Eternal Life: I Can Sell Everything

On the mountaintop, the Beichen Sword Immortal glanced up at Song Ciwan. "Unattached and alone? Are you a Loose Cultivator?"

Song Ciwan answered candidly, "As you can see, Senior, I can indeed be considered a Loose Cultivator at present."

The Beichen Sword Immortal smacked his lips and stroked his chin. "Incredible. ’He who has no desires is strong.’ So you have to be a Loose Cultivator to achieve that? It makes so much sense. How did I never think of that before?"

As he spoke, he suddenly sat up straight, his burning gaze fixed on Song Ciwan. "Young friend, this world is a cage. To be without attachments, and therefore without desire and strong? I find that hard to believe!"

Song Ciwan refilled the Beichen Sword Immortal’s cup before raising her own for a small sip.

She paused as if in thought, then smiled. "You’ve already made up your mind, Immortal Venerable, so let’s leave it at that. In any case, it’s not something I can prove."

The Beichen Sword Immortal had two great passions in life: one was the sword, the other was his mouth.

As for his mouth, he simply loved to win arguments.

Convincing someone with words was a thousand times more satisfying than cutting them down with his sword.

What was the point of practicing the sword?

Wasn’t it so that after you won the war of words, you could use your sword to shut your opponent’s mouth for good?

That way, if they got angry and resorted to dirty tricks, the Beichen Sword Immortal’s blade would show the world what a *real* dirty trick looked like!

But for all the years the Beichen Sword Immortal had wielded his verbal blade, he’d never encountered someone who simply refused to defend themselves. What was he supposed to do then?

Encountering someone like this for the first time, the Beichen Sword Immortal’s competitive spirit was instantly ignited. He immediately pressed, "As a Loose Cultivator, worldly attachments might not hold you back, but what about Cultivation resources?"

"Song, do you know why the Demon Race recently sent out Gu Peng to fight for another spot in the top ten of the Ten Thousand Spirits Celestial Pride List?"

The words were heavy with implication, and Song Ciwan understood immediately. "Senior, are you saying that Gu Peng’s overnight rise to fame—challenging his way from the nineties on the Celestial Pride List up to fifteenth, and then vowing to challenge all the Human Race Celestial Prides in the top ten—wasn’t his own doing, but a plot by the Demon Race?"

The Beichen Sword Immortal beamed. "You’re a clever one. Now, think a bit more: why would our Great Zhou allow Gu Peng to enter our territory, defeat so many of our Celestial Prides, and act so outrageously?"

He left a few things unsaid.

’It’s not like the Great Zhou is running a charity for the Demon Race, is it?’

’Or was it just to avoid breaking the rules of the Celestial Pride challenges? Putting face before substance?’

One must remember that while Gu Peng hadn’t killed every Human Race Celestial Pride he defeated, he had still slain seven of them on the spot!

Celestial Prides weren’t a dime a dozen. Losing seven in three days was a blow that even a vast nation like Great Zhou would feel to its core.

...

A conversation between intelligent people didn’t require spelling everything out.

Song Ciwan pondered for a moment as her thoughts raced. She was inwardly alarmed, but her voice was steady. "The Celestial Pride List rankings... are they tied to some sort of agreement? Senior, does this agreement concern resources?"

The Beichen Sword Immortal laughed heartily. "Exactly! You must understand that in this world, regardless of station, be it Human or Demon or any other living creature, no one can escape the need for resources!"

"The common folk struggle for their daily bread, while high-level Cultivators toil for Cultivation resources. ’The world bustles with activity, all for the sake of profit.’ If there’s no profit to be gained, who would bother to fight?"

Song Ciwan said at once, "Please enlighten me, Senior!"

The Beichen Sword Immortal adopted a conspiratorial tone. "Come closer..."

Song Ciwan leaned in slightly.

In reality, their conversation was shrouded by clouds and mist, ensuring no one could possibly overhear, but one couldn’t skip the proper theatrics.

The Beichen Sword Immortal whispered, "For years, I’ve been searching for traces of Penglai Immortal Island. After all this time, I’ve discovered... the Ten Thousand Spirits Celestial Pride List might have originated from Penglai Immortal Island itself!"

Song Ciwan looked up, her eyes wide with surprise.

Seeing her astonished expression, the Beichen Sword Immortal felt a thrill of satisfaction. He lowered his voice even further. "You Celestial Prides... you might just be the keys to opening Penglai Immortal Island!"

’Keys?’

Song Ciwan’s brow furrowed slightly.

The Beichen Sword Immortal chuckled. "The top ten rankings on the Celestial Pride List, in particular, may determine the number of individuals the Human Race and the Demon Race can send into the Immortal Island once it opens. Now do you understand, young friend?"

Understanding dawned on Song Ciwan. "You mean to say, Senior, that my current position as tenth on the Ten Thousand Spirits Celestial Pride List is extremely dangerous?"

The Beichen Sword Immortal nodded. "A worthy student!"

Song Ciwan was silent for a moment. Then the Beichen Sword Immortal spoke again. "Ah, young friend, there are times in this world when our hands are tied. You speak of being strong through having no desires. Even if you don’t seek Cultivation resources or the Path of Longevity... when the entire Demon Race is targeting you, will you not even seek your own safety?"

And just like that, he’d brought the conversation full circle.

Insisting on winning every point was one of the Beichen Sword Immortal’s defining traits.

It was his nature. He couldn’t change it, and he clearly had no intention of trying.

Song Ciwan couldn’t help but laugh. "Are you suggesting, Senior, that I should seek the protection of a powerful faction?"

The Beichen Sword Immortal grinned. "Even if you are a peerless Celestial Pride of this generation, unbelievably strong, you can’t guard against those who are willing to play dirty. Song, you must understand... a dead Celestial Pride is no longer a Celestial Pride. They’re just a flash in the pan, a falling star."

"As for why they died? Who cares? All that matters is that they’re dead and their spot is open. Wouldn’t you agree, young friend?"

Song Ciwan nodded slightly. "You have a point, Senior."

The Beichen Sword Immortal continued, "So you see, in this world, even without attachments, one cannot be truly free. Song, once you’ve fallen into the cage, you can no longer claim to be strong by having no desires!"

Song Ciwan said, "And yet, you came here specifically to protect me today, Senior."

This remark made the Beichen Sword Immortal jump to his feet. He straightened up, eyes wide. "What did you say? What did you say?"

Song Ciwan smiled. "Your appearance today, Senior—was it not to act as my protector?"

The Beichen Sword Immortal pointed at Song Ciwan, a mixture of anger and amusement on his face, but he didn’t answer.

Song Ciwan continued, "Since you’ve explained how important the top ten spots on the Celestial Pride List are, I imagine that even if you hadn’t arrived in time to protect me today, the other Immortal Masters in the city would not have stood by and watched the Willow Demon use its power to bully the weak and break the rules."

She added, "Senior, it seems my life... is quite important now. I understand."

She finished with a smile.

The Beichen Sword Immortal said, exasperated, "What do you understand? Tell me exactly what it is you think you understand!"

Song Ciwan said, "I feel that I’ve become even more fearless. I fear nothing in this vast world. It’s an exhilarating feeling!"

With that, she let out a hearty laugh, poured herself another cup of wine, and drained it in one gulp.

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