Vessel of Worlds

Less than a month after the Foundation Establishment Trial concluded, Sect Master Xiong Yue issued a series of Dragon Descent Valley missions. The missions, along with a detailed introduction to the valley itself, were all recorded on jade slips distributed to every Qi Refinement cultivator who registered.

Everyone who signed up for the Dragon Descent Valley missions shared certain qualities: iron determination, an unwavering commitment to the path of cultivation, and either a failed attempt at the Foundation Establishment Trial or the loss of eligibility to compete. Only cultivators like these were willing to brave mortal danger, venturing into the valley to seek specific treasures designated by the sect's Core Formation elders, then exchanging those treasures for Foundation Establishment Pills.

Andy, having registered, received one of these mission jade slips. It listed the various tasks the Taixu Sect's elders had posted.

"Spirit herb: one stalk of Crane Spirit Mushroom aged one thousand years or more, or two stalks aged six hundred years or more. Reward: one Foundation Establishment Pill. Location: cliff faces near Wangqing Slope. Danger level: Grade Three."

"One live Cloud Illusion Beast egg. Reward: one Foundation Establishment Pill. Location: Shadow Bamboo Forest. Danger level: Grade One."

"Spirit treasure material: one block of Ximo Stone weighing five liang or more. Reward: one Foundation Establishment Pill. Location: caverns of Caixia Mountain. Danger level: Grade Two."

"Spirit herb: one stalk of Phoenix Tail Grass aged eight hundred years or more, or two stalks aged five hundred years or more. Reward: one Foundation Establishment Pill. Location: Fengyu Mountain. Danger level: Grade Two."

"Spirit treasure material: one block of upper-grade Crystal Quartz weighing three liang or more. Reward: one Foundation Establishment Pill. Location: Jingyu Peak. Danger level: Grade Three."

"Spirit treasure material: one block of Blazing Stone weighing five liang or more. Reward: one Foundation Establishment Pill. Location: Qixing Peak. Danger level: Grade Two."

"Spirit treasure material: one block of Gold Flame Stone weighing two liang or more. Reward: one Foundation Establishment Pill. Location: Lava Valley. Danger level: Grade One!"

……

"Three mid-grade ice-attribute spirit stones. Reward: one Foundation Establishment Pill. Location: bottom of the Jade Cold Pool. Danger level: Grade Two."

Andy's eyes lit up. Now that's interesting.

But after reading the detailed supplementary information attached to this particular mission, his smile vanished.

The ice-attribute spirit stones found at the bottom of the Jade Cold Pool were highly distinctive. Having soaked for untold ages in the pool's bone-chilling waters, these stones had taken on an intense, penetrating cold and looked quite different from the common transparent variety of ice spirit stones. This meant his plan to use the bowl to produce a few mid-grade ice spirit stones and pass them off as the genuine article was dead on arrival.

In total, the slip listed over thirty such missions, each accompanied by detailed descriptions and illustrations of the target item—designed to prevent misidentification. Approximate locations within the valley where each treasure might be found, along with the dangers likely to be encountered, were all carefully documented.

This information had been compiled over the years from the memories of cultivators who had survived previous expeditions. For those entering the valley for the first time, it was invaluable. Naturally, the most dangerous areas received only the briefest descriptions—presumably because no survivors remained to provide details.

Beyond the mission listings, the jade slip also included a concise overview of Dragon Descent Valley's origins, terrain, and the spirit beasts within it.

"Dragon Descent Valley, anciently known as Fallen Dragon Valley, lies in Liao Prefecture in the north of Jinyan Kingdom and spans over ten thousand li. It earned its name because every spirit beast of the second grade or above found within is some variety of dragon or serpent. Ancient texts contain references to this valley, including a legend that several great cultivators of the primordial era battled a ferocious dragon here for months—after which all of them vanished without a trace. The valley's precise location remained unknown for millennia. Just over a thousand years ago, the seven great cultivation factions of Jinyan Kingdom stumbled upon it and attempted to force open an entrance. However, the entire valley is protected by an unknown ancient barrier. Cultivators above a certain level of power cannot enter. Only once every ten years, when the barrier's power dips to a low point for approximately one month, can Qi Refinement cultivators slip through. Foundation Establishment cultivators and above are either instantly ejected from the valley upon entry, or in some cases, killed on the spot by the barrier's defensive mechanisms."

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"Since the valley's discovery, each of the seven great factions has sent groups of Qi Refinement disciples inside on a regular basis. Fewer than half have returned alive. Those survivors discovered that the valley's spiritual energy is extraordinarily dense—surpassing even the best spirit veins held by the seven factions. In addition to nearly a hundred species of first-grade spirit beasts, the valley harbors over a dozen rare varieties of dragon-type spirit beasts. Furthermore, the valley's dense spiritual energy, combined with its isolation from the outside world for an unknown number of millennia, has produced enormous quantities of ancient, aged spirit herbs and grasses. Rare mineral ores used in spirit treasure forging have also been found within. Drawn by the promise of these treasures, every ten years the seven factions send in their Qi Refinement disciples with promises of generous rewards, tasking them with recovering specific items."

Beyond the valley's spirit beasts, toxic gases, and mysterious barrier traps, the greatest danger came from the cultivators themselves. Ambushes, backstabbing, and outright robbery by cultivators who relied on superior artifacts or cultivation to kill and plunder—these occurred in every single expedition. This was the primary reason that fewer than one in three cultivators who entered the valley ever walked out again. Over time, fewer and fewer Qi Refinement disciples were willing to volunteer.

Left with no alternative, the seven factions began offering the one thing Qi Refinement cultivators wanted most—Foundation Establishment Pills—as the reward for risking the valley.

This meant that the high-stage Qi Refinement cultivators who had no other path to a Foundation Establishment Pill had little choice but to stake their lives on the venture. Competition inside the valley grew fiercer with each expedition, and the death rate climbed higher. In recent expeditions, it had approached three quarters.

Many died, but each time, roughly a dozen cultivators survived, retrieved valuable treasures, and exchanged them with their sects for Foundation Establishment Pills. Among these lucky few, several ultimately broke through to Foundation Establishment.

It was precisely these rare success stories that kept drawing several dozen Qi Refinement disciples to volunteer for every expedition, despite knowing how dangerous it was.

Historical records showed that although each expedition posted dozens of missions, the actual number of Foundation Establishment Pills awarded never exceeded a dozen or so.

For any sect or cultivation power, the highest priority was protecting the growth of its core disciples—ensuring a steady stream of high-stage cultivators to maintain the sect's long-term prosperity. As for ordinary Qi Refinement disciples with unremarkable aptitude and middling ability, they were expendable—cannon fodder, in all but name. The cultivation world was full of such people, and a modest offer of rewards and hope was enough to recruit a fresh batch at any time.

The sects therefore actively encouraged their Qi Refinement disciples to participate in these perilous treasure hunts. Not only did it bring the sect a steady flow of valuable materials, but the survivors emerged hardened by genuine combat experience, which in turn strengthened the sect's overall fighting force. As for the cultivators who died—well, they were never going to be the elite disciples who received Foundation Establishment Pills without needing to compete. Their loss was, to the sect, negligible.

To entice even more Qi Refinement disciples into this death game, the seven factions' leadership employed every trick in the book. Some sects offered an incentive just for signing up—an upper-grade artifact for every volunteer. Others announced that any cultivator who survived the valley, whether or not they retrieved a target treasure, would be classified as an elite disciple and given priority cultivation resources. One sect even had a Core Formation elder publicly declare that the disciple who performed most impressively during the expedition would be taken on as his personal student. This last offer drew envious looks even from Foundation Establishment cultivators—being accepted as the disciple of a Core Formation elder was a privilege that even within a major sect like the Taixu Sect, only a few dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators could claim. The guidance of a Core Formation elder could save decades of fumbling on the cultivation path.

The Taixu Sect, for its part, had deliberately scheduled the Foundation Establishment Trial half a year before each Dragon Descent Valley expedition. This way, disciples who failed the trial were left with a stark choice: wait five more years, or take the gamble. The sect also had a rule limiting each outer-sect disciple to no more than two attempts at the Foundation Establishment Trial. For those who had failed twice, Dragon Descent Valley was the only road remaining.

Reflecting on all of this, Andy couldn't help but marvel—with a certain grimness—at the Taixu Sect leadership's "thoughtful arrangements."