Translator: AnubisTL
After failing to achieve foundation establishment, Lu Fan felt his path to the Dao suddenly darken.
The joy he had felt upon joining the Lingyun Sect vanished completely.
In recent days, he had endured endless mockery and ridicule from his fellow sect members, leaving him seething with resentment.
The three-month deadline had passed. His failure to establish his foundation meant Lu Fan would have to start as a low-level disciple, accumulating Sect Contribution points bit by bit to earn a second foundation establishment pill.
Of course, this process would inevitably take a long time.
Having just joined the sect, the contribution points required to obtain a foundation establishment pill alone would be enough to drain him dry.
Moreover, even for a massive power like the Lingyun Sect, foundation establishment pills were limited in number. Accumulating enough contribution points didn't guarantee immediate access to one.
Seniority and connections mattered. One had to slowly bide their time, which could drag on for years.
Without the right connections, a newcomer could easily be overtaken by later arrivals.
Adding to the demand, the Lingyun Sect held an ascension conference every five years, consuming a significant number of foundation establishment pills.
"Damn it! I was so close to completing mana liquefaction, just a hair's breadth away!"
As Lu Fan walked toward the General Affairs Hall, the memory of his failed foundation establishment attempt filled him with deep frustration and resentment.
Alas, a hair's breadth could mean a world of difference—such was reality!
Burning with suppressed anger, Lu Fan arrived at the sect's General Affairs Hall.
The hall was already crowded, mostly with disciples who had recently joined the Lingyun Sect through the ascension conference, here to receive their sect affairs assignments.
Lu Fan's unusually burly figure immediately drew attention as he entered.
Dozens of gazes pierced him like daggers, each one a reminder of his fallen status.
His former identity as an "immortal seed" had become a burden after his foundation establishment failure.
"What are you staring at? You're all losers! Get out of my way!" Lu Fan roared, his voice low and menacing, as he strode forward.
His words cleared a path through the crowd, though some onlookers smirked with mockery and contempt.
Though no one said anything to Lu Fan's face, the undercurrent of mockery was palpable. No one would ever see him as the lofty immortal seed he once was.
Feeling the weight of their gazes, Lu Fan clenched his fists even tighter. Even a fool could imagine the whispers and ridicule that would follow him behind his back.
"Elder, I've come to claim sect affairs," Lu Fan said, his voice low and his demeanor utterly submissive and humble.
The middle-aged foundation establishment cultivator in the General Affairs Hall didn't even glance at him. He casually pointed to a board listing sect affairs and said indifferently, "Choose. Just tell me when you've made your selection."
Lu Fan nodded respectfully and, like the other disciples, turned to examine the board detailing the various sect affairs.
Sect affairs at Lingyun Sect were broadly divided into two categories: short-term tasks and long-term duties.
Short-term tasks were often initiated by sect elders, similar to the spiritual material collection mission Li Qing had previously issued.
Long-term sect affairs were the primary responsibilities of disciples, such as guarding market towns, joining the Refining Hall, Pill Hall, or Law Enforcement Hall.
As Lu Fan scrolled through the list of sect affairs, his expression darkened further.
Refining Hall disciple recruitment: slots filled!
Law Enforcement Hall suspends disciple recruitment!
Pill Hall...
Everyone knew that joining these halls related to cultivation techniques was an invaluable opportunity.
Such sect affairs typically offered generous contribution points, allowed disciples to learn and master cultivation techniques, and, most importantly, enabled them to build relationships with external affairs elders.
Alas, these coveted positions were almost always reserved in advance, leaving Lu Fan no chance to claim them.
Watching one lucrative sect affair after another being snatched up, Lu Fan sighed heavily, his brow furrowed in frustration.
The remaining tasks were all thankless and arduous, either extremely laborious or offering pitifully meager contribution points.
Even the market town guard duties had been claimed, highlighting just how undesirable the remaining tasks were.
Ice Prison Duty: Staff Shortage!
Medicinal Field Cultivation: Requires knowledge of various spirit herb properties.
Forbidden Speech Snowfield Exploration.
The remaining long-term tasks were utterly grueling and thankless—the kind even a dog would shake its head at.
The Ice Prison, needless to say, was no picnic. It housed disciples who had violated sect rules, with sparse spiritual energy and bone-chilling cold. Long-term duty there was far from desirable.
The medicinal field cultivation was equally challenging. Caring for spirit herbs was no simple task; even minor mistakes could lead to major trouble.
As for exploring the Forbidden Speech Snowfield, its dangers were self-evident. Lu Fan, a rogue cultivator by origin, knew better than anyone that snow-covered mountains were perilous places with no return.
The remaining sect affairs were equally unappealing—either offering meager contribution points or requiring harsh conditions and environments.
Left with no other choice, Lu Fan reluctantly selected the Ice Prison duty.
"Elder, I choose to guard the Ice Prison," Lu Fan said, clasping his hands in a resigned bow.
"Alright, hand over your Identity Token and go to the back to register with the disciples."
After completing the registration procedures, Lu Fan officially received his first sect affairs assignment at the Lingyun Sect.
For him, this might have been the best possible outcome. Guarding the Ice Prison was a somewhat arduous task, and the surrounding spiritual energy was sparse, but Lu Fan didn't mind these drawbacks too much.
Although he had failed his foundation establishment attempt, it wasn't without its benefits. At the very least, his cultivation had advanced from the ninth layer of qi refining to the perfect tenth layer of the qi refining realm.
The sparse spiritual energy didn't bother him. Having reached the pinnacle of the qi refining realm, the only remaining hurdle to breakthrough was foundation establishment.
After Lu Fan's slightly dejected figure departed, the disciples began whispering among themselves.
"What's with the act? Still thinks he's an immortal seed, acting so high and mighty."
"Wasted a foundation establishment pill on him. If only they'd given it to me."
"A foundation establishment pill just got him from the ninth layer of qi refining to the perfect tenth layer? What a joke! He might as well have just taken a Foundation Nurturing Pill."
"Hmph, failing foundation establishment and still acting so arrogant? He'll get what's coming to him!"
"..."
For every immortal seed who failed foundation establishment, such whispers were almost inevitable.
Some might find the strength to rise from their failures, biding their time and eventually making a triumphant comeback.
But for most, their spirits would crumble, fading into obscurity, forever unable to continue writing their own chapters in the immortal dao.
Returning to his small courtyard, Lu Fan, his mind in turmoil, even felt the urge to attempt a breakthrough without the aid of a foundation establishment pill.
Of course, this was just a fleeting thought; he wouldn't dare such a reckless act.
If he had failed even with the pill's assistance, attempting it without it would be even more futile.
More importantly, failure could lead to mana backlash, potentially resulting in death and the dissipation of his cultivation.
Even as a body cultivator, he couldn't guarantee his survival.
"I'll just have to endure," he muttered. "Damn it, I refuse to believe things can get any worse now that I've joined the Lingyun Sect!"
The next day, Lu Fan truly experienced the hardships faced by low-ranking disciples in the sect.
Deep within the Ice Prison of the Lingyun Sect, in one of the innermost cells, the clanking of icy iron chains echoed ceaselessly.
Intermittently, demonic laughter and wailing pierced the air, like malevolent sounds piercing the ears, sending a chill deep into the heart.
"Hahahaha... Waaaaah!"
Lu Fan, a burly and rugged man, found himself trembling uncontrollably, his massive frame shaking like a leaf. The sight was almost comical.
"Senior... what's wrong?" Lu Fan asked, his voice trembling.
But the only response was the continued, maddening laughter and weeping. The prisoner within was clearly a complete lunatic.
"Waaahahaha! Aaaah!"
At that moment, Lu Fan felt as if his scalp would explode. The madman inside possessed immense cultivation, at least in the late foundation establishment realm. His laughter and weeping carried a power that assaulted the divine soul, making Lu Fan feel an overwhelming urge to join in the deranged cacophony.
Meanwhile, outside the Ice Prison:
"Senior Brother Lin, isn't it a bit much to assign a newcomer to the innermost cell?" one of the veteran guards remarked uneasily.
"What? Want to take his place?" Senior Brother Lin replied coldly.
"Ehh, I'll pass on that, ha ha."
"Sigh, I didn't want to do this either, but Senior Brother Zheng Donghe specifically instructed me. Who told that kid..."
The other guards exchanged knowing, gloating glances. Even without explicit explanation, they understood the reason for this arrangement.
It was all because Senior Brother Zheng Donghe had previously asked Lu Fan for a foundation establishment pill and been refused.
Now that Lu Fan had failed his foundation establishment attempt, Zheng Donghe naturally couldn't swallow his anger. After a few casual instructions, he had neatly arranged the fate of this once-promising immortal seed.
"Speaking of which, Senior Brother Zheng Donghe has had his own share of misfortune. Two years ago, he finally managed to obtain a foundation establishment pill, but unfortunately, he still failed to achieve foundation establishment."
"Indeed. I never imagined Senior Brother Zheng would still be clinging to the idea of foundation establishment. It's quite..."
"..."
A day later, Lu Fan burst out of the Ice Prison, his eyes bloodshot and burning.
"I quit! I want to be reassigned to sect affairs!"
Seeing Lu Fan's state, the other disciples guarding the Ice Prison exchanged pitying glances but remained silent.
Senior Brother Lin, standing nearby, remarked casually, "Sect affairs aren't something you can just take or leave as you please. Once you're assigned, you have to stay for at least three months before you can request a change."
"Of course, if you successfully achieve foundation establishment during that time and become an elder, you're free to leave."
These words sent Lu Fan's mind reeling. He muttered, "But they can't make me guard that mad old man in the deepest part of the Ice Prison alone! Why me? I've done nothing to offend you all."
Senior Brother Lin replied nonchalantly, "Ahem, Junior Brother Lu Fan, let me remind you again: the 'mad old man' you speak of was once an elder of our Lingyun Sect. Show some respect when you address him."
"And if you're dissatisfied with my arrangements, feel free to suggest changes to the sect elders."
"..."
Severely shaken, Lu Fan barely remembered how he stumbled back to his courtyard. He stood frozen, the demonic laughter and weeping echoing endlessly in his mind.
"No, I can't let this go on! I'll go mad if I do!"
"I must achieve foundation establishment! I must achieve foundation establishment!"
With that, the urge to force his way to foundation establishment surged through him once more. He could no longer endure the daily trips to the Ice Prison, where he was forced to keep the deranged old man company through the wall.
That eerie, demonic laughter and weeping was driving him to the brink of madness.
Now, he planned to force his way to foundation establishment without relying on a foundation establishment pill.
The next moment, slow footsteps echoed outside his courtyard, accompanied by a gentle voice:
"Attempting foundation establishment without a foundation establishment pill... Should I call you confident or reckless?"
"I happen to have a foundation establishment pill here. I wonder if you might be interested."
Upon hearing these words, Lu Fan almost thought he was hallucinating from the day's torment.
(End of the Chapter)
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