The Path to Immortality: Starting with an Analysis of Basic Concepts

"Recommendation?"

Zhu Yu recalled the mark of Mu Ruo that he had abandoned halfway. The thought flashed through his mind, and he shook his head slightly, respectfully replying, "Reporting to the steward, no."

Upon hearing this, Steward Heng did not feel anything was amiss. Disciples like Zhu Yu, who were brought in from the spiritual desert, were rare. Only a few would catch the eye of certain figures, but most of them would still cultivate step by step.

He took out a jade slip and tossed it in front of Zhu Yu, saying calmly:

"In order to help new disciples adapt to cultivation as quickly as possible and lay the foundation for their future path to immortality, the sect provides many spiritual sites for cultivation."

"Take a look. You can choose a sacred site to settle in. Once you choose, it will take three years to change it."

"Thank you, steward."

Upon hearing that the sect would provide spiritual grounds for cultivation, Zhu Yu's eyes lit up. While probing the jade slip with his divine sense, he sighed inwardly, "As expected, I still have to be an entry-level disciple."

But as he read the jade slip, his expression gradually became more interesting.

The jade slip records five major spiritual lands: "Demon Slayer Guard", "Netherworld Land", "Mineral Zone", "Spirit Field Palace", and "Beast Breeding Pen".

"Demon Slayer Guard": Responsible for guarding and opening up unknown territories such as demon lairs and insect nests. The monthly salary is one hundred low-grade spirit stones. After joining, you will be provided with the first-tier mid-grade spell "Demon Slayer" and the spiritual materials needed to construct the spell.

"Netherworld": Responsible for feeding and cultivating corpse embryos and vengeful spirits. Monthly salary is fifty low-grade spirit stones. After joining, you will be provided with one of the first-tier low-grade spells "Corpse Control" and "Soul Control", as well as the spiritual materials needed to construct the spell.

"Mineral Vein Area": ​​Responsible for taking care of and protecting the mineral base, with a monthly salary of thirty low-grade spirit stones. Upon joining, you will be provided with the first-tier low-grade spell "Bewitching God" and the spiritual materials needed to construct the spell.

Other places like "Spirit Field Palace" and "Beast Breeding Pen" will also provide a first-tier low-grade spell and the spiritual items needed for their construction upon joining.

The lower the ranking, the lower the salary.

At first, Zhu Yu thought that the Heavenly Dao Sect was having these new disciples do some work during their adaptation period, but as he read on, his expression gradually became serious.

According to the jade slip, human strength is finite, and lifespan is limited.

Before advancing to the Foundation Establishment Realm, specializing in one path is the best choice, and the initial choice of spiritual land determines a cultivator's path to immortality to some extent.

For example, if you join the "Demon Slayer Guard", you will most likely serve as a "Demon Slayer Envoy" in the future, specializing in killing and self-protection, without engaging in production, and using killing to open up your own path to immortality.

For example, the "Spirit Plant Hall" and "Beast Breeding Pen" will most likely be staffed by "Spirit Plant Masters" and "Beast Breeders" in the future, specializing in the optimization, cultivation, and reproduction of spirit plants and demon beasts, using resources to pave their own path to immortality.

The "Underworld" and the "Mineral Zone" are located between the two, possessing both some killing and protective power, and the ability to accumulate certain resources.

With the "Eye of True Sight" by his side, Zhu Yu immediately eliminated the most dangerous "Demon Slayer Guards." Although the "Spirit Plant Hall" and "Beast Breeding Pen" were good, they were dedicated to production and their protection was weak.

Finally, his thoughts gradually shifted towards the "underworld" and the "mineral vein area".

But when he thought about what "mineral base" was and his own destiny "Nether Earth Yin Sophora", he immediately made up his mind.

"Only five sacred sites...?"

Zhu Yu's thoughts flashed through his mind, and he came to his senses, cupping his hands and saying, "Reporting to the steward, this disciple has chosen the underworld."

Manager Heng seemed quite satisfied with his choice. A gloomy smile appeared on his face as he took out a jade tablet about three feet in diameter and beckoned to him.

"Come and choose a spot either a corpse field or a pool of resentment."

Zhu Yu stepped forward and glanced over.

The jade tablet is divided into four sections: A, B, C, and D. Each section is further subdivided into red and blue squares of varying sizes, some dark and some shiny.

Manager Heng explained, "The red squares are corpse pits, and the blue squares are resentment pools. Since you are new to Qi Refining, you can only choose the lower-grade corpse pits and resentment pools in Zone D."

"Let's pick one of those shiny, unused, empty spaces."

Zhu Yu looked at the chaotic red and blue grid on the jade plate, thought for a moment, then took out about twenty low-grade spirit stones from a hidden pouch in his sleeve and placed them on the table, respectfully saying:

"This disciple is new to Qi cultivation and knows nothing. Please help me choose a piece."

Manager Heng glanced at the small pile of spirit stones on the table and looked at him with surprise. Although there were very few spirit stones, he knew very well how difficult it was for a new disciple from the Spirit Desert to earn them.

"interesting..."

Manager Heng twitched his lips and pointed to a small red square on the edge of Section D.

"This corpse field is about three acres and two fen in size, and the Yin energy contained within it is very abundant, not much different from that of a mid-grade corpse field."

"It's right next to the animal pen, and it's extremely noisy every day, so very few people choose it nowadays."

Steward Heng said calmly, "If you think the noise will interfere with your cultivation, you can choose another spot yourself."

"Thank you, steward. This burial ground will do."

Zhu Yu did not hesitate and immediately made his choice. With his current level of mastery in visualization, a little noise would not interfere with his meditation practice.

Manager Heng nodded slightly, changed the bright grid to a dim one, and then explained to him what to do after choosing a corpse site and some benefits.

Within the six-month period, Zhu Yu only needs to adapt to his cultivation level and quietly practice his techniques.

Once the deadline has passed, I'll venture into the insect nest and the demon's lair.

Upon returning to the underworld, based on the calculation that at least ten corpses can be cultivated per acre of corpse land, Zhu Yu needs to provide the sect with fifteen living corpses each year to guide the Yin Sha spiritual energy into their bodies.

The reward is that, depending on the quality of the living corpse provided, the sect will give back twenty to one hundred contribution points.

With the monthly salary, one can earn at least nine hundred spirit stones per year.

If more living corpses can be cultivated within the sect's basic requirements, the annual income will be at least a thousand spirit stones.

of course.

If a sufficient number of living corpses are not provided as required, the first offense will result in a one-year salary deduction, while the second offense will result in immediate expulsion from the underworld.

How I make a living from now on is entirely up to me.

This is generally a good thing, but there's a problem here.

Those who leave a spiritual land before having stayed there for three years will no longer be able to join any spiritual land of the sect, and will also no longer be able to purchase cultivation techniques at half price.

The path to immortality isn't exactly severed, but it's certainly dimmed and devoid of light...

.....

"call..."

After leaving the administration hall, Zhu Yu breathed a sigh of relief, looked up at the ten full moons on the dome, hesitated slightly, and then turned to walk in the opposite direction from the area for newly recruited disciples.

We followed the main road all the way.

Soon, accompanied by the roars and howls of beasts, large tracts of emerald green spiritual fields began to appear on both sides of the road, interspersed with animal pens that shimmered with restrictive spiritual light.

One can vaguely see people dressed in different clothes busy in the spirit fields and animal pens.

Let's go deeper.

The verdant spiritual fields gradually diminished, revealing a vast expanse of gray-white hills, rising and falling like tombs.

Zhu Yu sensed the increasingly intense malevolent aura surrounding him, but instead of feeling uncomfortable, he felt unusually comfortable. Surprised, he wondered to himself, "Is it because of my destiny?"

Without much thought, I turned and entered the winding path to the side.

Not long after.

Separated from the spirit field and not far from the animal pen, a mound covering about ten acres and about one hundred meters high, with scattered black, twisted trees resembling ghost trees and gray-white grass, came into view.