"All things have a place where they begin, and within our bodies, there is such a place, the root of life force, where all the essence and energy of the body are stored. This is called the Life Wheel, or the Wheel of Life," Elder Wu Qingfeng said in a calm and measured tone.
"Where is the Life Wheel?" Pang Bo asked.
"It is located just below the navel," Elder Wu Qingfeng pointed to the area just below his own navel and continued, "The position where it lies is the perfect dividing point between the upper and lower halves of the body."
Ye Fan was a bit surprised and immediately thought of the golden ratio of the human body, which perfectly aligned with the position Elder Wu mentioned. The ratio of the body from the soles of the feet to the top of the head is 0.618, known as the golden ratio of the human body. The area just below the navel happens to lie on this line, which gives the body its most aesthetically pleasing proportions.
In fact, there are many golden division points in the human body, and these local divisions are all critically important. However, compared to them, the largest golden division point—the area just below the navel—might appear insignificant on the surface.
At this moment, hearing Elder Wu say that this is the Life Wheel, the source of the body's life force, a light of understanding flashed in Ye Fan's mind. Perhaps the most important golden division point in the human body truly is the "origin of all things."
The Life Wheel is not just a single point, but an area. According to Elder Wu, it is centered below the navel and forms a circle roughly the size of a palm, where the essence is stored.
Elder Wu Qingfeng solemnly and seriously emphasized, "The Life Wheel is the foundation of all cultivators. For ordinary people, it is the source of life; for practitioners, it is the origin of their physical existence."
According to Elder Wu, the Life Wheel is the source of divine power. For a cultivator to begin the journey to immortality, everything starts from here.
"Throughout a mortal's life, the Life Wheel constantly dries up. Every year, the passage of time leaves marks on it, much like the rings of a tree. When a person reaches old age, the Life Wheel is covered with the scars of time, and eventually, it shatters completely," Elder Wu continued.
"Can you tell how many marks our Life Wheels have right now?"
Ye Fan and Pang Bo, once in their twenties, had undergone an astonishing transformation and were now in the bodies of twelve-year-olds.
"Your Life Wheel has eleven marks," Elder Wu said, turning his gaze toward Pang Bo.
Pang Bo grinned widely upon hearing this. Compared to his classmates, who had lost their youthful vitality, the change that had occurred in him was miraculous. He then pointed to Ye Fan and asked, "What about him? He should be the same as me, right?"
Elder Wu, already aware of Ye Fan's unique constitution, examined him carefully. His conclusions were consistent with what others had said—Ye Fan's Life Wheel was utterly silent, as solid as divine iron, firm as a rock, and unshakable, making it impossible to open.
"His constitution is very special. It's difficult to see through and hard to define the number of marks. I believe it's similar to yours," Elder Wu said, showing a strange expression. "His vital energy is incredibly strong, almost like that of a great serpent or a dragon. If he could cultivate… what a shame."
Ye Fan and Pang Bo finally understood what the Life Wheel was, but they still had many questions.
"The Life Wheel is the foundation of all cultivators. If one could reach the legendary realm where the Life Wheel remains clear, unscarred, and unchanged—just like when one was first born—perhaps there would be a glimmer of hope for becoming immortal."
"Is it very difficult to become immortal?" Ye Fan asked.
"The immortals spoken of in the mortal world are simply cultivators who can fly and move through the heavens. As for the true immortals of legend, it is hard to say if they truly exist. From what I know, in the vast Eastern Wilderness, no one has ascended to immortality in thousands of years. Perhaps only those in sacred lands, ancient families passed down from the primordial era, or certain ancient beings, know the true secrets," Elder Wu explained.
"Grandpa, you're shattering our beliefs. We were just starting to think about cultivating, and now you tell us that immortality might not even exist. This is really discouraging," Pang Bo sighed.
"Spring flowers only last until autumn, and the cold cicada only lives through winter. A mortal's life is but a hundred years. If someone lives for a thousand years, it would be breaking the natural order, and that could be considered a kind of immortality," Elder Wu said philosophically.
Ye Fan and Pang Bo understood what Elder Wu meant. Once a cultivator steps onto the immortal path, they transcend the limitations of a mortal. Powerful cultivators can live for thousands of years, breaking the rules of nature. Even if they never achieve true immortality, their struggle is not in vain because they have transcended the limitations of life and fate.
"Actually, I haven't completely denied the existence of immortals. Maybe it's just that we cannot reach that world," Elder Wu added.
Then Ye Fan and Pang Bo continued to ask questions, and Elder Wu patiently answered.
"People often speak of the Sea of Suffering. What exactly is it?" Ye Fan asked.
"That is the endless sea of suffering that obscures the Life Wheel," Elder Wu replied.
"What do you mean by that?" Pang Bo asked, confused.
"Once a cultivator reaches a certain level, the seemingly small Life Wheel inside the body expands like a vast world. The Sea of Suffering is born with it and exists alongside it," Elder Wu explained.
"Can you elaborate? It seems that the Life Wheel and the Sea of Suffering are in the same place. What is their relationship?" Ye Fan asked.
"The Sea of Suffering and the Life Wheel overlap, or more precisely, the Sea of Suffering engulfs the Life Wheel. Not only does time carve scars on the Life Wheel, but the Sea of Suffering also slowly devours it," Elder Wu explained.
"So, that's why there is a saying about crossing the Sea of Suffering?" Ye Fan asked.
Elder Wu nodded. "Indeed, the root of a cultivator's journey lies in the Life Wheel. One of the purposes of cultivation is to cross the Sea of Suffering."
Ye Fan and Pang Bo were shocked. "If the Sea of Suffering is endless and it submerges the Life Wheel, how can it be cleansed?"
"Yes, it cannot be fully purified. Even the most talented and powerful cultivators, after thousands or tens of thousands of years, still end up as dust," Elder Wu said with a bitter smile, but then his expression shifted to one of longing. "Legend has it that true immortals must fully cross the Sea of Suffering, turning it into a life-giving spring. A single drop of it could bring the dead back to life."
"Sigh, but that's just a legend. Whether immortals truly exist is still a question," Pang Bo sighed. "Please tell us about something real, something we can believe in."
"The Sea of Suffering is endless, but if a cultivator wants to live a long life, they must not be trapped by the Sea of Suffering," Elder Wu said, his eyes shining brightly. "In the Sea of Suffering, one must create life, brewing vitality from the desolation, cultivating the Divine Pulse, forging the Heavenly Bridge, and crossing to the other shore, reaching the end of the Sea of Suffering."
Ye Fan thought for a moment, feeling somewhat confused, and asked, "If the Sea of Suffering engulfs the Life Wheel, and they overlap, wouldn't crossing the Divine Bridge to the other shore mean leaving the Life Wheel behind? Doesn't that contradict the fact that the Life Wheel is the foundation of the cultivator?"
Elder Wu smiled and nodded, "I've said that the Life Wheel is the foundation, the root of everything, but I never said that once you leave it behind, there is nothing else."
Pang Bo's eyes widened in realization. "What else is there?"
"To become the pinnacle of strength, perfecting the Life Wheel alone is enough. But if you want to become immortal, merely cultivating the Life Wheel is not enough," Elder Wu explained.
"Are you saying that there are other points in the body, similar to the Life Wheel?" Ye Fan asked, astonished.
"To reach the peak of strength, perfecting the Life Wheel is sufficient. But if you want to become immortal, merely cultivating the Life Wheel is not enough," Elder Wu continued, shaking his head. "Even the most extraordinary geniuses, if they focus on perfecting just one Life Wheel in their life, will benefit greatly. Cultivating the Divine Pulse and creating the Heavenly Bridge to reach the other shore, gaining eternal life, is not so easy. Remember this—do not aim too high, but instead focus on building a solid foundation. That is the key."