Drastic changes in appearance are considered minor; becoming utterly deranged, turning neither human nor ghost, isn't unheard of either.

Lou Yi shook his head inwardly; he had no regard for this method.

Injecting the essence blood of unknown mystical creatures into one's body—this was unacceptable to him. Would you still be considered a pure-blooded human then?

He valued the purity of his own bloodline.

After learning about Yan Kingdom's Blood Fusion Technique, Lou Yi inquired with the attendant about the location of the 'Seeking Immortality Hall'.

Sects like the True Blood Sect usually establish a Seeking Immortality Hall in every city of the Yan Kingdom to recruit new blood and nurture disciples.

The storybook tales of masters descending from the mountain to seek apprentices are inefficient, and such occurrences aren't common in this world.

"Follow the main road straight east for about five or six miles," said the attendant, "You arrived just in time, as tomorrow is the Seeking Immortality Hall's monthly recruitment day."

After chatting for a while, when new customers entered, the attendant hurried off to serve them.

Having eaten and drunk their fill, Lou Yi and his companions headed for the guestrooms in the rear courtyard of the inn.

Lou Yi's room was about twenty square meters, rather compact. Upon entering, one would see a square rosewood table, with a spout-lipped teapot and two teacups resting on it.

In the left corner stood a plum vase reaching chest height.

On the right was a white folding screen with the characters 'Feel at Home' boldly written across it.

Behind the screen was a carved wooden bed, complete with a mosquito net and cotton quilt.

The room was permeated with a faint camphor fragrance, fresh and pleasant, indicating the innkeeper's meticulous care.

"Sir, here's your basin!"

The attendant, along with another man, brought in a large wooden tub, its diameter a full five feet.

Then they carried in several smaller tubs filled with hot water.

Lou Yi closed the door and entered the tub for a bath, soaking in water that rose to his chest, feeling all the fatigue of his recent travels melt away.

His mind was awash with thoughts.

Wei Youdao, Zhou Bufeng, Lu Yang, Wu Biao left in Wangjiang... the bizarre fish and giant turtle encountered in the river... the fox sage and wasp demon met across the river... Ping'an Village, where combat readiness is constant yet the customs are simple... the kind and selfless Immortal Master Xia...

Scenes and figures flickered through his mind like a revolving lantern.

Lou Yi's eyes were half-open, half-closed, between sleep and wakefulness, finally allowing himself a rare moment of relaxation.

Being the strongest among the Wangjiang group, Lou Yi bore the greatest burden, and the Attribute Panel couldn't fully relieve him of it.

'Once I deliver Shi Caifeng and her brother to the True Blood Sect, I'll head to the Zhao Kingdom to seek my own destiny with immortality,' Lou Yi thought to himself.

'Tap, tap, tap.'

Suddenly, a faint sound of footsteps approached outside Lou Yi's door.

Lou Yi's awareness sharpened instantly.

Upon seeing the long shadow cast on the carved wooden door, he couldn't help but shake his head.

This girl, is she getting addicted to teasing others lately?

"Brother, do you need a scrub? I'm the best at that..." came a deliberately soft voice, nearly making Lou Yi burst into laughter.

"I don't need a scrub, but I could use some company for a bath," Lou Yi replied earnestly.

The outside fell silent for a moment, the person possibly contemplating how to respond.

A moment later.

'Creak.'

The door slowly opened a crack, and Lou Yi couldn't help but feel invigorated.

This girl was quite daring, making Lou Yi see her in a new light.

'Bang!'

However, just as the door opened a fist's width, it was abruptly closed again, followed by hurried footsteps retreating.

"Still battling a Heart Demon," Lou Yi remarked helplessly.

He forcefully suppressed the slight agitation in his Qi-Blood and began to enjoy the immersion in the hot water.

...

The next day.

Early in the morning, Lou Yi and his two companions set off from the inn, backpacks on their shoulders, following the main road east.

Soon, they spotted a rather eye-catching mansion.

It was constructed of red bricks and green tiles, flanked by two stone lions at the entrance, and the plaque bearing the words 'Seeking Immortality Hall' shone with golden brilliance.

In front of the Seeking Immortality Hall, a serpentine queue had already formed on the square.

At a glance, there were likely seven or eight hundred people, all youngsters aged between eleven or twelve and in their twenties.

On either side of the square stood even more elder-like figures, all eagerly awaiting with anxious expressions, akin to parents waiting for their children during college entrance exams.

"Stay in line, don't wander around, and keep your voices down!"

Upon seeing the arrival of Lou Yi and the two newcomers, a knife-wielding guard maintaining order walked over to warn them, his expression cold.

Seeing no apparent restrictions, Lou Yi joined the queue with Shi Caifeng and her brother, listening to the whispers of conversation from the people ahead.

"This is my third time here, my last chance. If I still can't awaken the True Blood Talent, then I'll never tread the path of immortality in this life..."

"Same for me; my family has already prepared second-tier Python Demon essence blood. But who wouldn't prefer awakening their ancestral True Blood rather than using demon blood?"

"It's tough. Without the True Blood Talent, I'll have to return home to inherit ten thousand acres of fertile land. A life with a foreseeable end is truly uninteresting..."

Lou Yi and the two stood silently among the crowd, waiting quietly.

As time passed, another several hundred people queued up behind them.

Many in the crowd appeared travel-worn and weary, likely having journeyed from afar like them.

As the sun climbed higher in the sky, a dull bell tolled.

Over a dozen guards of the Seeking Immortality Hall positioned themselves at the end of the queue, driving away those who wanted to come closer.

"Shoo, shoo, come back next month!"

"Sir, we traveled for three days from the countryside to reach here. The roads aren't good; please give us a chance..." an old man pleaded bitterly with a boy full of innocence by his side.

"Since you know the roads are bad, why didn't you set out four days earlier?" the guard replied coldly, showing no sign of leniency.

Seeing a guard raise his machete, the old man, though unwilling, could only leave sadly with his grandson.

At the same time, a loud male voice resonated from within the Seeking Immortality Hall: "The test begins."

The first person in line stepped through the main gate into the hall.

Thanks to his impressive eyesight, Lou Yi saw the person place a silver ingot onto a tray beside a wooden rack before entering.

'They charge silver too?' Lou Yi thought, but it made sense upon reconsideration.

After all, those coming for the tests were surely cultivators; they wouldn't work for ordinary people for free.

From the ingot's shape, it appeared to weigh about eight or nine taels.

After asking someone ahead in line to confirm, they learned the testing fee was eight taels of silver.

Twenty or so breaths after the first person entered.

"Next."

Immediately after, the young man exited listlessly through a side door, his expression suggesting he hadn't passed.

"Next."

...

"Next."

Another seventy or eighty went in, and judging by their reactions, none seemed to meet the requirements for being recruited by the Immortal Sect.

...

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