Seeking Immortality in a Bizarre World-Chapter 714 - 708: Celestial Immortal Sect’s Guest Elder, Yuanling Mine Cave_1

Chapter 714: Chapter 708: Celestial Immortal Sect’s Guest Elder, Yuanling Mine Cave_1

"Ascenders? Seeking the Ascension Pill? How interesting!"

"It’s been too long since any ascenders emerged in the Chaotic Immortal Realm!"

A visiting card from Jia Ren fell into the hands of an elder in green robes at the Heavenly Immortal View. The elder held the card and sank into a long silence.

"Alas," he lamented, "born in the wrong era."

The Myriad Heavens and Worlds have no Immortal Spiritual Qi and cannot compare to the Fairy Domain. The cultivators who ascend to the Fairy Domain possess exceptional talent and willpower, a rare breed, one in a billion.

Such excellent seeds of the Immortal Path hold boundless potential for the future.

Hundreds of thousands of years ago, the Heavenly Immortal View had taken in three ascenders, two of whom advanced to Golden Immortals.

But times have changed.

The path to True Immortal is no longer passable, and the Great Dao for advancement has been sealed off.

Even if the newcomer possesses astonishing talent, they have no hope of becoming a True Immortal, their journey fated to end at the rank of Loose Immortal or Profound Immortal.

Our disciples’ talents do not match the newcomer’s, but their upper limits are the same, and our disciples have a stronger sense of belonging to the Sect. Ascenders were no longer considered worth nurturing.

"It’s a rare occasion for an ascender to seek out the Heavenly Immortal View. Grant him easy access and assign him to guard a mining post," the elder decided, waving his hand with no interest in meeting Jia Ren in person.

Upon receiving the news, the Daoist Boy, riding the clouds, returned to the gate of the Heavenly Immortal View and met the long-waiting Jia Ren.

"The Heavenly Immortal View follows the Heavenly Dao and offers you an opportunity," he said.

"The Elder requires someone to guard the Yuanling Mines for the Heavenly Immortal View. After one hundred years of service, you may obtain an Ascension Pill. Are you willing to become a Guest Elder of the Heavenly Immortal View?"

Despite appearing young, the Daoist Boy spoke to Jia Ren, a Loose Immortal, with an attitude neither humble nor haughty.

Guarding the Yuanling Mines?

An Ascension Pill after a hundred years?

Jia Ren inquired, "May I ask, young friend, how many Ascension Pills are needed to dispel the Mortal Dust Aura?"

Merely watching over the Yuanling Mines, not the labor of mining, isn’t strenuous.

How many years will it take to fulfill the requirements?

To him, one Elixir would suffice, but to avoid suspicion, it was better to ask.

"The number of Ascension Pills to be consumed depends on the ascender’s amount of Mortal Dust... calamity qi, ranging from ten to eighteen," the boy explained.

Eighteen Ascension Pills would mean serving the Heavenly Immortal View for eighteen hundred years?

Compared to being sold like an immortal pet by the Ascension Platform, this was indeed a generous offer.

The terms from the Demon God Temple and the Demon Source Cave would likely be stricter, and they might not even offer a chance. I don’t want to make an extra trip.

"Let’s follow this method," he agreed.

"Please follow me, Elder!"

Seeing Jia Ren’s agreement, the Daoist Boy then led him into the outer hall of the Heavenly Immortal View.

A Mahayana Stage Cultivator in a gray robe, upon receiving the news, took out a contract drafted on Yellow Paper and presented it.

The contract specified that Jia Ren was to serve the Heavenly Immortal View by guarding a mineral vein and included corresponding constraints and restrictions, with the contract ending when he no longer needed Ascension Pills.

Key points of the contract stipulated that he must not harm any cultivator of the Heavenly Immortal View and must provide assistance in case of accidents. He must not steal from the Yuanling Mines...

Beyond this, there were no restrictions.

Jia Ren confirmed there was nothing amiss with the contract and left his Soul Imprint.

Once the contract was established, the Yellow Paper vanished.

An inexplicable connection formed, as if linking him to the Celestial Immortal Palace; breaching the contract would bring misfortune.

"This is the Guest Elder Token of the Heavenly Immortal View!"

"Thank you for guarding the Yuanling Mines. Any contributions to the Heavenly Immortal View will be rewarded additionally, and you may exchange them for treasures from the Heavenly Immortal View."

A dark black Token was passed into Jia Ren’s hand.

Contributions were an extra benefit offered by the Heavenly Immortal View, exchangeable for Immortal Jade, Immortal Techniques, and treasures provided by the Heavenly Immortal View.

Jia Ren, now a Guest Elder, was nevertheless not part of the Heavenly Immortal View’s official lineage and did not have the freedom to move about the Heavenly Immortal View freely. He was assigned a side room.

「Three days later, a Daoist in green robes accompanied by eight Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators arrived at his door.」

"I am Xu Qiyuan, greetings, Daoist friend," he said.

The green-robed Daoist was surrounded by Immortal Qi, a massive aura of vitality hidden within him, clearly a Profound Immortal specializing in body refinement.

He had none of the arrogance typical of Immortals from Immortal Sects; instead, he looked at Jia Ren with evident interest.

Ascenders were a rare sight in the Chaotic Immortal Realm, and his sensitivity to vital energy made him feel the presence of someone of his kind.

"Are you also pursuing the path of the Profound Immortal? We must exchange ideas and spar if the chance arises," he said.

Jia Ren, also interested in the path of Profound Immortals, quickly nodded. "I’ll take any guidance you can offer, Daoist Xu, if the opportunity arises."

Xu Qiyuan nodded and responded, "Next, I will lead you to the Yuanling Mines."

"Let us depart!"

Sparring could wait; there was plenty of time in the future.

Xu Qiyuan waved his hand, revealing a hidden universe within his green sleeves, and the eight Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators disappeared into it.

Taking the lead, he initiated his Driving Light Escape and flew ahead.

Jia Ren followed close behind, and the two, one in front of the other, left the Heavenly Immortal View.

A green Escape Light was in front, and a silver Escape Light was behind, the latter noticeably much slower.

Xu Qiyuan slowed his Escape Light and with a gesture, a green lotus appeared in his palm.

The green lotus expanded in the wind to thirty feet, its petals blossoming to reveal a rideable platform.

He settled himself on the left side of the lotus platform and with an amused smile, said, "Daoist Jia, please join me!"

The Mortal Dust Aura, manifesting as calamity qi, would suppress one’s strength in the Fairy Domain, causing Escape Speed to be much weaker compared to those of the same stage.

Jia Ren had no intention of transforming into his Golden-Winged Roc Form. After a brief hesitation, he nodded and replied, "I appreciate the trouble, Daoist friend."

He leapt onto the right side of the lotus platform, and the two of them rode the green lotus towards the southeast.

Xu Qiyuan, encountering an Ascender for the first time, was quite talkative and repeatedly steered the conversation towards the Lower Realm.

"How can the Lower Realm compare to the Immortal Realm? There, nature’s spiritual energy is scarce, and Bizarre Demons run rampant."

Ascending to the Immortal Realm is merely stepping from one pit into another.

Without solving the problems of the Great Dao, there’s no true sanctuary in any world.

As Jia Ren responded to Xu Qiyuan, he also inquired for information about the Chaotic Immortal Realm.

"Do you know why this place is called the Chaotic Immortal Realm?" Xu Qiyuan asked.

"This place was once called the Nan Hua Immortal Domain, home to countless top Immortal Sects, with the Heavenly Immortal View ranking as inconsequential among them."

"One hundred thousand years ago, the mighty beings of the Immortal Realm and the Dao Bizarre fought several great battles here, ravaging the Nan Hua Immortal Domain, which led to the obliteration of many top sects."

"The Mixed Primordial Dao Ancestor restored a third of the destroyed Nan Hua Immortal Domain, yet he was severely wounded by several powerful Dao Bizarre working in concert."

"Ever since, this Immortal Domain has been plagued with chaos and strife, and thus came to be known as the Chaotic Immortal Realm."

"The Chaotic Immortal Realm is still tainted with the residual power of the Dao Bizarre; you’re truly unlucky to have ascended into such a place."

This was the battleground of Dao Bizarre and the mighty beings of the Immortal Realm?

The Fairy Domain itself was ravaged by battle?

A Dao Ancestor-level being reshaped this domain, only to be severely wounded again by several Dao Bizarre?

The information Xu Qiyuan revealed was so dense and overwhelming that it sent a significant shock through Jia Ren.

No wonder Tu Bai Ling kept urging me to leave the Chaotic Immortal Realm; it’s truly not a suitable place for Ascenders to develop.

Once the Ascension Pill neutralizes the Mortal Dust Aura, I’ll be able to exert greater strength. It’s indeed worth considering leaving this realm then.

Jia Ren and Xu Qiyuan exchanged information, enjoying a lively conversation.

「Half a month later, the green lotus had flown for 1.5 million kilometers and arrived at a region enveloped in black qi.」

The black qi emanated an unknown, eerie contamination, turning birds and beasts that touched it into skeletons plummeting from the sky, completely devoid of life.

This was an area contaminated by an eerie power.

The green lotus bloomed with green light, shielding them from the Bizarre Qi contamination, and plunged into the endless black smoke below, finally stopping in front of a low hill.

Xu Qiyuan cast a spell, and the unremarkable hill revealed a dark hole, into which the green lotus disappeared, trailing a green light.

The two passed through the dark hole, and suddenly, their vision opened up.

This was a mining cave crowded with cultivators. Bright daylight fell on their faces, and the unique fragrance of flowers and trees eagerly wafted into their nostrils.

Inside was entirely different from what could be seen outside, truly a Cave Heaven.

"Junior Brother Xu, you’re finally here!"

"Is this Daoist friend unfamiliar? Are you a new Guest Elder of the sect?"

A hearty voice sounded, and an Immortal with a large beard flew out, followed by an expressionless red-haired woman.

The pair appeared close, suggesting an extraordinary relationship.

"Let me introduce him, Senior Brother," Xu Qiyuan said. "This is Daoist Jia, an Ascender, who has already become a Guest Elder of the Heavenly Immortal View."

"This is Senior Brother Wang, who has been the Guardian here for three thousand years."

The Immortal surnamed Wang took an interest in Ascenders, asking a few questions. Upon learning that the Lower Realm was infested with Bizarre Demons, he lost interest right away.

"I leave this place in your hands, Junior Brother Xu!" he said.

He handed a token to Xu Qiyuan, eager to leave.

Having guarded this place for three thousand years without leave, he couldn’t bear to stay a moment longer in this accursed place.

After seeing the two off, Xu Qiyuan released the eight Nascent Soul Stage Cultivators he had brought from his sleeves.

"Summon all stewards and overseers."

With a change of ruler comes a change of court; for the stewards, overseers, and miners, the new chief manager held the power of life and death.

The stewards and overseers of the Yuanling Mine Cave appeared one after another, totaling one hundred and twenty.

"The Yuanling Mine Cave has a total of 1,523 miners, the highest cultivation level being Late Nascent Soul Stage and the lowest Foundation Establishment Stage. Every year it yields 15,000 kilograms of Yuanling Stone, 400 kilograms of Yuanling Iron, 1.5 kilograms of Yuanling Immortal Copper, and about sixty-five grams of Yuan Immortal Essence..." the mine cave steward reported, rattling off the production figures as if they were family treasures.

Sitting above as the chief manager, Xu Qiyuan listened while Jia Ren, the deputy chief manager, sat alongside.

Yuanling Stone and Yuanling Iron were of average value, at most used for crafting Sky-reaching Spirit Treasures. Yuanling Immortal Copper and Yuan Immortal Essence were the truly valuable materials, both used for forging Immortal Artifacts.

The mine vein’s production had severely declined compared to its peak, due to thousands of years of mining.

The quantity of immortal materials could only accumulate over time, and over the years, it still amounted to a considerable sum.

"Let’s continue as before. Do not disturb my cultivation unless it’s something major."

This meeting was merely for everyone to become acquainted. Xu Qiyuan had no desire to interfere much; he just wanted to be a hands-off manager.

"Daoist Jia, let’s find a place to exchange pointers," Xu Qiyuan suggested.

"I will use only one arm," Xu Qiyuan said. "As long as you can make me take a single step back, Daoist Jia, I’ll make an exception and give you an Ascension Pill." He hadn’t demanded that Jia Ren defeat him; he knew that with the Immortal Realm’s suppression, Jia Ren, no matter how brilliant, was no match for him.

An Ascension Pill?

Jia Ren’s eyes lit up slightly; this was indeed good news for him.

Normally, it would take a hundred years of guarding the mines to earn the first Ascension Pill. Obtaining one earlier would mean deciphering its alchemy recipe sooner.

Looking at Xu Qiyuan’s eyes filled with battle intent, he gladly agreed.

"I would be honored to receive guidance from Daoist Xu," Jia Ren replied.

The two left the mining cave and moved to a rather desolate region of the Cave Heaven to avoid harming the miners during their sparring match.