The revelation of the scroll's ultimate secret—that it might be a centuries-old jest crafted to inspire rather than grant immortality—had shaken Li Wei to his core, yet it had also crystallized his purpose. The hidden valley, with its shimmering pool, ancient tree, and glowing blossoms, pulsed with an energy that seemed to affirm the warmth in his dantian—a warmth he still believed was his nascent Golden Core, nurturing a fledgling Nascent Soul, whether real or imagined. Azure Dragon, his scruffy spirit beast, remained a loyal companion, curled by the stone altar as Li Wei sat with the scroll, its worn bamboo slats now a symbol of his journey rather than a literal map to eternity. The scroll's final passage offered a reflective conclusion: "The Eternal Path, where the cultivator embraces the Dao in all its forms. Seek not the end, but the journey, for immortality lies in the heart's pursuit."
In the cultivation novels Li Wei had devoured in his Beijing days, the path to immortality culminated in ascension—cultivators soaring into the heavens, their bodies radiant with divine power. The scroll's words were humbler but profoundly liberating: "The Dao is eternal, not in flesh but in will. Walk the path, and eternity is yours." Li Wei, tempered by lightning, betrayal, visions, and the scroll's ironic truth, stood at a crossroads. His body was frail, ravaged by hunger, fever, and countless trials, yet his spirit burned brighter than ever. The scroll's jest had led him to the valley, to Azure Dragon, to the Order of the Jade Dawn, and to a truth he hadn't expected: the journey itself was his immortality, not a destination beyond the stars.
The valley, with its mystical aura, seemed the perfect place to embrace this final lesson. Li Wei sat by the altar, the scroll, jade slip, Starstone, and stolen booklet arranged before him, their faint glow a testament to his trials. Azure Dragon watched, head tilted, as Li Wei sipped the valley's crystal-clear water, its coolness soothing his fever. The scroll urged him to "embrace the Dao," so he returned to his simplest practice—breathing exercises under the ancient tree, its glowing blossoms casting a soft light. He let go of visions, of grand tribulations, focusing only on the warmth in his dantian, the rhythm of his breath, and the valley's whispers, which seemed to chant in harmony with his heart.
As he meditated, memories flooded in: the dusty Beijing antique shop where he'd found the scroll, Old Chen's grounded wisdom, Mei Ling's shy smile, the betrayals of Wang Hao and Lin Tao, the lightning that scorched his hair, the deer horde he'd faced with shouts. Each trial, real or imagined, had forged him—not into an immortal soaring through clouds, but into a man who dared to dream beyond his mortal limits. The warmth in his dantian, whether qi or delusion, was his truth, a spark of eternity born from persistence. For the first time, Li Wei smiled, not with fervor but with peace, accepting that the Dao was in the striving, not the arriving.
He scribbled in his notebook, hands steadier despite his weakness: "Eternal Delusion embraced. Scroll's jest reveals truth—immortality is the journey. Qi endures, heart ascends." He carved a final tablet, etching the words: "The Dao lives in the seeker's heart," and placed it by the altar, a legacy for those who might follow. During the next video call with the Order of the Jade Dawn, Li Wei shared his revelation, admitting the scroll's prank but framing it as a divine gift. Zhang Wei, eyes wide, insisted the qi was real, urging him to continue. Liu Mei, her serene face lit by moonlight, praised his peace: "The Dao is in acceptance." Chen Xiu and Zhao Feng, moved, vowed to seek their own truths, their debates softening in shared understanding.
As dawn broke, Li Wei sat by the pool, the Starstone warm in his hands, Azure Dragon snoring softly. The valley's whispers seemed to sing, their murmurs blending with the morning breeze. The scroll's final lesson was clear: immortality was not a state to achieve, but a journey to live. His Golden Core and Nascent Soul, real or not, pulsed as beacons of his unyielding spirit. With his sect's support and the valley's embrace, Li Wei resolved to continue, not chasing a distant heaven but embracing each moment as eternal. He stood, the Star Blade in hand, and performed a slow Heavenly Sword Art form, his movements graceful, his smile radiant. The Dao was his, delusion or not, and he would walk its path forever, one breath at a time.