, I fell into a death trap, on the brink of perishing. In my final moments, that strand of Primordial Qi entered my body, saving my life. Without it, I might have already turned to ashes."

"That strand of Primordial Qi is a taboo of the Heavenly Dao, a blessing beyond the reach of mortal beings. Though not unprecedented, many who experienced Primordial Qi fortification eventually perished, unable to enjoy such fortune. Yet, in your case, it might not be a bad thing. Using your body as the seed itself speaks of grand ambitions—to parallel the macrocosm itself. In such a context, what is truly forbidden?" The Lord of the Forbidden Zone continued, "Moreover, Primordial Qi holds astonishing secrets, coveted by countless Immortal Kings for study. Just as you broke through, when the seed coat cracked open, I glimpsed a fragment of the ancient seed's core—a chaos of indistinct clarity. I seemed to have seen something, possibly that strand of Primordial Qi. Yet, its reality is elusive, hard to discern, and with so many particle seeds, it's difficult to pinpoint exactly where that Primordial Qi resides. It could be within a certain particle, or perhaps even dispersed across several particles. I believe your original feeling was right: acquiring that strand of Primordial Qi could forge the ultimate Dao fruit." The Lord of the Forbidden Zone's insights left Gu Wudi enlightened.

"Master, are you suggesting that my Dao fruit hinges on that strand of Primordial Qi? That all my cultivation efforts have been directed towards obtaining it?" He began to grasp the crucial point.

"Precisely. For other beings, Primordial Qi is a fortune unattainable, tied to the secrets of heaven and earth's origins, bringing heavenly retribution upon acquisition. But you are different; your path is one of using the body as the seed, standing shoulder to shoulder with the great universe, grand in concept, transcending beyond. Thus, Primordial Qi is no longer unreachable." The Lord of the Forbidden Zone's eyes shined with divine light, envisioning Gu Wudi's astonishing future achievements. "Mastering the Primordial Qi, you hold the ultimate secrets of the origins of heaven and earth—a Dao fruit of unimaginable wonder."

"So, the next step on my path is to extract this strand of Primordial Qi from the particle seed. In that case, can I call this process Refining Qi?"