Gold-Eating Ant

"Fellow Daoist Li, when you have some free time, shall we spar again?"

Lu Yudie said with a smile.

Yunmeng Mountain had a martial arts arena for cultivators to spar and test their skills. Shen Long had sparred with many Qi Refining cultivators; he had defeated many, but he had also lost.

"Let's talk about it another time when I'm free."

Shen Long politely declined.

"Then it's a deal, Fellow Daoist Li."

Lu Yudie said with a smile.

Shen Long nodded with a smile and said nothing more.

The courtyard gate opened, and Zhao Feng walked out.

"Fellow Daoist Li, Fellow Daoist Lu, Fairy Lu, you've all arrived. Please, come in."

Zhao Feng said warmly, inviting them inside.

The courtyard was about an acre in size, with more than half an acre of spirit fields, a fish pond, a three-story red pavilion, and a red stone gazebo. Three men and two women were gathered in the gazebo, including Ye Yutang and Ye Yuqing.

Lu Shan looked at a man in his early forties wearing a red shirt and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Wang, long time no see. I thought something had happened to you."

"We were seriously injured while hunting spirit beasts and have been recovering. We only just fully recovered recently."

The man in the red shirt explained.

Wang Shuo, ninth level of Qi Refining.

"Fairy Lu, I haven't seen you for a while, and you've already reached the eighth level of Qi Refining. Congratulations!"

A young man in a yellow shirt, whose features closely resembled Wang Shuo's, greeted Lu Yudie.

A young man in a blue shirt, also resembling Wang Shuo, looked at Shen Long and said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Li, when you have time, shall we spar?"

The young man in the yellow shirt and the young man in the blue shirt were Wang Shuo's sons, named Wang Long and Wang Hu, respectively.

Wang Shuo had participated in the Immortal Ascension Assembly twice and had failed both times. He was already over forty, past the age for taking on disciples, so he pinned his hopes on his two sons.

Wang Long and Wang Hu were only at the seventh level of Qi Refining, and there was still half a year until the Immortal Ascension Assembly.

Wang Long had a crush on Lu Yudie, while Wang Hu was passionate about cultivation and combat; he had sparred with Shen Long twice and lost both times.

"If I have time, I will contact you, Fellow Daoist Wang, and we can have a proper spar."

Shen Long agreed.

Shen Long and the others sat down to drink tea and chat.

A quarter of an hour later, Zhao Feng took out a Communication Disk that was flickering with red light. He cast a spell into it, and a gentle male voice rang out: "Fellow Daoist Zhao, we have arrived."

"Good, I'll be right out."

Zhao Feng looked pleased, put away the Communication Disk, and strode toward the courtyard gate.

He opened the gate, and a handsome young man in a green shirt and a sweet-looking young girl in a yellow dress walked in. Both of them were at the ninth level of Qi Refining.

Shen Long and the others stood up one after another, not daring to be negligent.

"Let me introduce you all. This is Fellow Daoist Su and Fairy Su."

Zhao Feng introduced them enthusiastically.

"I am Su Tianchen, greetings to all fellow daoists."

"And my younger sister, Su Tianyue."

The young man in the green shirt and the young girl in the yellow dress introduced themselves.

Shen Long and the others stated their names one by one, considering it an introduction.

Zhao Feng invited everyone to sit down, drink tea, and chat.

The topic turned to spells, and Zhao Feng said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Su, Fellow Daoist Li has quite a talent for spells; he has cultivated several first-tier spells to the Great Perfection stage."

"I wonder how many spells Fellow Daoist Li has cultivated to the Great Perfection stage?"

Su Tianchen asked politely.

"Four, at the moment."

Shen Long naturally couldn't tell the truth, so he understated it by one.

"Four!"

A flash of surprise crossed Su Tianyue's beautiful eyes. Even in the Su Family, there were few Qi Refining cultivators who had cultivated four first-tier spells to the Great Perfection stage.

It wasn't that the Su Family disciples lacked talent for spells, but rather that few of them did so. If they wanted to cast spells instantly, they could just buy talismans or magic tools, or raise spirit beasts, spirit insects, or spirit birds; there was no need to spend too much time cultivating spells.

Su Tianchen looked impressed and asked politely, "If I may be so bold, which sect does Fellow Daoist Li intend to join?"

"That's not really up to me! It depends on the recruitment requirements of each sect, and whether or not I can pass the assessment is another matter entirely."

Shen Long said.

As far as he knew, the Immortal Ascension Assembly lasted for a period of time, and cultivators could take turns participating in the assessments of the five major forces, joining whichever sect they passed the assessment for.

"That is true! True Man Golden Sun of the Purple Firmament Gate has a high talent for spells. Back in the Foundation Establishment Realm, he could kill cultivators of the same rank by relying on multiple perfected spells. If Fellow Daoist Li is interested in spells, you could consider participating in the Purple Firmament Gate's assessment. Besides spells, the talismans of the Purple Firmament Gate are also very powerful; they have a fourth-rank talisman master."

Su Tianchen said.

If he could help the Purple Firmament Gate recruit good talent, he would also receive rewards and gain a few more friends within the sect.

Shen Long nodded and asked, "Fellow Daoist Su, I wonder what the recruitment criteria for the Purple Firmament Gate are this time?"

"First, the age must not exceed forty, and the cultivation level must be at least the sixth layer of Qi Refining. It is best to have talent for talisman making, though talent in other crafts is also welcome."

Su Tianchen said.

"Why has it been lowered so much? Last time, it still required the eighth layer of Qi Refining."

Wang Shuo asked in confusion.

"I heard that they didn't recruit many disciples the last two times, as the good prospects were all taken by the Mystic Yang Sect. If they still insisted on recruiting Qi Refining cultivators at the eighth layer, they wouldn't be able to recruit many disciples at all this time."

Su Tianchen explained.

The Mystic Yang Sect was the largest power in the Qin Kingdom and the force that the vast majority of rogue Qi Refining cultivators wished to join, but the Mystic Yang Sect's recruitment requirements were very strict.

Everyone suddenly realized, and it did seem reasonable.

"Since the Purple Firmament Gate has lowered its recruitment requirements, I wonder if the Tyrant Blade Villa, the Seven Rosy Clouds Sect, and the Spirit Control Sect have also lowered theirs."

Lu Yudie said curiously.

"I am not clear on that, perhaps! I heard from Fellow Daoist Zhao that Fairy Ye is a talisman master, so joining the Purple Firmament Gate would be best."

Su Tianchen's gaze fell upon Ye Yuqing as he spoke.

"I'll see how things go! I intend to join the same sect as my sister."

Ye Yuqing said.

After chatting for more than half an hour, Zhao Feng suggested exchanging cultivation resources, and all the cultivators expressed their agreement.

As the host, Zhao Feng was the first to bring out items for exchange.

He took out a dozen porcelain bottles, all containing first-rank medicinal pills of various kinds.

"I am looking to trade for spiritual herbs, or items of equal value."

Zhao Feng said.

Su Tianchen and Su Tianyue did not think much of them, and while Shen Long was interested, these pills were not exactly precious, and he could simply purchase them with spirit stones.

Wang Shuo and Lu Shan were somewhat interested and took out spiritual herbs to trade.

Zhao Feng exchanged four bottles of pills before sitting back down.

Su Tianchen took out dozens of items, including spiritual wood, ores, spiritual water, monster materials, spiritual herbs, pills, magical artifacts, talismans, and more, saying, "I am looking to trade for materials of equal value, with priority given to talisman-making materials."

"Fellow Daoist Su, what is inside that jade box?"

Ye Yuqing pointed to a golden jade box and asked curiously.

Su Tianchen opened the jade box, which contained dozens of golden insect eggs.

"These are eggs of the Gold-Eating Ant. The Gold-Eating Ant is ranked 1,008th on the Heaven and Earth Exotic Insect Ranking. They love to eat metal, are impervious to blades and spears, and can coalesce into the shape of weapons to attack enemies."

Su Tianchen introduced.