Half an hour earlier, inside Room Heaven No. 4.
Zhang Yuanshan, Chu He, and Zhao Mengyao had arrived first. As they gathered, they began sharing their harvests and progress from the past half year in the sect.
"Since entering the Artifact Refining Hall, I've been following my clan uncle, learning as his assistant.
To my surprise, I actually have some talent in artifact forging. With the clan stepping up its support, I managed to break through to the fifth level of Qi Refinement within six months.
Just half a month ago, I was even able to forge a magic tool's embryo on my own."
"Senior Brother Zhang's prospects are truly boundless. It's enviable.
As for me, I only barely broke through to the fourth level of Qi Refinement last month. I still have a long way to go."
Chu He, his voice like rolling thunder, said gruffly:
"Senior sister, no need for modesty. I myself only broke through to mid-stage Qi Refinement yesterday. Does that not make me the slow-witted one here?"
"Hahaha, we all have a bright future ahead," Zhang Yuanshan chuckled, then smoothly shifted the topic:
"A few months ago, Ji An came to Chitong Mountain seeking us out, saying he wanted to borrow some spirit stones.
At the time, I saw that although he was only at the second level of Qi Refinement, he had already trained Minor Rain Art to Small Accomplishment. Coupled with his persuasion, I agreed and lent him two stones. He borrowed another two from Chu He."
"What? He came to borrow from you two as well?"
Zhao Mengyao was stunned.
"'As well?' Junior Sister, did he borrow spirit stones from you, too?"
Her cheeks reddened slightly as she nodded:
"Yes. I was impressed that with so little mana at only the second level of Qi Refinement, he still managed to push Minor Rain to Small Accomplishment in just a month. That was why I decided to support him with a few stones."
But now, regret flickered across her face as she added:
"Thinking carefully, reaching Small Accomplishment with Minor Rain only increases grain yields by about ten percent."
The three exchanged glances, and when they tallied things up, good heavens, Ji An had already amassed sixteen spirit stones of debt. That was surely beyond what an early-stage Qi Refinement disciple could ever hope to repay!
Chu He clenched his fists and growled:
"I myself have to scrimp and save every stone to maintain cultivation, yet that fellow lives it up!"
Zhang Yuanshan pondered a moment, then said:
"A spirit farmer only becomes truly valuable once he pushes one of the planting arts, Minor Rain, Thick Earth, or Withering-Bloom to Great Accomplishment.
Ji An does have high comprehension with water-type arts, but who knows how long it will take him to bring Minor Rain to Great Accomplishment.
He promised to repay us some spirit stones in half a year. At that time, we'll judge him by his results.
But from this point on, we mustn't lend him any more. And today, we should give him a little warning.
Also, we should bring up the matter of using his beast-taming secret arts as collateral for the debt."
The true test of talent lies in crossing the gap from Small Accomplishment to Great Accomplishment. Entry, Proficiency, or even Small Accomplishment could be reached quickly with enough repetition.
But advancing to Great Accomplishment wasn't just about practice. Without genuine insight, one could waste years or never make it at all.
A promising spirit farmer was worth befriending, but continuing to lend out stones endlessly for that purpose was not.
His debts were already too heavy.
None of them had realized it before that someone could actually cultivate by borrowing spirit stones.
Damn it, it was only because that guy talked too well, so different from the dull and honest image he had before opening his meridians!
Ji An, seeing their expressions, sat up straighter and spoke gently:
"Senior Brother is absolutely right.
The sect gives new disciples three years before the great assessment. With just a Small Accomplishment in planting arts, there's simply no way I could repay my debts within a few years."
"You… you know that too?!"
Chu He's clenched fist thudded against the table.
"When you borrowed those spirit stones, you sure as hell didn't say it like that!"
Ji An remained calm, his tone steady:
"Indeed, relying on Small accomplishments in planting arts alone would be impossible. But with Great Accomplishment, it's another matter.
Not to boast, but just recently I've trained both Minor Rain and Thick Earth to the Great Accomplishment stage.
I planted two acres of spirit grain and harvested 580 jin of Yellow Sprout Rice only a few days ago.
Since first-year disciples are exempt from land rent and sect taxes, if I were to sell the entire harvest, I'd receive 580 spirit crystals."
He cupped his hands in earnest respect:
"After this little gathering, please do come to my residence. I would be honored to serve you wine and meat from my harvest."
Zhang Yuanshan's eyes sharpened two Great Accomplishment techniques in less than half a year?!
Zhao Mengyao, too, looked visibly shaken. If this claim were true, then Ji An's potential in planting arts needed to be reevaluated entirely.
Zhang Yuanshan gave a soft grunt, then smiled:
"With such accomplishments, junior brother, your success brings honor to us all.
Tonight, then, we shall impose upon you. Let us raise our cups together."
Strike a warning? Forget it. There was nothing left to strike.
As more disciples arrived, Zhang Yuanshan glanced around and saw that all sixteen peers of their intake had gathered. He gave instructions for the banquet dishes to be served.
The hall grew lively, cups clinking, laughter rising, spirits ran high.
Midway through the feast, Zhang Yuanshan set down his wine cup gently and sighed:
"A pity… I wonder if, half a year from now, I'll still be here to drink with you all again."
His voice wasn't loud, but pitched just right for everyone to hear.
Zhao Mengyao frowned in surprise:
"Senior Brother, what do you mean? Have you received a sect mission to go outside?"
Usually, the sect only assigned guard or outpost duties to disciples above the fourth level of Qi Refinement, and even then, only those with weaker production ability. Moreover, disciples in their first three years were normally exempt from such missions, as it was too dangerous with unrefined spells and low cultivation.
Concern rippled through the room.
If new disciples were being sent out so soon, something serious must be brewing. The sect had enemies, if not rival human sects, then certainly the demon clans entrenched in the mountains to the northwest.
"You could say that. But in truth, it's good news," Zhang Yuanshan smiled.
"Just yesterday, my clan uncle told me that the sect's elders fought several battles with the Blue-Eyed Demon Ape tribe of Mora Mountain, slaying their king.
The sect now controls Mora Mountain, a superior-grade first-rank spirit vein. Once the protective formation is laid, they'll send disciples to garrison there.
My uncle has been selected, and I'll be tagging along in his shadow.
In a few days, the news will be formally announced. If any of you have connections, it wouldn't hurt to try and secure a place."
"At a superior-grade first-rank spirit vein, your cultivation will advance with leaps and bounds. Senior Brother, allow me to wish you an early breakthrough to late-stage Qi Refinement!"
"Congratulations, Senior Brother."
The others quickly followed with their well-wishes. Ji An, meanwhile, felt a stab of envy in his heart.
He couldn't help but wonder if he were to cultivate atop a spirit vein like that, just how much spiritual qi the stone turtle could absorb in a single day?
But he shook his head inwardly. That sort of opportunity would never fall to someone like him, rootless and without backing.
Still, this revelation planted a seed in his mind: he needed to reach late-stage Qi Refinement as soon as possible and secure himself a worthy master. Lean against a tall tree, and it's easier to reach the heavens.
The sect placed great importance on master-disciple lineages. Only cultivators at mid-stage Foundation Establishment and above were qualified to accept disciples.
To encourage diligence, masters received contribution points for each disciple's progress.
If a disciple was at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, the master earned 700 points a year. When that disciple advanced to the eighth level, the master's annual reward rose to 800 points, plus a one-time bonus of 700.
Each Foundation Establishment cultivator was limited to just four non-Foundation disciples. Once a disciple advanced to Foundation, the master received even greater rewards.
And perhaps more importantly, apprenticeship meant early entry into the circles of Foundation Establishment cultivators, access to inside information, and better treatment in resource distribution.