I am just a mortal, why do you all worship me as a saint?

Chapter 39: Even Mortals Take on Disciples

She glanced at him, then slowly lowered her eyes: "Because of this."

Qin Yiyao pulled out a purple-gold pendant from under her neckline. The moment Gu Heng saw it, he knew it was definitely very valuable.

He reached out to take it and examine it closely, only to see Qin Yiyao's wary gaze.

Gu Heng paused for a moment, then smiled and shook his head: "This thing... is very precious, isn't it?"

"Ah."

“I used to live in an alley on the southern edge of the city, but that area was taken over by the Black Forest Gang, and they kicked me out. But I hid this jade under a brick, and tonight I secretly went back to get it, and then they found it…”

She sighed.

Gu Heng nodded slightly and pondered for a moment: "Is this a keepsake left to you by your family?"

"……Yes."

She thought about it and realized that this thing was something she had placed in her coffin before she died, so it could be considered a keepsake, and a very important one at that.

The former Qin Dynasty's territory spanned half of the Xuan Tian Realm, and its imperial treasuries were everywhere, protected by complex and powerful restrictive formations. This purple-gold spirit pendant was the key that could unlock every treasury!

Qin Yiyao had originally considered that after her resurrection, the Great Qin Dynasty might be destroyed, and she would have to start from scratch again. She even anticipated that she would lose all her cultivation. But she never expected that all the precious pills and treasures she had left behind would lose their effectiveness because of the formation she had set up.

Therefore, the purple-gold spirit pendant in Qin Yiyao's hand is actually useless now, but she cannot give it up.

"Ugh……"

This girl's fate is perhaps more tragic than Gu Heng imagined.

Judging from her appearance, she must have come from a wealthy and noble family, but some misfortune he didn't know about caused her to end up on the streets. That purple-gold pendant must be valuable, but she couldn't bear to pawn it.

How can you so easily replace the belongings left by your loved ones?

He raised his hand and patted her head to comfort her: "Is there anywhere else you can go?"

Qin Yiyao shook her head.

"Then stay here with me."

She looked up in surprise, only to find that Gu Heng had already gotten up and was clearing away the dishes and chopsticks. "However, you won't stay for free; you'll have to be my apprentice."

He added.

"apprentice?"

"I am a physician who concocts medicines to save lives. I just arrived in Yunling City and bought this shop. Everything is starting from scratch, and I need someone to help me. Since I saved you tonight, it must be fate that brought us together."

"Anyway, you can learn all my alchemy skills without any problem. So, are you willing?"

"……it is good."

Qin Yiyao agreed without much hesitation.

She truly didn't know where to go or what to do. In any case, she was all alone, and there was probably no one left in the world she knew.

"Then you can call me Master from now on."

Gu Heng shrugged, thinking to himself that he, a mere mortal, had also taken on a disciple—something he hadn't expected. "But...Master, aren't you afraid the Black Forest Gang will come knocking on your door after taking me in?"

Qin Yiyao's concerns were not unfounded. After all, the Black Forest Gang was a fairly powerful force outside Yunling City, with four or five Core Formation stage cultivators. Although they dared not cause trouble in the east, west, or north of the city, this was the south of the city, and she was afraid that Gu Heng would get into trouble because of her.

"Don't be afraid."

Gu Heng said nonchalantly, "The Black Forest Gang is not worth my fear."

He can easily defeat ordinary henchmen in a few moves, but if a Foundation Establishment or Core Formation cultivator comes, well... there's no antidote for his poison.

He still remembered the first time he killed a Core Formation cultivator with poison in Qingmu City.

At that time, Gu Heng realized that the difference between a weak cultivator and an ordinary person was not that great. Therefore, there was nothing to be afraid of.

"……Well."

Qin Yiyao looked at him quietly, and felt that her guess was probably right; he didn't seem like an ordinary mortal.

"Go back to sleep. You must be very tired. The bed is made up upstairs."

"Also, take this book and practice it well."

Gu Heng did something like a magician—he simply took a book out of his system inventory and handed it to Qin Yiyao.

She took it and looked at the large print on the cover—

"body".

Upon opening it, Qin Yiyao's eyebrows twitched.

Gilded ancient characters—this is the script of the celestial beings of the Great Void!

Qin Yiyao suddenly remembered what kind of book this was.

Because she had also been searching for this immortal book that had completely disappeared during the Primordial Era. Legend has it that during the primordial era, the boundary of the Xuan Tian Realm was blurred and indistinct, causing the other realms to connect with each other. The Ancient Realm, the Immortal Realm, the Underworld, the Demon Realm, and the "mortal realm" of the Xuan Tian Realm were all connected, and a passage was created. It was from that time that, above the Supreme Saint stage, there was a "Ascension Stage" that the Xuan Tian Realm had never had before!

After ascending to the tenth level of immortality, one enters the realm of "immortals"!

Below the realm of immortals, all are collectively referred to as the "mortal realm".

Transcending the mortal realm allows one to ascend to immortality.

During the primordial era, a very small number of powerful immortals emerged in the Xuan Tian Realm. They compiled extremely precious books to pass on their cultivation techniques and insights to future generations. Among these were works such as the "Hongmeng Pharmacopoeia" and the "Supreme World-Breaking Technique".

The book "Body" is one of them.

This book was written by a powerful being from the primordial era who had reached the tenth level of immortality. He had reached the pinnacle of physical cultivation. According to the methods in this book, one can temper one's physique and undergo a physical transformation. Even mortals without any foundation can temper their physique to a certain degree and grow a Dao root! Even if one simply follows the steps described in this book, one can steadily advance into the ranks of the strong. Although further advancement will depend on one's own understanding of the Dao, this book can at least save one from many difficult and arduous paths!

However, at the end of the primordial era, a great war broke out among the five realms, causing the boundary walls to tremble, the passages between the five realms to fall apart, and even leading to the cataclysm of the destruction of the realms.

After the calamity ended, countless lives were lost and injured.

Since then, the so-called "ascension to immortality" has become an elusive myth that cannot be found.

Qin Yiyao once sought the "method to ascend to immortality." To this end, she expanded her territory and brought the Great Qin Dynasty to its peak. However, before she could achieve anything on her path to immortality, she sadly withdrew from the scene.

It's just a sad thing.

She looked at the thick, old book with its yellowed cover, her eyes sparkling, her heart pounding.

This "Body" book is actually in his hands!? Could it be that he has cultivated this "Body" book?

Qin Yiyao suddenly realized that her newly recognized master had many secrets, which she could not possibly see through at the moment.

Including his cultivation level.

Could it be that he has already reached the stage of ascending to immortality?

Most likely!

Although Qin Yiyao currently has no cultivation, she will never forget her feelings about cultivators of any strength. Even if a Saint-level cultivator stands in front of her, she can still sense certain clues.

He was the only one who didn't!

Perhaps noticing her questioning gaze, Gu Heng turned around: "Your body is weak, the methods in this book are quite suitable for you. If you can strengthen your body, you might even be able to practice swordsmanship or something in the future."

This book was a gift from the system after I maxed out my "Body Refinement" skill. It was also the most unpretentious book the system had ever given me, because it only had one word written on it, clearly telling me that if I practiced according to this book, my body would definitely be strong and healthy.

Unlike that "Hongmeng Pharmacopoeia," which is all mystical and esoteric.

Of course, Gu Heng didn't practice it because his body refinement was already at the maximum level, and he had read the book before. The content was a bit... too simple. When he refined his body, he had systematic guidance to practice step by step.

In his opinion, the content of this book is only suitable for people with no prior knowledge to practice.

That just happens to be Qin Yiyao.

"Thank you for the book, Master. I will practice diligently."

Qin Yiyao smiled and nodded.

Looking at him now, he seemed otherworldly, possessing an inner sharpness, as if a galaxy of light shone within him, and he was just one step away from reaching the ultimate peak. Was the final step on the path to immortality to descend to the mortal realm, conceal one's sharpness, and refine one's immortal heart?

That's why he's here, wanting to be an ordinary person and experience the last bit of enlightenment that the mortal world can offer him.

Unexpectedly, in her previous life, she had achieved nothing in her pursuit of the elusive and hopeless path to immortality. However, after being reborn, in an alley of a later dynasty, she, now a mortal, encountered someone who had truly embarked on the path to immortality.

And now, she has become his apprentice.

It's really time and destiny.

Qin Yiyao felt that she had probably found the "opportunity" she had been searching for for many years.

……

Outside Yunling City, on the edge of Yunling Forest, on Black Forest Mountain.

The Black Forest Gang established their stronghold here decades ago. "Bang!"

A loud explosion came from the stone fortress on the mountaintop, followed by the sound of blood and flesh flying everywhere.

A tall, strong man crawled out of the ground, covered in blood. He staggered forward for two or three meters before collapsing to his knees with a thud, panting heavily as if he had used up all his strength to recover.

"Please, please spare my life, Master!"

"I really didn't lie!"

He knelt on the ground and kowtowed desperately.

Beside him, a middle-aged man with a livid face sat in the main seat, his face so gloomy it looked like it was about to drip water.

As Huang Su, the leader of the Black Forest Gang, listened to his men's pleas for mercy, he silently pondered what exactly had happened tonight.

Right before him, and right under the noses of this large gang, lay Hong Ba's corpse, still warm, his eyes wide open, as if he had died with his eyes open in disbelief. All the tendons and veins in his body were shattered.

He died in extreme agony.

As for what happened... after listening to this guy recount everything with tears streaming down his face, terrified half to death, Huang Su felt increasingly uneasy.

A few of them went to the south of Yunling City to exploit those mortals, occupying those houses and planning to rent them out at high prices. Then, a brat, after being kicked out, ran back in the middle of the night to steal things, only to be discovered by them...

Then, when they finally caught that brat, someone taught him a lesson...

He was beaten to death by Hong Ba in one move!