Transmigration and Self-Saving Cultivation

Chapter 260 Encountering an Immortal.

Having escaped the crisis of the previous night, Jun Luochuan and Su Yao felt the gentle morning sunlight, like a pair of tender hands, softly brushing away the lingering gloom of the night. The two packed their belongings and once again embarked on this unknown and unpredictable journey of cultivation.

In the mountains and forests, the cheerful chirping of birds rose and fell, like a vibrant symphony. The leaves rustled in the gentle breeze, as if providing lively accompaniment to this symphony. However, Jun Luochuan knew that beneath this picturesque tranquility, there might be hidden dangers, like treacherous reefs.

Su Yao, like a cheerful and lively little deer, skipped and hopped close to Jun Luochuan. Her bright eyes sparkled with curiosity and joy as she occasionally bent down to pick the wildflowers blooming beautifully by the roadside. Smiling radiantly, like a flower in full bloom in spring, she tried to tuck one of the vibrant blossoms into Jun Luochuan's hair. "Jun Luochuan, look at these flowers! How beautiful they are! Wearing them on your head will make you look as handsome as a celestial being."

Jun Luochuan tilted his head slightly with an air of arrogance, feigning disdain, and said, "Utterly boring. How could a cultivator have such leisure and refined tastes?" However, his eyes involuntarily glanced at the delicate wildflower, and a subtle ripple stirred in his heart.

They proceeded steadily along the winding mountain path, and before they knew it, it was noon. Suddenly, a thick fog appeared ahead, swirling and shrouded in mist, like a mysterious veil, exuding an indescribable eeriness. Jun Luochuan's brows furrowed instantly, like a tightly wound spring, his vigilance rising like a ignited beacon. "Su Yao, be careful, this fog is too strange."

Su Yao also put away her usual playful attitude, and her expression became serious. She tightly grasped Jun Luochuan's clothes, like a frightened little bird, and her voice trembled slightly, "I'm a little scared, Jun Luochuan."

The two cautiously and slowly stepped into the mist. Everything around them instantly became blurred, as if they had entered a dreamlike, illusory world. Just then, a melodious zither tune drifted from the mist. The music was like a babbling brook, leaping lightly among the rocks; it was also like a nightingale singing sweetly in the valley, clear and pleasant, refreshing and soothing, as if a weary soul had found a place of rest.

Jun Luochuan immediately gripped his sword tightly, its blade gleaming with a cold, clear light, like a twinkling star in the night sky. He spoke in a low voice, his tone soft yet undeniably firm, "There's someone nearby. Stay close to me."

Following the direction of the music, they approached slowly, like travelers groping their way through a fog. There sat an elderly man in a simple robe, leisurely playing an ancient zither beneath a tree. His white hair, like the first snow of winter, was pure and radiant; his face, however, was as smooth and rosy as a baby's, exuding an otherworldly air; his eyes were deep and serene, like a bottomless pool, concealing endless wisdom and mystery. Beside him, a white deer grazed leisurely, its lithe body and snow-white fur like a spirit descended from a fairyland. Upon seeing Jun Luochuan and Su Yao, it merely raised its head slightly, its eyes revealing an innate nobility and serenity, before returning to its grazing.

Jun Luochuan pondered to himself, "This person's aura is restrained and unfathomable, like a high mountain hidden in the clouds, seemingly ordinary but actually containing boundless power. He must be a senior master with profound cultivation." He quickly sheathed his sword, stepped forward, and respectfully clasped his hands in a salute, his posture solemn and devout. "Senior, I apologize for disturbing you. We were just passing through this place when we were unexpectedly captivated by this beautiful music. We had no idea that you were meditating here."

The old man slowly stopped playing the zither, like a gentle breeze rippling across a lake before returning to calm. He raised his head, his gaze sharp and penetrating, seemingly able to see through the mist and understand everything. He looked at Jun Luochuan and Su Yao, a kind and gentle smile on his face, like the warm spring sun. "It's alright. In this vast world, meeting is a great destiny. You two are so young, yet you have already embarked on this arduous path of cultivation. You must have experienced many trials and tribulations along the way."

Su Yao looked at the old man curiously, her big eyes blinking like twinkling stars in the night sky. "Grandpa, who are you? Why are you playing the zither here all alone?"

The old man chuckled softly, his laughter as clear and melodious as a mountain spring. "I am but a passerby in this vast world, wandering the four seas, with no fixed abode. When I arrived here, I saw that the scenery was picturesque, like a paradise on earth, so I stopped and played a tune to comfort my soul."

Jun Luochuan hurriedly asked, "Senior, judging from your extraordinary temperament and the remarkable manner in which you move, your cultivation must be unfathomable. I wonder if you would be so kind as to bestow your guidance and give me some pointers on the path of cultivation?"

The old man nodded slightly, his gaze like a precise scalpel, landing on Jun Luochuan as if he could see through every pore of his body. "You lad, you do have some insight. I observe that the spiritual energy within your body is abundant, like a rushing river, yet it appears somewhat restless, like turbulent waves lacking composure. You must have just broken through to a higher level of cultivation recently and have not yet fully stabilized it."

Jun Luochuan was greatly surprised. This old man had seen through his situation at a glance. He couldn't help but feel admiration for him like a surging river. "What you say is very true, senior. I have indeed just broken through my cultivation. I am still exploring how to integrate it and make steady progress."

The old man slowly stood up, his hands behind his back, his posture as upright as a pine tree, exuding an innate majesty and composure. "The path of cultivation is like sailing on a vast ocean. One's state of mind and cultivation must be like the two oars of a boat, progressing in balance. If one's state of mind is unstable, even if one's cultivation is high, it is nothing more than a tree without roots or water without a source, and it is difficult to last long. You need to hone your state of mind through repeated trials, like polishing a rough jade, in order to go further and climb higher on this path of cultivation."

Su Yao listened from the side, seemingly understanding but not quite. She tilted her head, her face full of doubt, like a child with a strong thirst for knowledge, and asked, "Grandpa, how exactly does one cultivate one's mindset?"

The old man smiled as he looked at Su Yao, his eyes full of affection, as if he were looking at his beloved junior. "Little girl, the tempering of one's mind lies in being able to hold fast to one's true self when facing all kinds of temptations and difficulties in the world, and not be swayed by the noise of the outside world. When encountering difficulties and obstacles, do not be afraid to retreat; when you achieve success and glory, do not be arrogant or complacent. Only in this way can you make achievements in the cultivation of your mind."

Jun Luochuan lowered his head and pondered for a moment, as if he were savoring the profound meaning in the old man's words. Then he bowed respectfully again, his attitude sincere and earnest. "Thank you for your teachings, senior. I will keep them in mind and always remind myself of them."

The old man then turned his gaze to the sword in Jun Luochuan's hand, which gleamed with a mysterious and cold light under the sunlight. "This sword is quite spiritual and is by no means an ordinary object, but you have not yet unleashed its full power. A sword is both a weapon of destruction and a tool to aid in cultivation; the key lies in the user's state of mind and skill in its use."

As he spoke, the old man gently beckoned, and the sword, as if drawn by an invisible force, flew involuntarily into his hand. The old man grasped the sword and casually swung it a few times. In an instant, sword flowers flashed, like dazzling fireworks blooming in the night sky. The surrounding air seemed to be sliced ​​into countless fragments by a sharp pair of scissors, emitting a hissing sound, as if groaning in pain. Jun Luochuan and Su Yao were both dumbfounded, never expecting that the old man's seemingly casual swings contained such overwhelming power.

The old man tossed the sword back to Jun Luochuan. The sword traced a graceful arc in the air before landing steadily in Jun Luochuan's hand. "You must feel the power of the sword with your heart, as if you were in harmony with it, becoming one with it, only then can you unleash its greatest power."

Jun Luochuan caught the sword steadily, a warm feeling welling up in his heart, as if he had found a guiding light in the darkness. "Thank you for your guidance, senior. I will practice diligently and live up to your painstaking efforts."

Su Yao looked at Jun Luochuan with envy, her eyes full of longing, "Jun Luochuan, you are so lucky to receive such careful guidance from a senior."

The old man smiled at Su Yao, his smile as warm and gentle as a spring breeze. "Little girl, you don't need to be envious. Everyone has their own unique opportunities on the path of cultivation. As long as you have good intentions and persevere in your cultivation, opportunities will come, and you will surely reap rewards."

Afterwards, the old man shared many valuable experiences and insights on cultivation with them, explaining in detail everything from the subtle application of spiritual power to the secrets of spellcasting, like a patient teacher imparting all his knowledge. Jun Luochuan and Su Yao listened with rapt attention, as if travelers groping in the dark had suddenly seen a glimmer of hope, or lone wanderers in a barren desert had found a vibrant oasis. It was as if they had opened a mysterious door to a higher realm of cultivation, and the world before them had become much broader and more wonderful.

Before they knew it, the sun was setting, and the sky was painted with a magnificent, colorful sunset, like a vibrant painting. The sunset glow burned like flames, adorning the entire sky with a dreamlike beauty. The old man gently put away his zither, preparing to leave.

Jun Luochuan and Su Yao bowed respectfully again, their posture solemn and grateful. "Senior, we are deeply grateful for your teachings and guidance today. We will never forget this kindness and gratitude. When will we be able to hear your teachings again?"

The old man smiled slightly, a smile that revealed a detached tranquility beyond the mundane world. His figure gradually disappeared into the mist, leaving only a sentence that echoed in the air like heavenly music: "If you are destined to meet again, you will meet again. You should cultivate diligently and not waste this precious time."

Jun Luochuan and Su Yao gazed at the direction where the old man had disappeared for a long time, their hearts filled with endless gratitude and reluctance.

"Jun Luochuan, this senior is truly amazing. He seems like an immortal who has stepped out of a fairyland," Su Yao exclaimed, her eyes shining with admiration.

Jun Luochuan nodded, his expression solemn and firm. "Yes, it is a great opportunity for us to receive such careful guidance from you today. We must work even harder in our cultivation and live up to your high expectations."

Filled with rich rewards, the two embarked on their journey once more. Now, their hearts were brimming with confidence and motivation, as if the road ahead had been illuminated, brimming with hope. However, they were unaware that within this seemingly peaceful cultivation journey, countless unknown challenges, like ferocious beasts lurking in the darkness, awaited them. And how would the appearance of this mysterious old man, like a butterfly effect, profoundly alter their destinies?

End of this chapter