Qi Refining Seventh Layer

Shen Long accepted the Golden Dharma Disk and examined it carefully. He still had more than six hundred Spirit Stones on him.

He bought one Earth Escape Talisman, one Beast Soul Talisman, one Lightning Attraction Talisman, and two Wind Control Talismans. After paying, he had three hundred and ten Spirit Stones left.

After leaving the Treasure Pavilion, Shen Long arrived at the plaza of stalls and wandered about, looking around.

"I heard the Immortal Ascension Assembly is about to begin. The Five Great Powers of the Qin Kingdom are preparing to recruit disciples. It only takes place once every twenty years, so the opportunity is rare."

"It's not as if just anyone can meet the requirements. You can't be over forty, you need at least Qi Refining Eighth Layer cultivation, Three Spirit Roots, and a clean background. Those conditions alone weed out a huge number of people."

"Exactly! I heard you still have to pass an assessment, and it's extremely difficult. But then again, if you can enter one of the Five Great Powers of the Qin Kingdom, you won't have to worry for the rest of your life. You can collect a monthly stipend and even get a fine cave dwelling."

Some Qi Refining Cultivators discussed the matter animatedly. They were talking about the Immortal Ascension Assembly.

"Immortal Ascension Assembly! Recruiting disciples!"

Shen Long's face was filled with longing. He was now twenty years old, at Qi Refining Sixth Layer, and had cultivated four First Rank spells to Great Perfection. He wondered whether he would have a chance to enter an immortal cultivation sect.

It was easier to enjoy the shade beneath a great tree. If he could join a major faction, his future prospects would be far better.

He asked other Qi Refining Cultivators about the Immortal Ascension Assembly. It would not be held for another five years, but some cultivators had already rushed to the destination to seek connections.

After returning to his residence, Shen Long sat cross-legged on the stone bed.

The Immortal Ascension Assembly would only be held five years later. He was merely at Qi Refining Sixth Layer and did not yet meet the disciple recruitment requirements.

The Five Great Powers of the Qin Kingdom held an Immortal Ascension Assembly every twenty years, accepting only cultivators under forty who were at least at Qi Refining Eighth Layer. This meant Shen Long had only one chance.

Reaching Qi Refining Eighth Layer within five years would not be too difficult. He had already entered Qi Refining Sixth Layer more than two years ago.

Shen Long took out a Purple Apricot Fruit and bit into it. It was sweet and refreshing, and before long, he had eaten the entire fruit.

A faintly warm current rose in his abdomen, and he hurriedly circulated his cultivation technique to refine it.

Three months passed in the blink of an eye. On this day, Shen Long was cultivating cross-legged on the stone bed. Countless blue motes drifted through the stone chamber as moisture filled the air.

As though guided by something, the blue motes surged toward Shen Long's mouth and nose.

Half an hour later, every blue mote in the room had entered Shen Long's body. The blue glow around his body faded away. He opened his eyes and let out a long breath of turbid air.

"Qi Refining Seventh Layer! Hahaha!"

Shen Long was overjoyed. In just over three years, he had advanced from Qi Refining Fifth Layer to Qi Refining Seventh Layer. That cultivation speed was already very fast, comparable to the elite clan members of the Li Family, Han Clan, and Chen Clan.

Had he not eaten two Purple Apricot Fruits, Shen Long would likely have needed some more time before reaching Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

This way, as long as he reached Qi Refining Eighth Layer within five years, he would meet the disciple recruitment requirements.

Shen Long thought of something and took out the Spirit Control Tower, pouring mana into it.

A powerful suction force dragged him into the Spirit Control Tower, and he appeared before the Spirit Control Pool.

A series of cheerful hisses rang out as the Iron Tail Scorpion crawled out of the Spirit Control Pool. It had grown more than a full size larger than before.

"You've advanced to the first rank middle stage. Not bad."

Shen Long's face lit up with delight. Every month, he fed the Iron Tail Scorpion a Spirit Feeding Pill. All three Spirit Feeding Pills had gone to it; otherwise, it would not have advanced so quickly.

The Iron Tail Scorpion let out delighted hisses. It was happy as well.

Shen Long cooked three pots of spiritual rice and fed them to the Iron Tail Scorpion before leaving the Spirit Control Tower.

He removed the Spirit Stones from the Soundproofing Array, pushed open the door, and headed up the mountain.

When he arrived at the Martial Practice Garden, there were temporarily no vacant Stone Chambers.

Shen Long stood at the entrance and waited. After more than half an hour, the door to one Stone Chamber opened, and Qin Qing and Qin Tianhe walked out. Both wore smiles, as though something good had happened.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, you've reached Qi Refining Seventh Layer."

Qin Qing said in surprise.

"I was fortunate enough to break through. Fellow Daoist Qin, has Daoist Xu still not contacted you?"

Shen Long asked.

"Not yet. He's probably still recovering from his injuries!"

Qin Qing said.

After chatting for a few moments, Qin Qing and Qin Tianhe took their leave. Shen Long entered the Stone Chamber and began practicing his spells.

He practiced the Wind Control Technique. As he murmured an incantation, cyan light slowly lit beneath his feet. His figure blurred, and he appeared before a stone wall.

Two hours later, Shen Long emerged from the Stone Chamber, his face slightly pale.

After leaving the Martial Practice Garden, he headed down the mountain, intending to stroll around the plaza of stalls.

He had not gone far when Qin Qing approached him head-on and said, "Fellow Daoist Shen, Daoist Xu has summoned us for a meeting."

Shen Long nodded and went with Qin Qing to the Green Bamboo Courtyard. Xu Lei and Sun Yang sat in the stone pavilion, discussing something.

"Daoist Xu, aren't we recruiting new team members?"

Shen Long asked curiously.

"There's no need. From now on, Fairy Ye won't be taking part in hunting Monster Beasts. They've withdrawn."

Xu Lei said regretfully.

"What? They withdrew? Why would they withdraw for no reason at all?"

Qin Qing asked in confusion.

"She joined us to hunt Monster Beasts mainly to resolve her bottleneck. Now that she has resolved it, there's naturally no need for her to continue hunting Monster Beasts with us. Selling Talismans to earn Spirit Stones is much easier."

Xu Lei explained. Ye Yutang and Ye Yuqing were both incredibly powerful, enough to make him deeply wary. Since Ye Yutang had voluntarily withdrawn, he could not have been happier.

"If they've withdrawn, why not find new teammates? With only the four of us, hunting Monster Beasts is far too dangerous."

Shen Long said with a frown.

"Exactly! With only the four of us, it really is too dangerous."

Qin Qing agreed.

"I found another Purple Apricot Tree. It bears more than forty Purple Apricot Fruits, and its location is very hidden. Two Golden Cloud Butterflies at the First Rank Late Stage guard it. If we bring in others, we'll have to give them more fruits. If the four of us divide them, each of us can get more. There's no need to recruit new teammates."

Xu Lei explained.

"We can invite new teammates the next time we hunt Monster Beasts. Golden Cloud Butterflies aren't difficult to deal with, and this opportunity is rare."

Sun Yang agreed.

After hesitating slightly, Qin Qing agreed. If they could obtain a few more Purple Apricot Fruits, Qin Tianhe's cultivation speed could increase somewhat.

"Risks and rewards go hand in hand. It would be safer to invite a few more fellow Daoists."

Shen Long suggested. He felt this was far too risky.

Xu Lei was rather greedy by nature, yet he had always been cautious. This time, he had discovered a Purple Apricot Tree deep within the Thousand Bamboo Mountain Range, but they intended to enter the mountains with only four people. The risk was far too great. This did not seem like Xu Lei at all.

"That may be true, but my injuries haven't fully healed yet. I need to buy medicinal pills to treat them, or I wouldn't take such a risk."

Xu Lei explained.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, once we succeed this time, we can rest for a long while. It would be good to obtain a little more Spirit Stones."

Sun Yang persuaded him.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, we've worked together for so many years. This time should be no exception. Come with us!"

Qin Qing urged.

After hearing their words, Shen Long hesitated briefly before agreeing.

The four of them left the Marketplace, and the Azure Cloud Boat carried them toward the depths of the Thousand Bamboo Mountain Range.