Martial Immortality: Starting with the Spirit Beast Scroll

Miao Kefa wore a blue satin daoist robe. He was of medium height, with sharp, upswept brows, a high-bridged nose, and piercing eyes that made him look exceedingly sharp and dashing.

The Institute Head, Zhou Hongfang, and the Instructional Elder, Wu Chuanqi, flanked him as they ascended the stage, showing him the utmost respect.

’I can’t believe it. Miao Kefa has been famous for years, but he’s so young!’

Zhao Lin was rather surprised. He had expected Miao Kefa to be a venerable elder, only to find the man was in the prime of his life.

A cultivator in the Qi Refining Realm could live to be over one hundred and twenty, but after the age of seventy, they would gradually begin to show signs of aging.

Miao Kefa looked to be about forty, so by logical inference, his actual age couldn’t be more than sixty.

’It must mean that besides his diligent cultivation, his talent for Magic is also exceptional.’

Talent for Magic was primarily reflected in one’s perception and control of the five elements.

The grade of one’s Spiritual Root was somewhat helpful for learning Magic, but it wasn’t the deciding factor. Even the highest talent for Spiritual Roots couldn’t grant all the advantages.

Zhou Hongfang walked to the front of the stage and said with a smile, "Everyone, the person beside me is Elder Miao."

Before his words had even faded, the cultivators below the stage erupted in applause and cheers.

To most ordinary cultivators, Miao Kefa was not only famous but also more relatable—not one of those lofty, untouchable figures with a Celestial Spirit Root or an Earth Spirit Root.

Miao Kefa smiled calmly, clasped his hands in a salute, and said, "I am Miao Kefa. Greetings, fellow Daoists."

Zhou Hongfang nodded and continued, "I’m sure you have all heard of Elder Miao’s great name, so I won’t waste time on introductions."

Stepping aside, he gestured with an outstretched hand. "Elder Miao, please begin your lecture!"

"A lecture is too grand a word. Let’s just call it an exchange of ideas."

After this token display of humility, Miao Kefa’s expression turned serious, and his voice rang out. "A gentleman is not born different from others; he is merely good at making use of external aids. The same is true for the Dao and its arts..."

He started with the fundamentals, beginning with the most basic Laws of Heaven and Earth. He went on to eloquently explain the various difficulties one encounters when practicing Magic, offering solutions and shortcuts.

The square fell silent. Everyone stared at the stage, concentrating intently, afraid of missing a single word.

Zhao Lin was no exception. Though his Spirit Cultivation Map allowed him to absorb Magic directly, it didn’t mean he could just coast.

The Spirit Cultivation Map only had nine slots and a limited capacity. It could only be used to store the most important skills, so he still had to learn ordinary Magic on his own.

Miao Kefa frequently lectured in various commanderies, so his material was well-rehearsed and perfectly paced. He was never so fast as to be overwhelming, nor so slow as to be tedious.

The crowd listened, utterly enraptured. Everyone felt the trip had been more than worthwhile. Even Zhou Hongfang and Wu Chuanqi were listening with great interest.

As noon approached, the bells of the Spirit Dao Institute rang, just as Miao Kefa concluded his lecture.

According to the agenda, there would be a two-hour break for lunch, followed by a session in the afternoon where he would share his insights on practicing Magic and take questions.

Zhao Lin planned to ’cross swords’ with Miao Kefa that afternoon.

He had already found out that the two skills Miao Kefa had cultivated to the level of Perfection were the Ice Blade Skill and the Flame Stream Arrow. He had also reached Great Mastery in a Wood Element defensive skill.

’Excellent. One Ice Element skill and one Fire Element Skill. I happen to have an affinity for both of those attributes.’

Zhao Lin made a preliminary plan for the nine slots in his Spirit Cultivation Map.

He would dedicate two or three slots to offensive skills, two or three to defensive and escape skills, and the rest to support skills like Qi Observation, healing, and underwater breathing. He would also need to keep at least one slot free as a spare.

His current offensive skill was the Wind Blade Skill, but since a perfected Ice Blade Skill was now being served up on a silver platter, Zhao Lin saw no reason not to graciously accept it.

Disciples of the Spirit Dao Institute were required to learn one offensive skill, choosing from the Spirit Blade Skill, Spirit Hammer Skill, Spirit Whip Skill, or Spiritual Needle Skill.

There was a very specific reason for this selection of four skills.

After learning the Spirit Blade Skill, for instance, one could more easily control medium-sized magical artifacts like flying daggers, flying swords, Judge’s Brushes, and Sharp Cones.

Only by properly mastering the corresponding skill could one control a magical artifact with true finesse. Otherwise, relying on Divine Sense and Spiritual Power alone, the artifact was merely a flying weapon, unable to unleash its full potential.

By the same token, the Spirit Hammer Skill excelled at controlling heavy artifacts like hammers, axes, staves, and halberds; the Spirit Whip Skill was for flexible artifacts like ropes, chains, pouches, and rings; and the Spiritual Needle Skill was for small artifacts like needles, nails, darts, and awls.

Not wanting to take an unorthodox path, Zhao Lin had chosen the most common of them, the Spirit Blade Skill.

’I have to get up close to the skill to receive its imprint.’

’But how can I get Miao Kefa to agree to attack me with his skills?’

’Going up on stage and asking him directly would be improper. I’ll have to find a more roundabout way to make this happen.’

Zhao Lin mulled it over while strolling outside the Spirit Dao Institute.

As he glanced up, he noticed a roadside tree laden with unfamiliar green fruit. An idea struck him. When he was sure no one was looking, he walked over, plucked one of the fruits, and tucked it away in his robes.

Two hours later, the crowd had gathered in the square once more.

Miao Kefa took the stage on schedule, shared a few more of his personal insights on practicing Magic, and then said, "My knowledge is limited, so that is all I have to share."

"Do any of you have questions? Please, feel free to raise them, and we can explore them together."

Just then, a voice called out, "We’ve long heard that Elder Miao has perfected two skills. Would you be willing to demonstrate them and broaden our horizons?"

The cultivators, who had been bowing their heads in thought, forgot all about their own questions. Their excitement surged, and they began to clamor in support.

"Good idea! It’s rare for Elder Miao to visit. Please, show us what you can do!"

"Yes, let us see it too!"

Miao Kefa smiled with understanding. He wasn’t surprised; wherever he went, cultivators often made similar requests.

He was already prepared. He took three red balls, each the size of a pigeon’s egg, from the storage pouch at his waist and smiled. "Very well. I wonder who..."

"I’ll do it!"

Before Miao Kefa could even finish, a resonant voice rang out.

A tall cultivator then stepped out from the crowd and leaped directly onto the high platform.

Miao Kefa was stunned into silence. He had been about to say, "I wonder who would be willing to come on stage and assist me," but this man had somehow known what he was going to say and accepted before he’d even finished the sentence.

’He agreed so quickly, anyone who didn’t know better would think I’d hired a plant.’

The newcomer was none other than Zhao Lin. He was also the one who had just called for Miao Kefa to demonstrate his skills.

Zhao Lin had originally planned to wait until after the demonstration to find an excuse to go on stage. But since Miao Kefa needed a volunteer, this was an opportunity he couldn’t possibly pass up.

The cultivators below were just now catching on, lamenting how quickly Zhao Lin had moved to snatch this chance to be in the spotlight.

"Disciple Zhao Lin. Elder Miao, do you require an assistant for your demonstration?"

Zhao Lin asked, bowing respectfully.

Miao Kefa’s expression returned to normal. He nodded. "I do."

Without another word, he waved his hand, using a telekinesis skill. The three small red balls floated gently toward Zhao Lin.

Zhao Lin caught them. The balls were cool and hard to the touch, apparently made of some kind of metal. They were hollow, and made a rattling sound when he shook them lightly. ’They must be made specifically for demonstrations,’ he thought.

"Elder Miao, what should I do?"

Miao Kefa smiled. "It’s simple. Walk four hundred paces away, then toss the balls into the air."

"Yes, sir."

Zhao Lin descended from the platform and walked exactly four hundred paces before stopping.

Seeing this, the other cultivators had a good idea of what Miao Kefa was about to demonstrate, and they watched with wide eyes.

"You may begin!"

Miao Kefa indicated, raising his hand.

"One... two... three!"

Zhao Lin shouted and forcefully tossed the three balls into the air.

All eyes immediately turned to Miao Kefa, but he remained perfectly calm and still.

Only when the balls had reached their apex and begun to fall did Miao Kefa raise a hand. With barely any visible hand seal, a glint of cold light shot from his palm, streaking like a meteor toward the three distant red balls.

Halfway to its target, the cold glint suddenly flashed and split into three brilliant, crystal-clear ice blades!

PING! PING! PING!

With three consecutive chimes, the three ice blades struck the three small balls simultaneously.

The crowd erupted into thunderous applause at the sight of him hitting the targets from such a great distance.

Zhou Hongfang and Wu Chuanqi, however, remained calm. While Miao Kefa’s feat was impressive, they could accomplish something similar, albeit not as cleanly or efficiently. Both suspected he had more impressive techniques yet to show.

And indeed, when the ice blades struck the balls, the balls didn’t fall but were instead knocked upward.

Like three darting fish, the ice blades immediately spun around and, just as the balls began to fall again, sliced at their undersides.

The balls were knocked upward once more, colliding with each other in mid-air...

And so it continued. The three ice blades weaved back and forth, their continuous strikes keeping the three small balls suspended in the air.

The constant CLINK-CLANK-CLINK was like the sound of pearls dropping onto a jade plate—crisp and exquisitely pleasant.

The cultivators watched, so dazzled and mesmerized they even forgot to applaud.

Miao Kefa smiled faintly. With a flick of his fingers, the three ice blades merged into one.

Just as the crowd thought the demonstration was over, the single remaining ice blade continued to strike the balls, moving so fast that it became a mere streak of light weaving between them.

The three balls continued to dance and collide in the air, never once falling.

Zhao Lin stared up for a long moment, his heart pounding with shock. Only four words came to mind: A wonder to behold!

...

’That’s the skill I want!’