Absolute Destiny Game.

Chapter 564 Immortal guides the way
Xiao Jie did not reject the sudden kiss. With his current immortal-level reaction speed and perception, he could have easily dodged it the instant An Ran approached, even with just a slight turn. But he did not do so.

He quietly savored the soft touch, carrying a hint of earthly warmth and resolute determination. The feeling… wasn't bad; there was a long-lost, vibrant sense of humanity. But that was all. Like tasting a cup of tea, he could discern its flavor, but it didn't stir much emotion within him, nor did it evoke any heart-fluttering excitement. To him, it was more like a special, warm symbol, an overly enthusiastic gesture between friends expressing extreme excitement and gratitude.

When the two separated, Xiao Jie couldn't help but chuckle as he looked at An Ran, whose face was flushed, eyes were darting around, and who seemed to be belatedly feel ashamed of her bold behavior.

"What are you laughing at!" An Ran asked, somewhat annoyed. Her annoyance was mixed with regret for her impulsive actions, and perhaps more so with Xiao Jie's overly calm, even somewhat...kind? reaction.

"It's nothing," Xiao Jie said, his smile fading as he calmly changed the subject. "Let's get down to business and talk about how to navigate the path of cultivation." He didn't explain why he had laughed; in fact, even he himself was somewhat unsure how to face this potential affection. After becoming an immortal, many things changed.

Everything has two sides. When he shed his mortal flesh and blood body and condensed into a celestial body, gaining near-eternal life and immense power, he also lost many needs and desires based on biological instincts.

Human love, hate, passion, and intense emotions largely stem from the secretion of hormones and the feedback of the nervous system. But his celestial body, constructed from pure spiritual energy, lacks so many strange biochemical signals and hormonal impulses. Hunger, lust, intense physical pain, ecstasy, grief… even all characteristics that would cause strong physiological fluctuations and emotional turmoil have long since vanished from him.

In a sense, this was a body that approached "perfection," calm and rational; but from another perspective, it undoubtedly lost some of the vibrant experiences and impulses of being a "human." Of course, if Xiao Jie wished, he could expend his immortal power to recreate or simulate a flesh-and-blood body for himself, possessing all the characteristics of a mortal. However, at this moment, he had absolutely no such thought or impulse.

Rather than indulging in the potential romantic entanglements and emotional conflicts, exploring the endless path to immortality and enhancing one's strength to cope with future crises is more in line with his current state of mind and needs.

Hearing Xiao Jie so calmly, even somewhat abruptly, cut to the chase, An Ran was speechless, a small spark of anger inexplicably rising within her. However, she herself was unsure what had just happened; that momentary impulse seemed uncontrollable. She took a deep breath, suppressing her chaotic thoughts, and tried to make her tone sound normal: "Oh, then go ahead. I'm listening."

“Okay.” Xiao Jie nodded and began to explain in detail: “This path to immortality that I have verified can be divided into five clear steps.”

"The first step is to go to the secluded cave in Mount Konglao, where you can find and learn the core Ancient Qi Refining Technique. This is the foundation of everything; without it, nothing else can be discussed."

“The second step is to collect a large number of monster cores. Then use this—” Xiao Jie said, taking out a gourd from his storage bag.

This gourd is one foot tall and half a foot thick, with a large, round belly. The gourd's texture is like that of a lake, with an orange-red sheen. There are also many runes and incantations engraved on all four sides of the gourd, making it an extraordinary item at first glance.

"—Use the 'Demon Refining Gourd' to refine the demon core, absorb its pure spiritual energy to aid cultivation, and greatly accelerate the Qi refining process." He handed the Demon Refining Gourd to An Ran.

An Ran took the Demon Refining Gourd and carefully examined the attribute descriptions that appeared, especially the special effect of "refining demon cores and purifying spiritual energy." She suddenly realized, "No wonder! You've always attached so much importance to collecting various demon cores since a long time ago. So that's the key!"

“That’s right,” Xiao Jie affirmed, continuing, “The third step is to go to Canglin Prefecture and find and study the Three Volumes of the Heavenly Book. This is crucial and cannot be omitted! Refining a large number of demon cores can rapidly increase your Qi Refining level, but the residual demon spirits within the demon cores will constantly erode and influence your mind. This influence is similar to the impact on your mind when you demon sorcerers cast high-level transformation spells, only much stronger and more lasting!”
Without the methods of calming the mind and stabilizing the primordial spirit recorded in the Three Volumes of the Heavenly Book to resist and resolve this, one will inevitably lose oneself in the power and be devoured by bestiality and chaos.

"The fourth step is that once you have refined the demon core and cultivated yourself to raise the 'Qi Refining Secret Technique' to the tenth level of the Great Perfection realm, you can prepare to go to Lonely Cloud Prefecture. For this step... I can help you and guide you on how to cross the Void Realm."

"The fifth and final step is that after arriving in Lonely Cloud Prefecture, you need to enter the 'Illusory Realm of the Great Void' and complete the final trial within. If you succeed, you will be reborn and ascend to immortality. If you fail..."

At this point, Xiao Jie's tone became serious. After a moment of contemplation, he continued, "To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what will happen. That illusion is profound and unpredictable, directly pointing to one's true nature and the Great Dao. The consequences of failure may not only be the complete destruction of one's cultivation, but perhaps... there is a real possibility of physical death, soul dissipation, and the annihilation of one's true spirit. That's why I repeatedly told you to think it through carefully before you speak."

An Ran listened intently, holding her breath, until Xiao Jie finished speaking. Then she let out a long breath and looked at him with a complicated expression: "You...you became an immortal step by step like this?"

"More or less." Xiao Jie nodded, his mind involuntarily recalling the hardships, adventures, and life-or-death battles he had encountered on his journey north. To think that he had actually succeeded in ascending to immortality was still unbelievable to this day, a stroke of luck and coincidence that seemed out of the ordinary.

"However, many unexpected events and battles occurred interspersed throughout, making the process far more tortuous and difficult than described in these five steps."

Comparatively speaking, An Ran's journey ahead will undoubtedly be much easier. At least he can clear many obstacles for her in advance, point out the direction, and she won't have to face terrifying and deadly enemies like the True Man of the Mortal World.

"Could you explain it to me in more detail?" An Ran's curiosity was completely piqued, and she pressed on, "For example, what should I pay attention to at each step? Are there any details that are particularly easy to overlook? Also... how exactly did you find the way to Guyun Prefecture in the first place? That place sounds so mysterious."

Xiao Jie glanced at the time and nodded: "Alright, I still have some free time." He then began to recount his journey in search of immortality, starting with the deaths of everyone else and his solo northward journey, selecting the key points and telling the story in detail.

From traversing the perilous snowfields of the North, to the thrilling adventures on the North Sea, to the arduous journey through the vast Void Realm… and the final trial within the Void Realm that tested one's very heart and scrutinized one's beliefs. An Ran listened intently, as if she were there herself. At the most dangerous parts, she couldn't help but let out a soft gasp, holding her breath for Xiao Jie. Hearing that Xiao Jie had successfully traversed the Void Realm and arrived at the legendary Lonely Cloud State, she was filled with amazement, her eyes brimming with longing. Hearing Xiao Jie describe the various trials and transformations he experienced in the Void Realm, An Ran was equally shocked and thoughtful, as if she too had undergone a self-examination along with his narration.

"Wow... I never imagined you'd been through so much..." After listening to the whole story, An Ran sighed again, her voice filled with emotion. "Now that you mention it, the path to immortality is truly fraught with peril, a life-or-death situation at every turn. However, to have such a complete and proven path to immortality is an opportunity that's priceless. Really... thank you for giving me this incredible opportunity."

This time, her thanks were exceptionally sincere. Although she lacked the outward excitement and enthusiasm of before, they were particularly earnest and heavy, because she truly realized the weight and risks behind this "gift".

"No need to be so polite," Xiao Jie smiled, trying to ease the tension in a relaxed tone. "Aren't we good brothers?"

"Hehe, good brother..." An Ran repeated the word, his lips twitching slightly in a half-smile. He glanced at Xiao Jie with a complicated look in his eyes, but didn't say anything more about the topic. Everything was understood without words, perhaps with a hint of helpless relief.

She quickly adjusted her mindset and focused her attention back on the cultivation itself: "So, the key to the problem actually lies in this Demon Refining Gourd, right? Without the Demon Refining Gourd to quickly refine demon cores and provide a massive amount of spiritual energy, I'm afraid I might not be able to reach the tenth level of perfection even if I refine until I die. This path is actually a dead end."

“That’s right.” Xiao Jie nodded approvingly. “The Demon Refining Gourd is the most crucial part, as it greatly shortens the process of upgrading Qi Refining Technique.”

"Then... how did such a powerful magic weapon end up in the hands of someone like Hongchen?" An Ran asked in confusion.

“Although there’s no absolute evidence yet,” Xiao Jie’s gaze narrowed slightly, “I suspect it’s mostly the work of that ‘Nameless Taoist’ who’s been hiding behind the scenes. Perhaps he deliberately let Hongchen obtain it as part of the nourishment for cultivating his ‘pawns.’” He shook his head, seemingly unwilling to discuss that mysterious and terrifying existence any further. “But let’s not talk about that. I’ve decided that once I’ve sorted out everything, I’ll quit the game and become a carefree immortal.”

He wasn't entirely certain about this decision when he first became an immortal. After all, the game world was so magical and vast, and he always felt that there was still infinite potential and secrets to be discovered, as well as the unreleased subsequent game expansions—everything was incredibly tempting.

However, recent events, especially the increasingly clear feeling that he seemed to be under the invisible manipulation of the nameless Taoist, gradually made him make up his mind.

It seemed he had truly been drawn into some grand plan by the nameless Taoist from the very beginning. If he continued playing along this path, delving deeper into it, he would likely find himself on a road of no return. Where this road led, what its ultimate purpose was, he had no idea. Under the nameless Taoist's scheme, countless brilliant heroes, like the True Man of the Mortal World, had waited for tens of thousands of years, only to end up as mere pawns, dying without a proper burial.

Wang Xie, despite his treacherous nature and formidable strength, was nothing more than a sacrifice in the nameless Taoist's plan.

If he continued down this path, he might one day become a sacrifice for someone else to break through their limitations and achieve their goals. Rather than pinning his hopes on some vague notion of being the "protagonist of destiny," it was better to withdraw now that he had already reaped enormous rewards and quit while he was ahead. In any case, he had already attained immortality, and his adventures in this game had been more than worthwhile, even far exceeding his expectations.

It's time to retire gracefully.

As long as he finishes what he needs to do, that's enough. Xiao Jie has already clearly planned his exit strategy: complete the "Cataclysm of Reincarnation" quest, help the Dragon Soaring Kingdom unify the Nine Provinces and establish order in the human world, and then help the Howling Moon Immortal completely eliminate that strange Demon Star Tower. After completing these three tasks and settling all major karmic debts, he will immediately retire from the game and peacefully become a carefree immortal.

Before they knew it, the two had strolled back into Ginkgo Village.

From afar, one could see Yuan Bai and village chief Huang Shidao sitting under the huge golden ginkgo tree, with a wooden chessboard in the middle, playing a game of chess.

Huang Shidao looked like he was deep in thought, scratching his head and cheeks. He held a chess piece in his hand, raising it in mid-air, unable to find a place to put it, as if the chessboard was some kind of dragon's den or tiger's lair.

On the other hand, Yuan Bai, who was sitting opposite him, had a handsome young man in the picture. He was sitting with his legs crossed, eating a steamed bun in one hand and holding a cup of coarse tea in the other. He would take a sip from time to time, looking smug and relaxed. He couldn't be more carefree.

"Village Chief Huang, Brother Yuan, you two seem to be in high spirits," Xiao Jie greeted them with a smile as he stepped forward.

"Huh, it's you!" Huang Shidao looked up at the sound of the voice, and when he saw that it was Xiao Jie, his face immediately showed a look of surprise and uncertainty. The otherworldly aura that the person in front of him exuded, which was perfectly integrated with the surrounding environment yet transcended it, made him feel that he was extremely unusual.

Huang Shidao had, by chance, learned some rudimentary Taoist practices in his early years. Although he wasn't even a beginner and hadn't achieved much, he did know a little about observing people's auras and predicting fortune. Looking at Xiao Jie now, he felt as if he were standing before an abyss, gazing upon a vast ocean—unfathomable, yet righteous and peaceful, inspiring awe. He paused for a moment, then smiled as if suddenly enlightened, a smile filled with relief and understanding.

(End of this chapter)