On the path to immortality, I can see destiny.

Chapter 122 Danfeng

Time passed little by little.

The people on the stone platform gradually dispersed. Some of the new disciples who had completed their registration left in twos and threes, while others walked alone in their respective directions.

Zhao Fan saw someone take out a jade token from their bosom. A faint light shone from the jade token, as if it were guiding the way.

He followed suit and injected his spiritual power into the jade tablet. Sure enough, the jade tablet lit up. Inside the jade tablet was a small map that marked all the important locations within the sect.

As long as spiritual power is infused, it can guide him to the place he wants to go.

But he didn't move, because he had promised Wu Yuan that he would wait here.

Su Ziyan walked over and patted him on the shoulder.

"Brother Zhao, I'll be going now to check out the Weapon Refining Peak. We'll meet again once I've settled in."

Zhao Fan nodded.

"Go."

Su Ziyan grinned, then turned and left.

As Zhao Fan watched his retreating figure, he suddenly felt a pang of envy for Su Ziyan, who had a clear direction.

He originally had it too, but his problem with his spiritual consciousness left him somewhat at a loss.

He shook his head and refused to think about it any further.

There were fewer and fewer people on the stone platform until he was the only one left.

The sun moved from the east to the center, and then slowly began to set in the west.

Zhao Fan leaned against a stone pillar. Xiao Er, whom he had released from his spirit beast pouch, lay at his feet, listlessly pawing at the pebbles on the ground.

After waiting for nearly three hours, Wu Yuan finally appeared on the mountain path.

"Junior Brother Zhao, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting."

Wu Yuan walked over quickly, a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, but he was in good spirits and had a smile on his face.

"The arrangements for the inner disciples are all settled. Come on, I'll take you to Dan Peak."

Zhao Fan put Xiao Er back into his spirit beast bag and followed Wu Yuan onto his flying boat.

The flying boat was small, only able to hold two or three people, but it was extremely fast. After taking off, it turned into a streak of blue light and flew north along the mountain ridge.

"Junior Brother Zhao, the Danfeng assessment is no simple matter. Let me tell you about it first."

Wu Yuan glanced back at him while maneuvering the flying boat.

"Danfeng accepts disciples based solely on their spiritual sense and alchemy skills, without considering their cultivation level or spiritual roots."

Zhao Fan's heart tightened.

"Divine consciousness is the foundation."

Wu Yuan's tone became more serious.

"If your spiritual sense is too weak, you can't even take the first step. So the first test for entering Danfeng is to test your spiritual sense. If your spiritual sense doesn't meet the standard, you don't need to participate in the subsequent alchemy tests and you'll be eliminated directly."

Zhao Fan fell silent.

Wu Yuan glanced at him, seemingly noticing his worry, and added.

"But don't worry too much. Since that senior has asked you to stay, she must have her reasons. People from Danfeng will not make things too difficult for you, even if they don't care about your appearance."

Zhao Fan didn't respond. He knew that relying on others' connections wasn't a long-term solution; he had to rely on himself.

The airship was very fast; in the time it took to say a few words, a majestic mountain peak appeared ahead.

The mountain peaks soar into the clouds, with mist swirling around the mountainside and buildings that can be vaguely seen built against the mountain, layer upon layer, extending all the way to the summit.

At the foot of the mountain stands a huge stone tablet with the words "Danfeng" engraved on it.

Wu Yuan maneuvered the flying boat to land slowly, stopping on the stone platform in front of the mountain gate. He jumped off the flying boat, and Zhao Fan followed him down.

"Junior Brother Zhao, I'll see you off here."

Wu Yuan clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"I can't help you with Danfeng's assessment; you'll have to rely on yourself. Good luck."

Zhao Fan returned the greeting with clasped hands.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Wu."

Wu Yuan smiled, turned around, boarded the flying boat, and disappeared into the horizon as a streak of blue light.

Zhao Fan stood on the stone platform, looked up at the stone tablet engraved with the words "Danfeng", took a deep breath, and walked towards the mountain gate.

There was a small pavilion at the mountain gate, where a disciple dressed in a blue Taoist robe sat engrossed in reading a book.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up and glanced at Zhao Fan.

"Who goes there?"

Zhao Fan took the jade pendant from his waist and handed it over with both hands.

"My name is Zhao Fan, a newly initiated disciple who wishes to come to Danfeng to participate in the assessment."

The disciple took the jade token, glanced at it, then looked at Zhao Fan, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

He returned the jade tablet to Zhao Fan, took out a communication talisman from his sleeve, whispered a few words, and the talisman transformed into a streak of fire, flying towards the mountain.

"Wait a moment, someone will come to pick you up."

After the disciple finished speaking, he lowered his head again and continued reading.

Zhao Fan stood in front of the mountain gate and waited for about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea before a light footstep sound came from the mountain path.

He looked up and saw an old man slowly walking down the mountain.

The old man was dressed in a gray-white Taoist robe, with gray hair and a thin face. He had his hands behind his back and walked slowly, yet with an indescribable composure.

Zhao Fan subconsciously scanned the area with his divine sense, but couldn't sense anything.

The old man had no aura whatsoever, just like an ordinary stone or a common fallen leaf. If he hadn't seen it with his own eyes, he wouldn't have realized that there was a person standing in front of him.

Zhao Fan felt a chill run down his spine, knowing that the old man's cultivation was unfathomable, at least at the Foundation Establishment stage.

The old man walked up to Zhao Fan, stopped, and glanced at him.

His gaze held a hint of doubt and disdain. He had seen many disciples like this who were all talk and no action, thinking that alchemy was good, but not knowing how difficult it really was.

He spoke, his voice low and somewhat nonchalant.

"Are you going to participate in Danfeng's assessment?"

Zhao Fan clasped his hands in a fist salute.

"Yes, I am Zhao Fan, a junior disciple who has just started my training. I would like to come to Danfeng to give it a try."

The old man shook his head and spoke.

"Seventh level of Qi Refining, three spiritual roots, but the strength of his spiritual sense is only at the fifth level of Qi Refining."

He paused, looked at Zhao Fan, his eyes expressionless.

"With such a low level of spiritual awareness, you can't even fully sense the heat of the alchemy furnace. How can you refine pills? Little brat, go back. Pill Peak is not suitable for you."

Zhao Fan's heart sank, but he didn't move. He stood still, looking into the old man's eyes, his voice steady yet firm.

"Senior, I know my spiritual power is weak, but I still want to try. Even if I don't pass in the end, I will accept it."

"Try it? You think alchemy is child's play?"

The old man's voice turned colder.

"Every medicinal herb in Danfeng is bought with spirit stones. If you try it once, you'll waste a whole dose. How will you compensate me?"

Zhao Fan remained silent for a moment, then took out a jade bottle from his storage bag and presented it with both hands.

"Senior, this is a Qingling Pill that I refined myself. Please take a look."

The old man took the jade bottle, uncorked it, and poured out a pill.

The elixir is pale gold in color, round and smooth, with faint red patterns flowing around it.

He brought it to his nose and sniffed it, then looked at it against the light, raising an eyebrow slightly.

His doubts deepened. How could Zhao Fan, with his level of spiritual sense, refine a pill of this quality?

Although this pill isn't considered exceptionally good, it's still far better than those made by many independent alchemists.

This piqued his interest even more.

The old man looked at Zhao Fan, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke.

"I'll give you a chance with this pill. I hope you're not trying to cheat me with pills you bought from someone else."

He turned around, put his hands behind his back, and walked up the stone steps towards the mountain.

Zhao Fan was overjoyed and quickly followed.

The stone steps were very steep, and both sides were planted with various spiritual plants, some in bloom, some bearing fruit, and the air was filled with the fragrance of herbs.

The old man walked ahead at a moderate pace, while Zhao Fan followed behind. Several times he wanted to ask something, but seeing that the old man had no intention of speaking, he swallowed his words.

The two walked one after the other for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, and a wide, flat area appeared in front of them.

There are several stone houses on the flat ground, and in front of the stone houses are several alchemy furnaces of different sizes. Some are completely black, while others have a bronze luster.

Several disciples were gathered around a pill furnace, discussing something in hushed tones. When they saw the old man approaching, they quickly clasped their hands in greeting.

The old man ignored them, walked straight to a pill furnace, stopped, and turned to look at Zhao Fan.

"This is the alchemy furnace used for testing."

He pointed to the completely black alchemy furnace.

"First-grade, mid-level Qingling Pill. The medicinal herbs are here; please take them yourself."

He paused, looked at Zhao Fan, and spoke with a hint of warning in his voice.

"However, let me be clear from the start: your spiritual power is insufficient. If you force yourself to refine pills, at best the furnace will explode, and at worst you will injure yourself. You should consider this carefully."

Zhao Fan nodded, walked to the alchemy furnace, looked at the furnace, then at the medicinal herbs laid out on the stone table next to it, took a deep breath, and began to process the herbs.

The old man stood to the side, arms crossed, watching him expressionlessly.

Several disciples nearby also gathered around, curiously examining Zhao Fan and whispering among themselves.