Longevity: Starting as a Sect Servant

Chapter 672 - 320: Defecting to the Enemy (Part 4)

Purple Cloud Mountain has a long history. In the legendary "Era of the Celestial Court," it was already known as one of the famous immortal mountains. Later, during the Era of the Strange, it also became a cultivation holy land.Nowadays, the master of Purple Cloud Mountain is the "Ziyun Immortal," whose cultivation is at the Taiyi Golden Immortal stage, standing supreme in Purple Cloud Province. Besides him, there are four other Golden Immortals: Leng Rufeng, Zhou Yudao, Nan Jibei, and the Ancient Immortal!

There are even more Celestial Immortals within the mountain; elders who pass down skills, various hall masters, and others are at this level of cultivation. Within Purple Cloud Mountain, many disciples are at the Profound Immortal Level, and Immortal Level cultivators are everywhere. Someone like Li An, at the Tribulation Crossing Stage, is considered among the lowest!

While speaking, Luo Yuan had already led Li An to the front of Cloud Ascension Palace.

The Cloud Ascension Palace is the place where nominal disciples cultivate. According to Luo Yuan, Purple Cloud Mountain recruits disciples externally only once every twenty years. These recruited disciples are all granted the status of nominal disciples and must cultivate in the Cloud Ascension Palace for thirty years to assess their abilities. Those who perform outstandingly may be valued by elders and selected as direct disciples, at which point their future would be limitless.

The current nominal disciples in the Cloud Ascension Palace were all recruited 12 years ago, making Li An akin to a "transfer student" from several generations ago in the modern world.

Luo Yuan brought Li An to meet the Palace Master, Golden Wall Immortal. Golden Wall Immortal’s cultivation was Celestial Immortal, but he appeared as a hunchback with one side of his face covered in fleshy protuberances, looking quite terrifying!

"Brought by Elder Rufeng in person?"

Golden Wall Immortal nodded and said, "I understand, make the arrangements."

Having seen the palace master, Li An was led by Luo Yuan to receive the appropriate robes, identity token, and other items, and then was escorted to a residential area affiliated with Cloud Ascension Palace.

This residential area was on a hillside with stone houses. A stream trickled down from the slope, enveloped in grey mist, clearly a rare source of anomalous qi!

Li An was long aware that even in the path of abnormal cultivation, resources such as ’wealth, companionship, methods, and land’ are indispensable. The orthodox Immortal Dao needs spirit veins and blessed grotto heavens, while the path of abnormal cultivation centers around this source of anomalous qi.

After the strange anomalies appeared, many anomalous energy springs emerged in the world. For instance, the ancestral land of the Gong Clan is said to be a lake constantly producing anomalous qi and even forming anomaly crystals, giving the Gong Clan a place to establish themselves. The Yi Clan is similar, with roots in a mysterious wind cave...

Purple Cloud Mountain, being a famous mountain and river, a cultivation holy land, possesses an anomalous energy spring for its nominal disciples that is no less powerful than the Gong Clan’s lake or the Yi Clan’s wind cave!

But since Li An came late, the best spots near the stream were nearly all taken.

"Little fatty, move your nest. This house is needed by someone else."

Luo Yuan was straightforward, not waiting for Li An to choose; he led him to knock on the door of a residence by the stream.

A round head poked out from the stone house, and a little fatty said, "Brother Luo... what’s up?"

"Hurry up and make room; stop wasting words!"

Luo Yuan said impatiently.

Obviously, this little fatty had a low status among the many nominal disciples, and his cultivation was just like Li An’s, at the Tribulation Crossing stage, so Luo Yuan easily dealt with him!

Li An took one look, and an idea occurred to him. He found this little fatty’s origin... seemed somewhat peculiar.

His cultivation did not appear to be true anomalous qi; rather, it seemed more like the orthodox Immortal Dao, but something seemed to be concealing it, obscuring Li An’s view.

Li An suddenly became quite interested in this little fatty, but at this moment, Luo Yuan was acting on his behalf to secure a benefit, so he naturally kept silent.

The little fatty glanced at Li An, seemingly a bit aggrieved: "Brother Luo, he is also at the Tribulation Crossing stage..."

Luo Yuan stepped forward and tossed him out, "Do you think you’re worthy of comparison?"

Then turning to look at Li An, he said, "Brother Gu, you will cultivate here."

After speaking, he leaned in close and whispered, "However, you should be aware that in this area, we were originally brought into the sect by Brother Yuan Province. The group on the left is under the Ancient Immortal Elder, and those at the upper right are under Elder Nan Jibei..."

Li An suddenly understood!

Within any force, different factions are inevitable, and this seemed particularly evident at Purple Cloud Mountain.

A disciple’s affiliation is determined from the moment they enter!

Though the Golden Immortal Elders would not bother with these trivial matters, their true disciples, like Yuan Province and Su Yebai, were responsible for recruiting new disciples. Once they passed through them into the Dao Sect, they naturally could only follow their side.

Even among nominal disciples in the Cloud Ascension Palace, there was no lack of competition!

"Additionally, your monthly stipend is fifty pieces. If it’s not enough, you can take on tasks within the mountain gate or sell any resources you have."

This aspect was similar to what Li An experienced in Profound Yang Sect, Dao Sect, and other forces—a complete organization manages and motivates its members in somewhat similar ways.

"Thank you, Brother Luo Yuan, for your care!"

Li An spoke, then directly offered a Profound Immortal Pill, saying, "This small gift is of no significance!"

Given Luo Yuan’s seniority in the sect and cultivation at the Profound Immortal level, it was worthwhile to establish a good relationship!

Luo Yuan was quite surprised, saying, "Brother, you’re too kind. We’re fellow disciples; there’s no need for such formality..."

He was also interested in maintaining a good relationship with Li An, as Li An was brought back by a Golden Immortal Elder personally. After his assessment period, he would likely become a true disciple like Yuan Province and others. If he didn’t cozy up now, he wouldn’t have another chance later.

Li An’s generous gift pleased him beyond expectation.

"Since we’re fellow disciples, why distinguish between us? This pill isn’t something I need right now, Brother; please just accept it!"

Li An insisted on gifting it, and seeing this, Luo Yuan did not refuse any longer. He simply nodded, saying, "Alright, in that case, I would be impolite to decline. Brother, should you need anything in the future, just let me know!"

After exchanging a few more courtesies, Luo Yuan left.

Li An had officially settled on Purple Cloud Mountain.

After settling in, Li An thought whimsically that if Taiqingzi knew the secret he had entrusted to him on his deathbed, which Li An had ultimately disrupted, even giving the Daoist Sect Leader’s order to Leng Rufeng and had turned against them, he wondered what he would think?

It was of no importance.

In all his actions, Li An never cared about others’ opinions, only his own interests...

Least of all the opinions of the deceased!

At that moment, a knock sounded at the door.

Li An got up to open it, only to find it was the little fatty who had been driven out by Luo Yuan. He was somewhat sneaky and timidly said, "I... I’m not here to cause trouble; I just forgot some things."

...

Meanwhile.

In a certain palace hall on Purple Cloud Mountain.

"Master, it seems Gu Fan still has secrets hidden; why not directly search his soul..."

Yuan Province asked in confusion.

Leng Rufeng said, "This man is a Demon Cultivator by origin, and his scheming and savvy are top-notch. I have great use for him afterward, so do not harbor dissatisfaction just because he hid something from you. One should always be magnanimous."

Yuan Province hurriedly bowed his head, "I obey, Master."

"Has Shen Lanyi returned?"

Yuan Province replied, "To respond to Master, Brother Lanyi has not yet returned; a few days ago, he sent a message. He was tracking the whereabouts of that demoness Shangguan Shengxian and has found some clues. It seems there is a great demon behind her, and the waters run deep!"

Leng Rufeng nodded, "Keep a close watch. The whereabouts of the Heaven-Devouring Demon Pot’s lid... you must find it for me!"

"With the Dao Sect’s treasured foundations unreliable... some paths, though perilous, may have to be explored nonetheless!"

...

Goodnight.