Wielding a Brick to Venture into the Immortal Realm

Chapter Twelve: The Gate of Life and Death

Zhuge Buliang took the thin booklet and immediately felt a headache coming on. Although it looked thin, it was crammed full of densely packed writing, comparable to a primary school behavior manual.

"Mengli, from now on, you will be responsible for teaching this junior disciple. Do you have any objections?" Elder Biluo turned to Yin Mengli.

Yin Mengli shivered slightly, her exquisite face turning pale, but she still nodded. However, she silently groaned in her heart.

"Master, I have an objection!"

At that moment, a seemingly sixteen or seventeen-year-old girl in red stepped forward. The girl, with her仙姿佚貌 (ethereal beauty), had a delicate appearance, but her skin was slightly dark, resembling a little black girl. However, her eyes were bright and full of a playful spirit.

"What's the matter, Kewi?" Elder Biluo looked at the dark-skinned girl.

"Why don't you let me teach the junior disciple? Senior Sister Mengli is so busy already, helping Master with the affairs of Biluo Palace," the little black girl said, blinking her lively eyes and smiling.

"Well... let's leave this matter to Mengli. I know what you're up to, little girl. You're already enough of a handful. If you and Zhuge Buliang end up together, there will be chaos in the Yao Hai Sect," Elder Biluo said with a wry smile, thinking to himself.

"Alright, you all go now. Mengli, the junior disciple's training will be your responsibility from now on. Arrange his accommodation for him later," Elder Biluo said, turning and leaving. In a few quick steps, she was out of sight.

"I have some matters to attend to. Come find me at the Zhehua Pavilion later," Yin Mengli coldly said, and also left.

Next, Zhuge Buliang was surrounded by a group of chirpy female disciples, with ten or so senior sisters asking him all sorts of questions, mostly about "Why did Master take you as a disciple?" and "Why did Master make an exception for you in Biluo Palace?"

Zhuge Buliang was overwhelmed. It was the first time in his life he had received so much attention from girls.

Possibly because he was the only male disciple in Biluo Palace, Zhuge Buliang attracted a lot of attention. However, these girls were excessively nosy, making Zhuge Buliang feel like his head was spinning.

After finally managing to send off the "adorable" senior sisters, the previously speaking dark-skinned girl walked up. With a playful glint in her lively eyes, she said with a smile, "Junior Brother, I'm Li Kewi. And you?"

"Zhuge Buliang."

Li Kewi nodded and laughed, "I'm asking, why did Master make an exception to take you as a disciple?"

"Here we go again..." Zhuge Buliang sighed, seeing the curious look on the little black girl's face. He smiled and said, "Because I'm handsome, of course~~"

"Do you believe that yourself?" Li Kewi asked with a teasing smile.

"Uh... feeling a bit guilty..." Zhuge Buliang was at a loss for words.

Li Kewei had dark skin but was charming and delicate, like a little fairy in the night. She circled Zhuge Liang twice and suddenly said, "I need to go into seclusion to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage. I'll come find you in a couple of days~~"

After saying that, the little black girl skipped away, disappearing from sight in an instant.

Zhuge Liang left the Bixiao Palace and learned from the elder sisters that the trees with bright red flowers were called Phoenix Flower Trees, resembling a sea of flowers. Amid this sea of flowers, occasional glimpses of pavilions suggested they were the residences of female disciples of the Bixiao Palace.

"Could this be a collective dormitory?" Zhuge Liang wondered as he navigated through the sea of Phoenix Flower Trees and finally found the so-called Zhehua Pavilion. It was a small pavilion standing amidst the sea of flowers, with petals fluttering and fallen flowers everywhere.

Yin Mengli stood in the pavilion, elegant as a startled swan and graceful as a swimming dragon. Her eyebrows were like smoke, and her white clothing made her look like a proud snow lotus amidst the flowers. Compared to her stunning beauty, even the Phoenix Flowers seemed to pale.

Zhuge Liang approached and smiled, "Hey, Senior Sister, didn't you say you had some chores to handle?"

Yin Mengli glanced at him with a hint of disdain that was fleeting but clearly caught by Zhuge Liang.

Zhuge Liang clenched his fists subconsciously, familiar with that kind of look. Since coming to this world, he had grown up amidst such looks.

"My understanding is that the path of immortality is ruthless and entirely dependent on one's strength," Zhuge Liang said indifferently, putting away his playful demeanor.

Yin Mengli was surprised to see the sudden change in him. Just a moment ago, he had been all smiles, and now he was serious.

Yin Mengli continued, "Next, I'll explain the division of cultivation realms. Although there are many sects in the Nine Provinces with different techniques, they all involve absorbing the essence of heaven and earth to enhance one's cultivation. The cultivation realms are: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Brightening, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Divine Transformation, and Void Refinement. Each realm is divided into ten layers."

"Ah, I've read about this in novels," Zhuge Liang nodded.

Yin Mengli, seemingly accustomed to his strange terms, continued, "The seven major cultivation realms each advance like crossing a great chasm. Qi Refining is basic for cultivators, absorbing the essence of heaven and earth into oneself. Only by breaking through to Foundation Establishment does one become a true cultivator."

"And at a certain level of cultivation, one can open the Gates of Life and Death within oneself to activate one's potential and enhance one's power."

"Gates of Life and Death?" Zhuge Liang was puzzled as he had never heard of this.

Yin Mengli explained, "Within the human body, there are countless vital gates, with the two major gates of Life and Death located at the chest. If one can transcend the mysteries of life and death, one can achieve the ultimate path of immortality."

"In the chest, you say? Could you point out the exact location?" Zhuge Liang asked, his eyes wandering.

Yin Mengli's face flushed as she felt Zhuge Liang's lingering gaze. "The Gates of Life and Death are right between your chest. You'll have to explore them yourself!"

"Oh, the two points on the chest!" Zhuge Liang nodded, whether he truly understood or was pretending to.

Yin Mengli clenched her fists, taking a deep breath to calm her rising agitation. "The Gates of Life and Death open in three stages. Reaching the Golden Core stage allows you to open the first gate, the Nascent Soul stage opens the second, and the Divine Transformation stage opens the third. It is said that reaching the Void Refinement stage can completely unlock the Gates of Life and Death, allowing one to transcend life and death and achieve the ultimate path of immortality."

"Got it~~" Zhuge Liang nodded, intrigued by this notion of the "Gates of Life and Death," which was new to him.