Immortals of the End Times

Chapter 60: Recruitment of the World, Qi Refining Level Three
The seven days passed in the blink of an eye.

With the war in the north still raging, the conscription of soldiers on the border between Xuan and Qian is becoming increasingly urgent, while the people's granaries are running out and complaints are rising.

However, at this moment, a divine edict from the Imperial Observatory of the capital city sounded like a spring thunderclap, announcing that the Xuan Kingdom's royal family would recruit and cultivate immortal beings to protect the country and uphold the Dao.

The first batch of recruitment qualifications are open to anyone from a poor or disadvantaged background who can go for verification.

Once someone is successfully enrolled, their parents can also receive promotions and titles; when one person achieves success, even their relatives and friends benefit.

Those with exceptional talent may be directly accepted as true disciples by the Imperial Preceptor or other senior immortals, enjoying the spiritual realm and cultivating exquisite immortal techniques.

Once the news spread, the sons of noble families in the four major prefectures were stirred up by the news, discussing it with excitement or curiosity.

Even the most prudent and cunning old foxes of power couldn't help but stroke their beards and ponder at this moment.

While the pursuit of immortality through cultivation may be illusory, the written promise of "promotion and advancement" is a tangible form of wealth and status.

In a short time, people from the Imperial Astronomical Bureau branches, which were located in the four major prefectures, began to register and verify their qualifications, and the number of people traveling to and from these branches gradually increased.

The young men in fine clothes entered with their heads held high, while those in plain clothes followed nervously.

Yet there were also ordinary people dressed in coarse cloth and short clothes who watched and discussed outside the Imperial Astronomical Bureaus in various places, their eyes filled with resentment.

"Why should only those from poor or higher-ranking families be recruited?"

"My child can't even afford a decent meal, let alone qualify for verification of funds."

In the teahouses and alleys of various prefectures, whispers abounded, with some people angrily denouncing the injustice, and not everyone applauding it.

Even the humblest family has a door, which is far beyond what ordinary people can compare to.

Regarding these rumors that were only dared to be complained about in private, the Imperial Observatory Supervisor Xia released the news at the right time: the third batch will open the gates to immortality, regardless of background.

In this way, the resentment and discontent discussed in private decreased significantly, and public grievances were immediately transformed into expectations.

Most of those who are dissatisfied are simply dissatisfied with the lack of opportunity. Since there will be opportunities in the future, it is only right for officials to try it out first.

After all, it's always better to have a chance at fairness than to never have one.

"The recruitment of immortals will only be open to the general public in the third batch. It seems like an opportunity, but in reality, there is no chance at all."

Three hundred miles outside the imperial city, on the official road, Zhao Wuji lightly flicked the small newspaper in his hand and let out a soft laugh.

With his insight, he could tell at a glance that this was because they didn't want to waste resources on ordinary people.

Verifying funds also requires expending spiritual energy or using magical artifacts.

For cultivators who control resources, every wisp of spiritual energy consumed in the verification process must be used wisely.

The privileged children, living in luxury and surrounded by auspicious lands, eat fine rice and drink sweet spring water every day, unlike the common people who eat coarse grains and live in pigsties and cowsheds while planting rice in the fields.

They have a greater chance of developing strong spirituality, and the probability of developing spiritual aptitude after verification is also higher.

Zhao Wuji looked at the shouts of farmers driving their oxen on the field ridges outside the carriage and shook his head with a sigh.

"Even if the third batch is truly opened up, unless there are truly exceptional talents among the common people, it is highly likely that a few more will be selected from the mediocre ones left over by the powerful and wealthy to fill the quota. This would both preserve the reputation and save resources, killing two birds with one stone."

Zhao Wuji closed the tabloid, fully aware of the situation.

In this world, even if the royal family opens up the path to immortality, this path will be blocked by powerful and influential people in the first instance.

"My lord, this time they are really recruiting immortal beings. You have been seeking immortality for so long, and this time you have finally got your chance."

Kobayashi, who was acting as the coachman, grinned excitedly in front of the carriage.

Ye Wu scratched his head and chuckled, "If I could cultivate immortality, could my sister become an official too?"

Zhao Wuji smiled but did not answer, his gaze sweeping over the only remaining ancient book in his hand.

Over the past nine days, he has studied the ancient books left by the old fox, and his knowledge of immortality and experience in cultivation have increased considerably.

The miscellaneous writings and insights of the cultivators of the Myriad Beasts Cave Heaven further helped him decipher the 'Bird Taming Technique' among the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Techniques.

He had already destroyed all those ancient books along the way.

"Now that the Yin Marrow has been found and more than half of the Yin Qi has been accumulated, the eight sets of Earthly Fiend Techniques of the first Yin-Yang Pearl have also been deciphered."

To unlock the new spell, we must first fully accumulate the Yin Pearl and then activate the second one.”

"Unfortunately, the Heavenly Pot Technique and Wind Control Technique, which I've been longing for, are not among the eight sets of spells," Zhao Wuji sighed, pulling back the carriage curtain and mocking himself for being a bit too greedy.

He lightly touched his dantian with his fingertips, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Introspect on yourself, and your Qi will surge.

The fifty-nine new spiritual energies that have been added in the past nine days are as dazzling as starlight.

The spiritual patterns on the Yin-Yang Beads flowed and became clearly visible:
[Cultivation Level: Qi Induction Stage 3 (0/100)]

For the past nine days, he has been drinking half a catty of Golden Goblet Spirit Wine every day, supplemented by Yin-Yang Guiding Techniques, and his cultivation has been steadily improving.

Last night, he even took the opportunity to break through in the mountains, and that cultivation barrier was shattered by the torrent of spiritual energy!

At this point, six jin of the precious wine had been consumed, leaving only two jin sealed in the jar.

This wine has amazing effects, comparable to the Golden Elixir.

It's hard to imagine the miraculous effects of the legendary "Three Treasures of Heaven, Earth, and Man" wine.

Such a progress in cultivation is truly astonishing in this degenerate age.

The main reason was that the hangover stone, when used in conjunction with the hangover remedy, temporarily boosted his spiritual power to the level of golden light.

One ounce of wine can sustain one for twelve hours.

After consuming six pounds, the effects lasted for three months.

This so-called short period of time is not actually that short.

The benefit of his improved spiritual aptitude is that it increases the speed at which he can condense spiritual power by 50% each day by using guiding techniques.

Now, not only his cultivation level, but also his commonly used techniques, guiding techniques and ingestion techniques, are about to break through.

"If I were to join the Linglang Cave Heaven now with my Golden Radiance Spiritual Talent, I would most likely be considered a genius, and I probably wouldn't need to farm or do hard labor."

Zhao Wuji withdrew his thoughts and pondered, noticing that the Hengyun Mountains were already faintly visible ahead.

He stopped the carriage and, under the pretext of urinating, buried the white bone artifact he had obtained from the Black Jade Spirit Master in a mountain hollow.

The Qi-sealing spell placed on the magical artifact serves as a layer of restriction, which can both slow down the loss of spiritual energy and detect any disturbance immediately.

Finally, Zhao Wuji plucked a strand of hair and wrapped it around the magical artifact, using it as a medium for casting the Dream Marriage spell.

The magical artifacts he carries are enough: a sobering stone and a hundred beast claws.

This white bone artifact is quite powerful; I don't plan to carry it with me for the time being.

The next day.

Inside the Zhao family mansion.

The entire Zhao residence became lively again because of the master's return.

Inside the room, the maid Chunhua held a newly tailored cloud-patterned brocade robe. Zhao Wuji stretched out his arms and let her change her clothes, but his gaze fell on the poria cocos that Xiaoyue had just bought.

The poria cocos in the green basket, still glistening with morning dew, were all plump and jade-like.

"The quality is good." He tapped the medicine basket lightly with his fingertip. "Send it to the alchemy room to prepare. It will be just right to refine the Bigu Pill in a couple of days."

"Yes!" Xiaoyue responded crisply, her eyes and brows brimming with undisguised joy. With the adults back, she no longer felt empty inside.

She suddenly pulled out several letters from her sleeve:

"My lord, while you were away, Miss Zhixia wrote to you, as did Miss Li, the star official of the Imperial Observatory, and Lord Liu. They all sent people to visit you and left you letters."

"Oh?"

Zhao Wuji raised an eyebrow and reached out, saying, "Bring Zhixia's letter first."

Nan Zhixia has been away from the capital for a month and a half.

Zhao Wuji had previously wondered if his fiancée had gone to the hidden paradise behind the Supreme Sect, but he was unable to contact her.

Unexpectedly, his fiancée took the initiative to write a letter, which showed she had some conscience and hadn't forgotten about him after leaving.
I've reached the third level of Qi Refining, please vote for me with monthly tickets! Although I'm still a bit short of the bonus chapter for monthly tickets, I'm still planning to add one today.

I'll finish one chapter at midnight, and two more in the morning. It'll be available for purchase the day after tomorrow.
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(End of this chapter)