“We haven’t taken in any new disciples for thirty years.”
“Why?”
“Master said at first that the opportunity hadn’t arrived yet, but later, those disciples heard about our sect’s situation and didn’t come—they all went to other sects instead.” Ji Qing finished speaking and glanced at You Yu, feeling somewhat relieved.
If she hadn’t arrived late, after the people from other sects had already left, she probably wouldn’t have chosen Taiyi Zong either.
You Yu still felt they were being too hasty: “Senior Sister, aren’t you afraid I might have just said anything? What if I don’t have a Linggen at all?”
“If you can’t cultivate, we’ll just send you back,” Ji Qing said casually.
You Yu blinked, thinking to herself that this was indeed the naive Senior Sister of Taiyi Zong. No wonder she was eventually deceived by the female lead under the guise of friendship, tricked out of countless medicinal pills, and ultimately sacrificed her life searching for herbs in a Secret Realm just to refine pills for the female lead.
Tsk tsk, when she got the chance, she would definitely teach Senior Sister the importance of guarding against fire, theft, and close girlfriends!
No wait—with her around, she definitely wouldn’t let Senior Sister become fake best friends with You Xue’er!
The Feichuan wasn’t slow, but it still traveled for five days before entering the territory of Xiuxian. The moment they arrived, You Yu could feel the dense Lingqi.
This was far more abundant than in the mortal world!
She could sense that if she cultivated here, her Huo Linggen entry wouldn’t take nine days at all.
She thought they would reach Taiyi Zong soon after entering, but unexpectedly, the Feichuan flew for another two months before arriving. And that was only because Taiyi Zong wasn’t too far from the mortal world.
Fortunately, she hadn’t wasted those two months—she had been in Secluded Cultivation in her room the entire time, cultivating her Huo Linggen to the second layer of the Lianqi Period, with her Mu Linggen also close to breaking through to the second layer.
To balance the two Linggens, she focused mainly on cultivating her Mu Linggen afterward, and by the time they reached the mountain gate, she had just successfully advanced her Mu Linggen to the second layer of the Lianqi Period.
She opened the door and stepped out, just in time to see Ji Qing pacing outside.
“Senior Sister.”
“You’ve come out of seclusion? Perfect timing—we’re about to arrive at the mountain gate. I was just wondering whether to call you,” Ji Qing said.
“Thank you, Senior Sister. I’m ready.” You Yu smiled at her.
Seeing no reaction from Ji Qing, she knew her senior sister hadn’t noticed that she’d advanced to the second layer of the Lianqi Period.
Ji Qing saw her smile and the corners of her own lips lifted slightly: “Then follow me.”
When they reached the deck, Third Senior Brother, Fifth Senior Brother, and Sixth Senior Brother were all there.
The wind blew through their long hair and robes, giving them an air of spirited confidence.
Unfortunately, all of their endings were tragic.
Third Senior Brother Liao Xing was a Jianxiu—cold and aloof on the surface, but actually very simple-minded. After being saved once by You Xue’er, he fell into her pond, protecting the female lead time and again. In a later battle against Moxiu, he was abandoned by You Xue’er and the male lead to draw the enemy’s fire, and was cruelly killed by the Moxiu.
Fifth Senior Brother He Fan… the most devoted supporting male character of them all. He did countless things for the female lead, and finally, in an ancient tomb, he willingly became the Zhenyan to save her. After the male and female leads escaped, he was torn apart by the Zhenfa.
Sixth Senior Brother Rong Xuan was a Zhenfashi. He didn’t fall into the female lead’s pond, but after learning that Third Senior Brother had been killed by the male and female leads, he went to seek revenge. He was wounded by the male lead, eventually became a Moxiu, and was then slain by the female lead in an over-level kill, earning her an excellent reputation.
In short, everyone in Taiyi Zong became stepping stones for the male and female leads’ advancement.
Two words: utterly tragic.
You Yu greeted the three with a bow: “Third Senior Brother, Fifth Senior Brother, Sixth Senior Brother.”
“Little Junior Sister is out,” He Fan waved at her. Not detecting any Lingli fluctuations from her, he comforted her: “Little Junior Sister, it’s still early. Once we return to the sect, we’ll have Master find you a suitable Xinfa, and then you’ll be able to cultivate successfully.”
Earlier, when You Yu said she wanted to go into Secluded Cultivation, they’d told her she couldn’t cultivate without a Xinfa, and only then did she mention she’d obtained one before.
Now, seeing that she hadn’t even broken through after two months, everyone guessed her Xinfa must be very low-grade.
You Yu didn’t explain and simply smiled at him.
He Fan thought You Yu’s smile was adorable—much cuter than Senior Sister’s.
He was about to comfort her further when Liao Xing said flatly, “We’ve arrived.”
You Yu looked ahead. A cluster of towering mountain peaks stood between heaven and earth, and on the mountainside of the foremost peak, a few courtyards were scattered about.
You Yu: “…” They didn’t even have a gate?
How did such a dilapidated sect manage to participate in recruitment alongside the major sects?
Seeming to sense her confusion, He Fan took the initiative to explain: “Our Master is at the Huashen Period.”
You Yu understood.
Masters of other sects were usually at the Yuanying Period, but there was no one like Taiyi Zong’s master, who was at the Huashen Period.
No matter how few people Taiyi Zong had, having a Huashen Period expert meant it could be ranked alongside the other sects.
It was just that the ranking was always dead last.
Thinking about when Taiyi Zong was destroyed—what was the sect master doing?
Seems like he went missing.
Otherwise, the disciples of Taiyi Zong wouldn’t have been wiped out entirely.
At the thought of meeting a Huashen Period expert soon, You Yu felt a bit nervous: “Senior Sister, with Master being so powerful, will he accept me as a disciple?”
“Yes, he will. He said that as long as he brings back a disciple, regardless of their talent, he will accept them.” Ji Qing reassured her. “Come on, Master should be at the medicine garden right now.”
In the novel, there was very little description of this Taiyi Zong Sect Master. At most, he appeared in other people’s words. She had expected to meet a transcendent, immortal-like figure, but instead, she saw an old man in plain cloth digging in the dirt.
Several disciples bowed to the old man: “Master, we’re back.”
You Yu also bowed, but didn’t call him Master.
Jiang Wenji put down the small hoe in his hand, clapped his hands, and stood up, saying with a smile: “You’re all back? So this is the little junior sister you found for yourselves? What’s your name?”
You Yu, being addressed, stepped forward: “Disciple You Yu.”
Jiang Wenji nodded: “Huomu Linggen, not bad. From now on, you are my last disciple, the ninth.”
You Yu stepped forward, knelt, and kowtowed: “Disciple pays respects to Master.”
“When I’m at the sect, you can come to me with any questions. When I’m not here, you can go to your senior brothers and sisters, or find Elder Qing.” Jiang Wenji took out a Storage Bag that looked a bit worn. “This is your master’s gift for accepting you as a disciple. Your Xinfa suits you well, so there’s no need to learn a new one.”
His Xiuwei was already at the Huashen Period, so he could definitely see the Huanqi on her and know her true situation.
You Yu accepted it with both hands: “Thank you, Master.”
“Let your senior sister take you to pick a courtyard, then get some good rest.”
“Yes, Master.”
After giving his instructions, Jiang Wenji returned to the medicine garden and continued weeding the herbs.
After leaving the medicine garden, You Yu asked curiously: “Senior sister, why does Master personally do the weeding? He could just ask any disciple to do it, right?”
“Because in our sect, there are only the few of us.”
“Ah?”