Zongzhi Mountain Secrets

As soon as dawn broke, the outer disciples' workaholic souls ignited like the morning glow, grabbing a few steamed buns from the cafeteria before scattering to begin their day's labor.

At this hour, only Lin Yunzi remained in the stone building.

In fact, the old man had been gazing expectantly towards Sword-Wielding Mountain to the east since early morning.

After all, tomorrow marked the start of the disciple challenges, and the Sword-Wielding Elder was likely too lazy to give Xiao Ran any special training.

He had a feeling Xiao Ran would come looking for him.

Xiao Ran did come... but with a different purpose.

His stomach rumbled incessantly, echoing through the clouds.

"I'm hungry, do you have anything to eat?"

Lin Yunzi was taken aback, only realizing after a moment: Shishu is still a Mortal!

After freeloading a meal at the outer gate stone building, Xiao Ran listed out a shopping list—

Spirit grain, spirit wheat seeds.

Seedlings of melons, fruits, and vegetables.

Top-grade spirit field fertilizer.

Scenic spirit plants like bamboo, maple leaves, and cherry blossoms, with complete root systems.

Rice wine starter culture.

Natural yeast.

Top-grade spirit grain.

That's it?

Lin Yunzi read the short list three times over.

He didn't see any hidden weapons.

The disciple challenges are tomorrow, and you're thinking about farming and brewing? Stunned at the table for a long while, Lin Yunzi asked with a bewildered expression, "From the list, does Shishu want to brew wine?"

Xiao Ran ate peanuts and picked at side dishes.

He was too hungry, and Lin Yunzi didn't have time to prepare spirit food, only managing to get some Mortal-grade lunch from the outer gate cafeteria.

But after all, these ingredients grew in a cultivator's home, and were in a different league than Mortal food.

Very delicious.

"Yes, my Shifu's wine is too bad, I want to do my part."

"Xiao Shishu is truly devoted to Elder Ling Yunzi."

Lin Yunzi subtly flattered him, then suddenly changed the subject.

"However, how does Shishu plan to deal with tomorrow's disciple challenges?"

Xiao Ran drank some Deep Pool Fish Soup, continued to eat heartily, and casually said:

"No need to worry about such trivial matters."

This is a trivial matter?

If he can't convince the inner sect elite disciples, according to the Dao Alliance's new rules, the Disciplinary Elder has the right to apply to the Dao Alliance to revoke Xiao Ran's status as a Direct Disciple.

Lin Yunzi tentatively whispered, "If Shishu wants to take a shortcut, this disciple has some items here that are enough to deal with Qi Refining cultivators."

What's the use of dealing with Qi Refining cultivators?

Xiao Ran had his own plans.

"I appreciate the thought, but no need to trouble yourself with such trivial matters, I have my own plans."

"This disciple was presumptuous."

After the meal, Lin Yunzi quickly summoned the servants and assigned Xiao Ran's list of tasks to them one by one.

Xiao Ran didn't expect that a task worth two Spirit Stones would attract hundreds of servants...

There are no difficult tasks, only brave handymen.

Let's go, work team!

In the void, Xiao Ran seemed to hear a woof woof sound.

After the handyman team set off in groups, Lin Yunzi added, "Spirit Grain and fertilizer can only be purchased at the Great Valley Granary of Great Valley Peak. Outer sect disciples do not have the authority to purchase them, but I can accompany Martial Uncle there."

"Thank you for your trouble."

Great Valley Peak was a bit far.

Xiao Ran rode the paper kite into the air.

Lin Yunzi was too embarrassed to fly his sword in front of Xiao Ran, so he stood on the paper kite with Xiao Ran.

Xiao Ran:

Son of a b*tch.

I'm just a Mortal, can't you take care of my physique? Don't I have any dignity?

Lin Yunzi did not miss any opportunity to flatter him.

"After not seeing you for a day, Martial Uncle's control of the paper kite is so steady. This disciple has lived for hundreds of years in vain, and is not as good as Martial Uncle's achievement in a single day."

This time, it seemed to be sincere.

It sounded quite pleasing.

Xiao Ran said, "If you're bored, you can tell me what you know about my Shizun's stories."

Lin Yunzi carefully organized his words.

He didn't dare to expose too much of the Sword-Wielding Elder's ugliness, but he couldn't ignore the facts and forcibly beautify her, making the flattery too obvious.

"Although the Sword-Wielding Elder's lifestyle is very different from ordinary people and her reputation in the sect is not good, it is precisely because of her existence that she has attracted many new disciples to join the sect over the years."

"Especially female disciples."

He added.

Ah, this...

Xiao Ran asked again:

"Do you know Shizun's true strength?"

Lin Yunzi said:

"The Sword-Wielding Elder was a Dao Alliance Academy's prodigy in her early years, with excellent talent. Unfortunately, after entering this sect, her Cultivation has been somewhat neglected, and she is still at the Spirit Severing realm."

"Only Spirit Severing?"

"But she doesn't care. After all, her combat power is the best below the sect master. Five hundred years ago, she defeated Martial Uncle Master Boyun of the Body Integration realm when she first entered the Spirit Severing realm and became the Sword-Wielding Elder—this caused a sensation at the time."

Fighting beyond her level is commonplace?

Xiao Ran thought, Shizun probably got the female lead template.

"What are the Cultivations of the other experts in the sect?"

"Sect Master Shizu is one of the nine Great Ascension cultivators in the world. Martial Uncle Master Boyun is the only Body Integration realm cultivator in the sect, and the remaining elders are all Spirit Severing realm."

Lin Yunzi, an outer sect instructor, knew the affairs of the inner sect like the back of his hand.

"Among the Direct Disciples, besides Martial Uncle Master Jiyun, Martial Uncle Gao Shi of Sword-Tempering Mountain is at the Nascent Soul realm; Martial Uncle Luo Sheng of the Discipline Hall is at the Golden Core realm; on Hundred Herbs Peak, it is said that Martial Uncles Chunwa and Qiuchan are only at Qi Refining, but don't underestimate them. There are rumors that... the two Martial Uncles have demon race bloodlines."

Demon race bloodlines? No wonder they are so sensitive to plants, trees, insects, and beasts!

But that's not right... Xiao Ran frowned slightly.

"I heard that the survival of the demon race requires extremely high spiritual energy concentration. The spiritual energy is thin in the Dharma Ending Era. How did they survive?"

"You have to ask the Alchemy Elder about this. Although she looks gentle and beautiful and is the dream goddess of countless talents, if you cut her open—"

Xiao Ran:

"Cut her open?"

Lin Yunzi then realized his slip of the tongue.

"Ahem, it's just this old man being muddle-headed. Elder Yinyue is skilled at using poison against poison, has deeply researched all kinds of poisons, and dares to take risks, so..."

Xiao Ran:

"So?"

Faced with Xiao Ran's repeated questioning, Lin Yunzi panicked a little and quickly said:

"These are just small rumors, not to be believed."

"..."

Xiao Ran suddenly remembered the body dissections and medicinal baths True Person Yinyue mentioned...

Could it be...

Xiao Ran was horrified by the thought.

He decided not to think about it anymore.

Changing the subject.

"What is the cultivation of the inner disciples who will challenge me tomorrow?"

Lin Yunzi said:

"Among the elite inner disciples, most are Foundation Establishment cultivation, but there are also a few Golden Core realm experts!"

Xiao Ran was puzzled:

"There is only one Great Ascension and one Body Integration cultivation, which is understandable, but this sect, including its sub-sects, has hundreds of immortal mountains, spanning hundreds of miles. Such a large sect only has Senior Brother Gao in the Nascent Soul generation. The gap is too severe..."

"It's not a complete gap. Besides Senior Uncle Gao, there are still a few Nascent Soul seniors among the hundred or so instructors in the sect. Among them, a Nascent Soul disciple who just became an instructor this year might be encountered by Martial Uncle tomorrow... But overall, there are indeed too few Nascent Soul cultivators in the sect."

With the fierce wind blowing, Lin Yunzi also sighed.

"This is because, in the last Wraith Extermination War, a large number of Nascent Soul Wraith beings appeared. Cultivators above Nascent Soul could still protect themselves, but cultivators below Nascent Soul couldn't even get on the field. The Nascent Soul cultivators suffered the most losses. Senior Uncle Gao only advanced to the Nascent Soul realm in recent years after wearing iron rings."

So that's how it is!

Xiao Ran suddenly became a little curious.

"How did my master perform in the last Wraith Extermination War?"

Lin Yunzi slowly recounted.

"Elder Ling Zhou was still young at that time. During her first external mission at the Dao Alliance Academy, she encountered the Wraith Extermination War. With her Golden Core cultivation, she borrowed strength to advance to the Nascent Soul realm in a battle with a Nascent Soul Wraith being. After that, she consecutively beheaded dozens of Nascent Soul Wraith beings, and became famous in one battle, shaking the True Spirit Continent!"

Xiao Ran was convinced.

Wraith beings are the natural enemies of cultivators of the same rank!

As a result, his master, who was one rank lower, not only advanced in battle but also consecutively beheaded dozens of Wraith beings of the same rank afterward...

Xiao Ran finally understood why his master's IQ was lacking.

What is IQ? Can it be eaten? Has True Person Yinyue ever thought of cutting his master open to see? What kind of miraculous physique is this? Did she pop out of a crack in a rock? Xiao Ran suddenly asked:

"Do you know my master's background? For example, is her mother famous? Does she know divination?"

Lin Yunzi was slightly stunned, wondering why Xiao Ran would ask so abruptly.

"This disciple is just a Qi Refining cultivator, how would I know such secrets? But what is certain is that Elder Ling Zhou's background is not famous."

"Oh..."

Xiao Ran was slightly disappointed, thought for a while, and then asked:

"Although my master is strong and doesn't like men, she has an outstanding figure and temperament. Has no man in the sect or Dao Alliance ever pursued her?"

"Yes, there were."

"Where are they now?"

"All gone."