Immortality: Grinding Experience Starting as a Paper Craftsman

Chapter 49 Taking Advantage of the Situation, Living in Seclusion in the City

With the collapse of the trapping formation, the deadly trap set up by the Blood River Sect crumbled instantly.

Li Tianxing's face was ashen. He stared at the horizon where the bone dragon had disappeared, his teeth grinding together.

Today, not only did the blood sacrifice fail, but the sect's most precious treasure, the Netherworld Ghost Bone, was also lost. Furthermore, they were tricked by a mysterious evil cultivator who appeared out of nowhere.

"withdraw!"

He glared at Shen Youwei with hatred, knowing that all was lost.

The reinforcements from the Flowing Cloud Sect will arrive soon through that hole. If we don't leave now, we'll really be left here to die.

The Blood River Sect disciples scattered and fled like stray dogs.

Shen Youwei did not pursue. Leaning on her sword, her face was as pale as paper, and her spiritual energy was almost exhausted.

She stared at the hole, her cool eyes filled with an indescribable complexity.

The person who broke the formation used bizarre and sinister methods, clearly an evil technique.

However, his act of breaking the formation truly saved the lives of everyone in the Flowing Cloud Sect.

"That aura...why does it feel somewhat familiar?"

Shen Youwei recalled the paper craftsman in Changning County three years ago, and also the blood-red paper crane that had delivered the message.

"Is that you?"

She muttered to herself, but then shook her head.

That small business owner is just an ordinary person, how could he possibly have such extraordinary abilities?

……

Thirty miles away, a rocky hill.

Gu Yan's true form suddenly opened his eyes and exhaled a long breath.

The clone "Blood Swordsman" has escaped safely and is now looking for a place to lie low and digest the massive Yin energy.

Now he wants to completely remove the original body.

He quickly put away the array flags, moved the black iron box full of treasure to the depths of his storage bag, and changed into a slightly worn blue robe that he had prepared beforehand.

Facing the bronze mirror, he skillfully adjusted his facial muscles and added a few more strands of white hair to his temples.

A moment later, the shrewd Gou Fugui in the mirror disappeared, leaving only a middle-aged, down-on-his-luck rogue cultivator with a sorrowful face and a timid demeanor.

"That should be fine now."

Gu Yan nodded in satisfaction.

He didn't rush to leave, but instead began to look through the cultivation manuals he had previously looted from the Blood River Sect disciples.

Blood Fiend Technique, Bone-Melting Hand, Corpse-Nourishing Technique...

Gu Yan casually flipped through a few pages and tossed them aside. This kind of incomplete and rubbish would not only easily destroy one's foundation when cultivated, but would also make it extremely easy to go into qi deviation.

He then took out the jade slip and looked at the "Blood River Bone Transformation Scripture" that he had obtained from that Foundation Establishment old ghost when he was still in Changning County.

Although this cultivation method can be practiced up to the Foundation Establishment stage, it has extremely hidden dangers. It requires devouring the marrow of living beings and killing and bleeding people every day, which does not conform to his principle of keeping a low profile.

"Although I now have the resources and the means, my cultivation path is cut off."

Gu Yan sighed.

Independent cultivators not only lack spirit stones, but also lack inheritance.

Without proper foundation-building techniques, even if you soak in spiritual liquid, you can only reach the Great Perfection of Qi Refining.

To achieve foundation building and longevity, one must join a major sect.

"The Flowing Cloud Sect..."

Gu Yan touched his chin.

Although the Flowing Cloud Sect suffered considerable losses during this trip to Yunmeng Marsh, it also thwarted the Blood River Sect's conspiracy.

As is customary, after such a major battle, sects usually lower the threshold for recruiting disciples in order to replenish their ranks with fresh blood.

Especially this time, with so many outer disciples dying in battle, the vacancies will definitely be huge.

"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

A glint of light flashed in Gu Yan's eyes.

He didn't want to be some kind of inner sect prodigy, nor did he want to compete for the title of true disciple.

He only wanted to obtain the status of an outer disciple, peacefully search for a Foundation Establishment cultivation technique in the sect's scripture pavilion, and take advantage of the sect's resources to make the most of his proficiency panel abilities.

Having made up his mind, Gu Yan slung a tattered cloth bundle over his shoulder, leaned on a withered tree branch, and headed towards the exit of Yunmengze.

……

Temporary camp on the outskirts of Yunmeng Marsh.

The area is now covered in white mourning clothes.

The Flowing Cloud Sect's flying boats descended again, but this time they were there to ferry the wounded and collect the corpses.

In one corner of the camp, there was a large number of surviving rogue cultivators who had escaped from Yunmeng Marsh.

Most of them were dressed in rags and were still in shock.

Gu Yan mingled in the crowd, his face filled with relief at surviving the ordeal, while he tightly clutched two of the lowest-grade spiritual herbs in his hands.

"Have you heard? The Flowing Cloud Sect is expanding its recruitment of outer disciples! Any rogue cultivator with a clean background and suitable bone age has a chance!"

"Really? Didn't they used to only accept geniuses?"

"That was before! So many people died this time. If we don't find a way to make up for it, who will do the sect's menial tasks in the future?"

The surrounding chatter confirmed Gu Yan's suspicions.

Just then, a middle-aged deacon dressed in the uniform of the Liuyun Sect's Enforcement Hall stepped forward, his gaze sweeping across the crowd like lightning.

"quiet!"

The powerful pressure instantly silenced the noisy scene.

"Considering Heaven's benevolence towards life, and that you did not aid and abet the wicked in the Yunmeng Marsh, the sect grants special permission for anyone at the second level of Qi Refining and below the age of forty to register for the assessment. Those who pass will be accepted as outer sect miscellaneous disciples."

Although the servant disciples have the lowest status, they are still part of the regular staff and are eligible to exchange for the sect's basic cultivation techniques.

Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted in excitement.

Gu Yan stood in line, head down, trying to minimize his presence.

When it was his turn, the disciple in charge of registration didn't even look up: "Name, cultivation level, bone age."

"Gu Changsheng, Qi Refining Level 6, Bone Age 22."

Gu Yan gave a fake name, his voice trembling slightly, perfectly portraying the image of a country bumpkin who had never seen the world.

The disciple looked up and glanced at Gu Yan, then swept the spirit-testing disc in his hand over Gu Yan.

"A mixed spiritual root of the five elements? Such poor aptitude?"

The disciple frowned. "To reach the sixth level of Qi Refining at the age of twenty-two is quite diligent. What did you do before?"

"Reporting to the Immortal Master, I used to be a craftsman who drew talismans, and occasionally I also made paper offerings to make a living," Gu Yan answered honestly.

"You understand talismans?" The disciple's eyes lit up.

The sect is currently in dire need of logistics personnel with specialized skills.

After all, it's easy to find geniuses who are good at fighting and killing, but there aren't many hard-working people who can settle down to draw talismans and forge weapons.

"I know a little, I know a little," Gu Yan said humbly, rubbing his hands together.

"Alright, go wait over there." The disciple tossed him a wooden plaque.

Gu Yan accepted the wooden plaque as if it were a priceless treasure, and stepped aside with profuse thanks.

Just as he turned around, a commotion suddenly broke out in the crowd.

Shen Youwei walked over, surrounded by several elders.

Although she was weak, her aloof and cold demeanor still made people afraid to look directly at her.

She seemed preoccupied, her eyes darting aimlessly through the crowd.

Her gaze paused slightly as it swept over Gu Yan.

Gu Yan's heart skipped a beat. Had he been recognized?

He looks like Gu Changsheng now, a figure even his own mother wouldn't recognize.

Shen Youwei frowned slightly as she watched the back of the young man carrying a tattered bundle and looking timid.

That figure looks familiar.

But then she laughed self-deprecatingly.

I'm really obsessed; everyone looks like that little boss to me.

Although the small business owner was greedy, there was a glint in his eyes. This man's eyes were cloudy and timid, clearly showing that he was an honest man who had been beaten down by society.

"Let's go." Shen Youwei withdrew her gaze, turned around, and boarded the flying boat.

Gu Yan breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed the gaze had shifted away.

"That was close."

He gripped the wooden plaque tightly in his hand, watching the enormous flying ship take off into the sky, a barely perceptible smile playing on his lips.

Liuyun Sect, here I come.

As long as I can find a Foundation Establishment cultivation method, the Flowing Cloud Sect will be my second home.

The flying boat soared through the air, carrying a group of independent cultivators with dreams, and flew towards the celestial paradise above the clouds.

Gu Yan sat in the corner, watching the clouds drift by outside the window, already starting to plan his next move.

First, I need to secure my position as a menial disciple.

Secondly, we need to find a way to sneak into the library.

Finally, we need to find a suitable hiding place for the "Blood Swordsman" who is still wandering outside.

The path of cultivation is long and perilous, but as long as one is persistent enough, one can eventually reach the end.