First Entering Yellow Maple Valley

"Nephew-disciple Luo, the Taiyue Mountain Range lies ahead. In the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, we will reach my master's cave abode. Steady your mind first, and do not forget your manners before your own Ancestor."

Liu Jing stood at the bow of the Spirit Boat, gently advising an ordinary-looking, fair-skinned youth.

"Martial Uncle Liu, don't mind him. He's just a useless False Spirit Root brought along to make up the numbers."

"Yeah, yeah, Martial Uncle Liu, hurry and tell us what kind of person the Core Formation Ancestor is?"

"Will Ancestor be very fierce?"

Looking at these lively juniors, Liu Jing helplessly shook his head. He merely said, "You'll know once you meet Master," and spoke no more.

Luo Hong, who had been excluded by his companions, did not care in the slightest. He remained sprawled by the side of the boat, closely studying the two rows of oars extending from the Spirit Boat.

"The Spirit Boat flies through the air, yet there is no Spiritual Qi flowing through the oars. Then what are they for? Could this boat be amphibious across sea and sky?"

Unable to figure it out, Luo Hong chose to set the matter aside for the time being. He smoothed down the somewhat disheveled hair knot blown loose by the wind and straightened his newly acquired Yellow Maple Valley Uniform.

A year had already passed since his transmigration. Luo Hong had long grown accustomed to acting as a fourteen-year-old youth and had fully accepted this unfamiliar yet strangely familiar world.

There was no need to mention past events. In this life, Luo Hong was a collateral descendant of the Li Family in the Yue Kingdom. Born with a False Spirit Root Lacking Wood in the Five Elements, he had cultivated immortality since childhood.

He had been able to enter Yellow Maple Valley, one of the Seven Great Sects of the Yue Kingdom Cultivation World, entirely because the Li Family's Ancestor, Li Huayuan, served as an Elder in the valley. Every ten years, he could recommend five Qi Refining Stage juniors from the family to enter the valley.

Ordinarily, an opportunity like this would never have fallen to someone with Luo Hong's aptitude. After all, the Li Family was a great clan with a history of several centuries, and its direct and collateral descendants together could fill an entire city. Yet in this round, there were only four juniors with good aptitude, which was how Luo Hong had been chosen.

As a fan of A Record of a Mortal's Journey to Immortality, Luo Hong naturally knew who Liu Jing and Li Huayuan were. Before boarding the boat, he had asked how many disciples Ancestor currently had. Liu Jing had answered that he had seven, with Liu Jing ranked third.

Old Demon Han became Li Huayuan's eighth disciple after establishing his foundation. In other words, Old Demon Han was either still tending the Medicine Garden or had not yet entered the valley.

After entering the valley, I need to find an opportunity to investigate Hundred Herbs Garden as soon as possible, so I can make plans for the future.

Watching the four laughing youths in the distance, still ignorant of the dangers of the Cultivation World, Luo Hong continually reminded himself to firmly follow the righteous cultivation path Old Demon Han had carved out: stability came first in all things; act only after planning.

Don't ask too much. If you must ask, then lie low.

Having made his decision, Luo Hong immediately acted. He quietly moved behind the four companions and, while he was at it, mapped out the quickest escape route.

Li Huayuan's cave abode lay behind a curtain of water. Its arrangement was exquisite, with birdsong and blooming flowers, Spiritual Qi permeating every corner. It truly gave Luo Hong a glimpse of an immortal's splendid domain, making him look forward to cultivation even more.

"These are Pills for Consolidating the Foundation and Cultivating Vitality. Take one bottle each. Once you enter the valley, cultivate diligently and do not stir up trouble. If any among you can establish your foundation, I will surely accept him as my disciple. All right, go."

Li Huayuan was neither warm nor cold toward Luo Hong and the others. After meeting them and granting them Pills, he was ready to send them away.

His words also carried the hidden meaning that they were not to use his name recklessly before establishing their foundations.

The four youths were somewhat fearful and aggrieved, but Luo Hong understood the reason.

Li Huayuan had formed his core at least several decades ago. Even if he only had five recommendation slots every ten years, the number of family juniors he had recommended into the valley had already reached double digits. Yet none of his disciples came from the Li Family, showing just how disappointed he was in his own descendants.

Meeting them once was merely routine.

In the Cultivation World, where the strong preyed on the weak, how could one who had not established a foundation catch the eye of a Core Formation Stage Cultivator?

"Ancestor, ever since this junior learned that I could enter Yellow Maple Valley to cultivate, I have been overjoyed every day and grateful for Ancestor's kindness every night. Thus, today I dare to offer up a Spiritual Herb nurtured by my family for generations."

For a Qi Refining Stage Cultivator to meet a Core Formation Stage great cultivator was itself an opportunity. Luo Hong had prepared for this long ago, persuading the family's Grandfather to let his grandson gamble on his future.

"Mm, your filial devotion is commendable. But ordinary Spiritual Herbs are useless to Core Formation Stage Cultivators, so there is no need to take it out."

Li Huayuan stroked his long beard, his expression calm and indifferent. Luo Hong's flattery did not move him at all.

Old bastard, just as expected, you won't release the hawk until you see the rabbit. Today, I'll show you what the law of true fragrance means!

"Forgive this junior's ignorance. I did not know that even a Purple Sun Flower with Five Hundred Years of cultivation would—"

"What did you say?! A Five Hundred Year Purple Sun Flower?! Bring it here for me to see!"

Li Huayuan was overjoyed. If it truly was a five-hundred-year Purple Sun Flower, it would be of great use to him.

Pills refined from this flower would not only aid his cultivation, but also replenish the vitality he had damaged over decades of refining Iron Essence.

Luo Hong did not dare delay. He took out a Jade Box from his Storage Bag.

Li Huayuan opened his right palm, and the Jade Box was drawn into it.

"Good! Good! This herb is excellent! You are quite a clever little fellow. Speak quickly—what do you want? Don't give me nonsense about wanting nothing."

After examining the Purple Sun Flower, Li Huayuan was greatly satisfied, and his words became much warmer toward Luo Hong.

"Not Hiding anything from Ancestor, this junior wishes to request several bottles of White Lotus Pills and a Spirit Gathering Array Disk attuned to Water Element Spiritual Qi."

Luo Hong did not hide that he wanted something. A rabbit Could Not Possibly let a lion owe it a favor.

"White Lotus Pills? Haha, you little fellow are rather like me. Take them. These are what you wanted. I will also grant you one hundred Spirit Stones for activating the Formation Plate."

With a flick of Li Huayuan's sleeve, those spiritual items flew into Luo Hong's Storage Bag on their own, trailing spiritual light.

After leaving Li Huayuan's cave abode, Liu Jing led Luo Hong and the others through Yellow Maple Valley's disciple admission procedures. Then, when assigning them their duties, he deliberately kept Luo Hong until last.

"Does Martial Uncle have any instructions?"

Luo Hong was somewhat puzzled. Liu Jing hated evil as if it were his enemy and was one of the rare upright figures among Cultivators. He should not covet the things I had just traded for.

Probably... not, right?

"Nephew-disciple Luo, I must thank you This Time. Several decades ago, Master lost a wager with someone and was forced to expend a great deal of Core Fire refining Iron Essence, damaging some of his vitality. As his disciple, I have often worried over this.

Though Nephew Disciple did not know of This Matter, you have still helped me resolve one of my concerns."

Liu Jing patted Luo Hong's shoulder, feeling that this new disciple was quite pleasing to the eye.

Huh? So that was what he wanted to say.

Actually, I not only know about this matter, I also know that your master will lose another wager before long.

"Nephew Disciple was willing to part with a family-inherited Spiritual Herb for cultivation. Your Dao Heart must be extremely firm. I have specially reserved a leisurely duty for you, so that it will be convenient for your cultivation. Come with me."

This Time, I really did judge a gentleman's heart by my own petty standards.

After hearing Liu Jing's words, Luo Hong could not help feeling somewhat guilty. At the same time, his favorable impression of Liu Jing grew greatly.

When the cold wind of flight swept over him, inspiration suddenly flashed through his mind. His eyes abruptly widened, bright and round.

Brilliant!

This approach is perfect for befriending someone as suspicious as him. I've learned it, I've learned it!

Brothers, please save and recommend it. Come boast a little in the comments.