Male Cultivators Are Also Yours to Choose

"Open Furnace!"

With Lin Chang'an's loud shout, his Sword Finger swept out, and under the operation of the Object Manipulation Technique, a wave of heat instantly rolled out as the furnace lid lifted.

The surrounding cultivators all felt this heat, yet they were even more shocked as they stared at the furnace, where, as the flames gradually died down, several pills shimmering with Spiritual Charm were revealed.

Of the original ten, only five now floated, radiating Spiritual Light. Seeing this, the crowd was filled with astonishment.

Even Elder Lu's eyes flashed with a gleam of sharpness.

Lin Chang'an, watching the completed pills, widened his eyes, then put on a look of exasperation and said, "The quality of these materials was too poor. If I had done it from start to finish, I could have at least produced six."

"This!" The Great Sword Sect cultivators around exchanged glances, looking at Lin Chang'an's smug expression. Their mouths twitched, and they felt an urge to smack this guy.

With a wave of his hand, five Bigu Pills emitting a faint fragrance drifted toward Elder Lu, while Lin Chang'an shook his head with a sigh, looking regretful.

"If I had refined these pills from beginning to end, I'd have a sixty to seventy percent chance of success."

Yet everyone could see Lin Chang'an's cocky, proud demeanor. At his age and cultivation level, possessing such skill was definitely rare among Rogue Cultivators.

Bigu Pills: Low Grade—shaped like mud pellets, tasting like dirt, can stave off hunger for seven days. Medium Grade—better appearance, tasteless like chewing wax, can stave off hunger for half a month. High Grade—shaped like jade beads, with a faint fragrance, can stave off hunger for a month.

"High Grade Bigu Pills." Elder Lu looked at the five pills in his palm, exuding a faint fragrance, and couldn't help but smile.

"Little Friend, your skill is truly extraordinary. Would you be willing to refine pills for the sect?"

Elder Lu's face was full of smiles, as if he never feared the other party would refuse.

Lin Chang'an gave a self-deprecating laugh, glanced around, and sighed softly, "Do I have a choice?"

"Haha, I like smart people like you."

Elder Lu laughed heartily, stroking his short beard, his eyes narrowing. This kid was a genius in alchemy talent—he had to be brought into the fold.

"Kid, don't make that sour face. With your aptitude, you do have the qualifications to join a major sect, but don't forget your own age."

Saying this, Elder Lu deliberately swept his gaze over all the youths. "Major sects won't waste resources nurturing you lot who have your hearts elsewhere, unless you have a Heavenly Spiritual Root or an Earthly Spiritual Root."

"Major sects have plenty of resources, but they value a sense of belonging. Cultivators raised from childhood see the sect as their home. And you lot?"

Steward Lu's lips curled into a mocking smile. "Most of you will only become outer disciples. But here, it's different. As long as you prove your worth, all the inheritance techniques and skills the major sects have are available here..."

Lin Chang'an listened on the side, feeling speechless. If there were any choice, who would come to this godforsaken place?

Why don't you mention that the Seven Great Sects Hold the Ox Ear in the Cultivation World, with legendary Nascent Soul True Lords sitting in command, backed by Golden Core Real Persons and countless Foundation Establishment Great Experts?

The youths below grew restless. Some from Rogue Cultivator backgrounds had already sighed and resigned themselves, while others refused to be stuck in this small place.

"Elder Lu, if my family is willing to pay a ransom, will you truly let me go?"

A youth asked unwillingly. Elder Lu narrowed his eyes and laughed, "Naturally. The Great Sword Sect has a reputation in Miaowa Kingdom—we're not like those sects that have ruined theirs."

Yet many in the crowd shook their heads in despair.

"Don't get your hopes up. What kind of place is this? Even if they really let you go, once you step out of the Great Sword Sect, someone else will grab you."

"Sigh, at least your parents are willing to save you. But me!" A young cultivator shook his head in despair. "My parents probably won't waste those resources."

"I... I want to go home."

What kind of place was Miaowa Kingdom? They all knew well—it was a land of darkness, where countless shady Magic Artifacts, spirit pets, and even cultivators themselves could be traded.

The young cultivators tricked here were all in despair, yet Elder Lu showed no pity, only a smile.

"Lin Chang'an, I bestow this Low-grade Magic Artifact Alchemy Furnace upon you."

Saying this, Elder Lu narrowed his eyes and pointed at everyone. "Any female cultivator here who doesn't want to join the Great Sword Sect—you may choose one."

His tone was casual and indifferent, but his finger pointed at the young female cultivators who had come with them.

This casual gesture laid bare the cruel reality here, making Lin Chang'an nervously swallow his saliva. He kept warning himself—this was no good place; this was a living hell.

"Female cultivators!"

Lin Chang'an glanced at the group of young women, a hint of disgust rising in his eyes. This didn't escape their notice.

Elder Lu stroked his short beard and laughed loudly. "Of course, male cultivators are also yours to choose."

Good heavens. One sentence sent the young cultivators below, who had no special skills, into panic. They covered their backsides in fright, as if shocked.

By instinct, countless youths tightened their rears and stepped back, their faces pale, eyes filled with panic.

Lin Chang'an stared wide-eyed at the youths who avoided his gaze, even Li Han, hiding in the crowd, nervously covering his rear.

"This sect also possesses Alchemy Notes from Foundation Establishment cultivators and countless Advanced Pill Formulas."

Faced with Elder Lu's temptation, Lin Chang'an showed a hint of greed. Though he hid it well, it didn't escape the other's eyes.

Elder Lu smiled in satisfaction. Not afraid of you being greedy, only afraid you're not.

"Of course, as long as Little Friend Lin is willing to join, I guarantee your cultivation resources won't be any less than in a major sect."

Hearing this, Lin Chang'an's face flushed red—this wasn't an act. Since he was already in the den of thieves with no way out, wasn't this the best choice?

"I, Lin Chang'an, am willing to join."

Lin Chang'an put on a resolute expression, but Elder Lu gave him a meaningful look.

At this moment, his heart was full of unease. How could this godforsaken place just let anyone join? The old man's earlier words—'as long as you're willing to join'—that was already a problem.

It's nothing more than cutting off their escape routes through various means, or seizing control over life and death, to make them completely give up hope.

Otherwise, how could they possibly let you join so easily?

"Sigh, now that I'm in this den of thieves, I can only resign myself to fate." Lin Chang'an lamented bitterly in his heart, knowing he still needed a "letter of fealty."

And Lin Chang'an was granted a Low-grade Magic Artifact, the Alchemy Furnace—such generous rewards made many green with envy.

A Low-grade Magic Artifact was worth between 50 and 150 Spirit Stones.

For Rogue Cultivators at early or late Qi Condensation, doing tasks for a month only earned them 3 to 5 Spirit Stones. Even in a good year, they'd scrape together about 50 Spirit Stones in income—and that was just income!

Late Qi Condensation cultivators fared a bit better, managing a steady 5 Spirit Stones a month, with some even reaching 7 or 8 Spirit Stones.

So, for a group of youths just starting out in the immortal arts, even owning a shoddy magic artifact meant they came from a decent background.

Thank you for your support, brothers who are stockpiling chapters. Please remember to catch up on Tuesday—I'm truly grateful.