Azure Sea Sect, within the Vast Sea Hall.
The thick Ancient Bronze Palace Lanterns blazed with incomparable brightness, illuminating all directions.
Sect Master Linghu held a golden brush and was reviewing jade docunts one after another.
“Reporting to Sect Master, this is the list of True Disciples recomnded by the Seven Islands this ti…”
A young disciple stepped forward, holding a golden scroll with both hands.
Although the True Disciples of the various cultivation arts needed to undergo assessnt, with the Seven Islands recomnding them, seven spots were basically decided!
The remaining three were the channel for discovering overlooked talents within the sect. That was reality!
Sect Master Linghu unfolded the scroll, and one na after another appeared.
“…Array Island, Qin Ruxue… Pill Island, Fang Qing…”
He first marked Qin Ruxue’s na with a stroke, then looked toward Fang Qing. “I have heard of this Qin Ruxue—quasi–Second Tier in formations, already considered decent. But why is it this person from Pill Island? Where are Five Dragons Child and Gong Susu?”
The young disciple seed prepared and recited Fang Qing’s file: “Fang Qing, from Dahua Fishing Village, born a fisherman… Later, at the Immortal Opportunity Assembly in Chu Mountain Town, he was tested and found to possess a Mid-Grade Water Spiritual Root, after which he joined our sect… He is currently at Qi Refining Eighth Layer cultivation. Recently, he passed the assessnt for Second-Tier Pill-Refining Master. He has not acknowledged any Foundation Establishnt master.”
“He is even of the self-cultivation faction. He truly has so fortune. Good… Otherwise, if this old man had to forcibly pass a quasi–Second-Tier Pill Master as a True Disciple, it would have felt sowhat lacking.”
Sect Master Linghu raised his hand and placed a golden mark beside Fang Qing’s na, then looked at the young man. “Chong’er, you are a descendant of my clan. I have always valued you. For this selection of True Disciples, I deliberately secured a Council of Elders nomination for you. Do you know why?”
Linghu Chong was now at Peak Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivation. Without hesitation, he answered, “Great Ancestor wishes for to successfully achieve Foundation Establishnt, so that I may enter the Vast Sea Hall and assist you… I will do my utmost to befriend this cohort of True Disciples, especially those with fortune and opportunity.”
“Correct. Only by forming widespread good relations can one endure.”
Sect Master Linghu said, “Our immortal sect embraces all rivers. Only with talents of every kind erging endlessly can it prosper… Those skilled in combat are talents, those proficient in cultivation arts are even more so—but those who can manage the sect are also talents. I intend to train you in that direction. But first, you must succeed in Foundation Establishnt.”
“Please rest assured, Great Ancestor. I will certainly succeed in Foundation Establishnt.”
Linghu Chong spoke resolutely.
“Very well. You may leave.”
Sect Master Linghu waved his hand, dismissing him. As he watched the young man’s departing figure, he suddenly let out a long breath. “It is ti…”
With a direct clan descendant successfully becoming a True Disciple, he had settled one matter of the heart.
He could now relinquish the position of Sect Master, enter seclusion to refine the Tide-Birth Pearl, and begin Azure Sea Sect’s grand undertaking of unification!
For a sect’s prosperity, talent was indeed necessary—but what it needed even more was the very pinnacle of combat power!
……
Pill Island.
Fang Qing looked at the nurous Sound-Transmitting Talismans flying chaotically outside his Cave Dwelling and felt sowhat irritated.
He casually grabbed a few and heard voices within:
“True Disciple Fang, this disciple Wei Gutong once had the fortune of eting True Disciple. I respectfully present twenty Spirit Stones… to congratulate True Disciple…”
“This disciple Kan Zing…”
……
“To beco famous overnight, and all under heaven know your na.”
Fang Qing shook his head. He rembered these people seed to be cultivators who had served as Spirit-Seeking Envoys in Chu Mountain Town years ago, and he could not help but laugh.
Since his certification as a Second-Tier Pill-Refining Master, several months had passed.
And the sect’s True Disciple Grand Competition had concluded not long ago.
He had first watched the incomparably brutal arena battles, then participated in the True Disciple assessnt for cultivation arts. The chief examiner had still been Elder Heavenly Cauldron, and he had passed as if it were child’s play—rely a formality…
Imdiately after, nurous disciples had shown goodwill, so even wishing to directly pledge allegiance to him.
Fang Qing t none of them and simply waited for the sect to issue the Foundation Establishnt Pill.
As for the contribution points needed?
By taking on more Second-Tier pill-refining commissions, it would more or less suffice.
Moreover, if necessary, he could sell a few Second-Tier pills.
Fang Qing cleared away another batch of Sound-Transmitting Talismans and picked up a black one, suddenly startled.
This black talisman bore no signature, only a dark and hoarse voice: “Daoist Friend Fang, you must be careful. Azure Sea Sect covets your talent. They will surely imprison you, make you refine pills for them your entire life, and will not sincerely help you break through to Foundation Establishnt…”
“Heh, a boring trick… Most likely the work of an external spy within Azure Sea Sect—or perhaps a disciple who dislikes and wishes to disturb my Dao heart?”
Fang Qing shook his head. This could simply be handed to the Punishnt of Evil Hall for investigation.
“As for imprisonnt and pill-refining… that is rely the perspective of a lower-level cultivator. If the sect only had Foundation Establishnt cultivators, there might be a slight possibility. But Azure Sea Sect has a Core Formation Ancestor! A re Qi Refining cultivator can at most refine Second-Tier pills—what use would that be to a Core Formation Ancestor?”
“The greater one’s pill-refining talent, the more one is nurtured—that is normal… After all, the Core Formation Ancestors still hope the sect will produce Third- or Fourth-Tier Pill Masters to refine pills for them!”
“In a world where such power belongs to oneself, one sentence from a Core Formation Ancestor outweighs a hundred from a Foundation Establishnt cultivator!”
……
Several days later.
Fang Qing and twenty-four other True Disciples underwent fasting and purification, preparing to proceed together to the Ancestral Hall.
Standing before the Vast Sea Hall, he silently observed these True Disciples.
‘I wonder how many among them can achieve Foundation Establishnt?’
His thoughts stirred as he saw a familiar figure approach gracefully.
“Senior Sister Qin, I have yet to congratulate you on becoming a True Disciple.”
He spoke first.
“Junior Brother is likewise listed among the True Disciples. It did surprise this humble one sowhat.”
Qin Ruxue smiled charmingly, the trace of arrogance she once carried now diminished. “I ca only to inform Junior Brother that my previous alliance with Five Dragons Child was rely for mutual benefit. But now… unless he risks death to achieve Foundation Establishnt on his own, there is nothing more to discuss.”
‘The cultivation world is truly realistic.’
Fang Qing inwardly comnted, then saw a young cultivator approach. “Junior Brother Fang, I am Linghu Chong…”
“So it is Senior Brother Linghu.”
Fang Qing knew this was one of the five True Disciples approved by the Council of Elders, said to have deep backing through Sect Master Linghu.
Among the twenty True Disciples present, attitudes toward these five were notably amicable.
After all, these were figures with extensive connections. Perhaps one among them might beco the next Sect Master!
Next, Fang Qing t several True Disciples proficient in Second-Tier artifact refinent and talisman crafting.
It had to be said—the higher circles were indeed resource-rich.
After making acquaintances, he felt that he would lack neither Second-Tier spiritual artifacts nor talismans in the future.
Of course, the key remained resource exchange—he would have to refine a few pools of Second-Tier pills for them in return.
As for the combat-oriented True Disciples? Each appeared deeply concealed and ruthless, though none seed quite on par with Cui Zhe of before.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
After waiting a mont longer, the bell tolled.
“All True Disciples, follow to pay respects to the Founding Ancestor.”
Sect Master Linghu appeared with Elder Wanbao, Elder Tianxing, and others, leading Fang Qing and the rest—clad in True Disciple robes—to the Ancestral Hall, where they once again bowed before the Azure Sea Subduing Flood Dragon Diagram.
“From this day onward, you are True Disciples of this sect, exemplars among tens of thousands of Qi Refining disciples… May you advance diligently upon the Dao path and not disappoint the sect’s trust.”
Sect Master Linghu spoke more than usual today.
After him, Elder Wanbao described the benefits afforded to True Disciples.
As True Disciples, their sole objective was to successfully achieve Foundation Establishnt. Thus, they were exempt from mandatory sect missions. Moreover, each year they would receive a grant of contribution points for ten years, until the next True Disciple Grand Competition.
Furthermore, when preparing for Foundation Establishnt, the sect would arrange a Cave Dwelling with a Third-Tier spiritual vein, maximizing external conditions.
Of course, the most important matter remained—the Foundation Establishnt Pill!
“Each True Disciple of this sect may exchange for one Standard Foundation Establishnt Pill, priced at twenty thousand contribution points… If your contribution points are insufficient, they may temporarily be recorded in the Administrative Affairs Hall until you have accumulated enough.”
Elder Wanbao spoke solemnly.
This was mainly directed at those who had not yet reached Peak Qi Refining Ninth Layer.
The Foundation Establishnt Pill stirred hearts. It was best to exchange it and imdiately enter seclusion for Foundation Establishnt. Otherwise, it would inevitably invite covetous eyes.
In the history of Azure Sea Sect, such incidents had not been absent—indeed, they were repeatedly suppressed yet never eradicated.
However, the True Disciples present, even if lacking contribution points, would rather borrow from fellow disciples to hold the pill in their own hands.
After all, how could it be more reassuring left within the sect than in one’s own possession?
Otherwise, what if so Core Formation direct descendant failed in Foundation Establishnt and needed a Foundation Establishnt Pill?
Fang Qing had long prepared sufficient contribution points and received a jade box from Elder Wanbao.
Upon opening it, a streak of blue light overflowed.
At the center of the jade box lay a large blue pill, its surface gleaming with luster, three exquisite pill patterns converging upon it.
“It is indeed a Standard Foundation Establishnt Pill!”
“Throughout the entire Small Huan Sea cultivation world, who knows how many Qi Refining cultivators would risk life and death for it…”
Fang Qing appraised it with his pill-refining skill and sighed inwardly. “This pill is ranked as Second-Tier Top-Grade. Its refinent difficulty is extrely high… At present, I would likely have to fail many tis before, under favorable timing and conditions, nurturing it with the water thod, I might barely refine an Inferior one… Though it was feasible to refine a Foundation Establishnt Pill myself, the resource investnt would have been sowhat terrifying…”
The pills he had refined during his assessnt had all been Low-Grade Second Tier. At best, he could now call himself a Low-Grade Second-Tier Pill Master.
To refine Second-Tier Top-Grade pills was indeed rather difficult.
After Elder Wanbao finished, Elder Tianxing delivered a round of admonitions before the True Disciples were dismissed.
Fang Qing returned to Pill Island, shook off the enthusiastic disciples, and retreated into seclusion within his Cave Dwelling.
As a True Disciple, he could have claid a better Cave Dwelling, but he was too lazy to change.
‘After Foundation Establishnt, the sect will arrange an even better Foundation Establishnt Cave Dwelling. Rather than move twice, I may as well wait until I succeed in Foundation Establishnt and settle it all at once.’
His thoughts stirred. “Now, as a True Disciple, I can be said to disregard all matters and focus solely on cultivation…”
User Comments
0 comments from readers