Cultivation towards immortality, starting from being a fisherman

"Unnatural! Too unnatural!"

"There's something wrong with these data!"

After going through all the records related to the Immortal Ascension Conference in Golden Sparrow City, Su Ping fell into deep thought.

He didn't expect the next two days would be any better.

The number of people tested on the first day of the Immortal Ascension Conference is usually the highest, and so is the number of those who qualify, normally speaking!

Using the Detection Array, without any dallying, a test can be completed every five to ten seconds.

It might seem like testing so many people would take a long time, but the function of the Detection Array is to determine if any of the people standing in the inner circle have a Spirit Root reaction.

Therefore, there are also unspoken rules when it comes to testing for the Spirit Root.

Seed candidates cultivated by noble families, like the City Lord Mansion's Qilin junior, the Ji Family daughter, or other adopted boys and girls who started Qi cultivation early, can be tested one group per person.

Non-core side branch members are tested in groups of ten.

Those qualified to live within Golden Sparrow City are grouped twenty per test.

Those from outside the city are in groups of thirty, and it's not odd for even larger groups of forty to fifty people from farther places to huddle together for testing.

The lucky farm boy was discovered in a group test of thirty.

Then, they were regrouped for multiple tests, initially identifying them in the final one-on-one test.

"Has an Evil Cultivator made a move in advance against those with Spirit Roots?"

"But, if they don't have an array, how do they determine who has a Spirit Root? If they just kill indiscriminately, the Immortal Sect and City Lord Mansion couldn't possibly have not heard a thing!"

"And those pre-determined Spirit Root seeds found outside in the towns are without exception adopted and heavily protected by the noble families, and also registered by the City Lord Mansion."

Su Ping frowned slightly, and as he pondered more about the issue, he felt something was amiss and summoned the maid to bring Ji Hu to him.

Ji Hu was considered to be Su Ping's half-trusted aide in Golden Sparrow City.

He was also one of the high-ranking individuals here, a local tyrant among local tyrants.

Su Ping received a large number of case files from Ji Hu.

"Has the infant mortality rate risen slightly over the past year?" Su Ping asked softly after reviewing the files, expressing his doubt.

Ji Hu was slightly startled and nodded,

"Indeed, it has increased a bit compared to before. But many towns underreport every year. Perhaps the constables sent out last year were more diligent, so they reported more truthfully?"

Su Ping didn't respond to Ji Hu's words.

He knew that in a place like Golden Sparrow City, Ji Hu's explanation was very common.

Even within the city, the City Lord Mansion might not be able to clearly account for how many people have died or disappeared this year.

Often, the approach to disappearance cases is to give up if not found, and they manage it by accepting there's nothing that can be done.

Asking them to investigate why the infant mortality rate outside the city is abnormal is truly a difficult task for them.

Perhaps, it's an overcaution?

Su Ping felt there was a connection as he looked at these case files.

"Let's make a bold guess!"

"Judging from the conduct of those constables outside, unless the situation was too big to cover up, would they actually report these infant mortality cases proactively?"

"I'm afraid the mortality rate is even higher than what's seen in the case files!"

"The worst possibility is not Evil Cultivators but some other terrible anomalous occurrence, resulting in mortals with Spirit Roots being killed in advance!"

"Looking at the numbers, it's likely that not only Low Grade Spirit Roots are targeted, but inferior ones as well."

"That's what's leading to the situation today."

"And perhaps... the sudden decision by the Immortal Sect to hold the Immortal Ascension Conference so hastily is also explained!"

"However, since everything inside the city seems normal, the good news is that these anomalies have only occurred in isolated areas and have not spread to the city."

"The bad news is... these anomalies are also troubling for the Immortal Sect, and they have chosen to retreat rather than confront!"

Having organized his thoughts, Su Ping dismissed Ji Hu.

Then, taking advantage of the night, he returned to Frost Moon Villa; spurred by a sense of crisis, he spent the night in the Cultivation Room preparing Thunder Fire Pearls and Netherworld Fire Technique materials.

He also resolved that after the Immortal Ascension Conference ended, he would immediately elevate the Self-Destruction Rat project on his agenda to enhance his combat capabilities as much as possible!

Despite the shadow that fell over his heart,

the Immortal Ascension Conference proceeded as usual.

In the following two days, the number of participants awaiting the test dwindled.

By noon on the third day, one had to wait several minutes to gather a group for testing.

Boom!

The sound of the copper gong resonated through Golden Sparrow City once again.

Accompanied by the moonlight.

"Midnight has arrived! The Immortal Ascension Conference has concluded!"

The City Lord stood up, announced the end of the conference to the crowd below, and waved his hand to signal the staff to begin clearing the venue.

Meanwhile, the chefs started lighting fires to cook, preparing a feast to reward those who had been busy for three days.

Su Ping also stood up, but instead of leaving, he turned to the two Outer Sect cultivators standing behind him, waiting for him.

And the line of qualified practitioners behind them with an array of expressions.

Over the course of the three-day Immortal Ascension Conference, there were only eight who qualified!

And half of them were from the city!

Considering the increase in population eligible for testing, this was clearly not scientifically sound.

The Immortal Cultivation World isn't like Water Blue Star; it doesn't urbanize.

The majority of the population is spread out through numerous large and small villages and towns.

Even though sometimes the nobility in cities intentionally delay those with a Spirit Root from attending the Immortal Ascension Conference, leading to slightly more qualified individuals from the city at certain conferences,

there has never been a time when it was this many, occupying half the proportion!

"You all... stay at the City Lord Mansion for now,"

after some thought, Su Ping decided to take a safer approach:

"Before the Immortal Boat arrives to fetch you, do not go out! Spend your time in the City Lord Mansion studying literacy and learning the rules of the Immortal Sect with a teacher."

"Furthermore, I request the City Lord to strengthen the guard, and be wary of any crazed Evil Cultivators who might cause trouble."

The City Lord nodded repeatedly upon hearing this, as he lacked experience in taking care of the qualified individuals and eagerly agreed upon Su Ping's advice.

When night deepened, he even called in a camp of soldiers robust in Qi and blood to station in the front courtyard of the City Lord Mansion.

On the city walls, all the torches were lit, and huge oil lamps were also ignited on the tall buildings.

Bathing the entire residence in light as bright as day.

Clearly, to show his importance, the City Lord was really sparing no expense.

The expensive lamp oil burned in those large lamps came from a type of Sea Beast and was not cheap at all.

Su Ping also remained seated in the lotus position in a quiet room in the City Lord Mansion, and commanded the Spiritual Rats, White and Grey, to take turns remaining alert.

The night passed without incident.

Just as Su Ping finished his cultivation, ready to change into his Fishing Man outfit and head to the Fishing Point to wait for refresh,

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, through White's perception, Su Ping noticed a humanoid creature shrouded in black fog approaching the mansion's backyard.

This black fog instinctively triggered a sense of disgust in the Spiritual Rats; it was clearly up to no good!

What was surprising was that when this black fog crossed the backyard wall, not a single soldier or martial artist on guard noticed this anomaly!

It seemed as if the black fog possessed the ability to bewilder the mind!

"It's approaching the backyard!"

"Is it trying to get close to those who qualified?"

"Is there really an Evil Cultivator unafraid of death coming over?"

Su Ping pondered for a moment, gauging the difference in power between himself and this black fog entity.

The adversary was at most at the Second Layer of Qi Cultivation, while he was at the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation and also the Third Layer of Body Cultivation as a Body Cultivator.

In this battle, the advantage was his!

Su Ping slapped on an Invisibility Talisman and, accompanied by White and Grey, rushed over.