After a short wait, all the guests from various backgrounds gathered, totaling just over ten people. As the host, Wang Hong raised a toast with Spirit Wine.
While sipping Spirit Wine, the group exchanged insights on their cultivation experiences. Immortal Cultivators usually practiced in solitude, and occasional discussions with others were valuable. After all, the proverb says, "A stone from another mountain may be used for jade carving."
They also chatted about some peculiar events in the cultivation world.
"In another five years, the major sects in the cultivation world will issue entry tasks to recruit disciples. Do any of you have plans?" a young man in white, named Zhu Weisheng, asked. He usually engaged in the small business of trading Spiritual Medicine.
Having some business dealings with Wang Hong and the others, he gradually became acquainted with them.
Wang Hong now knew that the cultivation world they were in was called the Eastern Realm of Cultivation. Several tens of thousands of miles further west lay a massive mountain range called Tianzhu Mountain, spanning from north to south. Beyond Tianzhu Mountain to the east was the Eastern Realm, the territory of the human race. To the west of Tianzhu Mountain was the Western Realm, occupied by the demonic race.
The Eastern Realm of Cultivation had six major sects: Taihao Sect, Qingxu Sect, Beast Spirit Sect, Hunyuan Sect, Thousand Crafts Pavilion, and Putuo Temple. In addition, there were some smaller sects and cultivation clans, collectively forming the Eastern Realm of Cultivation.
Wang Hong had only heard bits and pieces about the major sects recruiting disciples and didn't know much about it.
"I'm too old; there's no hope for me. However, in my younger days, I participated a few times. I almost died a couple of times, not to mention any gains," an old man named Feng Xin said.
Feng Xin had been a loose cultivator wandering around Azure Void City for many years, a seasoned individual familiar with the city, often setting up a stall in the Free Market Square.
Wang Hong also considered joining a sect. His younger brother was already in Taihao Sect, and if he could join, it would be even better. If not, joining another sect would suffice.
Various Qi Cultivation techniques were still available for purchase with Spirit Stones at his current stage. However, once he reached the Foundation Building stage, such techniques and secrets were no longer accessible with Spirit Stones.
Moreover, the crucial point was that the secret realms for refining Foundation Building pills were controlled by the major sects. Without joining a faction, obtaining Foundation Building pills was impossible.
With his aptitude, achieving Foundation Building without a Foundation Building pill was nearly impossible. Since he embarked on the path of cultivation, how could he willingly stop at the Qi Cultivation stage?
If possible, he hoped to obtain Spiritual Medicine, cultivate the necessary herbs in the spatial dimension, and refine the Foundation Building pills himself.
Given his aptitude, he had no confidence in using a single Foundation Building pill to complete the Foundation Building. If possible, he also wanted to cultivate some of his subordinates to the Foundation Building stage.
Furthermore, if he joined a sect, with the sect as his backing, would the Lin Family still dare to openly pursue him?
At this point, hearing the old man mention his past experiences, Wang Hong asked, "Sir, with your rich experience, could you offer some guidance?"
It's a common trait that heroes don't mention their past glory, but when people get old, they love reminiscing about their past. Immortal Cultivators were no exception. As Wang Hong asked, the old man, named Feng Xin, began to explain in great detail.
Every ten years, the six major sects would open their doors wide, heading to various immortal cities to recruit disciples. Although Azure Void City belonged to the influence of Qingxu Sect, all six major sects could recruit disciples here.
During this period, the six major sects would issue entry tasks. The first fifty individuals to complete the tasks could enter the corresponding sect and become official disciples.
In addition, if someone possessed a special skill, such as alchemy, artifact forging, talisman crafting, or presented a valuable spiritual object, they could also join the sect as registered disciples. If they performed exceptionally well in the future, they could be promoted to official disciples.
To the west of Qingxu Mountain Range, there was a vast marsh called the Black Dragon Marsh, spanning tens of thousands of miles in all directions. Originally, it was a land rich in spiritual energy, but due to excessive exploitation, the spiritual veins disappeared. Combined with the breeding of various poisonous insects and fierce beasts, the area was surrounded by toxic gas, making the environment exceptionally harsh.
Each time the major sects issued tasks, it involved delving into the Black Dragon Marsh to find the required spiritual objects. These objects included Spirit Herbs, spirit wood, spirit fruit, spirit ore, and specific demon cores. The requirements varied each year.
Wang Hong asked, "Not the same? Are there some items that are listed as tasks every time?"
The old man, Feng Xin, replied, "Exactly. After all, the Black Dragon Marsh was once a fairyland, and there are still a few remnants of Spiritual Medicine used to refine Foundation Building pills, although not many. Usually, only one or two appear at most each time. As for other spiritual objects, there may be occasional repetitions, but the chances are small.
Whenever the major sects announce entry tasks, it's the most fiercely competitive time among Qi Cultivation cultivators. Countless young talents have lost their lives in the process. When I was young, I entered the Black Dragon Marsh several times. If I didn't have some skill in escaping, I would have turned into a pile of bones long ago.
At that time, almost all the late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivators in the entire city, numbering at least tens of thousands, would participate in the selection tasks. Among them were numerous experts.
With such a large number of experts competing for just over two hundred slots, you can imagine how brutal the competition is.
If your cultivation level is not at the late stage of Qi Cultivation, going in will only make you cannon fodder. It's best not to participate.
The Black Dragon Marsh is filled with poisonous fog, and there are countless venomous insects. You need to prepare an ample supply of detoxification elixirs.
If you want to form a team, it's better to find familiar cultivators. In the Black Dragon Marsh, humans are more dangerous than Demonic Beasts. Some cultivators even specialize in ambushing others, killing them, and taking their treasures.
Wang Hong took note of everything the old man said.
The others also expressed their intention to participate in the sect selection tasks. After chatting for a while, everyone dispersed.
Back at his residence, Wang Hong continued pondering the matter of the sect selection tasks.
After careful consideration, he identified several aspects he needed to address: improving his cultivation level, enhancing overall combat strength, mastering a skill, and familiarizing himself with the Black Dragon Marsh in advance.
With his current cultivation level at Qi Cultivation Stage 5, he had no hope. He probably wouldn't even qualify as cannon fodder.
However, there were still five years to go. By then, reaching Qi Cultivation Stage 7 should be achievable. But among the many cultivators at the 9th and 10th stages, he would be nothing more than a stronger piece of cannon fodder.
Similarly, at the late stage of Qi Cultivation, there were variations in strength. In terms of combat power, he was currently lacking.
Determining a person's combat power involved factors such as cultivation level, techniques, magical weapons, talismans, and many other aspects.
Currently, the only technique that could enhance his combat power was the "Body Refining Decision." It was practically a tailor-made technique for him.
It had low requirements for Spiritual Roots but required a substantial amount of resources. Consuming large quantities of elixirs or rare materials, he could refine the spiritual energy within and temper his physical body.
The enormous resource consumption was unbearable for other loose cultivators, directly resulting in slow progress in cultivation.
Hu Qing, who was beaten by Wang Hong before, had practiced this technique for ten years and only reached the second level.
With the assistance of his spatial ability, Wang Hong could obtain abundant resources. What he lacked the least was the Spiritual Medicine resource. His goal was to convert these resources into his cultivation level and strength.
Wang Hong took three Condensing Qi Pills every day, accelerating his progress in the "Body Refining Decision." In less than a year, he completed the first level of the technique.
Additionally, Wang Hong planned to focus on improving his alchemy skills. He had no assurance of standing out among numerous late-stage and peak Qi Cultivation cultivators. If his alchemy skills were exceptional, he could enter a sect, providing himself with an extra option.
The improvement of alchemy skills boiled down to practice.
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