Whoosh!
Amidst the howling fierce winds, a Greenleaf Boat tore through the clouds, speeding toward the interior of Jade Island.
On the deck, Fang Qing looked at the layer of azure light shielding the spirit boat, unable to feel the slightest sensation of wind blades scraping his face. He couldn’t help but click his tongue in wonder.
Behind him followed a little tail—none other than Zhu’er.
By now, it was already the third day after the Immortal Affinity Assembly.
The various disciples of Azure Sea Gate had given those who possessed spiritual roots and passed the test one day to handle family matters, then set off toward the sect’s mountain gate.
*Speaking of which… the exalted nature of immortal cultivation is truly unbelievable.*
Fang Qing sighed inwardly, thinking of last night’s events. *I heard that after Zhu’er and I were tested and found to possess spiritual roots, Flower Fishing Village responded immediately—Ruan Qi was already sacrificed to the Sea Dragon King, and apparently it was his own father and brothers who did the deed!*
*Of course… perhaps what influenced them more was Zhu’er, after all. She possesses high-grade aptitude.*
He looked at the little girl behind him, delicate as if carved from powder and jade, and a trace of a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Zhu’er, leaving her family to head to the sect, was naturally terrified. It was only reasonable that she would cling to him, her only acquaintance.
And thanks to this, he could also have a bit of face before disciples like Gong Susu, Wei Gutong, and Kan Zimeng.
“Little Sister Zhu’er.”
Right at this moment, Gong Susu walked over. “We’ll be arriving at the sect’s mountain gate soon. Among all the spirit-seeking emissaries this time, I’m afraid few groups surpassed ours. This is all thanks to you.”
“There are many spirit-seeking emissaries?”
Fang Qing was somewhat surprised.
“Naturally. Our Azure Sea Gate has Core Formation ancestors holding down the fort generation after generation, our might shaking all directions. Even those Foundation Establishment forces outside the island send their direct disciples to our sect.”
Gong Susu replied proudly, then meaningfully glanced at Fang Qing.
Clearly, Fang Qing’s household registration was no secret, but Azure Sea Gate didn’t care.
“Senior Sister Gong, regarding immortal cultivation, Little Sister Zhu’er and I still don’t understand very much. Might you dispel our confusion?”
Fang Qing cupped his fists and said sincerely.
“Naturally, I will tell you everything I know. Actually, after entering the sect, corresponding books will be distributed, but I can tell you some things first…”
Gong Susu thought for a moment, then said, “Heaven and earth possess spiritual energy. We immortal cultivators possess spiritual roots and can thus absorb spiritual energy to cultivate. Spiritual roots are further divided into different grades. For example, Junior Brother Fang, yours can be called a mid-grade water spiritual root, while Junior Sister Zhu’er possesses a high-grade water spiritual root. The better the spiritual root, the faster the cultivation speed, and the lower the possibility of encountering bottlenecks when breaking through in the future. As for the legendary heaven-grade spiritual root, it is said that before Core Formation, there are no bottlenecks at all.”
“As for the divisions of immortal cultivation, there are realms such as Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, and Nascent Soul. Mighty beings of Nascent Soul have long since vanished from the Minor Expanse Sea, while Core Formation ancestors are the pillars of a sect. Our gate has seven great inner islands, and each island master is a great cultivator above late Foundation Establishment. If we disciples can enter an island and be listed as true disciples, there will be hope for Foundation Establishment in the future. Once Foundation Establishment is achieved, one can enjoy a lifespan of three jiazi, while Core Formation ancestors enjoy a lifespan of five hundred years…”
After Gong Susu’s explanation, Fang Qing finally had a general understanding of the Minor Expanse Sea cultivation world and Azure Sea Gate.
“Little Sister Zhu’er and I thank Senior Sister for dispelling our confusion.”
He thanked her sincerely, then inquired, “It’s just that the path of immortality is arduous. I ask Senior Sister to guide us through the confusion.”
This was actually quite cunning, equivalent to binding himself together with Zhu’er.
Gong Susu smiled ambiguously and said, “After you enter the sect, first you’ll pay respects to the patriarch, receive disciple identity tokens and miscellaneous items, then choose your cultivation method. Most disciples start from the outer sect or as miscellaneous workers, then advance to the inner sect and true disciple. However, Senior Sister here has a path that allows direct entry into Pill Island as an inner sect disciple. You must know that among the hundred arts of immortal cultivation, minor paths like talismans have been studied by countless scattered cultivators and are already a dime a dozen. Only the great paths like pill refinement, artifact refinement, and formations can accumulate sufficient resources…”
Fang Qing summarized: the general meaning was that Azure Sea Gate disciples similarly faced fierce competition. To seek immortality, one needed a specialized skill.
Crafts like talisman drawing, spirit plant tending, and spirit beast rearing had too many competitors, already becoming a bloody red ocean.
On the other hand, pill refinement, artifact refinement, and formations were high-value-added, high-requirement skills. As long as one was willing to study hard, after producing results one could earn large amounts of spiritual resources to aid cultivation.
“Thank you, Senior Sister, for making this possible. Little Sister Zhu’er and I will certainly remember this kindness.”
Fang Qing hurriedly thanked her. Being able to learn pill refinement was always good.
Although he was well aware that he was just an add-on. The only one Gong Susu truly cared about was Zhu’er!
Boom!
Right at this moment, the Greenleaf Boat arrived at a vast emerald lake.
This lake was like a bright mirror, deep and vast. Within it seemed to be countless flood dragons and serpents churning.
And in the center of the lake were seven great islands arranged in a specific formation. Some were covered in magnificent golden and jade buildings, while others were shrouded in thin mist. Looking at it, it was truly a sacred immortal landscape.
“This is the mountain gate of our Azure Sea Gate.”
Gong Susu stopped the flying boat above a white jade plaza. She slightly raised her chin, which was even fairer and more delicate than white jade. “Now… spiritual seedlings of low-grade aptitude, go to the outer sect for the entry ceremony. Spiritual seedlings of mid-grade aptitude, follow a few Senior Brothers. Little Sister Zhu’er, you wait.”
After Fang Qing and the other disciples had left, Gong Susu looked at the timid Zhu’er, her smile growing ever gentler. “What do you think? That foster brother of yours only wants to use you as a pretext to gain benefits. You must know that after entering the sect, the only ones you can truly rely on are Master and Senior Sister. Also, your grandfather—I’ve already arranged for people to bring him here. He’ll arrive a bit later than us.”
“Grandpa?”
Zhu’er’s eyes immediately lit up. “As long as Sister brings my grandpa here, I’ll agree to anything.”
“Good, very good.”
Gong Susu was overjoyed. She looked again at Fang Qing’s retreating figure, her smile growing more playful. *I promised, so naturally I’ll help you become an inner sect disciple and enter Pill Island… but pill refinement isn’t easy. Especially at the beginning, ruining a few batches could bankrupt a family. This is your own choice, not Senior Sister setting you up…*
*Mid-grade aptitude isn’t bad, but the chance of future Foundation Establishment is still too low… Zhu’er, on the other hand, shows quite a bit of hope.*
*Since this is the case, I must make her even closer to me, and while I’m at it, sever her mortal ties!*
…
Fang Qing naturally didn’t know that Gong Susu was speaking ill of him behind his back.
He followed the group of mid-grade aptitude disciples to a great hall.
This hall was towering and magnificent, guarded by Qi Refinement disciples on both sides, carrying a solemn and majestic atmosphere.
Above the entrance hung a plaque bearing the three characters “Vast Ocean Hall.”
Entering Vast Ocean Hall, they saw several cultivators standing on the platform, each as imposing as a mountain peak. When disciples like Kan Zimeng saw them, they immediately saluted. “Greetings to the Sect Leader, Elders…”
They turned around and said to the new disciples, “This is our Sect Leader—Uncle-Master Linghu, and Elders Wanbao and Tianxing. Hurry and salute!”
“We greet the Sect Leader and Elders.” The group of disciples hurriedly followed suit in saluting.
“Enough… your aptitudes are not bad. After entering the sect, you should be diligent and hardworking, living up to your cultivation…”
Sect Leader Linghu, wearing a blue robe with a thin, ascetic face, spoke a few words of encouragement. He then had Elders Wanbao and Tianxing lead these rookies in the apprenticeship ceremony. The main event was to pay respects to the patriarch.
Inside the massive ancestral hall, rows of memorial tablets were lined up, many still flickering with spiritual light.
At the very top was a scroll painting.
On the silk painting was a youth in blue robes, his face like polished jade, hands behind his back, facing the great sea.
In the great sea was an evil azure flood dragon, bowing its head in submission.
“The founding patriarch of our sect is the Azure Sea True Person. Back then… the True Person came to the Minor Expanse Sea and slew the third-rank high-grade evil flood dragon that was causing storms and waves, thereby establishing the foundation of our Azure Sea Gate…”
Elder Wanbao had a ruddy complexion with three strands of long beard hanging naturally. He looked every bit the image of an enlightened master with white hair and youthful face. Following routine, he praised the various ancestors of Azure Sea Gate, then spoke, “All disciples of our sect, after entering, can use their identity tokens to come to the Heavenly Book Pavilion on Wanbao Island to receive one copy of a basic cultivation method and various miscellaneous items. Besides that, one hundred contribution points will be issued. Our Azure Sea Gate’s cultivation and daily affairs mostly require the expenditure of contribution points. You all should use them carefully…”
After Elder Wanbao came Elder Tianxing, whose face was cold and stern, dignified even without anger. “This sect’s disciplinary rules consist of Seven Great Prohibitions and Eighty-Six Articles. First prohibition: betraying one’s master and destroying one’s ancestors. Second prohibition: fellow disciples harming each other…”
Fang Qing listened attentively, but his gaze couldn’t help falling on that painting of the Azure Sea Patriarch subduing the flood dragon.
*To be able to subdue a third-rank high-grade demon king, the Azure Sea Patriarch was probably at Core Formation perfection, right? I just don’t know whether he broke through to Nascent Soul and enjoyed a lifespan of a thousand years?*
*If the cultivators here went to the Ancient Shu region, who knows how they would perform? Those mid- and late-stage Qi Refinement disciples—I wonder if they could destroy the Luo Clan… or would a Foundation Establishment great cultivator be needed?*
The complicated entry ceremony lasted several hours before Fang Qing, carrying his novice gift package, arrived at the lakeside.
This was where low-level disciples lived and cultivated. The spiritual energy was thin, inferior to the seven islands in the center of the lake, but the area was quite vast. Many lakeside villas had been constructed, so even newly entered disciples could be allotted an independent residence.
After entering the wooden house, Fang Qing first looked at his novice gift package.
Inside was one identity token, two sets of Azure Sea Gate blue uniforms, one bottle of fasting pills, one Greenleaf magical artifact, one steel dagger…
“This entry benefit is fairly decent.”
He had just wanted to lie down and rest when he heard a knock. Coming outside, he saw a graceful young woman.
“This Senior Brother, my name is Yu Taohua, mid-grade earth spiritual root. We are both newly entered disciples and also neighbors. It happens that a Senior Brother Hua Lianhua is holding a gathering. Might you be willing to do me the honor of attending?”
The young woman smiled sweetly and invited him.
“Senior Brother Hua? Naturally, I’ll go.”
Fang Qing thought for a moment and directly agreed.
After arriving in a new environment, the rise of various small circles was only human nature.
Even at university, there were hometown associations.
He followed Yu Taohua to a small pavilion and saw that several newly accepted disciples were already seated inside. There was also a table laden with wine and dishes, with waves of fragrance continuously wafting forth.
*To be able to get a table of fine wine and delicacies right after entering the sect, this Senior Brother Hua seems to have some connections…*
Fang Qing understood. This was the other party displaying their strength.