Seeking Immortality in a Bizarre World-Chapter 505 - 500: Source Treasure Cave Heaven, Second Lingbao Sect - 1
Jia Ren had just approached Ancestor Ji Kong’s Cave when an entrance materialized before him. At the same time, Ancestor Ji Kong’s voice sounded.
"Come in."
Ancestor Ji Kong had been waiting for quite some time.
"Jia Ren, has a decision been made on the ’Fire Seed’ plan?"
Although Ancestor Ji Kong was asking, his understanding of Jia Ren allowed him to guess his decision already. "I am willing to participate in the ’Fire Seed’ plan and share the Sect’s worries," Jia Ren answered. This was not surprising to Ancestor Ji Kong; since Jia Ren had always disliked combat and had become a Spirit-level Refiner to evade battle, such a decision was only to be expected.
If it had been another disciple who made this choice, Ancestor Ji Kong would have been furious long ago.
Towards his most satisfactory disciple, he ultimately harbored a bit of bias.
"After this journey, I do not know if we, as master and disciple, will ever meet again."
"I cannot give you much help, but you must cultivate well and not let down the Sect."
A Spirit Storing Bag was lifted by an invisible force and landed in front of Jia Ren.
Jia Ren respectfully took the Spirit Storing Bag, knelt, and solemnly kowtowed three times to his master. In his heart, he truly regarded Ancestor Ji Kong as his master.
Departing now, he did not know if he would ever see him again in this life.
"Master, you must take care of yourself. Wait for my return." 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
Ancestor Ji Kong’s face bore a smile, but it was hard to conceal the sorrow in the corners of his eyes. Regardless, Jia Ren would become the Sect’s hope as a ’Fire Seed.’
Even if the Lingbao Sect were to perish, his lineage would not be severed.
Jia Ren stayed by Ancestor Ji Kong’s side for three days, listening to his master’s counsel, learning from him as he clarified Jia Ren’s doubts and cleared away the obscuring mists on his path of cultivation.
"Jia Ren, it’s getting late. Go and get ready," Ancestor Ji Kong said.
"Remember, do not reveal this matter to anyone."
Jia Ren did not have many belongings to pack, so he first returned to his Cave.
He opened the Spirit Storing Bag given by Ancestor Ji Kong and found it filled with treasures.
A Jade Vase caught Jia Ren’s attention; it bore a tag with the name ’Returning Void Pill.’ Although Jia Ren’s Cultivation Level was still ’Nascent Soul Early Stage,’ Ancestor Ji Kong had even prepared for him the elixirs needed to break through to the Lianxu Stage...
Besides this, there was a piece of ancient tree bark emitting astonishing Spiritual Power, drawing particular attention. Heavenly Spirit Material?! Its Spiritual Nature and Spiritual Power far surpassed those of Supreme-grade Spiritual Materials, undoubtedly making it a rare Heavenly Spirit Material.
The bag also contained three hundred Top-quality Spirit Stones, over a hundred different types of Spiritual Materials, and a Heavenly Earth Elixir known as Huoyuan Ginseng.
Unfortunately, he didn’t find any Magical Beast eggs like those of the Aquamarine Gold-Eyed Beast, the Gold Peng Bird, or the Azure Luan Bird... which left him slightly dissatisfied.
Ancestor Ji Kong had made thoughtful preparations, which once again filled Jia Ren’s previously empty purse.
Afterward, Jia Ren paid a visit to the Refining Palace, met Wang Jian, and exchanged his contribution points for Spiritual Materials.
Finally, he arranged to meet with Zhuo Chengdao and Ma Zhongyuan’s family.
With his return date unknown, he wondered if he would ever see his acquaintances again.
He exchanged toasts with the few people he knew well, savoring their final moments together.
"Jia Ren, come out and take a trip with me." Just then, his Identity Token vibrated, transmitting the voice from within.
Jia Ren turned to his friends. "I have other matters, so I must leave first. Farewell."
He looked back, gazing at them deeply, as if to engrave their images into his mind.
As soon as he stepped out of Ma Zhongyuan’s Cave, the Third Elder appeared before Jia Ren like a specter; his spiritual sense had not detected any sign of him beforehand.
"Come with me."
A Talisman landed on Jia Ren, and in the next moment, his body became ethereal.
Following behind the Third Elder, a gentle breeze lifted him, and he soared into the heavens.
Above the Sect Protection Array of the Lingbao Sect, clouds coalesced into a platform, upon which nearly a hundred cultivators were already waiting.
Invisible restrictive formations formed barriers, suppressing Spiritual Power and preventing the transmission of messages and the use of Secret Techniques and Divine Abilities.
Jia Ren’s gaze swept over the faces of the nearly hundred cultivators, and he saw a few familiar ones.
The one leading them had a cold, arrogant expression, and his eyes gleamed with a purple light.
This person was named Jue Wushuang; he had once distinguished himself in a competition among fellow sect members, winning first place in combat.
Zhuo Chengdao had participated in that sect competition and had been defeated by this person in a bout.
A few others were also acquaintances, and among them, three were Spirit-level Refiners like himself; they merely knew each other by sight and would nod as a greeting.
Ma Tianbao was nowhere to be seen among the crowd.
Ma Tianbao’s fame is too great; becoming one of the ’Spirit Treasures Fire-Seeds’ would not be easy for him. His every move would attract attention, and faking death to escape would be difficult. The Lingbao Sect will surely have better arrangements for him; I don’t need to worry about it.
The Third Elder and five Void Refinement cultivators scanned the crowd. After confirming everything was in order, the Third Elder announced, "Everyone has arrived; we can set off."
"Where are we headed?" someone couldn’t suppress their curiosity and asked.
"You’ll know when we get there!" the Third Elder responded, not giving a direct answer, as their destination was extraordinary.
The cloud platform undulated, its form outlining spirit patterns and manifesting a complex Teleportation Array. A Teleportation Array hidden in the skies above the Lingbao Sect? Had they not seen it with their own eyes, they would never have imagined that the Lingbao Sect had such a trick up its sleeve.
As the Transmission Light activated, the cloud platform crumbled, transforming into a vast expanse of scattering clouds. This seemed to be... a disposable Teleportation Array.
When the Transmission Light vanished, the hundred or so people from the Lingbao Sect had disappeared without a trace.
The teleportation lasted far longer than expected. By the time it ended, everyone felt their heads were heavy and muddled.
Jia Ren shook his head vigorously and circulated the Star God Art to dispel the discomfort.
His gaze swept over the Lingbao Sect cultivators who had come with him as he looked off into the distance.
This was an enormous, seemingly boundless mountain forest; farther away, one could see cultivated fields and mortals bustling everywhere.
The rich flow of nature’s spiritual energy here surpassed that of the Lingbao Sect by more than a small measure.
What kind of treasured land is this? Is this to be our future place of cultivation?
The others could hardly conceal their excitement, recalling the secret realms the sect possessed but finding none that could compare to this place.
"This is Source Treasure Cave Heaven," the Third Elder stated.
"It is the second Cave Heaven secret realm discovered by the Lingbao Sect."
"After your feigned deaths, your friends and family will be taken care of by the Lingbao Sect. From now on, you need only focus on your cultivation."
"Follow me to the Lingbao Sect within Source Treasure Cave Heaven!"
There’s also a Lingbao Sect here?
Everyone promptly summoned their Escape Light and followed behind the Third Elder.
The Third Elder didn’t fly particularly fast. After the group had flown for ten thousand li, they distantly saw a massive mountain peak.
A plaque hung above the gate, inscribed with the powerful and graceful characters for "Lingbao Sect."
Strictly speaking, this was the Lingbao Sect’s fallback.
The Fire Seed Plan had not been conceived just recently; its preparations had begun ten thousand years ago, or perhaps even earlier.
When the Lingbao Sect was at its peak, why would it send a large number of its elites into this place?
The cultivators who had previously entered Source Treasure Cave Heaven, along with the mortals who had multiplied and thrived there, could also provide a considerable number of cultivators, ensuring this place would not decline.
Only if the Lingbao Sect sensed an immense crisis or a great disaster would it transfer a large number of talented individuals to Source Treasure Cave Heaven.
The Sect Protection Array of this Second Lingbao Sect activated, allowing them to enter smoothly and without obstruction.
In the open space outside the main hall, more than five hundred cultivators had gathered.
The person in the lead exuded Body Integration Realm Spiritual Power Fluctuations; besides him, there were seven Void Refining Stage cultivators and over a hundred Nascent Soul Stage cultivators.
The cultivators of the Second Lingbao Sect looked at the newcomers with strange expressions. Some were curious, while others had a hint of hostility in their eyes.
The Sect Master of the Second Lingbao Sect, a Body Integration Realm cultivator, stepped forward to greet them warmly. "Elder Brother Yun Wu, it has been a thousand years! We finally meet again."
"I wonder, Elder Brother, will you leave after escorting these people, or do you plan to stay for good?"
Elder Yun Wu nodded and said, "I plan to take up long-term residence in Source Treasure Cave Heaven. The main sect will announce that my attempt to advance to the Mahayana Realm failed."
"I will attempt my breakthrough within this secret realm. Whether I can advance to the Mahayana Realm will depend on this endeavor."
If Elder Yun Wu succeeds in advancing to the Mahayana Realm, the Lingbao Sect will no longer need to live in constant fear. Breaking through in Source Treasure Cave Heaven offers another advantage: the commotion caused by advancing to the Mahayana Realm will not be detected by other sects. If a powerful enemy attacks, they can be caught off guard.
"These are the potential seeds of the Lingbao Sect," Elder Yun Wu continued. "Each individual’s talent is extraordinary; they are all the future hope of the Lingbao Sect."
"How they will be arranged is entirely up to you."
Elder Yun Wu didn’t say much more. After briefly explaining the situation, he paid no further attention.
His attitude was clear: he would not vie for power upon entering Source Treasure Cave Heaven but would focus solely on cultivation and breaking through to the next realm.
"The best location in Source Treasure Cave Heaven shall be reserved for you, Elder Brother Yun Wu. I wish you an early advancement to the Mahayana Realm," the Second Lingbao Sect Master said.
Elder Yun Wu did not linger. Having completed his task, he entered the rear mountain and disappeared from sight.
Only the five Void Refining Stage cultivators and one hundred Nascent Soul Stage cultivators from the original Lingbao Sect remained, facing cultivators who were from the same sect, yet felt distinctly unfamiliar.
The Sect Master of the Second Lingbao Sect smiled and said, "You may call me Uncle Yun Hu, or perhaps... Deputy Sect Master Yun."
"The Lingbao Sect within Source Treasure Cave Heaven is under my complete management. The sect rules are generally the same as those outside, but there have also been quite a few adjustments."
"Each of you will receive a corresponding Jade Slip. You must study it."
A single Jade Slip fragmented into a hundred rays of light, each landing in the hands of a newcomer.
Jia Ren quickly scanned the Jade Slip and soon discovered something unusual.
There was no rule prohibiting combat between fellow sect members.
Beyond that, the most significant change was in resource allocation.
The cultivation resources provided by the Second Lingbao Sect differed from those of the outside world. They were not a fixed annual stipend, nor, as Jia Ren had initially guessed, would resources be provided on demand.
Rather...
The resources one was allotted were based on one’s ranking within the sect for their corresponding Realm.
Those higher in the ranking would receive an abundance, while those lower in the ranking would have to cede their own allotted resources to those of higher rank.
"As the ’Fire Seeds’ of the Lingbao Sect, the Sect has placed high hopes on you," Deputy Sect Master Yun continued, effectively beginning to indoctrinate them into the new rules.
"Should the Lingbao Sect face a catastrophe threatening its existence, rebuilding the sect will require sufficient strength, not delicate flowers nurtured in a greenhouse."
"This requires competition! Only by possessing sufficient strength can one obtain more cultivation resources."
"In one month, all of you will participate in combat trials. Your performance will determine your ranking and, consequently, the cultivation resources you are allocated."
"Anyone who does not participate in the combat trials will be considered to have forfeited their share of the sect’s cultivation resource allocation."
