Daily Divination From Market Rogue Cultivator To Immortal Venerable - Chapter 375

Chapter 375 Passing Nine Tests in a Row, Core Disciple (Seeking Further Subscriptions)

Cultivating Spirit Seeds.

Li Chang’an possessed a natural advantage.

Not only because he was a Wood Spirit Root cultivator, but also because he cultivated the Ancient Evergreen Technique.

He picked up a spirit seed, infused it with evergreen magic power, and activated the cultivation method.

Not long after,

a tender sprout appeared on the spirit seed.

“So fast?”

Surprise reappeared on the puppet’s face.

Although it was only a low-grade spirit seed, it shouldn’t have sprouted so quickly.

Next,

the surprise on his face deepened.

All the low-grade spirit seeds, in Li Chang’an’s hands, only needed a few breaths to sprout.

High-grade spirit seeds required more time, but it wasn’t difficult for him either.

A few hours later,

all one thousand spirit seeds had sprouted, and each one was full of vitality.

“Senior, I’ve finished.”

Li Chang’an bowed and took two steps back.

The puppet looked at him with disbelief, as if he were a freak.

“How could it be so smooth? Are you really a cultivator of this era? Could you be the one who revived the Ancient Wood Sect?”

“Senior, I am not a cultivator of the Ancient Wood Sect, but I have indeed obtained part of the Ancient Wood Sect’s inheritance.”

Li Chang’an spoke vaguely, not mentioning the Evergreen Technique.

The puppet nodded slightly: “That’s normal. But what kind of inheritance did you obtain? If it’s an ordinary inheritance, it’s not a big deal, but if it’s a core inheritance, you’d better find a backer as soon as possible.”

Li Chang’an asked in confusion: “Senior, why do you say that?”

“The nine ancient immortal sects are very protective of their own inheritances.”

The puppet patiently explained to him.

In ancient times, every leak of inheritance would cause a storm in the cultivation world.

The leak of the Pill Cauldron Sect’s pill formula was one of those storms.

“You are not a disciple of the Ancient Wood Sect. If you cultivate the core inheritance of the Ancient Wood Sect and are discovered by the people of the Ancient Wood Sect, then you will inevitably face a calamity.”

“Senior, the Ancient Wood Sect has already…”

“I know!”

The puppet interrupted Li Chang’an.

His expression was serious, and his tone was extremely solemn.

“You’re simply saying that the Ancient Wood Sect has been destroyed in the great calamity.”

“Yes.”

“I can tell you definitively that the Nine Great Sects have never been destroyed; they’ve merely gone into hiding. One day they will reappear in the cultivation world.”

“Senior, do you have any evidence?”

“No.”

The puppet indicated that he didn’t know where the Nine Great Sects were hiding.

For the past ninety thousand years,

he had never made contact with them.

But he firmly believed that such a powerful force as the Nine Great Sects could not possibly be destroyed overnight.

“Do you know that each sect has no fewer than ten Nascent Soul cultivators? Any one of them could cause a tremendous upheaval in the cultivation world…”

The puppet recounted the glory of the ancient cultivation world to Li Chang’an.

At the end,

he casually commented on the various forces in the current cultivation world.

“Even the so-called Great Qi Immortal Dynasty could stand for thirty thousand years thanks to the gifts of Nascent Soul cultivators, and the Nine Great Immortal Sects themselves have many Nascent Soul cultivators; how could they fall so easily?”

Therefore, he advised Li Chang’an to find a powerful backer.

Without a

powerful backer, once the nine immortal sects return, a rogue cultivator like him who secretly learned their core techniques will undoubtedly be among the first to be purged.

Hearing this, Li Chang’an pondered for a long time.

According to the puppet,

he would most likely face a Nascent Soul stage calamity in the future.

Now,

he could only hope that the nine immortal sects were truly destroyed, and not just hiding somewhere.

Just then, the puppet spoke again.

“You seem quite clever, how come you suddenly acted foolish?”

Li Chang’an was taken aback.

“Senior, what makes you say this?”

“If you want to contend with the Ancient Wood Sect, you need to find an equal force. What could be more suitable as your backer than my Pill Cauldron Sect?”

“I understand, thank you for your guidance, Senior!”

Li Chang’an immediately realized.

The puppet waved its hand.

“Continue the assessment. If you fail, it means you have no affinity with my Pill Cauldron Sect.”

“Yes!”

Soon,

Li Chang’an entered the third assessment.

This assessment tested his fire control techniques.

Li Chang’an’s fire control technique, learned from Liu Ying, a disciple of Dan Chengzi, and further refined by Dan Chengzi himself, was virtually flawless.

The puppet watched in amazement.

“You’re a born alchemist, it’s a pity you were born in this era. I wonder if you’ll live to see the return of the Nine Immortal Sects.”

After that ,

Li Chang’an passed the tests

one after another. The subsequent tests were almost entirely effortless for him.

He passed them with ease.

Not long after,

he arrived at the eighth test.

This test examined true alchemy skills.

Before him were five jade slips.

The puppet explained to him: “The first jade slip contains formulas for various first-tier pills, the second jade slip contains formulas for second-tier pills…”

Li Chang’an’s task was to select ten formulas he was proficient in from each jade slip.

Refining ten first-tier pills would qualify him to become a menial disciple.

To become a core disciple, he needed to refine ten fourth-tier pills, with three chances to try each one.

“However, you’re still young and only a quasi-fourth-level alchemist. I can be lenient with you. You just need to refine ten high-grade third-level pills.”

“Thank you, Senior!”

Li Chang’an naturally wouldn’t refuse.

He had only been a fourth-tier alchemist for a short time and wasn’t confident he could refine ten fourth-tier pills within three trial-and-error attempts.

However,

he had some doubts.

“Senior, according to what I know, not every disciple of the ancient Dan Ding Sect could refine pills. But judging from this assessment, even a menial disciple must be an alchemist.”

“Hmm, things are different now than in ancient times, so I naturally have to be stricter,”

the puppet informed

him. This disciple assessment was actually the Dan Ding Sect’s alchemist assessment.

In ancient times, the Dan Ding Sect didn’t train every disciple to be an alchemist; they also trained disciples in talisman making, array formations, weapon crafting, and other skills.

“Alright, enough talk, let’s refine the pills.”

“Yes.”

Li Chang’an immediately began refining pills.

With a thought, he took out the crimson fourth-tier high-grade pill furnace from his storage bag.

The puppet let out a soft “Eh,” and said, “Ah, Fellow Daoist Ling Yuan’s alchemy furnace. It seems you’ve received his inheritance, making you practically a half-disciple of my Pill Cauldron Sect.”

Hearing this, Li Chang’an’s heart stirred slightly.

The title “Fellow Daoist”

wasn’t something to be used casually.

From the beginning until now, he had always felt that this puppet’s intelligence was far too high, as if it were a true ancient being.

He didn’t say anything, suppressing his doubts, and began refining first-tier pills.

Soon,

ten first-tier pills were formed.

Li Chang’an successfully refined the second and third-tier pills as well.

Finally, following the puppet’s instructions, he refined ten high-grade third-tier pills.

He had passed this test.

But the puppet noticed something amiss and asked, “You’ve become a fourth-tier alchemist, haven’t you?”

“I can’t hide it from you, senior,”

Li Chang’an answered truthfully.

“This junior has indeed broken through to the fourth tier in alchemy, but the breakthrough is still recent.”

“Good lad, I didn’t expect I underestimated you!”

The puppet smiled, its tone changing again, becoming much lighter.

He patted Li Chang’an on the shoulder.

“Knowing how to hide your abilities, not arrogant or impatient, a promising young man.”

“Senior, have I passed this test?”

“Passed!”

The puppet waved its hand, and the surrounding scenery instantly changed.

In the blink of an eye,

the two found themselves in another secret chamber.

In this chamber, there were no jade slips or other testing items, only a wooden table and two futons.

The puppet pointed to the futons.

“Sit down.”

“Yes.”

Li Chang’an immediately sat down cross-legged.

The puppet sat opposite him and introduced him to the final test.

The final test was called the Heart-Testing Test, a test specially set up by the Dan Ding Sect to test the loyalty of its disciples.

However, Li Chang’an was not a true disciple of the Dan Ding Sect and didn’t know much about it.

The puppet didn’t ask about the Dan Ding Sect, but instead asked, “Do you know Senior Dan Chengzi?”

Li Chang’an nodded, “Yes.”

“What do you think of Senior Dan Chengzi?”

“Senior Dan Chengzi’s alchemy skills are unparalleled, reaching the pinnacle. I only regret that I cannot follow in his footsteps.”

Li Chang’an answered this question with ease.

He had already learned through Ling Yuan’s inheritance that Dan Chengzi was the faith of the entire Dan Ding Sect.

As long as he showed respect, there shouldn’t be any problems.

Sure enough,

the puppet smiled and said, “Not bad, you passed!”

“Senior, am I now considered a core disciple of the Dan Ding Sect?”

“In my eyes, you are.”

The puppet smiled and nodded.

He told Li Chang’an

that with Li Chang’an’s talent in alchemy, even in the ancient times when talents abounded, he could be considered a genius.

“If the Nine Immortal Sects return, and you face the calamity of the Ancient Wood Sect, you can seek refuge at the Pill Cauldron Sect. With your talent, and with my introduction, it won’t be difficult for you to become a disciple of a Nascent Soul cultivator.”

“Thank you, Senior.”

Li Chang’an thanked him again.

Then, he asked the question that had been bothering him.

“Senior, are you a true cultivator?”

“Of course!”

The puppet immediately explained his situation to Li Chang’an.

He was originally a Nascent Soul elder of the Pill Cauldron Sect.

When the calamity occurred, he had been away from the sect for many years on a mission, and he didn’t know the final fate of the Pill Cauldron Sect, but he firmly believed that the Pill Cauldron Sect still existed.

In order to wait for the return of the Pill Cauldron Sect, he was unwilling to go through the cycle of reincarnation, so he asked a Mo family puppeteer to extract his soul, refine it into a puppet spirit, and inject it into this fourth-grade high-quality puppet.

This practice would cause him to lose the opportunity for reincarnation.

But he didn’t care.

“Even if I reincarnate, so what? After reincarnation, I will no longer be myself. I only wish to live this life clearly and understand everything.”

“I see.”

Li Chang’an understood.

This senior’s condition was similar to that of the little azure dragon mechanical beast.

The little azure dragon possessed intelligence because a Mo family cultivator extracted the soul of a fourth-tier flood dragon and infused it.

After being refined into a puppet spirit, it could exist for an extremely long time, but it wasn’t immortal; it would eventually dissipate into the world.

Few people would choose this path.

Li Chang’an asked again, “Senior, deep within this secret realm, there is an Azure Dragon Palace. Is that palace a remnant of the Dan Ding Sect?”

“No, the Azure Dragon Palace existed long before the Nine Great Immortal Sects,”

the puppet slowly explained.

The Dan Ding Sect had explored that dragon palace.

However, many areas within it were inaccessible even to Nascent Soul cultivators.

Its existence was too ancient to be verified, but it was likely much older than the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty.

“You brat, do you perhaps intend to search for treasure in the Azure Dragon Palace? It’s fraught with danger; even Nascent Soul Heavenly Monarchs face the risk of death. I advise you to give up on that idea.”

“Don’t worry, senior, I’m not a reckless person.”

“Hmm, I can see that.”

Then…

The puppet shared some cultivation insights.

What Li Chang’an most wanted to know was naturally the method to overcome the inner demon tribulation.

However, even the nine great immortal sects didn’t have a good solution for the inner demon tribulation.

The puppet simply stated, “Some treasures can simulate the inner demon tribulation. If you have the opportunity in the future, you might be able to obtain such a treasure. If you can experience the inner demon tribulation once beforehand, your chances of overcoming it will be much greater.”

“Senior, could you tell me which treasures these are?”

“Sure.”

The puppet pointed a finger at Li Chang’an’s brow.

Instantly

, descriptions of dozens of treasures appeared in his mind.

These treasures were all of high quality, the lowest being a high-grade fourth rank, and many even reaching the fifth rank!

Li Chang’an had never heard of them, let alone obtained them.

“It all depends on luck. I hope I can obtain one before my tribulation.”

He had no information about these treasures and could only place his hopes on luck.

After memorizing these treasures, Li Chang’an asked many more questions about cultivation, gaining much benefit.

Finally,

he inquired about the other two.

Mentioning the two, the puppet seemed somewhat disappointed.

“Their assessments aren’t over yet. Their alchemy skills are mediocre, nothing outstanding. Their performance in every round was far inferior to yours,”

the puppet explained, detailing the two’s assessments.

In the first round,

Chai Rui made over 5,000 mistakes, while Zhai Yu made over 20,000!

In comparison, Li Chang’an’s score of only 108 mistakes was indescribably good.

“These two have been cultivating in sects for years; their knowledge is a bit limited,”

Li Chang’an mused to himself.

His knowledge of so many rare spiritual herbs stemmed purely from his extensive experience.

To outsiders, he appeared to be holed up in Changqing Mountain.

In reality,

he frequently traveled to various places, his clones having explored almost every historical site.

“Closed-door training won’t cut it; one must travel far and wide.”

“Well said!”

the puppet agreed.

“You can go out now. I’ll announce the results after the other two finish their assessments.”

“Yes.”

In the blink of an eye,

Li Chang’an was sent out of the assessment space.

Zhuo Wanshuang, Chi Qingxuan, and Chi Qingwu were still waiting outside.

They weren’t surprised to see Li Chang’an emerge first.

Based on past experience

, the higher the requirements in the assessment, the longer it would take.

Li Chang’an’s quick exit likely meant he hadn’t met the highest requirements, at best becoming an inner disciple, not receiving the benefits of a core disciple.

Zhuo Wanshuang said softly, “Fellow Daoist Li, don’t feel pressured. Fellow Daoists Chai and Zhai are also there; they should be able to complete the assessment.”

“Yes, I understand.”

Li Chang’an sat cross-legged, recovering his energy from the past few days and digesting the cultivation experience he had gained from the puppet.

Just then,

his puppet body on Changqing Mountain suddenly sensed several familiar auras.

“Qi Yunjin?”

Li Chang’an commanded his puppet body to appear in the courtyard, gazing into the distance.

A short while later,

three streaks of light pierced the sky.

One of the streaks was somewhat dim, its aura belonging to Princess Qi Yunjin of the Great Qi Dynasty.

The other two beside her were naturally Qi Yao and the fourth-tier alchemist, Le Zheng.

Soon…

The three landed on Changqing Mountain.

Li Chang’an had already prepared tea and invited them to sit down.

“Fellow Daoist Qi, I see your aura is weak. Has something happened? Could you have fallen victim to a demonic scheme?”

“This matter is strange…”

Qi Yunjin immediately recounted her poisoning.

She also felt that she might have been affected by some kind of eerie demonic method.

However,

Le Zheng suggested that they first go to Changqing Mountain to investigate.

“Fellow Daoist Li, do you still remember the Nine-Turn Fire Scale Pill?”

As he spoke, Le Zheng took out a fourth-order pill formula and placed it in front of Li Chang’an.

Li Chang’an glanced at it and immediately noticed the problem.

Compared to the genuine pill formula he had obtained, this formula had several extremely subtle modifications.

“It really is a fake pill formula!”

Li Chang’an withdrew his gaze and looked at Qi Yunjin.

Since the other party had taken the initiative to come to him, he naturally had to keep this favor in his hands.

“Fellow Daoist Qi, this pill formula is fake. I have a genuine pill formula and know the antidote.”

Upon hearing this, Qi Yunjin’s spirits lifted.

She immediately asked, “Fellow Daoist Li, is this true?”

“Fellow Daoist Qi, rest assured, the entire Southern Region knows that I, Li Chang’an

, never lie.” “I naturally trust Fellow Daoist Li’s character

.” Qi Yunjin smiled, expressing her trust.

She then asked, “Fellow Daoist Li, could Fellow Daoist Le examine the genuine formula? If this poison can be cured, I will certainly remember this favor.”

“Of course.”

Li Chang’an also smiled and took out the genuine formula.

Le Zheng immediately took the formula.

With his expertise in alchemy, he quickly saw the problem with the fake formula.

“So that’s how it is. These treasures are clearly all highly nourishing, but when combined, they become a rare spiritual poison!”

Le Zheng put down the formula and sighed deeply.

“My knowledge is limited; I failed to notice any problems beforehand, nearly ruining the princess’s path.”

“Fellow Daoist Le, why belittle yourself? This fake pill formula was created by a fifth-level alchemist from the Pill Cauldron Sect. A fourth-level alchemist wouldn’t be able to spot the flaws.”

Li Chang’an had previously discussed this fake pill formula controversy with the puppet.

The puppet told him that

all fake pill formulas were created through collaborative discussions among numerous fifth-level alchemists from the Pill Cauldron Sect.

Even fifth-level alchemists from other sects would find it difficult to detect the problems, let alone Le Zheng, a fourth-level alchemist from a later era.

After a while,

Le Zheng took out his alchemy furnace and, right there in the Changqing Mountain courtyard, began refining an antidote pill for Qi Yunjin.

After swallowing the antidote pill, Qi Yunjin’s poisoning symptoms subsided, and her meridians no longer felt congested.

“It truly was a problem with the pill,”

she sighed inwardly, sensing her condition.

She hadn’t taken Li Chang’an’s words seriously at first, after all, he was just a rogue cultivator; how could his knowledge compare to hers and Yue Zheng’s?

But the reality was exactly as Li Chang’an had predicted.

Without the genuine pill formula in Li Chang’an’s possession, she would likely have become a cripple, and even her father, Qi Jiuyang, wouldn’t have been able to help her, because this was a method used by an ancient Nascent Soul sect. For

a prodigy like her, becoming a cripple was no different from death.

Therefore,

Li Chang’an had saved her life.

Qi Yunjin solemnly said, “Fellow Daoist Li, I will remember your kindness today.”

“It’s good that Fellow Daoist Qi is alright.”

Li Chang’an smiled, accepting the favor.

After a brief conversation,

Qi Yunjin proposed a trade: exchanging a fourth-tier treasure for the correct pill formula.

Li Chang’an didn’t refuse, receiving a treasure for refining the Infant-Binding Bottle.

After the trade was completed,

the three of them left.

Li Chang’an continued to wait for the two to finish their assessment.

…

Five days later.

Chai Rui finally finished his assessment and appeared before everyone.

Zhuo Wanshuang immediately asked, “Fellow Daoist Chai, how did you do in your assessment?”

“Don’t worry, everyone, I passed all nine assessments!”

Chai Rui smiled confidently.

(End of Chapter)