"Clang!"
Among the mountains, a great bell reverberated.
A fist-sized fire crow struck the golden bell, which was covered in cracks, seemingly on the verge of shattering at any moment.
"Golden Bell Cover at Perfection?"
"Heh heh, it's good material for refining corpses."
The middle-aged man's eyes showed a hint of surprise, then he sneered repeatedly, "What if the Golden Bell Cover is at Perfection? How many strikes from my fire crow can it withstand?"
"At your age, wouldn't it be better to stay in the Mortal World and enjoy your power? Why come to the Cultivation World to wander?"
"Do you really think everyone can achieve Immortal Ascension?"
"Whoosh!"
"I left home at a young age and have wandered the Cultivation World for over thirty years…"
The man's eyes widened, and his voice abruptly stopped as a three-inch Flying Sword appeared between his eyebrows.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
Several more streams of light broke through the air, and willow-leaf Flying Swords accurately pierced the man's eyes, mouth, throat, and heart.
The man stood still, his snow-white robe stained with blood.
Whew!
The young man exhaled a mouthful of turbid Qi, raising a hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead.
"Bah!"
"Poor guy, he doesn't even have a Storage Pouch."
"Well, if he were truly a powerful character, he wouldn't have come to ambush a Mortal like me."
After some searching, Li Chen found two Spirit Stones and a few talismans on the Cultivator's body.
Li Chen skillfully destroyed the body to eliminate any traces, then turned and quickly left.
In mid-air, a graceful figure stood on a Flying Sword, silently observing everything.
"Ahead is Yin Mountain Market, a gathering place for Loose Cultivators in Blackwater Province."
In the forest, Li Chen looked at the mist ahead, his eyes flickering with a complex expression.
He had been in this world for nineteen years, from a farmer's son to a Gang Disciple, and then to a Martial Forest big shot who dominated a region. Li Chen had steadily become a top expert in the Mortal Martial Forest.
Just as he was preparing to marry and take concubines to enjoy life, he suddenly heard that Immortals existed in this world.
Immortal!
The word 'Immortal' seemed to possess a magical allure, so Li Chen resolutely abandoned his high status in the Mortal Martial Forest and traveled through mountains and rivers to the Purple Void Immortal Sect to participate in the Purple Void Immortal Sect's once-a-decade Spiritual Root Testing Ceremony.
"Nine-Rank Spiritual Root, too old, cannot enter the Immortal Sect!"
At the Spiritual Root Testing Ceremony, the Purple Void Sect Elder's cold words sealed Li Chen's fate, echoing repeatedly in his ears.
Martial arts emphasize bone structure, while Cultivation emphasizes Spiritual Root.
Li Chen's Innate talent and bone structure in martial arts were not bad; otherwise, it would have been impossible for him to become a top expert dominating a region at such a young age.
Unfortunately, his talent for Cultivation was poor; his Spiritual Root was only Nine-Rank.
Spiritual Roots range from First-Rank to Ninth-Rank.
First-Rank is the highest, known as Heavenly Spiritual Root.
Ninth-Rank is the lowest, known as Pseudo-Spiritual Root.
Li Chen possessed the lowest Nine-Rank Spiritual Root, and combined with his older age, he didn't even qualify to become a Utility Disciple of the Purple Void Immortal Sect.
The Purple Void Immortal Sect, the only Immortal Sect in Yan Country, was also the heaven of Yan Country.
Unable to join the Purple Void Immortal Sect, he could only consider joining other Cultivation forces in Yan Country, or becoming a Loose Cultivator.
Although it was only the lowest Nine-Rank Spiritual Root, at least he had a Spiritual Root.
Even though the Elder of the Purple Void Immortal Sect asserted that those with a Nine-Rank Spiritual Root could only stop at the early stage of Qi Refining, and even breaking through to the Middle Stage of Qi Refining would be difficult, Li Chen refused to give up.
Immortal Ascension!
For Li Chen, a Transmigrator, nothing was more appealing than achieving Immortal Ascension.
After much inquiry, Li Chen learned about the existence of Yin Mountain Market and wanted to try his luck there, to embark on the path of Cultivation.
Just as he approached Yin Mountain Market, he encountered a Cultivator who tried to ambush him.
In the Mortal World, an Innate expert like Li Chen was a Martial Forest big shot who dominated a region. After coming to the Cultivation World, he became good material for refining corpses in the eyes of Cultivators.
Fortunately, the Cultivator who ambushed Li Chen was not strong enough, allowing Li Chen to counter-kill him with his Flying Sword technique.
"No way forward."
"Is this the Formation set up by Cultivators, the boundary that separates Immortals and Mortals?"
Ahead lay dense mist, and the path ahead was invisible. Li Chen dared not venture in rashly.
Although he knew Yin Mountain Market was beyond the mist, Li Chen still dared not enter, because he knew too little about the methods of Cultivators.
"Are you here to seek Immortality?"
As Li Chen lingered before the mist, an ethereal voice suddenly entered his ears, sending shivers down his spine.
Turning his head, he saw a petite girl with bright eyes and white teeth standing behind him, smiling as she appraised Li Chen.
Li Chen's nerves were taut, and his eyes were filled with vigilance.
The girl looked no older than fifteen or sixteen, appearing harmless, but Li Chen knew this was not the Mortal World, and one could not judge by appearance.
"You don't need to be nervous. I have no ill intentions towards you."
"If I wanted to move against you, you would already be dead."
"Outside Yin Mountain Market, many Mortal Martial Artists like you come to seek Immortality every year. However, most of those who come to seek Immortality end up as refining Materials for evil Cultivators, or as servants for Cultivators."
"You're lucky; you encountered the beautiful and kind Linglong Fairy."
The girl was petite, dressed in a light blue gauze dress, with a floral wreath woven with fresh flowers on her head. Her palm-sized face was fair with a rosy blush, and she bared a mouthful of white, delicate teeth in a wide grin. Her dark eyes sparkled, and her smile was innocent and pure.
"Linglong Fairy?"
Li Chen's voice was hoarse, his nerves taut, not daring to relax his guard. His hand, hidden in his sleeve, secretly tightened its grip on a willow-leaf Flying Sword.
"My name is Water Exquisite. In the Cultivation World, they call me Linglong Fairy."
"Mortal martial arts are not without merit. Your Flying Sword is very dangerous and poses a fatal threat to Cultivators below the fourth stage of Qi Refining. However, Cultivators above the fourth stage of Qi Refining have already developed spiritual consciousness, so your Flying Sword will not work against them."
Looking at the pretty girl before him, Li Chen's eyes narrowed, and his taut nerves actually relaxed.
Li Chen knew that this girl, who called herself Linglong Fairy, was not trying to scare him.
His exquisite Flying Sword technique could run rampant in the Mortal World, never missing its mark, with every strike drawing blood.
But the Cultivation World was different; his Flying Sword, in the eyes of Cultivators, was ultimately not presentable.
The Cultivator who had ambushed him earlier, wanting to turn him into refining material, was most likely a weak Cultivator below the fourth stage of Qi Refining, who had not yet developed spiritual consciousness.
The girl before him, the golden Storage Pouch at her waist proved that she was far more powerful than the Cultivator from before.
"It seems you're not stupid."
A look of appreciation appeared on Water Exquisite's pretty face, and she smiled, saying, "Spiritual Roots are divided into nine ranks: First-Rank is the highest, and Ninth-Rank is the lowest. Only those with a Spiritual Root can embark on the Immortal Path."
"Countless Mortal Martial Artists come to Yin Mountain Market to seek Immortality every year. Most of them have no Spiritual Root and can only become slaves or servants after entering the Cultivation World, unable to embark on the Immortal Path."
"You came to seek Immortality, do you know about Spiritual Roots?"
Li Chen's expression was solemn. He cupped his hands towards the girl before him and respectfully replied, "I do. I participated in the Purple Void Immortal Sect's Spiritual Root Testing Ceremony half a year ago."
Water Exquisite blinked, "You participated in the Purple Void Sect's Spiritual Root Testing Ceremony? It seems you are an Immortal Sect reject with an inferior Spiritual Root."
Li Chen's cheek twitched. He honestly replied, "Yes. My Spiritual Root is Nine-Rank, so I couldn't enter the Immortal Sect."
"Heh heh, what kind of Immortal Sect is Purple Void? It only calls itself an Immortal Sect in this remote place of Yan Country."
"As for you, with a Nine-Rank Spiritual Root, why are you still seeking Immortality? With a Nine-Rank Spiritual Root, it's difficult to break through to the Middle Stage of Qi Refining in your entire life. Even if you embark on the Immortal Path, you'll just be an ant at the bottom of the Cultivation World. Why not return to the Mortal World and enjoy wealth and glory?"
"With your martial arts, wouldn't it be better to live freely and happily in the Mortal World than to struggle at the bottom of the Cultivation World?"
This Linglong Fairy's voice was ethereal, clear, and pleasant to the ear, but the words she spoke were not. They were exactly the same as what the Elder at the Purple Void Sect's Spiritual Root Testing Ceremony had said.
Return to the Mortal World to enjoy life?
Li Chen's eyes struggled for a moment.
He had Transmigrated with such difficulty and come to this Cultivation World after so much hardship. Should he really give up Cultivation, return to the Mortal World to enjoy life, and then turn into a handful of yellow earth after a hundred years?
No!
This is not what I want!
Even if his Spiritual Root was inferior, the Cultivation World was right before him. How could he be reconciled without trying?
Li Chen remained silent, his gaze gradually becoming firm.
The girl's gaze swept over Li Chen's stern face. She probably understood Li Chen's inner thoughts. Her expression became momentarily dazed, and she spoke softly, "There are many people with firm Dao Hearts like yours, but as time passes, most people's firm Dao Heart will collapse."
"Well, This Immortal is in a good mood Today, so I'll give you an Opportunity."
Li Chen suddenly looked up, realizing he had met a benefactor, and quickly bowed to the girl before him.
The girl waved her hand and said indifferently, "This Immortal can take you into Yin Mountain Market and recommend you to Divine Pill Pavilion to be a Utility Disciple. Are you willing?"
"Thank you, Linglong Fairy."
Li Chen's voice was no longer hoarse, and a hint of anticipation appeared in his eyes.
The girl turned, her petite figure walking towards the mist ahead, "Keep up."
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