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The crew quickly gathered, and then began casting for actors. Heh, there were quite a few young Cultivators eager to become actors. Although Jia Qianjun had set strict standards, he soon selected the cast.
The film was ready to shoot. The Film Studio was filming scenes set in the mortal realm before transitioning to the cultivation world for the main character's journey of ascension. Among the entire crew, only the lead actor Malangyu and another important supporting character, Zhu Chongba, were ordinary people. Once all the mundane scenes were completed, the actor playing Zhu Chongba wrapped up and left the crew.
"Uncle Jia, how much longer until we reach the filming location?" Malangyu asked breathlessly. Although he was less than ten years younger than Jia Qianjun, Jia Qianjun was his father's cousin, so he had to address him as uncle.
"Almost there, almost there," Jia Qianjun replied with a smile.
Malangyu wiped his sweat away. "Uncle Jia, you said that an hour ago. Just how beautiful is this filming location that we have to trek so far? And we can't even drive there! Are you trying to kill us?"
"Your physical condition is too poor," Jia Qianjun retorted.
Malangyu exploded in frustration. "How could my body be poor? I work out regularly and can take on three grown men at once! It's just that you chose a filming location that's too far away. I've already climbed for three hours; of course I'm tired!"
Jia Qianjun chuckled. "Look at the people around you. Compare yourself to them and then to me; do you still think your physical condition is good?"
Malangyu turned to look around. Holy cow! Who are these people? After hiking for over three hours, they looked completely unfazed, as if they had just stepped out for a leisurely stroll. Even more terrifying was that they were carrying heavy camera equipment on their backs.
"Uncle Jia, where did you find these crew members? Are they even human?" Malangyu's imagination ran wild. "Or could they really be Cultivators?"
Jia Qianjun gave Malangyu a deep look. "They might just be Cultivators."
"Don't joke around, Uncle Jia," Malangyu laughed. "There are no Cultivators in this world; they're all fictional. We should believe in science."
Jia Qianjun replied with a half-smile, "Metaphysics is also a form of science."
Malangyu countered, "That's referring to things like Feng Shui and the I Ching; it's not about cultivation. The concept of cultivation was made up online; it can't be taken seriously."
"You are mistaken; the concept of cultivation has existed since ancient times. In Taoism, cultivating the Dao and seeking one's true self is referred to as 'cultivation.' A Cultivator uses falsehoods to achieve truth through this physical body composed of the four elements—earth, water, wind, and fire—to attain an indestructible true form. Throughout history, there has been no immortal flesh; only an eternal Dharma body exists. As it is said: 'The original true nature is called the Golden Elixir; the four elements serve as the furnace for refining it.' The four elements are indeed false combinations; although bestowed by parents, father’s essence and mother’s blood are ultimately mundane substances that cannot last for decades without decay. What are these four elements? Earth, water, wind, and fire. Earth forms bones and muscles; water constitutes blood; wind makes up the respiratory system; fire maintains body temperature..."
Malangyu felt overwhelmed and quickly begged for mercy. "Uncle Jia, please stop! I believe in the existence of cultivation now; is that enough?"
Seeing Jia Qianjun fall silent, Malangyu sighed in relief; his uncle was quite formidable indeed.
“Uncle Jia, you must have researched a lot about cultivation to write the script for Slay the Dragon Vein, right?”
Jia Qianjun nodded. At that moment, a beautiful girl walked up to them and asked, “Senior, would you like some water?”
“Thank you.” Jia Qianjun took the water bottle from the girl’s hand. Her name was Long Wenwen, younger than Fang Zhen, yet she was Fang Zhen's Shishu, the youngest and most accomplished Golden Core Stage Cultivator in the Qingcheng Sect and even in the cultivation world. This girl was also the female lead in Jia Qianjun's film.
“Wenwen, why do you call me Uncle Jia? Aren't you from the same school?” Malangyu asked curiously.
“Because a senior is a senior!” Long Wenwen replied with a smile, giving an answer that didn’t really answer the question. After all, since Jia Qianjun hadn’t revealed his identity as a Cultivator, she couldn’t disclose it to Malangyu. But it should be soon; Uncle Jia allowing Malangyu to enter Qingcheng Sect's territory to shoot was likely intended to let him know about the existence of Cultivators and eventually lead him onto the path of cultivation. After all, Malangyu also had a Spiritual Root, and it was a very rare one. It was likely that his seniors would be interested in such a promising candidate, just as their master had taken her as a disciple because she possessed a Water Spiritual Root.
“Your answer is truly remarkable.” Malangyu exclaimed, raising his hand to wipe the sweat from his forehead again. Suddenly, he paused and stared incredulously at Long Wenwen. “How come you look completely unfazed? Aren’t you tired?”
Long Wenwen smiled slightly. “I exercise regularly; my physical condition is quite good.”
“I exercise regularly too!” Malangyu wailed. “I can’t believe I’m not as good as a girl!”
“We’ve arrived,” Jia Qianjun said.
“Arrived where?” Malangyu asked in confusion.
Jia Qianjun replied, “We’ve reached our destination.”
“This place?” Malangyu turned around and exclaimed, “No way! Uncle Jia, you brought us along this rugged mountain path just to come to such a desolate and unremarkable place? Aside from having more trees and grass, what’s so great about this scenery? It’s not even as pretty as the front mountain of Qingcheng Mountain! At least there are ancient buildings and temples there that have more of a cultivation vibe.”
Jia Qianjun snorted lightly. “Open your eyes and look carefully.”
He then said to Long Wenwen, “Open the illusion.”
“Yes, Senior.” Long Wenwen took out a palm-sized jade sword, infused it with spiritual energy, and pointed it at the mountain wall. The air rippled as if a water mirror had shattered; the mountain wall broke apart, revealing an array of ancient buildings that were breathtakingly magnificent. Not only that, but there were also ancient structures floating in mid-air, shrouded in mist like a fairyland.
Malangyu rubbed his eyes, and when the scene before him did not disappear, he said to Uncle Jia, "Uncle Jia, I think I fell asleep. Am I really sleepwalking?"
Jia Qianjun interrupted Malangyu's self-deception. "You are not sleepwalking; everything you see is real. We are currently outside the mountain gate of the Qingcheng Sect, one of the top ten sects in the cultivation world."
Malangyu still couldn't believe it and weakly asked, "Uncle, are you joking with me? Did you have those ancient buildings constructed? Are those holograms?"
"You would rather believe in holograms than in cultivation?" Jia Qianjun replied. "I've told you before that metaphysics is a form of science, and cultivation has existed since ancient times."
Malangyu felt like crying. "Do I have to believe it now?"
His worldview was shattered.
"Uncle, does that mean all these staff members are cultivators?"
Jia Qianjun smiled slightly. "Yes, you're the only ordinary person in the crew."
Wow! The truth was so cruel.
"What about you, Uncle?"
"What about you?" Jia Qianjun countered with a question.
Malangyu hesitated; such an obvious question didn't need to be asked.
"So you're a cultivator too! No wonder you can walk such a long distance without getting out of breath," Malangyu turned to Long Wenwen and asked with curiosity, "How old are you really?"
Long Wenwen snorted coldly, her gaze filled with murderous intent that made Malangyu's legs go weak, causing him to fall to the ground. She turned her head and strode toward the cluster of ancient buildings.
Jia Qianjun laughed as he helped Malangyu up. "Serves you right for asking a girl her age."
"Why are you so curious?" Malangyu said, feeling wronged. "You can't tell a Cultivator's age from their appearance. Who knows if she's from my grandmother's generation?"
Jia Qianjun poked Malangyu's forehead, leaving a red mark. "If you don't want to be beaten up by the female cultivators inside, you'd better not bring up the topic of age."
Malangyu let out a small, pitiful sound but quickly perked up again, asking curiously, "Uncle Jia, where exactly is this place? Is it really the Cultivation Sect hidden deep in the mountains, protected by formations that ordinary people can't see or enter?"
"That's right. This is the Qingcheng Sect, one of the top ten sects in the cultivation world. Once we go in, you better behave; the people inside are not to be trifled with," Jia Qianjun advised Malangyu.
"Yes, understood!" Malangyu saluted like a scout and then leaned closer to Jia Qianjun's ear, eyes sparkling with anticipation. "Uncle Jia, do you think I can cultivate?"
Cultivation! Such an amazing thing—he couldn't miss out on it! He just didn't know what his aptitude was like. If he was told he had no Spiritual Root and couldn't cultivate, he thought he might cry.
Jia Qianjun smiled slightly. "If you weren't suitable for cultivation due to lacking a Spiritual Root, how could I possibly let you come into contact with the cultivation world? Zhou Hai's role has already been wrapped up ahead of schedule!"
Malangyu's eyes lit up like fireworks, growing brighter and brighter as he realized his opportunity had come. "Uncle Jia, thank you so much!"
Jia Qianjun chuckled and patted Malangyu on the shoulder. "You're my nephew; there's no need to be polite. In a moment, I'll take you to meet the head of Qingcheng Sect. It's up to you to seize the opportunity."
"Yes!" Malangyu was so happy he felt like jumping up. Suddenly, he felt invigorated; his breath was steady and his waist no longer ached, as if he had just downed an energy drink.
Upon their arrival, the head of Qingcheng Sect and the Elders came out personally to greet them. Malangyu was stunned; his uncle held such a high status in the cultivation world! Truly a case of not revealing one's true self! Should he ask his uncle to be his master? Before he could think it through, Jia Qianjun pulled him in front of the head of Qingcheng Sect. "Fang Zhenren, this is my grandnephew who has a great admiration for the path of immortality. Do you think he might have the fortune to become your disciple?"
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