3,003

Page (1/3)

The choice of the pavilion was also based on the classification of spiritual root aptitude. Among Song Chi, Dai Jia, and Cheng Yao, Dai Jia had the best aptitude, possessing the Golden and Water dual spiritual roots. Her Golden root was rated 85, while her Water root was somewhat weaker at 68. If her Water root had been above 75, it was quite likely she would graduate from the Qingxue Palace and, with excellent results, have a chance to be accepted as an outer disciple by the sect elders. Of course, becoming an inner disciple was out of the question.

Because of this, Dai Jia’s expression darkened slightly as she glanced several times toward the mountain peak, where several small courtyards were located. The spiritual energy was evidently more concentrated there, likely reserved for disciples with exceptional aptitude.

However, this expression only flickered briefly across Dai Jia’s face before she smiled and leapt toward the pavilion on the north side, east wing.

Next came Cheng Yao, who possessed triple spiritual roots of Gold, Water, and Wood. Her Gold root exceeded 85, with the other two roots in the seventies. Presumably, she had come for sound cultivation and chose the pavilion on the north side, west wing.

When it came to Song Chi, Dai Jia smiled and asked Senior Brother Zhu, “Junior Sister Song also lives in this pavilion?”

Her tone suggested she thought Song Chi unworthy of sharing the same courtyard, as none of her spiritual roots exceeded 80.

Senior Brother Zhu glanced at her with a faintly sarcastic look in his eyes. He seemed to think that Dai Jia’s pride in having two spiritual roots, even if one was dragging her down, was misplaced—she was still considered mediocre. This view was not unique to him; within the cultivation world, it was common knowledge that having any spiritual root below 70, even if one had two roots, made reaching the Golden Core stage unlikely.

Dai Jia flushed red from this glance and said to Cheng Yao, “Let’s go.”

The two entered, and Cheng Yao smiled and nodded toward Song Chi as she went to her pavilion.

Song Chi chose the western pavilion simply because it was filled with beautiful little white chrysanthemums, which she liked. As for the remaining eastern pavilion, she wondered which girl would move in there.

Then Senior Brother Zhu gave her a storage ring containing a set of sect legal codes, a hundred mid-grade spirit stones, the sect map, and a scroll of basic cultivation methods, with detailed meridian annotations.

“Junior Sister Song has some spiritual energy, so I won’t take out the manuals inside the storage ring for you. Over the next two days, familiarize yourselves with the sect grounds. Remember, north of Qingxue Palace is a restricted area, so do not enter without permission.”

“Thank you for the advice, Senior Brother.”

After thanking him, Song Chi entered the courtyard, just as a dark turtle appeared, carrying five female disciples. Four of them giggled and leapt upward, their swift steps indicating they were close to the third layer of the Qi Refining stage.

By sect rules, disciples could not exceed the third layer of Qi Refining upon entry. Instantaneous movement required at least the second layer, and flying unaided demanded the third layer—or else the use of a magical artifact, as Ye Qingyu did with his sword.

Among them was a girl in cyan robes, strikingly beautiful but with a cold expression. The four giggling girls who flew upward glanced back at her with unfriendly looks, no doubt speaking ill of her.

The cyan-robed girl, intending to leap up, suddenly stopped and pointed toward Song Chi’s courtyard.

“Is there an empty pavilion there?”

Senior Brother Zhu glanced at her, recognized her token, and kindly said, “Junior Sister Xi has excellent triple spiritual roots and can choose from a pavilion atop the mountain where the spiritual energy is even stronger.”

Song Chi saw from the token that this girl was called Xi Ya, possessing Water, Wood, and Fire spiritual roots, with Water and Wood both at 90 and Fire not far behind at 82. Such a combination made it very likely she would become a Pill Master, for the best Pill Masters had roots in Water, Wood, and Fire all at 100. Though Pill Masters could also form with only Wood and Fire, the resulting pills would lack some spiritual refinement.

The importance of Pill Masters to cultivators was undeniable; even at the Qi Refining stage, pills were essential for cultivation. Every cultivator’s path depended on medicinal pills.

Therefore, Senior Brother Zhu showed a respectful, gentle smile only toward Xi Ya.

Xi Ya frowned slightly after looking at the higher pavilion. “No need, I’ll just choose this courtyard.”

Senior Brother Zhu then said, “The fourth courtyard still has an eastern pavilion unused.”

“I’ll live there, then.”

Page (2/3)

Senior Brother Zhu’s lips quivered slightly as he heard the playful noise from above—he guessed there was some conflict between Xi Ya and those other dual-root disciples. So he did not press further, gave her the storage ring, explained its use, and then flew off toward the neighboring mountain peak.

When Xi Ya entered the courtyard, she nodded and smiled at Song Chi.

Naturally, Song Chi wanted to befriend the Pill Master, especially since Xi Ya looked agreeable. Moreover, Song Chi’s cousin, Song Jun, also possessed Water, Wood, and Fire triple spiritual roots and was passionate about herbalism and pill-making. Deep down, he yearned to become a Pill Master, but his aptitude barely allowed him to reach the Foundation Establishment stage. Sigh, to think that such a dazzlingly handsome immortal-like elder brother had such a poor spiritual root—it was truly unfair.

If her brother had Xi Ya’s aptitude, he would surely be moved to tears.

Xi Ya gave her a cold glance, nodded, and turned toward the eastern pavilion.

As Song Chi reached the western pavilion, she heard a sarcastic laugh from Dai Jia’s courtyard. “Not even started yet and already rushing to cozy up. Ha!”

This was likely mocking her for showing friendliness to Xi Ya.

She didn’t know what was wrong with this girl, who had been looking at her with disdain ever since arriving at Taorui Mountain.

Song Chi believed she had done nothing to offend her, unsure what mood she was in—perhaps simply disliked people like her?

In any case, she ignored it. Inside her courtyard, the main hall, bedroom, study, and purification room were all clean and elegant. Though small, the house was complete and cozy. Most importantly, the cultivation room’s spiritual energy was tens of thousands of times better than at home.

Indeed, one must join a major sect, and be an inner sect disciple!

Song Chi clenched her fist in satisfaction. After a quick wash, she wrote a letter informing her family of her acceptance as an inner sect disciple of the Qingjian Sect. Then she went to the stream at the foot of the mountain, spent one low-grade spirit stone to rent a small dark turtle capable of carrying only one person, and headed to the sect’s messenger office to send the letter immediately.

Her parents must be anxiously waiting down below.

Riding the spiritual turtle, she reached the forest outside the academy and was about to turn south when she coincidentally met Senior Brothers Wen Shuo and Mo Feiyun, who had just returned after escorting two male disciples.

Song Chi hurriedly greeted Wen Shuo.

“Where are you headed?” Wen Shuo asked.

“To the messenger office to send a letter to my parents.”

Wen Shuo smiled. “Good news should be shared; go ahead.”

“Yes.”

Song Chi then directed the spiritual turtle southward toward the messenger office near the sect gate.

Wen Shuo watched the small white-clad figure grow smaller under the blazing sun and smiled. This little girl was probably the youngest among the new disciples, having just turned fourteen yesterday—the minimum age for acceptance.

Moreover, she was not tall, slender as a willow branch, with a delicate white face and eyes that curved like a crescent moon when she smiled. She wore no ornamental hairpins, her hair tied simply like the boys’, and dressed in white robes. The first impression she gave was one of purity.

Such innocent beauty was naturally endearing, especially to young men.

Though Wen Shuo was much older—around his twenties—and felt no romantic affection, he glanced at Mo Feiyun beside him. The colder gaze Mo Feiyun cast at the small white figure softened briefly, a faint smile playing at his lips.

Though Mo Feiyun quickly resumed his cold expression, Wen Shuo’s keen eyes did not miss the fleeting warmth.

Page (3/3)

Then there was Ye Qi, the young master from Meiquan in the southwest. Though he was arrogant and sneered disdainfully when seeing Song Chi, a fleeting gleam of joy in his eyes could not be hidden.

Not only Wen Shuo, but also the new disciples present noticed this. Dai Jia, who was originally shy around Ye Qingyu, twisted her fingers upon hearing Ye Qingyu call Song Chi’s name. Dai Jia likely came from a minor cultivation family and knew Ye Qingyu before, harboring feelings for him. Hence, jealousy welled up.

Putting that aside, it was clear the two young men liked Song Chi.

Wen Shuo knew such affections would fade as cultivation advanced. Talents like Ye Qingyu and Mo Feiyun were, as Song Chi said, genuine sky-born pearls, worlds apart from ordinary disciples.

Song Chi’s spiritual roots, with none exceeding eighty, doomed her to never reach the Golden Core stage. Soon, she would be left behind in the cultivation path compared to these geniuses.

Moreover, the elders, mentors, and seniors of the Ye and Mo families would never approve of their sons courting a mere triple-root disciple with average aptitude.

Such romances were destined to end without result. Wen Shuo, though new to the cultivation world himself, had already witnessed such harsh realities.

At this moment, only one matter occupied his heart. Today, Qi Yu was lazy, letting him seize a rare opportunity to escort Mo Feiyun to the residence of Lord Yuheng on Purple Bamboo Peak.

Earlier, when Wen Shuo was settling the male disciples, Lord Yuheng’s divine sense secretly told him:

“This disciple need not be sent to Xuanyun Peak; bring him directly to my Purple Bamboo Cave.”

Wen Shuo immediately understood that Mo Feiyun’s status was even more noble than he had guessed, and a warm feeling welled within him. This was a once-in-a-millennium chance.

Soon, Wen Shuo would complete his graduation assessment at Qingxue Palace and face the selection by sect elders for discipleship. As a sword cultivator with Golden and Water dual roots—Golden at 90 and Water at 89—his aptitude was good within the inner sect but insufficient to be chosen by the sect’s revered elders. Only if his Golden root exceeded 95 would he have a chance to become an outer disciple.

Now, he could only feign gentleness and elegance as he escorted Mo Feiyun to Purple Bamboo Peak.

Lord Yuheng was said to favor gentle, refined disciples. Though he selected sword cultivators, this was the rumor, for Lord Yuheng himself was a strikingly handsome man, unmatched in grace and demeanor.

Wen Shuo escorted Mo Feiyun to the cave entrance.

“Report to the Lord: Disciple Mo has arrived.”

“Mm.” A refined voice replied from within, followed by a light, smiling tone: “Fei’er, come in.”

Mo Feiyun bowed and entered the cave.

Wen Shuo did not even meet Lord Yuheng face to face and could not show his refined side, so he sighed inwardly and returned. He had never truly expected to be favored by the Lord, so he was not disappointed.

Song Chi spent two low-grade spirit stones at the messenger office to send her letter. Upon leaving, she saw many outer sect disciples setting up a flea market, selling spirit herbs, cultivation techniques, and other items.

Recalling common tropes in cultivation novels where protagonists often find precious treasures at such markets, she examined the goods carefully.