Yang Mei's words, "there may be a risk of collapse," were like a basin of ice water, thoroughly extinguishing the little flame Xuanwei had just kindled over the success of the spirit-drawing array.
"You've got to be kidding me! This lousy bead is a consumable too? It even has an expiration date?" His immortal life felt like he was playing a survival game on nightmare difficulty. The moment he solved one crisis, the system immediately spawned an even nastier one.
Find other Chaos Bead fragments? Easy for him to say! Were those things roadside stones that he could just pick up? They were fragments of a Chaos supreme treasure! Every piece was probably hidden in some deathtrap, secret realm, or kept as a treasured heirloom by some big shot! With his current strength, looking for fragments? He would probably just be delivering himself to someone's doorstep!
"Ah, when you owe enough debts, one more hardly matters; when you have enough lice, one more doesn't itch." Xuanwei sighed. All he could do was bury this "ultimate quest" in his heart for now and focus on what lay before him—earning Contribution Points and healing his injuries.
With the Void Spirit Drawing Array as a stable "spiritual qi converter," its efficiency was admittedly pitiful, but at least it gave him a tiny bit of Chaos Qi every day. It was barely enough to keep his injuries from worsening and cover Yang Mei's "minimum spending requirement"—nourishing his remnant spirit.
His main efforts, meanwhile, went into "grinding quests."
Relying on his miraculous "precise growth acceleration" technique—mainly stimulating the plants with Wutu Source, Wood Element Spiritual Qi, and trace amounts of Chaos Qi—he specifically took on assignments that urgently required spirit herbs of a certain age and offered relatively generous rewards.
Fire Spirit Mother was extremely satisfied with the Clear Heart Bamboo he had provided and privately placed another order for various auxiliary alchemical herbs. Senior Brother Ma Sui also needed spiritwood with specific attributes for artifact forging and came looking for him. His reputation gradually spread. Many Interception Sect disciples—especially inner disciples focused on alchemy and artifact forging, and even a few core disciples—began to hear that there was a junior brother named Xuanwei in the back mountain who was exceptionally skilled at cultivating Spiritual Plants. His prices, however... were a little steep.
But the results spoke for themselves. Spirit herbs that took others decades or even centuries to mature could be supplied by him in as little as several days, or at most ten days to half a month, fully meeting the required age! For cultivators urgently needing a certain pill for a breakthrough or a key ingredient to forge an important artifact, spending a few more Contribution Points to save so much time was completely worthwhile!
Thus, Xuanwei's "business" gradually flourished. His Contribution Point balance also began to steadily recover from its previous state of zero.
[Successfully delivered "Five-Hundred-Year Fire Dates" x7. Obtained 35 Contribution Points.] [Successfully delivered "Four-Hundred-Year Iceheart Orchids" x5. Obtained 40 Contribution Points.] [Current Contribution Point Balance: 215.]
Watching the number on his identity jade token gradually rise, Xuanwei finally felt a trace of security. He first exchanged for some ordinary pills to nourish his origin. Though their effects could not compare to those sacred medicines, they could at least speed up his recovery. His energy level also laboriously climbed back to around 8%, and his immortal qi body became much more solid.
That day, he had just completed an assignment to cultivate "lightning-struck wood." He was about to rest and study the newly exchanged Basic Array Formation Guide to see whether he could optimize the spirit-drawing array when Ma Sui's chubby figure burst into his Medicine Garden again in a whirlwind.
"Junior Brother Xuanwei! Great news! Fantastic news!" Ma Sui's face glowed red with excitement, happier than if he himself had broken through a realm.
"Oh? Senior Brother Ma Sui, what has made you so happy?" Xuanwei asked curiously. Whenever he saw this warmhearted senior brother now, it was as though he were looking at a mobile "quest issuer."
"It's like this!" Ma Sui rubbed his hands together excitedly. "Next month, Biyou Palace will be holding a Myriad Immortals Gathering. It'll be a grand event for disciples of our Interception Sect to exchange Dao teachings and trade items! A lot of core senior brothers and sisters who have been in seclusion will come out then!"
A Myriad Immortals Gathering? Xuanwei's heart stirred. This was a great opportunity to expand his reputation and get in touch with more core disciples!
"That is indeed good news." Xuanwei nodded. "But what does it have to do with me?"
"It has everything to do with you!" Ma Sui leaned closer and lowered his voice. "For this gathering, several senior brothers handling the arrangements are collecting a batch of fine-quality spirit fruits and immortal brews to entertain their fellow disciples. They heard about your skills and specifically asked me to see whether you could provide a batch of at least three-hundred-year Vermillion Fruit and Jade Marrow Grapes within a month. The more, the better! The Contribution Points will definitely satisfy you!"
Vermillion Fruit? Jade Marrow Grapes? Both were fairly common spirit fruits, but even three-hundred-year specimens required a considerable growing period. Supplying a large quantity all at once was nearly impossible for an ordinary Spiritual Plant cultivator. But for him...
Xuanwei quickly calculated the costs and benefits. He had Vermillion Fruit and Jade Marrow Grapes growing in his Medicine Garden, though they were still young. Forcing their growth with all his strength would consume a great deal, but the Contribution Point rewards would surely be extremely generous! More importantly, this was a chance to make an appearance at the Myriad Immortals Gathering! If the spirit fruits he provided were of outstanding quality, his name would be remembered by many more core disciples!
"I'll do it!" Xuanwei made his decision almost without hesitation. "Please tell those senior brothers that this matter is in my hands! I definitely will not delay the grand gathering!"
"Good! I knew you had a way, Junior Brother!" Ma Sui was overjoyed. After finalizing a few details with Xuanwei, he finally left in satisfaction.
After seeing Ma Sui off, Xuanwei looked at the still-unripe Vermillion Fruit and Jade Marrow Grapes in the Medicine Garden, rubbed his hands together, and prepared to enter full-on "grind mode" once more.
However, just as he was about to throw himself into the work, an unexpected visitor arrived at his Medicine Garden.
The newcomer wore a Daoist robe patterned with the Eight Trigrams. His features were ancient and unadorned, and his aura was deep and unfathomable. It was none other than Daoist Duobao.
Xuanwei's heart tightened, and he hurriedly stepped forward to bow. "Eldest Senior Brother."
Daoist Duobao nodded slightly. His gaze first swept over the lush Medicine Garden, brimming with spiritual qi, lingering for an instant on the Vermillion Fruit and Jade Marrow Grapes that were currently being accelerated. A barely perceptible flash of surprise passed through his eyes. Then, as though unintentionally, his gaze swept over the area at the center of the garden—the location of the Void Spirit Drawing Array. The formation was extremely well concealed, but in the eyes of someone with Duobao's cultivation, a faint, almost undetectable spatial ripple and an abnormal flow of spiritual qi could still be sensed.
Xuanwei felt as though his immortal qi core was about to stop beating! He was terrified that Duobao would spot something amiss.
Fortunately, Duobao did not pursue the matter. He withdrew his gaze, looked at Xuanwei, and spoke in an even tone. "You possess extraordinary talent in the way of Spiritual Plants. Your progress has been rapid, and you also understand... how to seek advantages and avoid harm, how to accumulate resources. Not bad."
Xuanwei: ...Eldest Senior Brother, was that praise or a jab?
"However," Duobao continued, changing the subject, "a cultivator must not simply shut himself away and bury himself in trivial matters. Reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. Only after weathering wind and rain can one broaden one's horizons, understand one's heart and nature, and strengthen one's Dao path."
A bad feeling rose in Xuanwei's heart. "What does Eldest Senior Brother mean?"
"Beyond the East Sea, near Liubo Immortal Island, unusual disturbances have been occurring frequently of late. An Ancient Secret Realm may be about to open, or some rare treasure may be coming into the world." Daoist Duobao spoke calmly. "The sect has decided to send a group of disciples to investigate. Are you willing to accompany them?"
Liubo Immortal Island?! Xuanwei's heart skipped a beat! Wasn't that where Kui Niu Tear Crystals were produced? Did Senior Brother Duobao know something, or was it merely a coincidence?
He cautiously observed Duobao's expression, but that ancient face showed no emotional fluctuation.
"This journey may carry risks, but it is also an opportunity," Duobao continued. "You may regard it as a trial. Should you gain something, it will greatly benefit your cultivation. Besides..."
He gave Xuanwei a meaningful look. "You have gained a measure of fame within the sect. On this journey, you may also represent the honor of our Interception Sect. Do not disgrace our prestige."
Xuanwei understood in an instant. They were taking him, this "technical talent," out for a test run to see what he was capable of! And perhaps... make use of him to scout the way?
Could he refuse? Obviously not. Eldest Senior Brother Duobao had personally come to "invite" him. How could he refuse that honor?
"This disciple... accepts!" Xuanwei could only agree through gritted teeth. Inside, though, he was complaining madly. I just wanted to quietly farm, make a little money, and support my elderly boss. Why is that so hard?!
"Good." Daoist Duobao nodded and handed him a jade slip. "This contains detailed information about Liubo Immortal Island and its surrounding seas, as well as a list of some disciples traveling with you. Familiarize yourself with it. Gather at the mountain gate in three days and depart."
With that, he turned and left without the slightest hesitation.
Holding the cold jade slip, Xuanwei felt like an office worker being forcibly sent on a business trip by his boss—and to some godforsaken place with an absurdly high danger level at that!
With a miserable expression—at least in his thoughts—he sent his divine sense into the jade slip.
The first thing that entered his view was a detailed introduction to Liubo Immortal Island, including the ferocious Kui Niu beasts inhabiting it, which ranged from peak True Immortal to Mysterious Immortal level, as well as the various sea demons and dangerous regions that might appear in the surrounding waters.
Then he saw the list of disciples traveling with him.
When he saw one of the names, his immortal qi body suddenly stiffened, nearly scattering apart again.
There it was on the list—Lingxiao, of the Exposition Sect, a granddisciple of Daoist Virtue!
That was the person who had shown him intense hostility and killing intent while listening to Dao teachings at Yuxu Palace!
Xuanwei: !!!
Eldest Senior Brother Duobao! Was this arrangement... a trial team or an assassination squad?!
Before you continue