Chapter Fifty-Five: The Sheep Lives Without Eating or Drinking

Although the outcome was within everyone’s expectations, Blue Yi Immortal’s decisive defeat of four Mind Practitioners still stirred the hearts of all who witnessed it.

Blue Yi had not employed any Daoist arts. Aside from the “Earth Fiend” life cluster, he had not activated any others. His fists and his indomitable spirit once again revealed to martial artists a boundless horizon—dare to dream! Dare to believe! Even without the aid of Daoist arts, martial prowess, that unreasonable force, could still be honed to the level of a terrestrial immortal! Only if you dare to imagine it, will you, in the not-so-distant future, be able to expand the frontiers of the Milky Way, facing first-class or even second-class technological military might with martial strength!

The perspective of Qi-cultivating martial artists was thus broadened. The Mind Practitioners gained even more. There were now many more ways to apply the power of mind and spirit, and the strength drawn from it was greater still. The legendary image of the Thunder Phoenix destroying a battleship was not beyond them—when their innate energy was sufficient, they too could achieve such feats. For Mind Practitioners, annihilating a warship single-handedly was not such an impossible task.

To use an imperfect metaphor: this was a type of contagion.

In the early days of spiritual revival, many obtained powerful bodies, but without knowledge of how best to use them. Lacking a lineage, cultivators who relied on instinct and outdated knowledge progressed only slowly.

But if a complete grand system—such as the one established by Blue Yi, who excelled in both Dao and martial arts—was introduced, providing direction and practical examples, then all those martial artists “infected” by his wisdom, even the most provincial bumpkins of the artificial divine realm, could grow swiftly and correctly, slowing down only when they reached their natural limits!

At least in Blue Yi’s eyes, he already saw promising candidates among those around him. Zhao Sikong, Huo Yuanjia, Li Shuwen, Sun Lutang, and Li Jinglin—all possessed top-tier talent and fortune. Zhao Jian, Liu Baiyuan, and Guo Decheng were a step behind, while Geng Liangchen and Kuang Yimin were another tier below.

To catch Blue Yi Immortal’s discerning eye, even those who were not outstanding, so long as their disposition and will did not collapse, could at the very least condense their Martial Dao Incarnation in the future, elevating their will to interfere with reality.

As for the Void-Refining realm, the pinnacle of martial arts, that would depend on fate.

Realm did not necessarily equate to combat strength. Whether in martial arts or Daoist arts, once one reached a certain threshold, further advancement in realm did not always yield the same increase in battle power—this was especially true for Daoist arts. Nonetheless, the two were not at odds; if one had the resources to improve both realm and strength together, that was ideal.

For now, affairs concerning martial artists temporarily came to a close. Blue Yi Immortal’s daily affairs were countless. He was already hard-pressed to spare time for the Goldling Power Plant’s commissioning, let alone for arranging his own martial and Daoist cultivation.

Today, he had finally made time to deal with the martial artists who had come to pledge allegiance over the past few days. Once those matters were settled, he turned his attention to Daoist arts.

Martial artists needed training; Daoists needed cultivation as well. Only by leaving behind the seeds of both great traditions could the legacy be complete.

The “Dao Canon,” which documented the abilities, transplantation, rejection, and some simple combinations of life clusters, had already seen its first volume completed with the help of the Conquest Space’s records. The remaining tasks of editing, binding, and printing could be delegated. If Blue Yi were to leave now, the “Dao Canon” might not yield much effect in the next decade. But once the artificial divine realm’s Jianghe Civilization of 1909 completed its industrialization and could mass-produce Daoist resources at low cost, the “Dao Canon” would come into its own.

This concerned the Divine Life Cluster.

Jin Buhuan had confirmed that this artificial divine realm contained clues to the Divine Life Cluster. Blue Yi made preparations on both fronts. If he found the clues before leaving, all would be well. If not, by jumpstarting a world where Daoist arts and martial prowess flourished, it would be much easier for him to continue his work upon returning.

The logic was simple. Ultimately, the life cluster was a combat organ. As such, it could perhaps be passed down through bloodlines. By forcibly steering the artificial divine realm of 1909 from a technological path to one of spiritual revival, making cultivation a universal pursuit and encouraging people to seek out life clusters, clues to the Divine Life Cluster would be much more likely to surface.

No matter how well hidden a clue, if the entire world searched for it with passion, even if it were buried under Mount Tai, it would eventually be unearthed by the spirit of Yu Gong.

With the “Dao Canon” in hand, and with Xiao Hongzhuan—the unluckiest soul in the main world—Blue Yi could now begin cultivating a batch of Daoist talents, or more accurately, laboratory assistants.

Xiao Hongzhuan was no useless man. Even if he was lacking in competence, he was still a university graduate; in the artificial divine realm’s Xinghan, there were fewer than a hundred such people. Blue Yi did not require a matching specialization—he only needed someone to strictly enforce laboratory protocols, guiding assistants as if they were middle school students.

Thus, after Blue Yi Immortal announced he would be recruiting Daoist talents—translated into local terms as “disciples”—Xiao Hongzhuan led him to collect a life cluster.

Jinling, beneath a certain bridge.

A beggar was kneeling, kowtowing to Blue Yi and Xiao Hongzhuan. Judging by the gold and jewels to one side and the look of ecstatic joy on the beggar’s face, it was clearly a smooth and satisfactory transaction.

“Hehehe, thank you boss, thank you so much! Boss, are you thirsty? Hungry? Shall I treat you to Crazy Thursday?” Xiao Hongzhuan, delighted with the life cluster now preserved in the Conquest Space, was currying favor with Blue Yi to an obsequious degree. He was truly riding a wave of good fortune, winning without effort and enjoying every minute of it!

“No need to eat or drink, just stay alive,” Blue Yi replied as he stowed away the “Canghua.”

Life cluster: “Blue Wave.”
Location: Kidneys.
Ability: Sense water vapor, control water flow, nurture profound water.

This was Xiao Hongzhuan’s little secret. During his days as a beggar, he had once noticed a fellow beggar who could drink filthy water without harm and always seemed to know exactly where water could be found in the city. Realizing that this man must possess a life cluster, Xiao Hongzhuan kept a close watch. Now, his patience had paid off.

The “Blue Wave” life cluster was quite versatile, especially powerful in areas with abundant water resources. Water nature, water aspect, water temperature, vapor, waves, pressure—armed with sufficient Daoist knowledge, one could employ an endless variety of techniques. Especially effective for quietly drowning or desiccating an enemy, its intimidation factor was undeniable. In certain artificial divine realms, one could even play the role of a Dragon King or Rain Lord.

“With ‘Blue Wave’ in hand, do you plan to stay in Jinling for now, or head north with me?” Blue Yi’s tone was conversational, yet his plain words left no room for debate.

“Of course, I’ll follow your lead, Boss.” Xiao Hongzhuan was quick to take the hint.

There was no need to rush back. Xiao Hongzhuan knew perfectly well—the longer he clung to Blue Yi’s coattails, the stronger he would become. He wanted to grow strong enough to teach a lesson to those idiotic bosses who forced him to work endless, unpaid overtime!

Though he seemed cowardly and calculating, a flash of cold resolve appeared in Xiao Hongzhuan’s eyes. He was now beyond the reach of loan sharks, no longer bound by the five insurances. If he didn’t return and put those heartless, dehumanizing bastards in their place, all his past suffering would have been for nothing!