Chapter 67: Gathering Qi Pill

The Human World

Seeing their uneasy expressions, Sect Leader Yi chuckled softly, "Don't be afraid. While there will indeed be danger, it's not a life-or-death situation. You are merely going to participate in an Immortal Ascension Convention hosted by another cultivation sect."

Upon hearing this, everyone present was stunned, thinking they had misheard.

Qin Sang had previously heard of such Immortal Ascension Conventions.

Not every immortal sect remained isolated. Some would recruit rogue cultivators through various selection methods to bring in fresh blood.

For rogue cultivators, this was one of the rare opportunities to join an immortal sect.

Each immortal sect had distinct methods for selecting disciples, but it was common practice to collectively refer to these events as Immortal Ascension Conventions. In a way, the Kuiyin Sect's recruitment of rogue cultivators by releasing the jade plate under the guise of the Divine Artifact Pavilion could also be considered an Immortal Ascension Convention.

Nevertheless, rogue cultivators who managed to pass an Immortal Ascension Convention were invariably either exceptionally strong or extraordinarily talented, meaning the challenge was by no means low.

They were already disciples of the Kuiyin Sect, yet now Sect Leader Yi was ordering them to attend an Immortal Ascension Convention of a different immortal sect. Even the most naive person could detect a strong whiff of conspiracy, intensifying their fear.

Given their limited cultivation, becoming entangled in a conspiracy involving a Golden Core Grandmaster and two immortal sects meant they could easily be reduced to ashes with a single misstep.

What's more, immortal sects utterly abhorred traitors and infiltrators. Should such individuals be discovered, the most horrific punishments would undoubtedly be meted out to serve as a dire warning.

In the cultivation world, the methods of torment were so numerous that even death became a luxury.

Regardless of the disciples' terror or their churning thoughts, Sect Leader Yi continued unperturbed, "I understand your concerns. The sect would certainly not assign tasks beyond your abilities. As long as you are sufficiently cautious, you will easily succeed. Of course, it's premature to discuss specifics now. You must first pass the Immortal Ascension Convention. To aid you, the sect has prepared a Qi Gathering Pill in advance..."

Sect Leader Yi produced a jade bottle containing several azure pills, resembling polished jade. As he unsealed the bottle, an unusual fragrance instantly filled the room, captivating everyone's attention.

Alchemists were exceedingly rare in the cultivation world, and the spiritual herbs required for potent elixirs were even scarcer. Powerful elixirs not only demanded various rare spiritual herbs but also precise requirements regarding the age of those herbs.

The spiritual herbs typically found by ordinary cultivators were either too young or fiercely guarded by powerful demonic beasts.

Genuine immortal and divine medicines, without exception, grew in secret, perilous territories. These places harbored countless dangers and might even be sealed by ancient restrictions. Without sufficient strength, entering would be a guaranteed death.

Pills concocted from mortal ingredients, such as those for strengthening one's foundation, detoxification, or healing injuries, were effective for cultivators with lower cultivation levels and were the most common elixirs encountered by rogue cultivators.

However, individuals who refined these types of pills had not even begun to grasp the fundamentals of alchemy and were not qualified to be called alchemists.

The Qi Gathering Pill was a spiritual elixir capable of directly enhancing cultivation, effective even for Foundation Establishment cultivators. It was a true immortal-grade elixir!

"There's an old saying in the mortal world: 'A wise emperor doesn't starve his soldiers.' As long as you agree to participate in the Immortal Ascension Convention, this Qi Gathering Pill is yours. Moreover, once you accomplish this task, there will be even more substantial rewards. If you accumulate sufficient merit, it's not impossible to even become my direct disciple."

Sect Leader Yi's voice was coaxing, like a demon whispering temptations.

"Does anyone here object to participating in the Immortal Ascension Convention? You may voice your objections now."

"We are all willing to go!"

Qin Sang knelt without hesitation and loudly affirmed their willingness.

If given a choice, Qin Sang wouldn't go, even if ten Qi Gathering Pills were placed before him.

However, from the moment Sect Leader Yi uttered those words, they were left with no alternative. Qin Sang had absolutely no desire to learn the consequences of refusal.

Among the seventeen people, not a single one was a fool.

Sect Leader Yi was visibly pleased. With a wave of his hand, the Qi Gathering Pills flew from the bottle, one settling into each person's palm.

"Consume the Qi Gathering Pills now. Yue Wu and I will guard you during your cultivation."

Qin Sang clutched the Qi Gathering Pill, his gaze flickering. He had already seen through his sect and harbored no illusions that the Qi Gathering Pill was free of hidden tricks. However, with a Golden Core Grandmaster observing, he dared not make any suspicious moves.

Witnessing several senior brothers and sisters joyfully swallow the Qi Gathering Pill, completely oblivious, Qin Sang felt a pang of sorrow. With a sharp tilt of his head, he swallowed the pill himself.

The Qi Gathering Pill dissolved into a cool medicinal energy that flowed down his throat and into his abdomen, then dispersed throughout his meridians. The spiritual energy within his body instantly grew turbulent, like raging rivers and seas.

Qin Sang hastily circulated his cultivation technique, barely managing to pacify the restless spiritual energy. Upon examining his cultivation, he found it had significantly deepened.

Once the Qi Gathering Pill's medicinal properties were fully absorbed, his cultivation would advance to at least the late stage of the sixth Qi Refining layer. A single elixir could substitute a year of arduous cultivation.

"If I can survive this mission, it might prove to be an opportunity. Perhaps I won't have to worry about Foundation Establishment Pills..."

Just as Qin Sang was consoling himself, he suddenly felt a peculiar sensation in his spiritual essence. He quickly performed an inner examination and was immediately horrified: a black speck had appeared on his spiritual essence at some point, and upon closer inspection, it was a worm!

More precisely, the worm was clinging to the inconspicuous golden light of the jade Buddha that coated the surface of his spiritual essence. It resembled a larva, with two tusks at its mouthparts, savagely gnawing at the golden light.

Qin Sang's blood ran cold. He was absolutely certain that there had been no worm on his spiritual essence prior to this. There was only one possibility: the worm had been inside the Qi Gathering Pill.

A piercing scream suddenly assaulted his ears. Qin Sang jolted, opening his eyes to see his fellow disciples writhing on the ground like gourds, clutching their heads in excruciating pain. Their agonizing shrieks made Qin Sang's hair stand on end.

This wasn't good!

Qin Sang abruptly realized that this must be the result of the worm gnawing at their spiritual essences.

Thanks to the jade Buddha's protection, the worm was blocked from entering his spiritual essence, so he felt no pain, which made him conspicuously out of place in the hall.

He already felt the gazes of the Sect Leader and Uncle-Master Yue fixed upon him.

In desperation, Qin Sang steeled himself and immediately transformed his divine sense into a sharp awl, piercing his own spiritual essence.

Unimaginable agony erupted from his spiritual essence—a tearing pain from the very depths of his soul. In that instant, Qin Sang felt as if his entire being was being shredded. His face instantly turned ashen, he let out a loud cry, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed into unconsciousness, hitting the ground with a thud.

Witnessing this scene, Sect Leader Yi remarked with displeasure, "He's so young and already managed to break through to the sixth Qi Refining layer, yet his spiritual essence is so fragile?"

Yue Wu was also greatly surprised. After a moment's thought, he replied, "Reporting, Master, his name is Qin Sang. I recall he possesses a Five Elements spiritual root. Due to consuming a spiritual fruit in his youth, his meridians were broadened. While his cultivation speed isn't slow, it's normal for his aptitude to be slightly inferior to others."

"A Five Elements spiritual root?"

Sect Leader Yi cast a fleeting glance at the unconscious Qin Sang and stated dispassionately, "A Qi Gathering Pill wasted."