Ever Drifting, About to Leave Again

It turned out that Gan Kingdom had a secret realm called South Dipper Mountain. It opened once every twenty years and was a place jointly sealed by hundreds of great cultivators from Gan Kingdom over ten thousand years ago, all so that Gan Kingdom's Cultivation World would have successors.

There were countless Spirit Medicines within it, with those used for Foundation Establishment Pills being the most precious. However, they had already been divided up and guarded by the various Immortal Gates, and the available slots were limited.

Moreover, the secret realm imposed strict restrictions on cultivation; only Qi Refining Realm cultivators could enter. Every twenty years, the competition was so brutal that not even one in ten survived.

Other than the Ten Great Immortal Sects, which possessed methods to cultivate Spirit Medicines for Foundation Establishment Pills, no other sects had such methods. This was the most fundamental gap between Immortal Gates. Relying on natural Foundation Establishment not only wasted time, but also easily led to cultivation deviation.

Qi Refining Realm cultivators only had a hundred years of lifespan. Reaching the tenth layer already took an enormous amount of time. Even fighting for one more year was enough to make people smash their heads and bleed.

Meanwhile, the Foundation Establishment Spirit Medicines outside Gan Kingdom had long since been harvested to extinction. There were simply too many Qi Refining Realm cultivators and too few medicines to go around.

"So that's how it is."

After hearing this, Chen Xun understood. They wanted them to serve as hired thugs, perhaps even cannon fodder.

"Of course, if you gather three main-ingredient Spirit Medicines and the sect uncles refine a batch of Foundation Establishment Pills, the gatherers will naturally receive a share as well."

Yin Jun added another sentence before changing the subject. "Our Five Aggregates Sect has never forced disciples to participate. Fellow Daoist, there is no need to worry."

Chen Xun chuckled without replying, though inwardly he grumbled, What is there to force? Once those with poor aptitude realize Foundation Establishment is beyond hope, they would beg for the chance to go.

"After entering the Five Aggregates Sect, you may choose your own duties. As long as you meet the yearly contribution requirement, that will suffice."

With one hand behind his back, Yin Jun spoke unhurriedly. "For example, I am an outer sect steward. Contributions can also be exchanged for cultivation techniques, spells, and so on."

"There is also the annual Sect Tournament. If some elder takes a liking to you and accepts you into their lineage, you will soar into the sky in a single bound and become an inner sect disciple."

"And what if one fails to meet the contribution requirement?"

"Make it up the following year. If you fail to meet the standard for three consecutive years, you will be expelled from the sect."

As Yin Jun said this, fear flashed through his eyes. Being expelled from the sect meant having one's cultivation crippled. "Outer sect disciples can only live this way. Inner sect disciples do not need to, and naturally, neither do Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators."

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for clearing up my doubts."

"However, this cow of yours..." Yin Jun looked at Black Bull, his brows knitting slightly. "The sect only accepts spirit beasts."

"That could not be better." Chen Xun patted Black Bull.

"Moo, moo!"

Black Bull stepped forward, and a surge of spiritual power stirred within him. Yin Jun's expression changed drastically. Qi Refining Realm, Second Layer—he had actually failed to notice all along.

"Then there is no problem."

Yin Jun took a step back as he spoke. Spirit beasts were a major source of cultivators' combat strength. The Beast-Taming Sect, one of the Ten Great Immortal Sects, specialized in spirit beasts and possessed formidable strength among low-level cultivators.

"Good. Then I, Chen Xun, am willing to join the Five Aggregates Sect." Chen Xun solemnly cupped his hands, meeting Yin Jun's gaze.

"Please accept this Dao Disciple Token, Fellow Daoist."

Delight flashed through Yin Jun's eyes—another contribution secured. "You have not formally entered the sect yet, so we cannot address one another as senior or junior brothers."

"Thank you."

Chen Xun accepted a small azure token, smaller than the one from before, and felt a faint stir of excitement in his heart.

"On the day the valley closes, the sect uncle will activate the token. Fellow Daoist will naturally know where to meet then."

"Alright, then I will not disturb you any longer." Chen Xun smiled and left with Black Bull.

Yin Jun nodded as well, then looked once more toward Purple Cloud Sect's trial grounds. He too held a token similar to those held by the three women.

On the street.

Excitement shone in Black Bull's eyes, and he nudged Chen Xun from time to time.

"Old Bull, we're leaving this place."

A smile rested on Chen Xun's lips. Everything felt rushed somehow, as though he had grasped so much, yet like quicksand in his palm, he had lost so much without realizing it.

Yet joining the Five Aggregates Sect had long been part of Chen Xun's plan. He had inquired about the sect's strength within the valley before. It was not enough to compare with the best, but more than enough to surpass the lesser—precisely in line with what they had hoped for.

Moreover, disciples of the Five Aggregates Sect lingered every year beside Purple Cloud Sect's high platform. Though he did not know what connection they had, it was enough as long as they could draw attention.

They had displayed strength far beyond ordinary people in Purple Cloud Sect's first trial, then deliberately lost the second. The Five Aggregates Sect people would naturally come looking for them. This time, they had brought out all their worldly possessions.

Jingle.

A crisp sound rang out as Black Bull twisted his body a few times and looked at Chen Xun.

Chen Xun stopped and walked to Black Bull's side. Looking at their pots, bowls, ladles, and basins, he saw that they had all yellowed with use and were mottled with rust.

"When the time comes, we'll give them a proper polish. These are treasures."

"Moo, moo~~"

Chen Xun and Black Bull walked slowly through Nine-Star Valley. For the first time, their steps were no longer so hurried. They gradually passed beyond the valley entrance, then their bodies suddenly accelerated.

Halfway up a great mountain stood a lonely grave. They went before Sun Kaile's tomb, cleared away the weeds, and offered several sticks of incense.

"Elder Sun, we're leaving. We're going somewhere very far away, and I do not know what year or month it will be before we can return."

Chen Xun spoke softly as one hand plucked away weeds. "Heh, we've never gone somewhere so far before."

"Moo~~" Black Bull murmured at the side as well, voicing some of what lay in his heart.

The mountain wind swept past, making the bells on Black Bull's body chime. Two figures had already departed, while a faint sigh drifted into the distance with the wind.

Half a day later, Chen Xun arrived before Ning Si's tomb. Beside it stood the grave marker of Ning Si's wife.

"Master, Madam."

Chen Xun's voice trembled slightly as he bent and cupped his hands. Their voices and smiles seemed as though they had been there only yesterday.

"Though you are not the most gifted one, as your master, I believe you will certainly become the one with the greatest medical skill."

"This child truly is not bad. His conduct is upright, and his temperament is excellent."

The two seemed to be sitting before the tomb, still smiling at Chen Xun, their eyes filled with gratification.

"We are leaving. We came to bid Master and Madam farewell."

Chen Xun's expression was solemn as he bowed deeply. Black Bull bowed as well, his movements cautious and careful.

He patted Black Bull and turned to leave, but suddenly his foot slipped, as though someone had given him a push. Chen Xun's pupils contracted sharply, and his eyes trembled.

"Moo?"

"Old Bull, it's nothing. Let's go."

A faint smile appeared on Chen Xun's lips. He did not look back, merely leading Black Bull away.

At that moment, a gentle breeze drifted over. Countless wisps of down suddenly soared into the sky. There was no bewilderment, no hesitation; the two figures walked farther and farther away.

A huge full moon hung high in the Skyvault. The moon of early winter was clear and cold, pouring icy silver radiance down from the west.

Outside Nine-Star Valley, quite a few Rogue Cultivators had already begun leaving. The valley would close tomorrow, and they no longer had any hope.

Several angry roars and screams came from a distant patch of grass. Blood dripped onto the blades, while seven or eight figures stood scattered about with cold smiles on their lips.

The frigid wind howled, blowing the grass left and right like waves rising across the sea, one wave pushing another, rolling and surging without end—a magnificent sight.

"Dare provoke our Liao Family? This is the outcome."

The middle-aged man who had once sold Chen Xun Spirit Medicine seeds stomped a Rogue Cultivator's head apart. His eyes were filled with gloom, flying swords circling at his side.

"Brother, that hooded fool has appeared."

The round-faced man grinned viciously. He had never forgotten the grudge from that punch. "I didn't expect him to come back."

His Liao Family had conducted business in Nine-Star Valley all year round and had quite a few cultivators among its ranks. Though they had no Foundation Establishment cultivator overseeing them, they were not people Rogue Cultivators could casually provoke.

"Hmph. He has hidden for so long. This time, we will not let him escape." The middle-aged man spoke darkly, and the flying swords around him grew noticeably sharper.

Suddenly, a heart-palpitating sensation descended. The Liao Family members jolted and looked toward the high ground beyond the grass, horror filling their eyes.

Beneath the full moon, a hooded man and a Black Bull stood on the high ground, their robes snapping in the wind. Three Mountain-Splitting Axes and Black Bull's horns were rendered even more chilling by the silver radiance.

"Liao Family members, it has been a long time."

The hooded man tilted his head slightly, a cold smile appearing on his lips as he looked down at them. "I heard you were looking for me."