I Seek Immortality Through Serendipity

”In three days, whoever reaches the mountain peak first shall inherit the True Inheritance!”

Gu Yuan felt as if darkness enveloped his eyes, and when he opened them again, he found himself in an unfamiliar place.

Looking up, he saw a majestic mountain peak before him.

Atop the peak, there was a winding stone path that stretched all the way to the summit.

At the front of the stone path stood a jade stone tablet, upon which golden light flowed, and characters shimmered upon its surface.

”Is this the rule?”

”Is this mountain the True Inheritance trial?”

Gu Yuan murmured softly as he surveyed the scene, then glanced around.

But left and right, there was only a haze of gray mist, with no trace of others.

It seemed that he was alone on this vast mountain peak.

”Very well then!”

”I’ll at least secure a spot first!”

Seeing no one around, Gu Yuan didn’t hesitate further and stepped boldly onto the stone path.

”Clang!”

As he stepped onto the stone path, a cascade of images flashed before his eyes.

”Haha, Junior Brother Gu, did you really think I would willingly die to pave the way for you?”

”This was all part of my scheme. By killing you, I gain the Oath of Allegiance and can join the Demon Slaughter Sect!”

In the dim Demon Star Cave, Senior Brother Yang, disheveled and aged, approached Gu Yuan with a maniacal laugh.

In his hand, a vague, small cyan sword aimed slowly at Gu Yuan’s chest like a grass tip.

Panic inexplicably rose in Gu Yuan’s heart, as if he had lost all his mana, reverting to that Qi Refining youth ensnared by the Spirit-Breaking Ring.

”Senior Brother Yang, long time no see...”

But Gu Yuan merely sighed softly, and the shackles in his heart shattered, his mana fully restored, causing the image of Senior Brother Yang to disperse like smoke.

”Haha, Gu Yuan, Gu Yuan, I have won!”

”Did you really think you could defeat me?!”

”All your opportunities are mine!”

In the Water Cave, Lan Tianlu laughed wildly, while Gu Yuan coughed blood, lying on the ground powerless, seemingly awaiting death.

”Bang!”

Yet in an instant, Lan Tianlu’s figure shattered like glass and disappeared.

Seemingly aware of Gu Yuan’s inner resilience, the images no longer showed his past enemies, morphing instead into seductive sounds and enchanting beauties.

”Gu Yuan, would you be willing to join my sect?”

In the Demon Star Cave, Sword Fox Immortal asked directly.

”No!”

Gu Yuan swung his sword, shattering the illusion before him, and continued his stride towards the mountain peak.

But with every step, countless illusions floated into view.

Gu Yuan swung his sword, severing everything without pause.

Gradually, he reached the end of the first level of steps, where a new stone tablet emerged.

”Boom!”

Just then, an immense force surged forth, pulling Gu Yuan’s consciousness into a dreamlike world.

”Congratulations, Senior Brother, on obtaining the top spot in the True Inheritance!”

He heard countless voices of congratulations and flattery.

Gu Yuan opened his eyes to see all Seven Clans members bowed to him in submission.

On the Cyan Cloud Platform, numerous disciples cheered, looking at him with reverence and awe.

On the golden cushion, Sword Fox Immortal’s eyes gleamed with surprise as she looked at him, seemingly with unspoken emotions.

He was full of vigor, triumphant in the human world.

In the blink of an eye, twenty years passed. As the top of the True Inheritance, he enjoyed the resources of the Daoist School, elevating his cultivation to Foundation Establishment Perfection with no room for further ascent.

He then prepared to break through to the Golden Core.

The Thunderfire Golden Body Seal reached Great Success, and dual cultivation with Cen Qingqing readied all conditions to trigger the Celestial Tribulation.

Yet it ended in failure, damaging his foundation and reducing his cultivation to the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment.

Fortunately, Sword Fox Immortal supported him unwaveringly, helping him recover his cultivation to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment after a hundred years.

During this time, they developed mutual feelings, agreeing that Gu Yuan would marry her if he broke through to the Golden Core.

But alas, the Celestial Tribulation proved again too powerful, failing his breakthrough, severely damaging his foundation and subtracting decades from his life.

Still, Sword Fox Immortal refused to give up, pouring resources into his recovery, and after decades more, he returned to the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment.

She even found a Longevity Seal, extending his life by decades.

”Senior Brother Gu, let it go, don’t force another breakthrough!”

”Just spend the rest of your life like this!”

Ma Wu and others who once respected him counseled him to give up.

Only Sword Fox Immortal remained unwavering, supporting him and offering her Virgin Primordial Yin to help him.

But ultimately, it was in vain.

This time, his Dao Foundation was entirely damaged, beyond repair.

Meanwhile, the Su Family produced a prodigy who rose to the Golden Core and oppressed Sword Fox Immortal.

In the later South Sea Battle, deliberately allowing his guard to slip led to Sword Fox Immortal’s Golden Core breaking, her cultivation dropping drastically, her hair white overnight, beauty gone.

Gu Yuan was heartbroken, but without Sword Fox Immortal’s protection, he was powerless against the Su Family’s suppression, living his later years in utter desolation.

”Three failed Golden Core attempts, implicating the Immortal—what meaning is there to my life?”

Resigned, he felt a wave of despair, contemplating death.

Yet he then remembered something, rubbing his palm repeatedly.

The light in his eyes grew ever brighter.

”The illusion feels real, but one thing is false!”

”I will not fail in my Golden Core breakthrough!”

Gu Yuan abruptly raised his head, mana surging, his roar like thunder.

All the illusions disappeared like dreams or bubbles.

His consciousness returned, standing once more on the stone steps.

He had unknowingly traversed the first stretch of stairs, reaching the mountainside.

A new stone tablet appeared on the steps, bearing three characters.

”Heart Inquiry Pass!”

Gazing at the stone tablet, Gu Yuan couldn’t help but sigh: ”Such a realistic illusion, had I not known my own uniqueness, I might have truly been ensnared...”

The final illusion, genuine and profound, tugged at his emotions, lightly immersing him, causing his heart and spirit to drift with the narrative.

But he knew, possessing exotic treasures, if he achieved the Golden Core, he would not fail thrice!

Moreover, taking one’s own life is the utmost cowardice, something he would never do.

At worst, he’d fight with all his might!

”The True Inheritance trial is indeed intriguing...”

With renewed determination, Gu Yuan did not hesitate, striding forward once again toward the stone steps.

”Human race cultivator, die!”

This time, no illusion, but two Late Stage Earth Demon Jade Water Fire-Eyed Apes suddenly leaped from the mountainside.

The apes were tall, their eyes gleamed with golden fire, exuding an intimidating presence.

”Slash!”

But with a thought, Gu Yuan launched his Golden Bamboo Sword, and in moments, thirty-eight sword lights danced, swiftly vanquishing the two Late Stage Earth Demon Jade Water Fire-Eyed Apes.

The Jade Water Fire-Eyed Apes fell, and a new stone tablet appeared on the stone steps.

”Demon Beast Pass!”

Gu Yuan merely glanced at it before striding forward to continue his journey.

”Kekeke!”

As he took a step forward, a Celestial Net appeared.

Three black-robed, gloomy late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators emerged from the mountain, intent on attacking.

”Zing!”

However, Gu Yuan effortlessly split his sword light into fifty rays, meeting them with thunderous momentum.

Having reached Late Stage Foundation Establishment, and with Sword Fox Immortal’s guidance, Gu Yuan’s sword light could divide into fifty rays—a terrifying prowess, befitting a true Foundation Establishment Great Sword Cultivator!

The three tribulation cultivators could not hinder his progress at all.

He continued his ascent.