Hide in the world of gods and demons

Chapter 137 Entering the Mountain Gate

Next, Zhang Songlin went on to explain in detail the specific benefits of being a Foundation Establishment Guest Elder.

For example, the annual salary is fifty mid-grade spirit stones, and one bottle of Qi Gathering Pills can be received each month for early Foundation Establishment cultivation.

In addition, one can bring relatives and servants along to the mountain, as long as the number does not exceed five.

"...I don't know the specifics of what happens in more distant places, but if you go to other nearby sects, you will likely not receive the same treatment. You will also be ostracized and treated differently because you are from outside the region!" Zhang Songlin said respectfully.

Unlike Qi-cultivating rogue cultivators, who are unmoved by poverty or lowliness and subdued by power, they are not easily swayed by wealth or status.

Foundation Establishment cultivators have more choices.

If you can't make it in this domain, you can always go and make it in other domains.

There is no father here, there is a place to keep the father!
Of course, forced labor can be imposed on Qi Refining cultivators. Under the authority of the sect, who would dare to disobey?

But you can't do that for Foundation Establishment.

At least it can't go too far.

Chen Li was somewhat tempted. He didn't care about the annual salary of fifty mid-grade spirit stones; what he valued was the third-tier spirit land and the Foundation Establishment cultivation technique. However, he didn't agree immediately.

Let's take a look around first.

Let's see what the specific situation is and weigh the pros and cons.

Putting everything else aside, once you join a sect, you'll no longer have the freedom of a rogue cultivator.

The danger has also increased significantly.

But then again.

Even if you don't join a sect, unless you live in seclusion and have no connection with the Zhenhuan Sect, you will still be a vassal force of the Zhenhuan Sect.

When it's time to perform corvée labor, you still have to perform corvée labor; when danger arises, you still have to go. Just like last time when we were clearing land, four Foundation Establishment cultivators died, and we don't know how many of them were from rogue Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The same probably applies to other places; all crows are black, and there's no such thing as absolute freedom when living in someone else's territory.

Chen Li sent Zhang Songlin away, citing the need to consider the matter for some time.

……

In the days that followed, Chen Li began to frequently visit the Foundation Establishment families in Luanluo City.

Hearing that a newly established Foundation Establishment cultivator had arrived, these rogue Foundation Establishment cultivators were generally treated with great courtesy.

The situation was found to be largely the same.

These Foundation Establishment families have all served as guest elders of the True Realm Sect. Many of them only leave the sect when they grow old and feel hopeless about their path to immortality, and then take many wives and concubines to enjoy a life of wealth and luxury.

No wonder, most of these independent cultivators who have reached the Foundation Establishment stage are quite old.

The youngest one looks like he's middle-aged.

Based on her actual age, she should be over 100 years old.

More often, they show signs of aging.

……

"Unlike these Foundation Establishment cultivators who have no hope for the future, I still have a vision for the future. Going to the True Reunion Sect is truly the best choice!" After leaving a Foundation Establishment residence, Chen Li secretly made up his mind.

During lunch.

Chen Li told Zhou Hong about his plan to become a guest elder at the Huanzhen Sect.

Zhou Hong, who was eating, paused upon hearing this, her eyes reddening, and she lowered her head, asking, "Then can you still come back often in the future?"

"What are you thinking about?" Chen Li looked at her and said with a smile, "We are husband and wife, so of course you will come with me. In fact, there are five spots available for going up the mountain this time. I was thinking of hiring two servants so that you can have an easier time."

Zhou Hong immediately burst into laughter through her tears: "Actually, the housework isn't that busy. How about... we take Shuniang with us? She has a talent for cultivation. The spiritual energy on this mountain is abundant, and there are even more cultivation resources. She might be able to establish her foundation in the future. I'll also have a companion."

Chen thought for a moment and said, "I have no objection, but if Zhang Yan agrees, this daughter is his lifeblood."

"They'll definitely agree. This is an opportunity that countless independent cultivators would kill for! I'll go and explain things to them when the time comes."

She still has her own agenda.

As Chen Li grew stronger, especially after reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, she felt increasingly inferior.

She is already thirty-two years old this year. Although time has not yet left its mark on her, it is only a matter of time. Chen Li, on the other hand, is getting younger and younger. With the long lifespan of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, how long can she accompany him?

As her youth fades and she loses her beauty, even if Chen Li doesn't despise her, she won't have the face to share a bed with him or stay by his side any longer.

Zhang Shuniang was well-known and knew her background well; she was also well-behaved and sensible...

……

I don't know what Zhou Hong said.

That evening, Zhang Yan brought Zhang Shuniang to their door:

"Senior Chen, please be sure to bring her along, since Shuniang calls you 'uncle'!"

“Are you willing to give it up? Once you’re up in the mountains, it won’t be completely isolated from the world, but it won’t be so convenient to come down,” Chen Li said.

“What’s there to be reluctant about? It’s not like we can’t see each other again. Shuniang can do any kind of work and endure any kind of hardship. If she disobeys, you can hit her without worrying about me!”

"Oh, you're too kind. Alright, since you agree, then Shuniang will come with us," Chen Li quickly said.

……

Two days later.

Zhang Songlin came to visit again; it was finally time to set off.

Zhang Yan pulled Zhang Shuniang aside and kept nagging, giving her endless instructions:

"From now on, you must listen to your uncle, okay? Do whatever he tells you to do."

"Father! I will definitely listen to Uncle." Zhang Shuniang said, tears streaming down her face.

"You must be eager to do the work. You're not a guest, so don't be temperamental. If you're sent back later, your father will lose all face..." The words of advice and admonitions are endless, showing the boundless love and concern of parents.

"I won't say much more, your uncle is already waiting!"

"Father, I'm leaving now!" Zhang Shuniang turned back every few steps.

"Go, go, don't miss home, cultivate well there!" Zhang Yan turned his head away, wiping the corner of his eye to hide his embarrassment.

……

The Zhen Huan Sect is located above Luanluo City.

Following the long mountain path, led by Zhang Songlin, they traversed the misty illusion, and the mysterious mountaintop finally unveiled its secrets to Chen Li and his group.

This place is much larger than I imagined. Along both sides of the mountain road, there are vast fields of spiritual energy and medicinal herbs, one after another, layer upon layer, colorful and stretching all the way to the mountain peak.

There, pavilions and towers are densely packed together, creating a magnificent sight.

Countless cultivators also traveled back and forth on their magical artifacts, constantly busy with their tasks.

Compared to Luanluo City, this place is like another world.

"Senior Brother Zhang, who are these people?" a cultivator guarding the mountain gate asked, bowing respectfully.

"This is the newly arrived guest elder, Senior Chen Li. I will take him to see the head of general affairs."

Upon hearing this, the two immediately bowed and greeted, "Greetings, Senior Chen."

Chen Li nodded slightly.

As they walked, Zhang Songlin explained the details of the Zhenhuan Sect to Chen Li. Chen Li listened attentively, occasionally asking questions, and gained a preliminary understanding of the Zhenhuan Sect.

The entire Huanzhen Sect, excluding ordinary servants, numbered over a thousand.

These Qi Refining stage disciples are further divided into outer and inner sects.

Basically, it's based on cultivation level. Those under twenty years old who have entered the late stage of Qi Refining will be promoted to inner disciples. These people will be provided with the best resources and the best spiritual grounds, and they can focus solely on cultivation without caring about anything else.

Those outer disciples, on the other hand, had a relatively tough time. In addition to cultivating, they also had to handle various miscellaneous tasks and engage in production.

These disciples were the ones who accompanied the laborers during the labor service.

"Actually, in terms of cultivation level, many outer disciples are not lower than inner disciples, and there are many in the late stage of Qi Refining. It's just that they are older and their hope of Foundation Establishment is slim." Zhang Songlin couldn't help but add.

Because he was just an outer disciple.

"Does being old have a significant impact on Foundation Establishment?" Chen Li turned his head and asked curiously, "I was forty-six when I established my foundation."

“…Senior is a person of great fortune; how can we mortals compare to him?” Zhang Songlin said hastily, his heart filled with resentment. He made no attempt to hide his envy of Chen Li, and even a hint of jealousy appeared on his face.

Chen Li understood; the kid was saying he got incredibly lucky.

It was clearly all due to my own efforts!

However, he didn't hold it against the other party.

He could sense that although the other party was respectful to him and spoke politely, he looked down on him, who came from a humble background.

This is not surprising. Disciples of sects are the pride of heaven, and they are always proud and arrogant. Even if they have to bow their heads due to circumstances, how could they truly respect those who rise from humble beginnings?

Chen Li wasn't particularly angry; in fact, he felt a little secretly pleased.

Zhang Songlin quickly composed himself and continued to introduce Chen Li.

The entire True Sect Foundation Establishment team, including guest elders, numbered as many as twenty-four.

There was only one person in the late Foundation Establishment stage, named Xia Hongyi, who was the current head of the General Affairs Department of the Zhenhuan Sect whom we were going to meet on this trip.

In addition, there are six people in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, and the rest are in the early Foundation Establishment stage.

As for the only Golden Core Ancestor of the True Sect, he is over three hundred years old and has reached the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm. Of course, for a Golden Core Ancestor, this age is still considered to be in his prime, and he may even reach the late stage of the Golden Core realm or break through to the Nascent Soul realm in the future.

The group reached the summit of the mountain.

Chen Li discovered that this place was like a small cultivation city, with a large number of buildings built along the mountainside, standing side by side, rising and falling, arranged in an orderly manner, with a different view at every step, and all kinds of shops and restaurants.

Zhang Songlin led Chen Li and the others to a hall in a large building. After asking the gatekeeper to serve tea, he bowed and said, "Please wait here for a moment, senior. I will go and inform the sect leader."

"It's alright!" Chen Li said.

After Zhang Songlin left.

Chen Li looked at Zhou Hong, who had been silent and somewhat reserved the whole way, and said to comfort her, "Relax, I'm here for you."

"Mmm!" Zhou Hong felt a warmth in her heart: "You don't need to worry about us."

Chen thought for a moment and then summoned a disciple who was guarding the gate.

"Senior, is there anything you need?" the gatekeeper disciple bowed and asked.

"I need to see the sect leader later. Is there a place for them to rest? Please take them there for a while."

"Yes, yes, this way please, please follow me."

The gatekeeper disciple dared not delay and quickly led Zhou Hong and Zhang Shuniang to a nearby room to rest.

Didn't have to wait long.

A burst of hearty laughter followed.

Chen Li quickly stood up from his seat. The newcomer was tall, looked to be about fifty or sixty years old, and had a beautiful beard. He strode into the doorway.

"Fellow Daoist Chen, please have a seat. There's no need to stand on ceremony here."

"My name is Chen Li, and I greet the Head of General Affairs!" Chen Li said, cupping his hands in greeting.

"It seems that the Zhenhuan Sect made the right decision to move here. We have a guest elder like you joining us in the second year. Excellent!" Xia Hongyi laughed loudly.

(End of this chapter)