Becoming an immortal against the will of heaven

"Ah, that… no rush… no rush. Let’s drink first. After we’ve had our fill of food and wine, this old man will naturally tell you all about it!"

Facing Chen Tian's second question, the old man still brushed him off with vague words.

Hearing this, Chen Tian couldn't help but mutter in his heart, 'This cunning old fox!'

Just then, the dishes were brought up one after another.

Although Chen Tian didn't specify what dishes he wanted, the shopkeeper didn't dare to be negligent in the slightest, bringing out all the best dishes and wine in the tavern.

Leaving aside the delicious dishes that looked, smelled, and tasted wonderful, the wine alone was extremely precious.

This tavern was famous for its aged vintage, and the wine the shopkeeper served Chen Tian was a top-quality 'Daughter's Red' that had been treasured underground for over fifty years.

Ordinary rice wine is transparent in color, but this fifty-year-old vintage had turned golden. Drinking it, there was less bitterness and more sweetness, and the aftertaste was intoxicating.

After taking a sip, the old man closed his eyes, a look of utter intoxication on his face, and a flush appeared on his originally pale cheeks.

"Good wine, truly good wine!"

It took a long while for the old man to finally come back to his senses. Then, he reached out, wanting to pour himself another cup.

But at that moment, Chen Tian, with quick eyes and hands, grabbed the wine pot before him and placed it in front of himself.

"Hmm? What are you doing?" The old man's appetite had just been whetted, and he was at his peak of excitement, so seeing Chen Tian take the wine pot away, his face couldn't help but darken.

Hearing this, Chen Tian shook the wine pot, a ghostly smile appearing on the corner of his lips, and said, "If Senior wants to drink more, then please answer this junior's question first. How exactly do I break through to the凝海境 (Ning Hai) Realm?"

Chen Tian knew that indulging this old man all the time was not a wise move. Only by actively forcing him could he pry the information he wanted from the old man's mouth.

Seeing Chen Tian's humble appearance, the old man nodded with satisfaction: "The principle is very simple. 凝海境 (Ning Hai) Realm, judging from the literal meaning, requires emptying yourself to embrace all rivers. I asked you to become a mortal because I wanted you to empty yourself in preparation for embracing all rivers. As for how much space you can empty, it depends on your understanding when you become a mortal. The more you can empty your state of mind, the more spiritual power you can contain. When you break through to the 凝海境 (Ning Hai) Realm, the hope of success will be greater."

"Empty myself, embrace all rivers!"

Hearing the old man's words, Chen Tian seemed to have understood something, repeatedly chanting this sentence.

Taking advantage of this moment, the old man snatched the wine pot back from Chen Tian's hands, poured himself a full cup, and savored it contentedly.

After drinking more than half of the pot, the old man smacked his lips, looking completely satisfied.

Just then, he looked up and found that Chen Tian was still repeatedly chanting "Empty myself, embrace all rivers!", his eyes flashing with strange light.

Seeing this, the old man suddenly put down the wine pot, a look of unprecedented seriousness on his face, and shouted to Chen Tian, "Boy, have you found the things I left in the village?"

"The things left in the village?"

Hearing this, Chen Tian seemed to have thought of something. He waved his hand, took out a wooden box from his storage ring, handed it to the old man, and asked, "Senior, is it this?"

"That's right, it's this." The old man nodded, then glanced at the wooden box, a hint of doubt in his eyes: "What? You haven't used the things inside yet?"

Looking at the tightly sealed wooden box, the old man seemed to have discovered something and asked again.

Hearing this, Chen Tian couldn't help but smile wryly.

This wooden box was brought from the village ancestral hall by Erwa's father. Inside was a smaller brocade box and a jade slip.

According to the contents recorded on the jade slip, the things placed in the brocade box were of great benefit to Chen Tian's breakthrough to the 凝海境 (Ning Hai) Realm.

However, the jade slip also stated that if he wanted to use it, Chen Tian had to help the old man complete one thing.

At that time, Chen Tian did not know what he wanted him to accomplish, so he suppressed his curiosity and did not use it.

After all, with Chen Tian's cautious nature, he put safety first.

So, hearing the old man ask, Chen Tian smiled wryly and then told him all his concerns.

After listening, the old man was stunned for a moment, then laughed loudly: "You thought this old man wanted to harm you, so you didn't dare to use the things inside?"

"This junior doesn't mean that… This junior just wants to…"

"Alright, stop thinking. Open this brocade box now."

Just as Chen Tian wanted to defend himself, the old man suddenly interrupted him, then took the forbidden brocade box from the wooden box and handed it to Chen Tian.

"This…" Chen Tian glanced at the wooden box, but did not rush to open it. Instead, he looked up at the old man and said, "Senior, please don't be offended, but before I understand what you want me to do, I will not easily open this brocade box."

Chen Tian didn't want to be tricked by this old man and be forced to complete an extremely difficult task.

"Alright, then let me tell you this. I now withdraw the previous condition. You can use this box freely and do not need to complete anything. Does that reassure you?" The old man said with a strange smile.

"What, you really want to withdraw the condition?" Chen Tian asked in surprise.

"That's right, because I see higher value in you, so I want to do you a favor. I wonder if you agree?" The old man smiled strangely.

Hearing this, Chen Tian thought quickly in his heart. Then, a firm light flashed in his eyes, he took a deep breath, and slowly opened the brocade box in front of him, which was covered with sealing talismans.

Just after opening a slight crack, an extremely violent aura suddenly rushed out of the brocade box, attacking Chen Tian like a tsunami.

Seeing this, Chen Tian was horrified, because he could feel that this was an aura belonging to the 凝海境 (Ning Hai) Realm!