Chapter Seven: The Jade-Iron Sect

More than half an hour later, Li Mu returned to the building.

He entered a room and lay down slowly. The conversation with Sun Qi had clarified many things for him.

In the world of cultivation, cultivators were plentiful, and obtaining cultivation techniques was not particularly difficult. In Deyang City, possessing spirit crystals made it easy enough to acquire rudimentary methods for cultivation.

Once a cultivation technique was obtained, one could follow its instructions to guide the ambient spiritual energy into the body, transforming it into true force. The body would then automatically open a reservoir to store this energy, marking the first step in cultivation and achieving the Condensation Phase.

It sounded simple, but not everyone could open their own reservoir.

True force was an extremely volatile power, and only the reservoir could contain it. If the body failed to create this reservoir and yet generated true force, the result would be a swift and fatal internal explosion.

Li San, his predecessor, was a clear example of this.

Yet whether someone could open a reservoir was impossible for others to determine, and even for oneself, it was difficult to assess. Only certain specialized tests could reveal this, and such methods were possessed by only a few sects. The cost of testing was high—one hundred lower-grade spirit crystals.

However, if the test proved successful, the sect would accept the candidate, and the cost would be refunded.

A hundred lower-grade spirit crystals equated to ten thousand taels of gold.

Those unable to afford such a fee, even if they had the talent to generate a reservoir, found cultivation nearly impossible.

There was, of course, the option of bypassing the test and embarking on cultivation directly, betting everything on a single chance. Fate and the gods rarely showed mercy; most ended in death. There were a few exceptions, such as Sun Qi. He pursued cultivation only to earn money for his brother’s medical treatment, caring nothing for himself, but fortunately, he succeeded.

Li Mu, however, had ample resources and need not take such risks. Thus, he intended to seek out a sect and undergo the talent test.

If successful, all would be well. But if he failed to open a reservoir, it would not mean cultivation was impossible.

According to Sun Qi, there existed a pill called the Unity-Clearing Pill, which could generate a reservoir upon consumption. The price of such a pill was, of course, terrifying—Sun Qi could not fathom it—but Li Mu, recalling the mystical tower in his mind, felt it would not be so difficult for him.

“Not so easy, but not so hard either. As long as a few things can be done, everything can be achieved,” Li Mu murmured, satisfaction spreading across his face as he slowly drifted into sleep.

It was the most comfortable night Li Mu had enjoyed since crossing over.

Before dawn, he awoke, and the surroundings were tranquil.

The mystical tower still shone with its yellow light.

Li Mu examined it carefully, then inserted a lens by his side.

The notification sounded quickly, “This item is a basic material and can be refined. Select a refinement method.”

He glanced at the furnace and the melting option, focusing his mind on the indistinct third layer of the mystical tower.

“According to cultivation restrictions, the third layer’s functions are not yet released. Owners are encouraged to increase their cultivation. Note: Layers three and four require the Condensation Phase, layers five and six require the Foundational Spirit Phase, the seventh layer requires the Core Formation Phase. Once the seventh layer is fully unlocked, advancement requirements must be met to ascend further.”

Li Mu understood now—the functions of the mystical tower were unlocked according to one's cultivation stage. To use most features, he would need to reach the Core Formation Phase, after which further ascension would demand even greater cultivation.

From yesterday’s information, the Core Formation Phase was the fourth stage for cultivators, and it appeared he still had a long road ahead.

The first layer’s abilities were already formidable; the later functions would surely be far more powerful, though he could not access them yet.

Li Mu felt a twinge of regret, shook his head, and withdrew the lens.

The lens was the basic material for refining copper essence in the furnace, and consuming too much of the tower’s value would not be wise.

“Brother Mu!”

A call came from outside the building—it was Sun Qi. As agreed yesterday, Li Mu planned to employ him for several days, so Sun Qi waited at the door early in the morning.

“I’m here.”

Li Mu took out a multicolored stone, about the size of a pigeon egg, and placed it in his pouch, then hurried downstairs.

Before leaving, he left his surplus spirit crystals at home. Though Li Si was young, he possessed a steadiness beyond his years. With him watching over his younger sister, Li Mu could rest easy.

The task he intended to accomplish today was fraught with danger and crucial—it would determine their future.

Sun Qi greeted him with a joyful face. Yesterday, Li Mu had given him six lower-grade spirit crystals, his first real reward since becoming a cultivator, and the generosity moved him deeply.

Li Mu smiled. “Sun Qi, take me to the Jade-Iron Sect.”

The Jade-Iron Sect was one of the top sects in the Cloud Mountain Realm, holding a prestigious position—even the lord of Deyang City was a senior member of the sect.

“Oh, this is only a branch of the Jade-Iron Sect, but they do have methods for testing cultivation talent,” Sun Qi replied, leading the way.

The sect’s branch was beside the city lord’s mansion, in the city, with a spacious area paved with white stones.

On the broad grounds, people passed by from time to time, speaking in low voices—loud speech was forbidden.

At the far end stood a tall, circular tower. Outside its entrance, a cultivator in blue robes sat cross-legged. Most of the time, his eyes were shut, but when he occasionally opened them, everyone on the grounds felt a heavy pressure, enough to startle the heart.

Sun Qi pointed to the white circular tower. “That’s the place, Brother Mu.”

Li Mu nodded. “Wait for me here—I’ll go in alone.”

Sun Qi stepped aside, “Let me remind you, Brother Mu—don’t cause trouble, don’t raise your voice. The rules here are strict.”

Li Mu laughed, “That’s easy enough.”

Li Mu crossed the grounds, heading straight for the Jade-Iron Sect branch.

As he approached the entrance, the blue-robed cultivator suddenly opened his eyes, and the oppressive force hit Li Mu, making him shudder and halt his steps.

The cultivator’s gaze swept around before settling on the pouch slung across Li Mu’s back, registering surprise.

“Immortal master, is there something you require?” Li Mu stood up straight and offered a respectful salute.

The blue-robed cultivator’s face was unremarkable, easily lost in a crowd, but now his expression grew intense. “You’re just a commoner—what are you doing here?”

Li Mu smiled lightly, “I’ve come to test my talent.”

“The testing fee is expensive. How could a commoner in old clothes afford it?” The blue-robed cultivator spoke slowly, his tone indifferent, forcibly masking his expression.

Li Mu kept smiling, gazing calmly at the cultivator, saying nothing.

After a pause, the blue-robed cultivator finally couldn’t resist, “I see you have an ordinary jade piece in your pouch. It’s useless to you. If you give it to me, I can waive your testing fee.”

He had anticipated this.

Li Mu shook his head coolly. “This multicolored stone—I brought it here to hand over to the Jade-Iron Sect, but not to you.”

What a joke—top-grade multicolored stones, for a mere testing fee?

Li Mu had no intention of indulging him.

“Hmph, you have guts.”

The blue-robed cultivator’s eyes flashed like lightning, cold gleams flickering as a murderous aura surged. “If you refuse, you won’t enter this door.”

A sudden gale of pressure struck, forcing Li Mu to retreat, swept along by a wave of cold—temperatures seemed to plummet.

It felt like being sliced by countless blades at once, pain searing to the bone.

Yet Li Mu managed to withstand it, even striving to move forward, a trace of contempt curling his lips.

He’d anticipated such a scenario when he retrieved the multicolored stone from the mystical tower. He could not hide the stone within the tower and retrieve it only after entering; that would only make matters worse and lead to irreparable consequences.

Faced with this situation, Li Mu was convinced—if he could endure, a turning point would surely come.