Early Arrival

"Found it, found it! You made me search for ages."

Perhaps because there were so few cultivation techniques that didn't require specific attributes, the shop assistant, after a long while, excitedly slapped a dusty, ancient-looking book and said.

"Oh? You really found it?" A hint of joy flashed across Lu Xiaotian's face. He stepped forward and took the book, looking at it. It was indeed the Primordial Scripture.

He hadn't been able to find it after searching for so long. To obtain a cultivation technique for the Late Qi Refining Stage at this point was truly unexpected. Lu Xiaotian opened the first page and asked, "Does your establishment have any Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation techniques?"

"Immortal Master, you jest. There are probably very few Foundation Establishment Realm cultivation techniques in the entire Moon Gazing City, and they are usually not for public dissemination. Naturally, we don't have any. However, a few years ago, about three years ago, there were some rumors about the Primordial Scripture." The shop assistant lowered his voice mysteriously.

Lu Xiaotian was taken aback. "Rumors about the Primordial Scripture? Are they about the later parts of this cultivation technique?"

"Yes, it's said to be related to Lingxiao Palace. A few disciples from Lingxiao Palace stumbled upon an ancient cultivator's ruins by chance and obtained some treasures. Before they could even return to their sect, most of the Lingxiao Palace disciples were ambushed and killed by some powerful Rogue Cultivators. Some treasures were stolen by those Rogue Cultivators, including a portion of the cultivation technique."

A few Rogue Cultivators? His cultivation technique was given to him by the Black Robe Old Man. Could it be that the Black Robe Old Man and his group were these Rogue Cultivators? Lu Xiaotian's heart stirred. Northern Liang Country was a rather barren and remote secular kingdom with limited Spiritual Materials. Although many immortal cultivation families resided in Northern Liang Country, most were at the Early Qi Refining Stage, and there likely weren't many at the Mid Qi Refining Stage. If the Black Robe Old Man and his group, who were almost all at the Late Qi Refining Stage or Great Perfection, weren't trying to evade pursuit from Lingxiao Palace, why would they go to such a remote place?

The shop assistant continued, "Later, Lingxiao Palace sent disciples to hunt down these Rogue Cultivators everywhere, but they soon lost track of them. Perhaps the other parts of the Primordial Scripture are with those Rogue Cultivators, or perhaps with Lingxiao Palace. The specific details are unknown to outsiders. Years have passed, and the incident has almost been forgotten. If the Immortal Master hadn't come to buy this cultivation technique today, I would have almost forgotten about it."

"Thank you. This is for you." After paying the Spirit Stones required for the cultivation technique, Lu Xiaotian directly gave the shop assistant a Low-grade Spirit Stone.

"Thank you, thank you, Immortal Master." The shop assistant was extremely excited, bowing repeatedly. Although he was around thirty, he was a mortal. Most cultivators rarely paid him any mind, let alone gave him such a tip. His employer would never part with Spirit Stones for him. This single Low-grade Spirit Stone was enough for him to live the rest of his life in comfort and without worry. By the time he straightened up, Lu Xiaotian had already left the establishment.

"It seems I need to find a way to open the Black Robe Old Man's Storage Bag. However, these people likely stole treasures from Lingxiao Palace. If any news leaks, I might soon invite disaster upon myself."

Lu Xiaotian pondered as he walked and soon arrived at Immortal Gate Street, following the map of Moon Gazing City. Immortal Gate Street wasn't always called this. However, since all the major immortal sects set up points here to announce their disciple recruitment missions, everyone had gotten used to the name over time.

With only a few months left until the annual disciple recruitment for the immortal sects, Rogue Cultivators from all over would come to Moon Gazing City. At this time, there were thousands of people at the reception points of various immortal sects, discussing the announced missions.

Lu Xiaotian also squeezed his way to the Immortal Ranking Mission stone tablet. The requirements for disciple recruitment varied among the major immortal sects.

Ranked first was the foremost sect in the Cultivation World, Ancient Sword Sect, which specialized in refining Spiritual Artifacts and Magic Tools used by Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators. The level of these artifacts directly related to a cultivator's combat power. Therefore, the combat power of Ancient Sword Sect cultivators was often a notch above that of other immortal sects.

Ancient Sword Sect had the most stringent requirements, demanding the acquisition of a Fourth-tier Yao Beast's Yao Core, equivalent to the strength of the Foundation Establishment Early Stage. For Qi Refining Stage cultivators, this was undoubtedly as difficult as ascending to heaven. One could imagine that Rogue Cultivators would rack their brains to join an immortal sect just to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill. Hundreds of cultivators at the Qi Refining Great Perfection stage would struggle to pose a threat to a single Foundation Establishment expert. This effectively shut out most Rogue Cultivators with mediocre aptitude.

Next was the second-ranked Green Pill Palace. Alchemy was its foundation. Due to a more abundant supply of pills compared to other sects, their cultivation progress was often faster, and the sect's overall strength was extremely formidable.

Qingdan Sect's requirements were also not low, demanding the collection of no less than fifty types of Spiritual Grass. For a high-level Alchemist, the quota could be halved, and for an intermediate-level Alchemist, it could be reduced by one-fifth.

Alchemists were already rare among Rogue Immortals. Lu Xiaotian estimated that he was currently at the level of an intermediate-level Alchemist, and it would take some time to reach the advanced level.

Apart from the top-ranked immortal sects, the requirements for those below were slightly lower, but completing the missions was by no means easy.

Some sects had rather peculiar requirements. For example, Demon Sun Sect only required a Spiritual Root Value exceeding thirty-five, but men had to be handsome, and women had to be beautiful. The age limit was under twenty.

Or, on the mission board of Earth Fire Gate, it was written that the sect's Third Elder had contracted a strange illness and lay dormant in an ice coffin year-round, barely clinging to life. Anyone who could cure him or provide information about this illness could join the sect.

Lu Xiaotian chuckled as he read this. Such a severe illness that even immortal sects were helpless against, how could these Rogue Cultivators possibly have a solution? It was truly a case of desperate measures. An elder of a sect was at least a Foundation Establishment Realm cultivator. It seemed that even at higher realms, one was not entirely without worries.

Lu Xiaotian then focused on Lingxiao Palace's sect mission. It also involved collecting Spiritual Grass, but most of the Spiritual Grass required was different from that of Green Pill Palace, and a few types of ores were also included. Lingxiao Palace ranked seventeenth among the immortal sects, placing it slightly above average and possessing considerable strength.

After comparing the major immortal sects, Lu Xiaotian set his sights on Green Pill Palace and Lingxiao Palace. Green Pill Palace excelled particularly in the Pill Path, and entering it would increase his chances of obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Lingxiao Palace could also refine pills, but not as proficiently as Green Pill Palace, so the possibility of obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill would naturally be lower. His biggest goal at the moment was to successfully reach the Foundation Establishment Realm. However, Lingxiao Palace had information regarding the Primordial Scripture. There weren't many cultivation techniques suitable for Five Elements Spiritual Roots, and if he could obtain the Primordial Scripture, he wouldn't want to easily switch to another technique.

Soon, Lu Xiaotian shook his head with a wry smile. Completing any of these immortal sect missions was not easy, let alone completing two simultaneously. If other Rogue Cultivators knew his intentions, they would probably laugh their heads off. He would have to see what fate had in store and which sect he could join.

After preliminarily narrowing down the immortal sect missions, he had bought most of the items he needed. Lu Xiaotian returned to his small courtyard. As soon as he reached the entrance, Luo Qing was already waiting there. Judging by her expression, she had likely been waiting for some time.

"Brother Lu, you're back." Upon seeing Lu Xiaotian, Luo Qing's anxious expression immediately showed a hint of joy.

"What's the urgent matter that brought you to find me?" Lu Xiaotian asked.

Luo Qing said, "The other expert at the Sixth Layer of Qi Refining in our team, who is the captain for this expedition, has decided to enter the Moon Gazing Mountain Range ahead of schedule. My brother is unsure what to do and asked me to come ask you."

"Didn't we agree on a time? Why the sudden change?" Lu Xiaotian frowned. If this team was entirely dictated by the captain, then it might not be worth joining.

Luo Qing said, "Perhaps he received news related to his immortal sect mission and is worried someone else will get there first, so he made this decision. However, that person holds the Pill Recipe for the Origin Energy Pill, so my brother asked me to seek your opinion."

Lu Xiaotian's expression shifted. "Origin Energy Pill? Where are they now?"

"They're at our courtyard. I'll take you there." Seeing Lu Xiaotian agree, Luo Qing breathed a sigh of relief.

"Brother, I'm back." Soon, the two arrived at Luo Yuan's courtyard. From several yards away, Luo Qing shouted.

"Brother Lu, you've come too. Come, let me introduce you to the team members."

Luo Yuan was very happy to see Lu Xiaotian. He pointed to a fair-faced middle-aged Taoist priest. "This is the leader of our expedition, Daoist Priest Fan Qing. He is the most powerful."

Through Luo Yuan's introduction, Lu Xiaotian met the team members.

A plump young woman, Wang Yuan, at the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining, with cultivation comparable to his.

Two men in their forties. One with a shiny bald head was Zhang Guang, and the middle-aged scholar next to him holding a fan was Zheng Shiqi. According to Luo Yuan's introduction, Zhang Guang was a great general from a secular country called Jin Country. He used to command thousands of troops, and one could feel a killing aura emanating from him from afar. Zheng Shiqi was Zhang Guang's former strategist. It was quite a marvel that both of them could embark on the path of immortal cultivation. Their cultivation was slightly lower than his, at the Fourth Layer of Qi Refining. Both of them lived in this courtyard with Luo Yuan, and they had a good relationship.

"Haha, I've long heard Brother Luo mention knowing a highly skilled Alchemist, but he kept to himself and I never had the chance to meet him. I never expected him to be such a young fellow. Not only is he an Alchemist, but his cultivation is even one level higher than mine, Old Zhang. I really don't know how you cultivate."

Zhang Guang was very hearty. He slapped Lu Xiaotian on the shoulder with his thick palm, his fingers like iron hooks. Lu Xiaotian winced in pain.

"Brother Zhang, you're using a bit too much force." Zheng Shiqi reminded him. Zhang Guang, in his past life in the secular world, was known for his straightforward and fiery temper, offending many people in official circles. If not for Zheng Shiqi's constant reminders and his subsequent entry into immortal cultivation, he would likely have perished long ago in the treacherous political landscape.

"Sorry, sorry. I used to practice Iron Sand Palm, so my strength is a bit much." Zhang Guang smiled apologetically and quickly said.

"More than a bit, if you used any more force, my bones would break." Lu Xiaotian bared his teeth and rubbed his shoulder. Although he was already at the Fifth Layer of Qi Refining, his physical strength was no match for Zhang Guang, who had previously practiced external martial arts.