[Completed quest [Craft Spirit Ink]. Received Liu Xian's reward: [Flowing Flame Arrow Talisman] x1]
Liu Xian put away the four bottles of spirit ink and surveyed Chu Mo in astonishment.
"In just three short months, you broke through to the third level of Qi Refining with nothing but a mid-grade mortal cultivation art. With talent like that, you're sure to become a pillar of our sect."
Naturally, he had no idea that Chu Mo had never cultivated the Heartfire Meridian-Forging Art at all. He simply assumed the young man possessed exceptional talent, and a note of wonder crept into his voice.
"You flatter me, Master Liu," Chu Mo replied, cupping his hands.
"Now that you've cultivated your first fire meridian, how does it feel?" Liu Xian asked with apparent casualness.
Chu Mo pretended to consider it before answering a moment later. "My cultivation speed has indeed improved somewhat."
The Heartfire Meridian-Forging Art allowed one fire meridian to be cultivated every three levels, improving the efficiency of drawing in spiritual energy. With three fire meridians, it could even rival the very finest high-grade mortal cultivation arts.
"Good." Looking at Chu Mo's respectfully bowed head, Liu Xian rubbed his chin. "The Outer Disciple examination is scheduled for June. That leaves only thirty-odd days. How are your preparations coming along?"
Without waiting for Chu Mo to answer, he continued, "No need to say it. You haven't cultivated for long, and your foundations are shallow. Taking the examination in such haste, I fear your chances are grim. You'll be hard-pressed to escape the fate of your soul returning to the dark banner."
The sect never cared whether its disciples were adequately prepared. Once their cultivation reached the third level of Qi Refining, they had to take the examination.
Those who lost were simply inferior in skill, not worth nurturing, and deserved to be eliminated-after all, they could still serve the sect once they were on a soul banner.
But if this lad died, wouldn't he lose a talented worker for nothing?
At that thought, Liu Xian looked at Chu Mo with mixed feelings. An inscrutable conflict flickered in his eyes, as though he was struggling to make a choice.
Chu Mo's pupils abruptly contracted, and an intense sense of danger surged through him-he could clearly see the name above Liu Xian's head rapidly flashing between yellow and red, switching back and forth!
Shit, is this old bastard schizophrenic? He isn't going to suddenly lash out, is he? he cursed inwardly, feeling acutely unsafe.
Although Liu Xian's health bar had only 10% remaining, making him look like a wounded level 6 elite monster, he was the sort that low-level players could easily kite in a game.
But things were different now. An opponent in reality wouldn't be as rigid and sluggish as a game AI.
If he truly treated Liu Xian as an ordinary wild monster, he would probably end up finely chopped into mincemeat.
Chu Mo's thoughts raced. He immediately ventured to speak, interrupting Liu Xian's contemplation. "Master Liu, if you have no further instructions, this disciple will take his leave and begin preparing for the examination."
At his words, Liu Xian's gaze steadied, and his name finally settled on yellow. After a little thought, he waved a hand. "You may go."
As though granted a pardon, Chu Mo fought down the urge to turn and bolt. Without showing anything amiss, he bowed and took his leave before departing the cave abode.
Inside the cave abode, Liu Xian stood alone in silence for a long time before murmuring, "Chu Mo..."
The moment he left the vicinity of Liu Xian's cave abode, Chu Mo used the Dust-Treading Art and sped away like the wind.
If cultivators didn't need to reach mid-stage Qi Refining, with true qi like mist, before they could fly on objects, he would have dearly loved to take straight to the air. Liu Xian's sudden malice had truly put him on guard.
The differences in strength between early-, mid-, and late-stage Qi Refining were stark.
In the early stage, true qi was like thread, enough to sustain only a few spells. In the middle stage, true qi was like mist, providing deep reserves for prolonged combat. In the late stage, true qi was like an unending tide, often replenishing faster than it could be spent.
Fighting above one's stage and toppling an opponent of a higher realm was indeed difficult.
After racing all the way back to his quarters and shutting the door tightly, Chu Mo still did not feel safe enough.
Unfortunately, a Servant Disciple like him had virtually no rights within the sect. Only Outer Disciples qualified to live in cave abodes equipped with protective formations, while leaving the mountain was an even more distant dream for Servant Disciples.
I hope that fellow Liu Xian doesn't try anything.
Though somewhat worried, Chu Mo was not quite afraid-after all, he was a "player"...
The following days passed without incident. Aside from cultivating, Chu Mo spent each day studying spells and practicing with his puppet, occasionally browsing the gathering at North Cliff.
Cultivation was like rowing against the current; he dared not slacken for even a moment.
At the same time, he never let down his guard against Liu Xian. Yet even as the examination drew near, the man made no further moves, as though the strange occurrence that day had been nothing but his imagination.
That night, thick clouds shrouded the moon, leaving the earth in darkness. Cold wind howled, rustling the ancient trees in the courtyard.
Inside his room, Chu Mo exhaled a long breath of stale air, ending the day's cultivation. Feeling the sluggish growth of true qi within him, he frowned slightly. "The cultivation scripture is incomplete..."
The cultivation scripture he had obtained for free from the Scripture Repository contained only the first three levels. He would have to become an Outer Disciple before he qualified to read the rest.
Soon. Once he returned from the Savage Realm, he could happily help himself to another freebie. The complete Dawncloud One-Qi Profound Cavern Scripture was worth 3,000 Spell Coins.
And that was the price within the Duo'e Sect. High-grade spirit cultivation arts were rare, after all. If one appeared in the outside world, rogue cultivators would fight until their heads split and blood flowed, and the matter would not be settled without heaps of deaths.
Especially since this art could increase the chance of reaching Foundation Establishment by an additional ten percent, making it exceptionally precious.
Once a cultivator of Fuli Heaven successfully reached Foundation Establishment, they could enjoy a natural lifespan of five hundred years.
[Character information] Player: Chu Mo Race: Human Dao Path: Cultivator Level: 3 Cultivation arts: Zhou Tian Qi-Gathering Method (complete mastery), Dawncloud One-Qi Profound Cavern Scripture (third level)... Skills: Soul-Severing Sand, Golden Baleful Bone-Piercing Art, Dust-Treading Art, Mind-Cleansing Mantra, Green Vine Bind. Yin-Yang Jade: 3 Inventory: Heart-Burning Talisman x3, Flowing Flame Arrow Talisman x1, Corpse Puppet x1, assorted Spell Coins...
Looking at the information on the panel, Chu Mo felt a faint sense of satisfaction. He had accumulated all of this bit by bit.
He could attack and control, pursue and escape. Handling an examination would be no problem.
Moreover, according to the information he had gathered, a senior Foundation Establishment cultivator would oversee the examination to guard against unexpected incidents.
"I just hope the Foundation Establishment cultivator overseeing it isn't from the Upper Mound Commerce Association." Something came to Chu Mo's mind, and he couldn't help shuddering.
Even within the Duo'e Sect, which scarcely had any moral limits to begin with, the Upper Mound Commerce Association was notorious.
They were professional moneylenders, with an endless supply of schemes. Once someone gave in and borrowed from them, they would plunge into an abyss, trapped in layer upon layer of snares until their last drop of value had been squeezed dry.
Interest begot interest, souls begot souls. They wrung people dry and scraped them clean, leaving nothing behind.
Jiang Yunya was one of their particularly accomplished practitioners, highly regarded by the association and possessed of some standing. The likes of Liu Xian all had to watch his expression before acting.
Thinking of Liu Xian, Chu Mo couldn't help rolling his eyes. "Once my cultivation surpasses his, I'll definitely show him a thing or two."
The man squeezed him for labor at every turn, and now he even dared turn into a red name?
If this were a game, he would definitely chop that old bastard into mincemeat.
Knock, knock-
Someone suddenly knocked on the courtyard gate, followed by a familiar voice calling out.
"Chu Mo, are you there?"
Outside, the cold wind howled through the moonless darkness.