The world is a vast sea of suffering, and people are but boats adrift in it, their physical bodies the vessels, and their souls the passengers. The journey to the other shore can be undertaken by strengthening the vessel (cultivating the body) or by improving the passenger's ability to navigate the waters (cultivating the soul). This novel explores the paths of martial arts and immortal cultivation, leaving the choice to the reader. Martial arts cultivation levels include: 'flesh training', 'tendon training', 'skin and membrane training', 'bone training', 'internal organ training', 'bone marrow training', and 'blood replacement'.