Chapter 8: Entering the Sect
Hoo—hoo!
Amid howling gales, a Green-Leaf Flying Vessel tore through the clouds, ripping open the sky as it sped toward the interior of Jade Island.
On the deck, Fang Qing looked at the layer of green protective barrier enveloping the flying vessel.
He could not feel even the slightest sensation of wind cutting against his face, and could not help but click his tongue in amazement.
Behind him followed a little tail—Zhu’er.
At this time, it was already the third day after the Immortal Opportunity Assembly.
The disciples of the Azure Sea Sect had given those who passed the spirit testing a full day to settle their family affairs, and only then departed toward the sect’s mountain gate.
‘Come to think of it… the cost of cultivation is truly unimaginable.’
Fang Qing sighed inwardly as he recalled what had happened the night before. ‘After word spread that Zhu’er and I had tested with spiritual roots, Dahua Fishing Village immediately responded—Ruan Seven was sacrificed to the Sea Dragon King. It was said that his own father and brothers carried it out personally!’
‘Of course… the greater influence might have been Zhu’er. After all, she possesses top-grade aptitude.’ He looked back at the delicately carved, jade-like little girl and smiled faintly.
Zhu’er had left her family behind to head to the sect.
Naturally, she was extremely frightened and clung to him, the only familiar person around—something entirely reasonable.
Thanks to this, he also gained a bit of face in front of disciples like Gong Susu, Wei Gutong, and Kan Zimeng.
“Little Sister Zhu’er.”
At this moment, Gong Susu walked over. “We’re about to arrive at the sect’s mountain gate… Among all the spirit-seeking envoys this time, there probably aren’t many routes that surpassed ours. That’s all thanks to you.”
“Spirit-seeking envoys—are there many routes?” Fang Qing asked in surprise.
“Of course. Our Azure Sea Sect has had Core Formation Ancestors presiding over it for generations, shaking the eight directions with our might… Even those Foundation Establishment forces beyond the islands send their direct descendants into the sect.”
Gong Susu answered proudly, then cast a meaningful glance at Fang Qing.
Clearly, Fang Qing’s household registration was no secret, but the Azure Sea Sect did not care.
“Senior Sister Gong, Zhu’er and I still don’t understand much about cultivation… Would you be willing to enlighten us?” Fang Qing clasped his fists and asked sincerely.
“Naturally. I’ll tell you everything I know. These things will be explained through books after entering the sect anyway, but I can mention a few points in advance…”
After thinking for a moment, Gong Susu said, “Heaven and earth contain spiritual energy. We cultivators possess spiritual roots, allowing us to absorb that energy and cultivate. Spiritual roots are divided into different grades. For example, Junior Brother Fang, you can be considered to have mid-grade water spiritual roots, while Junior Sister Zhu’er has top-grade water spiritual roots. The better the spiritual root, the faster the cultivation speed, and the lower the chance of encountering bottlenecks when breaking through realms. As for the legendary heaven-grade spiritual roots, it’s said that there are no bottlenecks at all before Core Formation.”
“As for the divisions of cultivation, there are Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, and other realms. Great powers at the Nascent Soul level have long vanished from the Small Huan Sea. A Core Formation cultivator already counts as a sect ancestor. Our sect has seven major inner islands, and the island masters are all great cultivators at late Foundation Establishment or above. If we disciples can be accepted into one island and listed as true disciples, Foundation Establishment will be within reach. Once one reaches Foundation Establishment, one may enjoy one hundred and eighty years of lifespan, while Core Formation Ancestors live up to five hundred…”
After Gong Susu’s explanation, Fang Qing finally gained a rough understanding of the Small Huan Sea cultivation world and the Azure Sea Sect.
“Zhu’er and I thank Senior Sister for the guidance,” he said sincerely, then asked, “The immortal path is arduous—please point us toward the right way forward.”
This was actually rather sly, effectively binding himself together with Zhu’er.
Gong Susu smiled in a way that was hard to read and said, “After entering the sect, you’ll first pay respects to the founding ancestor, receive your disciple identity tokens and various items, and then choose cultivation methods. Most disciples start from the outer sect or as menial workers before entering the inner sect or becoming true disciples. However, Senior Sister here does have a path—you can directly enter Pill Island and become inner sect disciples. You should know that among the hundred cultivation arts, minor paths like talismans are studied by many rogue cultivators and have long become commonplace. Only great paths like alchemy, artifact refinement, and formations can accumulate sufficient resources…”
Fang Qing summarized it mentally.
The general idea was that competition among Azure Sea Sect disciples was just as fierce—if one wanted to cultivate, one needed a specialized skill.
Talisman drawing, spirit plant cultivation, and spirit beast raising all had too many competitors and had long turned into a red ocean.
Alchemy, artifact refinement, and formations, on the other hand, were high-value, high-requirement skills.
As long as one was willing to invest the effort, once results were achieved, vast amounts of spirit resources could be earned to support cultivation.
“Many thanks for Senior Sister’s benevolence. Zhu’er and I will surely remember this favor,” Fang Qing quickly expressed his gratitude.
Being able to learn alchemy was always a good thing.
He was well aware, though, that he was merely an add-on—Gong Susu truly cared only about Zhu’er.
Boom!
At this moment, the Green-Leaf Flying Vessel arrived above a vast emerald-green lake.
The lake was like a bright mirror—deep and expansive. Within it, countless flood serpents seemed to churn and roll.
At the very center of the lake stood seven great islands, arranged in a specific formation.
Some were filled with resplendent golden buildings, while others were shrouded in a thin mist. It truly looked like a sacred immortal realm.
“This is the mountain gate of our Azure Sea Sect,” Gong Susu said as she landed the flying vessel on a white jade plaza.
She slightly raised her chin, fairer and more delicate than the jade beneath her feet.
“Now… lower-grade aptitude seedlings go to the outer sect to conduct the initiation ceremony. Mid-grade aptitude seedlings follow the senior brothers. Little Sister Zhu’er, wait here.”
After Fang Qing and the others left, Gong Susu looked at the timid Zhu’er.
The smile on her face grew even gentler. “Well? That halfway brother of yours only wanted to use you as a pretext to gain benefits. You must understand—after entering the sect, the ones you can truly rely on are only your master and your senior sisters… and your grandfather. I’ve already arranged for people to bring him here. He’ll arrive a bit later than us.”
“Grandfather?”
Zhu’er’s eyes immediately lit up. “As long as you bring my grandfather here, Sister, I’ll agree to anything.”
“Good. Very good.”
Gong Susu was overjoyed.
She then looked toward Fang Qing’s retreating back, her smile growing increasingly playful.
‘I’ve already promised, so I’ll naturally help you become an inner sect disciple and enter Pill Island… But alchemy isn’t easy. Especially at the beginning—ruining a few batches can bankrupt a family. This is your own choice, not Senior Sister setting you up…’
‘Mid-grade aptitude isn’t bad, but the chances of Foundation Establishment later on are still low… Zhu’er, however, has real potential.’
‘In that case, I must make her draw closer to me—and incidentally sever her worldly ties!’
…
Naturally, Fang Qing had no idea that Gong Susu was gossiping about him behind his back.
Following the group of mid-grade aptitude disciples, he arrived at a great hall.
The hall was towering and majestic, guarded on both sides by Qi Refining disciples, giving off an air of solemn authority.
On the plaque above were written three large characters: Vast Sea Hall.
Upon entering the Vast Sea Hall, they saw several cultivators standing atop the steps, each one imposing and steady like mountains. When Kan Zimeng and the others saw them, they immediately bowed. “Greetings, Sect Master and Elders…”
Turning around, they addressed the newly inducted disciples. “This is our sect master—Senior Uncle Linghu—and the two elders, Wanbao and Tianxing. Hurry and pay your respects!”
“Greetings, Sect Master and Elders,” the group of disciples quickly followed suit.
“Enough… Your aptitudes are not bad. After entering the sect, you must cultivate diligently and not disgrace your path…”
Sect Master Linghu, dressed in a blue robe with a lean face, spoke a few words of encouragement.
He then had Elders Wanbao and Tianxing lead the newcomers through the disciple initiation rites, mainly involving paying respects to the founding ancestor.
Inside the enormous ancestral hall, rows upon rows of spirit tablets were arranged, many of them still flickering with spiritual light.
At the very top hung a painted scroll.
On the silk painting was a young man in blue robes, with a face like carved jade, his hands clasped behind his back as he faced the sea.
Within the ocean, a ferocious green flood dragon bowed its head in submission.
“Our sect’s founding ancestor was the ‘Azure Sea True Person.’ Back then… when the True Person arrived at the Small Huan Sea, he slew a third-tier, top-grade ferocious flood dragon that was stirring up storms. Only then did he establish the foundation of our Azure Sea Sect…”
Elder Wanbao, with a rosy complexion and three long whiskers hanging naturally, looked like a youthful immortal with white hair.
As usual, he lavishly praised the sect’s predecessors before continuing, “All sect disciples, after entering, may use their identity tokens to go to the Heavenly Book Pavilion on Wanbao Island to receive one basic cultivation method and various items. In addition, one hundred contribution points will be issued. Most cultivation and daily needs within the Azure Sea Sect require contribution points, so you must use them carefully…”
After Elder Wanbao came Elder Tianxing, whose expression was stern and imposing without anger. “Our sect’s discipline consists of seven major prohibitions and eighty-six minor rules. First—betraying one’s master and annihilating one’s lineage. Second—killing fellow disciples…”
Fang Qing listened carefully, but his gaze could not help drifting to the painting of the founding ancestor subduing the flood dragon.
‘Able to suppress a third-tier top-grade demon king… The Azure Sea Ancestor must have reached perfected Core Formation, right? I wonder if he ever broke through to the Nascent Soul realm and enjoyed a thousand-year lifespan?’
‘If the cultivators here went to the Land of Ancient Shu, I wonder how they would perform? Those mid- and late-stage Qi Refining disciples—would they be able to wipe out the Luo family… or would a Foundation Establishment great cultivator be required?’
The complicated initiation ceremony lasted several hours.
Only then did Fang Qing, carrying his entry gift package, arrive at the lakeside.
This was where low-level disciples lived and cultivated.
The spiritual energy was thin and inferior to the seven islands at the lake’s center, but the area was vast, with many lakeside villas built.
Even newly inducted disciples could be assigned an independent dwelling.
After entering the wooden house, Fang Qing first examined his beginner’s gift package.
Inside were one identity token, two sets of Azure Sea Sect blue uniforms, a bottle of fasting pills, one Green Leaf Artifact, and a fine steel dagger…
“These entry benefits are actually pretty decent.”
Just as he was about to lie down and rest, he heard a knock at the door.
Stepping outside, he saw a graceful young woman standing there.
“Senior Brother, my name is Yu Taohua, mid-grade earth spiritual root… We’re all newly inducted disciples and neighbors. Senior Brother Hua Lianhua happens to be hosting a gathering. Would you be willing to grace us with your presence?”
The young woman smiled sweetly as she extended the invitation.
“Senior Brother Hua? Naturally, I’ll go,” Fang Qing replied after a moment’s thought, accepting directly.
After arriving in a new environment, the formation of small circles was only natural.
Even universities had hometown associations, after all.
He followed Yu Taohua to a small pavilion, where several other newly inducted disciples were already seated.
A table of food and wine was laid out, with fragrant aromas continuously wafting through the air.
‘Being able to put together such a feast right after entering the sect—this Senior Brother Hua seems to have some connections…’
Fang Qing understood at once.
This was the other party displaying his own strength.