My Simulated Road to Immortality
Chapter 889 - 847: The Veteran Angler

Zhong Shentong, with his one-handed Seven-color Divine Light, is known to be invincible among cultivators of the same realm. He could even exhaust Senior Brother Zhang to death while being of the same cultivation base.

The "Life and Death Mystical Skill" he cultivates is also an extremely mysterious technique. When practiced to the deepest level, it is said that one can achieve a marvelous state where life and death exist simultaneously, accomplishing a different kind of immortality.

This cultivation allows the cultivator to awaken and infinitely amplify the innate fear of death within themselves.

Such a technique could make a naturally slacking cultivator like Zhong Shentong change entirely in the face of death’s threat, becoming extremely active as if he were a different person.

"Following the original historical trajectory, Zhong Shentong wouldn’t have broken through until his life’s limit was approaching."

"But now he has advanced to the Foundation Establishment Phase early..."

"What has happened?"

The period when the Mutated Immortal Epidemic was most severe had passed; it was certain that this was not the reason Zhong Shentong was forced to make a breakthrough.

Li Fan was immediately intrigued.

However, due to his true self still being in the process of absorbing power from the Five Elements Great Cave Heaven, he was unable to do anything personally.

This time, to observe Zhong Shentong, his incarnation, Ji Shaoli, would have to take action.

"He has only just broken through to the Foundation Establishment Phase and hasn’t yet had the chance to comprehend the Seven-color Divine Light. With my Golden Core Stage cultivation base, subduing him..."

"Shouldn’t be a problem," Ji Shaoli thought to himself.

But just to be safe, the incarnation still made ample preparations.

In the phase from Foundation Establishment to Nascent Soul, as long as one arms oneself with enough contribution points, one can disregard the disparity in cultivation bases and crush the opponent.

Not to mention that his realm is currently one level higher than the opponent’s. So Ji Shaoli wasn’t overly concerned.

Based on intelligence, Ji Shaoli used the Teleportation Array to arrive at a deserted hill on the northwestern border of Yong Yun Province.

Atop the hill was a slightly dilapidated temple where Zhong Shentong was living in seclusion.

"Originally, Zhong Shentong was just an ordinary old man. Although by chance he acquired half a scroll of the ’Life and Death Mystical Skill,’ he had always cultivated without result. It wasn’t until his lifespan was nearly exhausted that he broke through his shackles under tremendous pressure, successfully entering the Energy Refining Stage."

"After reaching the Energy Refining Stage, his motivation to cultivate was still lacking. He only spent the rest of his life in this little temple."

"He should have waited until his lifespan was nearing its end before breaking through again. But now he has done it prematurely..."

"And what is his Foundation Establishment Strange Object?"

Ji Shaoli did not reveal his form but concealed his breath and began to secretly observe from a distance.

In the temple, aside from Zhong Shentong, there was a little Daoist child about eight or nine years old.

What was excessive was that the temple chores like cleaning and cooking could have been easily solved with magic.

But Zhong Shentong only let the little Daoist child do them personally.

The little Daoist child was very cute, with big eyes that seemed to speak, bright and twinkling. Yet he worked dutifully and efficiently. His adeptness was not at all childlike.

While the little Daoist child managed everything in an orderly manner, Zhong Shentong was just sitting by a pond in the backyard of the temple, fishing.

The Daoist child called out several times in vain and had to bring the prepared meal directly to Zhong Shentong.

"Master, it’s time to eat," said the little Daoist child in a milky voice.

"Shh, don’t scare away my fish," Zhong Shentong responded.

The little Daoist child pouted and started to eat on his own.

It wasn’t until the little Daoist child was nearly finished eating that Zhong Shentong showed a sign of movement, "Got a bite!"

He yanked the fishing rod only to find that what he hooked was not any sort of fish.

It was merely a green light sphere.

Zhong Shentong appeared disappointed, but he still reached into the green light sphere and groped around for a while.

Before long, he pulled out a rusted-looking disc-like magic tool.

Zhong Shentong examined it for a bit, shook his head slightly, and directly tossed it to the little Daoist child.

The little Daoist child, seemingly accustomed to this, skillfully caught it, "Master, what is it this time?"

"It’s a Fire Disk that can release an open flame. From now on, you won’t need to use talismans to start a fire," Zhong Shentong said lazily.

He put away the fishing rod and started to gobble down the food.

After Foundation Establishment, there was no longer a need to eat like a mortal.

But Zhong Shentong seemed to enjoy it immensely, devouring the food heartily.

In no time at all, he had cleaned out all the food on the table.

"I’m going to sleep for a while. Don’t disturb me unless it’s absolutely necessary," Zhong Shentong stood up, humming a tune as he instructed.

"Got it, got it," the little Daoist child responded somewhat helplessly.

As soon as the sound of deep sleep echoed from inside the temple, and the little Daoist child had cleared all the kitchen waste, he turned back towards the pond.

He pulled out a fishing rod from nowhere and, mimicking Zhong Shentong’s earlier actions, started to fish.

But after a long while, there was not the slightest stir.

The Little Daoist couldn’t help feeling somewhat dejected.

"Master said that only those with sincere hearts could fish treasures out of this pond. I’ve tried for several years and haven’t caught anything."

"Damn it…" She obstinately cast the line again.

The result remained unchanged; the tip of the fishing rod was still empty.

At that point, the Little Daoist accepted her fate and left the pond, crestfallen.

Shortly after.

Ji Shaoli slowly revealed his form.

"Interesting," he said, his gaze fixed on the pool of water not far away, his expression unfathomable.

After setting up a layer of illusion around him, he then began to closely scrutinize the small pond.

Under the observation of his divine sense, the water was indeed as ordinary as it could be.

No deeper than ten feet, no longer or wider than thirty feet.

The view inside the pond was entirely unobstructed.

Apart from some floating debris, there was no sign of fish life.

If Ji Shaoli had not just witnessed with his own eyes Zhong Shentong fishing out a green light sphere from this pond,

he would have almost been deceived himself.

Since he couldn’t discern anything unusual, Ji Shaoli decided to personally dive into it to uncover the pond’s secrets.

But...

Once he entered the water, it seemed no different from any ordinary pond!

Back on the shore, Ji Shaoli pondered for a moment and then took materials out of his storage ring and fashioned a fishing rod.

Mirroring the actions of the master and apprentice duo, he began to fish.

Sitting by the water’s edge, he stilled his breath and concentrated his mind.

He cast his line!

Yet still, there was no change.

Ji Shaoli sat motionless for a long time, feeling that something was off, and then put away the fishing rod.

"This pond, it clearly has some mystery. But it can only be seen and not perceived..."

"Could it be that this pond recognizes only Zhong Shentong?"

After contemplating for a moment, Ji Shaoli dismissed this idea.

If that were the case, the Little Daoist wouldn’t have tried at all.

"Sincere heart..."

"How can one truly be considered sincere?"

Fishing was not unfamiliar to Ji Shaoli.

Whether it was before his transmigration, or during his years as the Grand Preceptor in Da Xuan,

Whenever he was agitated, he would go fishing.

With the conviction that his efforts would never be in vain, he always cheerfully returned only after a fish had taken the bait.

However, since he started cultivation, he hadn’t engaged in this relaxing activity anymore.

"Sincere heart..."

Ji Shaoli had an epiphany.

This time, he sat down by the pond again.

No longer trying to uncover the secrets of the pond,

He simply wanted to catch something, just one cast!

"Huh!"

Ji Shaoli’s expression was solemn as he fiercely threw out the fishing rod.

The next moment, the scenery before his eyes changed dramatically!

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First update, two more chapters to go