Chapter 88

Chapter 88: Outer Sect Alchemy Place

When Steward Zhao spoke, over a dozen disciples led the group of young men and women into the inner area.

As for Lin Zhi Shou and the others, they were not qualified to follow them inside and could only wait here or return to their families.

Zhou Luo followed the crowd through the antique bronze gate before finally seeing the scene within the central section.

On both the left and right sides stood counters, before which disciples in Qinyuan Sect robes sat cross-legged on specially crafted spirit platforms, cultivating in deep meditation. The voluminous aura emanating from them left him momentarily dazed.

Directly in front of the counters glimmered a bright crystal, its surface flashing with golden light to display rows of large golden characters.

"Spirit Beasts sighted in the southern jungle. Recover and return to sect to receive five medium-quality spiritual stones."

"Hehuan Sect evil cultivator discovered near northern Longyan City, recently entered Foundation Establishment. Eliminate and retrieve remains for ten medium-quality spiritual stones."

"Large magical beast appeared in northwest desert previously. Locate its traces to earn one medium-quality spiritual stone."

…

These golden characters detailed various mission notices.

What astonished Zhou Luo was that every mission’s reward utilized medium-quality spiritual stones.

Though the exchange rate between low-grade and medium-quality spiritual stones was merely 1:100, because medium-quality stones exclusively originate in small spiritual veins, they remained exceedingly rare.

Like the common circulation predominantly involved low-grade spiritual stones, with medium-quality ones seldom seen.

Truly worthy of an Immortal Sect—apparently even their routine transactions employed medium-quality stones.

Additionally, what further captured Zhou Luo’s attention was one mission’s reward reaching ten medium-quality spiritual stones.

That equated to a thousand ordinary spiritual stones, a staggeringly colossal sum.

Yet considering its connection to eliminating a Foundation Establishment strong person, the bid seemed reasonable.

This also revealed the terrifying scale of the Immortal Sect’s foundations—a Foundation Establishment expert casually placed on a reward notice.

And this merely constituted the Outer Sect, the sect’s outermost mountain range.

Had one entered the main peak, how terrifying might such missions become?

Zhou Luo dared not even imagine it.

He passed through the central area swiftly and continued following the procession inward.

They arrived at the innermost region before pausing.

Only then did Zhou Luo realize the rear of this hall connected to a mountain path stretching beyond sight.

Previously, he’d spied only spiritual lights shimmering behind these structures—its details obscured then likely by concealing formations.

Upon arrival, the disciples ushered everyone toward the mountain trail.

Numerous exotic flowers and rare herbs bloomed along the path’s borders, their fragrances thick and sweet. Beyond this, the main route featured branching side paths of unknown destinations.

Periodically, an Immortal Sect disciple would guide followers down one such diverging trail.

Only at this moment did Zhou Luo comprehend: his cultivation and study zone likely resided upon this very mountain.

He’d once harbored thoughts of visiting other peaks—but seeing this, he became certain that possibility no longer existed.

Among the hundred skills of cultivation, the four major skills held the highest importance, thus occupying the loftiest positions.

Of formations, potions, artifacts, and talismans, formations ranked first, with potions coming second.

Zhou Luo followed the Immortal Sect disciple upward.

How long they walked was unknown, but perhaps due to the fragrant air in the surroundings, no one felt even a hint of fatigue. Instead, their spirits grew ever more alert.

Seeing swirling mists and clouds all around, Zhou Luo understood they had reached a considerable height.

He turned to look back, seeing only countless mountain peaks concealed within the mist. Occasionally, a long rainbow would streak past, spiritual light flickering, likely from some great cultivator flying through the skies.

Beyond the mist and clouds, Zhou Luo also spotted living creatures in the bushes flanking the mountain path: white deer, small rabbits, sheep, and more.

These beings fell under the category of magical beasts. Having never awakened their intellect and nourished by heaven and earth’s spiritual energy, they often ended up within cultivators’ stomachs.

Just then, the leading Immortal Sect disciple ahead suddenly turned onto a smaller side path.

Zhou Luo knew the destination was finally near.

Walking along this winding path, the ten of them moved with renewed vigor, noticeably quickening their pace.

Before long, they saw a vast estate sprawled out before them.

"This is the Outer Sect alchemy place. Cultivate here, and remember, do not leave at will," the Immortal Sect disciple said, his expression grave as he looked at the ten individuals.

The ten nodded solemnly.

Then, the disciple led them inside the estate.

The estate was divided into inner and outer sections, with various structures distributed harmoniously throughout.

The buildings in the front yard were single-storied. Their roofs were laid with glazed tiles that gleamed brilliantly under the sun, sparkling with a golden light. The sweeping eave corners at the front resembled a phoenix spreading its wings, exuding nobility and solemnity.

The pavilion directly in the center, however, had a full five stories. Bathed in spiritual light, it looked exceptionally sacred.

Beneath that dazzling radiance, the indistinct shapes of many more structures could be glimpsed, presumably the estate’s rear yard area.

Given no time to look further, Zhou Luo followed into the black building.

The first floor hall of the pavilion was spacious and bright. Tall stone pillars supported the roof like towering mountains.

The first thing that caught the eye was an enormous central table fashioned from golden-threaded nanmu.

Behind the table was a small room. Flanking it, wooden staircases led to the upper floors. The banisters on either side of the stairs were carved with intricate patterns of dragons and phoenixes. Below the stairs were two corridors extending towards the rear yard.

Approaching the table respectfully, the Immortal Sect disciple called out cautiously, "Elder Liu."

Soon, sounds came from the small room. The door opened, and a middle-aged cultivator walked out stretching.

His features were regular, his frame tall, slim, and elongated. His eyes still held weariness, as if not fully awake.

"Ah, the fledglings from down the mountain arrived so soon?" Elder Liu yawned.

"Yes. Please, Elder Liu, bestow your guidance upon them going forward," the disciple said respectfully.

"Understood. Truly, not a peaceful moment," Elder Liu waved dismissively.

The disciple then turned back, his expression reverting to the previous arrogance as he addressed the ten sternly, "From now on, obey Elder Liu’s orders strictly. Show no defiance whatsoever, or prepare to be cast out of the mountain."

"Yes."

The ten straightened their posture, daring no dissent.

Once the instructions were delivered, the disciple left.

Unavoidably, the ten turned their gaze towards Elder Liu, whose demeanor seemed rather unlike that of an immortal.

"Well now, all familiar faces. Seems it’ll save some trouble," Elder Liu said, sweeping his gaze over them.

The highly talented could eclipse others regardless of circumstance.

Thus, while the Spiritual Pill Conference occurred yearly, the participants were largely the same crop of alchemy geniuses; newcomers who emerged were rare.

Suddenly, his gaze settled on Zhou Luo and Lin Xin: "Tch, newcomers after all."

Feeling his stare, Zhou Luo swiftly bowed his head, projecting utmost humility and reverence.

With a casual flick of his finger, Elder Liu pointed at Wang Yu Wei: "You, then. Inform them of the rules here. You’ve been a few times anyway."

"As you command, Elder Liu," Wang Yu Wei replied with a reverent bow.

"Alright then. Find your own room in the front yard to settle. Unless it’s to go upstairs and study the ancient texts, do not disturb me," Elder Liu said, turning and ambling unsteadily back toward the small room.