Nameless Domain Arc Chapter Seven: Sect of Form and Manifestation

As night descended, Zhou Xuanhong, fully recovered from his injuries, opened his eyes and touched the unremarkable necklace around his neck. It was a low-grade spiritual artifact, capable of concealing one’s cultivation, acquired alongside that tattered, earth-yellow armor—a treasure he valued above all. He had obtained it during an exploration of a Jindan-stage dwelling with several itinerant cultivators, and it had become a key element in his early journey through the immortal realm.

Removing the necklace, Zhou Xuanhong’s aura surged forth, revealing his true strength: the peak of Qi Refining. Yes, this was his real cultivation. To have reached such a realm at nineteen, without joining a formal sect, marked him as a prodigy. Yet only Zhou Xuanhong knew that half of his cultivation owed itself to Xiaona. She possessed the Dark Yin Dao Physique, and after he took her primordial energy, had she been more gifted, perhaps she would have advanced directly to Foundation Establishment.

“It’s time to consider acquiring a Foundation Establishment Pill. Even with my aptitude, ascending to Foundation Establishment carries risk.”

He put the necklace back on, donned the white and blue robes of the Form Transformation Sect, and suppressed his aura to the sixth level of Qi Refining.

Stepping out, he headed toward the Mission Hall. The routines of the sect were already second nature to him, despite his youth. Having mingled with cultivators in the mundane world for years, he knew precisely where to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill.

There was nothing naïve or inexperienced about him; like a seasoned elder, he had fully integrated into the Form Transformation Sect.

The Mission Hall was where the sect dispensed assignments. No sect would raise disciples who did nothing, unless one possessed extraordinary talent worth nurturing—like Xiaona.

Sects operated with a systematic process much like imperial dynasties in the mortal world. The Mission Hall served as a workplace for disciples, though tasks were not mandatory. If you chose not to accept missions, your resources would be limited; but so long as you could endure a meager supply, no one would interfere.

Yet sects followed a strict law of survival of the fittest. The immortal realm abided by the harsh laws of nature. If you failed to meet certain requirements, you’d be expelled. Many of Zhou Xuanhong’s friends from the mundane world had been eliminated this way.

He knew the Form Transformation Sect’s requirement was cultivation speed—the most basic measure. Outer disciples who failed to break through to Foundation Establishment before eighty would be cast out.

For someone at the ninth level of Qi Refining, this posed no difficulty, but plans rarely keep pace with change. Zhou Xuanhong dared not guarantee he could advance on his own strength; what if he failed?

Zhou Xuanhong was cautious, never placing himself at risk, always striving to eliminate uncertainty. He was determined to obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill.

Truthfully, such pills weren’t rare. Difficult missions or certain sect events could yield them as rewards.

At night, twenty or so disciples lingered in the Mission Hall, some alone, others in small groups, selecting tasks or forming alliances.

Zhou Xuanhong’s arrival drew a few glances, but sensing his aura at the sixth level, they lost interest.

One youth with yellowed teeth approached, clasped his hands, and said, “Brother, you seem unfamiliar. Are you here to take a mission?”

Zhou Xuanhong returned the gesture, shaking his head, “Not necessarily. Just browsing. If you have something to say, speak plainly.”

The yellow-toothed youth laughed heartily, “You’re straightforward. I won’t beat around the bush. I’ve taken on a big job. Judging by your cultivation, you’re close to breaking through to late Qi Refining. How about joining me?”

Zhou Xuanhong sneered inwardly. He knew immediately the other harbored ill intent, seeing him as weak and new, hoping to set him up. The so-called “big job” was likely a trap.

But he showed no sign, replying, “Thank you for the invitation, but I don’t plan on leaving the sect soon. You’d best find someone else.”

——

“That’s a pity, then.”

After the yellow-toothed youth departed, Zhou Xuanhong memorized his face, manner, and aura—marking him as a future target. Anyone who dared plot against him had grown tired of living.

He surveyed the densely-packed mission lists and approached the counter, asking, “Senior sister, are there any missions that reward Foundation Establishment Pills?”

The attendant was a refined woman, her smile charming, her cultivation mid-stage Qi Refining—an outer disciple as well.

The gatekeepers were also outer disciples. Besides missions, one could take posts within the sect for a steady, though modest, salary—a safer path, especially for those with connections, whose work was easy and resources plentiful compared to those who toiled for every scrap.

The attendant looked puzzled, “Are you sure you want a mission with that reward? They’re rare, and most are dangerous. At your cultivation, by the time you need the pill, you might have saved enough spirit stones to buy one.”

Zhou Xuanhong laughed, “Just let me have a look. I may not take one, but I want to see how difficult they are.”

He took a jade slip, pressed it to his forehead, and instantly absorbed its contents.

The missions rewarding Foundation Establishment Pills were numerous. Zhou Xuanhong selected a few that piqued his interest:

Elder’s Mission: Venture to the Moss Pine Forest and harvest a Bone-Birth Flower. Reward: three Foundation Establishment Pills. [Bone-Birth Flower image]

Sect Mission: Kill a seventh-level Qi Refining disciple from the Corpse Shade Sect—reward, one pill; kill an eighth-level—two pills; ninth-level—three pills; peak Qi Refining—four pills. (No limit on number)

Sect Mission: Annihilate the bandits outside Lingbei City controlled by the Ghost Sect. Reward: two pills. (Proof required: Ghost Sect disciple token)

Personal Mission: Investigate the extermination of the Wang clan in Luoshui City. Provide clues—one pill; kill the murderer—two pills; capture alive—three pills. (Already taken)

Zhou Xuanhong’s lips curled into a cold smile: Clearly, this mission was posted by a Wang clan disciple within the Form Transformation Sect. He wondered whether it was a Foundation Establishment disciple or that Wang Li, the one with green-level talent, who had become a personal disciple of a sect elder. He’d need to find a way to kill him.

Returning the jade slip, Zhou Xuanhong sighed, “Senior sister, I see that investigation into the Wang clan extermination is quite appealing. Shame it’s already taken.”

She smiled, “It’s a popular mission. As soon as it’s posted, someone snatches it up. You’re too late.”

Leaving the Mission Hall, Zhou Xuanhong felt pity for the fellow who’d taken the Wang clan mission. As the true culprit of the massacre, he had left plenty of “evidence” at the scene. Should the investigation trace back to him, all his past efforts would have been for naught.

As evening deepened, Zhou Xuanhong wandered through several other halls. One, the Auxiliary Hall, especially intrigued him, opening his eyes to the possibilities for those from a loose cultivator background.

Cultivators could pursue alternate paths aside from their main practice—these were called auxiliary professions.

There were many: formations, alchemy, talisman crafting, artifact forging, music, cooking, spiritual medicine, and more. The main ones were formations, alchemy, talisman crafting, and artifact forging; the rest were less common.

The Auxiliary Hall was a special place, with sections for each profession, each recruiting disciples with the requisite talent.

Auxiliary cultivation demanded talent, but it also consumed time that would otherwise be spent on personal advancement.

——

Yet disciples from the Auxiliary Hall lived far better than ordinary ones. For example, if you found Foundation Establishment Pills too expensive and didn’t want to take dangerous missions, you could gather the ingredients and seek help from an alchemy disciple to refine them.

If the attempt failed, you’d be compensated for half the materials. If it succeeded, and six pills were produced, the alchemist would take half as commission, leaving you three pills for free.

For Zhou Xuanhong, strength was paramount. Even if he had auxiliary talent, he wouldn’t waste time unless the profession enhanced his combat power.

Yellow-level talent was the lowest; time was already tight. If auxiliary pursuits delayed cultivation, he might never advance.

Despite its imposing exterior, the Auxiliary Hall’s interior was lively and noisy, filled with hawking voices—no trace of immortal serenity here.

“Come, come, come! Fresh from the furnace, top-grade Spirit-Nurturing Pills! Greatly increase the purity of your spiritual energy! Only five low-grade spirit stones each! Don’t miss out!”

“Need help with formations? From spirit-gathering arrays to soundproof arrays for amorous nights, we do it all—including refining formation disks!”

“Buying large quantities of spiritual herbs! Honest prices!”

Zhou Xuanhong entered to sell herbs. He had many, mostly low-grade, accumulated over years in the mundane world and as spoils from the Wang clan. He mixed some together, making it impossible for anyone to suspect their origin.

He sold twenty-three herbs for thirty-three spirit stones—all low-grade. The rarer ones he kept hidden; at his current displayed cultivation, such discretion was basic survival.

By the time he returned to his quarters, it was well past bedtime. The youngest disciples were already asleep, unable to treat cultivation as rest. Some greedy boys even roasted fish by the river below.

Today was recruitment day for the immortal sect. Besides Yi Xiaozhi and his companions, other inner disciples had accepted recruitment missions in major cities within the sect’s sphere—tasks reserved for Foundation Establishment disciples.

A late-stage Qi Refining disciple passed by, discussing the day’s events with another.

“I wonder if the Grand Elder managed to rescue that prodigy named Xiaona?”

“I hope not. Even a disciple with green-level talent gets more resources than us, never mind blue-level ones. I’ve never heard of pink-level, let alone red.”

“Brother Li, who was guarding the gate this month, said the prodigy seems to have a husband—a fellow Form Transformation Sect disciple named Zhou Xuanhong. I’d like to see what a cultivator who’s slept with the prodigy is like compared to us.”

“Hahaha!”

Zhou Xuanhong entered his room without a change of expression. A decision formed in his heart. As his eyes closed, the murderous intent buried deep within was hidden by the night’s darkness.