Under Blood Sin Peak of Kuxin Sect, a Demonic Sect.
Four or five blurry figures, dressed in green and looking like laborers.
Each carried a large bundle wrapped in animal hides and blankets, slowly moving towards the mountainside.
The mountain was quiet and desolate, with only the heavy breathing of a few people and a slightly excited voice echoing through the dense forest and broken stones.
“Senior Brother Lu, Elder Du's chief Disciple, returned to the mountain recently after half a year away.”
“Not only has his cultivation greatly advanced, but he also brought back a genuine Myriad Soul Banner. I wonder which small mortal kingdom he slaughtered.”
“Senior Brother Zheng of Za Yi Hall is truly lucky; his biological father is still alive in this world.”
“Two days ago, he tortured and refined him, achieving a Bloodline Divine Ability, using it to forge a Blood Fiend Dao Foundation, ascending to heaven in one step!”
The skinny laborer hunched over, his face flushed, his eyes filled with a longing that seemed to say, “I can take his place.”
Jiang Che looked on with cold eyes, unmoved, merely burying his head and continuing on his way.
What Senior Brother Lu and Senior Brother Zheng? They were too far removed from them.
Blood Sin Peak was extremely high. If they couldn't deliver this batch of medicinal herbs up the mountain before sunset and didn't get Merit Points, today's work would be for nothing.
This was the immediate concern.
Reaching behind him, Jiang Che tightened the animal hide blanket slightly.
Two months ago, almost immediately after transmigrating to this world, he was unexpectedly caught in a village massacre.
Afterward, he got lucky, escaped the disaster, and was even taken in by the people of Kuxin Sect.
He became a registered Disciple of Za Yi Hall under Blood Sin Peak.
Since joining, his main duty each day was to go to Shu Wu Hall to receive assignments, doing dangerous tasks like mending corpse puppets and feeding demonic beasts.
The only benefit was probably that the Sect had given out a cultivation method early on.
According to the Senior Brother in Shu Wu Hall.
If one could successfully Cultivate to Qi Refining Stage, Third Layer within a year of joining, they could be registered and become a formal Disciple of Kuxin Sect.
“Even if one only achieves the initial sensation of Qi and becomes a Cultivator at Gathering Qi Stage, First Layer.”
“They would still be far superior to ordinary Martial Artists in the world, and wouldn't be troubled by such a short mountain path.”
Jiang Che exhaled deeply, supporting his waist as he stopped before a side hall on the mountain.
After asking someone to go in and announce him, he handed the prepared medicinal herbs to the Disciples in the hall, receiving a yellowish-brown wooden token in return.
Carefully placing the token close to his body, Jiang Che felt a little more at ease.
After this, as long as he returned this token to Shu Wu Hall, the Merit Points would be considered received.
Accumulating enough Merit Points would allow him to exchange for elixirs needed for cultivation.
Jiang Che's Aptitude was not outstanding. Without the aid of elixirs, reaching Qi Refining Stage, Third Layer within a year was a slim hope indeed.
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Since he was fortunate enough to embark on the path to longevity, regardless of the hardships, he had to try his best at least once.
After waiting for a while at the entrance of the side hall, the few laborers quickly gathered again.
“It's still early today, what are your plans afterward?”
The skinny laborer crossed his arms, looking around at the others, seemingly hinting at something.
“Going up the mountain is too tiring, I'll probably go back down to the foot of the mountain and lie down,” another laborer said listlessly.
“Lie down?”
The skinny laborer sneered, “At this age, how can you lie down?”
“Forget it… you've been in Za Yi Hall for two months now. Let me ask you, how many old laborers of ten years or more have you seen?”
“Uncle Zhao, Fat Aunt…”
The listless laborer began counting on his fingers, but he got stuck after only two names and suddenly looked up.
“Do you understand?” the skinny laborer said with an “as expected” expression.
“Newcomers are always arriving at Za Yi Hall under Blood Sin Peak. There are thirty of us in this batch alone, so why are there so few old-timers?”
The skinny laborer paused for a moment before speaking again.
“If I'm not mistaken, this year is precisely the time the Sect has given us to Cultivate in peace.
If we cannot reach Qi Refining Stage, Third Layer after a year, it naturally means we have no talent.
Without talent, to the Sect, we are not registered Disciples, but merely expendable consumables.
At that time, where we are sent will simply be a matter of a word from the Senior Brothers above, won't it?”
As his voice fell, the few laborers resting on the ground all frowned, their expressions surprised.
Jiang Che, however, wasn't too surprised.
Having lived two lives, he had already noticed something was amiss on his second day in Za Yi Hall.
Just like those companies in his previous life that branded themselves as youthful.
They weren't newly established startups.
It was just that those who were slightly older were decisively
optimized
.
“Senior Brother Qu, thank you for the reminder!”
Immediately, two laborers stood up: “Since that's the case, without further ado, let's go down the mountain now. The more time for cultivation, the better.”
“Wait!”
The skinny laborer, Qu Gu, called out to them again.
This time, he clearly hesitated longer, his gaze sweeping back and forth over the few people.
Only when the others' faces showed impatience did he speak again.
“The few of us entered the mountain in the same batch, so we're on the same side. There are some things I won't hide from you all.”
“Tonight at The hour of Xu, Elder Tian of Blood Sin Peak will publicly give a lecture.”
“It is said that among the previous batch of laborers, some were favored by Elder Tian during the lecture and taken as his personal attendants, starting several steps higher than us.”
At these words, everyone's eyes lit up.
They had heard rumors of such things during their two months in the Sect; some lucky Disciples were favored by the Sect's Elders and teachers, found grace in their eyes, and gained good fortune.
At the very least, they could receive some cultivation resources as rewards.
“But Senior Brother Qu, how did you come to know of this? And why are you willing to tell us?”
A laborer cautiously sought confirmation.
Qu Gu cast a disdainful sideways glance, shook his sleeves, and straightened his back: “I've recently made considerable progress in cultivating the Thunder Sound Marrow Cleansing Scripture, and yesterday I successfully developed a sense of Qi, officially stepping into Gathering Qi Stage, First Layer!”
“The Senior Brother in Shu Wu Hall appreciated me and spoke with me, which is how I accidentally overheard this matter.”
“As for why I'm telling you all?”
Qu Gu's lips curved slightly: “I am destined to become a formal Disciple and advance diligently on the Dao path. You are all my peers, so how could I not think of you?”
He truly lived up to being someone who had just developed a sense of Qi.
Speaking so confidently with a straight back, he indeed displayed an air somewhat unlike a mortal.
Immediately, a laborer responded heartily: “Since Senior Brother Qu thinks highly of us and shares such an Opportunity, we will surely follow in Senior Brother's footsteps in the future.”
Some of the more discerning laborers even promised.
To share a portion of their Merit Points as a token of gratitude.
Qu Gu scanned the group, finally fixing his gaze on Jiang Che, who was the only one without a clear reaction, and frowned: “What about you, what do you think?”
Jiang Che was facing everyone at this moment, about to answer.
But then, a metallic hum suddenly vibrated in his ears.
【Elder opens lecture, Disciples gather, yet fortune and misfortune are fleeting, life and death are fated】
Translucent, ink-colored seal script twisted into form before his eyes, spreading out like a talisman submerged in water.
After a while, several lines of text combined:
【Upper-Middle Divination, retreat bravely, return to Shu Wu Hall, accept the task “Blood Pool Dredging”, obtain a sixth-grade Opportunity, act discreetly, no future worries, auspicious】
【Middle-Middle Divination, retreat bravely, return to Za Yi Hall down the mountain, sleep soundly, wake up refreshed, no gain, no loss, neutral】
【Lower-Middle Divination, go with the flow, attend the lecture, may gain Elder's favor, but misfortune arrives before fortune, sudden disaster, deep in danger, minor ominous】
【Lower-Lower Divination, go with the flow, attend the lecture, show diligence during the period, may gain Elder's favor, but encounter a Righteous Path spy, certain death, extremely ominous】