Chapter 4 - Seed Immortal.

“Erba?”

Li Shiwu gasped, never having imagined such a sight after opening the temple door.

At this very moment, the person's entire abdomen and the skin on their thighs had been completely peeled off, presenting an incredibly gruesome sight.

They lay there, eyes tightly shut, their fate unknown.

On the ground, pieces of human skin were scattered, each roughly the size of a palm, shriveled and dry after losing moisture.

Outside the temple gate, Qianyuanzi watched the scene with cold eyes, not choosing to step inside.

He merely said, “Heh, what new trick is this wicked disciple up to now?”

“Shiwu, go in and take a look!”

Under Qianyuanzi's death glare, Li Shiwu had no choice but to step forward, entering the temple one step at a time.

Fortunately, the path was clear, and he encountered no traps or mechanisms.

He also discovered that the floor of this room was covered with a layer of strange black soil, which felt soft and surprisingly comfortable to step on barefoot.

And as he drew closer.

He found that Shi Erba was clutching a small knife tightly in his palm.

The blade seemed to have been soaked in fresh blood, but the bloodstains had dried, appearing a blackish-brown color.

All of this indicated that the pieces of human skin on the ground had been cut off by the person themselves.

Why?

At this moment, Li Shiwu was filled with questions and confusion. Why would the person peel their own skin?

Just then, Shi Erba's tightly shut eyes actually opened a slit.

His gaze was unfocused, but when he saw it was Li Shiwu, he suddenly became agitated.

He mumbled continuously, “Shi...Shiwu, get down, I have something to say...”

Seeing the person's breath as faint as a wisp of silk, Li Shiwu didn't hesitate, quickly leaned down, and brought his right ear close to their lips.

He only heard Shi Erba say intermittently in an almost imperceptible tone, “Im...Immortal Opportunity is real, Seed...Seed Immortal Temple is real.”

“You can...become immortal, wish...good luck!”

These few words seemed to have exhausted all his strength. The light in his eyes began to fade, and his remaining body temperature started to dissipate at this moment.

Shi Erba, dead!

As for Li Shiwu, it was as if a bolt of lightning instantly exploded in his mind, rushing straight to his spiritual core, making his internal organs churn and his scalp tingle.

Immortal Opportunity, it really exists!

Seed Immortal Temple, it actually exists!

And it's, astonishingly, right before his eyes!

“My good disciple, did that scoundrel say anything?” Read at Novels Haven (novelshaven.com)

Outside the temple, Qianyuanzi asked casually, still not stepping inside.

Li Shiwu paid no attention, just thinking wildly.

If Seed Immortal Temple was real, why did Shi Erba peel his own skin? What was the logic behind that?

And as various thoughts surged.

In a daze, a plan so audacious it was outrageous slowly emerged in his mind.

He had found a way to kill Qianyuanzi!

“Disciple Shiwu?” Qianyuanzi frowned, his tone growing increasingly unkind.

Inside the temple, Li Shiwu reached out and gently closed Shi Erba's eyes.

Then he stood up and turned around.

Grinning, his facial expression was extremely exaggerated, as if he had encountered a great stroke of luck.

“Reporting, Master, it's done, it's done!”

“What's done?” Qianyuanzi's eyes, like a hawk's, were full of scrutiny.

“Master, this Daoist temple is really the Seed Immortal Temple! You're about to become an immortal, and we can follow along and ascend too.”

“What great news, truly great news!”

Qianyuanzi sneered, “Heh, is that so?”

“All this, did that wicked disciple just tell you?”

“Yes.” Li Shiwu nodded repeatedly.

“What else did he say? Did he explain how one can 'plant' oneself inside?”

“Yes, Master, yes.”

Li Shiwu replied twice, but a hint of hesitation suddenly appeared on his face, as if he didn't know how to speak.

“Speak!” Qianyuanzi roared.

“Yes... yes.”

Li Shiwu glanced at the peeled corpse on the ground before slowly speaking, “Master, this is indeed the Seed Immortal Temple. Erba just said it himself, he wouldn't lie to me.”

“He said that the first time he entered the temple, he mysteriously heard a voice.”

“The voice called him a fated person, capable of achieving immortality.”

“However, one must shed all their mortal skin and then plant themselves in this black soil covering the ground. This step is 'Seed Immortal'.”

“After that, just wait for the seed to sprout, blossom, and become an immortal.”

Li Shiwu sighed, “Unfortunately, Erba couldn't endure the pain of peeling, and ultimately failed.”

After speaking, he immediately put on a smiling face and added, “But now that Master is here, immortal opportunity is within easy reach.”

“As for me, I'll just follow behind and get a little benefit.” Read at Novels Haven (novelshaven.com)

Qianyuanzi was amused, laughing so hard he bent over, holding his belly, his laughter piercing.

Pointing, he said, “Disciple Shiwu, don't tell me that scoundrel peeled his own skin because he wanted to successfully 'Seed Immortal' himself?”

“Exactly.” Li Shiwu nodded heavily.

“Hmph!” Qianyuanzi snorted, a terrifying glint in his eyes.

“Shiwu, at this point, are you still trying to deceive your master?”

“To tell you the truth, the moment I saw that scoundrel's Daoist robe tonight, I already saw through your tricks.”

Qianyuanzi's expression was disdainful, “You wicked disciples have followed your master for so long, yet you haven't learned an ounce of cleverness.”

“Do you really think by creating a seemingly genuine Daoist temple, and even going so far as to peel your own skin...”

“...you can make your master believe this is a real Immortal Opportunity? A real Seed Immortal Temple? Or even believe that absurd 'Seed Immortal' method?”

Qianyuanzi spat, “Dream on.”

And Guan San, standing outside the temple, also said clumsily, “Master, you are so clever.”

“It must be Shi Erba and Li Shiwu, conspiring together to trick you, wanting you to kill yourself.”

Inside the temple, under the dim candlelight, Li Shiwu's face was full of grievance.

“Master, I didn't lie to you.”

“Erba really told me this, and this is truly the Seed Immortal Temple.”

Outside the temple, Qianyuanzi smiled, somewhat cruelly.

“Shiwu, are you really not lying to your master?”

“No.”

“Since you're not, then I'll bestow this Immortal Opportunity upon you. It wouldn't be in vain for you to have served me all these years.”

Qianyuanzi's mismatched eyes stared, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

“Shiwu, hurry up.”

“Now that the time, place, and people are all favorable, you should use the knife to peel off your own skin, only then can you 'Seed Immortal'.”

“With your master protecting you, relax.”

“Tonight, no one shall disturb you!”