Chapter 635

Chapter 635: Nine Stages of Heaven Ladder

“Then what’s the name of that uncle?” she asked.

“He’s called Yubaiqiu,” he gestured simply.

“It’s Yu as in ‘Yu’ and Bai as in ‘hundred,’ Qiu meaning ‘hatred.’ It’s not a great name, but back then, the master who taught Truncating Heavenly Dao said this name was strong, otherwise I wouldn’t have survived. My parents were very happy to give me this name.”

“You know, sometimes I actually believe him. After all, many of my peers didn’t make it, but I did.”

“What about Truncating Heavenly Dao?”

The young lady asked curiously again.

“This is one of the methods for cultivating and ascending to heaven. Since ancient times, there have been nine main paths passed down in the world, each feasible, which are Submerged Dragon, Slaying Armament, Truncating Heavenly Dao, Nine Netherworlds, Profound Water, Transcending Feather, Demon Heart, Hundred Flowers, and Primordial Unity.”

“After cultivating and climbing the nine stages of heaven ladder, one can achieve immortality and longevity.”

“I cultivate the path of Slaying Armament. Although it’s easy to enter, it’s difficult to progress further. The more advanced it gets, the higher the demand for talent. Additionally, this path mainly involves military tactics and combat techniques, so it’s relatively widespread in the army.”

Listening to Yubaiqiu’s explanation, a magnificent scene flashed across the young lady’s mind. It was an extremely grand scroll with rolling wilderness covered by endless white banners, advancing like waves. Under these banners were disciplined armies marching forward in unison, wearing uniform armor.

“What about Truncating Heavenly Dao?”

“The lineage of Truncating Heavenly Dao excels in observing celestial phenomena at night, divination, setting up traps, using the Eight Trigrams, and creating ingenious artifacts. They say it was passed down by one of the Five Virtues, the Yellow Bird.”

The young lady was still unsatisfied and continued to inquire about the other paths.

“Transcending Feather and Demon Heart are the teachings left behind by Immortals from beyond and the demonic forces.”

“Nine Netherworlds are said to have been brought over by the Messenger of Souls.”

“Profund Water is one of the Five Virtues, directly passed down by the White Bird. Similarly, Hundred Flowers is another of the Five Virtues, passed down by the Blue Bird.”

“Primordial Unity has existed since the ancient era of great chaos and is the beginning of the great path.”

“Submerged Dragon and Slaying Armament are two major orthodox practices that complement each other and suppress the world.”

Listening to the uncle’s account, the young lady couldn’t help but daydream. If only she could learn one of them! To ascend to heaven and traverse the earth, possessing boundless power—it was indeed everyone’s dream.

“Haha, if Miss Lolan Xi wants to learn, she can go seek a master. Nowadays, many sects are opening their gates widely to recruit disciples to meet the great calamity. It’s much easier to join than before.”

“What great calamity?” the young lady tilted her head curiously.

“To explain, we need to go back several years. Back then, the sun and moon were both in the sky, fighting each other, causing great turmoil in the heavenly order. Although the moon shattered and the sun fell, the elements of earth, fire, wind, and water were re-established, but the immortals and wandering deities above and below were cast down to the mortal realm, starting anew.”

“But now, the heavenly order has changed, and old laws no longer apply. They must find new ways, and many fallen immortals have fallen along the way to reclaiming their place on the ladder due to the limits of their lifespans.”

“Nowadays, the major sects and families must start afresh. Fortunately, some of the major sects have deep roots, and as long as one or two powerful disciples emerge among the many, they can maintain the facade and weather the storm.”

“But compared to the past, it is a time of fierce competition. Everything is still in flux, so every family is still vigorously recruiting talented individuals. Speaking of which, even I am filled with ambition and marvel at this great era when heroes and talents abound.”

“Is Uncle Yu also part of a sect?”

“Yes, I learned my skills at Tuo Shitang in the Nanfeng Continent.”

Tuo Shitang originated from the canal gangs along the rivers and coasts, comprising dock workers and boatmen. Due to the thriving river transportation under the House of Plantagenet, many people made a living this way. However, this era wasn’t necessarily safe, and they often had to travel frequently, so to protect themselves, these dock workers and boatmen gradually formed an organization, which later became the predecessor of Tuo Shitang.

As the number grew, it developed over generations, forming a well-known faction. Although there weren’t many top-notch experts, its wide-ranging membership meant that larger factions would not easily provoke them.

In Tuo Shitang, many practiced the Slaying Armament Path and Profound Water Path, with techniques primarily focusing on these two lineages, emphasizing toughness and strength. Weapons were mostly long rods and long knives (like oars and paddles).

Due to the expansion of their organization along the rivers and waterways, Tuo Shitang gained considerable fame. They weren’t individually formidable but were hard to deal with because of their numbers and ability to cause trouble.

To join Tuo Shitang, one had to undergo multiple tests. First, one had to be in the relevant field, such as dock workers, boatmen, or fishermen. After three years of observation outside, if the master deemed them suitable, they would be admitted and taught the arts, establishing their seniority.

“Therefore, our sect may not be suitable for Miss Luolan Xi. You might fit better in sects with more women, such as Qinglu Yuan, Dieyi Valley, or Jiuse Fang.”

“Of course, this is just my opinion. If Miss Luolan Xi could recover her memory, returning to her own family would be better. There would be richer resources and specialized instructors.”

“Can one leave the sect after joining?”

The young lady suddenly thought of this question.

“That depends on the sect. Most allow it, but with certain restrictions, like not divulging the sect’s techniques or causing trouble.”

“In fact, most sects are groups of people doing similar work, coming together to assist and teach each other.”

“For example, Qinglu Yuan is mostly doctors, Dieyi Valley trains musicians and dancers, and Jiuse Fang has many weavers and dyers.”

“Oh, do you have to work while practicing the great path?”

The young lady found it quite curious.

“Of course, life itself is practice. If someone secluded themselves in the mountains for decades and suddenly claimed enlightenment one day, they’d probably be delusional.”

“Just thinking won’t suffice; there’s always a deviation. The less you do, the greater the deviation. You must actually do something to truly understand.”

“Uncle Yu speaks so philosophically.”

She blinked, feeling as if she had heard this somewhere before.

“Ha ha, actually, I didn’t say that. I heard it from an old man in the hall,” laughed Yubaiqiu.

“In any case, everyone has their own perspective. There’s the worldly school, which emphasizes engagement with the world, and the otherworldly school, which values detachment, serenity, and focus.”

“Over the years, both schools have had high achievers who climbed the nine stages of heaven ladder and achieved immortality. It all depends on your choice.”

“As for me… I suppose I could do either, but sometimes I prefer a quieter life.”

She looked at her palm, wondering whether she should step out first and see.

Regardless, learning some skills for self-protection is always good. After all, there isn’t always someone to save her. And she wanted to know her origins. If she could cultivate one of the paths, perhaps she could gradually regain her memories as she progressed.

With such thoughts, she patted her dress and stood up.

“Can Uncle Yu take me down the mountain?”

(End of Chapter)