Rising Fame and a Sudden "Business Trip"

The Ancestor Yang Mei's words, "There's a risk of collapse," were like a basin of ice water, dousing the small flame Xuanwei had just ignited from the successful spirit-drawing array.

No way, officer! This broken bead is a consumable? It has an expiration date? He felt his immortal life was like playing a hell-difficulty survival game. Just as he resolved one crisis, the System would immediately throw a more brutal one at him.

Searching for other Chaos Bead fragments? Easy for him to say! Were these things like pebbles on the roadside, just waiting to be picked up? Those were fragments of a Chaos Supreme Treasure! He bet each piece was hidden in some death trap, secret realm, or being kept as a prized possession by some big shot! With his current strength, going to find fragments? He'd probably just be delivering express mail (and his head) to someone!

"Alas, when you owe too much, you don't worry; when you have too many lice, you don't itch." Xuanwei sighed, deciding to bury this "ultimate quest" in the back of his mind for now and focus on the present—making money (contribution points) and healing.

With the Void Spirit Drawing Array as a stable "spirit energy converter," although its efficiency was painfully slow, at least a sliver of Chaos Qi came in every day. It was just enough to prevent his injuries from worsening and to cover Ancestor Yang Mei's "minimum charge" (warming his damaged spirit).

His main focus, however, was on "grinding quests."

Leveraging his god-tier "precision accelerated growth" technique (mainly stimulated by the Wutu Source, Yimu spiritual energy, and a trace of Chaos Qi), he specialized in taking on tasks that had urgent requirements for Spirit Grass age and offered relatively generous rewards.

Fire Spirit Mother was very satisfied with the Clear Heart Bamboo he provided and privately commissioned another batch of auxiliary alchemy ingredients. Senior Brother Ma Sui also needed some Spirit Wood with specific properties for his artifact refining, so he approached Xuanwei as well. His reputation gradually spread. Many disciples of the Intercepting Sect, especially those focused on alchemy and artifact refining within the inner sect, and even some core disciples, began to know about a junior brother named Xuanwei in the back mountains who was skilled in cultivating spiritual plants. His prices, however... were a bit steep.

But the results spoke for themselves. Spirit Grass that would normally take decades or even centuries to mature could be provided by him in finished products meeting the required age in as little as a few days, or ten days to half a month at most! For cultivators who urgently needed a certain pill to break through or to refine a crucial magic artifact, spending a bit more contribution points to save a significant amount of time was completely worth it!

Thus, Xuanwei's "business" gradually boomed. His contribution point account, which had been at zero before, began to slowly but steadily rise.

[Successfully delivered "500-year-old Fire Date" x7, gained 35 contribution points.]

[Successfully delivered "400-year-old Ice Heart Orchid" x5, gained 40 contribution points.]

[Current contribution point balance: 215.]

Looking at the numbers gradually increasing in his identity jade token, Xuanwei finally felt a sliver of security. He first redeemed some ordinary pills for nourishing his source. Although their effects couldn't compare to those of sacred medicines, they at least accelerated his recovery. His energy level also struggled back up to around 8%, and his immortal qi core solidified considerably.

One day, after completing a task to cultivate "Thunderstruck Wood," he was about to rest and study the newly redeemed "Detailed Explanation of Basic Formations" to see if he could optimize the spirit-drawing array, when Ma Sui's plump figure bustled into his medicine garden.

"Junior Brother Xuanwei! Great news! Tremendous news!" Ma Sui's face was flushed with excitement, happier than if he had broken through his own cultivation realm.

"Oh? Senior Brother Ma Sui, what has you so pleased?" Xuanwei asked curiously. Seeing this warm-hearted, fat senior brother now felt like seeing a mobile "quest giver."

"It's like this!" Ma Sui rubbed his hands together, saying excitedly, "Next month, our Biyou Palace will be holding a 'Myriad Immortals Gathering,' a grand event for disciples of the Intercepting Sect to exchange Dao techniques and trade items! Many core senior brothers and sisters who have been in seclusion will be coming out!"

Myriad Immortals Gathering? Xuanwei's heart stirred. This was a great opportunity to expand his reputation and connect with more core disciples!

"This is indeed good news," Xuanwei nodded. "But what does it have to do with me?"

"It has a lot to do with you!" Ma Sui leaned in and whispered, "For this gathering, the senior brothers in charge of handling miscellaneous affairs are looking for a batch of high-quality spiritual fruits and immortal brews of sufficient age to entertain our fellow disciples. They heard about your skills and specifically asked me to inquire if you could provide a batch of 'Vermillion Fruits' and 'Jade Marrow Grapes' at least 300 years old within a month, the more the better, and the contribution points will definitely satisfy you!"

Vermillion Fruits? Jade Marrow Grapes? These were relatively common spiritual fruits, but 300 years old required a considerable growth period. Providing a large quantity at once would be almost impossible for an ordinary spiritual plant cultivator. But for him...

Xuanwei quickly calculated the costs and benefits. His medicine garden had both Vermillion Fruits and Jade Marrow Grapes, but they were still young. If he pushed them to grow with all his might, the consumption would be huge, but the contribution point rewards would certainly be extremely generous! Moreover, this was a chance to gain recognition at the "Myriad Immortals Gathering"! If the quality of the spiritual fruits he provided was outstanding, his name would be noted by many more core disciples!

"I'll do it!" Xuanwei agreed almost without hesitation, "Please tell those senior brothers that this matter is on my shoulders! I will not delay the grand event!"

"Good! I knew you'd have a way, Junior Brother!" Ma Sui was overjoyed. After finalizing some details with Xuanwei, he left contentedly.

After seeing Ma Sui off, Xuanwei looked at the still-green Vermillion Fruits and Jade Marrow Grapes in his medicine garden, clenched his fists, and prepared to enter "hell mode" again.

However, just as he was about to get to work, an unexpected visitor descended upon his medicine garden.

The visitor wore an eight trigrams Daoist robe, had an ancient face, and exuded a profound aura. It was Daoist Duobao.

Xuanwei's heart tightened, and he quickly stepped forward to bow, "Senior Disciple Brother."

Daoist Duobao nodded slightly, his gaze first sweeping over the lush, spirit-energy-filled medicine garden, lingering for a moment on the few Vermillion Fruits and Jade Marrow Grapes that were being accelerated. A hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. Then, his gaze seemed to casually sweep over the central area of the medicine garden—where the Void Spirit Drawing Array was located. The array was extremely well-hidden, but to someone of Daoist Duobao's cultivation, he could still detect a faint spatial ripple and an abnormal flow of spiritual energy.

Xuanwei felt his immortal qi core almost stop beating! He was terrified that Daoist Duobao would see through something.

Fortunately, Daoist Duobao didn't probe further. He withdrew his gaze, looked at Xuanwei, and said calmly, "Your talent in spiritual plants is extraordinary, your progress is rapid, and you even understand... how to avoid harm, accumulate resources. Not bad."

Xuanwei: "...Senior Disciple Brother, are you praising me or criticizing me?"

"However," Daoist Duobao changed the subject, "a cultivator cannot blindly stay behind closed doors, engrossed in trivial matters. One must know that reading ten thousand books is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles. Only by experiencing storms can one broaden their horizons, clarify their mind, and firm their Dao path."

A bad premonition arose in Xuanwei's heart: "What does Senior Disciple Brother mean?"

"Beyond the East Sea, near Liubo Immortal Island, there have been frequent unusual occurrences recently, suspected to be an ancient secret realm about to open, or a rare treasure about to appear," Daoist Duobao said lightly. "The sect has decided to send a group of disciples to investigate. Will you, be 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 Disciple Brother Duobao know something? Or was it just a coincidence?

He cautiously observed Daoist Duobao's expression, but there was no emotional fluctuation on his ancient face.

"This journey may involve risks, but it is also an opportunity," Daoist Duobao continued. "You can consider it a trial. If you gain something, it will greatly benefit your cultivation. Moreover..."

He gave Xuanwei a meaningful look: "You are now somewhat famous in the sect. This trip can also represent the dignity of our Intercepting Sect. Do not disgrace us."

Xuanwei instantly understood. This was to take him, a "technical talent," out for a spin, to see what he was made of! And perhaps... to make use of his abilities and scout ahead?

Could he refuse? Obviously not. Senior Disciple Brother Duobao himself had come to "invite" him; how could he not give face?

"This disciple... obeys!" Xuanwei could only grit his teeth and agree, while internally lamenting, I just want to quietly farm, earn a little money, and live a peaceful life, why is it so difficult!

"Good." Daoist Duobao nodded and handed over a jade slip. "This contains detailed information about Liubo Immortal Island and the surrounding waters, as well as the list of some disciples who will be accompanying you. Familiarize yourself with it. We will gather at the mountain gate and depart in three days."

With that, he turned and left without any hesitation.

Xuanwei held the cold jade slip, feeling like an employee forced by their boss to go on a business trip, and to a place that was desolate and extremely dangerous!

With a mournful face (mentally mourning), he sent his divine sense into the jade slip.

The first thing that caught his eye was the detailed introduction to Liubo Immortal Island, including the ferocious beast Kui Niu (peak True Immortal to Mysterious Immortal level) on the island, and the various sea monsters and dangerous places that might appear in the surrounding waters.

Then, he saw the list of accompanying disciples.

When he saw one particular name, his immortal qi core stiffened abruptly, almost scattering again.

The list clearly stated—Lingxiao (Heavenly Origin Sect, Grand-disciple of Daoist Virtue)!

The one who had shown him intense hostility and killing intent when he was listening to the Dao at Yuxu Palace!

Xuanwei: "!!!"

Senior Disciple Brother Duobao! What kind of team are you arranging... a training team or a revenge squad?!