Chapter 424 – Three Corpses, Three Flowers—Achieve Great Freedom, Then One May Seek Longevity

When Lu Chen inquired about the Three Corpses Method, Gu Yue True Immortal showed no surprise, as if he had anticipated it.

“Young friend, are you wondering if my Three Corpses Method can be applied to your Three Bodies Unification?”

It was evident that Gu Yue True Immortal had detected the peculiarity in Lu Chen’s True Spirit.

After all, what stood before Gu Yue True Immortal now was merely a Clone of Lu Chen.

Although this Clone had already reached the Transformation Soul Stage, even surpassing the cultivation level of Lu Chen’s main body.

If it were anyone else, they naturally wouldn’t be able to discern the intricacies of this Clone.

But Gu Yue True Immortal was no ordinary individual.

Detecting the anomaly in this Clone and deducing Lu Chen’s intentions from it was not a difficult task.

Regarding this, Lu Chen wasn’t overly surprised or concerned.

When facing a True Immortal, one may not feel joy, but one must not lack respect.

After all, even a single drop of the other party’s true blood could easily slay a Transformation Soul Stage Cultivator.

Back in reality, the Clone of the Black Lotus Matriarch had been vanquished by just a drop of Gu Yue True Immortal’s true blood.

Although Lu Chen didn’t believe his current Clone was on the same level as that of the Black Lotus Matriarch’s,

He certainly didn’t think he stood a chance against Gu Yue True Immortal either.

Therefore, in response to Gu Yue True Immortal’s inquiry, Lu Chen spoke frankly: “True Immortal, observing my method, can it achieve Immortal Ascension?”

Hearing this, Gu Yue True Immortal couldn’t help but laugh.

He looked at Lu Chen, his eyes filled with amusement.

As if he had been entertained by Lu Chen’s words.

This puzzled Lu Chen greatly.

After a moment, Gu Yue True Immortal provided his answer.

“Young friend, whether your method can achieve Immortal Ascension I do not know, but you… will certainly achieve Immortal Ascension.”

Gu Yue True Immortal’s words were resolute, as if he had already witnessed that very scene.

And these seemingly encouraging words carried profound implications.

So much so that Lu Chen couldn’t help but generate numerous speculations.

Seeing Lu Chen frowning deeply, Gu Yue True Immortal laughed and said: “Young friend, do not be attached to appearances. Although I am an Immortal, Immortals are not omnipotent.”

“After all, if Immortals were truly all-powerful, there wouldn’t be so many fallen Immortals in this world.”

“Moreover, in my personal opinion, there has never been a true method for achieving Immortal Ascension in this world.”

“Method is method, Dao is Dao. Whether one can cultivate a method into their own Dao—that is the true opportunity for Immortal Ascension.”

“The so-called Heavenly Tribulation is merely a threshold.”

“Those who can cross it will cross it eventually, regardless of what method they cultivate.”

“Those who cannot cross it, even with all their schemes and calculations, will ultimately only waste their time and become objects of ridicule.”

“And in my eyes, young friend, you are one destined to cross this threshold.”

“What method you cultivate is unimportant to you.”

“Because you don’t need others to show you the path—what you need… is merely the right direction.”

“Aren’t you already walking on the path you believe to be right now?”

“If so, is cultivating a method for Immortal Ascension truly important to you?”

Hearing these words, Lu Chen gradually calmed down.

Indeed, his current Three Bodies Unification method was a plan he had formulated after careful consideration and combining it with his own characteristics.

This method might not be as refined as Gu Yue True Immortal’s Three Corpses Method.

But it was undoubtedly the most suitable for himself.Because this method was tailored specifically to his own circumstances.

Even if later generations wished to walk the same path, they might not ultimately achieve the same accomplishments as him.

After all, there were far too many uncertain factors involved.

Similarly, although Gu Yue True Immortal’s Three Corpses Method could evade assimilation by the Heavenly Dao,

if Lu Chen were to practice it, it might not necessarily produce the same effects.

The essence of Gu Yue True Immortal’s remarks was to reassure Lu Chen not to worry excessively and to simply believe in himself.

It had to be said, a True Immortal was indeed a True Immortal.

Even with just a few words, he managed to bring immense benefit to Lu Chen.

“But then again, all paths ultimately lead to the same destination. A steadfast Dao Heart is a good thing, but being open and inclusive, absorbing all streams to achieve mastery is equally commendable.”

“…”

Looking at the smiling Gu Yue True Immortal, Lu Chen found it unusually difficult to control his emotions and felt utterly speechless.

After all this time, you’ve still decided to tell me about the Three Corpses Method.

If that’s the case, why did you have to take such a roundabout way?

Just to make a fool of a junior?

As a True Immortal, do you really have such peculiar tastes?

What Lu Chen didn’t know was that Gu Yue True Immortal’s temperament was truly this capricious and unpredictable.

Or perhaps it could be said that most Immortals and True Immortals shared this kind of disposition.

Their actions and thoughts were guided entirely by their whims.

After teasing Lu Chen for a while, Gu Yue True Immortal began to speak of his Three Corpses Method.

“This Three Corpses Method is complex in some ways, yet not entirely complicated.”

“In terms of its fundamental Dao principles, the Three Corpses Method shares the same origin as the Three Lives Dao you have mastered, young friend.”

“The difference lies in the fact that my Three Corpses Method doesn’t involve as many variations; it focuses solely on the Three Corpses.”

“As for what these Three Corpses are, I presume there’s no need for this old man to explain further, young friend?”

Lu Chen nodded, indicating that he was well aware of what the Three Corpses represented.

The so-called Three Corpses actually refer to the three evils of humanity.

That is to say, the dark aspects of a person.

Hence they are called ‘Corpses’.

Since they represent the ‘evils of human nature’, the natural approach is to find a way to sever them.

Generally speaking, if one can completely sever the Three Corpses, one can attain the legendary state of single-minded focus and supreme clarity, like still water.

However, Gu Yue True Immortal had a different understanding of these Three Corpses.

Instead of seeking to sever the Three Corpses, he actually aimed to strengthen them.

“People often say that human nature is inherently good, but my experiences over tens of thousands of years have led me to believe that human nature is fundamentally ‘evil’.”

“An individual lacking education and cultivation is often foolish and wicked.”

“Because of their foolishness, they show no reverence for heaven and earth; their actions are solely for self-interest, regardless of whether they harm others, no different from wild beasts or demons. This is innate nature, and it is evil.”

“Only through education and cultivation can this evil be shackled and brought under control.”

“Therefore, although the Three Corpses represent human evil, if properly utilized, they can also contribute to human goodness.”

Lu Chen strongly agreed with Gu Yue True Immortal’s perspective.

In fact, whether a person turns out good or bad is largely determined by their postnatal environment.

Although rare occurrences might cause some individuals to be inherently inclined toward evil,

the formation of most ‘evil people’ in the world is related to their postnatal circumstances.

Thus, if a person grows up in a chaotic environment without any rules, developing in a savage manner,

such an individual would most likely not be a ‘good person’.The Three Corpses Method of Gu Yue True Immortal was developed precisely on this foundation and gradually evolved.

He named it ‘Ancient Moon Three Blossoms’.

Its cultivation method is not particularly complex, divided into three sections: ‘Upper, Middle, and Lower’.

These three sections have no fixed sequence of practice, entirely dependent on the cultivator’s own circumstances.

Because the upper, middle, and lower here correspond to the Upper Corpse, Middle Corpse, and Lower Corpse.

Whichever of the Three Corpses a cultivator feels most confident in controlling, they select that one to ‘Sever the Corpse’.

It was at this ‘Severing the Corpse’ step that Gu Yue True Immortal made choices different from others.

Generally speaking, so-called corpse severing means completely cutting off the evils of the human heart.

But the reason Gu Yue True Immortal believed humans remain human lies in the fact that good and evil often exist within a single thought.

If one possesses only goodness, the actions of such a person may not necessarily result in good outcomes.

If you repay kindness with virtue, how then should you repay virtue?

Therefore, Gu Yue True Immortal’s corpse severing was essentially ‘subjugation’.

Each time one of the Three Corpses is subdued, a ‘Three Flowers’ blossom would condense.

This continues until all three flowers are completely condensed.

Only when the Three Flowers Gather at the Crown can one achieve Immortal Ascension.

After explaining the principles of ‘Ancient Moon Three Blossoms’ to Lu Chen,

Gu Yue True Immortal held nothing back and directly transmitted the method to him.

However, there was one crucial point.

“Because my Three Flowers method doesn’t completely sever the evils within the heart, even after reaching the Immortal stage, the Three Flowers can potentially revert to Three Corpses.”

“If there comes a day when you, young friend, cannot maintain your Dao Heart’s firmness, when your Dao Heart becomes clouded, these Three Corpses will return with vengeance, transforming the Three Flowers back into Three Corpses, turning an Immortal into a demon.”

“Therefore, if you wish to reference this method, you must pay extra attention to your Dao Heart, and be careful not to stray onto the wrong path.”

Lu Chen nodded, indicating he understood this crucial point.

Seeing this, Gu Yue True Immortal began to disperse the surrounding illusion.

After all, he had told Lu Chen everything that needed to be said.

The remaining path was for Lu Chen to walk on his own.

“Go now, young friend, and completely sever the evils that have accumulated within me over the years.”

“Consider this your repayment for my transmission of the method.”

With these words, Gu Yue True Immortal disappeared from before Lu Chen.

Shortly after Gu Yue True Immortal vanished,

a withered corpse immediately appeared before Lu Chen.

This desiccated corpse was covered in chains.

The chains connected to the ground, completely restraining it.

Under normal circumstances, these chains alone would be sufficient to suppress this withered corpse.

But for some unknown reason, approximately one-fifth of the chains covering the corpse had developed problems.

That section of chains was full of cracks, looking as if they were about to shatter at any moment.

At this point, Lu Chen finally understood what the third layer of the Sword Locking Abyss actually was.

If he wasn’t mistaken, this should be within the Sea of Consciousness of Gu Yue Three Immortals’ Clone – the Sword Ancestor.

What was sealed here was the Sword Ancestor’s withered corpse.

And those chains were the shackles left on the corpse after the Sword Ancestor originally subdued the Three Corpses.

But due to the Sword Ancestor’s True Spirit self-sealing, combined with external influences,

flaws had appeared in these chains.

If given more time, allowing this withered corpse to break through the shackles,

the originally self-sealed Sword Ancestor would completely revive.

When that happened, although the reawakened Sword Ancestor would possess all the original Sword Ancestor’s cultivation and memories…But in a certain sense, it was as if he had become a completely different person.

Under normal circumstances, the Sword Ancestor would never have allowed such a situation to occur.

Yet in this unique scenario of the True Spirit Seal, someone was needed to replace the Sword Ancestor and complete the task of suppressing the Three Corpses.

The person chosen by the Sword Ancestor—or rather, Gu Yue True Immortal—was Lu Chen.

Although Lu Chen didn’t understand why Gu Yue True Immortal was so certain that he, merely at the Transformation Soul Stage, could suppress the Three Corpses of a True Immortal, the fact that the other party had the confidence to send him here suggested that he stood a considerable chance of success.

With this thought, Lu Chen immediately stepped into the area where the desiccated corpse was sealed.

The moment Lu Chen took a single step inside, the desiccated corpse seemed to sense something and abruptly raised its head.

What Lu Chen saw was a being with ashen skin and pale, vacant eyes.

At present, the only part of it that could move was its left hand; the rest of its torso and limbs remained bound by the seal.

Even so, Lu Chen could still feel the terrifying Sword Intent emanating from the creature.

Though this Sword Intent was suppressed by some force, revealing only a fraction of its power, it was enough to put Lu Chen on high alert.

After assessing the state of the desiccated corpse, Lu Chen secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The cultivation level displayed by the corpse was only at the Half-Immortal rank—it hadn’t reached the level of an Immortal, let alone a True Immortal.

If it were the latter, even if Lu Chen owed Gu Yue True Immortal many favors, he would have turned and fled without hesitation.

After all, with only his Deity Transformation Clone, no matter how skilled he was, he would stand no chance against a true Immortal.

But if it was only a Half-Immortal, Lu Chen believed he had a fair chance of victory.

Perhaps sensing the threat from Lu Chen, or perhaps because the Three Corpses were inherently an aggregation of malevolent thoughts, the moment Lu Chen entered the Domain, the Three Corpses immediately took action.

Its left hand rose, and a sword formed of condensed flesh and blood instantly sprouted from its arm.

Boom!

The sword descended as if cleaving heaven and earth, enveloping Lu Chen completely.

But just as the strike sent shockwaves rippling outward, a hand reached out and firmly grasped the blade.

Law of Heaven and Earth—Shangqing Dharma Body.

Transformed into the Law of Heaven and Earth, Lu Chen single-handedly blocked the sword strike of the Three Corpses.

However, the Sword Intent contained within the blow was immensely heavy and sharp, causing cracks to appear on the palm of Lu Chen’s Dharma Body, as if it might shatter at any moment.

Yet after personally experiencing the intensity of the Sword Intent from the Three Corpses, Lu Chen’s confidence grew.

He could sense that the Three Corpses were still being suppressed by the Sword Ancestor’s True Spirit.

Although it had managed to break free slightly, the power it could exert was limited—something he could still handle.

With this thought, Lu Chen’s Dharma Body exerted force, and in the next moment, the massive sword pressing down on him was pushed aside.

Immediately after, countless strands of Sword Intent manifested around Lu Chen, transforming into ethereal Sword Qi that struck the Three Corpses directly.

Ordinary Sword Qi would have been utterly incapable of threatening this Clone of the Sword Ancestor, but Lu Chen’s Sword Qi was extraordinary.

The intent to slay evil within it cut deeply into the Three Corpses, causing it to shriek in agony.

Yet despite the screams, Lu Chen’s Sword Qi failed to inflict significant damage—it only left a few wounds on the creature’s body.And these wounds healed within a very short time.

Perhaps enraged by Lu Chen, another fragment of the chains binding the Three Corpses shattered.

Though only a fragment, it caused the Three Corpses’ aura to visibly surge at a rapid pace.

It climbed all the way to the peak of the Mortal Realm Immortal.

The next moment, a pure, murderous Sword Intent erupted from the Three Corpses.

Sensing this Sword Intent, Lu Chen’s expression gradually turned grave…

(End of Chapter)