The Cultivation World's First Pot of Gold

Another year flew by. They lived rough in the outer reaches of the Ningyun Mountain Range, sleeping in the open and living off the wind and dew. They no longer dared to pick up human bones.

Their cultivation had only improved somewhat, still stuck at Qi Refining, Third Layer. They had added their Longevity Points to Essence of All Things and even cultivated a hundred-year-old medicinal herb.

Every day, they continued searching the mountain range's outskirts for spirit herbs, yet they had not even seen a shadow of one. They did not dare venture into the depths of the mountains.

Not only were there demon beasts there, but small Immortal Gates were also established within. It was perilous beyond measure.

Another Immortal Ascension Assembly arrived, and Chen Xun and Black Bull showed up as promised. There was now a faint air of swagger in their eyes, and they could even offer a few critiques about the goods on the stalls.

They took their hundred-year-old herb to sell, only to be viciously humiliated. Someone cursed them, saying that if their brains did not work properly, they should not come cultivate immortality.

"Damn it, why are you looking down on people? Does your family not have mortals? Is everyone in your family dead?!"

"Moo!" Black Bull spat as well.

Chen Xun and Black Bull walked through the valley, grumbling nonstop. They still had the same look, the same old flavor.

Three days passed in a flash, and it was time for the Ten Great Immortal Sects to show off again. Chen Xun and Black Bull stood in the valley in anticipation. The key was that these people really knew how to put on a show.

Countless cries of clamor and amazement rang out once more. But today, Chen Xun also shouted along a few times; at the very least, he could now call out the names of the other sects.

Over these seven days, Chen Xun and Black Bull continued writing and drawing in their little booklets, with Black Bull adding notes from the side.

The moment the valley closed, Chen Xun and Black Bull were the first to charge out. They left even faster than the Ten Great Immortal Sects—so fast that no one even noticed someone had already run off.

Before absolute speed, even schemes and tricks seemed half a beat too slow.

Time passed unnoticed in the mountains. Another five years went by, but the wild beasts of the Ningyun Mountain Range suffered a great calamity. Chen Xun and Black Bull called every beast "little friend," and every day, some beast met with disaster.

They had finally ground their way to the fourth layer of the Qi Refining Realm. They put all their Longevity Points into Essence of All Things, hoping that one day, while answering nature's call, they might step on a spirit herb.

Their current Longevity Points were: Strength, 21. Speed, 21. Essence of All Things, 15.

At this year's Immortal Ascension Assembly, Chen Xun and Black Bull arrived as promised. They had come again and again and again and again, radiant and refreshed, as though they had returned home.

Aside from the pots, bowls, ladles, and basins hanging from both sides of Black Bull, they had also gone into the city and printed quite a few little booklets.

And at the Immortal Ascension Assembly, Chen Xun began to rise to fame. People gave him the nickname Ascension Assembly Holdout—poor as a church mouse, with only one Black Bull left to his name.

No one knew his appearance or name. He was exceedingly mysterious.

But this fellow's brain did not seem to work too well. He wore a black headscarf year-round, dreaming of becoming a bandit in the Cultivation World.

Rumor had it that all stall owners should beware of him, because he often lingered around their stalls without being able to produce even a single Spirit Stone. He was probably sizing up something.

But these were merely idle jokes among Rogue Cultivators over tea. No one paid attention to Chen Xun at all; they merely treated him as a fool.

Every year, newcomers arrived and old faces departed. All of them were people fervently seeking immortality.

Nine-Star Valley.

"Big brother, this is the great work I poured my heart and soul into over several years. The checkpoints and precautions of every major sect are all inside."

Chen Xun bent at the waist, smiling as he tirelessly hawked his wares. "I guarantee your chances of entering an Immortal Gate will rise dramatically!"

"Oh?"

Several Rogue Cultivators stopped, interest appearing in their eyes. "May we take a look?"

But when they saw Chen Xun's bandit-like face covering, all of them were startled. This boy was certainly no good man!

"Of course. If you're satisfied, then you can pay."

Chen Xun smiled. These people looked unfamiliar at a glance; they were clearly newcomers to the Immortal Ascension Assembly. The odds of making a sale were greatly increased.

"Brother Zhang, look, this really seems quite good."

A Rogue Cultivator's eyes lit up as he showed it to the two people beside him. "It even explains what kind of disciples the Ten Great Sects want to recruit."

"Indeed, though we don't know whether it's true or not." The two nodded. If it was true, it would be incredible.

"Rest assured, big brothers. I'm here every year. If there's a problem, just come find me."

Chen Xun patted his chest and said solemnly, "Just one Low-Grade Spirit Stone. You won't lose out by buying it, and you won't be fooled by buying it. Even if it only raises your odds by ten percent, wouldn't that still be a profit?"

"Good!"

The man shouted, his eyes still fixed on the booklet. "Fellow cultivator, you look like a forthright man. I'll buy it!"

"Big brother has sharp eyes. This year, you'll definitely enter an Immortal Gate without a hitch."

Chen Xun grinned ingratiatingly as he took that one Low-Grade Spirit Stone, delighted beyond measure.

"Fine, then I'll borrow your auspicious words."

The man smiled. This person really knew how to talk. The Spirit Stone had been well spent.

"Take care, three big brothers!"

"Moo!"

Chen Xun and Black Bull called after them, their faces blooming into smiles. They had finally earned their first pot of gold.

"Old Bull, let's go!"

"Moo moo!!"

Chen Xun was brimming with ambition. They had neither stolen nor robbed anyone; earning Spirit Stones like this felt wonderful—clean and honest.

Black Bull was so excited he was nearly in tears. He kept rubbing against Chen Xun, for they had truly done it. Chen Xun wrapped an arm around the bull's head as well. No one knew how much painstaking effort they had poured into this.

"This big brother looks heroic and extraordinary, with peerless talent. If I'm not mistaken, you're here to take part in the Ten Great Immortal Sects' disciple recruitment?"

"Hm? What is it, fellow cultivator?"

A young man halted, surprise on his face. Was his excellence already this obvious? Damn it... someone had actually seen through him at a glance.

Chen Xun narrowed his eyes slightly and looked him up and down twice. "But big brother may be lacking one thing. It is of utmost importance."

The young man also sized Chen Xun up. Though he wore a headscarf, those wise eyes had thoroughly betrayed him.

Then there was the Black Bull he led behind him, with pots, bowls, ladles, and basins hanging from its body. This added an even greater air of wisdom to him. This person... was remarkable.

"Please speak plainly, fellow cultivator." The young man was quite courteous.

Chen Xun pulled out three booklets from behind his back, spread one open with a single hand, and said solemnly, "If you wish to become immortal, first read this booklet!"

"What?!"

The young man was greatly shocked and hurriedly took it. "Could this... could this be the legendary..."

"Hehe. The checkpoints of the Ten Great Immortal Sects are all contained in this booklet. It depends on whether big brother can recognize quality goods."

Chen Xun said faintly, standing with his hands behind his back. Over the past few years, his eye had become exceedingly sharp. He could tell at a glance who had Spirit Stones and who did not.

The young man wiped away a cold sweat. The contents of this booklet were all solid material, far better than those rumors passed from ear to ear.

"Fellow cultivator, this must cost quite a few Spirit Stones, yes?"

"One Low-Grade Spirit Stone is enough."

"No, that would be far too cheap."

The young man shook his head fiercely, and Chen Xun's expression changed. He had actually misjudged him.

"I think it should be at least two!" the young man said seriously, taking Spirit Stones out of his storage pouch.

"Big brother, no need. This is the standard price."

Chen Xun frowned. He did not like raising prices on the spot. "Just one!"

"Two."

"One."

"So, fellow cultivator, you refuse to give me face?" The young man's expression suddenly turned sharp, as though he had become a completely different person.

Chen Xun was startled and hurriedly changed his words. "Fine, two it is. Big brother is indeed no ordinary man."

Hearing this, the young man immediately changed expressions, a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth. "Fellow cultivator is no ordinary person either. I quite like this booklet, so I'll take it first."

"Take care, big brother."

Chen Xun called out, thoroughly frightened. In that instant just now, the vastness of the man's spiritual power had been several times his own.

And he even possessed the legendary storage pouch. He might have an extraordinary background. It was better to stay far away from people like this.

"Moo~" Black Bull nudged Chen Xun. Why was he standing still?

"It's nothing, Old Bull. Let's keep selling booklets."

"Moo!"

One man and one bull continuously bent over with apologetic smiles, promoting their manuals. Some people said they were fakes, sneered, and left. Chen Xun did not get angry; that was perfectly normal.

But the day's harvest was still exceedingly gratifying. They had actually sold fifty booklets, leaving them with fifty-one Low-Grade Spirit Stones.