21: Second Life: First Steps on the Immortal Path (Twenty)

Xu Yuan's heart could not find peace.

Now, an Opportunity was right before his eyes.

Dangerous, but direct!

"Fellow Daoist, are you interested in the Desolate Territory mission?" the burly man who had just explained things to Xu Yuan asked.

Xu Yuan's heart alerted him, but he remained calm on the surface, saying, "I'm just looking. I've long heard of the dangers of the Desolate Territory. I am currently only at the 7th Layer of Qi Condensation; even if I were lucky enough to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill, I wouldn't be able to use it."

The Cultivator laughed and said, "Fellow Daoist, you must be joking. I see that you are already at the 7th Layer of Qi Condensation at such a young age; do you not wish to glimpse the scenery above Foundation Establishment? To be honest, I have also signed up. There are risks, of course, but have you not heard that 'the greater the risk, the higher the reward'?"

"Foundation Establishment Pills have always been controlled by the Immortal Gate Upper Sects and are rarely circulated. If we miss this chance, it will be difficult for Loose Cultivators like us to obtain a Foundation Establishment spiritual item like the Foundation Establishment Pill again."

Just as the man said, for a Loose Cultivator, this might be the only chance in their lifetime.

But how could Xu Yuan not know the wickedness of the human heart? He would never easily trust someone based on just a few words.

Xu Yuan maintained a cautious, even slightly distant expression on his face, shaking his head as he said, "What you say is true, Fellow Daoist; the Opportunity for Foundation Establishment is indeed rare. However, my cultivation is shallow, and I still need to consider it carefully. I dare not take risks lightly."

Seeing that Xu Yuan did not flatly refuse, a glint flashed in the burly man's eyes, and his smile became a bit warmer. He leaned in closer and whispered, "It's only right for you to be cautious, Fellow Daoist! In that Desolate Territory place, I hear Yao Beasts move in packs, and Late Qi Condensation Stage Yao Beasts are not uncommon. Even a Late Stage Cultivator could end up without a corpse if they aren't careful."

"Acting alone in the Desolate Territory is no different from a certain death!"

The man changed his tone, patted his chest, and said, "I am Luo Shou, with Eighth Level of Qi Condensation cultivation. I specialize in metal-element killing Spells and follow a fierce and violent path. To be honest, I have already contacted two other familiar friends: a female Cultivator at the 7th Layer of Qi Condensation who is proficient in water and wood-element auxiliary Spells, and a brother at the Peak of the Sixth Level of Qi Refining who is agile and skilled in scouting and setting traps."

"We are just missing a teammate like you... well, one who looks steady and reliable." Luo Shou's gaze swept over Xu Yuan's clothes, which, though not expensive, were kept neat and clean. "There is strength in numbers. Looking out for each other is much safer than venturing alone, and the chance to earn merit is also greater."

"The gains will be distributed according to how much effort each person puts in—fair and just. What do you think?"

Xu Yuan's mind raced.

The other party's proactive invitation seemed reasonable, but was there a trick involved?

Xu Yuan pondered for a moment. Instead of agreeing immediately, he asked in return:

"I am grateful for your sincere invitation, Fellow Daoist Luo. However, for such an important mission, why don't you look for friends you are more familiar with and know well, instead of searching for a stranger like me in the market?"

"Are you not afraid of entrusting the wrong person, or that a lack of strength might instead drag the team down?"

Luo Shou seemed to have expected this question. He sighed, his expression appearing somewhat helpless and honest. "You are a sensible person, Fellow Daoist, so I won't speak nonsense."

"First, how easy is it to gather Loose Cultivator friends who you know well, can trust, and have the right cultivation? Most have their own destinies and have long since drifted apart. Second..."

Luo Shou lowered his voice even further. "Precisely because we are strangers, there are fewer past grudges and schemes. Everyone has the same goal—to fight for a future. When forming a temporary team, as long as we swear a great demon heart oath promising not to harm each other during the mission and not to embezzle team resources, we can temporarily unite as one. As for strength..."

Luo Shou smiled with a bit of confidence. "I, Luo Shou, have been knocking around among Loose Cultivators for so many years. If nothing else, I have some eye for judging people."

"Your Qi is steady, your gaze is upright, and you can remain calm in the face of the temptation of a Foundation Establishment Pill. This Heart-Nature alone surpasses many Cultivators of the same level."

"As for strength, you don't need to underestimate yourself. The 7th Layer of Qi Condensation is already considered rare among us Loose Cultivators."

Xu Yuan was silent for a moment, weighing the pros and cons.

Luo Shou's explanation, especially the words 'great demon heart oath', did indeed dispel Xu Yuan's concerns to a certain extent.

For a Cultivator, especially one intending to climb to a higher Realm, a great demon heart oath has extremely strong binding power. Violating the oath easily breeds a Heart Demon, leading to stagnant cultivation or even Qi Deviation; the price is immense.

If the other party was willing to swear this oath, it could at least guarantee that no direct backstabbing would occur within the team during the Desolate Territory operation.

Of course, this could not completely eliminate danger—for instance, behaviors like 'refusing to save someone in mortal danger' or 'luring trouble toward others' that exploited loopholes—but it was the most basic security that could be obtained for temporary cooperation between Loose Cultivators.

Xu Yuan was indeed tempted.

Venturing into the Desolate Territory alone was undoubtedly seeking death.

Traveling with a small team that had sworn a great demon heart oath and had a seemingly reasonable member composition would indeed greatly increase the survival rate and the chance of obtaining merit.

A bit of hesitation and struggle appeared on Xu Yuan's face, which finally turned into a hint of decisiveness. He spoke slowly, "Fellow Daoist Luo has been honest. If I, Xu, were to refuse again, it would seem affected. In that case, Xu Yuan is willing to join you Fellow Daoists to explore the Desolate Territory together and fight for a future! I hope for your guidance in the future."

"Haha! Good! Daoist Xu is indeed a person of decision!" Luo Shou was overjoyed upon hearing this, and the warmth on his face became even more genuine. "Regarding the great demon heart oath and the specific regulations, we will discuss and establish them together once we meet the other two teammates. Come, I'll take you to meet them first so you can get to know each other; we'll be fighting side by side in the Desolate Territory from now on."

Two people were already sitting there.

One was a female Cultivator wearing water-green robes, looking about twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. Her face was delicate and her temperament gentle. She was looking down, lightly stroking a teacup, with faint water vapor swirling around her fingertips.

Sensing someone's arrival, she looked up, gazed softly at Xu Yuan, and nodded slightly in greeting.

Just as Luo Shou had said, the Spiritual Qi fluctuations around her were indeed at the 7th Layer of Qi Condensation, leaning toward being gentle and continuous; she should be skilled in support and healing.

The other was a lean young man who looked a few years younger than Xu Yuan. His eyes were lively, revealing a sense of shrewdness.

The man was boredly playing with a few unremarkable pebbles, his fingers exceptionally flexible.

His cultivation was at the Peak of the Sixth Level of Qi Refining, and his aura was well-restrained, carrying a caution accustomed to concealment and observation.

"Miss Liu, Brother Hou, this is Fellow Daoist Xu Yuan, at the 7th Layer of Qi Condensation. I have invited him to join our team."

Luo Shou introduced him warmly, then said to Xu Yuan.

"Daoist Xu, this is Miss Liu Yiyi, who is proficient in water and wood-element auxiliary Spells. This is Brother Hou Ting, whose skills in scouting and stealthy concealment are quite impressive."