Ever since Li Yan first entered the sect and heard that warm, gentle voice, and later when he saw Wei Chongran's humble expression during the initiation ceremony, he couldn't help but subconsciously compare this man to Ji Junshi. Even though the two were worlds apart in appearance—one rotund and the other slender—Li Yan's mind kept merging their images. In his heart he mused, "Even if I've accepted this master, I'm still under the proverbial roof where one must bow before one's elders. Who can blame me for lowering my head when I'm so weak now?" Yet, deep down, he felt no true respect for this master at all. He wondered silently whether behind that gentle face lay a concealed dagger.
Before he could dwell on these thoughts any further, a call summoned him forward. With little choice, Li Yan forced himself to stand up and walk ahead. As he stepped forward, all the disciples gathered downstairs watched him intently. None of them seemed to know what the master's intentions were at that moment—except for the female attendant, who appeared to already know what was coming. Observing Li Yan's nervous, anxious expression, she couldn't help but smile gently. In the main bamboo hall, her soft, ruby lips parted as if carried by a light summer breeze in a sunlit grove when she remarked, "It seems the little fellow is still a bit afraid."
Noticing Li Yan's expression as well, Wei Chongran spoke up in a warm yet earnest tone, "I'm merely testing your aptitude so I can later choose the most fitting cultivation techniques for you." Up until now, he knew very little about his newest disciple—Li Yan's background had been recounted in passing by the lad himself, and even his innate potential was something Wei Chongran had heard about secondhand from Senior Brother Feng. Unlike other disciples, who went through formal registration with detailed reports from their subordinate sects (or even underwent personal testing), Li Yan's credentials were scant.
After saying this, Wei Chongran extended his hand and grasped Li Yan's wrist. In that instant, the man—whom only moments ago appeared to be an ordinary, plump mortal—exuded an intensity that was almost formidable. Before Li Yan could even register what was happening, he felt a surge of pure, warm, sunlike spiritual energy permeate his body. When Li Yan finally looked up, the glowing qi had already vanished as if it were never there, leaving him with a lightness that dispelled the heavy pressure he had been feeling.
Wei Chongran then released Li Yan's wrist and fell into a pensive silence. Although he already knew something about Li Yan's potential, and had no real reason to doubt what Senior Brother Feng had said, Wei Chongran always maintained a cautious "just in case" attitude. In the end, his assessment left him slightly disappointed: Li Yan possessed what was known as a "miscellaneous spirit root." In the world of the Wangliang Sect, such a mixed (or impure) spirit root was one of a kind—even the lowly menial disciples would never be allowed to possess this kind of innate talent.
After a careful moment of thought, Wei Chongran broke into a gentle smile and said, "Li Yan, your spirit root clearly favors the water element. That means you need not practice the introductory technique of the Lingchong Peak. Later, I'll have your Senior Brother accompany you to our Treasure Archive, where you will select one water-based cultivation technique along with a few immortal arts. These will be much more suitable for your path. Once you've made your choice, Senior Brother will explain and impart the method to you. And if you have any questions, you can come and ask me directly. Does that sound acceptable?"
Li Yan was momentarily stunned. So it turned out that his master was not only going to instruct him personally on the fundamentals but also help him choose his cultivation method and immortal techniques! Although Li Yan wasn't yet capable of mastering the sect's cultivation techniques in the conventional sense, the idea of selecting one—and indeed gaining access to essential immortal arts—was both unexpected and exciting. Ever since he had witnessed Ji Junshi's dazzling "Fire Ball Art" and the intricate "Wood Thorn Technique," he'd developed an almost desperate longing to learn immortal arts.
What Li Yan did not know was that Wei Chongran's consideration for him went even further. In most major sects, introductory techniques for a disciple at the Nascent Qi stage are typically explained only by senior disciples who have reached the upper echelons of the Nascent Qi realm (levels nine or ten). These mentoring seniors, known collectively as the "technique transmitters," are specially tasked with helping younger disciples grasp the basics. Having someone like Li Wu Yi from the Foundation Establishment stage teach him would have been using too powerful a tool for such a fledgling. Even the seventh senior brother—who was a Nascent Qi expert—would have had no difficulty imparting his knowledge at that stage. However, the higher the level of instruction, the more profound the understanding one could gain. That is why Wei Chongran explicitly told Li Yan that whenever he had questions, he should feel free to come directly to him. In the strict hierarchies of the Wangliang Sect, such allowances were exceedingly rare.
This extra attention, Wei Chongran explained silently in his mind, was exactly because he knew Li Yan's innate potential was less than ideal. He truly wanted to give Li Yan the very best support he could muster in order to nurture whatever promise there was.
Li Yan, for his part, remained blissfully unaware of these subtle concerns. To him, the master-disciple relationship was simply part of the ordinary course of events, especially since, for now, it was only his senior brother who would accompany him on his journey. So with a polite bow, Li Yan said, "Thank you, Master."
Wei Chongran then continued, "Alright then. That's all for now—everyone else, you may withdraw. Li Wu Yi will now escort Li Yan to arrange his lodgings, and afterwards, you two can head to the Treasure Archive to choose the cultivation technique and immortal arts that will best suit you."
Almost immediately, a clear, ringing voice chimed in, "Master, Senior Brother, allow me to take the little junior along. I can handle these matters on my own. Once he begins practicing his techniques, he can return to ask Senior Brother any questions he may have." All eyes turned, and it turned out that the one speaking was none other than Lin Da Qiao—the senior disciple known for his long, graceful arms—now stepping forward toward Li Yan.
The moment Wei Chongran saw Lin Da Qiao approaching, he understood the situation perfectly. Da Qiao had joined the sect somewhat later than the others and had yet to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage. In this group of disciples, he was still the only one marked on the official roll. Now, by having Li Yan come along as well, it seemed Da Qiao had finally found a companion. Wei Chongran's heart lifted with a quiet delight at this development.
Smiling warmly, Wei Chongran nodded his approval. "Hehe, very well then. Li Wu Yi, please arrange for Da Qiao to handle the formalities." With that, he glanced over at the beautiful attendant in white, and the two of them rose simultaneously before drifting out through the door, leaving the rest of the disciples to respectfully see them off.
Moments after their departure, a melodious voice resonated from within the hall. "Da Qiao, why are you still calling him 'little junior disciple'? Are you trying to make yourself look taller?" It was Fourth Senior Sister Miao Wangqing—dressed in an elegant goose-yellow long skirt—who teased Lin Da Qiao with a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Prior to Li Yan's arrival, Lin Da Qiao had been known as the youngest registered disciple in the sect, and everyone used to address him as "little junior." This perpetual label made him feel as though he would never be seen as mature in the eyes of his peers—a notion that irked him deeply. Now, with Li Yan's arrival, Da Qiao could hardly wait to shed that childish title.
Stepping up next to Li Yan, Da Qiao put an arm warmly around his shoulder. Then, turning to glance at Fourth Senior Sister, he remarked playfully, "Isn't it so? If they still call me 'little junior,' then wouldn't that mean I should address Li as Senior Brother?" He punctuated his words with a cheeky wink in Li Yan's direction.
Having recently experienced the traumatic events involving Ji Junshi, Li Yan was unaccustomed to such physical closeness. Yet, seeing the carefree familiarity with which his Seventh Senior Brother treated him, he found it hard to pull away and managed only a shy smile.
Miao Wangqing, reveling in Da Qiao's self-assured attitude, looked on with a satisfied smirk. She then glanced around at the others, noticing that many eyes were trained on her. Casting a furtive look at Li Wu Yi, she straightened her ample chest to accentuate her voluptuous figure. Just as she was about to continue her banter, another clear voice interrupted, "Fourth Senior Sister, let's go."
At that moment, the short-haired Sixth Senior Sister, Gong Chenying, rose gracefully. Her tall, well-proportioned figure exuded elegance, and after one cool glance back at Li Yan, she gently tugged at Miao Wangqing's skirt and led her outside.
"Mature, wait a minute—I still have some words to say to Da Qiao. Don't rush off!" Miao Wangqing protested as Gong Chenying, with a cool and detached tone, steered her out.
"Are you sure it's Da Qiao you're referring to…?" The ambiguous tone in Gong Chenying's voice suggested she was deliberately stressing a particular word. Startled, Miao Wangqing fell silent. In a panic, she covered Gong Chenying's mouth and pulled her along as they hurried away.
Inside the hall, only three people remained. Li Yan stood there utterly confused. Yet he could still clearly feel his Seventh Senior Brother's arm—still draped around him—trembling slightly, as if containing suppressed laughter. In the very next moment, Da Qiao's face shifted from playful mischief to a brief look of mock sorrow. He glanced back at Li Wu Yi with an exaggerated pitiful expression and whispered lowly, "Sometimes, one mustn't be too handsome—otherwise, you'd never dare to step out in public for even a few days."
Li Wu Yi, rubbing his nose in dejection, looked down as if in silent resignation.
At that very moment, the robust Second Senior Brother strode over and placed a hearty pat on Li Yan's shoulder. "Eighth junior, if you have time, come by my courtyard for a chat. Feel free to ask me any questions. Improve your cultivation as quickly as possible so that when the time comes, you and I can spar and learn from each other." Although he had directed his words toward Li Yan, his gaze then shifted to Li Wu Yi, and with a long, resigned sigh, he turned and left the main hall.
That sudden pat hit Li Yan like the blow of a bear. Half of his body felt numb, and he grimaced as if in painful surprise. At only fifteen years old, he found it hard to grasp the nuances of their banter; each remark sounded so odd and confusing—but they all seemed to refer to his senior brother's reputation.
Nearby, as the robust Second Senior Brother departed, Lin Da Qiao called out after him, "Hey, you should really call him 'little junior'—not something that elevates his status!"
The Second Senior Brother cleared his throat and replied, "Ahem—little junior, you see, your Second Senior Brother is a total cultivation fanatic. Once you ascend in your realm, he may actually relish the chance to discuss techniques and immortal arts with you in greater detail."
Li Wu Yi coughed lightly and remarked to Li Yan that he had indeed already addressed him as "little junior." Li Yan silently mused, "It seems this Second Senior Brother really just loves to compete." Yet at that moment, he didn't think much of it. For now, he remained entirely uncertain when he himself would even achieve Foundation Establishment—only heaven knew.
Li Wu Yi then glanced over at Lin Da Qiao, who was still lingering by the door, muttering under his breath. With a soft chuckle, Li Wu Yi advised, "Da Qiao, after you arrange lodging for the little junior, please explain all the sect's rules and the basic foundational knowledge to him. Also, recount everything you learned when you first joined your previous immortal sect—since you've heard of his humble origins and his limited understanding of the cultivation world, the more detailed your explanation, the better. As for choosing cultivation techniques, leave that to me. Once these matters are settled—and it will likely be late this evening—I will return tomorrow morning to guide the little junior in selecting both a cultivation method and some immortal arts."
It was decided that Lin Da Qiao would take responsibility for imparting the introductory knowledge to Li Yan. Li Wu Yi felt reassured by this arrangement, though he still personally reserved the right to choose Li Yan's cultivation technique later on. After all, given Li Yan's somewhat unpredictable temperament, selecting the right cultivation method was too important to entrust entirely to another. Wei Chongran's meticulous care and planning were unmistakable.
"Alright then, rest assured, Senior Brother," exclaimed Lin Da Qiao with a broad smile as he listened to Li Wu Yi's increasingly fluid reference to Li Yan as "little junior." His excitement was evident in every word.
"Very well, little junior," Da Qiao added, "I'll be leaving for now. Today's arrangements should carry on until tonight, so rest well, get acquainted with your surroundings, and tomorrow morning I'll come find you so we can select your cultivation technique and immortal arts together."
Li Wu Yi, ever thoughtful, gave Li Yan one final piece of advice before they parted, "Alright, little junior, thank you for today. Take care."
And with that, the three of them left the main hall separately. Outside, Li Yan trailed behind the larger group, while Lin Da Qiao led him along the winding mountain path upward, chatting away. Li Yan quickly found that Da Qiao was both talkative and surprisingly sincere—exactly the sort of person who always spoke his mind without reservation. Whenever Li Yan would interject a question, Da Qiao answered eagerly and without hesitation.
During their walk, Li Yan learned quite a bit about Lin Da Qiao. Da Qiao was twenty years old, a prodigy from a third-tier immortal sect in Chang Kongzhou—a region that, incidentally, fell under the domain of the Wangliang Sect. He was stationed in the southwestern area where only a handful of third-tier sects existed; not even a single second-tier sect could be found there.
Da Qiao's immortal sect was considered among the best in Chang Kongzhou. His potential shone brightly among the disciples of those third-tier sects, even though he had been discovered relatively late—only at the age of twelve. Ironically, he had been discovered a few years earlier than Li Yan had embarked on the immortal path. In his original sect, he managed to reach the second level of the Nascent Qi stage in just one year, earning the reputation of a once-in-a-century prodigy. By his third year, he had even broken into the fifth level. Then, when the Wangliang Sect began recruiting disciples, he was sent along, and it wasn't long before Wei Chongran himself recognized his extraordinary talent and accepted him as a registered disciple. Now, after more than six years in the sect, Da Qiao had advanced to the tenth level of the Nascent Qi stage—nearly progressing one level every year. As is well known in the cultivation world, the farther one goes, the more difficult it becomes to advance. His innate ability was as outstanding as Li Wu Yi's, and he now stood on the very brink of charging into the Foundation Establishment stage.
Listening to all of this, Li Yan couldn't help but feel a twinge of disbelief. The subordinate sects had painstakingly sought out and nurtured these prodigious talents, only to send them to the higher Four Great Sects. And this left him wondering how those smaller sects were supposed to develop on their own. However, Da Qiao's further explanation soon eased his concerns.
It turned out that when the Four Great Sects recruited disciples, subordinate immortal sects were not required to send their best candidates with them. Yet for those disciples remaining in the subordinate sects, they would lose an exceptionally rare chance at ascending in the immortal world. With regard to cultivation techniques, immortal arts, and the entirety of resources, the meager pool available to a small sect would almost never be sufficient to foster a golden core cultivator over two hundred years. But within the Four Great Sects, that possibility was real.
Furthermore, once the disciples sent to the Four Great Sects had established their foundations or even formed a golden core, they were obligated to serve as elders or even supreme elders back in their original subordinate sects. In return, the Four Great Sects provided their originating sects with lavish rewards for discovering such outstanding, talented individuals—a form of reinvestment that could take decades or even centuries for lower-tier sects to accumulate. In this way, the subordinate sects benefitted enormously, as their strength and development would quickly surge upward.
In addition, the Four Great Sects were extremely resource-rich. Even after disciples had established their foundations and formed their golden cores, many still chose to remain within the Four Great Sect as elders or senior cultivators. This contributed to an impressive concentration of golden core masters and Foundation Establishment disciples. In short, the system was designed to benefit both sides: while the subordinate sects lost a few of their best talents, the overall strength of the Four Great Sects was significantly enhanced.
Of course, there were some ambitious second- or third-tier sects that, wishing to develop into a superpower on their own, might choose not to send their true elite or prodigies. But for those little fry, the Four Great Sects were more than happy to turn a blind eye. After all, these mighty organizations were not easily shaken. If any warning signs emerged from an ambitious sect, the Four Great Sects would strike swiftly—and those with rebellious aspirations would see their entire sects crumble into oblivion.
By the time Li Yan absorbed all of this information, he realized that the intricate system of recruitment and resource allocation designed by the Four Great Sects was not only about nurturing individual disciples but also about mutually reinforcing the power of the entire sect. Deep inside, he began to understand the delicate balance between cultivating promising talents and enabling smaller sects to survive under the umbrella of a far mightier organization.
As the two continued their climb up the mountain, Lin Da Qiao's lively narration painted vivid pictures of cultivation tragedies and triumphs, of secret techniques passed down through ages, and of the inner workings of sect politics that often decided the fate of entire clans. Though Li Yan could only listen in awe, he found a newfound curiosity stirring within him—one that would drive him to someday uncover even more of these hidden intricacies of the immortal world.
In the cool mountain air, while the birds sang softly and the path wound upwards, Li Yan couldn't help wondering about his own future. Would he eventually master a technique or discover an advantage within his "miscellaneous spirit root"? Would he learn to harness the water element as Wei Chongran predicted and finally step out of the shadow of that cautious, unyielding mentor who might be harboring secrets beneath his gentle exterior? Only time would tell.