On the day he obtained the jade slip, the 'Scripture of Pure Origin Opening the Heavens', Yuan Chen did not rush into cultivation.
Instead, he patiently read the 'Hundred-Day Foundation Establishment' chapter within the scripture three times.
After he understood the necessary tools, elixirs, steps, and methods, he couldn't help but sigh softly, "This cultivation method is both scientifically rigorous and profoundly mystical, but... it's really damn expensive."
Clicking his tongue, he stood up, turned, and walked into his bedroom, bending down to retrieve a bank card from a hidden cabinet under his bed.
The over one hundred thousand yuan on this card was his savings from years of frugality, combined with the family inheritance the Old Daoist had given him before his death.
He had originally intended to keep it for emergencies or for when he got married in the future.
"Sigh, now that I can cultivate immortality, getting married can wait for a bit."
He mumbled to himself while quickly binding the bank card to WeChat Pay.
"I'll order whatever I can online directly.
For the tools I can't buy, I know a few master craftsmen, so I'll just have them custom-made.
This little Daoist doesn't like going down the mountain—according to those novel tropes, nothing good ever happens when you go down the mountain, and I hate trouble the most."
His fingertips flew across the screen, switching between Taobao, WeChat Pay, and Douyin.
It took him about an hour to order all the items and elixirs.
Looking at the tens of thousands of yuan deducted from his account, Yuan Chen rubbed his brow and checked the logistics—the earliest items would arrive in three days, and the latest in seven days.
"These seven days are perfect for me to simulate and master the breathing, guiding, and meditation methods from the Hundred-Day Foundation Establishment chapter, ensuring everything is foolproof."
He began re-reading the jade slip, checking it word by word, but his brows gradually furrowed into a knot.
"Xiao Zhu, this method looks quite systematic, but... is this really something a human can practice?
Why do I feel like I'll drop dead halfway through?"
"Host, rest assured, this chapter can be cultivated, and only you can cultivate it," the mechanical voice in his mind responded calmly.
Yuan Chen was instantly stunned, his eyes filled with confusion.
"This little Daoist is just an ordinary person, flesh and blood, a carbon-based life form, no different from anyone else.
Why can only I practice it?"
"Your biggest difference, Host, is that you have me," Xiao Zhu's voice remained flat.
"Host should have heard of the 'infinite monkey theorem'—if an infinite number of monkeys randomly type on typewriters for an infinite amount of time, they will almost certainly produce any given finite text, such as the complete works of Shakespeare."
"I've heard of it, but what does that have to do with me?"
Yuan Chen was even more confused.
Who hadn't seen this theory online?
Not to mention students, probably ninety-nine percent of netizens knew about it.
"It is naturally related," Xiao Zhu explained.
"This theory can also be applied to you, Host:
In an infinite number of parallel universes, as long as there is one 'you' who can cultivate this chapter, I can graft that sliver of possibility onto you and amplify it.
Once you glimpse the threshold, 'you' who can cultivate will inevitably appear in other universes, and then I will graft and amplify again, repeating this infinitely, making your ascension to immortality inevitable."
Yuan Chen listened, dumbfounded, a storm raging in his heart.
"Isn't this a different kind of 'I time-travel to myself'?
According to this, I can infinitely 'nest' myself!
Will I become a great divine ability user in the future?
Is Xiao Zhu a cheat sent back by my future self to complete the spacetime loop?
Or... has my future self already transcended the Three Realms and Five Elements, surpassed the river of time, and become a Great Luo Immortal from Daoist mythology?"
The more he thought about it, the more his heart pounded, and his head began to feel dizzy.
He quickly recited a few calming mantras, and it took him a long while to steady his mind.
He slowly got up and walked to the entrance, climbing to the highest and steepest Wangyue Pavilion of the Daoist temple.
The smoke from cooking fires curled up from the town at the foot of the mountain, and dusk was settling.
He gazed at that human world and slowly spoke:
"Past and future are all illusions; only being invincible in the present is true invincibility."
"Xiao Chen!
Why are you standing so high?
And what nonsense are you talking about, 'invincible or not invincible'?"
A familiar female voice suddenly came from below, startling Yuan Chen.
He turned sharply and, seeing Wang Shěn, smiled helplessly.
"Wang Shěn, why do you walk without making a sound?
You scared this little Daoist.
It's already five or six in the afternoon; aren't you cooking at home?
What are you doing coming up the mountain?"
Wang Shěn rolled her eyes but had a smile on her face.
"It's all because of you.
Ever since the Old Abbot left, you haven't really gone down the mountain.
Everyone's worried you'll starve up here, so I brought you some food and came to offer some incense."
When Yuan Chen was a child, he was sweet-tongued and charming.
When he was hungry, he'd run down to the village at the foot of the mountain.
Whose meal hadn't he mooched?
It was no exaggeration to say he grew up eating from a hundred families.
And his master, who was obsessed with refining elixirs to become an immortal, though a bit eccentric, was truly skilled in medicine.
When villagers came to the Daoist temple to pray for blessings, the Old Abbot would always treat their ailments for free, which is why the entire village respected the Old Daoist.
Yuan Chen leaned closer and saw that the bag in Wang Shěn's hand was heavy.
Upon closer inspection, his eyes lit up.
"Ho, there's fish, meat, vegetables, and even a whole chicken!
I'll have good food for days now."
"You rascal," Wang Shěn patted his shoulder, "Are you really going to listen to the Old Abbot and guard this Daoist temple for the rest of your life?
Not go out, find a job, and get a wife?"
Yuan Chen replied with a playful grin, "Wang Shěn, you know, Master was like my own father.
If he told me to guard it, I'll guard it.
Besides, don't young people nowadays all want to 'lie flat'?
I'm full, and my whole family isn't hungry; how free is that?
Oh, right, I've actually made some progress in my practice these past few days.
Maybe one day I'll become an immortal, and then I'll bring you an immortal elixir to try."
"Really?"
Wang Shěn was startled at first, then laughed.
"Then don't forget your aunt when you become an immortal!"
After seeing Wang Shěn off, Yuan Chen quickly made dinner, ate, performed his evening lessons, and went to bed early.
Outside the window, the mountain breeze gently stirred, and moonlight streamed into the room.
He simply waited for seven days to pass, for the beginning of that destined, extraordinary Foundation Establishment.