The next day.
Just as Ye Shanhu had predicted, someone arrived to register their Spirit Roots.
The envoy was none other than Liu Chuansheng. Seeing his face, Xu Changshou breathed a quiet sigh of relief.
At least he did not have to worry about his true Spirit Root being exposed.
Within the courtyard pavilion.
Wielding a glowing rod, Liu Chuansheng began testing the assembly.
“Su Mo: Wind, Fire, Metal.”
“Lin Xian’er: Water, Fire, Wood.”
“Ye Shanhu: Water, Fire, Wood.”
“Han Zong: Earth, Wood, Darkness.”
“Jiang Xiaochuan: Fire, Earth, Metal.”
“Qian Yuanbao: Water, Fire, Wood.”
“Zhang Feixian: Water, Fire, Wood.”
“Li Linhao: Water, Metal, Lightning.”
…
Watching the results tally up, Xu Changshou furrowed his brow.
In his memory, only Zhang Feixian possessed a Water, Fire, and Wood foundation. How did four of them suddenly manifest the exact same triad? Even Ye Shanhu was suddenly ‘Water, Fire, and Wood’.
Could it be that even Spirit Root registrations are rigged?
Xu Changshou stroked his chin. Liu Chuansheng seemed unreliable; it was possible someone had bribed him.
Otherwise, this sudden influx of Water, Fire, and Wood results seemed suspicious.
After all, everyone knew those specific three elements were especially suited to alchemy.
When it was finally his turn, Liu Chuansheng simply waved his wide sleeve. “No need to test. I remember you. Xu Changshou, this year’s sole Five-Element Mixed Spirit Root.”
With that, Liu Chuansheng departed. In his wake, the atmosphere turned peculiar. Everyone exchanged subtle, knowing smiles before silently dispersing to their own quarters.
Only Xu Changshou and Jiang Xiaochuan remained in the pavilion.
“Junior Brother Jiang, something is rotten. How did so many suddenly test for Water, Fire, and Wood?” Xu Changshou asked, keeping his voice low.
Jiang Xiaochuan flashed a secretive smile. “Senior Brother Xu, you are out of the loop. A few palms were greased. Gifts were offered to Senior Brother Liu.”
Just as I suspected!
Xu Changshou nodded inwardly. Damn, it really is just a game of favors and connections.
Liu Chuansheng was dishonest. Xu Changshou had personally watched Zhang Zhengyuan bribe the man with three Fragmented Spirit Stones to alter a task time.
Jiang Xiaochuan shook his head. “Bribery only buys peace of mind. What does it matter if everyone is registered with Water, Fire, and Wood roots? Danxia Peak has limited places. They will prioritize the genuine article first. Only if there are too few genuine candidates will they begin picking from the fakes.”
“You mean to say Senior Brother Liu takes gifts from both sides without guaranteeing a result?” Xu Changshou asked, incredulous.
“Heh!”
Jiang Xiaochuan chuckled. “Senior Brother Liu does have two sets of quotas, but you cannot entirely blame him. He is not the final judge. It is simply a matter of willing buyers and a willing seller.”
“And if the genuine candidates fall short, how do the elders choose from the fakes?”
Jiang Xiaochuan looked up, his eyes sharp. “That depends entirely on who offered the largest gift, and whose clan backing is the most formidable.”
“I see!”
Xu Changshou sighed inwardly, feeling his eyes opened to the grim reality of the Sect.
If a lowly, menial post at Danxia Peak involved so many complications…
Then competition for Foundation Establishment Pills must be fiercer still.
“Junior Brother Jiang, speak truthfully. Did you offer tribute?”
“Ah…”
Jiang Xiaochuan smiled bitterly. “This dictates the trajectory of my entire life. Naturally, I had to act.”
“Senior Brother Xu, do not say I didn’t warn you. The assignments will be fixed in half a month. Give gifts or use any connections you have during this time. No matter the cost, you cannot allow yourself to be assigned to Green Ink Peak.”
“Understood, understood. I will do my best.”
Xu Changshou offered a placating dismissal before returning to his quarters to cultivate.
Two days later.
Word spread that a senior was giving a lecture at the Teaching Hall, focusing primarily on the nuances of the Qi Condensation realm.
Having cultivated on his own thus far, Xu Changshou harbored numerous questions. A formal lecture would save him the trouble of finding someone to ask.
On the first morning of the lecture, Xu Changshou made his way to the hall.
To his surprise, few people attended. From the entire Gengzi Courtyard, he was the sole disciple present.
It was painfully obvious. Jiang Xiaochuan and the other scions had already been taught cultivation methods by their clan elders.
They had no need for basic lectures.
“Dear Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters, for the next three days, I shall impart my personal insights regarding the Qi Condensation realm. Should I misspeak, I welcome your debate.”
The voice was strikingly familiar. Xu Changshou raised his head to see a graceful, enchanting silhouette standing upon the dais. It was Liu Rushi.
Senior Sister Liu is instructing us?
Ever since their brief encounter at the Duty Hall, her face had frequently occupied his thoughts. She had even graced his dreams.
At twelve or thirteen years of age, Xu Changshou was just entering the dawn of adolescence; it was only natural for his gaze to linger on an exceptionally beautiful woman.
Ye Shanhu and Lin Xian’er were still little girls, and Xu Changshou felt no such attraction toward them.
It was the mature allure of an older woman like Liu Rushi that captivated a boy of his age.
Naturally, this fondness was a far cry from true, romantic love.
“Under normal circumstances, so long as one possesses a suitable technique and adheres to its prescribed energy pathways, one can cultivate. There is little wisdom I can add to that.”
“Today, I will discuss the major bottlenecks encountered during the Qi Condensation stage.”
“The transition from the third layer to the fourth, the sixth to the seventh, and the ninth to the tenth.”
“These are the three major Bottlenecks of our realm.”
“Regardless of talent, upon striking these barriers, one’s cultivation will slow or stall for a time.”
“Should any of you find yourselves trapped in such a state, allow me to share my methods.”
“I utilize three methods to shatter a Bottleneck. The first is to pause cultivation for a while, get out and walk around, and balance effort with rest. That may help you break through.”
“The second method is the Barrier Breaking Pill. Consuming one remains the most direct and effective method.”
“The third method is for those who cannot afford a Barrier Breaking Pill and lack the enlightenment to break through organically. In such cases, one must ingest large amounts of Qi Gathering Pills. Overwhelming force forges miracles. Taking enough Qi Gathering Pills may also help break through…”
For three consecutive days, Xu Changshou attended every single lecture.
Ye Shanhu and the others remained entirely absent. They departed at the crack of dawn and returned late at night.
It was painfully obvious they were scurrying about, trying to influence their assignments.
With only half a month remaining before the ledgers were sealed, they were in no mood to sit in a quiet hall and cultivate.
Xu Changshou, however, had long since accepted his situation. He remained entirely unbothered.
When it was time to cultivate, he cultivated. When it was time to listen, he listened.
Liu Rushi’s teachings had granted him a profound sense of clarity.
Currently, he possessed four Qi Gathering Pills. He would utilize them entirely for his early-stage progression.
Once exhausted, he would rely solely on his own cultivation to reach the peak of the sixth layer. Only then would he spend his fifty Fragmented Spirit Stones to buy more Qi Gathering Pills.
Since a Barrier Breaking Pill was too expensive for him, he would employ the third method: trying to break through to the seventh layer with Qi Gathering Pills.
Once he broke into the seventh layer, he hoped his Bloodline Jade Talisman would open. He would plot his next move then.
Night fell.
Xu Changshou focused his mind and stabilized his breathing, preparing to consume his second Qi Gathering Pill.
This time, he had prepared. He had obtained some Dog-Tooth Rice from the Spirit Kitchen, keeping it within arm’s reach to fend off the hunger.
Whatever happens, I cannot go hungry like last time.