Chapter Twenty-Eight: Forced Love Bears No Sweet Fruit

Zhou Qi walked back cautiously, following True Lord Tianxuan’s guidance to avoid the crowds along the way, until he finally spotted Long Feiyu. Long Feiyu, accompanied by four or five others, was locked in combat with several demon beasts. Hiding in the shadows, Zhou Qi watched Long Feiyu strike a demon beast to the ground with a single palm—his movements graceful and effortless. Zhou Qi realized that even with sheer physical strength, he wouldn’t stand a chance. Without letting himself be discovered, he slipped away.

Long Feiyu sensed Zhou Qi’s presence and was overjoyed. He quickly summoned his companions, following Zhou Qi’s trail. Zhou Qi regretted his miscalculation; he hadn’t expected Long Feiyu to have helpers, nor that his physical power would be so formidable. Now they were on his heels, impossible to shake off. Zhou Qi ran desperately, disregarding the low-level demon beasts he encountered. At last, he saw Han Qiaoman and several disciples from the Gate of Life and Death cautiously investigating the area.

“Sister, help me! Long Feiyu intends to harm me!” Zhou Qi shouted as he continued to flee.

Faintly, he heard voices behind him.

“Brother Feiyu, forcing things never brings happiness. Please stop pursuing Brother Zhou. You’ll meet someone better.”

“You misunderstand. I simply wish to invite Brother Zhou to join us…”

Zhou Qi kept running, unsure how vast this place was, feeling as though it would never end. On his way, he encountered numerous demon beasts darting about, but thanks to his remarkable speed, he avoided any conflict.

“Two hundred meters ahead to the left, there’s a teleportation array,” True Lord Tianxuan’s voice sounded in his mind.

Following the instruction, Zhou Qi soon discovered a teleportation array radiating white light, its destination unknown. Could this be the true path to the immortal’s abode?

He speculated that this place held nothing—no scent of medicine, no magical artifacts—only chaos and lost demon beasts. If there truly was an immortal’s dwelling, this teleportation array was likely the key.

Without hesitation, Zhou Qi stepped into the array, seeking fortune amidst danger.

A pitch-black spatial tunnel appeared before him, and he felt an immense force pulling him forward at incredible speed. This was the teleportation array. Looking around, he saw nothing but emptiness. Soon, a dazzling light shone ahead, drawing him toward it.

When he opened his eyes, a grand palace stood before him, seemingly forged from flawless white jade, exuding immortal aura. Atop it, four characters proclaimed “Holy Palace of the Medicine Immortal,” emanating an indescribable charm.

Ahead stood two stone pillars, each carved with two dragons coiling skyward, shrouded in mist as though ready to soar.

It was truly the immortal’s palace. Zhou Qi was overjoyed and rushed forward.

Suddenly, one pillar glowed, and the dragons upon it seemed to stir to life. Shocked, Zhou Qi stopped in his tracks, watching as the dragons struggled, the pillar shining ever brighter. Flesh and blood grew upon the dragons, and before long, one truly came alive. With a furious roar directed at the Holy Palace of the Medicine Immortal, it soared into the air and flew straight toward Zhou Qi.

The dragon blotted out the sky, its breath so fierce that Zhou Qi could barely stand. Stunned and unable to move, he saw the dragon’s massive head approach, its long fangs and drooling maw exuding a nauseating stench. Was this the end—would he be swallowed in one bite?

But the dreaded scene never came. The dragon’s head stopped level with Zhou Qi’s, its bronze eyes fixed intently upon him.

“Human, do you accept the trial of the Holy Palace of the Medicine Immortal?” The dragon spoke in human tongue, its words stirring a violent wind.

A trial? I came seeking treasure, and now I must take an exam?

Zhou Qi straightened himself and met the dragon’s gaze. “What if I accept? And what if I refuse?”

“Accept, and you live. Refuse, and you die,” the dragon replied.

“I accept.” There was no need to consider; he had no other choice.

“Go to that pillar and test your race and age,” the dragon instructed, pointing to another pillar before the palace.

Obeying, Zhou Qi approached the pillar, and a radiance enveloped him.

The light flickered and transformed into two lines of text: Human, fourteen years old, Ninth Layer of Qi Refinement.

Qualified for the trial.

“Congratulations, human. You are the tenth candidate. Take this token and enter.” With that, a token flew toward Zhou Qi. The dragon returned to the pillar, becoming once more a carving entwined with its companion.

Tenth candidate? So nine others came before me—are there more who entered? What trials await? Uneasy, Zhou Qi could only proceed into the palace.

Entering, a beam of light shone upon his token, which gleamed in response. The doors swung open, and Zhou Qi stepped inside.

A flash of light—a teleportation array. Before he could react, Zhou Qi was whisked away to a room. On the beam overhead were inscribed the words “Examination Room No. 10.” The air was thick with exotic fragrance; glancing around, countless medicinal herbs filled the space—perhaps a million in all. Each herb was accompanied by a detailed introduction: name, effects, alchemical uses.

A message came from the token: “From among a million herbs, identify one hundred thousand within a month. Pass, and you move on; fail, and you remain here forever. Time starts now.”

This… In his previous life, Zhou Qi dreaded rote memorization. To recognize one hundred thousand herbs in a month? While cultivators possessed spiritual awareness and enhanced memory, for those at the Qi Refinement stage, spiritual sense was only an aid. To succeed, he would have to rely on brute memorization. No wonder cultivators above the Golden Core weren’t allowed to participate—they had spiritual sense in abundance and many means to pass such tests.

Zhou Qi had no time to complain; he began to carefully identify each herb. Among them were many that enhanced soul power. True Lord Tianxuan urged him to refine them. Zhou Qi hesitated, but Tianxuan assured him that with so many herbs, a few missing would go unnoticed. Once his soul was restored, he would have ways to conceal the matter, and only then could he hope to compete against other souls. Besides, to pass this trial, he needed Tianxuan’s help; Zhou Qi’s own mind would never suffice.

Convinced, Zhou Qi succumbed, discreetly refining several herbs as he identified them, greatly delighting True Lord Tianxuan.

Meanwhile, disciples from the Gate of Life and Death and the Immortal Union Gate finally discovered the teleportation array.

Believing it led to the immortal’s abode, Long Feiyu stepped onto it. The array flashed several times and then dimmed, leaving him unmoved.

Could it be that the array required a cultivator’s spiritual power to activate? Would spirit stones work? But even opening a storage pouch required spiritual power—hardly safe. Long Feiyu surveyed the area and spotted a disciple with an honest, simple appearance.

“Brother, I suspect this array is powered by spiritual energy. Why not try attacking it with your spiritual power?” Long Feiyu said kindly.

The cultivator remembered the disciple who had died miserably upon entering and shook his head in refusal.

“Don’t worry. I believe whoever uses spiritual power will be teleported away. Once you’re sent, your spiritual energy won’t be drained further. If you’re the first to enter, you’ll seize the immortal’s legacy and have whatever you desire. If it were anyone else, I wouldn’t offer this chance, but I know you’re loyal to our sect, so I’m giving it to you, lest the Gate of Life and Death gains the upper hand.”