Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Improving Spiritual Root Aptitude

Before he knew it, Wu Fan had been in Falling Star Valley for more than a month.

Over the past month or so, life has been both pleasant and somewhat hectic.

Most of the fellow disciples in the External Alchemy Room were easy to get along with and quite comfortable. However, apart from Li Qing, who was quiet and reserved, the other three fellow disciples in the External Alchemy Room who refined pills together were all very talkative.

Especially that junior sister, because she was still young, her mind was full of "whys". She would ask him all day long, from controlling the heat of alchemy to the layout of his cave dwelling and the colorful world outside the sect. She kept talking and talking without stopping.

At first, Wu Fan patiently answered each question, but later he couldn't stand it anymore and simply hid in his cave to refine pills, no longer going out, only going to the outer alchemy room when Uncle Chen was giving a lecture.

However, Chen Shishu's alchemy skills and insights truly impressed him.

Although the basic alchemy I learned from Liu Xi was solid, it was all common knowledge circulating in the cultivation world and had nothing new.

Uncle Chen always managed to come up with some novel alchemy concepts during his lectures. What's even more remarkable is that he also taught a completely new method for collecting pills. In just two classes, Wu Fan benefited greatly and gained a deeper understanding of the profound meaning of the word "companion" in the "method, wealth, companion, and place" often mentioned in the cultivation world.

On the path of spiritual cultivation, having a good teacher to guide you is far more reliable and allows you to go much further than wandering around blindly on your own.

Wu Fan wholeheartedly agreed with this.

On this day, Wu Fan had just finished refining the pills that needed to be handed over to the sect within a week. He was about to take out the array classics to study when a faint fluctuation suddenly came from outside the cave, indicating that the restriction had been triggered.

A thought struck him, and he immediately got up and opened the stone door. There stood a familiar figure in mid-air, standing on a feather-shaped flying artifact. Her light blue and white dress fluttered in the wind, and her beautiful features and otherworldly temperament made her look like a fairy descended from heaven. It was Jiang Ling, whom he had not seen for a long time.

Wu Fan's expression brightened, and he quickly raised his hand to release the protective restrictions on the cave, proclaiming loudly:

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, it's been a long time. How have you been?"

He then cupped his hands in a respectful bow and quickly stepped forward, inviting the guests in. "Please come in. The cave is simple; please don't feel slighted."

Jiang Ling chuckled softly, her voice clear and melodious like a spring. After returning the greeting, she lightly touched her toes to her flying artifact and slowly descended.

"Fellow Daoist Wu, you are too kind. I have come today for two reasons: first, to congratulate you on joining Falling Star Valley, and second, to express my gratitude once again in person for your help back then."

After saying that, he followed Wu Fan into the cave.

Wu Fan led her to the stone table in the hall and sat her down. He then turned around to brew a pot of tea, poured two cups, and placed them in front of her, smiling somewhat shyly:

"Fellow Daoist Jiang, please don't be offended. My cave dwelling is really quite simple. I don't have any good spiritual fruits or food to offer you. I only have this pot of tea, which should be enough to relieve your fatigue."

Jiang Ling smiled faintly, picked up her teacup, looked around, and said with a smile:

"Fellow Daoist Wu, you flatter me. We've known each other for many years, why be so formal? I find a pot of tea more appealing than any rare or exotic fruits. Besides, judging from the arrangement of your cave dwelling, I know you're not one to be bound by material possessions. No wonder your cultivation has steadily improved, unlike mine, which is always a bit impatient in my cultivation."

Upon hearing this, Wu Fan immediately waved his hand, his gaze then falling on her, his tone carrying a hint of sincere approval:

"Junior Sister Jiang is joking. I'm just cultivating step by step, how can I be as advanced as you? I just saw your aura was so refined, you must have already reached the eighth level of Qi Refining. I really feel ashamed."

He was secretly curious. Jiang Ling's spiritual root aptitude was not outstanding, yet she had broken through two levels in just a few years and cultivated to the eighth level of Qi Refining. He thought she must possess some kind of spiritual body that could accelerate cultivation.

Jiang Ling's smile faded slightly, and she gently shook her head:

"It was nothing more than a trick. Some time ago, in order to compete for the Foundation Establishment Pill quota for inner disciples, I used a few pills to force a breakthrough. It's not a real skill. Later, I was injured in the competition and had to recuperate for more than a month. Otherwise, I wouldn't have waited until today to congratulate Fellow Daoist Wu."

At this point, she changed the subject, her expression becoming more serious:

"By the way, Brother Wu, now that you've joined Falling Star Valley, we no longer need to address each other as 'fellow Daoist.' If you don't mind, please call me Junior Sister Jiang, and I'll call you Brother Wu, shall we?"

Wu Fan felt a warmth in his heart and instantly understood Jiang Ling's feelings.

She is now an inner disciple, while he is only an outer disciple. According to the sect's unspoken rules, even if an outer disciple has a slightly higher cultivation level, he must still address an inner disciple with respect, let alone since his cultivation level is lower.

Jiang Ling took the initiative to address him as her fellow disciple, which was both to overcome the barrier of their previous relationship and to cherish the old friendship they shared.

He immediately bowed with his hands clasped in greeting, his tone hearty and cheerful:

"Since Junior Sister Jiang is so unpretentious, then I shall take the liberty of being a little older and call you Junior Sister."

Jiang Ling smiled slightly and nodded in return.

Looking at her relaxed expression and warm demeanor, Wu Fan joked:

"Judging from Junior Sister's appearance, she must have gotten her wish and secured the Foundation Establishment Pill spot in this inner sect competition, right?"

Mentioning this, Jiang Ling's smile deepened, yet it also carried a hint of humility as she softly replied:

"It was all by luck. My talent is not as good as the other disciples, but fortunately I have two top-quality magic weapons that are suitable for my own cultivation. I did my best in the competition and barely managed to rank last, and I managed to get a spot by luck."

As she spoke, she took out a blue cloth bag from the storage pouch at her waist and handed it to Wu Fan.

"These are the spirit stones I borrowed from you back then, and I'm returning them to you today. I've also added a hundred more as a token of my gratitude for your timely help back then. If Brother Wu ever needs anything in the future, just ask, and I, Jiang Ling, will never refuse."

Wu Fan readily accepted the cloth bag.

He knew Jiang Ling's personality; she was stubborn. Since she had offered it, it was her true intention. If he politely declined, it would only seem distant.

So he casually put the cloth bag into his storage bag, raised his hands in a cupped-hand salute, and spoke in a hearty tone:

"Thank you, Junior Sister. Then I won't stand on ceremony. It was just a small favor back then, a few spirit stones. You don't need to keep it in mind."

Seeing that he accepted it so readily, Jiang Ling smiled with relief, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and then, as if remembering something, her expression suddenly hardened:

"By the way, Brother Wu, now that you've joined the sect, have you heard about the outer sect disciple competition?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Fan's heart tightened slightly.

This outer sect competition, like the trials for rogue cultivators joining Falling Star Valley, is held every ten years, and the competition methods are exactly the same.

Players must enter the secret realm to compete for each other's tokens; after collecting a certain number, they will obtain a spot.

The difference is that for rogue cultivators, entering the valley requires being among the top ten in the entrance trial, while for outer disciples, the top twenty winners can be directly promoted to inner disciples and receive an extra Foundation Establishment Pill.

However, precisely because of such generous rewards, many sect disciples perish in the secret realm during each competition, resulting in heavy casualties.