As Yunze spoke, a flicker of surprise clearly crossed the old beggar's eyes.
Once upon a time, his master had asked him the same question.
But back then, his answer was only one.
Immortality!
Centuries later, after he reached the Golden Core stage, his master asked him a second question.
"Now that you have achieved the Golden Core Dao.
If there are no natural disasters or man-made calamities, you can enjoy a thousand years of life from now on. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call it immortality. Have you become an immortal?"
He hadn't answered then, and later his master commented on him in front of his fellow disciples with a single sentence.
"Han Shi's talent is insufficient, and his disposition is insufficient. The path to immortality is only for longevity. Although he can forge a Nascent Soul, and even ascend to the Out-of-Body stage, if there are no great opportunities in the future, it will be difficult to advance further."
At first, he didn't believe it, but now...
His current cultivation was the Out-of-Body stage above Nascent Soul!
He could enjoy thirty thousand years of life, but it was indeed difficult to advance further!
But then he looked at Yunze.
Although this child's physique and bone structure had not been thoroughly examined, he certainly didn't possess any earth-shattering talent. However, his disposition was excellent. He wondered how far he could go on his path.
Perhaps he was merely a tool for certain beings to guard immortal jade.
Killed once his purpose was served.
"Heh, you have quite the nerve."
The old beggar sneered and continued to stuff food into his mouth. "Since your ambition is as high as the heavens, I will tell you how high the heavens truly are!"
"Please enlighten me, senior." Yunze cupped his fists in response.
"Do you know the biggest difference between mortals and immortals?"
The old beggar threw him another question.
Yunze slowly shook his head.
"It's the spiritual root!"
The old beggar uttered a word Yunze had never heard before, poured himself a cup of wine, and continued, "Spiritual roots are divided into four grades and five elements. The four grades are Heaven, Earth, Black, and Yellow, and the five elements are Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth.
In addition to these, there are also mutated spiritual roots. Mutated spiritual roots are mostly of the Black grade or above, with myriad strange attributes, such as Wind, Thunder, Lightning, Light, and Darkness."
Spiritual root?
So, to become an immortal, one must possess a spiritual root? Could this spiritual root be the legendary immortal destiny?
"The higher the grade of the spiritual root and the more attributes it possesses, the higher the future achievements will naturally be."
"Of course, if an ordinary person has a Yellow grade spiritual root, even with a single attribute, they can embark on the path of cultivation, but they will not achieve much."
"What about me?" Yunze asked urgently.
"You're asking me?"
The old beggar retorted, then immediately said, "Who else am I supposed to ask?"
"This..." Yunze was momentarily speechless.
"Spiritual root aptitude needs to be detected by a spirit-testing ball. How could I possibly carry such a useless item with me."
"You speak wisely, senior." Yunze echoed.
This was the first time he had heard of spiritual roots, and he didn't know what his own spiritual root was like.
What about Bubu? And what was the spiritual root of He Laichao, whom he had killed?
If he only had the lowest Yellow grade spiritual root, how could he continue on his immortal path in the future?
Never mind, now is not the time to think about these things. It's better to learn more about the cultivation world.
"If you want to know what your spiritual root is, you can find out at the Ascension Assembly," the old beggar suddenly said.
"Hmm? Ascension Assembly?"
"We'll talk about that later. You know the difference between mortals and immortals, but do you know the difference between immortals and immortals?"
The old beggar continued to ask questions, and Yunze shook his head again.
He still didn't know the difference between mortals and immortals, so how could he possibly know the difference between immortals and immortals?
"On the path of cultivation, besides cultivating immortality, there is another path called cultivating demon. Both paths are collectively called cultivating the truth."
As the old beggar spoke, he glanced at a piece of frozen flesh in Yunze's pocket. "Here, He Laichao, whom you killed earlier, walked the path of cultivating demon."
"Demon?" Yunze frowned.
The word itself sounded like the opposite of immortal.
"Don't think that demons are inherently bad, kid."
The old beggar clearly noticed Yunze's discriminatory attitude and then explained, "Whether it's an immortal or a demon, in essence, there is only a difference in cultivation methods.
Do you think cultivators of immortality don't use artifacts or techniques that sacrifice the common people? Can't cultivators of demon uphold the common people and punish evil and promote good?
As for what one does after achieving immortality or becoming a demon, it all depends on personal will, and what does it have to do with the cultivation method?"
What he said made sense.
Yunze nodded slowly after hearing this, indicating that he understood.
The old beggar didn't explain further, but continued, "Whether it's immortal or demon, the division of cultivation realms is the same.
First is Qi Refining, after nine levels of Qi Refining comes Foundation Establishment, after Foundation Establishment is Core Formation, after Core Formation is Golden Core. As for what comes after Golden Core... you don't need to know yet.
As the saying goes, ten years for Qi Refining, a hundred years for Foundation Establishment, a thousand years for Core Formation. Once you reach Foundation Establishment, then you can think about what comes next."
"Yes."
Yunze cupped his fists in response, then asked his first question of the night, "Then, senior, what is my current realm..."
"Qi Refining, first level."
The old beggar casually picked up a chopstick and pointed at Yunze's dantian. "Currently, there is a vortex of qi here. When there are nine such vortexes, it will be the ninth level of Qi Refining.
When the nine vortexes merge into one and condense into liquid, it will be Foundation Establishment. When the liquid fills the Purple Mansion and condenses into a virtual core, it will be Core Formation, and then the virtual core solidifies, achieving the Golden Core Dao."
Yunze couldn't understand all of this now, but he still etched every word into his mind, repeatedly pondering them, for fear of forgetting. Then he subconsciously asked, "Then, senior, what are you currently..."
"You are not yet qualified to know."
It was the same sentence again.
The last time he asked the old gentleman for his name, he was also blocked by this sentence.
Yunze had no choice but to lower his head and remain silent, but then he heard the old beggar's voice again.
"For mortals to cultivate, even with the help of cultivation techniques, they can at most reach the ninth level of Qi Refining.
If one wants to establish a foundation, whether it is Earthly Foundation Establishment or Human Foundation Establishment, there are only three paths."
Yunze looked up again, his eyes shining, "Please enlighten me, senior!"
"Sect, Immortal Mansion, or Demonic Den."
The old beggar took another sip of wine as he spoke, as if recalling a memory. "Let's talk about sects first. Both the demonic and immortal paths have countless sects that select disciples from the mortal world to cultivate and replenish their fresh blood.
The most common way is the Ascension Assembly I just mentioned.
As for Immortal Mansions or Demonic Dens, Immortal Mansions govern all cultivators below the nine Great Xuan Heavens, while Demonic Dens govern all demon cultivators below the nine Great Xuan Heavens.
The two are in opposition to each other, and they monitor the Nine Provinces, maintaining the abundance of spiritual energy in heaven and earth. If anyone from the immortal or demonic paths interferes with the mortal world, they will be governed and punished by both. They are also the two largest powers among the nine Great Xuan Heavens."
Yunze nodded thoughtfully, "Then, in your opinion, senior, which one should I choose?"
"You choose?"
The old beggar retorted with a hint of disdain, then grabbed a piece of braised beef and gnawed on it. "You? You want to go to the Immortal Mansion or Demonic Den? It's better to honestly go to the Ascension Assembly and see if any sect will choose you!"
Yunze was not angered, but asked again, "Then, senior, how can I participate in this Ascension Assembly?"
"In three months, there will be one in the capital of your Tangshan Dynasty, and the sects participating in the selection are..."
As the old beggar spoke, his eyes suddenly changed, as if he had thought of something. He suddenly looked at Yunze, a smile appearing on his lips, and asked in a strange tone, "Hey, kid."
"Do you like using a sword?"