Five Poisons Cave

"Heavenly and Earth Rankings?" Li Shuidao, who had merely been watching the excitement, suddenly cut in with great interest.

Li Haoze hurriedly explained, "The Five Poisons Sect holds rankings after its trials. The Earth Ranking is for Spirit Channeling Realm cultivators, while the Heavenly Ranking is for Spirit Refining Realm cultivators. As for Void Nascent Realm cultivators, they're figures high above the clouds—naturally, they wouldn't come compete for the Heavenly and Earth Rankings. I only know that the top of the Earth Ranking is a female cultivator named Lan Huaying."

"Oh..." Li Shuidao nodded, immediately losing interest.

The Heavenly Ranking was too distant. The experts on the Earth Ranking were at the very least on the verge of breaking through to the Spirit Refining Realm. They were far beyond little cultivators like them, who had not even cultivated Mana yet, and certainly not people they could join in the fun with.

Honestly raising their Spirit Companions and accumulating Mana was the proper path.

"Only those who take part in the Five Poisons Sect's trials can earn a place on the Heavenly and Earth Rankings. Cultivators from Cultivation Families don't need to compete for them."

"But the Five Poisons Sect is a superior sect. Cultivators from Cultivation Families aren't qualified to compete, are they?"

"I heard that at least half of us will be joining the Five Poisons Sect." Li Shuilan spoke with a frown.

"Then that's perfect—we can compete for a spot on the Earth Ranking." Brimming with youthful vigor, Li Shuilang looked eager to try.

"If we've only just entered the sect, we won't even be qualified to take part in the trials. What ranking could we possibly have? Usually, only those in their forties or fifties, on the verge of entering the Spirit Refining Realm, are qualified to contend for the Earth Ranking. And the Earth Ranking changes almost completely every two or three years. Only the Heavenly Ranking remains stable for twenty or thirty years."

"Reaching the Spirit Refining Realm takes at least forty or fifty years, sometimes even sixty. The road of cultivation is long indeed—how difficult it is." Li Yijun sighed.

"Indeed. Those who can walk to the end are all favored children of heaven." Li Shuidao agreed.

"Um... I heard that if a man of our clan is chosen by the Five Poisons Sect, the family will arrange a marriage for him within one or two years. The purpose is to leave behind descendants as soon as possible and continue the family inheritance. But if he doesn't enter the Five Poisons Sect, marriage is generally delayed until after thirty." Li Shuilang said excitedly.

Everyone present was only fourteen, barely more than children...

When Li Shuidao had been born, his father, Li Haoshan, had only been fifteen.

This did indeed ensure descendants for the family, while also strengthening a cultivator's bonds to it. It was precisely because Li Shuidao had been born that, even while Li Haoshan toiled like an ox and horse in the Five Poisons Sect, he never dared entertain thoughts of betrayal.

In this cultivation world, there was no household registration system, and Rogue Cultivators were bound by neither ritual, morality, nor law.

How could cultivation sects dare hire Rogue Cultivators to enter their cave abodes?

If one went out for a trip and the Rogue Cultivator packed up everything in the cave abode and ran off, all one could do upon returning was stare helplessly.

Forget the Spirit Refining Realm—even Formless True Lords could only be left at a loss.

But people from Cultivation Families were different. Their roots were known; the monk might run, but the temple could not.

Cultivation sects would only employ members of Cultivation Families to guard cave abodes and manage miscellaneous affairs. Once these family members grew up, they would in turn secure a place within the sect.

That was the underlying logic of this world.

Ten days later...

The convoy finally reached Poison Dragon Ridge.

At the freight distribution plaza outside Poison Dragon Ridge, Li Shuidao and the others climbed down from their carriages and followed the freight wagons through the bustling Freight Plaza.

These convoys all came from the various subordinate families controlled by the Black Mountain Five Poisons Sect.

Banners fluttered across the plaza.

As far as the eye could see were the Li Family of Divine Wood City, the Mo Family of Scorpion Cave, the Liu Family of Viper Valley, the Qi Family of Black Water River, the Dong Family of Severed Head Mountain—too many to count.

Besides providing the Black Mountain Five Poisons Sect with loyal and dependable disciples, subordinate Cultivation Families also had to offer up everyday supplies as tribute.

In return, the Five Poisons Sect protected these Cultivation Families from being bullied by other sects beyond Black Mountain.

The group brought the convoy before the gates of the Five Poisons Sect's warehouse.

Patriarch Li Haimo took a deep breath and called out, "The Li Family of Divine Wood City offers six carts and twelve loads of Spirit Rice, two carts of brocade, and assorted fragrant oils, candles, and wax. We respectfully ask Senior Master to inspect and accept them."

With a creak.

The warehouse gates slowly opened.

A sleepy-eyed elder walked out. "Patriarch of the Li Family, you've come so early?"

Li Shuidao looked up at the sky. It was almost noon already.

Li Haimo walked up to the elder with a smile plastered across his face and handed over a cargo list. "This is the tribute inventory of the Li Family of Divine Wood City. We ask Elder Lan to inspect and accept it."

"Heh heh. The goods may only enter the warehouse after they pass inspection. Open the cargo carts and let me see the quality of this tribute." The affairs elder spoke lazily.

"Quickly, open them for Elder Lan to inspect." Li Haimo ordered.

Elder Lan grabbed a handful of Spirit Rice and frowned. "This Spirit Rice seems to be mixed with some ordinary rice."

"Elder Lan, this Spirit Rice is fine, it's fine." Li Haimo pulled out a red cloth bundle and quietly handed it to Elder Lan.

Elder Lan swallowed, accepted the bundle without changing expression, and gave it a squeeze.

"Mm... this Spirit Rice is acceptable. It meets our sect's requirements. Inspection passed—send it into storage." Elder Lan shouted.

The warehouse gates opened fully.

The wagons entered the warehouse.

"Quickly, unload the goods." The Patriarch directed the clan members as they moved the cargo.

Li Shuidao and the others also helped unload.

"With such a vast Poison Dragon Ridge, is there no one growing grain?" Li Shuidao muttered quietly.

"Poison Dragon Ridge's Spiritual Energy is astonishing. Naturally, all Spirit Fields must be used to grow Spirit Grass. How could they possibly be used to grow grain?" Li Tianliang answered softly from beside him.

After the unloading was completed, Elder Lan assigned a young cultivator in flowing black robes to lead the Li Family members to Five Poisons Cave.

From Freight Plaza to Five Poisons Cave, they had to traverse a stretch of mountain path. It climbed all the way upward, steep as a sheer cliff. Waterfalls sprayed beside them, and the ceaseless roar of waves washing over spring waters filled their ears.

Li Shuidao and the others scrambled up the steep slope on hands and feet. By the time they reached the cliff top, every one of them was panting heavily and drenched in sweat.

The cultivator leading the way and the Li Family cultivators, naturally, remained calm and unruffled.

"This is Five Poisons Cave. If you obtain resonance, you may follow this narrow path upward to Ascension Platform and register to join our Five Poisons Sect. Or you may follow the path you just took back down and return to your own family. Five Poisons Cave is unguarded, so do as you please. However, only mortals may enter. If a cultivator enters, the cave will explode."

"Rest assured, little brother. We know this," Li Haimo said with a smile.

"Then I'll be going."

At this moment, only the Li Family members remained outside Five Poisons Cave.

Patriarch Li Haimo said solemnly, "Five at a time. Remember, do not move about recklessly. If the cave explodes, all five of you will die together."

Everyone present nodded in unison.

Li Tianliang stepped forward to direct them. "Li Shuilang, Li Shuiting, Li Shuidao, Li Haoze, Li Yijun—you five go in first!"

The five stepped out and lined up in turn before Li Tianliang.

Li Shuilang was first. He extended the finger of his right hand, and Li Tianliang used a pitch-black little knife to cut it open. With Li Shuilang's own blood, he drew a rune upon his forehead.

This was the Five Poisons Resonance Seal.

"Remember, let nature take its course. Do not force it," Li Tianliang warned again.

Li Shuilang nodded and walked into the pitch-black Five Poisons Cave with the blood rune on his forehead.

Next was Li Shuiting.

Li Tianliang gave her the same reminder. "Remember, let everything take its natural course. Do not force it."

Li Shuiting nodded, her face grave as she followed her elder brother into Five Poisons Cave.

The third was Li Shuidao.

Swish!

Without another word, Li Tianliang slashed open Li Shuidao's finger and used his own blood to draw a blood rune on his forehead.

"Remember!"

"Rest assured, Teacher. I'll definitely let nature take its course. I absolutely won't force it," Li Shuidao said with a smile.

"Go!"