Everyone ascended, but I didn't get on board

Chapter 219 The First Stop in the Immortal Realm

Qiu Ci spent a full three months at Twin Star Academy, most of which was spent on the lecture platform. She could sense that her ascension was drawing ever closer, and even without actively trying, the barrier between heaven and earth was getting thinner and thinner, and could shatter at any moment.

Qiu Ci did not stop her, but intended to let things take their course.

So the high-level cultivators of Lanru Continent witnessed this scene: just a moment ago, Master Chu was earnestly explaining the path to immortality to them, and the next moment, heavenly music suddenly rose and colorful clouds filled the sky, and a pillar of light fell on the podium. She ascended to heaven right in front of everyone.

Only a bewildered crowd remained, showered with blessings from heaven, as if the heavens and earth themselves were celebrating something.

"Respectfully sending Master Chu off to attain immortality!" someone shouted loudly.

Everyone then came to their senses, bowed towards the sky, and spoke in unison.

"Respectfully sending Master Chu off to attain immortality and ascend to heaven!"

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The sudden ascension left not only the cultivators bewildered, but Qiu Ci herself was also somewhat confused. She felt a pulling force coming from above as she was speaking, which directly pulled her up, and then the next moment, the world before her eyes changed, and she sat down in front of a huge stone gate.

The problem was that she wasn't the only one around; there was a man and a woman standing in front of her, and she was the only one sitting on the ground, making her stand out conspicuously. So, the two of them turned to look at her simultaneously.

Autumn Farewell: "..."

With a twitch at the corner of his mouth, he sprang to his feet like a spring, and only then did the two of them turn their gaze away.

"Is this the Immortal Realm?" the man asked curiously.

Both of them were unfamiliar with the place, just like her, and looked around.

Qiu Ci then realized that the surroundings were shrouded in white mist, and the air seemed to be filled with some kind of energy, similar to spiritual energy but different. Instantly, two words flashed through her mind—immortal energy!
She looked up at the giant gate in front of her and saw the words "Ascension Platform" written on it. It seemed that she had really arrived in the immortal realm.

Just as the three were about to exchange a few words, a rainbow suddenly flew towards them, landing a man in blue robes. He looked them over and said, "So you are the newcomers who ascended today? I've come to pick you up. Follow me."

After saying that, he turned around and walked forward. The three of them exchanged glances and had no choice but to follow.

"You have just ascended, and your bodies are filled with mortal spiritual energy. You need to go to the Spirit Cleansing Pool to refine your spiritual energy into immortal energy before you can be considered true immortals," the man explained to the three as he led the way.

They passed through thick fog and soon arrived at a pool of water.

"Go down, and remember to soak for three full hours to completely convert your spiritual energy into immortal power before you come out. Without immortal power, you will find it difficult to move an inch in the immortal realm." The man leading the way pointed to the pool. "I will come back to pick you up in three hours."

After saying that, he left without looking back, as if he wasn't worried at all that they wouldn't listen.

Qiu Ci and the girl next to her exchanged a hesitant glance, but the man, having seemingly confirmed something, was the first to enter the pool. Qiu Ci and the girl scanned the pool with their divine senses and, finding nothing unusual, also entered.

"System, analyze the composition of this water." Qiu Ci still asked, uneasy, after getting into the water.

[Yes, Master, analyzing...] [Reporting, Master, this water is a high-concentration energy compression fluid, similar to gene enhancement fluid, but its effect is much weaker.]

It didn't seem to be anything bad, so Qiu Ci sat down in the water with peace of mind.

Before long, she felt the spiritual energy within her body begin to circulate. A purer energy entered her body, replacing the original spiritual energy, and slowly entered her dantian.

The replacement was extremely fast; in less than half an hour, all the spiritual energy was replaced by that new energy. Is this immortal power?

Qiu Ci felt a little magical, but when she looked up, she was surprised to find that everything in front of her was completely different. When she came, she felt that there was ethereal mist everywhere and she could not see anything at all. But now she found that this was just an ordinary pool of water. She could even see the grass growing by the pool, the hillside not far away, and the celestial palaces and pavilions further away.

Everything around them seemed to have been instantly unveiled, becoming clear and distinct. So this was the reason for converting spiritual energy into immortal power? No wonder the blue-robed man who guided them said that without immortal power, one could hardly move an inch; it really meant exactly what he said. Only by becoming a true immortal could one see the true nature of the immortal realm.

Qiu Ci felt relieved; her immortal power had calmed down, and her spiritual power had been completely converted. She was a little puzzled as to why the person wanted them to stay for three hours. Turning to look at the other two, she found that unlike her relaxed and carefree state, the two were covered in sweat and looked extremely pained, as if they were enduring something with all their might.

what's the situation?
It's just changing your immortal power, it shouldn't be that difficult.

She was momentarily confused, wondering if she had missed something. She soaked in the water for another half hour before finally getting out of the water, drying her clothes, and sitting on the shore waiting for the two of them.

Unexpectedly, the expressions on their faces did not ease in the slightest, as if they were enduring some kind of extreme torture, but the immortal energy emanating from their bodies was indeed increasing. Qiu Ci watched for a while and guessed that this was a normal phenomenon of converting immortal power. Because her body had been strengthened, it was easier for her to accept immortal power, which was why it was so easy.

She waited by the pool for two whole hours before the man in the pool opened his eyes, covered in sweat. Seeing Qiu Ci sitting by the pool, he also came up and sat down to meditate.

Neither of them was in the mood to talk. Three hours had passed, and the only girl left in the pool still hadn't come up. She was still covered in sweat and looked pained.

The man in blue who had just guided them appeared right on time. Upon seeing the two people on the shore, his brows furrowed, and his expression seemed somewhat...disappointed.
"Sigh, two more debtors!" He suddenly sighed, muttering something cryptic. He then turned to look at the woman still soaking in the pool, a smile appearing on his face. He nodded in satisfaction, "At least there's one who's truly capable."

"..."

What does that mean? Qiu Ci didn't understand.

The man in blue clearly had no intention of explaining to them. He turned to the two of them and said, "Alright, you two come with me!"

"And what about her?" the man asked, pointing to the girl who was still in the pool.

“She’s not like you guys!” the man leading the way said meaningfully, his attitude much more perfunctory than before. “You’re not going to the same place. Stop dawdling and hurry up and catch up.”

After saying that, it transformed into a rainbow and headed towards the distant pavilion.

They had no choice but to follow. It was their first time using immortal power, and they were both a little unfamiliar with it, but fortunately, the principle was similar to using spiritual energy to control a sword. After a while, they caught up with the man's pace.

While they were still confused, the two were led into a side hall, where a man was sitting and writing something. He looked up at them and his first words startled them.

"You two are linked to the system loan, right?"