"This Holy Mountain is indeed peculiar."
Chu Xiu carefully sensed it, already having a good understanding in his heart.
If he guessed correctly, to climb the mountain among the many ghosts here, aside from needing to refine the corresponding Dharma Artifact, the deeper the Inverted Yin and Yang Technique is cultivated and the more Death Qi is transformed, the less suppression from heaven and earth they face.
Otherwise, with their strength so different from Chu Xiu’s, how could they reach the summit?
With this understanding, Chu Xiu decided not to continue upwards.
Having reached only halfway up the mountain, he had already consumed a quarter of his mana, and the pressure on him was increasing. While he might have the confidence to reach the summit by force, it would certainly cause severe depletion of his energy.
Since the situation in Penglai was still unknown, Chu Xiu didn’t want to rashly charge in.
With this in mind, he pretended to be unable to withstand the pressure and started falling downward.
The four ghosts below simultaneously offered their artifacts to assist.
At this moment, all four ghosts had expressions of shock on their faces. After securing Chu Xiu, they cupped their fists together and said, "Fellow Daoist’s cultivation is profound, able to reach halfway up the mountain without complete artifacts. It seems within three hundred years, you could reach the summit."
Chu Xiu returned the salute with cupped hands.
The other ghosts also congratulated him, and a ghost from the Immortal Palace asked, "I wonder what plans the fellow Daoist has next?"
Chu Xiu replied, "Crafting artifacts, entering seclusion for cultivation."
He wasn’t being evasive. He had already discovered that although this Death Qi was special, it was not some extraordinary out-of-this-world thing. The immortal cultivation realm is so wondrous, with qi hundreds or thousands of times more fierce and evil than this Death Qi, and naturally, there are corresponding artifacts.
He had previously obtained the inheritance for refining artifacts, possessed the Talent of Perfect Refining, and even spent a great deal to refine the upper-grade Ten Directions Nether Fire Array and Four Symbols Yin Yang Furnace, yet he hadn’t begun refining any artifacts, which was truly wasteful.
This moment was a good time to give it a try.
"Indeed," another ghost from the Immortal Palace, pleased by Chu Xiu’s words, thought for a moment and then said, "However, the materials required for upper-grade Dharma Artifacts are extremely rare. Does the fellow Daoist have preparations?"
Chu Xiu shook his head. The Immortal Palace ghost continued, "With the fellow Daoist’s capability, upon reporting to the Immortal Monarch, you could surely pass the assessment to become an ’Immortal Candidate’ and enjoy the support of our Immortal Palace. What do you think?"
Chu Xiu did not refuse, simply saying, "Then I thank the fellow Daoist."
If he could receive help from the Immortal Palace, his journey up the mountain would be much easier.
Half a year later was the agreed decisive battle with Ashtar; he did not have the time to slowly collect materials here.
Moreover, he intended to contact the upper echelons here to learn more about the Penglai Immortal Realm.
The Immortal Palace ghost gave him a token, inviting Chu Xiu to come to the Immortal Palace within the Inner Third Ring in ten days, coinciding with the return of an Immortal Monarch to preach the Dao.
This token was exclusively used by the Immortal Palace. With it, he could navigate freely in You City, without worrying about any City Entrance Fee.
Thanking and accepting the token, Chu Xiu bid farewell to the ghosts and headed towards the city outskirts to share his findings with Jiang Miaoyin.
Arriving at the outskirts, he saw Jiang Miaoyin standing in front of the Inheritance Immortal Stele, conversing with four people.
These four people were familiar to Chu Xiu; they were from the Celestial Mechanics Guild. He hadn’t expected them to also come to You City.
This puzzled Chu Xiu. Naturally, he wouldn’t attribute it to coincidence, but he wondered what conditions needed to be met to be chosen by You City.
On the other hand, upon seeing Chu Xiu approaching, the four from the Celestial Mechanics Guild suddenly turned around and knelt in front of Chu Xiu!
"Senior, please save our lives!"