I have Immortality In The Cultivation World

Chapter 170: Chapter 169: Survival Comes First

Zhou Yi executed numerous spells, such as cursing Yan Sheng, covert arrow attacks, and falling into traps, among others.

No matter if it was aimed at the soul or the body, or even the heterodox methods of killing someone from afar, the Xuanwu Divine Armor could sense it and autonomously materialize to protect the wearer.

"Next time I encounter the old dragon, I must surely wear it down and exhaust it of a few hundred years of its lifespan!"

Zhou Yi stored the Xuanwu Divine Armor within his Dantian. The initial power of a Spiritual Treasure is affected by the material and the seals, but as it is nurtured with mana, its power continues to grow, and using it becomes more effortless.

"With the Black Tortoise Armor for protection, the Soul Stabilizing Mirror for control, what I lack now is an offensive Spiritual Treasure. Having been in secluded cultivation for fifteen years, I wonder if the Mountain and River Cauldron has advanced!"

With that thought, Zhou Yi transformed into a streak of light and flew out of the Hall of Spiritual Fire.

External Affairs Hall Square.

In the center.

Stood a six-zhang-tall multicolored cauldron, the body of the cauldron was engraved with mountains and rivers, and when its treasure light shone, one could faintly see the flow of water.

Directly in front of the Mountain and River Cauldron, a line of dozens of people formed.

The disciple at the front took out the Five Metals Essence and, following the Immortal Sect's passed-down spells, refined it into the treasure cauldron.

Zhou Yi cast a transformation spell, disguising himself as a teenager in his tens, and landed at the end of the line. Watching those working for him bustle about in front of him, as well as the Mountain and River Cauldron soon to become a Spiritual Treasure, he found the thought of having a group of disciples serving him quite pleasing.

The disciple at the front of the line spotted Zhou Yi and, with nothing to do while queuing, struck up a conversation.

"I am Yu Shou, this junior brother seems unfamiliar?"

"I was just recently accepted into the Immortal Sect."

Zhou Yi, having assumed many different identities, easily concocted a history: "In earlier days, my parents were reluctant to let me go because they feared I couldn't endure the hardships alone, so they implored our master to delay bringing me into the sect, which is why I'm somewhat older."

Each year the Earth Fire Palace would send real people to patrol the islands under its control, bringing back those with Spirit Roots of grade four or above. The youngest among them would be but two or three years old, and the sect has specialized mortal wet nurses and servants to look after them.

The mortals of the Eastern Sea mainly live off fishing and hunting, and the survival rate of those infants without Spirit Roots is less than thirty percent.

Being accepted into an Immortal Sect is a guarantee of survival, as major and minor illnesses are easily cured, so no matter how reluctant the parents are at heart, they can only let immortal practitioners take their children away for the sake of their lives.

"I see, it is not your parents' fault that your cultivation started late, junior brother."

Yu Shou's eyes reddened slightly when speaking of parents: "I entered the sect at the age of three and have only faint memories of my parents. It wasn't until I was twenty and had some success in cultivation that I went back home to visit. My parents were so nervous that they didn't even dare to acknowledge me, addressing me respectfully as an Immortal Master."

"I stayed at home for three or five days, only to feel out of place. I used spells to cure my parents and brother's hidden illnesses, left some Gold and Silver, and then returned to the sect."

"Now, more than a decade has passed, and the memory of my parents has become blurred. Late at night, when I'm alone, I often regret not being a filial son. This inborn Spirit Root can't be considered a bad thing, but if I could have stayed at home for a few more years, it would have brought much comfort!"

Zhou Yi nodded, "If you miss your parents, brother, you should visit them often. Otherwise, if you are separated by life and death later, night and day will be filled with longing and could give rise to inner demons!"

"Tsk tsk, junior brother, you speak just like the elders in the sect," Yu Shou said, gathering his thoughts with a smile. "With our cultivation level and aptitude, inner demons likely won't bother with us. I only hope that I can luckily achieve Foundation Establishment one day and then bring my clan to an island of the sect to enjoy our days."

Zhou Yi said, "That will require a lot of effort, indeed. A Foundation Establishment Pill costs one hundred thousand merit points. I don't know how many years it will take to accumulate them."

The production of Foundation Establishment Pills in the Earth Fire Palace was low: disciples with two Spirit Roots or above were entitled to one for free, while other disciples had to exchange merit points for them, and there were no other ways.

This method not only appeared fair but also effectively ensured the continuity of the sect's teachings.

"I'm not skilled in combat, and my luck is also just ordinary. I wouldn't have had a chance ordinarily. Fortunately, Elder Tang arrived; by spending time refining the treasure cauldron, it is possible to accumulate enough merit points in forty or fifty years," Yu Shou said with both worry and anticipation in his voice.

"I only hope that the task of refining the treasure cauldron can last for several decades, or even a hundred years!"

"I have inside information that this treasure cauldron is of great importance; it needs to be refined for several hundred years to reach maturity," Zhou Yi looked at the disciples lined up, refining continuously day and night, convinced that in five to six hundred years it would definitely advance to become a Spiritual Treasure.

He then asked, "Those outer island families with hundreds of years of accumulation should have managed to gather enough merit points, shouldn't they?"

The Five Metals Essence was widely sourced; theoretically, even common copper and iron ores could be extracted, but spirit mines contained an abundant quantity and were considered extremely basic Artifact Refining materials.

Outer island families with a Foundation Establishment real person among their ancestors or currently living, have accumulated a significant number of spirit mines over the several hundred years of stability in the Earth Fire Palace.

Yu Shou nodded, "It is said that several families have already exchanged one hundred thousand merit points. Whether or not they have obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill is beyond the knowledge of outsiders."

The Foundation Establishment Pill was too precious, and even fellow disciples could not be completely trusted.

"Brother, you go ahead in the queue. I just remembered that I didn't close the earth fire restrictions in my cave dwelling," Zhou Yi vanished in a flicker. Finding a quiet place, he transformed into Elder Tang's appearance and flew into the second floor of the External Affairs Hall.

...

The first floor of the External Affairs Hall was responsible for distributing tasks and recording merit points, while the second floor was where the managerial staff like stewards resided.

Shi Bin was leisurely enjoying his tea. The Spiritual Tea trees grown near the cracks of the earth veins produced leaves that sold for dozens of Spirit Stones each, which Foundation Establishment real people would only use to entertain guests.

Many disciples were envious of him behind his back, calling Shi Bin a sycophant, which did nothing to hinder his high status and authority.

A streak of light descended, and Zhou Yi said with a smile.

"You're enjoying your days, I see."

"Greetings to Elder Tang!"

Shi Bin reacted very swiftly, perhaps having practiced the motion many times. Bowing quickly to the point of nearly touching the floor, he invited Zhou Yi to the seat of honor. He then took out the finely prepared Spiritual Tea, which he always had ready, and adeptly brew it to serve with respect.