Chapter 369: 369. Chapter 366: Searching for the Source of the Immortal Spirit Spring

369. Chapter 366: Searching for the Source of the Immortal Spirit Spring

In Ding Huan's mind, since he had applied as a formation master, his duty must be repairing formations, plugging leaks, and preventing the Immortal Spirit Worms from gnawing at the formations—or worse, damaging the Source of the Immortal Spirit Spring.

What Ding Huan did not expect was that this disciple led him and Chang Chang Danyi farther and farther away.

After walking for a full hour, they finally reached the foot of a mountain far from the Immortal Gate, where several temporary caves stood.

"Bone Immortal Master, long time no see," a medium-built man with an extremely slick demeanor stepped out of one of the temporary caves, his tone dripping with flattery.

The disciple who had brought Ding Huan and Chang Chang Danyi snorted: "Cheng Cheng Keqi, you've been in charge of searching for the Source of the Immortal Spirit Spring for three full years—and in all that time, you haven't found a single source."

If you keep this up, I'm sure you'll be expelled from the Immortal Gate soon."

Only then did Ding Huan realize this slick man was the Immortal Gate's official in charge of locating the Immortal Spirit Spring's Source—this fellow had failed to find even one source in three years, yet still remained in the Immortal Gate, which spoke of some skill.

It was like a company hiring someone with no talent, who somehow clung to his position through sheer smooth-talking and still collected his salary.

Indeed, this guy was clearly an Immortal-Mortal Bridge—he worked at the Immortal Gate yet groveled to a mere escort disciple, calling him "Immortal Master."

"I've brought two people to search for the Immortal Spirit Spring's Source—let them stay with you temporarily for half a year," Bone Immortal Master said, pointing at Ding Huan and Chang Chang Danyi.

Ding Huan frowned—this didn't make sense.

He stepped forward quickly: "Bone Daofriend, did you make a mistake? I'm a formation master—I'm here to inspect and repair the sect's protective formations, not to search for the Immortal Spirit Spring's Source."

Upon hearing Ding Huan's words, Cheng Cheng Keqi's eyes flickered with disdain.

This newcomer, just arrived at the sect, dared to pick and choose?

Formation repair? Such a cushy post could ever go to an outsider who just joined?

In the Immortal Gate, the most lucrative posts were either cultivating Immortal Spirit herbs or repairing formations.

These jobs required almost no brainpower—just occasional inspections every so often.

The vast free time could be used for cultivation.

Moreover, formation inspections were always near the Source—where cultivation was not just comfortable, but exhilarating.

The most miserable task in the Immortal Gate was searching for the Immortal Spirit Spring's Source.

This work was exhausting and unrewarding; cultivators with bad luck or insufficient skill might search for a hundred years without finding a single source.

If you failed to find a Source, you were simply thrown out of the Immortal Gate.

If you were lucky enough to find one, congratulations—you could stay a few more years.

But how you used the Source you found was none of your concern; your job was only to locate it—others would handle its use.

The Bone disciple's face darkened: "What? You think I assigned you wrong? If you think you're so capable, leave our Immortal Gate and find your own path."

With that, he turned and walked away.

In his mind, the two ants he'd brought today were utterly ungrateful—after such a long journey, they hadn't offered even a single bribe, yet dared to talk back.

Of course, even if they had offered bribes, it wouldn't have changed Ding Huan's fate: searching for the Immortal Spirit Spring's Source.

After the Bone disciple left, Cheng Cheng Keqi's demeanor instantly shifted—he coldly glanced at Ding Huan: "Come inside with me. I'll assign your tasks for searching the Immortal Spirit Spring's Source."

"Ding Daofriend, let's go in first, we can talk later," Chang Chang Danyi urged, fearing Ding Huan might clash with Cheng Cheng Keqi.

Ding Huan knew Chang Chang Danyi was overthinking—he would never fight someone like Cheng Cheng Keqi; it would lower his dignity.

When Ding Huan and Chang Chang Danyi entered the cave, two others were already inside.

"I'm Cheng Cheng Keqi, in charge of the Baihe Immortal Path's search for the Immortal Spirit Spring's Source. Introduce yourselves," Cheng Cheng Keqi said, eyeing Ding Huan and Chang Chang Danyi.

Ding Huan said: "I'm Ding Huan, a formation master. This is Chang Chang Danyi, my auxiliary formation disciple."

Cheng Cheng Keqi pointed to the other man: "This is Xing Bu, Immortal Spirit Spring Source searcher."

Then he pointed to the woman: "This is Leng Leng Youlin, also an Immortal Spirit Spring Source searcher."

"Ding Huan, we have no formation masters or auxiliary disciples here—you and Chang Chang Danyi are now both Immortal Spirit Spring Source searchers. Any objections?"

He asked if Ding Huan had objections, but his tone made it clear: even if you did, it wouldn't matter—here, I decide.

Ding Huan said calmly: "I don't care."

We're all hired hands—no one's above anyone else.

"Good. Then let's divide the regions."

"We were just discussing the regions—this time, the areas to be surveyed include Ding Zi, Wu Zi, Ji Zi, and Geng Zi. I'll take Ding Zi…"

Before Cheng Cheng Keqi finished speaking, Leng Leng Youlin shouted: "I'll take Wu Zi."

Xing Bu immediately followed: "Then I'll take Ji Zi."

Ding Huan and Chang Chang Danyi remained silent—clearly, the earlier regions had richer Immortal Spirit Qi, making it easier to find the Source and more convenient for cultivation.

Cheng Cheng Keqi looked at Ding Huan and Chang Chang Danyi: "Then you two will temporarily handle Geng Zi. Here are your communication beads and Fangdian formation maps—one each."

From the start of Cheng Cheng Keqi's meeting to the assignment of tasks, Ding Huan and Chang Chang Danyi said nothing and had no choice.

"Now we begin. Remember, time is short. If we still can't find a new Immortal Spirit Spring Source soon, we all leave—understood?"

Cheng Cheng Keqi's words carried a threat, but Ding Huan remained unfazed.

Even if they were to be expelled, it wouldn't be him or Chang Chang Danyi—not yet.

Everyone has zero performance; he and Chang Chang Danyi are still on probation—so naturally, they'd fire the ones who arrived first.

After leaving the cave with Ding Huan, Chang Chang Danyi finally voiced her worry: "Ding Daofriend, I think Cheng Cheng Keqi won't last long here—that's why he's rushing to find the Immortal Spirit Spring Source faster."

But I heard finding the Source requires techniques and methods—he hasn't told us anything. How are we supposed to search?"

Ding Huan chuckled: "Don't worry about him. Let's just go search. Even if we get fired, it'll be them first. Now that we're in the Immortal Realm, I don't believe we'll starve."

"Alright," Chang Chang Danyi said, though inwardly she remained deeply uneasy.

Ding Huan's formation skill was strong—but it had nothing to do with finding the Immortal Spirit Spring Source.

Locations for searching the Source were already remote; Geng Zi was even farther. Ding Huan and Chang Chang Danyi walked nearly another hour before reaching the edge of Geng Zi.

"The Immortal Spirit Qi here is so scarce—even if we cultivated here, we'd make almost no progress," Chang Chang Danyi said uneasily, sensing the region's depleted Immortal Spirit Qi.

Ding Huan felt it too—if back when they first entered the sect, the Immortal Spirit Qi had been enough to support their cultivation to the next realm, here it was painfully meager.

For Ding Huan, he could indeed set up a Spirit Gathering Array.

But he didn't need to ask to know that setting up a Spirit Gathering Array here would definitely not be allowed by the Immortal Sect.

The Immortal Sect had recruited them in to search for immortal spiritual energy for the sect, not to let them come in and consume it.

So they could secretly hide away and cultivate, but absolutely could not openly set up a Spirit Gathering Array to cultivate.

"Ding Huan, my thinking is that we've only just arrived here and aren't at all familiar with searching for the spring mouth of an immortal spiritual spring. Continuing on would just be a waste of time. Better to split up, each find a place, and cultivate for half a year first before talking further."

Chang Chang Danyi spoke her inner thoughts aloud; she understood this was the best choice for them.

Ding Huan waved his hand: "No rush. Let's keep walking. We'll talk when we reach the edge of the Geng District."

Chang Chang Danyi hurriedly said: "Ding Huan, the immortal spiritual energy where we are now is already scarce enough. If we go to the edge of the Geng District, I'm afraid we won't even be able to cultivate."

Ding Huan smiled: "Fellow Daoist Chang, even if we cultivate here, how much progress can we make? Since that's the case, we might as well just go to the edge of the Geng District."

"Fair point." Chang Chang Danyi nodded.

The two continued forward. After another half a shichen of walking, they finally arrived at an even more desolate gravel beach.

This place was still within the territory of the Baihe Immortal Sect, but the immortal spiritual energy…

How to put it, was indeed far stronger than the immortal spiritual energy in the void.

But the immortal spiritual energy in the void was practically nonexistent.

In this place, wanting to cultivate was very, very difficult.

"I still have some spirit veins on me. I plan to go into closed-door cultivation here for a period of time. There's still some immortal spiritual energy here. By the time I'm driven out of the Immortal Sect, at least my cultivation can still be maintained."

Chang Chang Danyi had never once thought about searching for the spring mouth of an immortal spiritual spring; she knew she wouldn't find it either.

If the spring mouth of an immortal spiritual spring were that easy to find, it wouldn't be her Chang Chang Danyi's turn.

Ding Huan agreed with Chang Chang Danyi's approach: "Fine. I'll first set up two cave dwellings here. After you go in to cultivate, I'll go try my luck."

Chang Chang Danyi began cultivating in the cave dwelling Ding Huan had set up, and Ding Huan really did go alone to try his luck.

Chang Chang Danyi was quite helpless about Ding Huan not cultivating but instead going to search for the spring mouth of an immortal spiritual spring. She couldn't persuade him and could only cultivate on her own first.