The two of them then began to chat idly. Of course, though it was called a conversation, most of the time it was that young man talking while Ian Quinn listened attentively. Whenever he encountered something he didn’t understand, he would ask questions. The young man was not annoyed at all; on the contrary, he was delighted to have someone to talk to, and once he started, he spoke endlessly like a river in full flow.

Thus, from the other’s words, Ian Quinn learned quite a few things he had wanted to know, and finally gained a general understanding of the cultivation world.

For example, the powers in the cultivation world can generally be divided into three types: cultivation sects, cultivation clans, and rogue cultivators.

Among them, the cultivation sects are the main force, possessing the most terrifying strength, and can be called the stabilizing pillars of the cultivation world. The cultivation clans come next, but except for a few great clans with ancient inheritances, the vast majority of cultivation clans are far inferior to the sects and are merely their vassals.

The reason for this involves the origins of the cultivation clans.

In short, cultivation clans are bound and connected by bloodline as their means of inheritance. Their origins are untraceable, but the vast majority were formed when disciples of cultivation sects left the mountain, started families, and, after generations of inheritance, gradually took shape.

Since their ancestors were disciples of cultivation sects, there is naturally a very close relationship between the two. For example, whenever a sect recruits new disciples, it will give priority to those from the clans attached to it.

In daily life, the sects provide protection for their affiliated clans, and conversely, if the sect encounters danger, its clans will act as a protective barrier.

In short, the two depend on each other—if one prospers, both prosper; if one suffers, both suffer.

“So, for people like us, who enter the sect as ordinary mortals through the entrance examination, even if we obtain the qualification to join, we simply can’t compare to those from cultivation clans,” Quentin Hughes said here, sighing, his face full of melancholy.

“Why? Since you passed the exam and obtained the qualification, would the sect still show favoritism?” Ian Quinn’s eyes showed confusion.

“I don’t know if there’s favoritism, but those clan disciples have a much easier time joining than we do.” As Quentin Hughes spoke, his face showed indignation.

“Much easier than us? What do you mean by that?”

“You don’t know?” The young man was a bit surprised: “To open your spiritual sense, you have to study the ‘Seeking Immortality Manual’. Only when your internal energy reaches a certain level will the sect value you. However, the ‘Seeking Immortality Manual’ is not easy to cultivate. If you make a slight mistake in channeling your energy, it’s as painful as being bitten by ten thousand ants. If you grit your teeth and persist, it’s like walking on blades or plunging into boiling oil…”

“I know that, of course.”

A bitter smile appeared on Ian Quinn’s face. To have made it this far, he had suffered countless hardships over more than ten years. He was well aware of how difficult the ‘Seeking Immortality Manual’ was. Otherwise, if everyone could pursue the path to immortality, in a hundred years, in the vast Wei Chi City, he wouldn’t be the only one to pass the sect’s entrance exam.

The reason is simple: others just can’t endure that life-and-death pain.

“Exactly. For us ordinary mortals, cultivating the ‘Seeking Immortality Manual’ is extremely difficult. But for those clan disciples, it’s much easier.”

“Why is that?”

Ian Quinn’s face still showed confusion.

“Looks like you really don’t know.” Quentin Hughes sighed, “The ‘Seeking Immortality Manual’ was originally created because spiritual roots are rare, but the cultivation process is too painful. At first, there was no choice, but after so many years, cultivators naturally didn’t just let things be, so they came up with many ways to compensate.”

“How do they compensate?”

The more Ian Quinn listened, the more curious he became. Coming from a poor family, he naturally knew nothing about these cultivation world secrets.

“They use pills to assist in cultivation.” The young man Quentin Hughes still looked indignant. “Those clan disciples are cared for by their elders. When they cultivate the ‘Seeking Immortality Manual’, their families provide all kinds of spiritual pills and elixirs. After taking them, not only can they greatly speed up their internal energy cultivation, but even the pain they should endure is greatly alleviated.”

“Alleviate the pain?”

“That’s right. The pills in the cultivation world are truly miraculous. The ‘Stabilizing Qi Pill’ they take was developed specifically for the ‘Seeking Immortality Manual’. After generations of improvement, it’s now extremely effective. It’s said that as long as you take it, nine-tenths of the pain you’d suffer during cultivation is eliminated.”

Chapter 4: Miraculous Elixirs and Diligent Effort

“But that’s a privilege only disciples of cultivation clans can enjoy. People like us, born as ordinary mortals, can only look on with envy.”

Ian Quinn fell silent. This was the first time he had learned this secret. He had always thought that to be accepted by the sect, one had to endure countless hardships. He never imagined there was such a shortcut in the world.

Not to mention that the ‘Stabilizing Qi Pill’ could speed up cultivation—just the fact that it could remove the pain was already a huge unfairness.

For more than ten years, every time he circulated his internal energy, it was a fate worse than death. Once, he even bit through his teeth, while those clan disciples advanced smoothly, reaching this stage with ease.