A Mortal's Journey to Immortality: Starting as a Rogue Cultivator

The Crimson Trial has come to an end.

"hiss……"

Wang Li, who had just landed, gasped in pain.

What happened?

Unlike others who land smoothly with a somersault or gracefully descend while flying on a sword, Wang Li's landing method was unique and unparalleled. He crashed to the ground, rolling several times before finally managing to get up with great difficulty.

His performance undoubtedly drew ridicule from many Qi Refining stage disciples from various sects.

"Hey kid, what's going on with you?"

Although Uncle Chen's words were stern, his joy was undisguised: It's good that he can get out! At least, Grandfather's bet won't be lost!

That indirectly stopped the bleeding.

"Yeah, kid Wang, what happened to make you look so disheveled?"

It wasn't just Uncle Chen who realized the problem with the bet; Old Fifth Chen also reacted very quickly.

However, the two elders of the Chen family didn't ask a single question about the dead Wang Xiao and Xue Pan. This strange phenomenon deeply shocked Wang Li, and he suddenly felt a sense of shared sorrow for their deaths.

"What are you standing there for? Come here and see what you've got."

While Uncle Chen and Fatty Chen were quick to react, the first to realize what was happening were undoubtedly Old Ancestor Chen and Fuyunzi, the two people involved in the bet.

"Brother Fuyunzi, what did I just say? Don't be too happy yet!"

The outcome was reversed, and Chen Laozu was overjoyed, not to mention how upset Fuyunzi was.

"Your Valley is full of talented people, and with Brother Chen's excellent guidance, my defeat is not unjust."

The look in his eyes as he looked at Wang Li suddenly turned sinister for a moment.

Fu Yunzi was self-aware. From the beginning, he knew he had been tricked by the man surnamed Chen, so he felt somewhat uncertain. If it weren't for the fact that his own sect had promising disciples and had once genuinely been a step ahead of Huangfeng Valley, he wouldn't have dared to hope for anything.

But this "heartbreaking" behavior of giving him hope and then extinguishing it at the last moment really annoyed him.

"Why didn't they come out earlier or later? They had to wait until I was at my most triumphant moment to jump out. Damn it!"

This roar was echoing in my heart.

As a result, Wang Li, who was facing a Core Formation cultivator, was in trouble: already exhausted and very weak, he was inexplicably suppressed by the Core Formation aura and suffered a minor but unpleasant loss.

A sudden heat in my nose caused me to unconsciously let out a soft hum, and I almost collapsed to my knees with my legs giving way!

"Fellow Daoist, what is the meaning of this? Do you intend to bully a junior in the Qi Refining stage and make things difficult for him?"

Fortunately, Old Ancestor Chen stepped forward in time to block Fu Yunzi's dangerous gaze. At the same time, he coldly snorted to dispel the oppressive feeling around him, which allowed him to catch his breath, as if someone had grabbed his neck.

In that instant, his back was soaked again, and a bead of sweat slid down his cheek from his temple, making him look as if he had been pulled out of the water.

I was completely bewildered.

Who did he offend?

He's just quietly cultivating immortality!

"In front of a Core Formation cultivator, someone like me at the thirteenth level of Qi Refining is no better than an ant?"

Foundation building, I want to build my foundation!

Once I get back, I'll go and see Li Huayuan. Whether I try to "save the country through a roundabout way" or become his apprentice directly, I have to get that golden page as soon as possible!

He didn't want to be a bug that could be crushed by a high-level cultivator at any moment!

He hated this terrible feeling of not being able to control his own life and death!

"Misunderstanding, misunderstanding. I was just curious why this young friend with such good cultivation would be so weak."

Fu Yunzi is a man who cares about his reputation.

After being exposed by Old Master Chen, he realized that his behavior was inappropriate and quickly restrained his emotions.

Using the power of a Core Formation stage cultivator to suppress a Qi Refining stage disciple seems completely off; if people misunderstand this as him wanting to take revenge on a junior, wouldn't he lose face and disgrace the Qingxu Sect?

"Hmph, we never concern ourselves with the affairs of the younger generation within the forbidden area! As for the methods they used to collect the spiritual herbs and how they managed to escape safely, we, as elders, have never reprimanded them! What, fellow Daoist, are you planning to bring the grudges from the forbidden area outside and set a precedent?"

Old Master Chen's voice wasn't loud, but when it reached Fu Yunzi's ears, it was deafening, causing his expression to change drastically.

"Brother Dao, you are being too serious. I had absolutely no such intention."

Just kidding, he's not taking the blame for this.

"By the way, young friend, you'd better hurry up and show me what you've got, so I can understand why I lost so clearly."

It is rare to see a Core Formation cultivator give a "kind" smile to a Qi Refining junior.

Only one, only one, only one…

This is the greatest kindness that Fuyunzi can show.

A draw, he only asked for a draw, hoping the world would be a little kinder to him.

“Yes, yes, Senior Brother Chen, let’s see the final result of your bet.”

Even the other groups of onlookers couldn't wait any longer.

"Alright, young Wang, bring them all out."

Now that the elders have spoken, what else can Wang say?

He patted the storage bag at his waist...

"Two mature, century-old Blood Orchids, two Cold Tobacco Trees, two Heavenly Spirit Fruits over three hundred years old, one Jade Marrow Fungus over four hundred years old, one Purple Monkey Flower over four hundred years old, Warm Sunflower, Fire Dragon Grass..."

Wait, what's that?! There's actually an eight-hundred-year-old Purple Tang Immortal?! This age, this rare and precious medicine, is effective not only for those in the mid-to-late Foundation Establishment stage, but also for those in the mid-Core Formation stage!

The thirteen spiritual herbs in total drew envious glances from all the Qi Refining disciples present, and also made Old Ancestor Chen the focus of attention from Core Formation cultivators from various sects: a lucky fellow.

Because of Chen Laozu, he has been stuck at the initial bottleneck for decades, always just one step away from the middle stage.

However, if such elixirs are used as the main ingredient, and a few aged medicinal herbs are found to complement them, a batch of precious pills can be refined, and the medicinal power can be used to further enhance its effects.

"Good good!"

The surprise came so suddenly that even the reserved Old Master Chen almost burst into laughter.

"Fellow Daoist Fuyunzi, is there anything else you wish to say?"

Then the old Taoist took a deep breath: "Within two years, I will arrange for my disciples to deliver the talismans you need, Brother Dao."

"Fellow Daoist, you are straightforward."

"Walk."

Regardless, the old Taoist priest was unwilling to linger any longer in this sorrowful place.

The various teams also left one after another.

As a semi-host, Huangfeng Valley was naturally the last to leave.

After the various factions have gone far away.

"Congratulations, Grandfather!"

Although Uncle Chen was regretful that he had "worked in vain" because he did not see the spiritual herb he wanted, he was even happier that his grandfather was able to make further progress.

Chen Laowu was also all smiles.

"Alright, we'll talk about this when we get back."

Old Master Chen remained calm and composed:

"Wang Li, you have rendered a great service to our sect this time, and you have also won the bet for me. Both in terms of courtesy and etiquette, I should reward you handsomely! So, would you be willing to become my disciple in name only?"

Li Huayuan's approach is clearly not an isolated case.

This is probably considered a reward for the sect's Core Formation stage cultivators participating in such errands.

In any case, it's a win-win situation for both parties involved.

"Grandmaster, that..."

Normally, a Qi Refining stage disciple would never refuse such a good thing, but unexpectedly, Wang Li looked hesitant and very embarrassed.

"You don't want to?"

Old Master Chen raised an eyebrow.

Good heavens, is this going to ruin his path to immortality?!

"Young Wang, what foolish thing have you done?"

Uncle Chen's expression suddenly changed, and Old Man Chen's eyes sharpened.

"No, Grandmaster, and Uncle Chen, are you sure you haven't made a mistake?"

Eh?

What do you mean?

"Where's your spirit-smelling beast? I never said I handed over all the spirit herbs!"

Everyone: "..."

"Don't look at me like that. I'm also afraid of 'the tallest tree in the forest being felled by the wind,' and I'm afraid of attracting the attention of those experts. So I had no choice but to keep a few. Here, Uncle Chen, is this what you wanted?!"

Two of each of the two spiritual herbs, both around six hundred years old, are specifically designed for refining pills for the mid-to-late stages of Foundation Establishment. The finished pills are far more potent than common Foundation Establishment pills like the Qi Harmony Pill.

"Okay, okay, okay, okay..."

As Uncle Chen received the four spiritual herbs and gently stroked the veins of their leaves, he was moved to tears.

This constant ups and downs is too much for him, a middle-aged or elderly man.

To be honest, Wang Li didn't know if it was just his imagination, but he felt that after his attempts to hide his talents were noticed by those around him, their gazes became increasingly strange.

"By the way, how many spiritual herbs did each faction harvest this time?"

Wang Li only mentioned it out of curiosity, but it made the Qi Refining stage friends next to him look embarrassed.

"Huadaowu, thirteen trees; Tianquebao, eighteen trees; Lingshoushan, twenty-one trees; Qingxumen, twenty-three trees; Jujianmen, twenty-three trees; Yanyuezong, thirty-four trees; and our Huangfeng Valley has the most, thirty-five trees, no, thirty-nine trees!"

Wang Li: "..."

He understood why Fuyunzi had shown him such hostility: it was all because his teammates were unhelpful.