Longevity: Starting as a Sect Servant

Chapter 683 - 324: The Mid Stage Grand Tournament

"However, I do understand why you don’t wish to become an Immortal..."Li An smiled slightly, with a hint of bitterness and complexity in his eyes, "The tribulation of becoming an Immortal is indeed terrifying..."

Xu Yuan said, "Senior Brother, the indescribable feelings you have... are they severe?"

Li An replied, "Many strange scales have grown under my ribs. Currently, it’s not enough to kill me, but the future is uncertain. If the tribulation of becoming an Immortal is already so difficult, what will it be like at even higher levels?"

His eyes were filled with worry.

Xu Yuan murmured, "At higher levels, perhaps one day, one might no longer be oneself..."

But sensing Li An’s gaze, he quickly forced out a smile, "Senior Brother, you don’t need to worry too much. With experts aplenty in Purple Cloud Mountain, not just Immortals, but even Profound Immortals and Celestial Immortals can safely break through. The road is long."

Li An said, "Hmm, there’s no other way now."

He prepared to leave, "I will go back first to stabilize my realm. If Brother Xu decides to seek immortality, feel free to come find me, and I’ll explain the things to watch out for.

"Additionally, Brother Xu, please rest assured that what you’ve told me will not be disclosed to others."

Xu Yuan watched Li An leave, pondered for a moment, and then shook his head, as if quite perplexed.

...

Returning to his residence.

Li An collected his emotions, pulled himself together, and focused on making Immortal Talismans!

At the Immortal Dao stage, there is the saying of Celestial Talisman given by heaven. Cultivators need to derive the way of talismans from the Celestial Tribulation. The mysterious Immortal Dao is quite different, but it also comes from the strange tribulation, referred to in some texts as the "Deceitful God’s imparting of Dao."

Whether it is the Celestial Talisman or the Deceitful God’s imparting of Dao, they only provide a seed. One still needs to practice and comprehend continuously to create a true Immortal Dao talisman.

The cold Immortal Talisman Brush in hand, the Immortal Mist Ink emitting a rich Anomalous Qi placed before him, the snow-white Immortal Light Paper spread out, Li An calmed his mind, the illusory shadow of a talisman manifested on the flower of the Immortal Dao in his Dantian, various insights flowed through Li An’s mind. After a long while, he began to write.

...

"Master, that Gu Fan has proven to be a True Immortal, and has also become an Immortal Talisman Master."

In an Immortal Skill, Yuan Province reported to Leng Rufeng, surprised when he received this news. After all, in his view, Li An was just a scheming ant from the Spirit Realm. Now, it appears this person is extraordinarily talented!

"To survive amidst the Spirit Realm’s demise, invest in the Gong Clan, and then use them as a stepping stone to reach Purple Cloud Mountain, such a person cannot be underestimated."

Leng Rufeng smiled slightly, "The two most intelligent people from the Spirit Realm are under my banner now!"

The other person he referred to was naturally Su Yebai.

Since Su Yebai joined him, he performed exceptionally, making Leng Rufeng favor him even more, to the extent that he had become his most valued disciple apart from Shen Lanyi and Yuan Province.

In a sense, what Leng Rufeng said is not without reason. Li An and Su Yebai, although perhaps not on par with their peers such as Shiyi Tian in cultivation and talent, this was caused by their environment. In terms of will, courage, and perseverance, Li An and Su Yebai surpass Shiyi Tian by far.

After all, what they have experienced... is far beyond what ordinary people can imagine.

Su Yebai, once hailed as a prodigy of the Dao Sect, wielded the great sect’s immense power. His tempered skills and abilities could even see him manage Purple Cloud Mountain one day, with strength being the only factor holding him back.

And Li An, having climbed from the lowest rungs of the Emperor Origin Realm to the Supreme of the Dao Sect, achieved today’s success through his own merits. His scheming wisdom, ruthless determination, and cold-blooded nature are undoubtedly beyond the understanding of common people.

Upon entering Purple Cloud Mountain, once the gap in resources and other aspects has been closed, his true strength will naturally reveal itself.

"Is there any news from Shen Lanyi’s side?" Leng Rufeng continued to inquire.

Yuan Province replied, "Master, according to the news sent by Brother Shen, there have indeed been some incidents of Demon Cultivator killings in Purple Cloud Province recently. Upon investigation, that Shangguan Shengxian appears to have cultivated the Heaven-Devouring Skill, reaching near Celestial Immortal from Profound Immortal two years ago!"

"This Heaven-Devouring Skill is truly monstrous!"

Advancing from Profound Immortal to Celestial Immortal in two years? It’s truly astonishing.

Of course, it could also be that the cultivator had already reached Profound Immortal Perfection and made further progress after cultivating the Heaven-Devouring Demon Skill.

"Below the Golden Immortal, progress is swift."

Leng Rufeng was not surprised, saying, "Continue the investigation. The Golden Immortal is a watershed; after this person breaks through to Celestial Immortal, achieving Golden Immortal will require much more complicated endeavors. At that time, it will be our opportunity to set a trap."

"Understood!"

...

Six months passed.

Li An’s treatment had adjusted, and his monthly stipend, from fifty blocks of Anomaly Crystal during the Tribulation Crossing Stage, soared to a thousand lower-grade Anomaly Crystals!

Generally speaking, a disciple breaking through to the Immortal Level would experience a tier increase in their monthly stipend. After all, the gap in cultivation between the two realms is vast, and their consumption differs drastically, but ordinary Immortals would only receive five hundred Anomaly Crystals.

True Immortal disciples have even better treatment, with an additional hundred for every extra petal on the Immortal Flower, Li An having seven in total, making it seven hundred in total.

Another three hundred is due to his status as an Immortal Talisman Master.

One thousand lower-grade Anomaly Crystals—a sum that could make an ordinary Immortal Level disciple envious, but for Li An... it’s still not enough.

He ends up consuming two thousand lower-grade Anomaly Crystals each month.