Chapter 38: The Way of Corpse Dissolution — Immortals Hidden Amidst the Vast Sea of Humanity (Part II)

"For a human infant, the brain is the first organ to develop after birth. By the age of about four months, its basic structure is set. By age three, the brain has reached over eighty percent of its full developmental capacity, and by six, it is virtually indistinguishable from an adult’s."

"This is why most people have very vague memories of life before the age of five or six. Yet, at this stage of development, the brain is already capable of carrying a great deal of information. For a child, however, this period is essentially a blank slate."

"If a memory is imprinted during this time, it will hold absolute dominance. In a sense, it is equivalent to a person gaining a new life within that infant’s body," Tao Zihong said in a low, somber voice.

"The method of empowerment? A reincarnated holy child? To break the taboo of life and death—is this legend true?!" Yi Beidou’s expression shifted.

When martial arts reach the realm of Spiritual Manifestation, one gains the ability to seize souls and capture spirits, using heart-to-heart transmission to influence another's mind. Once one reaches the state of Sanctified Flesh, this ability becomes even more potent. Yet, even Yi Beidou would not dare claim he could transplant his entire being into another person.

"If it appears in legends and history, it cannot be without foundation. In Buddhism and Esoteric traditions, such individuals are called reincarnated Buddhas; in the Western world, they are known as the earthly vessels of gods; and in our Taoist teachings, we call them Immortals of Corpse-Liberation."

"Such beings, if they carefully select a vessel and combine their own experience with the innate talent of the host, have a high probability of cultivating back to their original realm, only to reincarnate again before their physical body completely decays," Fang Xiuyuan explained.

"Immortals of Corpse-Liberation... can they truly reincarnate multiple times, living from ancient times to the present? Why have their footprints never appeared in historical records, and why have they never influenced the course of the world?" Yi Beidou sensed something amiss.

Figures with such extraordinary, transcendent abilities should have left indelible marks on every era, yet they are now lost to history.

"Such individuals hide from the world. Unless it is a last resort, they never reveal themselves or show their true power; they must 'avoid karma,'" Fang Xiuyuan replied.

"Avoid karma? The tribulations of Heaven, celestial lightning, and terrestrial fire?" Yi Beidou recalled certain legends. In a sense, the practices of these individuals did indeed offend the natural order.

"It is not quite so mystical. As the saying goes, it is easy to deceive Heaven and Earth, but difficult to survive the trials of men. These figures are not without weaknesses. After reincarnation and before they return to their original status, they are at their most vulnerable."

"Even an immortal being is bound to leave traces. If they were to stir up too much trouble or accumulate too much karma, they might be invincible for a lifetime, but they would struggle to escape the 'net of Heaven' during reincarnation. Mortal armies and secular regimes can slay gods and kill immortals—how much more so when faced with modern technology?"

"Having tasted the sweetness of immortality, how many are willing to easily give it up? These old monsters, when choosing a vessel, do not even inform their closest kin, sects, or disciples. For them, this is a taboo. Human hearts are unpredictable; who would gamble their lifelong cultivation on the integrity of another?"

"That is why, in this vast world and among the teeming masses, even we have no idea how many 'immortals' are hidden, or how long these creatures have existed," Tao Zihong sighed.

Immortals of Corpse-Liberation. Yi Beidou had reached a point where he was certain his master, Hong Datong, was one such existence. However, he seemed to have broken the taboo and did not fully conceal himself.

"To pursue immortality rather than the Great Way is not the proper path. Have you not heard? 'If one hears the Way in the morning, one may die content in the evening.' If one lives for a thousand years in vain, what is the point?" Yi Beidou thought of the words Hong Datong had left behind. *A dream of a thousand autumns is but an illusion; one has but a single life to achieve wholeness of spirit and body.*

"Indeed, it is not the righteous path. In recent years, more and more of these hidden old monsters have broken the taboo and reappeared in the world. Although they do not stand in the limelight, one can already catch glimpses of them. To achieve their goals, these figures, who do not belong to this era, will stop at nothing," Tao Zihong said, his expression sharp.

"That is because they feel fear. Over the past century, our era has undergone earth-shattering changes. Various technological means and high-yield weapons emerge in endless succession. The power mastered by ordinary people is growing, and one day they will lose their space to survive and be rooted out by us entirely. That is why they are taking the initiative to emerge, hoping to apply technology to themselves to ensure their 'transcendence' forever."

"It is foreseeable that our era will witness massive tidal waves. The past and the present are converging; we shall see who can represent the future," Fang Xiuyuan said.

"No matter who they were in the past, if they wish to debate the Way in this world, they must first survive beneath my palms," Yi Beidou said calmly.

***

In the capital of Yunhai Province, Spring City Airport.

Five men, looking like tourists, walked out of the terminal with their luggage. They were all of Asian descent and appeared unremarkable among the crowd.

Outside the airport, a van was already waiting, adorned with a sign that read: "Spring Breeze Tour Group welcomes you to beautiful Spring City." A burly man was leaning against the van, smoking a cigarette and glancing toward the airport exit.

When the five men saw him, they approached, exchanged a few words, and boarded the van. It looked for all the world like ordinary tourists who had made an agreement with a local travel agency. Nothing could have seemed more normal.

However, once inside the vehicle, the driver’s behavior turned strange. He produced a series of pouches resembling amulets and had everyone hang them in various spots throughout the cabin, seemingly forming a rudimentary magic circle.

Only after this was done did they begin to speak.

"Is the target’s location confirmed? The higher-ups were in such a rush to mobilize us this time—have you made the necessary preparations here?" asked the leader of the five.

"Rest assured, gentlemen. He has only just achieved the Sanctified Flesh and likely assumes nothing in this world can threaten him, so he has made no effort to hide. Gathering intelligence on him was not difficult."

"Our intelligence network within Donghua has already pinpointed his location. He should currently be at Mount Yunlao," the driver replied.

"Mount Yunlao? That is near the Donghua border and is sparsely populated. A perfect opportunity to strike," the leader said, squinting slightly.

They had been urgently dispatched by their organization and had entered Donghua within hours precisely because intelligence placed the target within Yunhai Province. Yunhai was a border province with complex terrain, filled with mountains and jungles. Once the capture was successful, it would be easiest to evade pursuit and cross the border. Mount Yunlao’s location was even more advantageous. Deep in the mountains and rarely visited, they could be out of Donghua within hours of a successful hunt.

"It is not that simple. According to our intelligence, there is likely more than one 'sanctified' individual on Mount Yunlao. It is not an easy target. You should wait in Spring City; once the affair at Mount Yunlao concludes, he will surely pass through Spring City. That will be our best chance," the driver said in a low voice.