Traveling through time to cultivate immortality: a life and death test

Liu Xing took out the map he'd bought from the old man at Wanbao Tower and focused on the location of the sect and the distribution of the market town, then began to carefully consider his next move. The advantage of joining a sect was a relatively safe and stable environment for cultivation. Furthermore, both the Foundation Establishment Pill and the main cultivation techniques for the Foundation Establishment period were available only within the sect. However, the downside of becoming a sect disciple was that one was subject to sect rules and regulations, required to complete corresponding tasks, and their every move, especially their cultivation level, was under the sect's surveillance. Liu Xing felt a little undecided, feeling that his understanding of cultivation and the sect itself was still too shallow. He decided to hold off on making a decision and first learn more about the situation.

He chose to go to the markets to gather information and gather intelligence. He planned to spend three years visiting all of the dozens of markets marked on the map, primarily reading, shopping, and chatting with fellow travelers. He had already experienced the principle of choice over effort in his previous life: to make the right choices, he needed more information to support them. Therefore, sharpening the knife before chopping wood was a good idea; it was worthwhile to invest some time in enriching his knowledge base.

The Baiyun Mountain Market was the closest to him. He donned a mask, transforming into a tall, thin scholar, and controlled his aura to that of the tenth Qi Refining Stage. The tenth Qi Refining Stage was neither too high nor too low; it wouldn't draw contempt or harassment for being too low, nor would it draw too much attention for being too high. It also gave him some flexibility, allowing him to play dumb and exploit the situation, giving him more leeway when facing powerful enemies. He first went to the Wanbao Building to sell his talismans, receiving over 20,000 spirit stones and a large amount of talisman paper and ink. Making talismans was his current specialty and a vital source of income, so he crafted a few whenever he had free time, both for self-defense and to sell for profit. Compared to his fellow Qi Refining Stage practitioners, he was now a veritable tycoon, possessing immense wealth. Consequently, he remained cautious and low-key, always wearing a different appearance and identity when trading at the Wanbao Building to avoid being targeted and, as he had done last time, facing the Ba brothers' robbery.

Then, with a changed face, he began browsing the shops again, chatting with the staff, inquiring about market prices, and learning about the functions and features of treasures. Of course, he looked and listened more than he bought. Sometimes, he'd spend an entire afternoon in a teahouse or tavern, listening to the patrons' casual revelations about the world of cultivation, though of course, he kept the core secrets hidden. When discussing important matters, everyone would create a soundproof enclosure, whispering within so no one could hear. For Liu Xing, the goal was to listen to popular news and hot topics, to deepen his understanding of the world and broaden his horizons, helping him make informed decisions when choosing a sect.

"I heard that Xuantian Sect will open its doors and recruit disciples in three years." A drinker said with a little excitement.

"Yes, there are still three years of preparation time. We should strive to improve our cultivation and pass the test successfully." The friend next to him said, who seemed to be at the ninth level of Qi Refining.

"I wonder what the conditions are for Xuantian Sect to accept disciples?" asked a young man at another table. This was also the question Liu Xing wanted to ask.

"Oh, this little brother has reached the sixth level of Qi Refining at such a young age. It seems that he has quite good talent." The man who just spoke said enviously.

"Brother, you are too kind. I have achieved my current level of cultivation thanks to some good fortune. Please enlighten me about Xuantian Sect's recruitment of disciples." The young man didn't want to talk too much about himself and quickly changed the subject.

"This is not a secret. Xuantian Sect recruits a group of disciples every ten years. All independent cultivators and disciples from aristocratic families can sign up for the test. Only twenty disciples are recruited each time, and they are admitted based on the principle of giving priority to qualifications and strength." The man didn't care and answered simply.

"Little brother, if you have special spiritual roots, natural spiritual roots, or dual spiritual roots, you don't need to participate in the competition. You will be directly accepted as an inner disciple by the Jindan senior." The man said jokingly.

"Hahaha." The people around him also joined in the fun, watching the boy's excitement.

"How is that possible? If I had such talent, I wouldn't be sitting here chatting." The young man said a little embarrassedly, his face flushed.

"These top geniuses are rare in the world. As long as they don't die prematurely, there will be basically no problem for them to cultivate to the Jindan stage." The man stopped teasing the boy and sighed.

"Those under 40 years old and above the tenth level of Qi Refining can test their strength through an entry-level competition. Those who rank in the top 20 will be admitted." The man added.

Liu Xing listened silently, calculating his age and cultivation level. He thought it shouldn't be difficult for him to enter the sect. He still had time, so there was no rush to make a choice. Other sects would also accept disciples. He listened to the gossip for a while, then turned and left, heading towards the bookstore.

Liu Xing read books on everything from martial arts techniques and skills to alchemy and medicinal herbs, weapon refining and materials, forbidden formations, lists of demonic beasts, astrology, historical travelogues, and strange anecdotes. He didn't discriminate between genres, dividing them into intensive and extensive reading. His memory was now astonishing, allowing him to memorize everything he read and read ten lines at a glance, making him extremely efficient. For books on historical travelogues, medicinal herbs, materials, and demonic beast portraits, extensive reading was sufficient. For specialized works on martial arts techniques, alchemy, weapon refining, and formations, intensive reading was required. Of course, he didn't have time to study them in a bookstore, so he would copy the content he might need later, buy it, and then study it more slowly when he had time.

As he bought more things, he found that his storage space was not enough, so he spent a huge amount of money, spending two thousand spirit stones, to buy a storage bracelet, which was about the same size as a three-story villa of 500 square meters. He also bought many storage boxes such as jade boxes, blank jade slips, etc. to prepare for emergencies.

As his knowledge accumulated, he discovered that the amount of information in the world of cultivation was a million times greater than that of the mortal realm. His understanding of the laws of nature and his study of the universe were far deeper. The vast ocean of knowledge only made him feel increasingly insignificant. There was so much he didn't understand, so much he was uncharted territory. He felt like a drop in the ocean, unable to fully grasp the world. Therefore, he became more humble and modest, tirelessly pursuing knowledge and cautiously striving for survival. Researching fundamental knowledge required an immense amount of time and energy. The lifespan of a Qi training stage of a hundred or so years was too short. Compared to those thousand-year-old monsters, it was like a firefly competing with the full moon. Therefore, once embarking on the path of cultivation, everyone raced against time to improve their realm and achieve immortality, a longer life to explore the unknown world. Every living being possesses an endless curiosity about the unknown and a tireless pursuit of exploration. The meaning of life lies in exploration.

So, Liu Xing was like a rare flower in the world of cultivation. Like a bookworm, he traveled from one market to another and read all the books carefully.