The Path to Immortality Begins as a Sect's Menial Servant

The three continued their small gathering in the pavilion by Moon Lake.

Li An finally pieced together what had happened.

Two months ago, after a quiet period, the Spirit Beast Mountain Range erupted. Beasts seemed to go mad, rushing out and affecting various parts of the Clear Sun Sect.

The sect issued many missions, ordering disciples to clear out the surrounding beasts.

But this beast tide was unusual. One or two Second Rank beasts even appeared, causing significant losses to the sect.

Wang Dazhu and Zhao Xianchuan had been on a mission when they encountered a Seventh Layer Qi Refining beast. Their ten-person team had only four survivors!

“I heard rumors that this beast tide might be linked to the Hundred Beasts Sect…” Zhao Xianchuan said, his right arm bandaged and head wrapped, looking miserable. “My family sent word that a Mid Grade Spirit Mine was found in Sui State. All the major sects are fighting over it…”

The Clear Sun Sect wasn’t the only sect in the Grand Dawn Dynasty. In the Southern Domain alone, the Hundred Beasts Sect and Divine Sword Sect were two other Core Formation-level powers.

They competed fiercely.

Li An’s heart tightened. A Mid Grade Spirit Mine produced Mid Grade Spirit Stones, incredibly rare. Even a sect like Clear Sun would covet it!

The rumor seemed plausible. The Hundred Beasts Sect stirring a beast tide to tie up Clear Sun made sense.

But Li An grew more uneasy. According to Wang Dazhu and Zhao Xianchuan, many outer sect industries and halls had been hit, yet Spirit Plant Mountain remained untouched?

That wasn’t normal!

“The sect’s on high alert. All registered disciples have assigned guard zones. If we weren’t still recovering, we’d probably be on the front lines…” Wang Dazhu added.

“Guard zones? Which ones?” Li An asked, focused.

“All sorts. The sect’s three outer markets, several iron mines…” Wang Dazhu listed them.

Li An’s heart sank. The iron mines and three markets were vulnerable outer areas.

But no mention of Spirit Plant Mountain?!

Did the sect think it unimportant, leaving it unguarded?

No, Xu Qiuhui’s warning proved the sect’s leaders knew Spirit Plant Mountain was at risk.

They knew, yet did nothing…

Unless it was a trap to lure the enemy!

Li An’s mind raced.

The sect’s higher-ups might be using Spirit Plant Mountain as bait to draw out the enemy.

His past life’s experience with deception made this seem likely.

Xu Qiuhui and other elite disciples might already be waiting in secret.

This trip was worth it.

“Brother An, what brought you here?” Wang Dazhu asked.

“I came to sell some talismans.”

Li An pulled out nine Spirit Gathering Talismans.

“Brother An, you’re a talisman master?!” Wang Dazhu was thrilled.

“Not yet, but my success rate’s close.”

Zhao Xianchuan was stunned, a mix of emotions in his eyes.

In two years, Li An had healed his spirit root and was on track to become a talisman master…

Meanwhile, Zhao Xianchuan had hit rock bottom, losing his official disciple status, now on the same level as Wang Dazhu.

A pang of bitterness hit him, but he hid it. “Congrats, Brother Li! How about this? I’ll buy all these talismans.”

He handed Li An four spirit stones.

“Market price is only three,” Li An said with a smile.

“The extra one’s a gift to celebrate, Brother Li. Don’t refuse—being a talisman master early on burns money.”

After his ups and downs, Zhao Xianchuan’s attitude had shifted. He no longer looked down on Li An but sought to build a connection.

“Right, I’m so dumb! Brother An, I’ll give you a gift too!” Wang Dazhu grinned, pulling out two spirit stones to shove at Li An.

Li An wanted to refuse, but he was broke. “Alright, I’ll treat it as a loan.”

…

Before leaving, Li An visited the sect’s exchange hall. He changed his mind about buying a new talisman brush and looked at tools instead.

“Eight-Faced Umbrella, Low Grade First Rank, blocks Third Layer Qi Refining attacks, effective against hidden weapons. Fifteen spirit stones or 150 contribution points!”

“Blaze Sting Blade, Mid Grade First Rank, carries flames on attack. Forty spirit stones or 400 contribution points.”

Li An scanned the options. Everything he liked was out of reach!

“Hm?” His gaze landed on a dagger.

“Star Glow Dagger, forged from Star Glow Iron scraps. Sharp and sturdy. Eight spirit stones or 80 contribution points.”

Star Glow Iron, with Star Glow patterns, was a Second Rank crafting material.

But scraps were near useless. The dagger carried no magical power and was too short, so despite its low price, no one wanted it.

Its only perk was unmatched sharpness and durability, surpassing other First Rank Tools.

Li An hesitated, then gritted his teeth and bought it.

“No surprise for a menial. No taste, buying a useless Star Glow Dagger…” The exchange hall deacon shook his head but took the stones and handed it over.

Li An browsed the outer stalls by the exchange hall.

Unlike the neatly displayed, pricey items inside, these stalls held defective goods.

Half-tools, ungraded Mixed Spirit Pills, all piled messily.

Li An sifted through the Mixed Spirit Pills, picking three dark ones.

“These are from failed Water Essence Pill refining. Heavy pill poison!” the deacon warned.

Li An smiled inwardly. He wanted the poison—the heavier, the better!

But he said nervously, “Thank you, Immortal. My Cloud and Rain Technique’s stuck… I can only afford Mixed Spirit Pills to try breaking through.”

The excuse made sense.

…

Leaving the exchange hall, Li An sighed. “Broke again.”

His months of saved spirit stones, plus Wang Dazhu and Zhao Xianchuan’s, were gone—not even a speck of spirit dust left!

But feeling the Star Glow Dagger’s weight, he had no regrets.

Spending to survive was worth it.

Tucking the dagger close, he headed to Spirit Plant Mountain.

…

Evening fell, the sun setting.

Li An returned late, having analyzed the terrain on his way back from the outer sect.

If enemies invaded Spirit Plant Mountain, where would the Clear Sun Sect surround them?

He concluded the sect wouldn’t strike when enemies appeared but would let them pass Spirit Plant Mountain, nearing the sect’s core.

Only then would they close the trap, wiping out the invaders.

That meant Spirit Plant Mountain would likely be abandoned.

Li An almost didn’t want to return—running away seemed better…

But that was wishful thinking. With the sect on high alert, where could he go?

…

At the base of Spirit Plant Mountain, he saw Fan Jie, Zhang Susu, and Wang Zilin gathered around a tiger’s corpse.

“This tiger came from the forest. We need someone to stand guard there,” Fan Jie said gravely, eyeing Li An. “Li An, you’re the strongest. You go.”

Li An’s face shifted slightly.

This tough job shouldn’t fall to him.

Fan Jie could easily pick Wang Zilin, who was simpler to control. Why risk upsetting Li An, a future talisman master?

Unless Fan Jie knew Li An would die out there.

Fan Jie likely wanted him dead, as Li An’s potential to become a registered disciple was the only threat to his secrets on Spirit Plant Mountain.

Unlike Zhang Susu and Wang Zilin, who were easy to handle.

Did Fan Jie know the sect’s plan?

He was using this to kill Li An cleanly.

Li An was surprised. Even Zhao Xianchuan and Wang Dazhu knew nothing, yet Fan Jie, a frontline grunt, was in the loop? Did he have another source?

Li An hesitated. “Immortal, I’m a bit scared to go alone…”

Fan Jie said coolly, “Then Wang Zilin goes with you.”

Li An looked reluctant. “Alright.”

Wang Zilin’s face fell. He had to guard the night with this bloodsucker Li An?

He was beyond unwilling!

Seeing Li An agree, Fan Jie gave a sly smile.

…

Before full dark, under Fan Jie’s urging, Li An led Wang Zilin to the forest.

As night fell, they worked together to build a shelter from branches.

Wang Zilin wanted it bigger, but Li An kept it low and small, barely noticeable in the dense forest unless closely inspected.

They squeezed into the tight shelter.

The forest was dead quiet, with occasional distant bird calls and eerie tree shadows.

“Li An, should we light a fire? What if beasts sneak up on us at night…” Wang Zilin said nervously, still shaken by the tiger that had reached the fields.

At only the First Layer of Qi Refining, with just the Cloud and Rain Technique and a broken leg from Fan Jie’s beating, he’d be done against a tiger.

“No fire!” Li An said firmly.

A fire might scare off normal beasts but would make them a target for spirit beasts or hidden enemies.

Wang Zilin didn’t argue. After two years of hardship, his initial spirit was gone, replaced by meekness and fear.

Li An fingered the three dark Mixed Spirit Pills, his eyes narrowing…

Fan Jie had shown his hand, aiming to kill him. Between the grudge of blocking his path and this life-or-death hatred, Li An wouldn’t let it slide!

…

(Chapter End)