Chapter 297: Guest Elder

"This way, the risk is quite high."

"No, we need to think of another way."

That day.

Qin Ming sat in a tavern inside the city called 'Yufeng Tower,' eating and gathering information.

Yufeng Tower, like Jingxue Pavilion, was a large merchant house with operations spread across the Southern Wastelands' cultivation world.

Those who could afford to spend here were all cultivators of some ability, with broader access to rumors and intelligence.

In just one morning, Qin Ming noticed two or three false Core Formation cultivators with thick magical energy entering and leaving the tavern.

"Hey! Have you heard?"

"This year's Xuanxi Valley disciple selection is the most lively in history."

"Rumors say many of this year's candidates are young boys and girls with extraordinary talent in alchemy."

Fang Han of the Fang family from Beilu is only seven years old and was discovered to possess a primordial spiritual body for alchemy.

"And Mu Lanxin from Jiangzhou is only eight, born with a powerful spiritual soul and a top-grade spiritual root—perfect for alchemy."

"No need to elaborate on these two—their Alchemy Tower scores will surely be excellent, and both have already caught the attention of Xuanxi Valley Elders."

"Ah! How envious I am of those blessed by heaven."

"Speaking of which—"

"I heard that in the Wei Kingdom's cultivation world, a cultivator has emerged with extraordinary alchemical mastery."

"He rose from a spirit farmer, step by step to Foundation Establishment—quite inspiring."

"Now he is a Second-Rank Upper-Grade Alchemy Master, hailed as the only cultivator in the Southern Wastelands in the past few centuries with a chance to break through to Third-Rank Alchemy Grandmaster."

"Once he breaks through, he will stand alongside Grandmaster Gongsun Yang of Xuanxi Valley."

"Really? Or just talk?"

"A Third-Rank Alchemy Grandmaster? Are they just blowing smoke in Wei?"

"Nine out of ten it's true. I have a fellow cultivator doing business in Canghai Immortal City—he brought back the news."

"That's truly remarkable!"

"Why can't I be an alchemy holy body?"

"Get real. With your pathetic form, you think you're an alchemy holy body?"

"What? You looking down on me?"

"Forget it, forget it. Let's talk about something else."

"I heard that besides selecting disciples, Xuanxi Valley is also recruiting Guest Elders this time."

Hearing this, Qin Ming's spirit stirred instantly. "That's right—it must be connected to the recent beast floods and the movements of the Six Demon Sects."

"What? There's also this?"

"How come I didn't know?"

"Of course you didn't—this is internal news. My friend inside Xuanxi Valley told me."

"So, do you think Xuanxi Valley will take me?"

"Don't make me laugh. Why would Xuanxi Valley even look at someone like you?"

"Can't you speak more politely?"

"For this recruitment of Guest Elders, Xuanxi Valley requires at least Foundation Establishment Late-Stage cultivation."

"If your cultivation is below Foundation Establishment Late-Stage, you must possess one Second-Rank cultivation art."

"Tell me—do you meet either requirement?"

"Uh… I didn't say anything. Eat your food, eat your food!"

…

Qin Ming, seated at the next table, listened and his eyes suddenly brightened.

He returned to his rented cave dwelling and pondered the rumors he'd gathered.

"Looks like I'll have to assume a new identity and slip into Xuanxi Valley as a Guest Elder."

"Ah! After all this trouble, it still comes down to this!"

Half a month later, a thin, hemp-robed old man appeared near Moyuan Immortal City.

This man was Qin Ming, transformed by the True Demon Illusion Technique.

The hemp-robed old man's name was Yu Changqing, originally a Foundation Establishment cultivator from Chu Prefecture in Liang Kingdom, with Foundation Establishment Mid-Stage cultivation and Second-Rank Lower-Grade Spirit Plant Master skills.

Yu Changqing had come for Xuanxi Valley's Guest Elder recruitment.

Who knew he was ambushed halfway by a band of Foundation Establishment bandits and killed—just as Qin Ming, out gathering information, happened upon the scene.

The bandits tried to target Qin Ming too, but he swiftly disposed of them.

Before Yu Changqing died, Qin Ming used a secret technique from the Yuan Sha Zhong Mo Zhen Jing to extract his memories.

Qin Ming could now borrow Yu Changqing's identity to infiltrate Xuanxi Valley.

"What a stroke of luck—no wasted effort at all!"

Qin Ming smiled wryly.

Three months later.

The Xuanxi Valley Alchemy Tower's disciple selection officially began, alongside the Guest Elder recruitment.

Qin Ming, in his transformed form as the thin hemp-robed old man, arrived before the mountain gate of Xuanxi Valley and gazed at the majestic sect with deep emotion.

'This is far more imposing than Lei Yuanzong—this is the foundation of a Nascent Soul sect backed by the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty!'

Thousands of cultivators, leading their disciples, stood in orderly lines on the white jade plaza, waiting to enter the Alchemy Tower for evaluation.

Today would decide whether these young talents could leap over the dragon's gate.

But Qin Ming's path lay elsewhere.

Following the rumors he'd gathered, he followed the mountain path to a pavilion beside the mountain gate.

Here, a number of cultivators had already gathered—all at least Foundation Establishment Early-Stage.

They were all here to apply for Xuanxi Valley's Guest Elder positions.

Qin Ming observed silently and even spotted two Foundation Establishment Late-Stage hermits.

Hermit cultivators who reached this level were all blessed with great fortune and possessed formidable techniques and hidden cards.

All waited in the courtyard before the pavilion, taking turns to enter for interviews and reviews.

"Oh! Isn't that Brother Yu?"

"What are you doing here too?"

As the voice came, a fat old man with a large belly appeared behind Qin Ming.

"Di Laogui, if you can come, why can't I?" Qin Ming replied.

According to Yu Changqing's memories, this Di cultivator was also a Spirit Plant Master; the two had once competed for a Second-Rank Spirit Plant Master legacy in their youth, and Di Shan had lost to Yu Changqing, and they'd never gotten along since.

"Xuanxi Valley doesn't recruit just any scrap or oddity for Guest Elders."

"Brother Yu has had the Second-Rank Spirit Plant Master legacy for decades, yet still remains Second-Rank Lower-Grade—isn't that a bit hard to explain?"

"You're probably not going to pass the review—why bother?" Di Shan's tone dripped with mockery.

He had broken through to Second-Rank Mid-Grade Spirit Plant Master a year ago and felt confident he'd be accepted.

Seeing his old rival now, he couldn't resist a jab.

"Whether I pass or not isn't your call," Qin Ming said dismissively, ignoring him.

At that moment,

A voice rang out from inside the pavilion: "Next!"

Qin Ming saw it was his turn.

He stepped forward immediately.

"Hmph! Let's see how tough your mouth is once you're out!" Di Shan sneered on his fat face.

But less than half a stick of incense had passed when Qin Ming emerged from the hall.

Seeing Yu Changqing come out so quickly, Di Shan assumed he'd failed.

He was about to mock him, but his peripheral vision caught sight of a dark azure token in 'Yu Changqing's' hand.

"Guest Elder Token!!"

(End of Chapter)