"Hm? What do you need?" the White-robed Old Man turned his head, his gaze falling on Fang Hong, and asked unhurriedly.
Fang Hong's heart pounded with nervousness, and he subconsciously swallowed.
Fang Hong tried to calm himself, and respectfully asked, "Immortal Master, may this junior dare to ask how one can join a sect for cultivation?"
"Impossible. Your talent is too poor; no sect will accept you," the young Immortal Master was the first to shake his head.
Fang Hong's heart tightened, a hint of unwillingness flashed in his eyes, and he said eagerly, "Immortal Master, please give me a chance. Is there truly no way to join a sect?"
The young Immortal Master scoffed upon hearing this and was about to say something, but the White-robed Old Man stopped him with a hand.
"There is one method that could allow you to enter a sect for cultivation," the White-robed Old Man said slowly.
Upon hearing that there was still a way to enter a sect, Fang Hong's hope rekindled.
But the young Immortal Master's expression changed, his brows furrowed, as if he had thought of something terrifying.
"Senior Brother, you're not thinking of the Ascension Gathering, are you?" the young Immortal Master asked, somewhat uncertainly.
The White-robed Old Man smiled and nodded gently.
"Ascension Gathering?" Fang Hong was a little confused; he had never heard this name before.
"Senior Brother, aren't you just sending him to his death...?" the young Immortal Master chuckled softly.
If this kid were to participate in the Ascension Gathering, it would undoubtedly be like a moth flying into a flame, seeking his own demise.
Fang Hong's face was solemn. Hearing the young Immortal Master's tone, this Ascension Gathering seemed to be a very terrifying event; would people die if they went?
"The Ascension Gathering is an assembly held annually by the three sects—Danxian Valley, Taiyi Sect, and Yu Shou Sect—to recruit various Loose Cultivator Disciples."
"If you want to join a sect, this is one path, but... if you want to die, then go," the White-robed Old Man explained with a chuckle, a hint of teasing in his tone.
Fang Hong's heart trembled upon hearing this, and he quickly asked, "Immortal Master, may I ask what is so terrifying about this Ascension Gathering?"
"It's not that terrifying; it's just that various Loose Cultivators will fight each other to the death to join a sect for cultivation..." the White-robed Old Man said lightly.
Fang Hong roughly understood the Immortal Master's meaning. He was silent for a moment, then asked again, "Immortal Master, when and where will this Ascension Gathering be held?"
Upon hearing Fang Hong's words, the young Immortal Master shook his head again. This kid was simply overestimating himself, still not recognizing his extremely poor talent.
"The Ascension Gathering is held in the first month of every year, in Nanyang City," the White-robed Old Man said, pointing north.
"Thank you for informing me, Immortal Master." Fang Hong respectfully bowed to the White-robed Old Man, secretly noting down the location.
At this moment, the White-robed Old Man conjured a brown-covered book from a cloth pouch at his waist. With a gentle toss, the book flew towards Fang Hong.
Fang Hong quickly reached out with both hands to catch it. Looking closely, the cover of the book read "Qi Condensation Skill."
"This is the Qi Condensation Skill, a basic Cultivation Technique for the Qi Refinement Stage. It's for you," the White-robed Old Man said casually.
"Thank you, Immortal Master!" Fang Hong bowed again in thanks, his heart filled with excitement.
He carefully held the "Qi Condensation Skill" in his hands, as if it were a priceless treasure.
The White-robed Old Man said nothing and turned to leave.
However, the young Immortal Master looked puzzled. He quickly took a few steps to catch up with the White-robed Old Man and asked, "Senior Brother, why did you give him the Qi Condensation Skill? Isn't that harming him?"
"Haha, it was just a whim, and it's not worth much..." the White-robed Old Man said with a faint smile.
Afterward, the villagers warmly entertained the two Immortal Masters, slaughtering chickens and sheep, making the square lively.
Everyone was laughing and chatting, busily enjoying themselves, and the air was filled with the aroma of food.
But Fang Hong was not among them. After receiving the "Qi Condensation Skill," he returned alone to his small wooden hut.
Fang Hong sat on the wooden bed, still feeling a bit down because he hadn't been able to join an Immortal sect.
Fang Hong looked at the "Qi Condensation Skill" in his hand, a mix of emotions in his heart.
After a moment of dejection, Fang Hong cheered up again, thinking that since he had a Spiritual Root, if he could cultivate some magical power, he wouldn't be afraid of the bullying from people like Liu Pangzi.
"Gugu!."
Just as Fang Hong was about to examine the Cultivation Technique, his stomach rumbled with hunger. He helplessly rubbed his belly.
He had no choice but to put down the Cultivation Technique; it wouldn't be too late to read it after he had eaten.
Fang Hong went to the vegetable patch next to the small wooden hut, picked some fresh greens, returned to the kitchen, and started a fire to cook fish.
There was also some leftover rice from breakfast on the table, so he made do with that for a meal...
After filling his stomach, Fang Hong returned to the small wooden hut, sat on the bed, carefully opened the "Qi Condensation Skill," and began to examine it in detail.
This "Qi Condensation Skill" had a total of ten pages, and the paper was somewhat yellowed. It contained incantations and illustrations.
The figures in the illustrations had peculiar hand seals, and the last few pages also included six low-level Spells. Experiencing cultivation for the first time, Fang Hong was captivated!
He memorized the incantation on the first page and began to imitate the illustrations in the Cultivation Technique, practicing seriously.
Fang Hong sat cross-legged on the bed, straightened his back, closed his eyes, placed his hands on his knees, adjusted his breathing, silently recited the incantation in his heart, and began to meditate and refine Qi...
Time passed bit by bit. At first, Fang Hong didn't notice anything unusual, but after about half an incense stick's time, he felt a trace of mysterious Qi drilling into his body!
The Qi was cool, flowing slowly through his Meridians.
Fang Hong's heart rejoiced, and he focused even more on silently reciting the incantation in his heart, trying to keep his breathing steady and guiding this Qi to circulate within his body.
Approximately two hours later, night had fallen, and moonlight streamed through the small wooden window onto Fang Hong.
Inside the small wooden hut, Fang Hong was still meditating and refining Qi.
Fang Hong was enveloped in a faint halo. Suddenly, he sharply opened his eyes, a blue light flashed in his pupils, and his "Divine Sense" continuously expanded outwards!
He could clearly perceive everything outside the hut: the rustling of leaves in the wind, the chirping of crickets in the earth pit, and a mouse stealing his radish.
All of this seemed to be happening right before his eyes, as if he had eyes outside the hut...
A moment later, Fang Hong slowly withdrew his "Divine Sense," and his pupils returned to their calm state.
"Magical power surging, Divine Sense initially appearing, I... have reached the first level of the Qi Refinement Stage??" Fang Hong froze on the bed, looking at his hands in disbelief.