The system mall had many sections, encompassing resources from multiple worlds. As long as you had enough points, you could buy anything.
This included, but was not limited to, top-tier cultivation techniques, divine artifacts, and even high-tech items from interstellar worlds.
Her thousand years of point-earning tasks were not done in vain—her points had long since become an uncountable string of numbers. Going all-in was no problem at all.
“Alright! As long as you’ve made up your mind, whatever you want to do, Mom and Dad will support you.”
“Dear sister, your humble servant is ready. Let us now de~par~t!”
Tangxi Xuan, still damp from his bath, bounded down the stairs and eagerly crowded in front of Tang Ximo. His expectant little eyes sparkled brightly, radiating the energy of a simple-minded young master from a wealthy family.
Father Tang and Mother Xu were equally expectant. They didn’t know where their daughter was taking them, but they knew she wouldn’t harm them.
Tang Ximo beckoned to the Little Golden Dragon on the table, then turned and announced loudly to Father Tang and Mother Xu, “Let’s go!”
The ignored Tangxi Xuan didn’t mind at all. Cheerfully cradling the Little Golden Dragon, he hurried after his sister’s steps.
Tangxi Hua and Xu Wanqing shook their heads in amusement and quickly followed.
The three of them watched Wangcai’s dazzling reappearance with immense enthusiasm. Even though they had flown once last night, they were still filled with anticipation and excitement today.
Spiritual Power swirled around the family of four, forming a faint halo of light. Tang Ximo used her Spiritual Power to block out the howling wind around their ears, and with a whoosh, she led her family into the clouds.
Her target was the majestic, cloud-wreathed Taiwei Mountain towering in the distance.
Out of personal sentiment, Tang Ximo leisurely flew her family toward Taiwei Mountain, where the academy was located.
Father Tang and Mother Xu stood at the back, their eyes filled with wonder as they continuously looked down.
Their view shifted from an aerial panorama of the small town to only a few scattered white-walled self-built houses, and finally, an endless expanse of green forest filled their sight.
The trees were lush and dense. The morning sunlight filtered through layers upon layers of leaves, casting dappled shadows on the carpet of fallen leaves in the woods.
The drifting clouds and mist were like celestial maidens’ silk scarves, gently winding around the mountain’s waist, carrying the moist fragrance of grass and trees. The air quality was countless times better than in the city.
Only when Wangcai brought them into Taiwei Mountain, where the Sect Protection Array was laid, did they realize that although the air in the areas they had just passed through was fresh, it was far less refreshing and invigorating than Taiwei Mountain’s.
Their altitude continued to climb until finally, Wangcai stopped at the center of the plaza in front of Taichu Hall.
Before they even landed, the first thing they heard was Tangxi Xuan’s uncultured two-word exclamation.
“My lack of culture leaves me with only expletives to express myself! Sis, you’re just too amazing!”
The three of them gazed in awe at the main hall before them, with its carved beams and painted rafters, upturned eaves, and hanging bells.
Just the exterior was enough to be breathtaking. They dared not imagine how exquisitely stunning the interior must be!
Bronze bells gently swayed in the breeze, emitting clear, melodious chimes. Amidst these bell sounds, Tang Ximo led her family up the Spirit Stone steps and into the main hall to register as new students.
Standing outside the hall entrance, the first things that met their eyes were two towering, cloud-piercing coiled dragon jade pillars standing on either side.
The auspicious beasts carved on the jade pillars were lifelike, with scales and claws seeming to soar, as if they might break free from the pillars’ constraints at any moment and fly toward the freedom of the clouds.
Looking further up, above the main gate hung a gilded plaque inscribed with the three characters: ‘Taichu Hall’.
The calligraphy was bold and powerful, with strokes that seemed to flow with an overbearing aura of Spiritual Qi.
Stepping inside Taichu Hall, the grandeur felt even more overwhelming.
The floor of the hall was paved with jade, supported by eighteen exquisitely carved spirit pillars adorned with cloud patterns and auspicious motifs. These pillars, as thick as thousand-year-old giant trees, held up the entire Taichu Hall.
At the head of the hall stood a jade table, pure white and radiating dense Spiritual Qi, representing the seat of the sect leader. Paired with it was a phoenix chair crafted from phoenix wood.
With just a few simple steps, Tang Ximo instantly changed into her sect’s ceremonial robe from the Cultivation World—a black and gold dragon-patterned wide-sleeved robe, paired with a black lotus hair crown adorned with golden tassels.
This was the standard ceremonial robe for sect disciples during formal occasions. As a disciple under the tutelage of Sword Venerable Wuchen, the black and gold dragon patterns represented the exclusive attire of the Sword Peak disciples, each set personally designed and crafted by her master.
Why personally designed and crafted?
Of course, it was because the Sword Peak had few disciples, making it less troublesome.
As the sixth and youngest disciple, she had two senior sisters and three senior brothers above her, making a total of seven people including her master.
The reasons for the small number of disciples need not be elaborated upon. In any case, she was the last to achieve Ascension, and she nearly failed at that. There was no point in dwelling on it further.
Tang Ximo stood beside the jade table and slowly walked toward the phoenix chair, taking a seat.
“This Taichu Hall is modeled after the main hall of my sect in the Cultivation World. It was typically used for meetings between the sect leader and the elders of each peak. From now on, it will serve as the meeting place for the teachers of our academy.”
Recalling her time in the Cultivation World, her master rarely attended such meetings, finding the sect leader and elders too verbose. He spent most of his time wandering outside.
This also meant that she and her senior sisters and brothers learned a wide variety of skills. Besides being Sword Cultivators, they also dabbled in other disciplines.
As for her, she chose to learn everything—anything she could study, she delved into, and even the things she couldn’t learn, she read the corresponding texts, including ancient forbidden books.
In her words, it was about knowing oneself and the enemy to emerge victorious in every battle.
Thanks to her Chaos Spiritual Root and her comprehensive learning, whenever someone tried to cause trouble for her, regardless of the cultivation techniques they practiced, they would inevitably be defeated by her.
Tangxi Xuan’s eyes sparkled with admiration and pride as he gazed at Tang Ximo, who had instantly transformed into her formal appearance.
“Sis, the sect where you studied must be one of the top major sects in the Cultivation World.”
Father Tang and Mother Xu silently nodded in agreement. Even a replica of the main hall was so majestic—the real one must possess boundless dignity.
The usually serious Tang Ximo couldn’t help but smile, though she didn’t deny her silly brother’s words.
The real sect’s main hall was guarded by genuine Spirit Beasts.
While one might not witness dragons soaring and phoenixes dancing, it was common to see Spirit Beasts either spreading their wings and soaring above the hall or resting beneath the ancient pine branches in front of the hall.
“The academy is named Taichu Cultivation Academy. You will become the first batch of disciples of the Cultivation Academy. I will personally guide you in your cultivation, striving to help you become true Cultivators as soon as possible and formally embark on the path of Cultivation.”
Tang Ximo’s voice was gentle yet carried an undeniable solemnity. Father Tang, Mother Xu, and Tangxi Xuan listened with hearts pounding so fiercely they felt they might leap out of their throats.
Their breaths grew slightly hurried as they gazed up at Tang Ximo, who sat upright and dignified at the head of the hall, their eyes shimmering with boundless anticipation for stepping onto the immortal path.
“Now, line up and stand in front of the black jade stele on the right. Do you see the engraving on it? Place your hands on it to leave your identity information.”
The two-meter-tall black jade stele emitted a faint, ethereal glow. On its mirror-smooth surface, circles of golden Runic Script flowed and shimmered, while the phoenix engraving at its center recorded identity information.
Tangxi Xuan was the first to leave her details, though the process took a little longer.