The Guiding Immortal Envoy immediately glared, putting on a look of righteous indignation: “How is this stealing? We’re all family here, I’m just picking it up to take a look. Just a look!”

“This isn’t stealing?” William Thompson said helplessly, “Fine… five Essence-Nourishing Pills.”

The Guiding Immortal Envoy curled his lip: “Only one!”

“Four!”

“Two!”

“Three!”

“Two!”

“They’re yours!” William Thompson gritted his teeth. He took two Essence-Nourishing Pills from the Guiding Immortal Envoy, cursing angrily under his breath, “You old skinflint!”

But the Guiding Immortal Envoy ignored him, happily grabbing the digital camera and running off into the distance.

William Thompson picked up the Essence-Nourishing Pills and walked toward the Spirit-Gathering Array the Guiding Immortal Envoy had set up for him. With the Spirit-Gathering Array and the “Collection of Spirit-Gathering Techniques,” the speed at which spiritual energy gathered was simply astonishing.

Sitting cross-legged in the array, he glanced over at the old farmer from northern Shaanxi not far away, who was drooling as he fiddled with his newly acquired digital camera. William Thompson swallowed an Essence-Nourishing Pill and began cultivating according to the energy circulation route recorded in the “Collection of Spirit-Gathering Techniques.”

As for safety, William Thompson didn’t need to worry. With the protection of the Guiding Immortal Envoy, his bargain master, there shouldn’t be any problems. After all, the Guiding Immortal Envoy himself was a late-stage Grand Ascension expert. Although not yet an immortal, he still had an official status, didn’t he? Ordinary immortals wouldn’t dare to disturb him.

Every Guiding Immortal Envoy in each realm is held by a Grand Ascension expert from the Immortal Realm, because the closer you get to the Immortal-Birthing Lake, the denser the spiritual energy in the air becomes. For those who haven’t yet reached the immortal stage, this is extremely beneficial. But those who have truly become immortals don’t care about a little extra spiritual energy—after all, the entire Immortal Realm is full of it. That’s why the position of Guiding Immortal Envoy is hotly contested by every Grand Ascension expert. Every hundred years, the Immortal Realm holds a martial arts tournament, with all participants being Grand Ascension experts from various sects. Only the champion is qualified to become the Guiding Immortal Envoy.

So, the Guiding Immortal Envoy’s other identity is the number one Grand Ascension expert in the Immortal Realm, a target courted by all the major powers.

The strength of an immortal, to put it simply, depends on the quantity and quality of immortal spiritual energy stored in your body before the Guiding Immortal Light forges your immortal golden body. So, if a cultivator can store enough high-quality immortal spiritual energy in their body before becoming immortal, it’s entirely possible to directly become a High Immortal, a Golden Immortal, or even a Great Luo Golden Immortal, rather than just an ordinary immortal. That’s why there are legends in the mortal realm of achieving Great Luo Golden Immortal status with a mortal body.

According to that boastful and stingy master, every Guiding Immortal Envoy, upon becoming immortal, at the very least achieves High Immortal status—there’s never been a Guiding Immortal Envoy who became just an ordinary immortal. The most impressive was the third Guiding Immortal Envoy, who directly achieved Great Luo Golden Immortal status and is now at the level of an Immortal Lord.

You should know, there are only about ten Immortal Lords in the entire Immortal Realm. So, the whole Immortal Realm is extremely respectful—one could even say protective—of the Guiding Immortal Envoy.

Watching that wrinkled old face say these things with a lecherous expression, William Thompson felt a wave of nausea.

Sitting cross-legged in the Spirit-Gathering Array, William Thompson felt the spiritual energy surging into his body, while the power contained in the Essence-Nourishing Pill also crashed around inside him, working together with the spiritual energy in the air to constantly forge and clear his not-so-spacious meridians. With each cycle of spiritual power through his body, his meridians widened a bit, allowing more spiritual energy to flow, and likewise, more could be stored and used. Although there was a stinging sensation from time to time, William Thompson knew that was the process of spiritual power transforming his body.

When the power of the Essence-Nourishing Pill in his body was exhausted, William Thompson popped another one into his mouth and continued to regulate his breathing.

This round of cultivation took more than ten days, as William Thompson learned from the watch he wore on his wrist.

When he finished, William Thompson opened his eyes and could clearly feel a huge difference from before. If his meridians used to be like a stream, now they could be called a great river.

His skin had also become delicate and rosy, so pale you could almost see the blood vessels beneath. Whenever he moved, his bones crackled loudly.

William Thompson was delighted: “Haha, now I can be considered an expert! When I return to Earth, I’ll puff out my chest, kingly aura radiating everywhere, and all the petty villains will bow down, beauties from every family flocking to me…”

“That’s just the stench from not bathing for dozens of days!” The Guiding Immortal Envoy’s voice sounded inappropriately from behind.

William Thompson didn’t talk back, but laughed happily: “Master, what level have I reached now?”

The Guiding Immortal Envoy looked him over carefully and said, “Not bad, to reach the early stage of Foundation Establishment in such a short time. Congratulations…”

“I’m already an expert?” William Thompson asked in surprise.

The Guiding Immortal Envoy smiled slightly: “You’ve officially stepped onto the path of cultivation.”

……

William Thompson curled his lip: “So can I beat that so-called Vinous-throated Parrotbill now?”

“In theory, you should be able to…” The Guiding Immortal Envoy stroked his beard and said.

“I’m off to get my revenge!” William Thompson said happily, then turned and leapt into the forest behind him.