On the subject of the New Star, it seemed that mysterious phenomena and supernatural forces had emerged—but Wang Xuan and Qin Cheng knew very little about them.
This was primarily due to an information gap. Living on the Old Earth, they had little access to cutting-edge secrets.
As for the so-called "Immortals," they seemed even more elusive and ethereal.
Wang Xuan believed that, long ago, there might have been a group of individuals who practiced Qi cultivation, or focused deeply on meditation and refining both body and spirit, eventually acquiring strength far beyond the ordinary.
His hypothesis wasn't unfounded—it could be cross-referenced with some ancient texts.
In The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon, he once read: "The ancients lived in harmony with yin and yang and aligned themselves with the laws of nature, thus attaining unity of form and spirit."
In those days, if someone appeared in the wilds with the ability to subdue a tiger with one arm, they would likely have been revered and worshipped by early humans.
Over time, such stories would naturally become distorted and evolve into mythology.
Of course, it wasn't impossible that some ancient individuals had pushed meditation and body-spirit cultivation to an extreme level, thereby gaining truly extraordinary abilities.
Some texts described rare individuals, known as fangshi, who possessed immense physical and spiritual strength—capable, for instance, of throwing an elephant with one hand.
Wang Xuan thought that if the old techniques were cultivated to their utmost, such feats might truly be possible.
When someone could attain such power, what did that represent in ancient society? It was nothing less than the embodiment of myth.
To Wang Xuan, immortals and Buddhas never truly existed. There had only ever been a select few people—remarkably powerful individuals.
Thus, when it came to old techniques, he held no superstition. He simply followed the path laid by those before him, striving to verify its truth with his own body and mind.
After voicing his theories, Wang Xuan added thoughtfully:
"Some of those who were deified may have continued to grow stronger, perhaps reaching levels we still don't understand. But who knows? Old techniques have long since fallen into obscurity."
Perhaps, he wondered, the so-called Immortals were simply refined evolutions of legendary individuals and fangshi?
To Wang Xuan, they were merely rare and exceptional people among humanity.
As the long ages passed, both myths and immortals had vanished without a trace.
Professor Lin gave him a small smile. "According to your reasoning, immortals and Buddhas were still human beings. So in the end, they too have faded from the world."
Wang Xuan nodded. "If they were human, their fate was sealed. All have perished."
Qin Cheng, deeply intrigued, sighed. "It's a shame though… Imagine if those ancient individuals, those peak-level beings, had survived into our era. With access to advanced technology and the supernatural forces rumored on New Star… Could they have extended their lives—maybe even achieved the kind of immortality the corporate giants dream of?"
"Throughout history," Professor Lin added, "whether it's tycoons or those in power, once they reach a certain level, the desire for immortality never fades."
He spoke with real feeling—after all, he had personally encountered individuals deeply invested in such research, pouring vast fortunes into it.
"I won't stop you from studying old techniques," Professor Lin said, rising to retrieve some papers from his bookshelf. "There are some things I can give you."
He handed the papers to Wang Xuan with a serious expression.
Qin Cheng eagerly craned his neck to look. Professor Lin gave him a glance. "You can learn too, but mastering these things requires a solid foundation. Otherwise, attempting them could seriously damage your body—even be fatal."
He made it clear: if you haven't successfully cultivated Qi, you can't internally nourish your body. Touching this kind of thing would be dangerous.
Qin Cheng's face fell.
Wang Xuan, however, understood immediately. These must be extremely advanced foundational techniques—root methods.
Techniques involving inner nourishment, Qi cultivation, and meditation were the bedrock of altering one's physical and mental state. In the world of old techniques, they were called roots.
While physical techniques were visually impressive and crucial in combat, they had to be built upon solid root methods.
"The contents of those bamboo slips in the photo—I've decoded and transcribed them onto these papers," Professor Lin explained.
The writings came from a tomb predating the Qin dynasty.
Wang Xuan was stunned. These were truly ancient methods—genuine relics of history.
Considering the age, it was miraculous that any bamboo slips had survived at all.
Normally, in tombs that old, bamboo slips would've long since decayed. Even if they hadn't rotted, most would be destroyed the moment the tomb was opened due to sudden environmental changes—let alone retain any legible writing.
Professor Lin continued, "Thankfully, modern techniques have advanced. Today, when ancient relics are unearthed, we can preserve and process them quickly."
Qin Cheng frowned. "But after two or three thousand years, are these writings even still relevant? Haven't they become outdated?"
"You have a point," Professor Lin nodded. "Times change. But the value of these particular slips is undeniable. That era saw some incredibly powerful fangshi—and methods from that time shouldn't be underestimated."
He confirmed that the techniques had been verified. They were not only authentic—they were exceptional.
Wang Xuan received the documents with utmost reverence.
Professor Lin added, "Now that the old techniques experimental class is disbanded, you face two problems. First, you no longer have access to medicinal diets prepared with rare ingredients. Second, you lack access to more advanced old technique scriptures."
Wang Xuan had long been aware of the first issue. But as for the second—he had already acquired many rare texts from museums, private collections, and corporate archives. Could anything be more valuable than those?
Professor Lin explained that while those materials were indeed extraordinary, they were only partial records—snippets from treasured secret tomes. What Wang Xuan had learned was incomplete.
Even Professor Lin had never seen the full versions.
"They only shared the beginning portions of the root methods with your class. If someone succeeded in cultivation, then the rest would've been offered."
But the program had been canceled, and with it, all follow-up training.
Qin Cheng grinned. "So this bamboo-slip root method solves one of Wang Xuan's major issues. If he one day becomes a powerful fangshi in the modern era… now that would be something worth witnessing."
"Actually," Professor Lin said, "if he fully masters it, it might even solve the other problem too—he might not need rare ingredients and medicinal diets anymore."
That statement shocked Wang Xuan. If true, the method described in the slips was nothing short of extraordinary.
"For real?" Qin Cheng exclaimed.
"Absolutely. These fangshi left behind profound knowledge. That era was the pinnacle of old techniques. The search for immortality—elixirs of life—was intimately connected to them."
Professor Lin revealed that in the past, New Star's corporate giants had spent massive amounts of money and manpower scouring the Old Earth for ancient tombs—especially anything related to fangshi.
By now, almost every tomb across the Old Earth had been excavated. There was little left to find.
"So if you truly want to pursue the path of old techniques," he said, "you'll have to go to New Star. All the rare manuscripts and secret methods—they're no longer here."
Qin Cheng muttered bitterly, "What's with these tycoons and their obsession with collecting old techniques? What do they even need them for?"
"Oh, they're useful, all right," Professor Lin said. "Some research labs have successfully integrated these old techniques into modern biomedical science. The result? Treatments that can slow aging in the elderly."
He disclosed many such secrets.
From ancient tombs, they had unearthed all kinds of wonders—including golden bamboo slips, made from a special type of bamboo that hadn't decayed over millennia, still as hard as iron.
The plant was completely extinct on Old Earth and had been unknown until it was unearthed.
Clearly, anything recorded on such slips couldn't be ordinary—it had to be astonishing.
Unfortunately, once these artifacts were acquired by labs, corporations, and secret organizations, they vanished from the public eye.
In those days, these groups waged fierce, even deadly battles over such treasures.
Professor Lin revealed the old scars on his chest—two fist-sized wounds, one made by a punch, the other by a modern weapon. He had nearly died.
He could no longer fight using the old techniques, and it was a miracle he had survived at all.
Looking at Wang Xuan now, Professor Lin saw the younger version of himself—burning with curiosity and passion for the old ways. But his own path had long ended.
Wang Xuan tried to offer comfort: perhaps in the future, new drugs or treatments could heal Professor Lin's body.
The old man just shook his head. "At my age, I've already let go."
Qin Cheng concluded, "So even if Wang Xuan wants to pursue old techniques, he'll need to go to New Star. All the real treasures are over there."
Professor Lin nodded seriously. "It's not just that. The discoveries made over there could have massive implications—perhaps even spark a transformation."
He clarified that his comments were just personal speculation—not based on classified knowledge.
The rumors about supernatural forces on New Star were linked to certain artifacts.
In fact, hints of these mysteries had existed for decades. Only in recent years had some of them begun to leak.
Breakthroughs seemed to be occurring.
Otherwise, why would the Old Earth's old-tech research programs be so easily discarded?
"That's why this is a rare opportunity. If New Star has truly found another path forward, then the tycoons may begin letting go of their collections—these ancient slips, root methods, rare manuscripts. It could become easier than ever to obtain them."
Wang Xuan's heart beat faster. Now, more than ever, he yearned to visit New Star.
Qin Cheng still felt indignant. "So what exactly did they find on New Star that made them toss us aside like trash and abandon old techniques altogether?"
"I suspect… it's more than just a single path," Professor Lin replied.
In recent decades, new and rare species had emerged on New Star. One such plant, called Anshen—"Calm Spirit"—was a pure-white tree whose fragrant leaves soothed the mind and slowed aging.
It had been discovered deep in the wilderness during New Star's massive expansion.
Other unique herbs and creatures had also appeared.
Professor Lin had once traversed the mountains of New Star in his youth—yet never saw any of these things.
"I suspect they didn't just find a path—they may have discovered a living planet. And perhaps… something supernatural."
It was a stunning thought. The powers of New Star might have known about this world for years—keeping it secret from the public until recently.
"They probably ran into problems at first. Only in recent years have things progressed. But even now, I doubt they've achieved full access to supernatural powers."
One thing Professor Lin emphasized: if a new world had truly been found, its herbs, resources, and supernatural materials would significantly enhance the practice of old techniques.
Looking down at a photo of an old acquaintance, he hesitated—wondering whether he should reach out and help Wang Xuan obtain a place on the journey.