Forging Immortality through the Dao Seed

The man held out his hands, showing a hint of helplessness in his eyes, and then continued:

"I'm not trying to discourage you, Junior Brother, but there are twenty-nine Grade-B talents among you just in this assessment. If we didn't provide you with the Spirit Pill and cultivation rooms for your cultivation practice, you might not even make it into the top twenty and get the reward of twenty Tao Merits per month during the first year."

"You need to consider everything when determining gain and loss."

Seeing Zhang Jing's expression remain unchanged, the man continued:

"Junior Brother, our Hundred River Squad is among the top thirty-four teams in the Outer Academy. We have five Junior Brothers in the middle stage of the Refining Qi Realm and one in the late stage. We can provide safety and a lot of Tao Merits when it comes to suppressing demons."

"Do you know how many disciples in the Outer Academy are banging their heads trying to join us and can't get in?"

"Only because you have obtained a Grade-B evaluation, we have actively invited you."

Zhang Jing still remained silent, as if weighing something in his mind.

Finally, he looked at the man across from him and said, smiling:

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother, but I still believe that being cautious is wise."

Hearing his words, the man didn't waste any more time; he rose to leave, saying in a casual tone: "Since Junior Brother insists, then I will not say more."

"Even if you don't rank in the top twenty in this assessment, my commitment still holds."

"Thank you, Senior Brother, for your support," responded Zhang Jing.

"I'll take my leave then, so as not to disturb you."

With that, the man rose and walked away, his eyes reflecting a trace of wistfulness.

Despite being turned down, there was no agitation in his heart.

In this junior brother, he saw his own younger self.

But-it's not easy to get into the top ten squads.

Anyway, like what he had said just now, judging by his standards, this junior brother might have had a slim chance of getting into the top ten in previous years, but this year...

Difficult! Difficult! Difficult!

Behind him.

Standing at the door of his small courtyard, Zhang Jing slowly shut the door after watching the departing senior brother, a complex look flashing across his eyes.

"Sigh, that's the third one already. Presumably, the others are in a similar situation, if not worse."

To be honest.

Zhang Jing had almost agreed to him just now.

The offers from the three previous groups were all less generous than this senior brother's, but unfortunately…Zhang Jing couldn't entirely accept the conditions on offer.

This especially applied to one specific requirement: newcomers had to give thirty percent of the Tao Merits they earned to the Hundred River Squad for the first five years after joining!

Similar conditions had been proposed by all three squads that had approached Zhang Jing.

However, from their words, Zhang Jing could infer that probably only the squads ranked in the top ten didn't require this kind of 'tribute'.

Which meant... this was an unwritten rule.

Unless you're strong enough!

Zhang Jing couldn't help falling into deep thought.

The role of the [Phantom Sea Dragon Swallowing Void Taoism Rhyme·Incomplete] in swallowing and gathering Spiritual Energy during cultivation had been fully demonstrated. And according to Zhang Jing's perception, the power of Taoism Rhyme hasn't been fully revealed yet.

And that can only happen when he officially steps into the Refining Qi Realm.

Moreover, this is only an incomplete Taoism Rhyme!

So, whether it's for the sake of reaching the highest level of cultivational compatibility, or to complete the terrifying [Phantom Sea Dragon Swallowing Void Taoism Rhyme], the Superior Dharma Door, Sea Dragon Absorbing Void True Method, is vital for Zhang Jing.

The only thing that's uncertain is his speed at earning Tao Merits.

Under these circumstances, Zhang Jing, of course, could not accept the harsh condition of sharing thirty percent of his earned Tao Merits, especially as this would last five years.

Even if he knows that having a powerful squad as a platform would only increase his Tao Merits.

Unless —— he joins a squad ranked within the top ten!

There's no division of Tao Merits, and the provided platform is even wider. Naturally, there will be more opportunities to earn Tao Merits.

"So, there's one more reason to strive for a ranking in the top ten in the assessment?"

Thinking about this.

Zhang Jing felt enormously pressured.

The competition was already fierce, and now there are countless squad members on the field, desperately recruiting all sorts of talents, flinging Spirit Pills around as if they were free.

No one knows how many monsters will appear at the final moment.

Luckily ——

In this era, who isn't a monster?

The Visualization Method manifests gradually.

[Five Elements Water Induction Method · Basic Level (29/70)]

[Pure Yuan Breath Visualization Method · Level One (33/100)]

With almost twenty days left, Zhang Jing is confident to progress both the [Five Elements Water Induction Method] and the [Pure Yuan Breath Visualization Method] to the second level.

What does it matter if others enter the Refining Qi Realm first?

...

Quiet meditation.

Breathing slows down.

A spiritual eye gradually opens.

In the quiet cultivation room, the grinding sounds of scales are incessant, occasionally accompanied by quiet, ghostly roars of the sea dragon.

The Phantom Sea Dragon Swallowing Void Taoism Rhyme silently spreads, stimulating the spiritual energy around, which then quickly converges in the cultivation room.

The sound of swallowing resonates.

"Senior Brother, I forgot to tell you one thing, wherever I am, becomes a cultivation room." Zhang Jing murmurs, his eyes as serene as an old well.

If the Taoism Rhyme were complete, would my place become a Cave Heaven? And what's beyond that? A Blessed Land?"

...

...

Four days passed in no time.

The small courtyard hidden in the jungle was gathering more people.

In a quiet corner.

"Brother Zhang, here lies Wu Mingyuan's small courtyard. That guy didn't even dare to show up after he got here. He's clearly scared that I'll be asking for the Spirit Stone," said another student.