Quan Dao's smile froze slightly.

He looked at Xiao Wusheng and said, "Junior Brother Xiao, are you joking?"

Xiao Wusheng replied calmly, "Why would you say that, Elder? How could I be joking? Could it be that my disciple hasn't awakened the Ascension Token?"

"Hah!"

Quan Dao turned to glance at the composed Yu Xian and sneered, "He did awaken the Ascension Token, that's true. But Junior Brother Xiao, don't you know his spiritual root and bone quality? A low-grade Wood Spiritual Root—what's the use of ascending to immortality? It's a waste of a spot! Even if I have to go to the Supreme Elder or the Sect Leader, I have a valid reason."

"Elder, you're mistaken."

Xiao Wusheng shook his head with a smile, "Ascension is about the unknown. No one knows what kind of fortune one might gain upon ascending. Wasn't there a precedent where someone with a high-grade spiritual root ascended directly to a perfect spiritual root? Why can't my disciple, with his low-grade root, ascend to high-grade, supreme, or even perfect?"

"Hah, hahahaha."

Quan Dao laughed coldly and shook his head, "A low-grade root ascending to high-grade, supreme, perfect? That's a fantasy, wishful thinking. Junior Brother, just teach him alchemy well. Why bother with anything else? The qualification for ascension is precious, meant for geniuses to cleanse their roots and ascend! Even if he ascends one grade to a mid-grade Wood Spiritual Root, it's still ordinary and meaningless."

Xiao Wusheng shook his head, "How can it be meaningless? Ascending even one grade is good and meaningful. If he hadn't awakened the Ascension Token, I wouldn't dare make this request. But since he did, it's his fortune, and as his master, I can't just watch others take it away."

"Xiao Wusheng, what do you mean?"

Quan Dao was a bit angry, speaking in a low voice, "If I don't take him to ascend, you won't refine pills for me, is that it? Do you think I must rely on you for alchemy? Are you threatening me!?"

Xiao Wusheng laughed, "I don't dare to threaten, just having a good talk with the Elder. If the Elder returns the ascension qualification to my disciple, I'm willing to refine pills for the Elder ten times for free! Even if I fail, I'll compensate for the Elder's losses!"

Quan Dao's eyebrows twitched as he considered.

Ten free alchemy sessions, with a guarantee of success, otherwise full compensation...

That's a hard offer to refuse.

But Yu Xian's ascension qualification... had already been given to one of his beloved disciples...

"Although the awakening of the Ascension Token varies, it's generally only awakened by those with extremely high talent. Even though he has a low-grade root, since he could awaken the token, he must have high talent in other areas. I think it might be in alchemy."

After thinking for a while, Quan Dao said lightly, "Fine, I'll grant him this chance. If his alchemy talent grows deeper, maybe our White Cloud Sect will produce a master alchemist capable of refining fifth or sixth-grade elixirs! Then we won't have to beg Medicine King Valley, trading three sets of materials for one elixir!"

"Thank you, Elder!"

Xiao Wusheng's face lit up with joy, and he bowed slightly in gratitude.

Yu Xian, however, stood there, clenching his teeth.

The thing he awakened... was now being given back to him as charity!

And at the cost of his master's ten free alchemy sessions!

One could imagine that Quan Dao would demand the best fourth-grade treasure pills every time!

And if his master failed, it would be his responsibility!

But alchemy, especially fourth-grade treasure pills, who can guarantee success?

Even the master alchemists of Medicine King Valley wouldn't dare make such a boast!

If all ten sessions succeeded, his master would just forgo the benefits.

But if he failed once, or twice, or three times...

His master would have to compensate heavily, perhaps even unable to afford it!

With a determined look in his eyes, Yu Xian opened his mouth to refuse!

But Xiao Wusheng's gaze had already fallen on him, signaling him not to act rashly, and quickly said, "Yu Xian, aren't you going to thank Elder Quan?"

Yu Xian clenched his fists tightly, and after a moment, finally bowed, "Thank you... Elder Quan!"

He understood his master's character well after four months together.

Once he decided on something, he wouldn't change unless proven wrong.

Now, he used alchemy as leverage, as a bribe, to persuade Quan Dao.

Returning the Ascension Token qualification to him.

So he couldn't refuse!

This was... a favor from his master!

Quan Dao raised his hand lightly, not paying attention to Yu Xian, but smiled and said, "In that case, Junior Brother Xiao, will you start alchemy now?"

"Of course, Elder, just give me the spiritual herbs and materials, and you can collect the pills tomorrow!"

Xiao Wusheng smiled happily, bowing slightly with a good attitude.

Quan Dao also smiled, handing a storage pouch to Xiao Wusheng, "Then I'll trouble you, Junior Brother. I'll come back tomorrow afternoon."

With that, he glanced at Yu Xian, shook his head with a smile, as if feeling it was unworthy for Xiao Wusheng, and turned to leave.

"Take care, Elder!"

We are "pawread.co𝑚", find us on google.

Xiao Wusheng smiled as he saw Quan Dao out of the garden, then returned to find Yu Xian standing there, looking stubborn, and laughed, "What, are you angry with your master?"

"Master... why did you have to beg him?"

Yu Xian said in a deep voice, "I'd rather not ascend!"

"Don't be willful!"

Xiao Wusheng's smile faded, and he said seriously, "Do you know what cultivation is? It's not about accepting fate, it's about fighting for what you want. If you don't fight, you'll have nothing and will just rot in the mud."

"But..."

Yu Xian opened his mouth but didn't know what to say.

He knew cultivation was about fighting, even risking life and blood!

He just didn't want his master to beg...

"I'm getting old."

Xiao Wusheng walked over, patting Yu Xian's shoulder, "You're still young, and your future won't stop at Foundation Establishment! Besides, the Ascension Token was awakened by you, and going to ascend will surely bring great fortune! For a disciple, it's not shameful for a master to lower his head."

"Master..."

Yu Xian pursed his lips, looking up at Xiao Wusheng, "I understand!"

"You're smart, very smart. Taking you as my disciple was the best decision I've ever made."

Xiao Wusheng laughed heartily, turning towards the center of the courtyard, "Come, I'm going to refine the Blood Lotus Spirit Pill again, and you must watch carefully."

Yu Xian followed, continuing to learn.

Unknowingly, another month passed.

Although cultivators didn't care for mortal festivals, there were always events once a year.

The White Cloud Sect's triennial disciple recruitment ceremony began.

As an immortal sect, a place of cultivation for immortal masters.

Countless mortals yearned for it!

Numerous rogue cultivator families, royal descendants, and wealthy offspring, as long as they had spiritual root and bone qualifications, would come to pay homage.

The tens of thousands of disciples in the White Cloud Sect's Outer Sect came from these people!

Of course, if someone had exceptional talent, like a supreme spiritual root, perfect spiritual root, dual spiritual roots, triple spiritual roots, or even the legendary Heavenly Spirit Root or Earth Spirit Root, they would be directly admitted to the Inner Sect, becoming personal disciples of some Golden Core Elders.

And this year, it's not only the White Cloud Sect's triennial disciple recruitment ceremony.

It's also the once-in-twenty-years Grand Ascension Ceremony!

All disciples who haven't reached Foundation Establishment, as long as they activate the Ascension Token, are eligible to enter the Ascension Secret Realm.

In the secret realm, danger and opportunity coexist.

Those with good luck can gain the opportunity to ascend, advancing their spiritual root and bone, such as a mid-grade root advancing to high-grade, high-grade to supreme! It's like defying fate!

But those with bad luck... every time the secret realm is entered, the six major sects send over a hundred disciples combined, yet only thirty to forty return!

At this moment, on the Crane Beak Cliff within the White Cloud Sect's Inner Sect.

The Outer Sect's disciple recruitment ceremony was bustling.

While the Inner Sect began the Ascension Ceremony!

All Qi Condensation disciples from the thirteen peaks of the Inner Sect who hadn't reached Foundation Establishment gathered here to attempt to activate the Ascension Token.

The Qi Condensation disciples who could enter the Inner Sect without exception had excellent qualifications, the lowest being high-grade spiritual roots.

The one with the best qualifications was Elder Song, Song Xingtian's disciple, with three spirit veins, two supreme, and one high-grade!

And the one with the worst qualifications...

Was Yu Xian, standing alone in the distance.

Elder Song Xingtian looked on calmly at the dozens of Qi Condensation disciples on Crane Beak Cliff, "Today is the White Cloud Sect's once-in-twenty-years Ascension Ceremony. Those who have the fortune to activate the Ascension Token may enter the Ascension Secret Realm!"

The Qi Condensation disciples under each elder's tutelage were all eager.

And the Golden Core Elders took out their Ascension Tokens, some with more than a dozen, others with five or six, distributing them to their disciples.

"Hold it tightly, call it with your essence blood, and those with fate will see the Ascension Token activate."

Song Xingtian's voice rang out, and dozens of Qi Condensation disciples simultaneously clenched their Ascension Tokens, letting essence blood seep from their palms, trying to call it.

The surroundings fell silent, as the Golden Core Elders watched their disciples intently.

Even Yu Xian took out his Ascension Token, holding it in his hand.

This Ascension Token had been returned to him by Quan Dao.