Entry: I Secretly Cultivate Immortality in the Martial Arts World

8: Chapter 8, Ninth Level of Qi Refining!Time flew by, and another half a year passed in the blink of an eye.

Gu Yan sat cross-legged in his room, his aura completely transformed.

All the Internal Energy flowing through his martial Acupoints had been entirely replaced by more refined spiritual energy.

With a slight movement of his mind, the interface appeared:

【 Gu Yan 】

【 Lifespan: 22 / 200 】

【 Realm: Ninth Level of Qi Refining 】

【 Trait: Five Elements Spiritual Body · Orange 】

【 Cultivation Technique: 《 Taiyi Dao De True Scripture · First Transformation Chapter 》, 《 The Flowing Light Splitting Shadow Sword 》 】

Two years, and he had reached the Ninth Level of Qi Refining!

This speed was not just absurd in this world where martial arts reigned supreme; even in the cultivation novels Gu Yan had read in his past life, it was unfathomable.

”Orange-tier trait, it is truly terrifying...” he whispered to himself, unable to stop himself from speculating.

Above the orange-tier trait were gold and red... What kind of overpowered effects would those have?

Marveling was one thing, but right now, his spiritual energy filled the nine orifices, reaching the absolute limit of his current first-transformation martial Cultivation Technique.

Where was the path forward? The answer was clear: The Second Transformation Chapter of the Grand Unity of Morality Sutra.

He had relied on the first-transformation martial technique to strike from the side, figuring out the method to replace Internal Energy with spiritual energy, and had stubbornly pushed his way to the Ninth Level of Qi Refining.

To go further, he absolutely needed the guidance of an authentic Immortal Dao cultivation method.

Although the Sect’s second-transformation technique was still within the martial arts framework, its essence might carve out a glimmer of light for a rogue cultivator like him.

It was time to enter the Inner Sect.

The next day, at the Grade C Herb Garden.

Gu Yan went about his usual duties meticulously, just as he always did.

Elder Xuan Qing had not yet returned from his trip, so Old Chen was still responsible for the garden’s affairs.

In the afternoon, Gu Yan found Old Chen resting under a shed and directly stated his wish to resign from his position at the herb garden.

Old Chen’s cattail fan paused, and his face was full of confusion and urgency: ”Little Yan, have you lost your mind? This job is leisurely and stable; so many Outer Sect Disciples beg for it but cannot get it! You are still young; could it be that you find it boring?”

Gu Yan bowed: ”Gu Yan will always remember Old Chen’s years of care. It is not that I dislike it, but rather...”

”This Junior has been fortunate enough to break through to the Late Stage of the first martial transformation recently. My Internal Energy fills the nine Acupoints, and according to Sect rules, I can apply to enter the Inner Sect to Cultivate.”

”Late Stage of the first transformation?!” Old Chen stood up abruptly, his cloudy eyes wide open.

He looked Gu Yan up and down carefully, as if truly seeing the young man he had watched grow up for the first time.

”You... How did you advance so quickly?”

Gu Yan had already prepared his speech, and his face appropriately revealed a bit of confusion and emotion:

”I dare not hide it from you, Old Chen. A few months ago, in a dream, I saw a hazy figure, seemingly Immortal and illusory, demonstrating a Cultivation Technique to me. After waking up, I felt my mind was clear, and many previously stagnant points had suddenly become clear. Cultivation became twice as effective with half the effort... I do not know if it was a stroke of luck or if an Immortal truly enlightened me.”

Old Chen listened, half-believing, his lips twitching a few times, but in the end, he did not press further.

He knew that Gu Yan’s parents had passed away early and his background was pitiful; perhaps he really did have some indescribable destiny.

Finally, he just patted Gu Yan’s shoulder heavily and sighed: ”Good, very good! If your parents knew about this, they would be comforted. Go, the Inner Sect world is vast; go and make a name for yourself!”

Bidding farewell to Old Chen, Gu Yan felt no lingering sorrow.

He was not a sentimental person, and for the past twenty years in the Outer Sect of Qingyun Peak, he had mostly cultivated alone.

The next day, he packed his simple belongings.

It was nothing more than a few old clothes and a meager amount of savings, and he headed straight to the Dengxiao Hall, where the Outer Sect deacons were located.

The deacon in charge of testing was a fair-skinned middle-aged man.

He checked the identity token, verified the records, and confirmed his background was clean.

He tested his bone age: twenty-one years old.

Finally, he verified his cultivation level. Gu Yan activated the spiritual energy that he had disguised perfectly to simulate the fluctuations of martial Internal Energy, easily passing the test.

”Bone age twenty-one, Late Stage of first martial transformation, complies with Sect rules.” The deacon finished registering, looked up at Gu Yan, and a trace of surprise flashed in his eyes.

Such a young Late Stage first-transformation cultivator was rare in the Outer Sect. Even more rare was that his aura was steady, his eyes were clear, and he lacked any arrogance or impatience.

His mind raced, and a smile appeared on his face: ”Junior Brother Gu is indeed a promising youth.”

”According to the rules, a mountain-patrolling Disciple should lead you into the Inner Sect, but since I have nothing to do today, I will personally send you off.”

”My surname is Zhao, and I am an Outer Sect Deacon Elder, with Early Stage second-transformation martial cultivation.”

Gu Yan knew that Elder Zhao intended to build a good relationship, so he did not refuse and calmly saluted: ”Thank you, Elder Zhao.”

On the way to the Inner Sect, Elder Zhao was quite enthusiastic, pointing out the layout to Gu Yan.

”See those peaks shrouded in clouds and mist in the distance?”

”That is the foundation of the various lineages of our Taiyi Dao Sect.”

”The Xuanji lineage, which specializes in Talismans and Formations, is on that Cloud Mist Peak to the north.”

”The Qijian lineage, which has the strongest offensive power, occupies the Sword Perching Peak to the east, and its Disciples often spar at the Sword Discussion Platform.”

”As for the Baicao lineage, which studies the Dao of alchemy, they are on Danxia Peak to the west, and their Alchemy Pavilion stores many precious classics.”

As they spoke, the two moved very quickly.

Elder Zhao used light-body techniques, his movements elegant.

Gu Yan remained calm, slightly channeling his spiritual energy to his feet; although his steps looked ordinary, his speed did not lag behind at all.

This caused Elder Zhao to think even higher of him.

About an hour later, the two passed through a mountain gate boundary marker shrouded in clouds and mist, and the scenery before them suddenly opened up.

They saw peaks competing in beauty in the distance, surrounded by clouds and mist, with pavilions and towers built into the mountains.

Nearby, a wide bluestone road extended forward, and a bustling market had actually formed along the road, with neat houses and a dense flow of people.

There were Disciples setting up stalls to trade herbs and weapons, halls hanging mission bounties, and even deacon pavilions specifically for distributing monthly stipends...

Amidst the noise, there was a sense of prosperity and substance.

This was completely different from the place of quiet cultivation with a larger scale and fewer people that Gu Yan had imagined.

For the first twenty years, he had almost stayed in a corner of Qingyun Peak, burying himself in hard cultivation. He not only knew little about the outside world but also knew little about the Inner Sect of the Taiyi Dao Sect.

Seeing it with his own eyes now, he was suddenly shocked to realize that he might have greatly underestimated the true heritage of the Taiyi Dao Sect, which dominated the region.

”Haha, everyone is stunned by this scene the first time they come here.” Elder Zhao laughed with some pride.

”This is Changqing Workshop at the foot of the Inner Sect, where Disciples trade, accept missions, and collect supplies.”

”Further up are the spiritual peaks and blessed lands occupied by the various lineages.”

”Let’s go, I will take you to the Registry Hall first to change your identity token and collect your items.”

At the Registry Hall, Gu Yan returned his Outer Sect Disciple token and exchanged it for an Inner Sect Black Iron Token, which had better quality and more complex patterns.

Along with two sets of exquisitely crafted black Inner Sect Disciple robes.

Most importantly, he got his wish and received the cultivation book containing 《 The Second Transformation Chapter of the Grand Unity of Morality Sutra 》.

In addition, Inner Sect Disciples’ food and lodging were provided by the Sect, and they lived in uniformly arranged Disciple quarters.

If one wanted to have a quieter, independent courtyard, one needed to spend contribution points to exchange for it.

After all, although the Inner Sect territory was vast, well-located residences were equally scarce.

As for master-Disciple inheritance, the Inner Sect was quite different from what the outside world imagined.

There was no rule that one had to take a master upon entry. Instead, the Sect would hold major lectures at the Preaching Pavilion at the foot of the mountain every seven days, where Elders from various lineages would take turns to lecture, and all Inner Sect Disciples could attend.

This was the greatest Opportunity for newly promoted Inner Sect Disciples to receive guidance and demonstrate their Aptitude.

If one could show outstanding comprehension during the lectures or perform amazingly in Sect trials, and be noticed by an Elder, it was possible to be accepted as a direct Disciple.

Hearing this, Gu Yan’s expression was calm, but a faint thought flashed through his mind.

He had originally thought that, according to common tropes, he would at least be assigned a master upon entering the Inner Sect.

He didn’t expect it to still be a ”free-range” strategy where cultivation depended on oneself; if he wanted a master, he had to work hard to show his face.

However, this also aligned with his consistent understanding of the Taiyi Dao Sect.

And this was exactly what he wanted.

What he needed right now was not personal guidance from a famous teacher.

It was the 《 The Second Transformation Chapter of the Grand Unity of Morality Sutra 》 as a key reference for deducing his subsequent Immortal Dao path.

After sending Gu Yan to the Disciple quarters area, Elder Zhao said goodbye and left.

Gu Yan found his own simple quiet room, closed the door, sat cross-legged, and his eyes fell on the book in his hand.

”《 The Second Transformation Chapter of the Grand Unity of Morality Sutra 》... Let me see if this second-transformation martial arts method can point the way to Foundation Establishment for a cultivator like me at the Ninth Level of Qi Refining.”