Chapter 82: On the Way of the Angler of Great Turtles

After paying his respects, Luo Feng flew at the fastest speed possible for a Nascent Soul cultivator.

The Fishing Immortal was momentarily taken aback, then burst into laughter. “Young friend, there’s no need for such haste. Would you care to come down and have a chat?”

Luo Feng paused, then put on a welcoming smile and slowly descended on a gust of wind. Inside, however, he was on high alert. Why would this unfamiliar immortal call out to him? Could it be robbery and murder? That made little sense—why would an immortal covet anything from a mere Nascent Soul cultivator? At most, his clothes could be counted as spiritual items, hardly treasures worth killing for.

His mind raced as he alighted thirty paces from the Fishing Immortal. This was a sheer cliff—close enough to escape swiftly, or to strike and unleash his true form if necessary.

Luo Feng glanced at the immortal in the distance, offered a bow, and smiled. “May I ask why you’ve called upon me, honored Immortal?”

He covertly sized up the other, estimating his strength. The aura of tribulation thunder was still lingering—he must have only recently crossed his heavenly tribulation; his foundation was not yet fully established. The way he held his fishing rod was deft and natural—a long-time fisherman, not a pretender. If the immortal attacked suddenly, Luo Feng could be killed in a single instant! Yet there was still the possibility that the man possessed a spiritual treasure. If it were a primordial artifact, Luo Feng’s best choice would be to flee far away, dive into the sea, and escape using his puppet avatars.

The Fishing Immortal smiled gently. “I noticed your aura is well concealed, young friend. May I ask which clan you hail from? I have fished here for a hundred years and never once seen a tribe with such an invisible presence!”

At these words, Luo Feng realized the source of the immortal’s curiosity was himself. In trying to hide his strength, he’d suppressed his aura so completely that even his human bloodline was hidden. For an immortal, to see through his cultivation but not his ancestry would naturally give rise to suspicion!

A perfect disguise—ten parts real, yet so flawless as to seem unreal. As in the tale of the Three Kingdoms—Liu Bei’s virtue was so great it bordered on pretense, while Zhuge Liang’s wisdom verged on the supernatural. Perfection can feel artificial; only when truth and falsehood are interwoven does it seem real. The Great Dao is never without flaw—perfection is destruction.

Suddenly enlightened, Luo Feng relaxed inwardly, grateful to have understood this principle before entering the primordial continent: that great achievement appears lacking, and true fullness is found in seeming emptiness. He released a trace of his bloodline aura and bowed. “I am a human cultivator, honored Immortal. My skills in concealment must have misled you.”

A flash of understanding appeared in the Fishing Immortal’s eyes. Stroking his beard, he laughed. “So that’s it. The Thousand Isles are home to many wildborn demons; I simply didn’t think of it. I’ve delayed your journey, young friend—please forgive me.”

Seeing that the immortal harbored no ill will toward his human origins, Luo Feng let the radiance of his natal treasure fade from his spiritual core. With a look of sincere awe, he said, “You haven’t delayed me at all. I’m more shocked to discover a fourth Primordial Spirit expert in the Thousand Isles.”

The Fishing Immortal was momentarily surprised, then laughed heartily, a touch of pride in his tone. “I am no longer a Pure Yang Spirit. Just recently, I survived the Four-Nine Tribulation and attained the rank of Earthly Immortal!”

Luo Feng stared at him in disbelief, deeply astonished. “You’ve already attained immortality? There’s a true immortal hidden in the Thousand Isles? I—I am truly fortunate to meet a real immortal! May I ask your immortal title?”

The Fishing Immortal was pleased by the praise. “No need for such formality, young friend. Your aura is pure—I believe you will soon reach Pure Yang Spirit yourself. In ten thousand years, you too may glimpse the Dao of immortals. By then, you’ll not be called ‘young’—we shall be Daoist friends, you and I, the Fishing Turtle Guest of the Eastern Sea.”

Luo Feng shook his head modestly. “You flatter me, Immortal. My cultivation is shallow. To meet a true immortal already is a blessing—I dare not dream of the immortal Dao. If you would tell me a little of the immortal path, I would be content.”

The Fishing Immortal nodded approvingly, clearly fond of Luo Feng’s combination of talent, potential, and humility. Having labored to attain immortality, what joy is there if no one seeks the path from him? It would be like wearing finery in the night.

With a smile, the Fishing Immortal said, “What would you know of the immortal way? If I know it, I will share it with you.”

Luo Feng asked sincerely, “In mortal cultivation, we start from Foundation Establishment and end with the Primordial Spirit. May I ask, what are the realms of the immortal Dao?”

The immortal stroked his beard, pondered a moment, and replied, “The immortal path is mysterious indeed. I know little myself, but since you ask with sincerity, I shall tell you all I know. After the Primordial Spirit passes the Four-Nine Tribulation, one attains the rank of Earthly Immortal, with a lifespan of 129,600 years—a full great cycle. Beyond Earthly Immortal lies the Celestial Immortal, who communes with Heaven and shares an age with Sun and Moon. If a Celestial Immortal manages yet another breakthrough, they become an Undying Golden Immortal—these possess tremendous power and divine abilities. Even among the great immortals of the Three Teachings, most are only at this level.”

At this point, a look of longing flickered in the Fishing Immortal’s eyes. “If I could comprehend the mysteries of the Golden Immortal, my life would not have been in vain.”

Luo Feng nodded in admiration. “The great Dao is endless—none can speak its end. Surely you will achieve Golden Immortality someday. May I ask, what lies beyond the Golden Immortal?”

The Fishing Immortal chuckled. “Thank you for your kind words. As for what comes after Golden Immortal, I do not know for certain. I have only heard that disciples of the Three Pure Ones can enter the ‘true stream’ and become Great Luo Golden Immortals; those not of the sages’ sects are called ‘scattered’ and most become Taiyi Golden Immortals.”

Luo Feng nodded thoughtfully.

So, Great Luo and Taiyi are not two different realms, but two different lineages. Great Luo—‘Great’ for vastness, ‘Luo’ as in net, signifying all-encompassing. Great Luo Golden Immortal is one who contains all within themselves. Taiyi, also called Taiyi or Tai One, is the Dao itself—immortals who embody the Dao are Taiyi Golden Immortals. Luo Feng himself could be considered a disciple of the Dao Ancestor; in the future, he should strive for Great Luo, not Taiyi.

The Fishing Immortal smiled, “You seem sincere, so let me give you one more piece of advice. The primordial wilderness is fraught with peril—should you attain immortality, do not become arrogant. Earthly Immortals like myself are aged and frail, shallow in cultivation and weak in divine powers; against a Celestial Immortal, we stand no chance at all. When you have just survived the tribulation and become immortal, do not broadcast it—find a quiet place to cultivate for centuries or millennia. That is the proper way.”

“Thank you for your guidance, senior,” Luo Feng replied, bowing deeply from the heart.

…

After some polite conversation, the two parted ways. After all, they were but chance acquaintances, with little real bond. It was nothing more than a fleeting encounter, as fate dictated.

The Fishing Immortal gazed at his fishing rod for a long time, then sighed. “It seems I won’t be catching that golden fish after all. That young man spoke true—the great Dao is endless; perhaps my chance at Golden Immortality does not lie here. Xuanwei, let’s go.”

As soon as he finished speaking, the earth shook and the mountains swayed—a massive sea island began to move. From on high, it was clear: this was a colossal turtle, its body vaster than mountains, as if an entire continent rested upon its back. Such a beast would require at least a Celestial Immortal to subdue.

The previously withered old immortal’s body surged with vitality, muscles swelling, his form towering tens of feet high.

In ancient times, when the Emperor feared the Western Extremity would drift and be lost as a home for immortals and sages, he commanded Yuqiang to summon fifteen giant turtles to bear the land on their heads. Three times this was done, with a cycle of sixty thousand years each, so the Five Mountains would remain unmoved. In the country of the Dragon Lords, there were giants who, with a single stride, could reach the Five Mountains; with one cast, they could hook six turtles, drive them together, and return to their homeland, burning their bones to count the years.

Such is the power of the Fishing Turtle Guest of the Eastern Sea as he roams the boundless ocean!

In these times, everyone who walks the world carries a hidden trump card.

A wisp of divine sense withdrew.

Thousands of miles away, Luo Feng nodded to himself. “So that’s how it is. A beast rivaling a Celestial Immortal—this land is indeed a place of hidden dragons and crouching tigers. No wonder the Fishing Immortal could threaten me, even for a moment.”

[Supplement for yesterday]

(End of chapter)