Chapter 68: Visitors from the Immortal Sect

The situation unfolded smoother than they had anticipated.

Three days later.

Du Zhi, the junior brother who ventured into the city to gather information, returned with more detailed news than what the village elder provided.

It pertained to the Divine Lake Immortal Sect!

In the Luxury Nation, the Divine Lake Immortal Sect was known by every commoner. Upon reaching adulthood, children of nobility and royalty were sent to this sect as servant disciples. If anyone managed to establish themselves within the sect, their status and position would dramatically change. Furthermore, the lineage associated with such a disciple would become the family’s main branch.

The supremacy of immortal sects was a shared belief among the neighboring three kingdoms.

‘Spiritual root aptitude’ held immense value, surpassing even bloodlines and familial ties in importance.

This realization made it clear to them for the first time just how significant ‘spiritual roots’ truly were!

Even after leaving the Yue Kingdom, these gifted individuals with spiritual roots would not be considered ordinary. From birth, they possessed greater opportunities compared to others.

“The information we’ve gathered is largely accurate.”

Over the past few days, Doude had not been idle. Two days ago, he took some time to venture out and gather information, which aligned with what Du Zhi’s inquiries revealed. To ensure they weren’t misled, he even managed to procure money discreetly and bought details about the Divine Lake Immortal Sect from an underground source in the city, confirming similar descriptions.

Within these three days, all of them learned the local language. Their pronunciation and intonation matched that of the Blackwood Village villagers perfectly. Chen Luo, in particular, needed only until the second morning to master it effortlessly.

With his external brains tirelessly studying, learning a new language was simpler for him than eating or drinking water.

“I’ve discussed this with Junior Brother Du Zhi, and we four plan to join the Divine Lake Immortal Sect,” Doude announced, directing his gaze at Xie Shuang and Chen Luo.

“Perhaps there are stronger immortal sects elsewhere, but I don’t recommend taking such risks. With our limited understanding of this world, traveling far is too hazardous.”

Doude’s eyes focused on Chen Luo, as these words were primarily meant for him.

Xie Shuang had known the four brothers for many years and understood their personalities well. However, having met Chen Luo most recently, Doude felt it necessary to emphasize these concerns after careful consideration.

“Then let’s stay together.”

Chen Luo nodded.

He certainly wouldn’t choose to take unnecessary risks. For him, it mattered little where they went; what was most important was finding sufficient potential external brains.

“I agree as well,” Xie Shuang promptly added with a nod. Staying united without splitting up was undoubtedly the best option for everyone.

“Since there are no objections, I’ll inform the village elder to report this decision. We shall all join the Divine Lake Immortal Sect together.”

Doude sighed in relief and immediately turned to find the village elder to relay the news.

With their consent, the villagers of Blackwood Village erupted in celebration.

Not having to contribute spirit materials to the immortal sect for six years would save them a significant amount, making their lives considerably easier.

As a gesture of gratitude, the village elder presented Chen Luo and his companions with some gifts.

Taking advantage of this moment, Chen Luo took a stroll around the village and eventually found the ancestral hall of Blackwood Village. There, he placed Longevity Daoist’s memorial tablet among the ancestors. Although Longevity Daoist had mentioned that once entering the world of immortal cultivation, one could simply discard the memorial tablet anywhere, as a disciple, Chen Luo felt compelled to honor his teacher’s memory properly.

He had also studied the Divine Dao Art that Longevity Daoist intended to pursue, understanding its significance.

After presenting the village elder with a talisman inscribed in immortal script, his small request was readily granted. Not only that, but the village elder also placed Longevity Daoist’s memorial tablet at the center, ensuring it received the most veneration.

“Is this one of Uncle-Master Changqing’s contingency plans?”

Xie Shuang curiously looked at the enshrined memorial tablet and asked Chen Luo.

Each of their three elders had devised such arrangements. While Chen Luo did not inquire about Daoist Heartflame’s plan, Xie Shuang had informed him about Goddess Emerald Bamboo’s strategy. Similar to Master Longevity Daoist, she too learned a soul-reliance technique, entrusting her spirit into a bamboo stalk.

Just recently, Xie Shuang personally planted that bamboo near the entrance where they were teleported from. The location, rarely visited by people, provided a safer environment for its growth.

“We can only do our part and leave the rest to fate,” Chen Luo said after lighting incense for the memorial tablet, then turned to leave the ancestral hall.

Although the spiritual energy here was slightly stronger than in the Yue Kingdom, it still fell short of their expectations. The envisioned world of immortal cultivation differed significantly from what they found in Blackwood Village. In this environment, whether transitioning to cultivate techniques would be successful remained uncertain.

The arrival of six spiritual root geniuses willing to join Blackwood Village stirred excitement throughout the community.

According to the rules set by the Divine Lake Immortal Sect, each genius could exempt the village from one year of taxes. With six individuals, that equated to six years! Such a lengthy reprieve would significantly improve the villagers’ livelihoods.

That very evening, Blackwood Village held a grand bonfire celebration, and some even invited Chen Luo, though he declined their offer.

However, Doude and his fellow disciples attended, finding several attractive young women from the village. The four disciples seemed quite at ease, while the village girls were equally forward, likely due to subtle hints from the elders.

Marrying someone with spiritual roots greatly increased the chances of producing offspring with similar aptitudes compared to ordinary people.

In his room, Chen Luo utilized the mummy’s brain to revisit the True Immortal Classic, gaining deeper insights into entering the path of cultivation. Meanwhile, Xie Shuang ventured out alone, having numerous tasks assigned by Goddess Emerald Bamboo. Jade Bamboo’s teachings were considerably more intricate than Longevity Daoist’s divine methods.

Everyone had their own secrets, and Chen Luo refrained from prying further.

The night passed uneventfully.

The arrival of individuals from the Divine Lake Immortal Sect was swifter than anticipated.

Just days after Blackwood Village reported the news, the outpost leader responded, stating that the sect would send someone to collect those selected.

Early in the morning, Chen Luo completed a full cycle of breathing exercises following the routes outlined in the True Immortal Classic.

Before his initial entry into cultivation, the True Immortal Classic seemed mysterious. However, as he delved deeper into practicing Qi control, he gradually felt its limitations becoming more apparent. This sensation intensified significantly after reconstructing the True Immortal Classic using the mummy’s brain.

‘Acceptable for beginners, but lacking in advanced stages.’

This was the feedback provided by the mummy’s brain.

Although Chen Luo had yet to determine the exact realm the mummy had reached before death, it was evident that they were no ordinary cultivator.

The brain was remarkably powerful, offering precise insights on various topics such as medicinal pills, talismans, formations, and equipment forging. With this brain’s assistance, many previously incomprehensible concepts became clear once activated.

It felt akin to gaining a comprehensive understanding from a higher perspective.

“Elder Brother Chen, people from the Divine Lake Immortal Sect seem to have arrived!”

Xie Shuang’s voice echoed from outside.

Following the sound, he spotted a figure clad in azure robes soaring through the air, stepping off the tops of ancient trees in Blackwood Forest. Like a flying bird, with each push-off from a tree, the figure glided great distances. This efficient cycle of exertion and recovery allowed continuous flight by leveraging the momentum provided by the trees.

Such prowess was undoubtedly beyond the capabilities of mere martial arts or lightness techniques.

“The immortal elder has arrived! The immortal elder is here!”

Villagers of Blackwood rushed out swiftly, gathering at the village entrance to catch a glimpse of the immortal’s demeanor.

Chen Luo quickly got up and joined them.

Upon reaching the village gate, he found Xie Shuang and Doude already present.

As they observed the approaching figure, its features gradually became clearer with proximity.

It was a man dressed in flowing azure robes, carrying a long sword on his back. With loose black hair cascading down, he resembled an immortal straight out of a painting. Most notably, the aura emanating from him was even stronger than that of Longevity Daoist.

At least Fourth Layer Qi Refinement!

This level surpassed even Longevity Daoist, placing him among the mid-stage experts within the realm of Qi Refinement.