"finally..."
I sigh with relief as I lock the door to the training room behind me.
"Is this a training room?"
The training room, unlike what I imagined, was more like a fully equipped apartment, with a study table, a bed for sleeping, and other things, and a mat in the center that seemed to be the designated spot for training.
"This place becomes less and less like a cultivation sect."
"Anyway, that's not important. What's important is that I finally got a training method."
I ignore my random thoughts and begin to focus on the leather scroll in my hand.
The scroll contained the foundational technique of the Seekers of the Truth of Life and Death sect.
"Sea of Corpses"
The scroll begins by explaining some basics about cultivation methods, Qi gathering, and other information about the Seekers of the Truth of Life and Death sect.
All Qi Condensation cultivation methods rely on gathering spiritual energy from the air and storing it in the Dantian as Qi. And based on the amount of Qi a person can hold within their Dantian, Qi Condensation is divided into lesser - medium - greater - complete.
The Foundation Establishment stage is reached when one can completely fill the entire Dantian with Qi.
The foundational technique of the Seekers of the Truth of Life and Death sect relies on drawing spiritual energy from the environment and merging it with specifically Corpse Qi, using it to dilute the toxic properties of Corpse Qi, then employing the diluted Corpse Qi to create a Sea of Corpses within the Dantian.
The technique requires a place filled with spiritual energy and Corpse Qi to practice it. Fortunately, the Dead Giant Island fulfills both conditions.
Therefore, it's considered the best place to practice "Sea of Corpses."
"Corpse Qi..."
I feel a discomfort in my stomach as I remember the end of the second cycle.
"They must use methods to isolate the Corpse Qi away from the city, or else this island would be completely uninhabitable."
I stop these stray thoughts and return to focusing on the rest of the leather scroll's contents.
Which talked about the foundation and dream of the Seekers of the Truth of Life and Death sect. And as is clear from the name, the ultimate dream of the sect is immortality. Therefore, the sect offers aid to any disciple who wants to research and create methods for extending lifespan, of course after first providing tangible evidence.
And across generations and generations of researchers, the sect divided immortality into three types: immortality of the mind, immortality of the body, and immortality of the soul.
Immortality of the mind can be achieved through many methods, such as transferring memories or transforming into a being composed solely of thoughts and memories. But due to questions about whether the being is still itself after losing its body and soul, few follow this path.
The hardest and most impossible among them is immortality of the soul, as the soul needs the body or it will disappear under mysterious circumstances. The sect hasn't achieved any progress in this field so far.
As for the sect's real foundation, it is through bodily immortality. There are many methods in the sect that follow the path of bodily immortality, and among them is even the sect's foundational technique, "Sea of Corpses," which allows a person to transform into a zombie if they wish, although this decision is only made in moments of utmost despair.
"So, it's a sect of madmen who seek to extend their lifespan at any cost, even if it means turning into a zombie."
I can't help but mock as I read about the foundation of the Seekers of the Truth of Life and Death sect.
"And yet, I can't blame them. Death is a frightening thing."
After reading everything in the leather scroll, I put it aside while stretching wearily.
"Alright, it's time to purify my body."
"Speaking of which, I had struggled with purifying my body, likely due to the low spiritual energy in the air. So, I wonder how long it will take me this time."
I feel a strange excitement about purifying my body this time.
Perhaps because it's the first time the path after body purification is this clear.
_________
I apologize for the short chapter, but I'm sick, unfortunately. It's a miracle I managed to write this.