Chapter Thirty-Six: Missing the Chance for Immortality

Tong Gaolu, whose original name was Tong Dai, was the illegitimate second son of Tong Junjian, the Deputy General of Zuo Zhonglang in the State of Rong. In the capital city of Yuanying, he belonged to a family of officialdom. Although he could not inherit the family estate, he was never in want.

But good fortune did not last.

Soon, disaster struck. With Tong Junjian’s involvement in factionalism, deliberate murder, illegal sale of public lands, leaking official secrets, corruption, and negligence, his many crimes led swiftly to his arrest and execution. The authorities confiscated the family’s assets, and even the household was implicated; men and women alike were exiled to the border to fight against the Dansu people.

In a single instant, the Tong family fell from the heights of the capital to the depths of ruin.

Yet only thirteen years later, as the Dansu nation threatened the borders once more, the son once known as Tong Dai—the lowly illegitimate child—rose to prominence in a way no one could have foreseen.

He led a ragtag army of outcasts, convicts, and slaves, marching fifty miles overnight to launch a surprise attack on the vanguard of the Dansu forces. With his own hand, he slew three of their leading generals and reclaimed Yandang Pass.

This feat resounded across several nations, bringing Tong Gaolu instant fame.

Thereafter, under the title of Grandmaster of Martial Arts, he gathered the scattered remnants of the army and fought a bitter two-year campaign, finally driving the Dansu forces back to the boundary marker, unable to advance further, leaving them no choice but to withdraw.

From then on, Tong Gaolu’s power knew no rival. Step by step, he entered the heart of government, establishing his own offices and mansion. Now, nearly half the influential figures of Rong serve under his banner, former associates and disciples forming factions and cliques. Both military and civil affairs are in his grasp; even the Emperor cannot restrain him.

It was clear to all: usurpation was at hand…

…

“In truth, Tong Gaolu was once a humble stable hand at the border, beaten day and night by his master, unlikely to survive long. But as Tong Yi told me, one day, moved by compassion, he offered a bowl of muddy water to an old beggar who had collapsed under the sun. From that moment, his fate was forever changed.”

Within a quiet chamber deep in the mountain, Tu Shange sighed heavily, his face etched with worry.

“It seems that beggar was a hidden master in disguise. I wonder what miraculous medicine or elixir he gave Tong Gaolu, that a mere stable hand could suddenly achieve the state of Embryonic Breath.”

Chen Heng tapped his knuckles lightly on the desk and said, “This sounds like a tale from a common storybook. It seems these great cultivators are even more whimsical than I imagined.”

“It wasn’t any miraculous medicine.”

Tu Shange’s expression grew peculiar.

“When the old beggar awoke, he clung to Tong Gaolu, refusing to let go, insisting that Tong had knocked him down and demanding silver for compensation, or else he’d take him to the authorities. Tong Gaolu, though a stable hand, had a quick temper. They fought in the street, but he was no match. The old beggar spat in his face and slapped him hard on both cheeks.”

Chen Heng’s fingers paused mid-tap.

“That night, back in the hayloft, Tong Gaolu, consumed by anger and shame, fainted in a haze. When he awoke, he found his strength greatly increased, his skin hard as iron—a clear sign of having achieved Embryonic Breath, as if reborn.”

Tu Shange glanced at Chen Heng, then continued,

“He had read many tales and realized he had stumbled upon immortal fate. Overjoyed, he first beat his long-time tormentor to a pulp, then killed all the women of the household in a fit of lust, before scouring the city for the old beggar, begging for a transmission of the Way.

“But the old beggar, put off by his unstable nature, refused to take him as a disciple despite his intentions. Unable to shake off Tong Gaolu’s relentless pestering, he finally tossed him a couple of scraps of silver, telling him to buy a few cooked chickens and tender geese from the market as offerings for the apprentice ceremony…”

At this point, Chen Heng remained composed, but Tu Shange, previously filled with concern, now could not help but laugh.

“Tong Gaolu, silver in hand, arrived at the market only to see a beautiful courtesan beckoning him from a brothel.

“Lustful by nature, and long suppressed as a stable hand, how could he resist? He handed the silver to the brothel keeper and was about to enjoy himself with the woman when she transformed into the old beggar. Unmoved by Tong Gaolu’s pleas, the beggar threw him a cosmic pouch and soared away on a cloud…”

“If I am not mistaken,” Chen Heng suddenly interjected, “that old beggar must have come from the Radiant Sect.”

“I hadn’t said it yet, but how did you know, Master?”

“That brat is notoriously arrogant, boasting that the Radiant Sect supports him. Connecting the dots, the beggar must have been a senior from that sect, out wandering the mortal world for amusement.”

Chen Heng shook his head.

“The Radiant Sect is guarded by Nascent Soul immortals. How could Tong Gaolu be so ungrateful, losing his path for a moment of lust? I hadn’t expected that… With such a temperament, he should be easy enough to deal with.”

“There’s no such backing! Tong Gaolu’s conduct completely alienated the old beggar, and the Radiant Sect would never concern itself with a mere mortal.”

Tu Shange sighed, shaking his head. “After much interrogation, I learned that though the Radiant Sect ignored the family, the beggar left behind a cosmic pouch containing tens of thousands of talismanic coins and three mid-grade talismanic artifacts. That is what truly worries me…”

There is no need to speak of the talismanic coins.

But mid-grade talismanic artifacts are deadly weapons. Take, for example, your Thunderfire Pearl, Chen Heng—both you and Deng Zhongzhi have reached the Embryonic Breath stage, yet when the Thunderfire Pearl is unleashed, Deng can only await death.

Although Qi Refinement is not as advanced as Embryonic Breath, at this level, duels rely more on techniques and Daoist arts than on talismanic artifacts.

Yet possessing several high-grade, suitable artifacts, while not decisive, is certainly advantageous.

“What is Tong Gaolu’s current cultivation?”

“Seventh level of Qi Refinement.”

“Seventh level?” Chen Heng pondered a moment, then suddenly smiled. “Doesn’t he have five brothers? Tell me about them.”

Tu Shange hesitated, but answered honestly.

Embryonic Breath is not easily attained. Though called ‘Grandmaster of Martial Arts’ by the martial world, even Tong Gaolu’s brush with immortal fate could not raise all his brothers along with him.

Of the five, only Tong Jizhen, skilled in strategy and warfare, reached the third level of Qi Refinement, and Tong Feng attained Embryonic Breath. The rest were unremarkable, having never stepped onto the path of cultivation.

On hearing this, Chen Heng nodded, his confidence growing.

“Master, Tong Gaolu carries three mid-grade talismanic artifacts. What should we do?”

“It is better to strike at the root than at the branches. We’ll eliminate Tong Jizhen, the one at the third level of Qi Refinement, as a show of intent.” Chen Heng replied calmly.

“A show of intent?”

“What do you think has kept Rong from falling? Though the royal house is weak, why has it not yet been overthrown?”

Chen Heng smiled. “Those who walk the Way gather many allies; those who lose it, few. Though this venture is perilous, the reward is great…”

Tu Shange frowned, then, understanding, laughed aloud.

Not long after, a fiery cloudship soared from Mount Yang, streaked with crimson light, and sped straight for the capital of Rong.