Using entries to cultivate immortality in chaotic times

"Back in those days, the situation was said to be quite complicated, as it was a time of chaos. Many surrounding countries and races were engaged in life and death battles. Da Xia, in order to win over talents from all over the world, extended the Official Road far and wide, proclaiming that anyone who set foot on the Official Road, regardless of their status, would be protected by Da Xia."

"No one was allowed to attack."

"Moreover, after iron-bloodedly executing millions, all the neighboring races and countries remembered the four characters 'Da Xia Official Road'."

"It was due to this national policy that Da Xia managed to draw in a great number of talents from other perished countries and races. Even today, on the high seats of the Da Xia imperial court, there are quite a few people from foreign lands, and even from the Devil Clan."

"Many people came forward to pledge their loyalty, and for a time, Da Xia's prestige was unparalleled."

"Back then, Da Xia's laws represented a lot of things; they showed Da Xia's attitude toward the outside world. The moment there was the slightest sign of softening, other races would find breaches."

"In the end, left with no choice, the then Holy Emperor of Da Xia expelled the Third Prince from the Imperial Family. Then, in the very center of the Capital, the prince was tortured to death on the execution stage with one thousand and twenty-four cuts."

"This was also the first prince since ancient times who was tortured to death for killing a rabbit."

"Since then, the law underwent a slight change. It was no longer about exterminating Nine Tribes but about being slowly sliced to death."

"Five hundred years have passed."

"The reputation of 'Da Xia Official Road' has been imprinted in the hearts of everyone. From young children to the elderly, all understood one thing: once you set foot on 'Da Xia Official Road,' your safety was absolute."

...

Chen Qiu nodded in understanding, but he did not speak. Instead, he looked around. The morning sun shone on him, warming his body, and he even felt that the injuries he sustained the night before were much lighter.

Perhaps due to the early morning, there weren't many people on the Official Road.

There were villagers with hoes over their shoulders, messengers riding fast horses, and Cultivators flying through the air with Sword Flight.

This world seemed to lack purely ordinary people.

Basically, every adult male had at least the Qi Refinement Realm level one Cultivation. Although this level of Cultivation couldn't extend life or strengthen the body, it ensured one had an Initial Entry.

On both sides of the Official Road, there were numerous spirit fields. At the moment, many villagers stood in the middle of these spirit fields, casting the 'Spring Rain Technique' to precisely irrigate their own fields with spiritually rich rainwater.

It all looked rather harmonious and joyful.

The Official Road was very wide, wide enough to accommodate eight carriages traveling side by side.

On both sides of the Official Road, every two steps there was a golden stone embedded in the surface of the road. According to Fat Long's explanation, these golden stones were Array Stones.

Whenever there was a surge of Spiritual Energy on the Official Road, the Array Stones would transmit the nearby scene to the City Lord Mansion of the closest city.

These Array Stones also formed a Formation that covered the entire Da Xia Country. This too, was something from five hundred years ago. At that time, it was said that it was impossible to set up such a large and complex formation.

Generally, a Formation is either round or square, used to protect some important industry, like a sect.

But, the Official Road of Da Xia Country was like a spider web.

To set up a Formation a hundred times more complex than a spider web was considered nearly impossible, until later a master of formations suddenly came up with an extremely perfect solution, and it was accomplished.

These Array Stones not only served the purpose of surveillance, but they also ensured that the Official Road remained undamaged. Moreover, when under attack, they would raise a protective barrier that enveloped the entire section of the Official Road, capable of blocking all attacks below the Golden Core Stage.

And the Array Stones buried under the surface of the Official Road would also activate quickly, causing the 'Wind Walking Skill' to cover the entire surface of the Official Road. The speed of travel on it would be twenty times faster than normal, allowing one to quickly escape from danger.

"It's evident."

Chen Qiu observed his surroundings. "The then Holy Emperor of Da Xia truly put a lot of effort into the Official Road five hundred years ago, really wanting to win over talents from all over."

"However—"

He slightly furrowed his brows, pointing to the part of the Official Road ahead that veered nearly sixty degrees to the right in confusion, "Why does the Official Road ahead turn around such a huge distance, about thirty zhang?"

The Official Road ahead inexplicably veered off to the right and then, after a distance of about thirty zhang, it looped back and continued straight ahead.

There were no mountains, no villages, no lakes around.

"""

What is the point of making such a detour for no reason?

"I don't know."

Fat Long shook his head: "Perhaps there's a spirit stone mine hidden under the original path, or maybe there was a village here that has since been relocated. I don't know such detailed information; my understanding of this world comes from rumors in the marketplace."

...

"We've arrived."

"That's the inn right ahead. The inn, like the Da Xia Official Road, is absolutely safe, and stopping for a warm meal won't be a problem."

Fat Long let out a long sigh of relief, his eyes brimming with anticipation as he looked at the nearby inn. Just past the inn was the market. As long as he could sell all of his treasures this time, he'd truly strike it rich!

Chen Qiu touched the storage bag concealed under his clothes and sized up the inn before him, which had a decently large footprint.

It was a wooden two-story building with a yard and a stable in the back.

The first floor for dining, the second floor for lodging; this was the standard layout for most inns. At a glance, it looked like there were more than twenty rooms available for travelers to stay in—not too small.

...

Fat Long walked into the inn with a face full of expectation. At this early hour, there were only two other tables occupied as not many people were about.

Autumn was deepening. Even though the sun was quite good today, the autumn wind carried a chill.

"Shopkeeper!"

"One serving of pressed duck, two bowls of mutton offal soup, three liang of beef, and two dry pancakes!"

After Fat Long confidently ordered, he turned to Chen Qiu with a grin and said, "This inn is semi-official. It's funded by civilians and endorsed by the government. Only decrees or appointments travel on the Da Xia Official Road, all secret orders don't take this route. Da Xia has its own methods."

"On ordinary days, it mainly serves for the food and lodging of travelers along the way."

Chen Qiu didn't speak but instead turned his head to look at the inn's doorway. The shopkeeper's cat was lying on a small wooden stool, basking in the sun. He was contemplating the road ahead; certainly, he wouldn't return to chopping wood.

Since he had encountered an "Initial Seven-colored Entry,"

it meant that even the heavens wanted him to embark on the Cultivation Path.

According to Fat Long, no matter which forces or sects one joins, or even becoming a private guard for a prominent family, one has to undergo "Spirit Communication Detection." It is a method that requires full cooperation from the subject and can reveal all the "entries" they possess.

And his entry must not be exposed.

The path of joining a sect is now closed to him.

As for being a Loose Cultivator... that's even harder, akin to a hellish start. Apart from anything else, Loose Cultivators don't receive the monthly Heavenly Dao Blessings from the "Da Xia Sect Ranking."

After some thought, there seems to be only one path left—establishing his own sect.

But with their current level of Cultivation...

"..."

After a long silence, Chen Qiu suddenly turned to look at Fat Long, the plump man voraciously devouring his food in a blur of motion. After another long moment of contemplation, he finally spoke.

"What are the conditions to establish a sect that is recognized by the Heavenly Dao?"

He planned to establish a proper sect, recognized by the Heavenly Dao, one that can enter the "Da Xia Sect Ranking" and participate in the battle for Sect Qi Fortune—not the kind of sect only known to oneself like Fat Long's.

Although he was far from being powerful enough to found a sect, that wasn't important. Just having the status of a nominal Sect Master was enough.

When he broke through the first layer of the Qi Refinement Realm, he found that by focusing internally, he could see many leaderboards enveloped in clouds and mist.

One that stood out among them was—

"Da Xia Sect Ranking."