Chapter 102: An Even Vast World

Parental commands wound a child’s heart; the child wishes to care, yet the parents do not wait. This was the deepest wound in Su Fan’s heart, and a lifelong guilt he bore.

“Do you no longer wish to save your parents?”

This was Su Fan’s greatest desire, yet Zui Xian had once plainly said it was impossible.

Now, hearing him ask again, it was clear he did not intend to reopen old wounds.

Su Fan’s eyes reddened as he knelt beside Zui Xian. A man of honor, he would never kneel to heaven and earth—only to his parents—but today, for their sake, he knelt before Zui Xian.

With a wave of his hand, Zui Xian helped Su Fan to his feet and said calmly, “If there is a way to save them, cultivation is the best path.”

Su Fan gazed distantly, his eyes vacant. “Please, elder, tell me what to do.”

Zui Xian sighed. “It may be a long journey. Your parents might have already entered reincarnation; they cannot be reached.”

Su Fan lifted his head, voice low. “I can feel their presence... I believe they exist.”

Zui Xian stood, hands behind his back. “Legend says immortals control the cycle of life and death. Those who cultivate might escape it, but mortals cannot.”

“Are you saying I must seek out an immortal?” Su Fan asked eagerly.

Zui Xian smiled bitterly. “Immortals? They dwell in the Nine Heavens, the immortal realm. Mortals like us cannot find them, let alone seek them out. Besides, immortals are said to be aloof—finding one doesn’t guarantee help.”

Su Fan felt a pang of disappointment but sensed there was more to his words.

Zui Xian continued, “Perhaps finding an immortal is impossible, but what if you become one yourself?”

Su Fan’s face tightened in pain. “I am but a mortal. How could I become immortal?”

Zui Xian replied, “We cultivators seek immortality. Why can’t you?”

Determination surfaced in Su Fan’s eyes. If this was hope, then he would strive for it.

“How does one become immortal? Are you an immortal, elder?”

Zui Xian waved his hand. “Not quite. At best, I am a half-immortal—perhaps not even that—just at the threshold.”

“Half-immortal?” Su Fan asked, puzzled.

Zui Xian explained, “Once a cultivator reaches the Nascent Soul stage, a transformation is required.

Before that lies the first step: forging the body to fully suit cultivation.

The second step brings one closer to immortality—becoming a half-immortal. The stages include Heart Refinement, Dao Refinement, and Spirit Refinement. Upon reaching Spirit Refinement, one may transcend and ascend to the immortal realm, where immortals choose their disciples.”

“Is there a third step? Or even higher?” Su Fan asked.

Zui Xian said, “The path of cultivation is long and unfathomable. Higher realms exist, but I have yet to witness them.”

Su Fan gave up pressing further, considering he had yet to even form his Nascent Soul. To dream of higher stages was almost laughable.

Zui Xian added, “The world is vast, and what I know is but a fraction. Farther realms require further inquiry.”

“The vastness of the world,” Su Fan mused inwardly. Perhaps Tianyuan Prefecture was but a small patch of earth in the vast expanse, barely noticeable and minuscule. If mere survival was so hard here, the life ahead seemed beyond his imagining.

Suddenly, Su Fan asked, “What lies beyond Tianyuan Prefecture?”

Zui Xian’s expression darkened, as if recalling distant memories.

“When I was refining my heart and dao, I ventured beyond Tianyuan Prefecture. Outside lay a grand world—vast seas and boundless skies.”

“Countless powerful sects like Tianyuan Sect thrived, and Nascent Soul cultivators were as numerous as cattle and horses. Cities and villages dotted the land like stars.”

“Beyond Tianyuan Prefecture, there are said to be thirty-six prefectures, all governed by a mighty dynasty.”

Su Fan was startled. “A dynasty? Aren’t dynasties only among mortals?”

Zui Xian smiled faintly. “This dynasty is far greater than mortal ones. It is called the Song, and we, the people, are called Song folk.”

“Alas, I lack the qualification to enter the dynasty; I only hear tales.”

Su Fan was indifferent. To think that even someone like Zui Xian, the foremost in Tianyuan Prefecture, could not enter the dynasty spoke volumes of its might.

“During my Heart Refinement travels, I saw the world’s grandeur and my own insignificance. I once believed that reaching Heart Refinement would let me roam the vast world freely.”

“But I realized the world far exceeded my imagination. I do not know when I will truly see the heavens.”

“You are a prodigy, elder, your talents rare. Surely, in time, you will glimpse the greater world,” Su Fan said earnestly. The phrase “talents rare” was familiar—it was the reason Tianyuan Sect had first rejected him.

But now, applied to Zui Xian, it was a compliment indeed, for Su Fan had never met another at Heart Refinement, though he had heard rumors about the old man Ku.

Zui Xian waved off the praise. “If I could keep cultivating, would I be stuck in Tianyuan Prefecture?”

Su Fan was shocked. “Could it be that you...?”

Zui Xian turned away, sighing. “I was gravely injured. My cultivation is halted for life.”

A heavy silence followed as he recalled that fateful battle, his body trembling at the memory. It was evidently a brutal fight.

After a moment, Zui Xian spoke. “I remember when my Heart Refinement had just succeeded, I was in a secluded cave preparing to breakthrough.”

“Everything was perfect—ample elixirs, rich spiritual energy, just time. Ten years of seclusion and I would succeed.”

“Ten years passed quickly, and I was on the verge of breakthrough when, in the ninth year, an unknown cultivator invaded my cave.”

“He was at the same stage as me—a late Nascent Soul peak—also ready to breakthrough with time.”

“Secluded as I was, I had defenses set, confident in their strength. But the intruder silently broke through and attacked as I meditated.”

“Despite the surprise, I fought against the backlash of cultivation and my blood’s turmoil. I used all my strength, but my prior injury left me no match.”

“He wielded countless magical treasures and astonishing techniques. I fought fiercely, but only managed a stalemate.”

“In that desperate moment, I sacrificed my cultivation to unleash a final strike, killing him.”

“Though victorious, my injuries were grave. I had to meditate in the outer cave for a hundred years to avoid death by Dao dissolution.”

“Alas, my cultivation halted at Heart Refinement. I cannot advance in this life.”

After finishing, Zui Xian seemed lost in the memory, as if reliving that scene.

The vast world beyond awaited—so much more to see, so much more to strive for.