Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

Master Mingxuan spoke frankly, "If one can pass my sect's assessment and formally join, then the cultivation techniques, resources, and guidance required for Foundation Establishment will be guaranteed within the sect."

For you, Foundation Establishment will no longer be an unattainable hurdle, but an inevitable step on the path of cultivation.

Of course, the sect's selection process is rigorous, and not everyone can pass, but the opportunity itself is extremely rare.

He looked out at the sea of ​​clouds: "Four months from now, it will be the once-in-a-decade initiation ceremony of our sect."

If you choose the second path, ten days later you can leave with the third-tier spirit ship of the "Azure Sea Merchant Guild" docked in the market and go to the sect to become an apprentice with Xu Chuan.

The journey is long and arduous; you need to think it through carefully.

I'll give you ten days to think it over. Once you've made up your mind, come find me here.

Join... a sect?

Master Mingxuan's words were like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirring up a tidal wave in Lin Zhao's heart.

For a moment, he was somewhat dazed.

Once upon a time, when he first arrived in this world and learned of the power of the sects and their orthodoxy in the cultivation world, he too had felt a longing for them.

However, the Lin family was weak, and his talent in his childhood was not outstanding, far from meeting the requirements of the sect.

Disciples of a sect are trained from a young age.

As he grew older and experienced various hardships, he had long since buried this unrealistic idea deep within his heart.

Instead, they focused on acquiring resources through their own hard work and struggle in the family market and the wilderness.

Now, at the age of twenty-two, he has already touched the threshold of the pinnacle of Qi Refining through his own efforts and a stroke of luck.

A door to a wider world opened before him in an unexpected way!

Moreover, it is a Nascent Soul power that surpasses the three major sects of the Cloud and Mist Mountain Range!

This choice is enough to completely alter the future trajectory of him and even the Lin family.

He took a few deep breaths to calm his turbulent emotions and bowed deeply to Master Mingxuan:

"Thank you for your kind offer, senior! This matter is of great importance, and I need to consider it carefully. I will definitely give you an answer within ten days."

With a jumble of thoughts, Lin Zhao descended from the summit of Cloud Sea Peak and returned to his temporary cave dwelling.

To his surprise, the clan leader, Lin Shanhe, had been waiting in the cave for quite some time.

"You're back? How was your harvest in the secret realm?" Lin Shanhe looked him over, his eyes filled with concern.

Lin Zhao didn't talk much about the secret realm, but simply told the clan leader about the two choices that Master Mingxuan had given him after his return.

Lin Shanhe listened without much surprise, simply stroking his beard.

He had indeed anticipated this possibility long ago.

There was silence for a moment.

Instead of offering direct advice, he asked in a deep voice, "This matter concerns your future path. What are your thoughts on this?"

The pearls embedded in the cave emitted a soft glow, illuminating Lin Zhao's young yet resolute face.

He remained silent for a long time, his gaze gradually becoming clear and firm from its initial confusion.

He raised his head to look at the clan chief, his voice not loud, but carrying a resolute power that echoed in the silent cave:

"Clan leader, Foundation Establishment... is not my ultimate goal."

He paused, his eyes seeming to sparkle like stars, and continued:

"My goal is the immortal path of eternal life!"

I want to become an immortal! I want heaven and earth to decay while I remain immortal, the sun and moon to perish while I endure!

These words, regardless of who they come from, are nothing but arrogant ignorance and delusional talk.

Immortality? Ascension to immortality? How many exceptionally talented individuals have fallen at the threshold of Foundation Establishment and Core Formation?

How many people's lofty ambitions have been ground to dust on the long and cruel path to immortality?

However, looking at this junior before him, Lin Shanhe saw the calm yet intense light in his eyes...

What I saw was an unwavering Dao heart! It was the courage and ambition to look directly at the heavens and challenge the supreme path to immortality!

Yes! When cultivators first embark on the path of immortality, who doesn't harbor a seed of longing for eternal life in their heart?

However, most people are trapped in the mire of reality, unable to escape, whether due to a lack of qualifications, limited resources, or the ravages of time.

Lin Zhao, on the other hand, possesses potential and, more importantly, the opportunity to reach a broader stage.

Lin Shanhe was filled with mixed feelings. There was relief, but also a touch of indescribable complexity.

He knew that he and the Lin family of Qingxi Mountain were too small to hold onto Lin Zhao, this hidden dragon.

After a long while, Lin Shanhe let out a long breath, a look of relief on his face. He patted Lin Zhao's shoulder heavily, with considerable force.

"Good! What a fine 'I want to become an immortal'! This is the ambition that the scions of my Lin family should have."

He composed himself, his gaze becoming extremely serious: "Since you have made up your mind and chosen the second path, then go!"

You don't need to worry about anything at home, as I'm here.

The road ahead is fraught with peril, with both opportunities and crises present. We must be cautious in our words and actions.

Whether you succeed or not, the Lin family will always be your support.

Lin Zhao felt a slight tingling in her nose, and bowed deeply again.

This time, they truly entrusted their families to this clan chief:

"Lin Zhao... bids farewell, clan chief! I entrust all matters of the family to you!"

Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.

Lin Zhao bid farewell to clan leader Lin Shanhe and, guided by a disciple of Tianyun Market, arrived at the designated docking area for flying boats on the outskirts of the market.

Upon closer inspection, this third-tier spirit boat, over 150 feet long, with a dark golden metallic luster and interwoven silver-white array patterns and spiritual light, was revealed!

The ship's lines are smooth and powerful, like a mountain.

On the ship's hull, countless complex and dazzling array runes flickered and shimmered, forming a visible light golden spiritual energy shield that exuded a vast and powerful pressure.

"A third-tier spirit boat... Is this a cultivation creation comparable to the power of a Core Formation cultivator?" Lin Zhao looked up, his heart filled with indescribable shock.

He obtained fragmented memories of Core Formation cultivators and gained some understanding of the power of Core Formation cultivators.

That is a qualitative change at the level of the origin of life.

And this giant ship before us, though devoid of life,

However, the spiritual energy array power flowing on it, and the overwhelming aura that seemed to suppress everything even when not being released, made him truly feel the power of the third-tier spirit boat.

This is not merely a means of transportation, but also a weapon of war, a mobile fortress! It can easily wipe out a market town inhabited by cultivators.

The spirit boat hovered dozens of feet above the platform, casting a large shadow. It descended a ladder made of spiritual light, which landed steadily on the edge of the platform.

"Brother Lin! Over here!" Xu Chuan's voice rang out. He was already waiting on the platform, with five other cultivators standing beside him.

Leading them was the young Foundation Establishment cultivator surnamed Lan whom Lin Zhao had met before.