Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Improving Spiritual Root Aptitude

The next morning.

Wu Fan slowly opened his eyes from meditation, exhaled a long breath, and his spiritual energy calmed down. He got up, washed up briefly, and began to calculate yesterday's gains and expenses.

Yesterday, I sold off the remaining pills and miscellaneous items, earning nearly 500 low-grade spirit stones. I also took the opportunity to purchase two exploding beads, one poison sac bead, and a wind-attribute flying magic artifact, the Wind-Riding Boat.

This Wind-Riding Boat is crafted from Wind Spirit Wood, with a Wind-Riding Array engraved on its hull. Mid-to-late stage Qi Refining cultivators only need to input spiritual power and then guide it with their spiritual sense to control it flexibly. Its speed is 30% faster than ordinary flying magic artifacts, making it exceptionally practical.

So, yesterday alone cost me over 1,700 low-grade spirit stones, and I still have a little over 1,000 left.

Wu Fan nodded to himself. These spirit stones were enough to purchase materials for refining first-grade high-quality pills, as well as the precious fire-attribute materials he urgently needed.

However, he had already planned to entrust the alchemy materials to Li Buhui for help in finding them, which would be safe and worry-free.

As for fire-attribute materials, they have special properties and are only available in large shops; he has to select them personally.

Having made up his mind, Wu Fan pushed open the door and walked out of the room.

As agreed, Jiang Ling should arrive at Falling Star Valley today.

Half an hour later, Wu Fan, Li Buhui, and Niu Dazhuang were already waiting in the private room from yesterday, with freshly brewed spiritual tea laid out on the table.

Suddenly, light footsteps were heard outside the door, followed by a clear, cold voice: "Fellow Daoists, it's been a long time. How have you been?"

The three of them turned their heads at the same time and saw a woman in a light yellow dress walking in slowly. A jade hairpin was inserted in her hair, the jade was warm and smooth, and it made her skin look as white as snow.

Compared to a few years ago, her appearance hasn't changed much, but her temperament is completely different. She's aloof and otherworldly, like a fairy who doesn't eat the food of the mortal world, surrounded by a faint spiritual aura, as if she stepped out of an ancient painting.

Jiang Ling's eyes, in particular, seemed to hold a sky full of stars. They appeared calm and undisturbed, but deep within them lay a sense of aloofness and profundity. They seemed to be able to see through people's hearts, yet kept them at a distance, a stark contrast to her usual gentle demeanor.

All three of them were stunned for a moment, clearly taken aback by the dramatic change in their demeanor.

Seeing the three of them lost in thought, Jiang Ling smiled faintly and asked in a gentle tone, "Fellow Daoists, is there something amiss with Jiang Ling?"

Niu Dazhuang, being the most straightforward, was the first to recover, slapping his thigh and laughing, "Good heavens! Fellow Daoist Jiang looks like a celestial being descended from heaven!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ling's eyebrows curved into a smile, her tone softening slightly, and she said with a touch of humility, "Fellow Daoist Niu is too kind in praising people. Jiang Ling has only been focusing on cultivation over the years, and her state of mind has changed slightly."

After saying that, she took a few graceful steps and sat down in the empty seat.

The group was already familiar with each other and had met many times before, so the atmosphere quickly became warm and harmonious.

Jiang Ling has now reached the peak of the sixth level of Qi Refining, with a solid and profound aura. It seems that she will be able to break through to the seventh level of Qi Refining soon.

She was not only an inner disciple of Falling Star Valley, but also the only female cultivator present. With her exceptionally beautiful appearance, the conversation naturally revolved around her.

During their casual conversation, Wu Fan also took the opportunity to learn more about the recruitment details for Falling Star Valley seven years later, which strengthened his resolve to break through to become a first-grade high-level alchemist as soon as possible.

After all, entering the valley through the recommendation of the Bai family is still uncertain. Only by having sufficient strength can one have more options.

Jiang Ling was extremely tactful and diplomatic during the banquet. She was considerate and thoughtful to everyone, showing no arrogance despite her status as an inner disciple, and never neglecting anyone.

Whether it was her insights on cultivation or the sect's secrets that everyone was curious about, she spoke freely and without reservation, and the relationship between the group grew closer through this casual conversation.

They chatted for a long time until the sun began to set, and the afterglow painted half the sky red. Suddenly, Jiang Ling's tone turned serious, and she looked at the three of them earnestly: "Fellow Daoists, it has been a pleasure to meet you all today. I have another matter to ask for your help."

"Please speak freely, Fairy Jiang! As long as it is within my power, I will not refuse."

Li Buhui accepted the offer almost without hesitation, her voice full of enthusiasm.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ling smiled gently at Li Buhui, the coldness in her eyes softening and replaced by a touch of gentleness: "Thank you for your kindness, Fellow Daoist Li."

That smile, with its curved eyebrows and captivating beauty, stirred the heart of the now composed and reserved Li Buhui, causing her to momentarily feel a strange sense of illusion.

Could this aloof and ethereal fairy be interested in me? Perhaps I am not entirely without a chance to pursue her?

The thought flashed through Li Buhui's mind, and she quickly suppressed it, forcing herself to remain calm.

Seeing that Li Buhui readily agreed, Wu Fan nodded in agreement, and Niu Dazhuang patted his chest and said, "Please give us your orders, Fairy Jiang, and we will do our best to help!"

Seeing this, Jiang Ling slowly revealed what she wanted to ask for.

It turned out to be a borrowed spirit stone.

It turns out that seven years later, it will not only be the once-a-decade recruitment ceremony of Falling Star Valley, but also a crucial moment for the disciples in the valley to compete for the qualification of Foundation Establishment.

The disciples of Falling Star Valley are divided into four levels: servants, outer disciples, inner disciples, and personal disciples. The chances of establishing a foundation vary greatly depending on the level of the disciple.

The menial disciples are responsible for the menial tasks at the bottom of the valley. To put it bluntly, they are people recruited by the sect to fill labor shortages. They are busy with labor every day and have no right to receive Foundation Establishment Pills.

Outer disciples also do not have a quota of Foundation Establishment Pills, but they can exchange them using sect contribution points.

However, the contribution points required for this exchange are ridiculously high. If one relies solely on completing sect missions to accumulate them, it's likely that one won't be able to cultivate for the next ten or twenty years. One must focus all one's attention on missions.

Alternatively, one can participate in a special selection every ten years. Those who stand out can be promoted to the inner sect and obtain the opportunity to establish their foundation. However, the chances of this selection are extremely low, the process is dangerous, and the mortality rate is not low.

Wu Fan kept these things firmly in his heart.

Whether he enters the valley through the Bai family's recommendation or through his alchemy skills, he will most likely start as an outer disciple. At that time, he will inevitably face the difficulties of Foundation Establishment. This selection path is one that he is very likely to obtain, so he must pay attention to it in advance.

The remaining inner disciples and personal disciples received drastically different treatment.

His direct disciples are all apprentices or descendants of Golden Core cultivators, and he never lacks Foundation Establishment Pills.

In theory, inner disciples can also receive Foundation Establishment Pills; this is a rule that has existed since the founding of Falling Star Valley.

Back then, there were few inner disciples, so everyone could get one. Now, the sect has developed for thousands of years, with a total of over ten thousand disciples, including several hundred inner disciples. However, the spiritual herbs needed to refine Foundation Establishment Pills are difficult to supply.

The Foundation Establishment Pill requires the medicinal herbs to grow in spiritual veins of the third rank or higher, and the requirements for the age are extremely high, resulting in a shortage of Foundation Establishment Pills produced every ten years.

Therefore, Falling Star Valley has established new rules.

Inner disciples still have a quota for Foundation Establishment Pills, but they are distributed according to cultivation level, with priority given to Qi Refining Level 9 disciples, and then decreasing in number.

This forces many inner disciples whose cultivation level has not reached the ninth level to wait for the next ten years. However, ten years is a long time with many variables. Perhaps by then their cultivation level will have met the requirements for Foundation Establishment, but they will still have to wait in vain.

Over time, a large number of veteran inner disciples lined up to wait for pills, and many people couldn't get a spot even after two attempts.

New inner disciples who want to obtain Foundation Establishment Pills in advance must participate in a ranking competition. Regardless of their cultivation level, anyone can participate. Those who rank higher will receive the pills first, while those who rank lower will have to wait another ten years.

Even more so, some veteran inner disciples, knowing that queuing is hopeless, will join the competition to vie for a spot.

Among them are those who are unlucky and have to wait three rounds of ten years.

It takes a full thirty years to reach the Foundation Establishment Pill. Even for those with superior spiritual roots, it takes more than twenty years to cultivate to the late stage of Qi Refining. By the time they reach thirty years old, they will be over sixty, and the chances of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage will be greatly reduced. Not to mention disciples with mid-grade spiritual roots.

Therefore, all inner disciples tried every means to obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill as soon as possible.