A Mortal's Journey to Immortality

"This is Zhou Ping, the new disciple I brought back this time. Here, this is your Uncle Li. From now on, he will be the one in charge here in the Dao Asking Pavilion."

After Yuan Zhengze took his seat, he raised his hand and introduced himself to the two of them.

"Junior Zhou Ping greets Senior Uncle Li."

Following Yuan Zhengze's direction, Zhou Ping bowed to the man in the blue robe and then stood respectfully to the side.

Li Qiming smiled and looked him over, then turned to Yuan Zhengze and asked curiously,

"Senior brother, which family does this young friend Zhou belong to? I don't recall any family that is affiliated with our sect and has the surname Zhou."

Li Qiming has been in charge of Jingxin Peak for many years, so he naturally knows all the families and disciples inside and out.

There is still some time before the Azure Lotus Profound Sect recruits new disciples. Those who join the sect at this crucial juncture are naturally regarded as direct descendants of various families.

"Junior Nephew Zhou is not a member of our family; he joined our sect by bringing with him the Five Mysterious Tokens."

Seeing that the other party had misunderstood, Yuan Zhengze explained.

"The Five Profound Tokens?! So that's how it is. No wonder someone with such cultivation could become a disciple of my Azure Lotus Sect..."

Upon hearing the Five Profound Decree, Li Qiming seemed to suddenly understand, but his words caused Zhou Ping, who was standing beside him, to twitch his eyebrows in slight embarrassment.

It seems that his cultivation level is not bad among rogue cultivators, but it is not enough for the Azure Lotus Profound Sect.

The various sects he had met in the past two days all showed a hint of disdain in their eyes upon seeing him, suggesting that they looked down on his cultivation level of the fourth level of Qi Refining.

"Young friend Zhou's cultivation level is indeed a bit low, but with the Five Profound Token as proof, everything is much easier to discuss."

Li Qiming flicked his fingers, and a communication talisman flew out of his hand, heading straight for a courtyard outside the Daoist Pavilion.

"Senior brother, I'll send someone to handle the entry procedures right away. You don't need to trouble us with the rest. Let's go have a drink!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Zhengze shook his head with a wry smile and sighed.

"Let it go this time. I've been back in the sect for two days now. If you count the days, Guiyuan Pavilion has been unattended for quite some time. Just now, my senior brother, the sect leader, reminded me to return as soon as possible."

"Well... since Senior Brother Sect Leader has spoken, I won't try to persuade you any further. Senior Brother, you can rest assured that this Five Profound Token is a rare item. This is the first time I've encountered one in all my years on duty. I will certainly act according to the rules and will not let Young Friend Zhou suffer any losses."

Seeing that Yuan Zhengze was preoccupied with his own affairs, Li Qiming said with a hint of regret.

Just then, a young man strode in from outside the Inquiry Pavilion. Upon seeing Li Qiming and Yuan Zhengze seated in the main hall, he bowed respectfully to each of them and said,

"Disciple Xiao Huaichuan greets his two senior uncles."

"Junior Nephew Xiao, this is Zhou Ping, a newly initiated disciple. His initiation matters will be handled by you. Please take him to complete the procedures."

Li Qiming glanced at Xiao Huaichuan who had entered and gave instructions.

"Disciple obeys!"

Xiao Huaichuan nodded in agreement, then looked at Zhou Ping beside him and continued,

"Junior Brother Zhou, please come with me."

Upon seeing this, Zhou Ping first bowed to Yuan Zhengze and Li Qiming, who were sitting steadily on the wooden chairs. After the two nodded slightly to him, he turned to Xiao Huaichuan, cupped his fists, and said...

"Please lead the way, Senior Brother Xiao."

.......

Xiao Huaichuan, Qi Refining Stage 7.

Zhou Ping stood on the other party's flying boat magic artifact, secretly sizing up the young man surnamed Xiao in front of him.

Judging from his age, he should be a few years older than him, around twenty years old.

To have cultivated to the seventh level of Qi Refining at such a young age, one's talent must be exceptional. Compared to Tongxin Daoren, who is also at the seventh level, the difference between the two is obvious.

As expected of one of the five great sects, the Azure Lotus Profound Sect can make many rogue cultivators feel ashamed even if any of its disciples at the Qi Refining stage are not made to stand out.

Xiao Huaichuan piloted the flying boat, carrying Zhou Ping for about the time it takes to brew a cup of tea. Although both were flying boats, their speed was undoubtedly much slower than Yuan Zhengze's.

It seems that the flying boats of the Azure Lotus Profound Sect are also divided into different grades, Zhou Ping pondered to himself.

The two landed on a low hillside on the outskirts of Jingxin Peak, where a dense cluster of buildings covered the hillside.

These buildings are different from the Asking Pavilion on Jingxin Peak, and appear somewhat simple. Zhou Ping glanced at them and found that most of them were empty, which was in stark contrast to the bustling scene on Jingxin Peak.

"Junior Brother Zhou, this will be your residence from now on. Don't be fooled by the fact that there aren't many people here now. It will be lively at night. The fellow disciples are all busy with sect missions and miscellaneous tasks, so few people stay in the residence during the day."

Xiao Huaichuan seemed to see Zhou Ping's confusion and explained as he led the way.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Xiao, for clearing up my doubts."

Zhou Ping was surprised, thinking to himself that this place was very similar to the Xinzhu Courtyard of the Qingzhu Sect.

Xiao Huaichuan led Zhou Ping through the dense buildings, and soon they arrived at a spacious courtyard.

"Senior Brother Wang, today we have a new junior brother who has joined the sect. Huai Chuan brought him here to receive his disciple identity token."

No sooner had Xiao Huaichuan finished speaking than several coughs were heard from inside the room. After the people inside calmed down, a sickly voice came out.

"Junior Brother Xiao, please bring your people in. I won't come out to greet you."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Huaichuan led Zhou Ping into the house, seemingly showing a slight sense of awe towards the people inside.

After entering the house, Zhou Jing stood beside Xiao Huaichuan, secretly observing the surroundings.

Meanwhile, a gaunt old man in the room slowly sat up from the bed, his eyes listlessly fixed on Xiao Huaichuan and Zhou Ping.

"Senior Brother Wang, this is Zhou Ping, a newly initiated disciple. Please distribute disciple tokens to him."

Xiao Huaichuan pointed to Zhou Ping beside him, clasped his hands in greeting to Senior Brother Wang, and said.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Wang."

Zhou Ping returned the greeting with a fist and palm salute, and said with a serious expression.

As soon as he entered the room, he noticed this senior brother surnamed Wang. Although he looked old and frail, the faint spiritual pressure emanating from him made Zhou Ping's heart tighten.

This aged Senior Brother Wang was actually a genuine peak Qi Refining stage cultivator. No wonder Xiao Huaichuan was a little reserved after arriving here; it turned out that the other party's cultivation had already stepped into the Foundation Establishment stage.

For some reason, in Zhou Ping's perception, the senior brother Wang in front of him was shrouded in a faint aura of decay, and even his blood and qi seemed somewhat depleted and dim, which was completely different from that of a normal cultivator.

"Junior Brother Xiao, I'm sorry to trouble you to make this trip again. This was originally my duty, but now the burden has fallen on your shoulders. I feel really guilty."

Senior Brother Wang sat up in bed, sighed, and returned Xiao Huaichuan's greeting.