Seventh Layer of Qi Refining

Shen Long took the golden dharma disk and examined it carefully; he still had over six hundred spirit stones on him.

He purchased one Earth Escape Talisman, one Beast Soul Talisman, one Lightning Attraction Talisman, and two Wind Control Talismans. After paying the spirit stones, he had three hundred and ten left.

Leaving the Treasure Pavilion, Shen Long arrived at the plaza where stalls were set up, walking around to browse.

"I heard the Immortal Ascension Assembly is about to begin. The five major powers of the Qin Kingdom are preparing to recruit disciples. It only happens once every twenty years; it's a rare opportunity."

"It's not like everyone can meet the recruitment criteria. You can't be over forty, you need at least the eighth level of Qi Refining, three spiritual roots, and a clean background. That alone filters out a huge number of people."

"That's true! I heard there's an assessment, and the difficulty is very high. But then again, if you can join one of the five major powers of the Qin Kingdom, you won't have to worry about your next life. You'd receive a monthly stipend and have access to top-tier immortal caves."

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Some Qi Refining cultivators were discussing the matter, their conversation centered on the Immortal Ascension Assembly.

"The Immortal Ascension Assembly! Recruiting disciples!"

Shen Long's face showed a look of longing. He was twenty years old now, at the seventh level of Qi Refining, and had already cultivated four first-tier spells to Great Perfection. He wondered if he would have a chance to join an immortal cultivation sect.

It is easier to enjoy the shade under a big tree; if he could join a major power, his prospects for development would be much better.

He asked other Qi Refining cultivators about the situation regarding the Immortal Ascension Assembly. It would not be held for another five years, but some cultivators were already heading toward the destination to scout for connections.

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

The Immortal Ascension Assembly was five years away, and he was only at the seventh level of Qi Refining, not yet meeting the recruitment criteria.

The five major powers of the Qin Kingdom held the Immortal Ascension Assembly every twenty years, only accepting cultivators under forty years of age who were at the eighth level of Qi Refining or higher. This meant Shen Long only had one chance.

Reaching the eighth level of Qi Refining within five years was not very difficult; he had been at the seventh level for over two years already.

Shen Long took out a Purple Apricot Fruit and took a bite. It was sweet and refreshing, and soon, he had finished the entire fruit.

A faint heat rose in his abdomen, and he quickly circulated his cultivation technique to refine it.

Three months passed in the blink of an eye. On this day, as Shen Long sat cross-legged on the stone bed practicing, a large number of blue light spots drifted through the stone room, and the air was filled with moisture.

The blue light spots seemed to be guided by some force, surging toward Shen Long's mouth and nose.

Half a quarter of an hour later, all the blue light spots in the room had surged into Shen Long's body. The blue glow on his skin faded, and he opened his eyes, exhaling a long breath of turbid air.

"Seventh level of Qi Refining! Haha."

Shen Long was overjoyed. In just over three years, advancing from the fifth level to the seventh level of Qi Refining was a very fast cultivation speed, comparable to the elite clansmen of the Li Clan, Han Clan, and Chen Clan.

If he hadn't consumed two Purple Apricot Fruits, Shen Long likely would have needed more time to reach the seventh level of Qi Refining.

This way, as long as he reached the eighth level of Qi Refining within five years, he would meet the recruitment criteria.

Thinking of something, Shen Long took out the Spirit Control Tower and injected his mana into it.

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

A series of joyful hissing sounds rang out as the Iron Tail Scorpion crawled out of the Spirit Control Pool. Its size was more than a circle larger than before.

"You've reached the mid-stage of the first tier. Not bad."

Shen Long's face lit up with joy. Every month, he fed the Iron Tail Scorpion one Spirit Feeding Pill; he had used all three of his pills on it, otherwise, it wouldn't have advanced so quickly.

The Iron Tail Scorpion let out a happy hiss; it was clearly very pleased as well.

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

He put away the spirit stones from the Soundproofing Array, pushed the door open, and walked out, heading up the mountain.

When he arrived at the Martial Practice Garden, there were no empty stone rooms for the moment.

Shen Long stood at the entrance waiting. After more than half a quarter of an hour, the door to a stone room opened, and Qin Qing and Qin Tianhe walked out. Both of them were smiling, as if they had some good news.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, you've reached the seventh level of Qi Refining."

Qin Qing said in surprise.

"I was lucky to break through. Fellow Daoist Qin, has Fellow Daoist Xu contacted you yet?"

Shen Long asked.

"Not yet. I suppose he is still healing his injuries!"

Qin Qing replied.

After chatting for a few moments, Qin Qing and Qin Tianhe took their leave. Shen Long walked into the secret room to practice his spells.

He practiced the Wind Control Technique. As he chanted, green light slowly began to glow on his feet. With a flicker of his figure, he appeared in front of a stone wall.

Two hours later, Shen Long walked out of the secret room, his face looking slightly pale.

After leaving the Martial Practice Garden, he headed down the mountain, intending to stroll through the plaza where the stalls were located.

He hadn't walked far when he met Qin Qing coming toward him. "Fellow Daoist Shen, Fellow Daoist Xu has summoned us for a meeting."

Shen Long nodded, and together with Qin Qing, he arrived at the Green Bamboo Courtyard, where Xu Lei and Sun Yang were sitting in a stone pavilion, discussing something.

"Fellow Daoist Xu, have you not recruited any new team members?"

Shen Long asked curiously.

"There's no need. From now on, Fairy Ye will no longer participate in hunting demonic beasts; they have withdrawn."

Xu Lei said in a tone of regret.

"What? They quit? Everything was fine, why would they quit?"

Qin Qing asked, puzzled.

"They joined us to hunt spirit beasts primarily to break through their bottlenecks. Now that they've achieved that, there's naturally no need for them to keep hunting with us; selling talismans is a much easier way to earn spirit stones."

Xu Lei explained. Ye Yutang and Ye Yuqing were powerful, and he had been wary of them all along. He was more than happy that Ye Yutang had chosen to withdraw!

"If they've quit, why not find new teammates? Relying on just the four of us to hunt spirit beasts is too dangerous."

Shen Long said with a frown.

"That's right! With only the four of us, it's truly too risky."

Qin Qing echoed.

"I've discovered another Purple Apricot Tree with over forty Purple Apricots. The location is very secluded, and it's guarded by two late-stage first-level Golden Cloud Butterflies. If we bring others in, we'll have to share more of the harvest with them. If we split it among the four of us, we get more; there's no need to find new teammates."

Xu Lei explained.

"We can invite new teammates for the next hunt. The Golden Cloud Butterflies aren't that hard to deal with, and this is a rare opportunity."

Sun Yang agreed.

Qin Qing hesitated for a moment before agreeing. If they could get their hands on a few more Purple Apricots, Qin Tianhe's cultivation speed would increase.

"Risk is proportional to reward. It would still be safer to invite a few more fellow daoists."

Shen Long suggested, feeling that it was all too risky.

Xu Lei was a greedy person, yet he had always been cautious. Discovering a Purple Apricot Tree deep in the Thousand Bamboo Mountain Range and attempting it with only four people was a massive risk—it didn't seem like his usual style.

"That may be true, but my injuries haven't fully healed yet. I need to buy medicinal pills to recover, otherwise, I wouldn't be taking such a risk."

Xu Lei explained.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, once we succeed this time, we can take a long break. It wouldn't hurt to earn a few more spirit stones."

Sun Yang persuaded.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, we've been working together for so many years, and this time will be no exception. Let's go together!"

Qin Qing urged.

Hearing these words, Shen Long hesitated briefly before agreeing.

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