I forge immortality with a pagoda.

Hearing Ji Ran's boast, Wang Chengxuan couldn't help but shake his head and chuckle, patting him on the shoulder, "You're just daydreaming again. I advise you to give up your illusions and face reality."

Ji Ran was unconvinced and wanted to argue, but Wang Chengxuan straightened his face and said seriously, "This mission requires us to collect ten Yangquan Zhi mushrooms. If you keep complaining and don't put your heart into the search, I'm afraid that by the three-month deadline, neither of us will have collected half of them. Do you want to be punished by Uncle Yan and confined to your quarters to reflect on your mistakes?"

"This..." Ji Ran looked distressed and had a headache. She had no choice but to stop complaining and send out her divine sense to search for the traces of Yangquanzhi.

Ji Ran and Wang Chengxuan came here to search for the great medicine, naturally because they were entrusted with a mission by their sect.

And these sect missions naturally come with rewards.

Unlike tasks that can be accepted independently at the sect's Dao Gong Pavilion, these tasks are personally assigned by the sect's elders. Sometimes they are simple and easy, while other times they are full of difficulties, and the rewards vary from person to person.

When you're lucky, you can get a generous reward for a simple errand; when you're unlucky, even if you spend a lot of effort to complete a difficult task, the reward may be meager.

Furthermore, these rewards do not go through the Dao Gong Pavilion, nor are they sect Dao Gong. They are usually pills, refining materials, or cultivation techniques bestowed directly by elders of the sect.

The task they had accepted was a herb-gathering mission personally assigned by their martial uncle, Yan Chi, which they could not refuse.

This Yangquanzhi is a rather precious herb, and such herbs have always been rare around the Lujing Sect.

It can be said that the difficulty of searching for ten Yangquanzhi mushrooms is no less than that of having the two of them, with their early Qi Refining stage strength, directly defeat a ferocious monster at the late Qi Refining stage.

That is why Ji Ran behaved so negatively and slackly.

Just as Ji Ran was looking worried and Wang Chengxuan was also feeling distressed, a sound of something breaking through the air suddenly came from the distance.

The two subconsciously looked up and saw an extremely condensed beam of true qi streaking past them at an astonishing speed, heading straight for the mountain gate of their own Lu Jing Sect.

And the direction that streak of light went was none other than their own sect.

"Which senior brother has returned from his travels and refined his true qi to such an extent?"

Ji Ran's eyes flashed with a sharp light as she watched the rapidly receding streak of light.

"Judging from the appearance of this True Qi, it does resemble Senior Brother Liu's Golden Glow True Qi somewhat, but upon closer inspection of its energy, it seems quite different."

Wang Chengxuan stroked his chin, looking puzzled and unable to determine the identity of the newcomer.

......

Shen Yu sped along the way, spending quite some time, and finally arrived at his final destination.

At this moment, clouds and mist swirled below him, with countless spiritual peaks appearing and disappearing in the sea of ​​clouds. This place was the mountain gate of the Lu Jing Sect, a major sect in the Southern Region.

With a thought, Shen Yu gathered his true qi and slowly floated down from the clouds, landing steadily on a wide bluestone platform.

As soon as he stood still, he noticed several gazes fixed on him, and the pressure instantly increased.

Looking up, one sees the mountain gate here, magnificent and awe-inspiring.

The massive mountain gate archway is carved from ancient jade and bears the two ancient seal characters "Lu Jing" in bold, vigorous strokes, exuding an extraordinary aura.

The bluestone steps wind upwards, disappearing into the depths of the clouds and mist.

In the middle of the steps, an elderly man with white hair and a youthful face, dressed in a dark purple Taoist robe, sat upright on a futon, his expression peaceful and his aura profound.

Several disciples of the Lu Jing Sect, also dressed in purple Taoist robes, stood around him, each full of energy and with sharp eyes.

Before Shen Yu could make a move, one of the disciples stepped forward and asked, "Who is below? What brings you to our Lu Jing Sect's gate?"

Shen Yu stepped forward, performed a Daoist curtsy, and announced loudly, "I am Shen Yu, a native of the Yu Kingdom. I have an appointment with your sect's Fairy Yue Ling and have come to the Lu Jing Sect to seek immortality and enlightenment."

Upon hearing this, the disciple scrutinized Shen Yu from head to toe, a hint of suspicion flashing in his eyes. "Senior Sister Yue Ling? She is a true disciple of our sect, of noble status, and rarely meddles in outside affairs. How could you, a mere rogue cultivator, possibly climb up to Senior Sister Yue Ling's high position?"

Shen Yu simply smiled and offered no further explanation.

At this moment, the old man sitting in the center slowly opened his eyes and gently scolded, "Mo Lin, stop being so rude."

The disciple named Mo Lin immediately straightened up, bowed his head, and hurriedly agreed, not daring to say anything more.

The old man turned his gaze to Shen Yu, his expression softening slightly, and asked, "I am Ning Qian, and I am honored to be an outer sect steward. Since you claim to have a prior agreement with Junior Sister Yue Ling, then in principle you are indeed allowed to enter my sect to seek the Dao."

Ning Qian paused for a moment, then continued, "However, Junior Nephew Yue Ling did not inform us of this matter beforehand. And now is not the time for our sect to recruit disciples. If we were to make the decision to let you in without authorization, it would be against the rules and would be somewhat inappropriate."

Shen Yu remained silent, waiting for the old man to speak next.

"Why don't you wait here for a moment, young friend, while I send someone in to inform and verify?"

Shen Yu bowed again and said, "Then I will trouble you, senior and fellow Daoists."

"Mo Lin, Yu Tu!" Ning Qian called out.

"Disciples are here!" Two disciples immediately stepped forward.

"You two must immediately go to Junior Nephew Yue Ling's cave on Cold Moon Peak to request an audience and verify this matter. Go and return immediately, without delay!"

"Yes, sir!"

The two responded in unison, then channeled their true energy, transforming into two streaks of light that sped towards the depths of the sect.

Shen Yu, on the other hand, was quite relaxed. He found a flat bluestone nearby, sat down cross-legged, and began to breathe deeply with his eyes closed.

After about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the two disciples who had been summoned returned and landed in front of Ning Qian.

Mo Lin was the first to report: "Uncle Ning, we just went to Cold Moon Peak, but the restrictions on Senior Sister Yue Ling's cave were activated, and no one answered."

Yu Tu said, "What Senior Brother Mo said is correct. The boy on duty outside the cave said that Senior Sister Yue Ling went out to travel a month ago, and her return date is uncertain."

Upon hearing this, Ning Qian stroked his gray beard, his face showing difficulty: "Since Junior Sister Yue Ling is not in the sect, this matter is difficult to verify. What should we do?"

Mo Lin's eyes darted around, as if he had thought of something. He immediately took two steps forward, leaned close to Ning Qian's ear, and whispered a few words.

Ning Qian's tightly furrowed brows immediately relaxed, and he nodded slightly: "Hmm, that is indeed a solution."

He turned to Shen Yu and said in a gentle tone, "Young friend Shen, why don't you come forward for a chat?"

Shen Yu had been waiting for a long time, and now he naturally got up from the bluestone and walked forward calmly.

"Senior, have you found a solution?"

Ning Qian chuckled and said, "There is naturally a way. However, whether it will succeed depends on your own cultivation foundation."

"Although our sect is not currently recruiting disciples, there are explicit rules within the sect that if a cultivator in the Qi Refining stage cultivates True Qi of the upper three grades, they can be considered a promising talent and admitted into the sect without any restrictions. This approach does not limit the time of entry, nor does it require going through the tedious tests that ordinary disciples undergo upon entry."

"May I ask, young friend, what kind of true qi do you cultivate?"

"I see." Shen Yu understood. Without further hesitation, he guided a stream of pure true qi from within his body.

Everyone saw a flash of light around Shen Yu, and a white flame with a hint of purple, exceptionally lively, suddenly rose up.

This light and flame appeared light and invisible, like smoke and mist, yet it exuded a pure and abundant spiritual energy. Its aura was mysterious and could not be compared with ordinary true qi.

This true qi is naturally not the Primordial Profound Truth that Shen Yu condensed.

Rather, it was a Qi-refining technique he had obtained from the relics of a cultivator he had previously acquired at Qinggang Mountain.

The primordial mystery is infinitely profound and can evolve into all things.

Simulating and evolving a mere seventh-grade low-level Floating True Qi was naturally a piece of cake for him.

He simply read through the cultivation method that recorded the True Qi of Floating Dawn, and he already understood its attributes, characteristics, and even its advantages and disadvantages.

He did not reveal the Primordial Mystery at this moment because he did not want to cause any more trouble.

Shen Yu understood the principle that possessing a treasure is a crime. If such a top-quality true qi were to appear in the world, it would likely cause a huge uproar and even attract the attention and questioning of sect elders, which was definitely not what he wanted.

However, even this seventh-grade low-level Floating Dawn True Qi was enough to shock everyone present.

Mo Lin, who had previously made sarcastic remarks, was now filled with regret.

He quickly stepped forward and said respectfully, "Indeed, it is a superior form of true qi with profound and mysterious qualities. Senior Brother Shen is truly a rare and precious talent. I was blind and offended you just now. I hope you will forgive me!"

Shen Yu simply smiled faintly and did not respond, feeling little about Mo Lin's actions.

He knew all too well that the cultivation world was just like that. When you were weak, you were bound to be looked down upon. But once you showed enough potential and value, others would naturally respect you, so there was no need to care too much.

Ning Qian also smiled broadly and clapped his hands in praise, "Not bad, not bad! Young friend Shen's true qi is undoubtedly top-grade true qi, with pure spiritual light and a solid foundation."

"I am just curious, what is this true qi called? Judging from its form, it is like the magnificent purple clouds at the rising of the sunset. Its aura is ethereal and elusive, and it is truly rare."

"Returning to Ning, Senior."

"This true qi is called 'Floating Dawn True Qi'. It is formed by taking a wisp of primordial rosy light and purple qi, combining it with the pure and spiritual essence of clouds and rosy clouds, and repeatedly tempering and condensing it in the dantian."

"Its nature is light and ethereal, and when it moves, it is like clouds and mist, changing in countless ways. It is not only good at concealing its aura, but also greatly helpful in the art of flying and maneuvering. Furthermore, it can nourish the soul and make one's spiritual senses more acute."

"It was actually refined from the essence of primordial purple energy and clouds? No wonder it has such a magnificent appearance."

"Young friend Shen, you are able to obtain such a superior true qi inheritance as a rogue cultivator, and you have even reached the middle stage of qi refining at such a young age. Your talent and opportunity are truly amazing. Your future path in the Dao is bound to be limitless."

Ning Qian clapped his hands in praise, his words filled with admiration.

"Senior, you flatter me. I was merely fortunate to have encountered such an opportunity and glimpsed the path of cultivation. The road ahead is long, and I must continue to work diligently and cautiously, taking each step with utmost care, without the slightest slackening."

Shen Yu bowed slightly, his tone humble.

Seeing this, Ning Qian's eyes showed even greater appreciation, and he nodded, saying, "Not arrogant or impatient, his temperament is also excellent."

"Since you have met the sect's requirements for exceptional entry, you will naturally be able to enter the sect and become an inner disciple."

"Young friend, you have come from afar and must be quite tired. The specific details of joining the sect, your rights and obligations, and the sect's rules will be provided to you in the form of a jade slip later. I will not go into details here."

He turned to Mo Lin, who was standing to the side, and said, "Mo Lin, you will lead Shen Yu to Dianxing Pavilion to complete the entry registration."

Shen Yu readily agreed, "Thank you for your arrangements, Senior Ning."

Mo Lin immediately stepped forward. "Senior Brother Shen, please come with me."

Shen Yu also gestured with his hand, indicating "please," and followed Mo Lin up the winding blue stone steps into the gate of the Lu Jing Sect.

Before long, the two climbed to the top of a mountain with a wide view.

Shen Yu stopped and looked up, his heart also moved by the grandeur of the place.

The mountains are majestic and undulating, with countless peaks standing tall and elegant, piercing the clouds.

Above each main peak are several smaller peaks, each with its own unique and graceful shape, shrouded in a misty, ethereal atmosphere.

Nestled among the peaks, pavilions, towers, palaces, martial arts arenas, and secluded retreat caves—all the structures necessary for cultivating immortality—are arranged in a harmonious and orderly fashion, taking advantage of the natural terrain.

These buildings, with their carved beams and painted rafters, flying eaves and brackets, are either hidden among lush trees or connected by suspended corridors and rainbow bridges, crisscrossing and standing side by side, forming an incomparably magnificent fairyland scene.

Figures riding on various colored lights moved back and forth among the magnificent palaces and azure skies, bustling yet exuding an ethereal charm, creating a lively scene.

As your gaze sweeps down the mountainside, nestled among the peaks lies a vast, clear lake.

The lake, like a huge, flawless sapphire, is quietly set among the verdant peaks, clearly reflecting the flowing clouds in the sky and the jade palace on the mountaintop.

The lake surface was shrouded in mist, rising up and turning into a light, ethereal fog.

Even from such a distance, Shen Yu could vaguely sense the pure, cold, and powerful aquatic energy emanating from the lake.

Around the lake, one can vaguely see cultivators living in huts, some sitting quietly by the lake, observing the water and comprehending the Dao, some sitting cross-legged and breathing to absorb spiritual energy, some holding Dao scrolls and chanting softly, and some practicing sword techniques and Dao methods, their figures flying.

Everyone was immersed in their own spiritual practice, relaxed and carefree, with no distractions.

The scene before me is truly beautiful, with clear waters and bright mountains, a place of outstanding natural beauty and extraordinary atmosphere, a blessed land of immortals and a supreme place of spiritual practice.

Shen Yu stared blankly, inwardly cursing, "Is this the Demonic Sect?"

For a moment, I forgot what to do next.

Seeing this, Mo Lin found it amusing, but on the surface he dared not show it at all.

He waited patiently for a moment before speaking softly, "Senior Brother Shen, the Star Pointing Pavilion is over here. Please follow me."

Shen Yu snapped out of his reverie and nodded slightly: "Thank you for leading the way, Junior Brother Mo."

Shen Yu followed Mo Lin through several suspended corridors and passed several pavilions before finally arriving at an extremely tall pavilion.

This pavilion has green tiles and red eaves, with tiered terraces and a floor paved with bluestone slabs. A wooden plaque hangs on the pavilion, with the three large characters "Dianxing Pavilion" engraved on it.

Shen Yu followed Mo Lin into the pavilion.

The lobby is spacious and bright, with a high dome that is inlaid with soft pearls that cast a gentle glow.

However, the furnishings inside the hall were extremely simple, with only a huge rosewood table placed in the center.

On the desk, there were piles of papers and documents, covering the entire table. Various jade slips, scrolls, and directories were stacked up like mountains, almost obscuring the figure behind the desk.

An old Taoist priest, dressed in a gray robe and somewhat unkempt, was bent over a desk, writing something on a jade scroll.

Hearing footsteps, he didn't even raise his head. Only after finishing writing did he put down his pen and sit up straight with a leisurely air.

By this time, Shen Yu and the other person had been waiting for a while.

Upon seeing this, Mo Lin quickly stepped forward and respectfully bowed. "Elder Jian, I am Mo Lin, and I have been ordered by Uncle Ning Qian to introduce the newly initiated Senior Brother Shen Yu to register."

......

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