Immortality begins with upgrading buildings

Chapter 118 Master Xu's Master

Thousand Machine Island has few buildings, but they are extremely large.

The hall in particular, which is responsible for receiving and assigning tasks to disciples in the Qi Refining stage, is incredibly large.

When Ji Yuan and his three companions entered, they saw a vast number of people. Some were looking at the various tasks projected onto the wall by the array, while others were discussing matters with their fellow Daoists.

Someone accepted the task and left in a hurry.

Some people had just returned from outside after completing their missions.

Some of those who came this time were beaming with joy, while others looked sorrowful.

This truly reflects the myriad aspects of human life.

Ji Yuan had come here once before, but he only glanced at the tasks on the wall before leaving without looking at them closely. Moreover, there were some things he couldn't understand.

Han Feiyu led Ji Yuan and the other two to a wall on the south side, pointing to the lines of text on it and saying:

"The missions of the Thousand Machine Hall are divided into four levels: A, B, C, and D. Level D missions are the simplest and have no danger at all, but the rewards are also the smallest, with some missions yielding less than ten merit points."

"Like that..."

"[Level D Quest: Requires a mid-stage Tier 1 alchemist as an assistant]"

[Task Duration: 1 days]

[Task Reward: 5 Merit Points]

Indeed, it's simple... Ji Yuan thought to himself.

"The Class C missions are a bit more difficult, but as long as you perform normally, there's no life-or-death crisis."

"Be careful when you get to a Rank B mission. A mistake in one of these missions could be fatal, even for a Qi Refining Peak cultivator."

"I wouldn't recommend Rank A missions. While the rewards are indeed generous, even those at the peak of Qi Refining will face a near-death experience."

"Look at that."

Han Feiyu pointed to the top of the wall in front of him.

Ji Yuan had noticed that line long ago.

"【Level A Mission: Kill a Yunshan person in the early stage of Foundation Establishment.】"

[Task duration: Half a month]

[Task Rewards: 1 Foundation Establishment Pill (One Pattern), 1000 Merit Points]

The task is simple and straightforward, but placing it in the Qi Refining stage's task hall is a bit ahead of its time. This task should be placed in the Foundation Establishment stage's task hall.

But the rewards are truly generous; 1000 merit points are one thing, but there are also Foundation Establishment Pills.

"In the early stages, I suggest you take on some D-level and C-level missions to practice. Also, don't rush to accept some C-level missions. It's best to understand the mission details beforehand. For example, if the mission requires you to go to Hongjia Village, the cultivators there are extremely xenophobic. You'll have to find someone from the village to take you in to make things easier."

Han Feiyu explained everything in great detail, no matter how small.

"Any mission with a red dot in front of it means you can accept it repeatedly. Once you accept such a mission, you have to be wary of our fellow disciples from the Water Dragon Sect. Some of them may have accepted the same mission as you, so be careful of them trying to cheat you."

Ji Yuan nodded, while also carefully examining the document himself.

He soon saw the task he wanted...

Submitting one Tier 1 superior talisman or one Tier 1 superior elixir will earn you 10 merit points.

You can submit a maximum of 10 applications per year.

Clearly, this is the Water Dragon Sect's way of showing care for certain pay-to-win players... Ji Yuan declares, "I am the one who is truly talented!"

Dong Qian and Du Wanyi were also watching when they suddenly seemed to see something. They huddled together and whispered to each other for a while before rushing over to the Thousand Machine Hall's on-duty cultivator. After a few words, they returned happily.

"What kind of mission did they accept, and why are they hiding it from us?"

Han Feiyu laughed heartily.

"You definitely won't be interested."

Dong Qian covered her mouth and chuckled. Compared to Du Wanyi, she did indeed have a more mature charm.

"It's mission number 108."

Du Wanyi said it directly.

Ji Yuan followed the gaze.

"【Level D Mission: Kong Yifei is going to propose to Bei Nianwei on Shanshui Island on February 30th. 18 more fellow Daoists are needed to act as spectators.】"

[Task duration: Half a day.]

[Mission Reward: 2 Merit Points]

The person who posted this task... is quite the genius.

After some casual conversation, the four of them parted ways.

Ji Yuan made an excuse to go to Sifang Island and left alone. After circling around, he returned to Qianji Island and went to the on-duty cultivator, where he submitted 10 first-grade high-quality talismans.

In this way, this year's merit point target will be achieved.

Besides needing to accumulate 100 merit points each year, merit points can also be used as spirit stones to purchase supplies from the Water Dragon Sect.

He then went to the adjacent hall to experience the purchasing power of the merit points... It was alright, one merit point was equivalent to two low-grade spirit stones.

If we calculate it this way, Ji Yuan submitting one high-grade talisman is equivalent to 20 low-grade spirit stones.

If he were to sell it outside, it would fetch about 20-30 low-grade spirit stones.

But the difference is... these merit points are valuable!

Many items not available in the Treasure Pavilion, such as the Thousand-Year Green Orchid Grass, and even Foundation Establishment Pills, can be exchanged for with merit points.

It's just that the price is extremely high. Ji Yuan counted the long string of zeros after the Foundation Establishment Pill and gave up on his plan to grind the quest.

Even if you don't exchange merit points for Foundation Establishment Pills, but instead use them to exchange for other magic weapons and pills, it's still extremely worthwhile.

It's no wonder that so many cultivators come to Thousand Machine Island every day. After all, if they come here to accept missions and then go out to do other things, they can basically get double the rewards.

If you're getting resources for free, why not take advantage of them?

Ji Yuan didn't find a mission he liked and didn't want to venture out, so he had no choice but to leave and return to his cave on Chulong Island.

Ji Yuan spent a few days cultivating at home and also tried his hand at refining a high-grade Spirit Gathering Pill.

He didn't feel relieved until he successfully won the first one.

[Enlightenment Room] is still doing a great job, not letting themselves down.

Having made some progress in his cultivation, and seeing that it was almost time, Ji Yuan prepared to go find Old Master Xu and inquire about Li Changhe.

As a Qi Refining cultivator, Old Master Xu naturally also lived on this Hatchling Dragon Island.

However, it was not in District D where Ji Yuan was located, but in Room 78 of District B.

Early that morning.

Ji Yuan wandered around in this area for a while before finally finding the location of house number seventy-eight.

It looked no different from the courtyard where Ji Yuan lived. He went up and knocked on the door, and then used his spiritual energy to lightly touch the restriction. In this way, as long as Xu Fugui was at home and not cultivating, he could sense it.

After a few breaths, the door opened.

"Who could it be so early in the morning?"

The old man with the pipe peeked out from behind the door first, followed by Old Master Xu.

"Oh, what a rare guest! I thought you wouldn't recognize me now that you've entered the Water Dragon Sect."

Although that's what Old Master Xu said.

But the look in his eyes when he looked at Ji Yuan was one of great satisfaction. To him, Ji Yuan was someone he had watched grow up.

Seeing Ji Yuan join the Water Dragon Sect now fills Xu Fugui with pride.

"Alright, come in and talk."

Xu Fugui made way for Ji Yuan, who then followed him into the house.

Ji Yuan had two peach trees planted in his front yard, while Xu Fugui had several bamboo stalks planted in his front yard. It was springtime, the time when bamboo shoots were growing.

Several pointed buds sprouted in the yard.

"I'll stir-fry these bamboo shoots into a snack to go with my drinks later, and the two of us can have a bit."

Xu Fugui said with a smile.

Ji Yuan wasn't in a hurry, so he agreed, but drinking and eating so early in the morning... it was quite a rare experience.

Xu Fugui was a man of action; in no time, he dug up a bamboo shoot, stir-fried two plates of cured monster meat, and even managed to get some peanuts.

The two sat in the pavilion in the backyard, drinking and chatting.

Ji Yuan also took the opportunity to ask his own question.

"Grandpa Xu, why can't I even get started with the third level of the 'Canglang Sword Manual,' the Nine Layers of Waves?"

This was precisely the problem that had been troubling Ji Yuan. He felt that his talent was not bad, and he had even mastered the third level of the "Water Drop Finger" technique.

However, Jiudielang has never found the trick.

Xu Fugui took a sip of his drink and chuckled, "Now you can only make six stacks, right? You can't make the remaining three."

Ji Yuan was stunned.

"Exactly."

It seems that Grandpa Xu really does know why.

"It's simple. You need to be at the peak of Qi Refining to perform the Ninefold Technique. Otherwise, you won't have enough spiritual energy in your dantian to perform it."

"So that's how it is."

Ji Yuan received the answer and knew that it wasn't something he couldn't understand, so he was relieved.

"Come on, have a drink. Let me toast you."

"..."

We were full and satisfied.

Ji Yuancai then recounted how he had saved Li Changhe, and also showed the Ascension Token to Old Master Xu.

Xu Fugui, who was still half-asleep, immediately sobered up upon seeing the Ascension Order.

He looked at the opportunity before him with a somewhat complicated expression.

"Did you go to see Li Changhe?" Xu Fugui asked.

"Not yet... I'm still a bit far from Foundation Establishment, and there's nothing I need to trouble him with."

When facing Old Master Xu, Ji Yuan naturally told the truth.

This time, however, Xu Fugui remained silent for a long while before exhaling a breath of alcohol and slowly saying, "Since you're willing to tell me about this... then I won't lie to you. But this time, after all, it involves the Golden Core elders of the sect."

"I'm only telling you what I know; the final decision... that's up to you."

Xu Fugui spoke solemnly, which roused Ji Yuan's spirits.

"good!"

"You must know something about our Water Dragon Sect... Those in the Qi Refining stage are disciples, and those in the Foundation Establishment stage can be considered the backbone of the sect. At that time, they can open their own islands and become island lords. And when they reach the Golden Core stage, they can be considered the pillars of our Water Dragon Sect."

"Even among the towering white jade pillars, they are not so harmonious with each other."

Ji Yuan nodded slightly.

That's for sure. After all, wherever there are people, there's a world of conflict, let alone in a cultivation sect where there's a struggle for power.

"Our sect's Golden Core elders are divided into three factions: one led by the First Elder, one led by the Third Elder, and the other led by our sect leader. The First Elder and the Third Elder's factions are the most fiercely competitive."

"Li Changhe's father is Elder Li Gang from our sect; they belong to the faction of the Grand Elder."

Ji Yuan nodded, seemingly understanding only a little. "So if I get too close to Senior Li Changhe, I'll be targeted by the Third Elder's people?"

"No, if you get close to Li Changhe, you'll definitely get the Li family's help. Li Changhe said he can give you Foundation Establishment Pills, but how you choose is up to you."

Xu Fugui exhaled a puff of smoke, offering no direct advice.

Ji Yuan hummed in agreement.

Just as Old Master Xu said, there are advantages to siding with the Li family, but there might also be disadvantages... That's how it is when you choose sides.

"I haven't even reached the peak of Qi Refining yet. Surely the Third Elder wouldn't stoop so low as to target me?"

"They won't, but some cultivators who want to join the Third Elder's side but haven't been recruited yet... they're worried about not having a pledge of allegiance."

"That's true."

As Ji Yuan spoke, he already had his answer in his heart.

As for Li Changhe, things remain the same: neither getting too close nor too distant... If something unavoidable comes up, you can ask him for help.

Otherwise, I'll just wait until I'm ready to establish my foundation, and then ask him for a few Foundation Establishment Pills.

It's worth using this favor for the sake of foundation building...

"Alright, if you don't have anything else to do later, I'll take you to see someone."

Grandpa Xu tapped his pipe on the sole of his shoe, stood up, and said.

"It's nothing." Ji Yuan stood up and asked, "Who are you going to see? Grandpa Xu, you've told me several times already."

"Who are you seeing...?"

Xu Fugui squinted and smiled, "Go see my master."

(End of this chapter)