80: Chapter 80 directly joined the Pill Hall

Yuan Zhenzi didn't even lift an eyelid, just lightly pressed down with his hand into the air.

The seven fleeing shadows stopped simultaneously, as if grabbed by an invisible hand. They struggled, screamed, and begged for mercy, their voices so shrill it made one's scalp tingle.

Yuan Zhenzi clenched his five fingers.

"Bang!"

Seven mists of blood exploded, turning into a rain of blood that fell everywhere.

The square was deathly silent.

Hundreds of thousands of people were as quiet as cicadas in winter; no one dared to make a sound.

"Those who infiltrate the selection shall be killed without mercy." Yuan Zhenzi retracted his hand, his tone as calm as usual, as if he had just brushed dust off his clothes. "Let's begin."

He landed on the high platform already set up in front of the mountain gate and sat cross-legged.

The selection officially began.

First tested was Spiritual Root Aptitude.

In front of the mountain gate of the Cangxuan Immortal Sect stood ten Spirit Stone Steles, each thirty feet high. Participants stepped forward in turn and pressed their palms against the steles; the steles would light up—the brighter the light, the better the Aptitude.

Someone stepped forward, pressed their palm, and the stele lit up with a faint white light.

"Mixed Spiritual Root, eliminated."

That person retreated dejectedly.

Another person stepped forward, and the stele lit up with red light, about a foot high.

"Fire Spiritual Root, Low Grade, can enter the Outer Sect."

That person was ecstatic.

One after another, some were happy while others were sad.

Yun Ming watched from the crowd, secretly clicking his tongue. The selection for the Cangxuan Immortal Sect was much stricter than he had imagined; even a Low Grade Single Spiritual Root was only fit for the Outer Sect, Medium Grade could enter the Inner Sect, and High Grade was qualified to be taken as a Personal Disciple by a Golden Core True Person.

As for the legendary Heavenly Spiritual Root, not a single one had been seen yet.

While watching, a youth in ragged clothes stepped forward and pressed his palm on the stele.

The stele lit up with multi-colored light.

Five colors intertwined, but they were dim, muddled, and flickered unsteadily.

"Low Grade Five Spiritual Roots?" The Disciple in charge of testing frowned. "Eliminated."

The youth's face turned pale; he opened his mouth to say something but was directly pulled away by an Attendant Disciple.

Yuan Zhenzi said indifferently from the high platform: "Five Spiritual Roots are directly eliminated, no need to test. My Cangxuan Immortal Sect does not accept trash."

As his voice fell, dozens of participants with Five Spiritual Roots in the crowd looked dejected and silently turned to leave.

Yun Ming raised an eyebrow.

Good thing he didn't go up to be tested.

Next was the cultivation test.

Below the Foundation Establishment Stage, as long as the Spiritual Root is qualified, one can enter the Outer Sect. Above the Foundation Establishment Stage, there is special treatment—those who successfully reached Foundation Establishment before thirty can directly enter the Inner Sect; those in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage before forty can be taken as a Personal Disciple by a Golden Core True Person.

Yun Ming was wondering if he should go test his cultivation when someone suddenly tapped his shoulder lightly.

He instinctively turned around to see an old man in a green robe standing three feet away, looking at him with a smile.

The old man had a lean face and half-white hair and beard. A green token hung from his waist with the words "Alchemy Hall" engraved on it. Although his aura wasn't flashy, it faintly exuded an unfathomable pressure—at least a Golden Core Stage Immortal Master.

Yun Ming's heart tightened.

"Little friend, please stay." The old man's voice was gentle. "I am Yao Chenzi, an Executive Elder of the Cangxuan Immortal Sect's Outer Sect Alchemy Hall. Please forgive me for the abrupt interruption."

Yun Ming bowed with hands cupped: "Junior Yun Ming greets Elder Yao."

Yao Chenzi waved his hand, his gaze sweeping over him, and smiled: "Little friend has a pure pill fragrance on him; you must be someone who has practiced Alchemy for many years. I wonder where you studied? What rank of alchemist are you now?"

Yun Ming was slightly startled, then relieved. Having practiced Alchemy day and night for the past half-year, it was inevitable that he would be stained with pill qi; it wasn't strange for an expert to smell it.

He hesitated slightly but still spoke truthfully: "Junior has no formal teacher; I just explored and refined some Medicinal Pills on my own. Currently, I am barely a Second-tier Medium Grade."

"Second-tier Medium Grade?" Yao Chenzi's eyes lit up, and he stroked his beard with a smile. "Good, good. Foundation Establishment Late Stage, under thirty, and a Second-tier Medium Grade Alchemist—this talent of yours would be enough even in the Inner Sect of my Cangxuan Immortal Sect."

Yun Ming's heart stirred, wondering what this Elder intended.

Yao Chenzi didn't beat around the bush and said directly: "I won't mince words. My Alchemy Hall is short-handed, especially for alchemists who can guide the younger generation. If you are willing, you can join my Alchemy Hall as an Outer Sect Deacon. You only need to lecture the Outer Sect Alchemy Disciples on your insights once a month; the rest of the time is free. The monthly salary is five hundred Mid-Grade Spirit Stones, plus an allocation of Alchemy Materials. What do you think?"

Hearing this, Yun Ming's heart skipped a beat.

Outer Sect Deacon?

He had thought he would have to test his Spiritual Root and complete tasks, never expecting such a good thing to come his way.

But he didn't agree immediately, instead asking: "May I ask Elder Yao, why does the Elder favor a Loose Cultivator like me, who has just arrived, so much?"

Yao Chenzi laughed: "Little friend, don't overthink it. I just saw that your pill fragrance is pure and your Foundation is solid, so I felt some appreciation for your talent. A Second-tier Medium Grade Alchemist is already rare at the Foundation Establishment Stage, more than enough to guide those newly entered Qi Refining Disciples. If you're interested, you can report to the Alchemy Hall in three days."

Yun Ming thought for a moment and made a decision.

He came to the Cangxuan Immortal Sect primarily to inquire about the Teleportation Array; joining the Inner Sect would impose too many restrictions. The status of an Outer Sect Deacon offered freedom, a generous salary, and access to the Alchemy Hall's resources and connections—it suited him perfectly.

"Thank you for the favor, Elder." Yun Ming bowed. "Junior is willing to take this position."

Yao Chenzi was all smiles and took out a green token to hand to him: "This is the Outer Sect Deacon token. With this, you can collect your salary and enter the Alchemy Hall. I'll wait for you at the Alchemy Hall in three days."

Yun Ming took the token and tucked it into his robe.

Yao Chenzi patted his shoulder, turned, and left, disappearing into the crowd in a few steps.

Yun Ming watched him leave, looked down at the token in his hand, and a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Flowers planted with care do not bloom, but willows planted unintentionally provide shade."

Then Yun Ming simply returned to the small courtyard where he had lived for over half a year. Pushing open the gate, he saw the same half-withered old locust tree and the simple main house.

He stood in the yard and looked around, feeling a bit of reluctance.

Having lived here for half a year, he was used to the peace. But since he had decided to join the Cangxuan Immortal Sect, he naturally had to move to the residence arranged by the Sect.

What made him even more reluctant was that, damn it, the rent hadn't expired yet.

Yun Ming went into the main house and began packing.

First, he put away the two Formations in the corner—the Mystic Light Element Hiding Formation and the Four Symbols Heavenly Gang Array. Thanks to them over the past half-year, he had been able to refine pills and Cultivate in peace.

Next was the Breathing Soil.

He crouched down and reached out to scoop up the black spiritual soil spread at the bottom of the "little nest." His hand paused as soon as it touched it.

The color of the Breathing Soil... seemed lighter?

Yun Ming frowned and looked closely, then pinched it with his hand. The Breathing Soil, which was originally full of Spiritual Qi and warm to the touch, was now somewhat dry, and the Spiritual Qi had clearly thinned.

He looked up at the pile of Top-Grade Spirit Stones; four or five pieces had lost their original lustrous glow and turned gray, like ordinary stones drained of Spiritual Qi. Another two or three had also dimmed significantly, with only a faint spiritual light remaining.

Yun Ming was stunned for a moment, then looked at the Red-Feathered Luan Egg lying quietly in the nest.

On the pale golden eggshell, the cracks that had long since disappeared were faintly reappearing—no, they weren't cracks. It was some kind of pattern spreading across the surface of the shell, like... some kind of design?

Yun Ming leaned in to look closely; those patterns showed a faint five-colored luster. If one didn't look carefully, they would almost think they were the natural patterns of the eggshell itself.

"You little fellow..." Yun Ming muttered, "You've absorbed so many of my Top-Grade Spirit Stones and Breathing Soil, you'd better come out soon."

Just as he finished speaking—

*Crack.*

A very light, very fine cracking sound came from the eggshell.