Chapter 63: News of Death!

For the next period of time, Jiang Xu kept himself busy with a fixed routine.

He practiced Body Cultivation and Swordsmanship in the bamboo forest.

He went to Shen Ji’s to read Ancient Texts.

He practiced his Cultivation in his own home.

He occasionally went to the Talisman Pavilion to attend a lecture or buy some Talisman Paper.

And sometimes he would visit Ding Shiping to ask questions about Cultivation.

A month passed just like that.

Suddenly, a piece of devastating news spread throughout the entire Profound Origin Sect.

The Secret Realm exploration team organized by the Sect two months ago, which consisted of fifty Outer Disciples and one hundred and fifty Servant Disciples.

It was now confirmed that over one hundred and eighty of them had perished inside the Secret Realm.

After hearing this terrible news in the Talisman Pavilion, Jiang Xu was shocked, yet he also felt it was to be expected.

Any Secret Realm was an extremely dangerous place.

They were either pocket dimensions left behind by Great Divine Power Cultivators, their cavern residences, or the treasure grounds of certain sects.

’It’s obvious when you think about it.’

’If this Secret Realm were truly safe and risk-free, the Profound Origin Sect would never have even let its Outer Disciples and Servant Disciples know about it. The upper echelons would have long since cleared it out themselves.’

But even though he had expected it, upon hearing the news of nearly two hundred deaths, Jiang Xu couldn’t help but feel a wave of sorrow for them.

How could the majority of them not have known the dangers of this trip?

But just as Zong Ziqi had said, whether they were banking on a fluke, saw it as their last resort, or had unspoken difficulties, they still chose to walk this road of no return.

Originally, Jiang Xu had thought that after such a disaster, the Sect would temporarily halt the Secret Realm exploration and try to probe it through other means first.

But unexpectedly,

the Sect didn’t stop at all.

Instead, they immediately started recruiting again, and this time, they doubled the previous recruitment size, aiming for four hundred people!

It was still entirely voluntary, and they were still recruiting Outer Disciples and Servant Disciples.

But unlike last time,

the Sect now promised double the rewards, and those with outstanding performance could be promoted to the Inner Sect, bypassing the usual requirements.

Even if one died in the Secret Realm, a compensation payment would be sent to a person designated by the deceased before their death.

The Sect also gave its assurance, stating they had accumulated a great deal of intelligence and experience from the last failed exploration and that this time, they would definitely succeed!

According to rumors, the reason so many people died was that they had mistakenly entered the Inner Area and triggered a Restriction.

That was what led to the disaster.

The dozen or so disciples who had remained in the outer area had all survived.

Therefore, even if you joined the exploration team, as long as you weren’t bold enough to enter the Inner Area and just loitered around the outskirts,

there wouldn’t be much danger.

As soon as this was said, it immediately recaptured everyone’s attention.

Seeing that the disciples were once again interested, the Sect dropped another bombshell.

This time, ten Inner Sect Disciples at the Qi Cultivation Late Stage would be chosen to join, and two Foundation Establishment Elders would also participate, leading the team to the Secret Realm.

With this, all the disciples’ doubts were once again dispelled.

’The Inner Sect Disciples are going, so we won’t just be cannon fodder, right? This must mean the dangers within the Secret Realm are already within the Sect’s control.’

Coupled with their strong confidence in the Foundation Establishment Elders, most of the lower-ranking disciples were once again whipped into a frenzy, and a constant stream of people signed up.

Even many disciples from the Talisman Pavilion went to sign up. Every disciple who successfully registered was beaming with joy, while those beside them looked on with envy.

Don’t be fooled by the fact that the Talisman Pavilion disciples all had a special skill; they all wanted to raise their Talisman Making level, a process that consumed a vast amount of Spirit Stones.

Their expenses far outweighed their income.

Moreover, these people also wanted to enter the Inner Sect, but since they couldn’t advance to the Realm of a Tier One Middle Grade Talisman Maker, they could only hope to find a shortcut.

This Secret Realm expedition team was different from the last.

They didn’t mobilize immediately after gathering enough people.

Instead, they first released the news, confirmed the personnel, and would then prepare for two months before departing together.

Jiang Xu guessed the Sect must have other arrangements to make during these two months.

However, none of this had anything to do with Jiang Xu.

He had no desire to sign up for this stupid Secret Realm exploration team.

Even he found the rewards for participating tempting.

But he knew that while you might have the life to earn those Spirit Stones, you might not have the life to spend them.

’Who knows what kind of unexpected situations might occur in that Secret Realm?’

’Who can guarantee with one hundred percent certainty that there’s no danger?’

Jiang Xu felt his current life was satisfying enough. The risk was low, and he could still advance his Talisman Dao Cultivation. There was no need to take such a risk.

So, Jiang Xu didn’t even bother giving it a second glance and simply ignored it.

As for whether others participated, it had nothing to do with him.

’Unless absolutely everyone goes, leaving me as the only one left.’

’Now *that* would make me panic.’

...

’After bringing the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill to the Mastery level, I didn’t expect my Martial Dao Cultivation to advance so quickly. It’s only been a month, and I feel like I’m about to touch the threshold of the True Qi Realm.’

Jiang Xu estimated that he might be able to elevate his Martial Dao to the True Qi Stage within a week.

Once he did, his physical constitution would be comparable to a Body Cultivator at the Body Refining Early Stage, increasing his life-saving capabilities yet again.

’After reaching the True Qi Stage, it will probably be very difficult to advance further relying solely on the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill.’

’Unless I raise the Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill to the ’Perfect’ level.’

’But the cost-benefit ratio for that would be terrible.’

Jiang Xu mused.

’At that point, maybe I can try cultivating the "Ancient Strengthening Method" that Zong Ziqi showed me before.’

’It would probably require a lot of resources, but with my current ability to earn Spirit Stones, I should be able to support myself up to the Body Refining Middle Stage.’

’As for the Body Refining Late Stage... my own Cultivation is only at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer. I won’t even consider the Late Stage for now.’

Jiang Xu arrived at his usual training spot.

"Hm?"

Just like always, Jiang Xu spotted Zong Ziqi at a glance.

But this time, something was unusual.

He wasn’t practicing his slow Swordsmanship.

Instead, he was sitting on the ground, staring blankly into space with his chin in his hands.

"Hey, Fellow Daoist Zong, it’s rare to see you slacking off."

Seeing Jiang Xu joke with him, Zong Ziqi didn’t react much. After a long moment, he let out a heavy sigh.

Jiang Xu had never seen him like this.

Even back when Zong Ziqi had lost all his Cultivation and hadn’t yet switched to being a Body Cultivator, he had never been this dejected.

"Fellow Daoist Zong, why the long face?"

Zong Ziqi shook his head.

"It’s nothing."

Jiang Xu patted Zong Ziqi’s shoulder.

"A man shouldn’t be so hesitant. If something’s bothering you or you’ve hit a wall, just say it.

My abilities may be limited, and I might not be of much help, but I can listen and offer some advice.

You know what they say. A sorrow shared is a sorrow halved!"

"My sorrow might be lessened, but wouldn’t yours just increase?"

"...If you don’t share, then I’ll have double the sorrow!"