The Guixi Sect, at its mountain gate.
The earth's veins throughout the entire mountain peak seemed to have run dry, with not a trace of life flowing through the rock and soil.
Two stone gates stood nestled into the mountainside, toweringly open. One had to crane their neck just to see the top. The entire layout exuded a deep, ominous aura.
At this moment, a person was crouched behind a dreary, gray rock about half a person's height.
She peeked out with just half her head, her eyes filled with vigilance.
'The Sect Leader said a certain sect's disciples have been acting strangely recently,' she thought. 'But seeing this now... isn't this a little too blatant?'
'Not a blade of grass grows for thirty miles in any direction, and those two deep, dark gates look like they lead to an endless abyss. With a scene like this, aren't they afraid of being discovered by the righteous immortal sects?'
The face of her Sect Leader surfaced once more in Su Ling'er's mind.
...
The scene shifted to an unremarkable secret chamber within Qingxu Temple.
Daoist Xuanyuan, the Sect Leader of Qingxu Temple and a Core Formation Realm cultivator, was present. He had dismissed all other disciples, leaving only Su Ling'er behind.
"You have been a disciple of my sect for some time now. Do you know of the Guixi Sect, entrenched ninety miles to the east?"
"I have indeed heard of it."
It was a new sect that had risen to prominence in recent years. Rumor had it that they acted strangely, and their disciples' cultivation speed increased at an unbelievable rate. Even the nearby cultivation markets were filled with legends about the place.
The strange thing was, it seemed no one had ever actually seen the sect with their own eyes. The rumors appeared to have materialized out of thin air, and no one knew who started them.
'Perhaps they spread the rumors themselves to build a reputation? But a demonic sect wouldn't do that, would they?'
The Sect Leader of Qingxu Temple spoke in a low voice, "I suspect they are most likely the inheritors of some lost, ancient lineage of Evil Cultivators, now reappearing in the mortal world."
"Their Cultivation Techniques, their goals, their very nature—it's all a mystery. This is a sword hanging over the heads of us righteous sects."
Su Ling'er remained silent.
She knew the Sect Leader had an ulterior motive and wanted her to do something.
As expected, the Sect Leader's gaze shifted and refocused on Su Ling'er, his tone sharpening.
"Su Ling'er, your talent and constitution are of the lowest grade. You even have a Four-Element Pseudo Spirit Root of Metal, Wood, Water, and Earth."
"You entered my sect and have cultivated bitterly for three years, yet you are still only at the third level of Qi Refining. The Origin Dust you've condensed is the most inferior 'Dust Seal.' I'm afraid you have no hope of reaching Foundation Establishment in this lifetime."
A Dust Seal.
It was a mark that even mortals in secular kingdoms could condense after practicing from a rubbed copy of a fragment of the Primordial Dao Scripture—a version that had been altered countless times.
It was the lowest brand on the path of cultivation, a synonym for mediocrity and despair.
And she was just an outer disciple, unable to even enter the inner sect. On a normal day, she just did menial chores for the sect. Tasks like chopping wood and fetching water were all left to the outer disciples.
They performed this labor in exchange for the outer sect Heart Method of Qingxu Temple—which was merely a basic version derived from a fragment of the Primordial Dao Scripture, itself granted by a higher sect through the Sect Leader.
The voice of the Qingxu Temple Sect Leader rang out again, tinged with a hint of temptation.
"But now, you have an opportunity."
'Here it comes!'
Although her knowledge of demonic paths and Evil Cultivators came only from storybooks, the Sect Leader was still entrusting this heavy responsibility to her! This made Su Ling'er hold her breath.
"An opportunity to ascend to the heavens in a single step," the Sect Leader continued. "Infiltrate the Guixi Sect and become one of their disciples."
"No matter what methods you use, find out the truth about their Cultivation Techniques, find evidence that they are Evil Cultivators, and report everything you learn back to me."
The Sect Leader paused, then laid out his offer:
"Once this is done, not only will I make an exception and take you as my Direct Disciple, but I will also personally perform a Marrow Washing to reforge your constitution!"
"I, your master, would even be willing to shamelessly plead with the higher sect on your behalf. If I do, there might be a solution for your Spirit Root."
"I know you've always wanted Blood Coagulation Grass. Now is your chance. When this is over, it won't just be Blood Coagulation Grass; I, your master, can personally refine Blood Coagulation Pills and Dragon Tiger Elixirs for you."
"You would even be allowed to comprehend the transcribed copy of the Primordial Dao Scripture fragment that the higher sect bestowed upon our Qingxu Temple. I, your master, could even help you comprehend it and derive a Cultivation Technique suitable for you."
The Sect Leader stared into her eyes and said, word by word, "In the future, I can't promise the Fake Core Realm, but Foundation Establishment will be well within your grasp!"
Then, the Sect Leader of Qingxu Temple took an object from his robes.
It was made of antique bronze and shaped like a small, inverted bell. Inside, it housed an Insect Gu.
"Take good care of the flying insects in this Gu. If you are in the demonic sect and cannot send messages back to the sect via a transmission jade slip, you can use this Insect Gu to relay information."
"Remember, after being fed with essence blood, these flying insects can only survive for twenty-eight hours at most. The number of insects here should be enough for you."
"But you must remember, once fed, the flying insect must be sent out of the demonic sect within twenty-eight hours to deliver the message back to Qingxu Temple. I, your master, have high hopes for you. You must be extremely careful."
Su Ling'er carefully accepted the Insect Gu.
She recalled the Sect Leader's constantly furrowed brow of late, as well as the rumors that the higher sect, the Celestial Furnace Sect, was coming to collect its Tithing again.
'Is it perhaps because this year's tribute of Spirit Stones is insufficient?'
'Or perhaps he wants to use intelligence on the evil sect to trade for a bit of breathing room from the higher sect?'
'Or maybe he wants to uncover the secrets of this evil sect's Cultivation Techniques to achieve a rapid promotion?'
She didn't know, nor did she want to know too clearly. Knowing too much probably wouldn't do her any good.
And this was perhaps the only chance in her life to climb higher—the only chance she might have to continue pursuing the righteous path and the immortal way, to achieve Foundation Establishment and even higher realms.
She had to do it, even if it meant a one-in-ten chance of survival!
"Thank you, Sect Leader. I am willing to go!"
After the Sect Leader carefully instructed her on a few more matters, Su Ling'er rose and left.
Just as she was leaving the room, another outer disciple like herself was called inside. But she didn't linger, thinking only of completing her mission as quickly as possible so she could continue her pursuit of the immortal way.
...
The memory abruptly faded, and the terrifying mountain gate before her came back into focus.
Su Ling'er took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil in her heart.
'I'm doing this to uphold the righteous path! And for myself, so I can reach Foundation Establishment and take another step on the path to immortality!'
She no longer hesitated. Darting out from behind the rock, she walked toward the terrifying mountain gate.
The closer she got, the heavier the oppressive feeling became.
Finally, she stepped through the mountain gate.
Suddenly, the surrounding scenery changed in an instant!
With just a single step, Su Ling'er seemed to have entered another world!
'What's happening?'
Inside the gate was nothing like the gloomy demonic den she had imagined. Compared to the outside, this place was practically an Immortal Realm. A carpet of green grass spread out, dewdrops clung to the tips of leaves, and the flowers by the entrance tinged the air with a hint of warmth.
'How is this possible?'
The mountain outside was practically dead—you couldn't even find a stray weed. Yet just one step inside the gate, the difference was like night and day! In contrast to the outside, the inside could truly be called an Immortal Realm.
Su Ling'er's mind went a little blank. A thought popped into her head:
'Did I fall for some kind of Illusion Technique? Am I in an illusion?'
'It's possible!'
As if guided by a phantom, she took a step back.
WHOOSH.
The Immortal Realm before her vanished, and her surroundings returned to their dilapidated state.
Su Ling'er froze.
She cautiously extended a foot back inside. The moment it crossed the threshold, it felt as though life force enveloped it once more, yet her other foot and the rest of her body remained in the dilapidated world.
This schism—half Immortal Realm, half dead land—made her head spin.
Then, she started doing something very strange.
She first stuck her left foot in, then pulled it back.
Right foot in, right foot out.
Left foot in, right foot in, left foot out, right foot out...
It was as if her mind had been captivated by the threshold, and she just kept going back and forth, in and out. With her movements, the scene before her constantly switched between the Immortal Realm and the dead land.
'What kind of terrifying Array is this? Could it be the legendary Sumeru Mustard Seed Skill?'
'No!'
Su Ling'er stopped her foolish actions and stood frozen before the gate.
A thought instantly surfaced in her mind:
'This must be the work of an Evil Cultivator! This is an evil array that leeches life force from the outside world!'
'The Guixi Sect has used some evil technique I've never seen before to plunder all the life force from this mountain peak, hoarding it within their own sect!'
'They've turned the outside world into a barren wasteland just to irrigate their own garden!'
'So that's how it is!'
'What a wicked and vicious act!'
'The storybooks were right after all! Damn these vile heretics! They deserve to be slain by all!'
Just as she was reeling from the shock, a voice came from ahead.
"You're here?"
Su Ling'er's body stiffened, and she snapped her head up.
She saw a tall, straight-backed young man in black robes walking toward her with a smile.
Lin Qingfeng looked at this junior sister, his heart blooming with joy.
'Our sect finally has its first native NPC!!!'