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

The next morning.

At the city gate of Yujiang Prefecture, the gatekeeper Yu Sheng quickly verified the identities of those entering the city, looking at the seemingly endless queue with a numb expression.

He has been doing the same thing for twenty years, and now he doesn't even feel like complaining anymore.

Lacking talent, and not having joined a major sect, his performance within the sect was also unremarkable... Mortals all say that cultivating immortality is good, but they don't know that once you enter the path of cultivation, there is no turning back.

Especially since the Nine Provinces are currently in a golden age of immortality, someone as outstanding as him among mortals doesn't even have the right to follow in the footsteps of countless others and get nothing.

Decades of wasted time had long since buried his ambitions; now he only wanted to live out the rest of his days in peace, and asked for nothing more...

"Hello, is this the entrance to the city?"

The crisp, sweet, and polite female voice brought Yu Sheng back to his senses.

When the person in front of him removed the black veil covering his face, he suddenly froze on the spot.

The female cultivator in front of me was dressed in a tight-fitting outfit. At first glance, she looked very heroic and was an extremely likable woman.

At second glance, beneath her heroic spirit lay an ethereal quality, as if she were untouched by worldly concerns. Despite it being broad daylight, he felt as if the person before him had stepped out from the moon, with the moonlight flowing around her like gauze, creating an indescribable sense of ethereal beauty.

Upon seeing the third glance, Yu Sheng immediately lowered his head, so nervous that he was at a loss for what to do and even had difficulty breathing.

He didn't examine the woman's face closely, but with just a cursory glance, her captivating charm was deeply etched into his very being.

She simply smiled, and he was captivated, his heart fluttering like that of a young boy experiencing his first love.

"You...cough, where are you from? What brings you to Yujiang Prefecture? Do you need any help?"

Yu Sheng wanted his voice to sound gentle and charming, but no matter how hard he tried, his voice came out hoarse and hesitant, so embarrassing that he wished he could change his voice.

How come the face created by sculpting based on the beauty template looks so good?

Lu Ming subconsciously touched his smooth, fair cheeks.

He recognized Yu Sheng; the last time he entered the city as a scholar, Yu Sheng was the one guarding the city.

But the treatment was completely different.

Excellent modeling skills are indeed a top-tier talent; you'll be in demand everywhere.

Thinking of this, Lu Ming smiled and narrowed her eyes, saying softly, "Senior, I am new to Chenzhou and do not know the rules here."

I humbly request your guidance, senior.

The word "senior" made Yu Sheng's face flush red and his hands and feet tremble.

He gave a vague reply, then leaped up and flew back into the city gate. He returned shortly afterward, carrying a thick book in his hand.

"Take it, take it." Yu Sheng took two deep breaths and said with barely managing to calm himself, "The rules are all inside. If you don't understand, you can ask me. I'm here every day."

Lu Ming took it and looked at it.

"Precautions for Cultivators in Chenzhou (Deluxe Edition)"

"..."

He glanced at Yu Sheng helplessly.

Brother, isn't this preferential treatment a bit too much?

Yu Sheng looked away from the sight of that person and said nervously, "This...this thing isn't worth much; we get it every day."

"My name is Lin Yue, and what's yours, senior?" Lu Ming revealed his pearly white teeth and flashed a bright smile.

Yu Sheng's eyes glazed over for a moment, and he murmured, "I... my name is Yu Sheng..."

"Thank you, Senior Yu Sheng." Lu Ming winked at Yu Sheng, waved backward, and walked into the city gate.

Yu Sheng was completely mesmerized.

By the time he came to his senses, Lu Ming had already disappeared.

Looking at the bustling crowd, Yu Sheng still couldn't find the familiar figure. He sighed with some disappointment, then took out the entry list and silently filled in Lin Yue's name in the "mortal" column. He paid an extra five copper coins out of his own pocket, his eyes still filled with endless reverie.

Just then, a curious voice rang out behind him.

"Brother, could I have a copy of that book too?"

Yu Sheng, instantly pulled back to reality, turned around expressionlessly and extended her hand.

"A spirit stone."

"Why?! You didn't accept any spirit stones either!"

"I just found out that she's my half-sister." Yu Sheng said this without any change in expression.

Upon hearing this, the rogue cultivator secretly rolled his eyes, but dared not confront the gatekeeper directly. He could only curse inwardly as he walked in.

He hadn't taken two steps before Yu Sheng dragged him back.

"What's wrong now? Fine, I don't want it!"

"One spirit stone for entering the city." Yu Sheng said impatiently.

"But just now..."

"She is a mortal."

"But I clearly..."

"You, a mere beginner in Qi Refining, dare to talk to me about discernment?" Yu Sheng released the aura of a fully-fledged Qi Refining expert, frowning. "Will you hand it in or not? If not, then get out of my way."

Next!

"......"

"go back!"

In the marketplace, Zhou Yunting said with dissatisfaction, "Next."

"Master, take another look. I... I really did enter the Dao at the age of fourteen."

An unidentified creature, eight feet tall and muscular, but with the face of a young girl, bowed repeatedly to him.

Zhou Yunting took a deep breath, closed his eyes, and said irritably, "Get out!"

"Trying to swindle spirit stones with just a mask? What do you take the Zhou family for?!"

Amidst the laughter and chatter of the onlookers, the man sheepishly removed his mask, lowered his head, and slunk into the crowd.

At this moment, a little girl skipped and hopped through the crowd, squeezed in front of Zhou Yunting, released her aura of spiritual energy, and innocently asked, "Sir, do you think I can?"

Zhou Yunting examined him carefully for a moment, but did not answer immediately. Instead, he turned to look at the middle-aged man with his sword on his back who had been resting with his eyes closed.

The middle-aged man didn't even open his eyes before the long sword behind him suddenly appeared an inch from its sheath, its powerful aura silencing the entire room.

"Golden Core?" someone in the room exclaimed in a low voice.

The middle-aged man's eyes widened slightly upon hearing this. His sharp gaze swept over the cultivators crowding in front of Zhou Yunting, and he coldly said, "Those who use magic treasures, pills, or cultivation techniques to disguise themselves don't need to waste their time here."

The words were spoken, but no one moved.

The middle-aged man looked dissatisfied and transmitted his voice to Zhou Yunting: "You people in Chenzhou are far too unruly."

"How dare they be so arrogant even with a downward revision?"

"Thank you for keeping an eye on things, Guest Elder Chai." Zhou Yunting apologized helplessly, "Please forgive me, the rules of the Qingxia Sect have produced a bunch of people who don't know their place."

Chai Yan snorted coldly, a hint of fear flashing in his eyes. He suppressed his murderous intent and remained silent.

Seeing this, Zhou Yunting breathed a sigh of relief, then turned around and said sternly, "A Golden Core cultivator is here. If you still harbor any illusions or continue to deceive and cheat,

Don't blame me for reporting you to the government!

As soon as the word "announcement" was uttered, most of the crowd dispersed.

The cultivators living in Chenzhou were not afraid at all of a Golden Core cultivator massacring the entire market in a fit of rage.

But they were convinced that the Zhou family would sue them so badly that they would be ruined.

I'm just here to try my luck; there's no need to risk all my savings.

At this point, only a handful of people remained in the room.

Zhou Yunting glanced at them briefly and none of them met the requirements.

They are either too old or lack cultivation.

Summoning them is completely useless.

He shook his head in disappointment, turned around, and prepared to leave to think of another way.

Just then, a clear, crisp sound rang out.

"Excuse me, is this a job posting?"

Zhou Yunting casually turned his head, then froze on the spot.

The room was deathly silent, even quieter than when Chai Yan had released his aura to suppress the attack.

Chai Yan, who had been indifferent, also opened her eyes wide, but only glanced at them before coming back to her senses, though surprise and admiration lingered in her eyes.

Lu Ming stood in the center of the arena, having mentally prepared himself. Ignoring the intense gazes around him, he pointed to his face with his delicate, jade-like finger and smiled sweetly.

"Can I?"