Cultivation: Being Immortal Chapter 773

Year 6670 of the Xia Calendar, Western Shen Continent

On the summit of Juefeng Mountain, Small Shadiao and roughly a dozen companions positioned themselves on snowboards. The moment Small Shadiao lobbed a hand grenade, the whole group surged downhill, chased by a roaring avalanche of snow.

The team glided with fervor down the mountain's heights, the tumbling snow line trailing close behind—utterly exhilarating and heart-pounding, prompting shouts of joy from all.

Several hours afterward, they arrived at the mountain's foot without incident. Small Shadiao recovered the drone he'd launched earlier, and the group clustered around to view the recorded clips.

"Ice Consolidation is complete, Xiaona. Editing the video is up to you."

Small Shadiao extracted the memory card and passed it to one of the young women.

"Got it, Lin Ge. This will definitely push our account past a million followers."

"Next up, we should tackle another adventure; extreme sports are catching on big time."

Small Shadiao agreed with a nod. Ever since arriving in the western region of Shen Continent, Small Shadiao had embraced a laid-back existence.

Yet such an easygoing routine could grow tedious, prompting him to experiment with various personas in his daily adventures. In time, without realizing it, he crossed paths with a crew passionate about extreme sports.

Existence felt overly mundane, urging him to pursue greater thrills. Like many, Small Shadiao dove right in, forging bonds with the group and joining their daring escapades.

The concept of extreme sports emerged during the spiritual energy revival. Participants were mostly regular folks, proclaiming it a way to pay homage to nature, celebrate life, and uncover its deeper purpose.

That said, following the spiritual energy resurgence, popularity waned since cultivators possessed overwhelming might. Take Small Shadiao, for instance—even if engulfed by an avalanche, he'd emerge unscathed.

Lately, though, the activity has surged back in appeal, as certain individuals grow weary of monotonous days and crave genuine peril. Skills be damned; the bold ones simply suppress their powers, while the more cautious seal them away to compete as mere mortals. This approach lets them savor the rush of danger.

After his initial skydiving attempt, Small Shadiao grew hooked on this adrenaline-fueled existence. He locked away his abilities and relished the sensation of plummeting from dizzying altitudes. The experience was electrifying, filling him with pure exhilaration.

Thus, before long, Small Shadiao rose as a standout in the scene, unafraid of mortality and always pushing boundaries with fresh challenges.

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"Check it out, Small Shadiao's trending once more; he tackled some skiing."

In Haigang City, Cao Ying loaded a clip for Lin Jiang to see. It featured Small Shadiao shredding down a peak, narrated with high-energy commentary. The visuals were stunning, racking up millions of likes and countless comments.

"Has this fellow reinvented himself as an online sensation?"

"Not quite; he styles himself an extreme sports expert."

"Expert? What rubbish! With his monstrous physique and sixth-level strength, could a fall really end him?"

Lin Jiang chuckled and remarked, "A sixth-tier beast boasts incredible resilience. Missiles barely scratch it, and a drop from ten thousand meters likely leaves it intact. Plus, it has natural reflexes. Even with powers sealed, crises trigger an automatic release. No stunt can truly threaten its life."

"Why fuss over their antics? They're just enjoying themselves these days."

"Boredom, that's all."

"I'm feeling it too. How about we join in? Word is they've pinpointed the top eight riskiest and most pulse-racing extreme sports, dubbed the Ozaki Eight. Fancy giving them a go?"

"Absolutely not; it holds no appeal for me. Seems like a pointless drain on time and effort. My outlook's shifted toward conservatism and tradition lately."

Lin Jiang shook his head. He was well-versed in the Ozaki Eight, having helped shape its foundational ideas.

To break it down, the eight pursuits include: Emergence of Strength, involving hazardous kayaking through raging currents; Descent from the Sky, meaning skydiving from extreme elevations; Awakening of the Earth, which entails unprotected plunges into depths; Creatures of Water, riding colossal waves on a surfboard; Movement of the Wind, soaring in a wingsuit amid narrow mountain gorges; Ice Consolidation, racing skis across lofty summits; Mastery of Life, scaling sheer cliffs without aids; and Absolute Trust, probing the depths of team reliance.

Every one of these eight endeavors carries immense peril. For average folks, merely viewing the footage could leave their knees buckling.

Long ago, Lin Jiang had devised them as mere amusement, never imagining they'd draw crowds who hailed it as reverence for nature, vitality, and life's essence.

These days, Lin Jiang views his own mindset as profoundly traditional. Such pursuits smack of self-sabotage, devoid of true value.

"Why dismiss it? Doesn't it sound thrilling?"

"Little Ying, the footage looks fantastic; the scenery pops. But consider the massive costs tied to these activities? The potential tragedies? Small Shadiao's invincible, sure, but everyday participants aren't. Care to search up the annual death toll? Imagine the grief for their loved ones, the squandered potential and assets?"

"Fair enough, though we shouldn't judge how others choose to live."

"True, I can't dictate to the world, but if any Lin family member dives into this, I'll intervene. Should life feel unbearably tedious, no issue; I'll dispatch them to my operations. They could even generate real societal gains."

Lin Jiang reflected that perspectives vary widely among individuals. He lacked sway over outsiders, yet he could guide his kin. Life's a gift from parents, not meant for reckless discard.

"At times, I believe we require that bold, death-defying ethos to shatter our present hurdles. You've grown rather cautious over recent years."

"I get it, but the stakes are too high for me to gamble, understand?"

Lin Jiang nodded. How could he ignore his increasingly guarded mentality through the years? Still, defeat was unthinkable. He might endure losses personally, but his followers? A mishap could doom hundreds of thousands, millions, or billions.

"Should I ascend to immortality, how do I handle turning cold and detached?"

"Then perhaps immortality isn't worth it. Little Ying, no need to probe me like this. You grasp my stance. I'm no callous soul. We've endured millennia, watching kin and comrades depart one after another."

"These days, we scarcely connect with anyone new. In all these years, any fresh friendships? None, correct? Thus, nurturing our existing bonds and relations takes priority."

Lin Jiang explained that newcomers entering their circle had dwindled sharply. Forget young cultivators; even dormant ones were scarce.

This stemmed from longevity's toll: a gradual erosion of social instincts. Lin Jiang once dismissed it—new friends could replace the lost.

Yet as years accumulated and his views evolved, he saw the folly. Opening up proved arduous now, especially without a stable, everyday rhythm.

This realization deepened Lin Jiang's appreciation for his present state, heightening his caution in decisions, lest a misstep unravel it all.

"Fine, I see your point. Debating this leads nowhere. Let Small Shadiao enjoy his pursuits. It's tough for him too, so we're sitting this out, yeah?"

"Yeah."

"Founder Two's flight has spanned almost a century, and the deadline approaches."

"I'm aware; no rush on that front—time remains ample. We'll proceed steadily. Priority now is solidifying our internal framework for unwavering stability."

Lin Jiang assented. As cultivators advanced in power, internal dynamics grew more volatile. Enhanced capabilities fueled loftier desires. Hence, Lin Jiang labored to maintain equilibrium within. After all, the masses remained oblivious to the world's harsh realities; they had no inkling of the looming threats.

Lin Jiang had no intention of unveiling this hidden truth. Certain matters demand silence; they embody heaven's mysteries. Disclosure transforms secrecy into calamity.