Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Improving Spiritual Root Aptitude

"Brother Wu, my aptitude is really not good enough. I've been studying alchemy for so many years, and I still can't refine even a basic pill. I definitely can't stay at the Hundred Pill Hall. I don't know what I can do in the future. I might as well marry into the Bai family and at least I can find a place to settle down."

Niu Dazhuang looked helpless, and his tone was somewhat embarrassed.

For him, this is the best way out at the moment.

If it weren't for the recent conflict between the Bai and Deng families that resulted in the loss of many male members, this opportunity would never have fallen into his lap.

After marrying into the Bai family, he would be able to live in the Bai family's ancestral land, enjoy the spiritual vein dojo, and receive spiritual rice, pills, and cultivation techniques from the Bai family.

But this seemingly risk-free deal comes at a considerable cost.

From now on, not only will they completely lose their freedom, but they will also have to work for the Bai family to earn the cultivation supplies they receive each month.

To put it bluntly, marrying into the Bai family is nothing more than becoming their long-term laborer and stud.

Whether it's a profit or a loss, only the parties involved probably know the truth.

Wu Fan looked at Niu Dazhuang, and for a moment he didn't know what words of comfort to say.

Just then, Niu Dazhuang's expression suddenly changed, and he immediately showed a look of joy: "By the way, Brother Wu, Li Buhui just sent a letter, inviting us to get together at Luoxing Valley Market in a little over a month, saying that he wants to reconnect with our old friendship when we were apprentices."

"reunion?"

Wu Fan looked puzzled. "Li Buhui has been rarely heard from since leaving the Hundred Pill Hall. Why would he suddenly invite me today?"

"I don't know either, but he said in his letter that Junior Sister will be coming this time too." Niu Dazhuang scratched his head.

"Junior Sister?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Fan immediately thought of Jiang Ling, who had studied martial arts with him at Baidantang back then.

She was a lively, beautiful, and cheerful girl. She was originally a member of a collateral branch of a cultivation family, but because her aptitude was not top-notch, she was sent to the Hundred Pill Hall to learn alchemy.

Unexpectedly, a few years later, she was spotted by the Foundation Establishment Master of Falling Star Valley who was passing through Yunxi Market. He discovered that she possessed a spiritual body and took her in as a disciple of Falling Star Valley.

Now that Jiang Ling has entered Falling Star Valley, she has stepped into a higher level and is no longer on the same level as them, the lower-level cultivators. Why would she still be willing to attend such a gathering?

"I heard that Junior Sister came back to visit her family, so Li Buhui made this gathering possible." Niu Dazhuang said with a simple and honest smile.

Having lived two lives, Wu Fan knows that most relationships in this world are inseparable from status, position, and interests, even among family members.

Unexpectedly, Jiang Ling was still willing to associate with these low-level cultivators.

However, the gathering still has a month to go, so it won't delay his refining of Qi-Inducing Pills or affect his participation in the Alchemist Examination at Baidan Hall.

Moreover, Jiang Ling comes from a major Nascent Soul sect like Falling Star Valley, so maintaining a relationship with her is always a good thing.

In the future, if you encounter information or channels that you cannot access, you will have another option.

......

After parting ways with Niu Dazhuang, Wu Fan went straight to Baidan Hall.

Baidantang is located in the core area of ​​Yunxifang, a prime location.

The attic is antique and elegant, quiet and refined. Various carefully trimmed potted plants are scattered outside the door, making it look less like a shop and more like a gathering place for literati.

Wu Fan walked directly into the backyard, familiar with the place, and with his relationship with the servants, he bought ten portions of medicinal materials for refining Qi-Inducing Pills at a discount of a few low-grade spirit stones.

He originally intended to leave Bai Dan Hall directly, but he happened to bump into Bai Ruanyu, the eldest daughter of the Bai family who now manages Bai Dan Hall, in the hall.

"Greetings, Miss."

Wu Fan immediately clasped his hands and bowed slightly in greeting. Then he looked up and saw that Bai Ruanyu was about twenty-five years old. Her black hair was loosely tied into a hanging bun, with only a white peach hairpin in her hair. Her plain brocade skirt trailed on the ground.

She has delicate features, long eyelashes, and a clear, sharp gaze, exuding an air of competence.

"You are Wu Fan?"

Bai Ruanyu raised her eyebrows slightly, her gaze landing precisely on Wu Fan.

"Indeed, Miss." Wu Fan replied respectfully.

He knew perfectly well that all matters, big and small, of the Hundred Pill Hall were now decided by this young lady, and whether he could participate in the Hundred Pill Hall's alchemist assessment in the future depended entirely on her word. Therefore, his attitude became even more respectful.

"I heard from Alchemist Liu that you've already been able to refine low-grade first-tier Qi-Inducing Pills?"

"The success rate of pill formation is already close to 50%, and it should be close to 50% soon."

Wu Fan slightly raised his alchemy level.

While he cannot guarantee a 50% success rate right now, he cannot appear completely unconfident either.

Bai Ruanyu nodded slightly upon hearing this, her tone softening: "In that case, Bai Dan Tang looks forward to cooperating with Alchemist Wu in the future."

Her words were polite and appropriate, making them very pleasant to listen to.

Wu Fan couldn't help but think to himself, "This young lady is so young yet she can take charge of the Hundred Pill Hall. She must have some extraordinary abilities."

He clasped his hands and bowed again, saying, "I dare not accept such praise. I only hope that I can pass the assessment smoothly."

After saying this, Wu Fan bowed and took his leave, then turned and departed.

Bai Ruanyu watched Wu Fan's departing figure, his background flashing through her mind, and a hint of curiosity quietly appeared in her eyes.

......

After leaving Baidan Hall, Wu Fan headed straight for the independent cultivators' stall area in Yunxi Market.

This place is a free trading hub spontaneously formed by independent cultivators with skills and demon-hunting teams, and it is also an important place for low-level independent cultivators to make a living.

The stalls are all flat stone tables, arranged in close rows with only a few meters between them. Although they appear dense, they are orderly.

Compared to the regular shops in the market, the prices here are lower, but the quality varies greatly, and buyers have to rely on their eyesight to distinguish the goods.

The flow of people here is much busier than in the shopping area, with hundreds of people including stall owners.

Wu Fan strolled leisurely along the stalls. He was currently in the early stage of Qi Refining and could only learn and cast a few spells, most of which were auxiliary. Spells with a little power could only be encountered in the middle stage of Qi Refining.

The only low-grade offensive magic weapon he possessed was a gift from his deceased parents when his spiritual root was discovered.

The lack of protective means made him determined to acquire a low-grade magic artifact.

He was going to a small gathering a month later, and the journey was long, so more protection meant more safety.

Most of the stalls along the way sell low-level materials, with very few selling talismans, elixirs, and magical artifacts, among which talismans are the most common.

There are only about a dozen stalls that actually sell religious artifacts, and many of them just display one or two artifacts for sale as a side business.

Wu Fan quickly browsed through all the stalls selling magical artifacts, and finally stopped in front of a burly man in his thirties or forties.

The burly man looked somewhat fierce and was at the mid-stage of Qi Refining. When he saw him stop, he neither shouted nor beckoned. He just glanced up at him and then quickly lowered his head again, engrossed in reading the book "A Fairy Is No Ordinary Person."

Among the many magical artifacts on the stall, Wu Fan's gaze was drawn to a shuttle-shaped object that resembled a flying needle but was several times larger than ordinary needle-type magical artifacts.

He reached out and picked up the shuttle-shaped magical artifact, beginning to examine it closely.

Although this magical artifact is similar in shape to needle-type magical artifacts, its size is far too large to be used for stealth attacks like needle-type artifacts.

Moreover, needle-type magical artifacts are recognized as one of the most difficult categories to refine in the cultivation world. If it is a real needle artifact, it is impossible for it to be just a low-grade magical artifact.

Wu Fan examined the situation for a moment longer, and had already made up his mind.

Although this magical artifact is not suitable for sneak attacks, it is much smaller than ordinary dagger-type magical artifacts. In certain situations, it might be able to achieve a surprising victory.

He looked up at the stall owner and asked, "Excuse me, how much is this magical artifact?"