Ye Wen finally managed to swallow the tea in his mouth, looking up at the dark mage who presented as anything but a gentleman, utterly surprised by the sudden turn of phrase.

Had the pleasantries ended just as soon as he was seated? Was a fight about to break out?

He wasn't afraid of the Dark Mage suddenly attacking. Right now, he could summon the Zixiao Sword with virtually no preparation time. Compared to magic that required incantations, Ye Wen’s martial arts execution speed was leagues ahead.

"Sir misunderstands!" Mudrak’s expression hadn't changed; his bearing and even his relaxed posture remained utterly unaltered. "What I mean is, having cultivated such formidable power, you must have invested a considerable amount of time and effort. Surely you wouldn't wish for it all to vanish into nothingness one day?"

Ye Wen finally understood, yet he still couldn't grasp the mage's ultimate intent. Was this Dark Mage planning to use him as a test subject for some sort of artificial vampire creation?

"What exactly are you trying to say?"

Mudrak smiled. He wasn't afraid of Ye Wen refusing; he was afraid of the man attacking without even listening! Frankly, Mudrak was wary of this individual who appeared young but whose true strength remained opaque. Otherwise, true to his nature, he would have simply obliterated him rather than offering tea and polite hospitality.

"I hear from Mr. Liao that life for your Eastern cultivators has grown increasingly difficult over the past few centuries. The scarcity of Heaven and Earth's spiritual energy makes it hard for those who rely on it to practice in ordinary places. In fact..." Mudrak fiddled with his ring—the obsidian gem seemed capable of absorbing everything—"the lack of spiritual energy has reached a point that threatens the very survival of cultivators!"

Ye Wen’s teacup trembled slightly, a subtle motion barely perceptible, but it caused Mudrak to smile smugly, believing he had struck a nerve.

Eastern cultivators had always pursued eternal life as their ultimate goal. However, achieving this on Earth had become impossible, so every one of them hoped to ascend and reach the legendary Celestial Realm to continue their pursuit of longevity.

According to ancient Eastern lore, eons ago, those cultivators could reach the state of immortality—achieving the body of an Immortal—right on Earth. But as time passed and spiritual energy dwindled, cultivating into an Immortal on Earth became impossible. Thus, the goal of Eastern cultivators shifted to ascending to the Celestial Realm. Mudrak found this concept entirely incomprehensible. He believed the diminishing spiritual energy on Earth had essentially cut off the possibility for Eastern cultivators to become Immortals, deeming the supposed ascension to be mere self-consolation fabricated by the Eastern people.

In other words, Mudrak himself did not believe in the phenomenon of ascension. Hearing from Liao Tong that no one had ascended in the last few centuries only solidified Mudrak’s conviction.

This meant that Eastern cultivators seeking longevity had only one recourse: pursuing other methods. Yet, one crucial issue made the situation for these cultivators deeply awkward.

The gradual scarcity of Heaven and Earth's spiritual energy not only prevented cultivators from practicing in ordinary areas but also began to negatively affect their cultivation and lifespan if they remained there too long. In their own words, they became tainted by too many impurities, affecting their intrinsic spiritual energy... Today's Earth not only had less spiritual energy but also an increasing concentration of harmful substances in the air. For cultivators striving to keep their bodies pure, such an environment was akin to dropping an ordinary person into a highly polluted zone after a nuclear blast.

Perhaps this was an exaggeration, but the general situation was thus, placing Eastern cultivators in an extremely awkward predicament. This was one reason why these cultivators were rarely seen moving about.

Ye Wen was unaware of these specifics; he could only deduce the information he needed from Mudrak’s scattered remarks, and the initial findings were hardly encouraging.

Liao Tong noticed Ye Wen frowning and assumed the senior was seriously considering their proposal. If not now, then when to press the advantage?

"Senior, since you have emerged into the world, I presume you've felt that elevating your cultivation further has become difficult, yet the ephemeral path of ascension remains distant. Are you perhaps out searching for a successor?"

Ye Wen glanced up but offered neither confirmation nor denial. However, his silence led Liao Tong to believe the senior had implicitly agreed with his conjecture.

This was not strange; Eastern cultivators placed great importance on legacy. Whenever one felt their end approaching, they would venture out to find a disciple to inherit their mantle. Otherwise, he couldn't fathom any reason why such a powerful senior would venture into the secular world, especially since prolonged stays in the mundane realm were detrimental to a cultivator's power.

"In my observation, Senior's cultivation is already rare under heaven. If you could reach that place to cultivate in seclusion, it might not be impossible to glimpse the path to ascension. However, the established sects of the current cultivation world occupy those prime cultivation spots, refusing entry to ordinary cultivators like us. It is utterly tyrannical, yet they claim to be righteous!"

Liao Tong’s words caused Ye Wen’s brow to furrow again. "That place? Where is that? Is there some mysterious Feng Shui treasure land in the Central Plains where all the powerful cultivators hide away to practice?"

Ye Wen’s guess might be right or wrong, but Liao Tong’s statement finally provided a sliver of useful information.

"Given your high cultivation, Senior must have cultivated in seclusion for three or four hundred years. If you cannot enter that place to cultivate, your lifespan must be dwindling! Forgive my directness, Senior, but please do not take offense..."

Ye Wen raised a hand in a gesture of invitation, then sipped his tea slowly, waiting for the man to utter something astonishing.

"Since the current cultivation world shuns inheritors from minor sects and rogue cultivators like us, why not discard those original rigid rules and seek an alternative path elsewhere!"

A thought flashed violently through Ye Wen’s mind, and he seemed to grasp something. "And so you became a Necromancer?"

Liao Tong chuckled. "Spiritual energy in this world is increasingly scarce, and it is the most crucial element for us cultivators. But other powers have barely diminished, especially the power of the Dead, which never fades!" As he spoke, he spread his palm proudly, muttering an obscure, incomprehensible chant. A ball of phosphorescent fire ignited in his hand.

This eerie fire, tinted with a sickly blue-green mixed with ashen gray, sent a chilling sensation through Ye Wen. It offered none of the comforting heat expected of ordinary flames.

"I dedicated thirty years to meticulous research and finally devised a method to convert the power of the Dead into spiritual energy. Although the expenditure of Dead energy does not scale proportionally to the spiritual energy gained, the power of the Dead is inexhaustible, while spiritual energy is not..." Therefore, no matter how great the consumption, it didn't matter!"

As Liao Tong spoke, Ye Wen couldn't help but feel that his method sounded suspiciously like the heretical arts described in novels.

Indeed, Liao Tong admitted, "I know what you are thinking, Senior, but the current situation compels one to act this way... I am merely trying to survive!"

Liao Tong had labored diligently for over four hundred years. After about three hundred years, he felt his progress stall. Unless he could enter the area monopolized by the major sects of the cultivation world for dedicated practice, he might not extend his lifespan or further his cultivation, nor get any closer to the path of ascension.

Unfortunately, he was originally a rogue cultivator; though he later joined a sect, his school was weak, and the other members lacked sufficient talent. After centuries, only he remained.

A weak faction meant no voice. The major sects justified their exclusivity by stating, "Spiritual energy resources are limited; priority must be given to true masters and sects capable of long-term lineage preservation... to safeguard the bloodline of cultivation..."

The flowery words masked the truth: they were afraid outsiders would consume what little spiritual energy remained. As for those so-called true masters, weren't they all elders within those major sects? How could new masters emerge externally? With spiritual energy scarce, achieving mastery was already incredibly difficult, yet these major sects imposed extremely high entry barriers—a situation that was functionally impossible to meet now.

To use a gaming analogy: if the outside world only allowed you to reach Level 50, but they required Level 55 to enter, that five-level gap caused countless cultivators to perish with regret.

The tyranny and arrogance of these established sects bred deep resentment among many, yet they were helpless. Liao Tong was one such cultivator unwilling to die stifled. Thus, he was willing to damage his cultivation to find a path to survival, eventually turning his attention to the Western magical system.

Having heard Liao Tong's plight, Ye Wen couldn't help but marvel that Liao Tong was genuinely a talented individual. In the world he originally came from, he would surely be a Grandmaster, yet here he was struggling desperately just to stay alive.

He also completely understood why these two men wanted to speak with him. Evidently, they both assumed he was an ancient relic nearing death, one of those Eastern cultivators persecuted by the major sects, and thus, they believed he might agree to their proposition.

"What a pity; you guessed incorrectly!"

Ye Wen wasn't even thirty by the fullest count. With his martial arts perfected, he should have at least another century of life remaining even if he died of old age. Yet, upon reflection, realizing his cultivation base only afforded him a century felt somewhat undignified.

Damn it, any random cultivator lives for hundreds of years, why only a hundred for me?

He recalled that the techniques of the original Jade Cave Sect heavily emphasized longevity, yet Jade Sword Immortal and Yuqingzi only lived to be a little over a hundred. Moreover, the spiritual energy in that original world was far richer than in this one, and human physical conditioning was vastly superior. Even so, reaching a century-plus was considered advanced age for Yuqingzi.

It had to be admitted that the cultivation methods of the Immortals held a fatal allure for anyone seeking eternal life. Ye Wen himself was becoming tempted.

He didn't know how long he would live, but one detail in Liao Tong's words commanded his attention. Spiritual energy was decreasing, while the increasing filth in the world was extremely harmful to practitioners who absorbed the essence of Heaven and Earth.

Though Ye Wen was a martial artist, cultivating his internal energy also relied on absorbing the primordial energy of Heaven and Earth to elevate his power! Setting aside the fact that without the essence of the Crimson Fruit, his power progression was stalled in this environment, those impurities were anathema to his innate Purple Qi. If his True Qi became contaminated by so much filth, could it still be called innate Purple Qi?

In his former world, ample spiritual energy and rare impurities allowed his True Qi to circulate without being defiled by external evils. But could that hold true in this environment saturated with such evils? A drop in power was minor; the decline in cultivation and subsequent deterioration of the body were unacceptable. Fortunately, Ye Wen possessed a significant reserve of Crimson Fruit essence, ensuring he didn't need to worry immediately. His two women also retained residual essence, and with him nearby, they were currently unconcerned.

But that essence wasn't infinite; the day would come when it was all absorbed. What then?

To watch my power decline little by little? My body growing weaker?

Ye Wen laced his hands together, his thumbs ceaselessly twirling.

Mudrak, across from him, seemed confident. He believed that a powerhouse like Ye Wen would never settle for a pathetic demise. Immortality was a desire that drove nearly every strong practitioner to madness.

"Sir, we have conversed at length and have shown our sincerity. Perhaps you should also show a bit of good faith—perhaps start by telling us your name!"

"Ye Wen!" The tight knot of his brow meant Ye Wen was still grappling with his future. He had learned a great deal, but many things remained obscure. Perhaps he should gather more clarity.

Shifting his gaze from Mudrak, Ye Wen looked toward Liao Tong, the practitioner of Necromancy. "I am not very familiar with that place; I've only heard vague details. You once sought to cultivate there—can you tell this Ye what conditions must be met to enter and practice there?"

Though many unknowns remained, Ye Wen had confirmed the most urgent priority: survival! And survival must be magnificent. He had once stood at the pinnacle of a world; he could not tolerate wasting his remaining years in humiliation, nor could he allow his hard-won power to be destroyed by external restrictions. His own profound cultivation might sustain him for a while longer, but what about his two women?

Bringing the two women to this world was his decision; he absolutely could not stand by while they faced danger because of his choice.

Therefore, upon arriving in this world, Ye Wen finalized his most pressing goal: eliminate potential life threats and find a way into that place to cultivate! Since the masters of the cultivation world could practice normally there, he naturally could live there too!

Liao Tong was surprised by Ye Wen's sudden inquiry and answered casually, "Let's not discuss cultivation level first, because that is entirely up to them—if they deem someone a master, then they are a master, and it's hard to argue otherwise! Even if recognized as a master, to enter, one must become an Elder or retainer to one of the major sects to gain entry qualifications..."

"...Hmph, so that's how it is..." Ye Wen realized the talk of 'masters' was just empty rhetoric, meaningless to him. Based on Liao Tong's and Zhang Hengguang's behavior, he surmised his own cultivation level wouldn't be far off, even if he couldn't get in. But this arrangement changed everything.

Setting aside how his 'master' status would be recognized, the requirement to become a retainer for another major sect was unacceptable! How could the dignified Sect Master of Mount Shu stoop to serving under another sect?

"Besides that, one can also gain entry qualifications by being recognized as a major sect by the entire cultivation world! After all, those righteous sects claim they are preserving the lineage of cultivation, so..." Liao Tong shrugged. In his view, this was also nonsense. In the current climate, how could a new major sect possibly arise out of nowhere?

"Is that so..." Ye Wen’s eyes brightened; this was not the dead end he had imagined. There was a viable path. If this were true, establishing the Shu... Wenwu School he had planned became imperative. Initially, he intended to build a school first and then establish the Mount Shu Sect based on circumstances, but now it seemed this task could not be postponed.

Without establishing a school and recruiting disciples, he couldn't form a sect. Without a sect, he couldn't gain the status recognized by the cultivation world. Without that status, he couldn't enter that place, and if he couldn't enter... he would die!

"The path circles around, seemingly returning to where we started."

Ye Wen exchanged glances with the two women sitting quietly beside him. Seeing their gazes filled with trust, Ye Wen knew a decision needed to be made.

"Well, Mr. Ye?" Mudrak, who had been quietly drinking tea, finally broke the silence. "If we cooperate, perhaps you too can find a path to longevity suitable for you, instead of clinging desperately to the path you originally practiced..."

Having sorted everything out in his mind, Ye Wen regained the relaxed demeanor he held initially and looked at Mudrak. "Before that, I want to know what exactly you intend to do if we cooperate?"

"People!" A fanatic gleam suddenly flashed in Mudrak's usually calm eyes. "Large numbers of people!"

"People?" Ye Wen suddenly recalled the events that had unfolded shortly before. "You mean... living individuals for you to use in experiments?"

Mudrak burst into laughter. "Precisely! Experiments must be conducted on living subjects to know if my magic has succeeded..."

"Sir, don't you think that's too cruel?" Ye Wen wasn't exactly a saint, but slaughtering countless innocent people for such a reason was something he could not accept.

"Cruel?" Mudrak seemed to hear something amusing. "As a powerful Dark Mage, why should I care about the lives of a swarm of ants? Only a powerhouse like you is qualified to converse with me as an equal here. As for those outside... Hmph hmph!"