A Mortal’s Journey to Immortality: Wang Yu’s Rebirth as the Reincarnation Dao Ancestor - Chapter 148

Chapter 146 Junior Sister, cultivate diligently, your senior brother was just joking with you.

The recruitment by the Luo Yun Sect is different from that of the Seven Sects of Yue Kingdom.

The Seven Sects mainly recruited from cultivation families within Yue Kingdom,

and most of these families were affiliated with the Seven Sects.

The Luo Yun Sect, however, targets half of its recruits as independent cultivators.

Therefore, each recruitment drive attracts not only a large number of independent cultivators from within the sect, but also from nearby countries and even some promising young cultivators from small cultivation clans, all drawn by the Luo Yun Sect’s reputation. Especially after the Red Dust Fairy’s rise to fame, the Luo Yun Sect’s appeal rivals that of the Ancient Sword Sect, one of the Three Sects of Yunmeng.

This time, the sect is recruiting nearly a thousand disciples from cultivation families with three or more spiritual roots.

In addition, it will recruit several hundred qualified independent cultivators.

The Luo Yun Sect has ten Foundation Establishment stage managers in charge of recruitment, along with dozens of Qi Refining stage elites assisting.

“All cultivators with Heavenly Spiritual Roots, regardless of cultivation level or age, please step forward…” a Foundation Establishment manager announced.

No one stepped forward.

“All cultivators with dual spiritual roots, special physiques, or unique spiritual roots, regardless of cultivation level, and under thirty years old, please step forward.”

The next moment, six or seven people emerged from the group of rogue cultivators.

This scene delighted the managers of the Falling Cloud Sect responsible for recruiting new members.

“Seven young friends, please proceed to the right.”

These seven had already passed the threshold, their aptitude assessment considered satisfactory.

Next, the Heart-Testing Talisman would be used to examine their hearts, eliminating any potential threats.

“Cultivators with dual spiritual roots, special physiques, or unique spiritual roots, over thirty years old, but with a cultivation level above the seventh level of Qi Refining, please step forward,”

the Foundation Establishment manager announced.

Four more people stepped out from the crowd.

“Good, good, good…”

This was the elite part of the rogue cultivators.

Compared to the grand recruitment of new members ten years ago, this time, three more young geniuses had emerged.

If this were a hundred or so years ago, during each major event held every ten years, it would be considered good if three or four promising talents emerged from the independent cultivators. It’s nothing like now, where several, even dozens, of people frequently participate. Furthermore, in the past, no more than two thousand independent cultivators would come to the sect to participate in the preliminary selections for each major event, but in recent years, three thousand have gathered to participate.

The sect is truly thriving and changing rapidly.

“The four of you, please take your seats on the right.”

The four were overjoyed.

“Thank you, seniors.”

“Hmm.”

At that moment, an elderly man with a few strands of gray hair stepped forward from the crowd and respectfully bowed to the Luo Yun Sect members.

“Seniors, although I am fifty-nine, I embarked on the path of immortality very late, only encountering cultivation at the age of fifty-two. Therefore, my cultivation level is currently only at the fifth level of Qi Refining.”

His expression was earnest and pleading.

“Seniors, could you please give me a chance to join the Luo Yun Sect?”

“Is your spiritual root a Heavenly Spiritual Root?”

“I have a Wind Spiritual Root, a type of extraordinary spiritual root.”

A Wind Spiritual Root?

“What a pity.”

The Foundation Establishment stage members of the Luo Yun Sect shook their heads regretfully.

For the Qi Refining stage, this age meant missing the optimal golden time for cultivation and the best opportunity for Foundation Establishment.

If it were ten years earlier, they would have accepted him without hesitation.

But now…

“Alas, such a talented individual with a unique spiritual root, yet he started cultivating too late, only reaching the fifth level of Qi Refining at fifty-nine years old…”

a Foundation Establishment stage manager sighed.

“Yes, he seems to have a long lifespan ahead, but unfortunately, too many impurities have accumulated in his body. And those impurities hinder cultivation, causing a significant decrease in the efficiency of daily cultivation.”

This is the reason why it took a dignified genius with a wind spiritual root seven years to reach the fifth level of Qi Refining.

“Given his current physical condition, and without the help of a master, his cultivation speed won’t be much better than that of an ordinary cultivator with three spiritual roots. If he wants to cultivate to the perfection of Qi Refining, it will take him at least another ten or twenty years after entering the sect. This is under the premise of having the assistance of the spiritual veins of my Yunmeng Mountain.”

The more someone thought about it, the more regretful they felt.

“Tsk tsk, he’s finished.”

“Yeah, even if he reaches the eleventh or twelfth level of Qi Refining, he’ll probably be almost eighty by then. Reaching Foundation Establishment at eighty is incredibly difficult. After all, the targeted potency of Foundation Establishment Pills is limited. By then, not only will one pill not be enough, but even two or three might not be enough. Where would the sect find a way to provide him with three or four Foundation Establishment Pills in succession?”

Considering that Foundation Establishment Pills have become abundant in the market after the invasion of the righteous and demonic forces, and the three sects of Yunmeng Mountain are high-production areas for them, even so, the internal value of three Foundation Establishment Pills is still several thousand spirit stones.

Four would be nearly ten thousand.

What expert or family would be willing to spend such a price to support an “outdated” genius who is extremely difficult to reach Foundation Establishment?

And even if he manages to reach Foundation Establishment by chance, at eighty years old, it will be incredibly difficult to form a Core.

Ninety-nine percent of those in their eighties or nineties who are in the late stages of Foundation Establishment feel that they will never be able to form a Core in their lifetime, and instead give up their personal dreams to pave the way for their family’s descendants. The path to immortality for this man is incredibly difficult!

“Then, should we still accept him as a disciple?”

“Let’s follow the rules.”

“Hmm, forget it.”

After discussing it, the ten stewards unanimously agreed:

“Old sir, your will to cultivate is extremely firm. If you persevere, you will surely achieve great things. We all have high hopes for you.”

Upon hearing this, the old man’s eyes lit up, and he felt a small surge of excitement.

But…

“The sect’s rules for recruiting disciples are there, and we cannot break them…”

The implication was clear.

“This…”

One second it was heaven, the sun shining brightly. The next second it was the bottom of a valley, dark clouds gathering.

The old man’s initial surge of confidence vanished instantly.

He even exuded the aura of someone about to die.

This caused a chorus of sighs of regret to rise and fall.

This old man with the wind spirit root was truly a pity.

How wonderful it would be if he could have the spirit root for himself!

But just then…

The old man took a deep breath, his spirits lifted, and then respectfully bowed to the ten Foundation Establishment stage managers of the Falling Cloud Sect:

“Thank you, seniors. I will not be discouraged or give up. I firmly believe that where there’s a will, there’s a way.”

The future is uncertain; anyone can be a dark horse.

His life had been dedicated to the path of immortality.

The Ancient Sword Sect didn’t want him, the exclusive Hundred Crafts Academy looked down on him, and even the Falling Cloud Sect, with its lowest entry requirements, rejected him. But he never rejected himself.

“I refuse to believe it…”

the old man gritted his teeth, tears welling in his eyes.

Suddenly, one of the Foundation Establishment stage managers of the Falling Cloud Sect spoke up:

“Fellow Daoist, if you can cultivate to the tenth level of Qi Refining in ten years, regardless of your age, you can join the sect! Or, you can master a miscellaneous immortal cultivation skill.”

Their Falling Cloud Sect was that lenient in its recruitment.

“Thank you, seniors, thank you, seniors.”

The old man turned around and bowed deeply.

The surrounding cultivators sighed in admiration.

“What an old man! What a fine Luo Yun Sect…”

Han Li, who appeared unremarkable in the crowd, narrowed his eyes thoughtfully.

“From now on, anyone who cultivates the basic techniques to the tenth level can join the sect! Regardless of whether you have three spiritual roots or pseudo-spiritual roots! As long as your cultivation reaches the tenth level of Qi Refining,” another Foundation Establishment manager announced.

Many rogue cultivators’ eyes lit up upon hearing this.

This was truly the good news that all rogue cultivators should celebrate.

Sure enough, hundreds of rogue cultivators immediately stepped out from the crowd, excitedly joining the Luo Yun Sect. Some cultivators even scurried about.

Their thinking was simple:

it’s good to have a powerful sect to rely on.

And indeed, it was true.

The difference between having a sect and not having one in terms of access to cultivation resources was enormous.

“Fellow Daoists at the eighth level of Qi Refining or above who possess a special skill, whether it’s mastering talisman-making, weapon forging, or tending spiritual herbs, as long as you have a skill, you can go to the Testing Hall to undergo the relevant assessment. Those who pass the test will also become disciples of our sect.”

This is another major reason why various independent cultivators are willing to come and join us.

Many independent cultivators without connections but with a skill come for this reason.

Sure enough, more than a dozen people stepped forward. If

this were the Ancient Sword Sect or the Hundred Crafts Academy, these people wouldn’t even meet the entry standards.

Only the Falling Cloud Sect leans towards education for all.

After a joyous initiation celebration, Han Li successfully entered the sect.

Externally, he presented himself as a tenth-level Qi Refining cultivator with a special skill. He met the requirements in both aspects, but wasn’t particularly outstanding.

Because of his rich experience in tending spiritual herbs and medicines, he was immediately assigned to the sect’s No. 4 Herb Garden.

Before this, he had also undergone the Heart-Questioning Talisman test.

However, those mid-level talismans were only useful against Foundation Establishment cultivators; against someone at the late Core Formation stage, they were far too weak.

“Eh? A rogue cultivator with four pseudo-spiritual roots has actually reached the tenth level of Qi Refining? Do you have any special skills?”

“This disciple is skilled at tending spiritual herbs and also knows a bit of alchemy.”

“I see, no wonder.”

It seems his family has fallen on hard times.

His ancestors were probably once wealthy.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have learned low-level alchemy, and thus possess the ability to refine low-level pills to earn a living.

“It’s alright, a weak spiritual root is fine. Cultivate diligently, improve your alchemy skills, there are many paths to immortality. As long as you save up more spirit stones, you can buy enough Foundation Establishment pills to build your foundation.”

The leading Foundation Establishment cultivator said kindly.

“Yes, Uncle-Master, this disciple will remember.”

This Luoyun Sect is indeed different from other sects.

After joining the sect, he had his avatar spare some time to tend to the low-grade spiritual herbs in the herb field, while simultaneously gathering information about Song Yu.

Actually,

he didn’t need to be overly cautious in gathering information; it would reach his ears through various gossip channels.

The truth was, Song Yu was far too famous in the Luo Yun Sect and even throughout the three sects of Yunmeng Mountain. A genius with

a Heavenly Spiritual Root, a talent that appeared only once every two hundred years.

Dressed in a long, flowing blue-white dress, her hair flowing gracefully, she possessed an ethereal and otherworldly aura, and also a special secret technique that allowed her to subtly perceive the minds of others: the “Clear Insight Technique.”

Unless one’s cultivation and spiritual sense were overwhelmingly superior to hers, even the most skillful disguise would be detected by her.

Even before forming her core, she was already the most beautiful woman in the Luo Yun Sect, and perhaps even the most beautiful woman among the three sects of Yunmeng Mountain.

After forming her core, she would be known as the “White Phoenix Fairy.”

Which male cultivator in the sect wouldn’t admire such a fairy-like woman, possessing unparalleled talent, extraordinary beauty, and a gentle, almost otherworldly nature?

Even many female cultivators in the sect were deeply amazed by this woman surnamed Song.

“Song Yu hasn’t yet formed her core, but she has already become a disciple of Master Hong Fu, making her my sixth junior sister.”

The fifth junior sister is another female cultivator who has formed her core.

She is also a direct descendant of Master Mu Li.

“Two more junior sisters?”

The Hongying Mountain lineage is becoming increasingly dominated by women.

“This sixth junior sister, although she has become a disciple, did not give the Spirit-Stabilizing Pill she obtained thirty years ago as a gift. Or rather, Master Hong Fu didn’t need it at all.”

In other words, there’s a 99% chance that the Spirit-Stabilizing Pill obtained by the first-place winner of the Three Sects Sword Trial Tournament is still in this junior sister’s hands.

“And the junior sister goes down the mountain with another core-forming cultivator from the Song family every three to five years to return to the Song family’s territory a thousand miles away.”

This is a great opportunity to ambush her from behind.

“Junior sister, I’m sorry, I will make it up to you in the future.”

Taking action within the sect is unrealistic.

With three Nascent Soul cultivators   stationed there, if anyone reacted and sent out a distress signal, his joke wouldn’t be funny at all.

Taking action outside the mountain gate would be much safer.

He could just ambush them and leave. Even if the three Nascent Soul cultivators from the Falling Cloud Sect reacted, they wouldn’t be able to catch him.   Moreover, after this incident, the Falling Cloud Sect would definitely strengthen its vigilance in certain areas, which was a great thing.   …   The Han family was unharmed.   The Li family had descendants.   And he had encountered descendants with spiritual roots in both.   Master Hong Fu had reached the Nascent Soul stage.   Dong Xuan’er had reached the Core stage.   The fact that those he cared about were doing well made him even more relaxed and in a good mood.   In this state of mind, more than two years passed in a flash.   Han Li, who had secretly gone out several times to dig escape routes, finally mastered the fourth level of the Great Evolution Technique, and finally waited for Song Yu, a Pseudo-Core stage cultivator, and another Song family female cultivator in the early Core stage to return to the Song family territory.   A thousand miles away was the Song family, a major cultivation clan that relied entirely on the Falling Cloud Sect for its survival.   The family’s ancestral lands were located on a branch of the Wanli Yunmeng Mountain Range.   There were at least seventy or eighty similar Core Formation stage families among the three major sects, if not a hundred.   On this day   , nearly a thousand miles from the Luoyun Sect’s mountain gate, and only three or four hundred miles from the Song family’s home in the desolate mountains, two women were chatting and laughing on a flying boat in mid-air.   The next moment, a Qiankun Tower burst forth from the ground, appearing out of thin air and covering an area of several miles.   Because the activation energy of the talisman was initially concealed by the fragment of the silk handkerchief magic weapon, once   fully activated and unleashed, it was far beyond the reaction time of an early Core Formation   cultivator. At the same time, a divine sense comparable to a Nascent Soul cultivator surged forth, causing the Core Formation female cultivator’s expression to change drastically, and causing Song Yu to experience a moment of mental confusion and physical stiffness, feeling immense pressure.   ”Not good!”   ”Enemy attack!”   The instant the pressure acted on the two women, a talisman on Song Yu’s body spontaneously activated, forming a solid light screen.   It was a high-level talisman,   bestowed by a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Luoyun Sect.   This shows how highly valued and cherished the Heavenly Spiritual Root is.   However,   while the high-level defensive talisman could protect the two women, it couldn’t change their terrible condition of being slowed down by the force field.   ”Go!”   More than twenty high-level Gold-Eating Insects flew out, pouncing on the thick defensive light barrier and frantically gnawing and devouring it:   ”Quick!”   He didn’t have much time.   Fortunately, he had Gold-Eating Insects, and they were comparable to high-level demonic beasts. Energy body defenses, including the array light barrier of the Forbidden Array and the defensive light barrier of the Ancient Forbidden Array, were all easy prey in front of the Gold-Eating Insects, which devour everything. The rootless energy protection provided by the high-level defensive talisman was naturally even less effective.   Otherwise, he probably wouldn’t have been able to deal with the two women in a short time.   Just like the original body in the late Core Formation stage was completely helpless against the immobile “Noble Bird” Feng Xi.   Unfortunately,   they encountered Han Li.   They encountered a large number of semi-mature Gold-Eating Insects.   Inside the defensive light barrier, the two women were momentarily shocked when they were first attacked.   The activation of the high-level talisman on Song Yu’s body sent a chill down the spines of the two women.   ’Could the attacker be a Nascent Soul cultivator?’   A Nascent Soul ancestor, bullying the weak like this?   Have they no shame?   Fortunately, the high-level defensive talisman blocked most of the Qiankun Tower’s attack, otherwise they would have been powerless to resist. And thankfully, the talisman bought them time to react; otherwise, the Core Formation cultivator wouldn’t have had time to crush the communication jade slip in her hand to send a distress signal.   ”Wait, isn’t the attacking magic weapon the renowned Qiankun Tower of the Hundred Crafts Academy?”   the Core Formation cultivator thought in fear.   ”Could it be… could it be that the one attacking us is a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Hundred Crafts Academy?”   ”But why…?”   Aren’t they afraid of a war between the two sects?   Before the two women could sort out their thoughts, the originally thick defensive light barrier suddenly dimmed. The radiance emitted by the high-level talisman visibly weakened and extinguished.   This scene caused the two women’s pupils to contract sharply, their faces turning deathly pale, and their hearts filled with dread:   ”This…this is impossible!”   This was a high-level talisman!   Comparable to the defensive measures of a Nascent Soul cultivator!   How could these insects break through it?   Nearly a thousand miles away, the Nascent Soul ancestors of the Falling Cloud Sect, who had already received the distress signal, roared in unison and immediately flew out of their respective caves:   ”How dare you!”   Hundreds of miles away, the Song family’s territory also reacted, with streaks of light taking flight.   However,   Han Li’s actions were even faster. Or   rather, the actions of the more than twenty high-level Gold-Eating Insects were even faster.   Just as the Nascent Soul cultivator took off from the Falling Cloud Sect, the high-level defensive talisman was devoured by the swarm of Gold-Eating Insects, leaving it riddled with holes. The   natal magic treasures of the clan elders were completely ineffective against these golden monsters.   ”What…what kind of spirit insects are these?”   Upon seeing this, the two women turned pale, their faces devoid of any color.   It was at this moment…   A voice transmission reached Song Yu’s ear:   ”Throw out the Spirit-Stabilizing Pill to save you two from suffering.”   Huh?   Song Yu was stunned for a moment.   What was going on?   Taking such a great risk just for that one Spirit-Stabilizing Pill in her hand? How could this senior be so… stingy?   ”Quick!”   ”Oh, okay, thank you, senior, please wait a moment.”   Song Yu valued her life highly.   She had a bright future ahead of her and didn’t want to perish here and now.   This person had already broken through the high-level defensive talisman; killing them wouldn’t have been difficult, yet all they wanted was a Spirit-Stabilizing Pill, with no intention of harming them? Could there be better news?

How could she be so ungrateful?

Naturally, she wouldn’t dare to feign anger and provoke this desperate scoundrel.

Otherwise, if the man opposite her became enraged and no longer held back, she wouldn’t have a second high-level defensive talisman. Meanwhile,

Han Li

took the bottle containing the Spirit-Stabilizing Pill, opened it, sniffed it, and immediately nodded and smiled with satisfaction.

He then took out a storage bag and tossed it to the even more stunned Song Yu.

“Junior Sister, cultivate diligently. We’ll meet again someday. I was just joking with you. This storage bag is a gift from your senior brother. I’ll definitely find a way to repay you with a Spirit-Stabilizing Pill later…”

His voice reached the beautiful young woman’s ears.

Immediately, he nimbly disappeared underground, escaping through one of the underground secret passages over a hundred feet deep.

He was outta here.

This place was no place to linger.

Song Yu, who received the storage bag: “…”

The Song family’s Core Formation female cultivator, watching Song Yu receive the storage bag: “…”

Who is this person?

Both of them were completely bewildered.

“Call me Junior Sister…”

“It’s that undisguised male voice again…”

“Wait, could it be that… Fourth Senior Brother who disappeared for so many years?”

Hearing the secret transmission, Song Yu was even more shocked:

the cultivation aura that Fourth Senior Brother had just revealed was indeed not yet at the Nascent Soul stage, but it was not much weaker than those Nascent Soul old monsters.

But, how could this be?

Just a hundred or so breaths after Han Li’s tactical retreat, three incredibly fast streaks of light flew in from the direction of Luo Yun Sect.

The leader, a female cultivator in a red palace dress, was the first to arrive, wielding a long sword, exuding a murderous aura and astonishing spirit.

“Master, Senior Uncle Cheng, Senior Uncle Lü.”

Song Yu, in a blue and white dress, hurriedly bowed.

The Nascent Soul cultivators of the Song family also bowed.

“Where are they? Who forced you to use the distress talisman? How dare you so blatantly bully our disciples near the Luo Yun Sect’s mountain gate, you really have guts.”

Fairy Hong Fu coldly glanced at the chaotic passage below with escape traces.

It wasn’t that she didn’t want to pursue, but the underground passages in this area were like a spider web, and the traces left by the escape were too deliberate, indicating that the other party had made thorough preparations beforehand. A hasty pursuit would be too reckless.

“Master, shall we go back to the mountain and talk about it?”

Song Yu hesitated ,

her expression quite strange .

“Don’t worry, no matter who the other party is, I will stand up for you. Even if he is a Nascent Soul cultivator, I will draw my sword and demand an explanation.”

Master Hong Fu was still furious.

“Master, let’s go back to the sect and talk about it.”

The girl bit her lip lightly.

It was truly difficult to speak in public.

Those around noticed her unease and didn’t press the matter further.

After deriving some abstract conclusion from the girl, Master Hong Fu fell silent.

The two Nascent Soul elders of the Luo Yun Sect exchanged a glance, their expressions incredibly strange.

What did Song Yu mean?

Was the one who attacked earlier perhaps the fourth disciple of Junior Sister Hong Fu?

And someone Huang Feng Valley disdained?

Upon seeing the contents of the storage bag, the three Nascent Soul cultivators all twitched their eyelids.

Cheng Tiankun: “Good heavens!”

Lü Luo: “What a generous gift!”

Hong Fu: It seems like that brat’s style…

it feels familiar.

It’s highly likely that it really is her fourth disciple who likes to disappear.

Three high-grade spirit stones…

six high-level demon cores and related pill formulas and spirit herbs…

several bottles of pills that aid in Core Formation cultivation…

and three portions of pills that aid in Core Formation…

three thousand mid-grade spirit stones!

This generous gift couldn’t possibly be given by an outsider.

“Junior Sister Hong Fu, do you have such a talented and generous disciple under your command?”

“How could Old Ghost Linghu bear to let you all go?”

Number 27 is recovering more quickly, Number 26 is still very busy. There are follow-up matters to handle.

(End of Chapter)