Becoming a leader of the immortal path begins with sowing the seeds of inner demons.

Feng Zai felt that it was raining.

But when he slowly opened his eyes, he realized that the wetness on his face was from Zhou Qianqian's tears.

Seeing that Zhou Qianqian's face was covered in tears, Feng Zai felt sorry for her and struggled to sit up, wanting to say a few words of comfort. But as soon as he spoke, he returned to his usual serious demeanor.

"Don't cry, I'm not dead yet."

Remember this: even if I truly die, do not waste your energy on my death; diligent cultivation is the right path.

Zhou Qianqian was startled, but after she came to her senses, she burst into laughter through her tears. Although she didn't hear what Feng Zai was saying, she still nodded habitually.

"I remember... Senior brother, your hair has turned completely white."

Feng Zai then noticed the change in hair color, but only a flicker of relief at surviving a close call flashed in his eyes before his gaze sharpened as he scanned his surroundings and asked, "Where are the other two?"

Hearing this, Zhou Qianqian lowered her head in shame and recounted what had happened in detail, clutching the hem of her clothes as she murmured.

"Senior brother, I was so scared at the time. When I saw you lying on the ground, I thought... I would faint too."

Feng Zai raised an eyebrow, immediately grabbed Zhou Qianqian's wrist, and carefully examined her body with his true energy. Only after confirming that there were no hidden injuries or restrictions did he breathe a sigh of relief.

But he didn't completely let his guard down. After thinking for a moment, he said seriously, "If you feel unwell these days, you must tell me immediately. Don't hide anything from me."

"Yes."

"Also, you need to copy the Meditation Sutra twenty times. How can you manage if you panic and lose your composure when faced with a problem?"

"I understand, senior brother. I haven't forgotten what you said before."

"Forty times in total."

"...yes."

"Let's go." Feng Zai stood up, looked around, and said calmly after confirming that there was nothing amiss, "Let's go back to the sect."

"Senior brother, aren't you going to find those two?" Zhou Qianqian reminded him, her face full of indignation. "That cat is so wicked! I even thought it was cute, but it stole your pills while you were unconscious!"

"Fifty times." Feng Zai frowned slightly.

"Why?" Zhou Qianqian looked up in confusion, but when she met Feng Zai's stern gaze, she lowered her head guiltily, trying to hide her embarrassment by looking at her toes, which were completely invisible.

"Those two are of unknown origin and behave strangely. We'd better not get too involved with them." Feng Zai bent down to pick up the porcelain bottle, admonishing, "No matter what their cultivation level or intentions are, it has nothing to do with our Yu Hua Sect."

Moreover, if you encounter those two people in the future, you must treat them with utmost courtesy.

"Regardless, that Golden Core cultivator... senior, after all, saved my life and spared yours."

Zhou Qianqian scratched her head in confusion and followed behind Feng Zai, whispering, "Senior brother, is that person really a Golden Core cultivator?"

Compared to my master, I always felt that the man had neither the majesty of a Golden Core cultivator nor the methods of one.

"You don't know, he chopped at the back of my neck with his hand and knocked me unconscious..."

"Sixty times."

"Senior Brother, you...you're right to reprimand me."

Faced with Feng Zai's gaze, Zhou Qianqian gave an awkward smile and shrank back.

Firstly, because she felt she was in the wrong, and secondly, because she always felt that her senior brother was a different person after waking up.

It has become...sharper.

The two walked in silence onto the official road. Just as Feng Zai took out a paper crane to cast a spell, Zhou Qianqian suddenly showed a look of realization and clapped her hands heavily.

"Senior brother, there's one more thing!"

"What's with all this stammering?" Feng Zai leaped onto the paper crane, turned back, and said with displeasure, "Just say it all at once."

Zhou Qianqian swallowed hard, recalling the last scene she saw before losing consciousness, and hesitated, saying, "Senior brother, after you go back, you'd better check on yourself first."

Why?

"The pill you ate... it looks like it was pried out of a cat's mouth."

"?"

......

"Achoo!" Da Jin sneezed loudly, then rubbed his head hard against Lu Ming's shoulder.

"Da Jin!" Lu Ming patted Da Jin's butt, and its orange fur rippled like water.

Da Jin wiggled its bottom and snuggled closer to Lu Ming, muttering, "Meow wants to eat, but meow can't eat."

Daddy is mean to the cat.

Lu Ming was speechless.

Ever since he successfully snatched the pill back from Da Jin's mouth, Da Jin has maintained this spoiled attitude. He tucks his little hands into his pockets, lies down on the ground and pretends to sleep. No matter what he says, it's no use. He can only carry him around.

Seeing that they were about to reach the prefectural city, in order not to attract too much attention, Lu Ming could only reassure them, "Da Jin, shrink a bit, I'll buy you dried fish when we get into the city."

"Meow doesn't believe it." Big Gold yawned.

"...I'm not kidding you, ten."

Da Jin turned his head and glanced at Lu Ming with distrust in his eyes.

"Twenty, if you don't agree, then forget it."

"Meow wants to eat those fragrant meatballs."

"...I'll buy it for you if I find it."

"Really?" Da Jin's eyes lit up, and he immediately activated his cultivation technique, transforming from a cat into a lump of cats.

Although she is still overweight, she is within a range that is acceptable to most people and will not be too noticeable.

Lu Ming nodded in satisfaction, patted Da Jin's head, and strode towards the crowd ahead along the official road.

Yujiang Prefecture City, as an important location in Chenzhou, was extremely prosperous.

Even though noon had passed, the city gate was still crowded with carriages, horses, peddlers, and laborers, all waiting for the gatekeepers to inspect them.

While waiting, Lu Ming realized that he might have been worrying too much.

When the previous incarnation sought immortality, he went straight to the Jade Flower Sect and did not enter the prefectural city, so he did not have many memories related to the prefectural city.

With a quick glance, he saw quite a few cultivators.

Some carried gourds, some carried banners, some led cranes, some rode tigers... like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each displaying their unique abilities.

In comparison, he, a handsome, pale-faced scholar, holding a fat cat that was half his height, seemed rather ordinary.

However, this was exactly what Lu Ming wanted.

The more cultivators there are in this city, the faster they can find the next host of the inner demon, improve their proficiency with the inner demon, and hide their identity.

Even if the people of the Yu Hua Sect sensed something was wrong and chased after him, they would not be able to find him among the vast number of cultivators.

As Lu Ming was thinking, the group arrived in front of him.

To Lu Ming's surprise, the city gatekeeper wearing old armor was also a Qi Refining cultivator!

This made Lu Ming doubt the memories left behind by his predecessor.

How did the immortal path in the Nine Provinces, which had flourished to this extent, end up with no way to seek immortality and even suffer from demonic possession?

Just then, the city-guarding cultivator suddenly said, "A new face?"

Is he an outsider, or a newcomer?

Lu Ming smiled and said what he had prepared in advance, "People from Yujiang Prefecture read too much and unknowingly entered the Xuanmen (Taoist sect).

The gatekeeper raised an eyebrow. "Do you have a master?"

Lu Ming shook his head. "I came to the city to seek the profound method."

The gatekeeper glanced at the dozing Da Jin, then at Lu Ming, and said wearily, "Within Chenzhou, the private transmission of profound techniques is strictly prohibited."

If you want to become an apprentice, go to the government office. There you can find the register of sects in Yujiang Prefecture. You can try your luck at each one.

Also, keep a close eye on your spirit beast and don't let it harm anyone or cause trouble... In addition, there are many other taboos; they will give them to you when you go to the government office to retrieve the roster.

Having said that, the gatekeeper stretched out his hand.

Lu Ming understood and immediately followed the example of the others, taking out the copper coins he had prepared in advance and handing them over.

The gatekeeper sighed, "You are a cultivator."

One low-grade spirit stone.

Spirit Stone?

Lu Ming's smile froze on his face.

......

evening.

Inside a simple inn.

Lu Ming emptied his pockets and rented a guest room.

Fortunately, he is now a cultivator and no longer needs to spend money to refill his lamp oil. He can use the moonlight to read the thick stack of instructions he received from the city lord's mansion.

"...It is forbidden to harm mortals or livestock. Those who damage mortals' houses in magical battles must compensate for the damage. It is forbidden to use supernatural powers to cheat or deceive. It is forbidden to sell cultivation methods to mortals."

Countless prohibitions finally made Lu Ming understand where the harmony between humans and immortals in the Nine Provinces came from, and also why his predecessor could not enter the Dao.

All the promising cultivators in the Yujiang Prefecture area are nominally future disciples of the Yuhua Sect.

If you want to cultivate, the Jade Flower Sect is the first choice, followed by those independent sects founded by Golden Core cultivators.

As for cultivators below the Golden Core stage who wish to spread their teachings here... they should first ask the Jade Flower Sect if their swords are sharp enough.

It's unclear whether this is unique to Chenzhou or across all nine provinces.

The thought flashed through Lu Ming's mind for only a moment before he dismissed it.

The best course of action now is to pay off the debt.

He still owes Yujiang Prefecture a low-grade spirit stone.

Thinking of this, Lu Ming glanced at Da Jin and saw that he was engrossed in licking the dried fish and had no time to pay attention to him. So he calmed his mind, entered the "Inner Demon Record", and chose the light spot represented by Feng Zai.

Feng Zai

[Realm Level: Perfect Qi Refining (Severely Injured and Degraded)]

[Technique: Taiyin Youxuan Scripture]

[Second Job Advancement Inner Demon: 3/100]

[Talent: The Relic of the Toad Palace (Grade C)]

By tempering the physical body and soul with the essence of the moon, the self-healing ability is enhanced, and the body and soul become more resilient after recovery.

Lu Ming was delighted by Feng Zai's talent.

If that's the case, then it seems he doesn't have to let Feng Zai grow up on his own, but can instead participate in Feng Zai's growth.

In this way, the inner demons will grow even faster.

With this in mind, Lu Ming no longer hesitated and directly immersed his consciousness into Feng Zai's light spot.

This is also a good opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the cultivation world in Kyushu.

Ideally, I'd like to find a place where I can easily earn spirit stones...