Chương 71: I Cannot Become an Immortal

Su Mu's words rang out with authority. He raised his hands high, his gaze firm and confident. Yes. He believed it. He also believed that in Fang Cheng's eyes, his image had grown towering and great. He was so immense. On his shoulders rested a world. Though that world had no flowers, no grass, no birds or beasts—only loneliness and desolation—that was the path truth must take. The path to truth is always lonely. Fly, brave me. Do not care about the world's gaze. Fly toward the unknown distance!

The higher I fly, the closer I get to truth. And the lonelier I become. I was lost once. But whenever I look down and see that tiny Fang Cheng on the ground... Heh. Foolish creature.

"Do you see it, Fang Cheng? I hold truth in my hands. It is like the sun, radiating boundless light. It shines on you, bathes you. All illusions will turn to ash!" Fang Cheng scratched his head, baffled. This Cult Master Su's words made some sense. But he had one question.

"If energy is conserved, why not just eat people directly? Why go through all these complicated steps?" Su Mu sneered, full of contempt.

"Foolish creature. I have laid truth before you, yet you still cannot see through the illusion. Fine. Let me, the great one, explain these stupid questions to you." He took a sip of cold tea, cleared his throat, and dropped his grand image. He had to become like a commoner to answer a commoner's questions. He said, "The One Hundred and Eight Questions on Cultivators Becoming Immortals states that humans are chaotic energy conglomerates.

The more chaotic a person's thoughts, the more impurities their energy contains.

"If you directly absorb this chaotic energy into your body, the conversion process will cause massive losses. Your own energy might even be assimilated by it. That is what we call falling to demonhood.

"The Spirit Gathering Array is an energy conversion device. It filters out impurities and produces pure Immortal Crystals.

"Beyond that, I unify the thoughts of mortals. I make men only think about having children. I make women only think about working. I make their thoughts fervent. This purifies the impurities within them, making their energy purer.

"Of course, you will ask: why not reverse it? Let men work, and women have children?"

"Yes. Why not?" Fang Cheng asked curiously. Su Mu smiled and gave his answer.

"Because I tried that before. But strangely, women's thoughts become chaotic during pregnancy and after childbirth. And as time goes on, they become even more chaotic. Perhaps mere childbirth cannot satisfy their hearts. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

"Then came the rise of silk textiles in Lianshan Prefecture. So I adjusted my approach. I put women to work. I had people say nice things to them, flatter them, make them happy. The effect was surprisingly clear. They became fervent.

"Of course, not all women became fervent. So I set high performance bonuses. Though these targets can never be met. That is the point. If they were met, they would slack off.

"They need something to strive for. That makes them more fervent. Then I give them wages and let them take turns going out to spend money. The effect is even stronger.

"In addition, some women cannot live without men. So I created Summer Sun Pavilion to satisfy them. But they cannot have children. Once they enter the reproductive phase, their thoughts become chaotic.

"Similarly, some men cannot live without women. So I created those training compounds and gave them brutal training.

"Men are stubborn and rational. Sweet talk is useless. They need to suffer. They need to be abandoned by their wives. Then be thrown into the compounds and brutalized. Only then will they awaken. Hahaha. The great new era does not need women!" Su Mu laughed. He had witnessed truth. Through a series of practices, he had verified its greatness. Hahaha. He was so great. Look. Do you see it? That is fire. In the age of raw meat and blood, I discovered the first spark.

I let the tribe taste cooked food and drove away the cold, warming every zebra's heart. Look again. Do you see it? That is Shuili City. Shuili City is like a tall pear tree. Its branches and leaves are lush, full of vitality. When autumn comes, the tree is covered in sweet, tempting pears. Ah, so fragrant. I stand under the pear tree, intoxicated by its fragrance. I close my eyes and feel its rich, sweet aroma. Suddenly, a ripe pear falls and hits me on the head, crashing into my chaotic mind. Hahaha.

So that is it. That is it... At that moment, I awakened. Soon. Soon. Hahaha. I am about to transcend mortal bonds and become a god-like being! Come, foolish creature. Accept the pear I offer you. Follow my steps. Let us walk the path of truth. One step to the heavens. One step to godhood! Su Mu extended his right hand, staring at Fang Cheng with anticipation, greed, and unquestionable authority. Truth is eternal. All who face it must prostrate themselves.

"Wait, I still do not understand. Why do you make men have children?" Fang Cheng scratched his head.

"Foolish creature! I do not want your questions. I want your devotion! Do you understand!" Su Mu roared and slapped Fang Cheng on the head. This was an awakening blow, meant to snap the deluded back to reality.

"Hey. Attacking is not allowed." Fang Cheng dodged the strike, then suddenly laughed.

"I see! I understand!" He paused, then continued, "You make men have children because you lost that thing yourself. It makes you feel inferior and resentful. You envy all complete men." As he spoke, he pinched his fingers like a delicate flower and mimicked Su Mu's tone.

"Damn it. Since I have lost it, you complete men will not enjoy anything either. Hahaha. No, no. I will destroy you even more brutally. I will make you torture each other. I will make your own brothers stab you in the back!" Su Mu was furious. Fang Cheng's performance had struck a nerve. He wanted to slap this bastard to death. He had killed countless stubborn men before. But he dared not act rashly against Fang Cheng. There was a force inside him that made Su Mu feel fear, terror... No. He could not be afraid.

He was a man of truth! He snorted and said, "Fang Cheng, the truth is before you. No matter how you slander it, it remains unchanged." With that, his image grew larger again, towering over Fang Cheng.

"Everything in the world is conserved. The total energy of the celestial realm and the mortal realm is fixed. That means the positions of immortals are also fixed.

"There will only be one Great Emperor in the celestial realm: Haotian (the Jade Emperor). And only five lesser Emperors: Gouchen (the Gouchen Emperor), Ziwei (the Violet Star Emperor), Dongyue (the Dongyue Emperor), Changsheng (the Everlasting Emperor), and Yuqing (the Yuqing Emperor).

"If you want to become an immortal, you need their permission. Hahaha. Pathetic, is it not?

"Even more pathetic: they only allow fools to become immortals. Because if a genius became an immortal and forged his own Dao, he might take their place.

"Hahaha. Do you understand now? Geniuses like you and me can never become immortals!"