Chapter 3: The Difficult Path to Immortality

 Three people entered the inner gate directly: Lu Nanzhi, Shen Huaixi, and Xie Jingshan, who had a competitive relationship with Shen Huaixi. Under the envious eyes of others, they received their tokens and were taken by a dedicated person to the thirty-six peaks within the Tianyan Sect.

Next were the ninety-eight outer disciples, and the rest were all Menial Task Disciples.

Inner disciples could worship one of the thirty-six peaks of the Tianyan Sect, where spiritual energy was abundant. They could receive guidance from the Yuan Ying True Immortal and even have the chance to become a direct disciple of a True Immortal, gaining supreme glory.

Each month, they would also receive twenty pieces of low-grade spirit stones and a bottle of elixirs, and for the first three years, they were not forced to complete sect missions but focused on cultivation.

Outer disciples had a slightly lower status, living in the eighty-one valleys beneath the thirty-six peaks. Five people lived together in one courtyard, where a gathering spirit array was set up. Each month, they would receive five pieces of low-grade spirit stones and three elixirs, and they were not obligated to complete sect missions in the first year.

The treatment for Menial Task Disciples was worlds apart. They could only receive five pieces of low-grade spirit stones and three elixirs when they first entered.

In the first month, they were solely focused on absorbing spiritual energy into their bodies and were exempt from taking on tasks. After that, they would be assigned to various tasks within the Tianyan Sect and had to complete one sect mission every month.

If they failed to absorb spiritual energy into their bodies in the first month, they would be expelled from the sect.

Fortunately, completing sect missions rewarded contribution points, which could be exchanged for spirit stones, elixirs, and other resources.

While doing various tasks, if they encountered generous elders, they might also receive some gifts. So, even though the life of a Menial Task Disciple was tough, with effort and perseverance, they could still cultivate.

Upon reaching the seventh level of Qi Refining, they could take part in the end-of-year selection to become an outer disciple and then gradually improve their status.

Jiang Yuebai watched as everyone received their tokens and cultivation resources one by one.

Lin Suiwan received the token of an outer disciple and gave Jiang Yuebai a smug look before leaving, silently telling her to wait and see.

Jiang Yuebai felt anxious but clenched her fists, telling herself not to be afraid.

The starry river was vast, and the moon was dimly lit.

After everyone had left, Jiang Yuebai remained standing alone in the square, holding her head high with an indomitable spirit, always fixing her gaze on Hong Tao.

Hong Tao received a package from someone behind him. Jiang Yuebai's eyes suddenly brightened, and her mouth couldn't help but curve upwards.

Sighing, Hong Tao lifted the package and said, "Come with me."

Leading Jiang Yuebai alone, he walked down a small path on the west side of the square.

The night wind was cold, and the grass waved. The two figures, one tall and one small, walked side by side.

Jiang Yuebai kept her eyes on the package in Hong Tao's hand, which belonged to her but wasn't given to her.

However, she didn't dare to ask. She feared that Hong Tao might just send her flying with a single palm, destroying all her efforts.

After walking for about a quarter of an hour, Hong Tao stopped at a fork in the road.

One path led down to a dark valley, with fields crisscrossing and the fragrance of rice floating in the night breeze.

The other path led up to magnificent buildings, with lights shining, and celestial music surrounding them.

Hong Tao held the package in his hand and looked down at the small Jiang Yuebai.

"Because you stepped onto the eighty-first step, according to the sect rules, you should have become an outer disciple. But you've seen it yourself—outer disciples all possess at least three spiritual roots, and many of them are from cultivation families. I hope you haven't forgotten what happened before the Immortal Ascension Steps. Now, you have the choice: become an outer disciple or serve as a Menial Task Disciple."

A glimmer of resentment flickered in Jiang Yuebai's eyes. "Why can't I with my five spiritual roots? What makes me worse than them?"

Hong Tao squatted down, meeting Jiang Yuebai's gaze, and patiently said, "This is common knowledge in the cultivation world. Cultivation means absorbing spiritual energy into your body and refining it, step by step, to strengthen your physical body. You will understand all of this later. I'm only talking about spiritual roots now."

"Spiritual roots are like water containers, and spiritual energy is like water mist in the air. Without a water container, you cannot store the water mist. That's why you need spiritual roots to cultivate. It's the key to opening the door to cultivation."

Jiang Yuebai's eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly, absorbing the knowledge of the cultivation world like a sponge.

"Lü Nanzhi has a natural spiritual body. Her water container isn't just in her dantian; her entire body is the container. With a wave of her hand, she can attract spiritual energy into any part of her body. Shen Huaixi and Xie Jingshan both have single spiritual roots, and their dantians contain a water container."

"And the value of the spiritual root determines the affinity with spiritual energy. Xie Jingshan has a root value of nine. Besides having a larger water container and being able to hold more spiritual energy, he can sense the existence of spiritual energy without using elixirs, and it's easier for him to absorb it into his body."

"Of course, someone with a root value of nine, like Xie Jingshan, will cultivate slightly slower than someone with a root value of eight, like Shen Huaixi. It takes more time to fill up a larger water container. But in the future, Xie Jingshan's casting speed, the endurance of his spells, and their power will all be slightly stronger than Shen Huaixi's because of his higher root value. That's the importance of the root value."

Jiang Yuebai blinked. "Then, with my five water containers, even if my root value is low, the total amount of water is still more than one water container, right?"

Hong Tao was slightly surprised, not expecting Jiang Yuebai to be so sensitive and intelligent, finding the key point.

"Five spiritual roots do have their advantages. With all five elements, you can cultivate various kinds of techniques. But the water container needs to be filled to overflow, and only then can the spiritual energy flow throughout your body."

"Moreover, if your root value is lower than five, spiritual energy will hardly be close to you. You will need to spend more time and patience to fill up the five water containers."

Jiang Yuebai's eyes dimmed as she immediately understood.

Hong Tao nodded approvingly. "Before the Foundation Building stage, a person's lifespan is around seventy to eighty years. Those with strong bodies might live to a hundred. Even if they take low-grade longevity elixirs, they might live up to a hundred and fifty."

"From the Qi Refining stage to the Foundation Building stage, assuming you have three spiritual roots, it takes an average of ten to twenty years. From the Foundation Building stage to the Core Formation stage, it takes thirty to fifty years, If you have five spiritual roots. While others can start cultivating once they fill one water container, you will have to spend five times more time."

"Others only need to comprehend one attribute to forge a Golden Core and become a true immortal, leaving behind their mortal bodies. But you will need to integrate the changes of the five elements. Not to mention the Foundation Building stage, even the Qi Refining stage will be extremely difficult for you to pass. The resources outside the sect are abundant, but they are limited compared to the number of cultivators seeking immortality. Competition and conflicts over resources have become the norm."

"Can't the spiritual roots be changed?" Jiang Yuebai asked.

Hong Tao sighed, "If they could, then everyone in the world could ascend to the heavens. Where would the talk of cultivating against the heavens come from? However, spiritual roots cannot be changed, but the root value can be improved once."

"Once you reach the Foundation Building stage and form a foundation, and when you gain insight into the Great Dao, the Dao Rhyme will add to your spiritual roots for the first time. The extent of improvement depends on the will of the heavens, and you will only have this chance once in your life."

In the end, you still need to reach the Foundation Building stage before you have a chance to change your fate.

Before that, the spiritual roots are a hurdle, and the root value is another.

Jiang Yuebai clenched and then relaxed her fists, looking toward the distant immortal buildings with envy and longing in her eyes.

How much she wanted to live in such a beautiful place, enjoy good wine, and live carefree like an immortal.

But she knew she couldn't go there now because she was too weak to protect her belongings.

She wasn't afraid of competing with the outer disciples, and she wasn't afraid of Lin Suiwan either. But she was afraid of Lin Suiwan's ancestor, Lin Xiangtian!

However, she wouldn't be afraid forever!

"I'll become a Menial Task Disciple."

Hearing Jiang Yuebai's firm voice, Hong Tao felt relieved and showed some approval, handing her the package.

"There are ten pieces of low-grade spirit stones and six Qi-Refining elixirs inside. It's double the amount given to other Menial Task Disciples, as compensation. I'll arrange a good place for you and find someone kind to guide you on your path."

"The Qi-Refining elixirs will help you sense and absorb spiritual energy. With six of them, there's a high chance of breaking through to the first level of Qi Refining. As long as you continue to strive, you might one day follow in the footsteps of the founder of the Tianyan Sect, Lu Xingyun, and reach the peak with your five spiritual roots."

Jiang Yuebai's eyes brightened. "So, with five spiritual roots, I can also reach the peak?"

Hong Tao stood up. "In the cultivation world, only one person has achieved this in the last hundred thousand years."

"Then I'll be the second person!"

Hong Tao didn't want to break her beautiful vision. Ignorance gives courage. When she truly starts cultivating, she'll understand how difficult it is.

Five times the time and five times the resources, yet her lifetime won't be five times longer than others.

But cultivation difficulties go far beyond that.

"Let's go. I'll take you to Huaxi Valley to find Master Tao. He entered the sect in his middle age and was once a teacher in the mortal world. He's the most honest, kind, and patient person. He's also excellent at cultivating spiritual herbs. If you learn three skills from him, you can support yourself and even earn some spirit stones for cultivation."

"Alright!"

In Huaxi Valley, the night was silent, and the fragrance of rice drifted with the sound of insects.

In a small courtyard, Tao Fengnian, who was in his eighties, sat cross-legged on his bed, lighting an oil lamp. He counted the spirit stones over and over again.

Three hundred and ninety-seven, and no more.

He picked up his smoking pipe and took a drag, his back bent, his face full of worry.

"Having practiced for thirty-nine years with four spiritual roots, I failed in Foundation Building twice and only saved up this much. Now that my life is coming to an end, I can't even afford a ten-year longevity elixir. But I have more than enough to buy a nice coffin, ha~"

The path to immortality? The path to immortality!

It's not in the water or the mountains but in the superiority of spiritual roots!

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