The Lingxi Sect was located on Donglin Continent, specifically at a tributary of the great Tongtian River, spreading across its north and south banks. It had a history of over ten thousand years and was revered and feared by all around.
Eight towering peaks shrouded in clouds and mist stood majestically over the Tongtian River. Four peaks on the north bank, three on the south, and the eighth and largest peak stood on the river itself.
From its midpoint, the peak was covered in snow, its summit invisible, while the base was hollowed out to let the golden river rush through like a mountain bridge.
At that moment, a rainbow of light sped to the southern bank of the sect. Inside the rainbow were Li Qinghou carrying Bai Xiaochun, whose screams of terror still echoed.
Bai Xiaochun was terrified. He had seen countless mountains while flying and nearly lost his grip several times.
Suddenly, the light blinded him. When his vision cleared, he was standing before a building unlike anything in his village. A large stone stood beside the building, inscribed in majestic script:
*Service Area*
Next to the stone sat a woman with a pockmarked face. Upon seeing Li Qinghou, she immediately stood and greeted him respectfully.
Li Qinghou said:
"Take this boy to the Fire Kitchen."
Then he left directly, ignoring Bai Xiaochun.
The woman froze at the words "Fire Kitchen," glanced at Bai Xiaochun, handed him a service apprentice's cloth bag expressionlessly, and silently led him out.
Along the way, they passed through beautiful gardens, countless buildings, stone-paved paths, and fragrant flowers. Everything seemed like paradise, and Bai Xiaochun's heart fluttered with admiration, easing his anxiety.
He said happily:
"What a great place! So much better than my village!"
With each step, his admiration grew, especially when he saw some beautiful women passing by, which made him like this place even more.
After a short while, his joy increased when he saw a seven-story pavilion, crystal clear, with cranes flying in the sky.
He eagerly asked the woman:
"Sister, have we arrived?"
She replied blankly, pointing to a side path:
"Yes, over there."
He looked where she pointed and froze, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.
The path was cracked and broken, surrounded by dilapidated huts about to collapse, and a foul smell emanated from there.
He asked pleadingly:
"Did you point to the wrong place?"
She said coldly:
"No."
She led the way down the path, and Bai Xiaochun followed with a grim face.
At the end of the path, he saw some huge black cauldrons moving around. Under each cauldron was a very fat man whose flesh trembled like waves. The fattest one looked like a mountain of flesh, making Bai Xiaochun worry it might burst.
These fat men were adding water and rice to the cauldrons.
When they noticed the woman, the meat mountain ran over excitedly, shaking the ground, fat quivering.
He shouted:
"This morning I heard magpies chirping. Could it be sister has finally reconsidered and decided to be my spiritual partner?"
The woman's face darkened with anger, and she hurriedly retreated, saying:
"I brought this boy to the Fire Kitchen. Farewell!"
Bai Xiaochun gasped. He had been watching the woman all along; her looks were stunning. But this fat man's taste? How could he behave so lecherously?
Before he finished thinking, the meat mountain appeared in front of him, blocking the sunlight, casting a shadow over Bai Xiaochun.
He swallowed hard, seeing the huge trembling body.
The meat mountain looked sadly away from the woman and then glanced at Bai Xiaochun.
"Hey, a newcomer? To have pushed out Xu Baocai's spot is impressive."
Bai Xiaochun said nervously:
"I'm... Bai Xiaochun..." and took a few steps back under the pressure of the fat man's imposing figure.
"Bai Xiaochun? Hmm… fair skin, petite, quite pure-looking. Nice, your name suits my taste," said the meat mountain, clapping Bai Xiaochun's shoulder with such force he nearly fell.
"May I know your name, brother?" Bai Xiaochun sucked in his breath and rolled his eyes, inwardly thinking about making fun of the name.
"I'm Zhang Dabang. That's Huang Erbang, and that's Hei Sanbang…" The meat mountain chuckled.
Hearing these names, Bai Xiaochun decided not to joke further.
"Since you're the ninth junior brother now, you're one of us. We have a tradition of carrying pots on our backs. See that pot behind me? It's the king of pots, made of iron essence, engraved with an earth fire formation. Rice cooked in it tastes far better than normal pots. You have to choose one and carry it on your back—it's our pride," Zhang Dabang said proudly, patting the big black pot behind him.
"Brother, can I skip carrying the pot?" Bai Xiaochun glanced at the pot and thought everyone here must be 'carrying the pot.' He imagined himself carrying such a big black pot and hurriedly asked.
"No way! Carrying the pot is our tradition. When others see you with a pot, they know you're from the Fire Kitchen and won't dare bully you," Zhang Dabang winked and dragged Bai Xiaochun behind the huts, where thousands of pots lay stacked, most covered in thick dust, clearly unused for a long time.
"Ninth junior brother, pick one. We need to cook, or the outer disciples will complain again," Zhang Dabang shouted, then dashed back to busy himself with the other fat men.
Bai Xiaochun sighed, looking over the pots and pondering which to choose. Suddenly, he saw one in the corner, buried under others.
This pot was special—not round but oval, looking more like a turtle shell, faint patterns barely visible.
"Hmm?" Bai Xiaochun's eyes brightened. He quickly moved it out and examined it carefully, showing satisfaction.
Since childhood, he liked turtles, symbolizing longevity, and his reason for cultivating immortality was to live forever. Seeing a turtle shell-like pot, he thought it very auspicious—a good omen.
After moving the pot out, Zhang Dabang saw him and ran over with a big spoon.
"Ninth junior brother, why pick that one? It's been there unused for so many years because it looks like a turtle shell. No one dares carry it on their back. Are you sure?" Zhang Dabang patted his belly, trying to persuade him.
"Sure! I want this pot," Bai Xiaochun said firmly.
Zhang Dabang said a few more words but seeing Bai Xiaochun's determination, gave him a strange look and assigned a hut behind the Fire Kitchen for him before going back to work.
Dusk fell. Bai Xiaochun examined the turtle-shaped pot in his hut. He noticed dozens of faint lines on its back, barely visible unless closely observed.
He believed this pot was extraordinary and carefully placed it on the stove.
Looking around, he saw a simple room: a small bed, a table and chair, and a copper mirror hanging on the wall.
Suddenly, a purple light flashed from the pot and disappeared.
For Bai Xiaochun, much had happened that day. Although he had entered the immortal world he dreamed of, he felt confused inside.
After a moment, he took a deep breath with determination.
"I want to live forever!" he said.
He took out the bag given by the pockmarked woman in the service area.
Inside was:
* A pill
* A wooden sword
* An incense stick
* Service apprentice clothes and token
* A bamboo book with the title: *"Purple Energy Driving Cauldron Technique – Qi Condensation Chapter"*
At dusk, while Zhang Dabang and others were busy cooking in the Fire Kitchen, Bai Xiaochun read the bamboo book eagerly.
He learned cultivation was divided into two stages: Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment.
The Purple Energy Driving Cauldron Technique had ten levels, each corresponding to a Qi Condensation level.
At level three, one could control objects weighing nearly half a cauldron; at level six, more than half; at level nine, a full cauldron; and at full mastery, two cauldrons.
However, the book only recorded the first three levels.
To cultivate, one must follow specific breathing and movements.
Bai Xiaochun tried the first movement but after just three breaths, he cried out in pain and couldn't continue. The breathing method made him feel short of energy.
"It's so hard. It says practicing this first movement lets you sense a faint Qi flow inside, but all I feel is pain," he said frustratedly.
Yet, determined for immortality, he tried again, struggling until dusk without sensing any Qi.
He didn't know even the best talents needed at least a month to feel Qi for the first level, and he had only been trying for a few hours.
Exhausted, he stretched, ready to wash his face, when suddenly loud noises came from outside.
He looked out the window and saw a thin, pale-faced youth standing angrily at the Fire Kitchen gate shouting:
"Who replaced Xu Baocai's spot? Come out immediately!"
The Lingxi Sect was located on Donglin Continent, specifically at a tributary of the great Tongtian River, spreading across its north and south banks. It had a history of over ten thousand years and was revered and feared by all around.
Eight towering peaks shrouded in clouds and mist stood majestically over the Tongtian River. Four peaks on the north bank, three on the south, and the eighth and largest peak stood on the river itself.
From its midpoint, the peak was covered in snow, its summit invisible, while the base was hollowed out to let the golden river rush through like a mountain bridge.
At that moment, a rainbow of light sped to the southern bank of the sect. Inside the rainbow were Li Qinghou carrying Bai Xiaochun, whose screams of terror still echoed.
Bai Xiaochun was terrified. He had seen countless mountains while flying and nearly lost his grip several times.
Suddenly, the light blinded him. When his vision cleared, he was standing before a building unlike anything in his village. A large stone stood beside the building, inscribed in majestic script:
*Service Area*
Next to the stone sat a woman with a pockmarked face. Upon seeing Li Qinghou, she immediately stood and greeted him respectfully.
Li Qinghou said:
"Take this boy to the Fire Kitchen."
Then he left directly, ignoring Bai Xiaochun.
The woman froze at the words "Fire Kitchen," glanced at Bai Xiaochun, handed him a service apprentice's cloth bag expressionlessly, and silently led him out.
Along the way, they passed through beautiful gardens, countless buildings, stone-paved paths, and fragrant flowers. Everything seemed like paradise, and Bai Xiaochun's heart fluttered with admiration, easing his anxiety.
He said happily:
"What a great place! So much better than my village!"
With each step, his admiration grew, especially when he saw some beautiful women passing by, which made him like this place even more.
After a short while, his joy increased when he saw a seven-story pavilion, crystal clear, with cranes flying in the sky.
He eagerly asked the woman:
"Sister, have we arrived?"
She replied blankly, pointing to a side path:
"Yes, over there."
He looked where she pointed and froze, rubbing his eyes in disbelief.
The path was cracked and broken, surrounded by dilapidated huts about to collapse, and a foul smell emanated from there.
He asked pleadingly:
"Did you point to the wrong place?"
She said coldly:
"No."
She led the way down the path, and Bai Xiaochun followed with a grim face.
At the end of the path, he saw some huge black cauldrons moving around. Under each cauldron was a very fat man whose flesh trembled like waves. The fattest one looked like a mountain of flesh, making Bai Xiaochun worry it might burst.
These fat men were adding water and rice to the cauldrons.
When they noticed the woman, the meat mountain ran over excitedly, shaking the ground, fat quivering.
He shouted:
"This morning I heard magpies chirping. Could it be sister has finally reconsidered and decided to be my spiritual partner?"
The woman's face darkened with anger, and she hurriedly retreated, saying:
"I brought this boy to the Fire Kitchen. Farewell!"
Bai Xiaochun gasped. He had been watching the woman all along; her looks were stunning. But this fat man's taste? How could he behave so lecherously?
Before he finished thinking, the meat mountain appeared in front of him, blocking the sunlight, casting a shadow over Bai Xiaochun.
He swallowed hard, seeing the huge trembling body.
The meat mountain looked sadly away from the woman and then glanced at Bai Xiaochun.
"Hey, a newcomer? To have pushed out Xu Baocai's spot is impressive."
Bai Xiaochun said nervously:
"I'm... Bai Xiaochun..." and took a few steps back under the pressure of the fat man's imposing figure.
"Bai Xiaochun? Hmm… fair skin, petite, quite pure-looking. Nice, your name suits my taste," said the meat mountain, clapping Bai Xiaochun's shoulder with such force he nearly fell.
"May I know your name, brother?" Bai Xiaochun sucked in his breath and rolled his eyes, inwardly thinking about making fun of the name.
"I'm Zhang Dabang. That's Huang Erbang, and that's Hei Sanbang…" The meat mountain chuckled.
Hearing these names, Bai Xiaochun decided not to joke further.
"Since you're the ninth junior brother now, you're one of us. We have a tradition of carrying pots on our backs. See that pot behind me? It's the king of pots, made of iron essence, engraved with an earth fire formation. Rice cooked in it tastes far better than normal pots. You have to choose one and carry it on your back—it's our pride," Zhang Dabang said proudly, patting the big black pot behind him.
"Brother, can I skip carrying the pot?" Bai Xiaochun glanced at the pot and thought everyone here must be 'carrying the pot.' He imagined himself carrying such a big black pot and hurriedly asked.
"No way! Carrying the pot is our tradition. When others see you with a pot, they know you're from the Fire Kitchen and won't dare bully you," Zhang Dabang winked and dragged Bai Xiaochun behind the huts, where thousands of pots lay stacked, most covered in thick dust, clearly unused for a long time.
"Ninth junior brother, pick one. We need to cook, or the outer disciples will complain again," Zhang Dabang shouted, then dashed back to busy himself with the other fat men.
Bai Xiaochun sighed, looking over the pots and pondering which to choose. Suddenly, he saw one in the corner, buried under others.
This pot was special—not round but oval, looking more like a turtle shell, faint patterns barely visible.
"Hmm?" Bai Xiaochun's eyes brightened. He quickly moved it out and examined it carefully, showing satisfaction.
Since childhood, he liked turtles, symbolizing longevity, and his reason for cultivating immortality was to live forever. Seeing a turtle shell-like pot, he thought it very auspicious—a good omen.
After moving the pot out, Zhang Dabang saw him and ran over with a big spoon.
"Ninth junior brother, why pick that one? It's been there unused for so many years because it looks like a turtle shell. No one dares carry it on their back. Are you sure?" Zhang Dabang patted his belly, trying to persuade him.
"Sure! I want this pot," Bai Xiaochun said firmly.
Zhang Dabang said a few more words but seeing Bai Xiaochun's determination, gave him a strange look and assigned a hut behind the Fire Kitchen for him before going back to work.
Dusk fell. Bai Xiaochun examined the turtle-shaped pot in his hut. He noticed dozens of faint lines on its back, barely visible unless closely observed.
He believed this pot was extraordinary and carefully placed it on the stove.
Looking around, he saw a simple room: a small bed, a table and chair, and a copper mirror hanging on the wall.
Suddenly, a purple light flashed from the pot and disappeared.
For Bai Xiaochun, much had happened that day. Although he had entered the immortal world he dreamed of, he felt confused inside.
After a moment, he took a deep breath with determination.
"I want to live forever!" he said.
He took out the bag given by the pockmarked woman in the service area.
Inside was:
* A pill
* A wooden sword
* An incense stick
* Service apprentice clothes and token
* A bamboo book with the title: *"Purple Energy Driving Cauldron Technique – Qi Condensation Chapter"*
At dusk, while Zhang Dabang and others were busy cooking in the Fire Kitchen, Bai Xiaochun read the bamboo book eagerly.
He learned cultivation was divided into two stages: Qi Condensation and Foundation Establishment.
The Purple Energy Driving Cauldron Technique had ten levels, each corresponding to a Qi Condensation level.
At level three, one could control objects weighing nearly half a cauldron; at level six, more than half; at level nine, a full cauldron; and at full mastery, two cauldrons.
However, the book only recorded the first three levels.
To cultivate, one must follow specific breathing and movements.
Bai Xiaochun tried the first movement but after just three breaths, he cried out in pain and couldn't continue. The breathing method made him feel short of energy.
"It's so hard. It says practicing this first movement lets you sense a faint Qi flow inside, but all I feel is pain," he said frustratedly.
Yet, determined for immortality, he tried again, struggling until dusk without sensing any Qi.
He didn't know even the best talents needed at least a month to feel Qi for the first level, and he had only been trying for a few hours.
Exhausted, he stretched, ready to wash his face, when suddenly loud noises came from outside.
He looked out the window and saw a thin, pale-faced youth standing angrily at the Fire Kitchen gate shouting:
"Who replaced Xu Baocai's spot? Come out immediately!"