Chapter 44: Nine Branches Of Immortal Studies
The Dojo Master noticed the gazes of the disciples, and a light smile hung on her lips involuntarily.
The old woman’s words took another sharp turn:
“However, before speaking of these shortcuts of Immortal Sects, I must reiterate the basics and test you all.
Along the way, I’ll teach the newly initiated disciples: the broad avenue of entering an Immortal Sect in this world, known to the masses as Immortal Studies, is precisely composed of which branches?”
The other disciples besides Fang Shu saw the Dojo Master deliberately teasing them, their excitement pausing on their faces, but to avoid missing the content of the lecture, they all perked up.
The Dojo Master’s gaze swept over them and finally landed on one person:
“Li Hou Er, come out and explain.”
Li Hou Er’s expression was serious, without a trace of the playful grin he had when alone with Fang Shu.
He spoke clearly and resonantly, calling out like naming dishes:
“Replying to Master, the Nine Branches of Immortal Studies are: Foundation and Survival Branch, Divination and Numerology Branch, Dignity and Blessing Branch, Witchcraft and Suppression Branch, Room Refining Form School, External Alchemy Branch, Spirit Possession Branch, Five Elements Thunder Magic Branch, Illusionary Beast Taming Branch.”
This knowledge fell on Fang Shu’s ears, making him feel somewhat familiar; some of the terms inside, he must have heard before.
But the term “Nine Branches of Immortal Studies” was the first time he had heard it, and he felt it extremely novel.
Seeing Li Hou Er answer correctly, the Dojo Master nodded slightly and then added:
“These nine branches are also the nine major schools of spells and incantations in the world, the origins of all Dao lineages.
The magics and Cultivation Methods learned by us Immortal Cultivators, except for those overly crude ones that don’t even use Secret Scripts, such as the methods Monsters commonly use to gaze at the Moonlight and swallow Moonlight.
All the rest originate from these nine branches.
For example, the Insect Skill and insect magics in our Du Gu Guan…”
The Dojo Master’s gaze shifted and fell on the group of disciples again. Li Hou Er was about to answer, but the Dojo Master looked toward Fang Shu:
“Fang Shu, you’ve just entered the Inner Courtyard and are probably hearing this reasoning for the first time. What do you think is the branch I excel in?”
Fang Shu answered solemnly:
“Replying to Master, the Dojo has Scorpion Basin and Insect Skill, so it should be the Witchcraft and Suppression Branch that Senior Brother Li mentioned.”
“Exactly.” The Dojo Master nodded.
Then the old woman raised her head slightly and said confidently:
“All the Cultivation Methods in our Dojo originate from the Witchcraft and Suppression Branch, integrated as one, a proper inheritance of Immortal Studies, different from those loose cultivators and miscellaneous cultivators on the market.
The magics they cultivate are overly miscellaneous, the Secret Scripts they learn are of all kinds; perhaps in Fights, they lack nothing, and even because their methods are bizarre, they often have unique tricks that cannot be underestimated.
But in terms of prospects on the Immortal Path, they are far inferior to us orthodox Immortal Studies practitioners.”
Immediately after, the Dojo Master gave a detailed yet accessible explanation based specifically on the Nine Branches of Immortal Studies.
The other disciples around showed little reaction; they must have heard the corresponding reasoning long ago, nothing surprising.
But Fang Shu, hearing such knowledge for the first time, was utterly engrossed.
He had never imagined that Immortal Studies in this world had developed to such a point, with all the myriad Dao and methods of the world contained within the “nine branches.”
Moreover, according to the Dojo Master’s account, the founders of these nine branches were all Heavenly Immortals, and because they each pioneered a path, they were honored by the world as “Dao Masters” and “Dao Ancestors.”
The most well-known among them was the Former Sage and Former Master who, over ninety thousand years ago, first pioneered the Divination and Numerology Branch and established the framework of the Nine Branches of Immortal Studies.
This Sage, upon Refining Void and Entering the Dao, lectured the Dao to the beings of the world in the heaven beyond heaven, and on his left and right sides, reserved four empty seats each.
At the time, a divine listener was puzzled and asked the Former Sage and Former Master the meaning of this.
The other replied that these eight empty seats were reserved for future Fellow Daoists.
Later generations called this matter “Forming Bonds Across Time.”
Thereafter, every ten thousand years in the Outer World, there were indeed successors who, building on their predecessors, pioneered new paths, advanced to Refining Void Heavenly Immortals, and added a new branch to Immortal Studies.
Up to the present day, a total of nine Heavenly Immortal Dao Masters have been born in the Outer World.
And Immortal Studies, as a discipline, now has all nine branches complete, developed to a flourishing era like oil-boiling fire and brocade-adorned flowers!
Later generations no longer need to open up new territories in Immortal Studies; they only need to cultivate step by step, or make repairs and patches on the grand edifices built by their predecessors.
Fang Shu listened attentively, feeling that his eyes had been greatly opened.
This was the first time he understood the roots and origins of the Immortal Path in this world, and also the first time he learned that Immortal Cultivators named the world they inhabited with the two words “Outer.”
After a good while of eloquent and tireless speaking by the Dojo Master, a soft sigh suddenly appeared on her face:
“It’s just a pity that these Nine Branches of Immortal Studies, for you all, are visible but unusable.”
These words indeed aroused surprise from Li Hou Er in the crowd, who cupped his hands in gesture.
After receiving the Dojo Master’s permission, Li Hou Er immediately spoke:
“Reporting to Master!
You previously said that to walk solidly and far in Immortal Studies, one must choose one of the nine branches and study it diligently.
After selecting the main branch, we must not become restless and peep at other branches; at most, we can use other branches to supplement our cultivation, in order to specialize in one path and comprehend the reasoning.
Otherwise, in the future, even if we enter an Immortal Sect, succeed in Refining Qi, or even luckily achieve Foundation Establishment, the Immortal Path will stop there, with no chance of forming a Golden Core.”
Li Hou Er spoke as if reciting from memory, then wondered:
“You taught us that although these things are too distant, it’s best to choose one from now and follow it… Why now do you say that the Nine Branches of Immortal Studies are unusable for us?”
Li Hou Er’s question was exactly what Fang Shu wanted to ask, so he immediately focused even more, pricking up his ears to listen.
The other disciples, such as Qin Min, showed no reaction upon hearing Li Hou Er’s question.
The Dojo Master smiled at Li Hou Er and Fang Shu, saying:
“You’ve hit the nail on the head, monkey. This is also precisely related to the Immortal Sect shortcuts that your master is explaining to you today.”
The other spoke:
“The Nine Branches of Immortal Studies are good, but you all are merely novice learners who have just begun the Dao; though you’ve stepped onto the Immortal Path, it’s like mortal world novices who don’t even recognize many ‘characters,’ so how could you engage in any scholarship.”
The Dojo Master said earnestly:
“To study the Nine Branches of Immortal Studies right after Entering the Dao, one must be disciples of orthodox immortal sects or children of Immortal Noble Families; they are born with Spiritual Roots, and can receive Enlightenment either through empowerment or comprehension, even learning Secret Scripts from childhood instead of mortal characters.
Only with such foundations is it taken as Entering the Dao Enlightenment with the Nine Branches of Immortal Studies.
As for you all, though the Nine Branches of Immortal Studies is the Righteous Path, you must become Spiritual Immortals and enter an Immortal Sect before you qualify to consider it.
What you can do now is merely to temper your vital energy by all means, accumulate a bit of magic, and recognize a few more Secret Scripts.
As for magic combinations, studying reasoning, and such, it’s too early for you all; learning them would only be overreaching and wasting energy. What truly needs to be involved, your master will pave the way for you.”
Li Hou Er listened, his expression half-understanding, slowly digesting it.
While Fang Shu, standing aside, understood immediately.
The Dojo Master’s teaching boiled down to one sentence:
“Everyone present is unworthy.”
This broad avenue is good, but to truly study the Nine Branches of Immortal Studies, they must step into Refining Qi and enter an Immortal Sect before having the opportunity!
