Each Makes Progress

When Wei Yunxi's skill at drawing First Order Dust Removal talismans had stabilized at First Order High-Grade, good news came from Wei Zonghao—he had actually pushed through in one burst to the fourth layer of Qi Refining, giving the Wei family disciples a huge surprise.

Wei Yunxi felt this was related to Zonghao's complete refinement of the Sky-Mending Pill, as well as the Spiritual Qi he had accumulated through previous cultivation. Still, it was something worth celebrating, and the Wei Family's eight disciples gathered together again.

Wei Yunying even egged Zonghao on to share his cultivation trick. Zonghao did not refuse and told everyone about exhausting the spiritual power in one's Dantian before cultivating again.

"This method was something Yunxi told me about. I simply followed it, and the results were quite noticeable."

Wei Zonghao had no intention of claiming all the credit for himself.

After hearing this, Wei Yunqing immediately said in a strange, mocking tone,

"Sister Yunxi, why didn't you tell us sisters about such a good method? We live in the same courtyard, after all!"

Wei Yunxi smiled faintly.

"This cultivation method can only be used in an absolutely safe cultivation environment. Otherwise, it is very easy for outsiders to plot against you."

Wei Zonghan nodded.

"Indeed. When training outside, you must never exhaust the spiritual power in your body. Before Foundation Establishment, once our spiritual power is depleted, we are no different from mortal children—we have no power to fight back at all."

Wei Yunxi nodded.

"Yes. That is why I use talisman-drawing to consume spiritual power now. It improves both my talisman-drawing skill and my cultivation speed, killing two birds with one stone."

After saying that, she gave each of them two Dust Removal talismans to practice with. Though they were all First Order Low-Grade, they were better than nothing.

Wei Yunqing did not think much of such First Order Low-Grade talismans at all. However, seeing that everyone else accepted them, she casually tossed them into her Storage Pouch, intending to dispose of them when she found the chance.

Wei Yunting smiled and thanked Yunxi, then said to everyone,

"Among the eight of us, five have already reached the Qi Refining third layer and secured our status as Outer Sect Disciples. The remaining three should not lose heart either. There are still nine months left. I believe you will definitely meet the standard.

"In a while, I will attempt to break through to the fifth layer of Qi Refining. Once I do, I will apply to cultivate on a peak closer to the Inner Sect. If anything comes up in the future, send me a Message Talisman.

"Although our cultivation progress differs, we are all Wei family disciples. We should still watch out for and help one another."

Wei Zonghan, standing nearby, also chimed in,

"The same goes for me. From now on, it would be best if you traveled together rather than going alone. If you are bullied, come find your little uncle."

"We'll remember that."

At last, Wei Zonghan turned to Wei Yunqing.

"Sister Yunqing, you have the best aptitude among all of us, and the family has placed great hopes on you. You absolutely must not slack off, understand?"

Wei Yunqing's expression stiffened at being singled out. She then nodded in agreement, and after sitting for a while longer, she used cultivation as an excuse to return to her room.

Only then did Wei Yunying speak.

"Brother Zonghan, why did you have to remind her? She might not even appreciate it. We originally thought that with her aptitude, as long as she passed the sect's assessment, she would at least manage to become a Nominal Disciple. Yet there has not been a peep from her.

"Now, her cultivation speed cannot even keep up with Zonghao, who has Three Spiritual Roots. And she still has the nerve to pick on Yunxi. She really does not know her place—does she think everyone has to fawn over her just because she has good aptitude?"

"That's enough, Yunying. Say less. What benefit is there to us if she does poorly? Cultivation still depends on the individual. Yunxi also has Three Spiritual Roots, yet isn't her cultivation speed neck and neck with Yunqing's?

"She relies on her good aptitude as grounds for arrogance. We do not have that, nor do we need to envy her. Just cultivate diligently. One day, your efforts will bear fruit."

Wei Yunting said meaningfully.

This time, Yunying did not argue back, because she was also about to break through to the Qi Refining third layer. Other than Spiritual Roots, she felt she was no worse than Wei Yunqing.

Wei Yunxi curled her lips after hearing this. In the novel, Wei Yunqing had done the same thing to the female supporting character Wei Yunxi: flattering her while squeezing resources out of her, all the while steering the Wei family disciples into envying and resenting Wei Yunxi's aptitude. Then she would try every possible way to ask the female supporting character to look after the Wei family disciples. Given enough time, the female supporting character naturally could not endure it.

As time went on, the relationship between the female supporting character and the Wei family disciples had become precarious, which was why, when something happened, no one had been willing to stand up for her.

In this life, she had concealed her aptitude, making Wei Yunqing the target of everyone's envy and jealousy. Meanwhile, she had established herself as someone with poor aptitude but diligent cultivation, and her relationship with the Wei family disciples had become more harmonious.

Afterward, everyone changed the subject. They exchanged Message talismans, then returned separately.

For a long time afterward, Wei Yunqing rarely acted together with the Wei family disciples, and everyone gradually became accustomed to it.

A year later, the protection period for new disciples ended, and the cultivation levels of the Wei Family's eight disciples had widened apart.

Wei Yunting and Wei Zonghan had taken the top-grade Nourishing Spirit Pills their little uncle had left behind, stabilizing their cultivation at the sixth layer of Qi Refining. They had already moved out of their previous courtyard and gone to cultivate on a peak where mid Qi Refining stage disciples gathered.

Wei Yunying and Wei Yunqing broke through to the fourth layer of Qi Refining one after the other, though they both temporarily remained in the original courtyard.

Wei Yunxi had stabilized her cultivation at the eighth layer of Qi Refining, though she presented herself to outsiders as being at the fourth layer. She spent most of her time in the Cultivation Hall, or reading on the second and third floors of the Library, or attending lessons at the Lecture Hall. She rarely even ran into her own sisters.

With the advantage of his upgraded Spiritual Roots, Wei Zonghao had stabilized his cultivation at the late sixth layer of Qi Refining and was about to break through to the seventh layer. However, he did not choose to change peaks, instead continuing to cultivate in the original courtyard with Zong Yu and Zong Jin, who were at the fourth layer of Qi Refining.

Starting tomorrow, they could no longer devote themselves wholeheartedly to cultivation. They also had to begin accepting Sect Missions. This was mandatory: every Outer Sect Disciple had to complete one Sect Mission each month. If more than twenty missions accumulated unfinished, they would be seized and sent to do hard labor. They would even lose their Outer Sect Disciple status and automatically be demoted to Miscellaneous Servant Disciples.

Wei Yunxi had long been looking forward to this day. Early that morning, Wei Zonghao invited her to join him and the other three, Zong Yu included, in going to the Outer Sect's Mission Hall to accept assignments.

Many Outer Sect Disciples streamed into the spacious Mission Hall. According to their cultivation levels, they formed four lines to receive Sect Missions within their capabilities.

After making a round, Wei Zonghao returned and said to Yunxi,

"Yunxi, let's line up over there. They have missions suitable for novice disciples like us."

"Are they difficult?"

"They should not be. Our cultivation levels are what they are, so we could not accept anything too difficult anyway."

"Alright, let's get in line first."

Not long after the three of them joined the line, Yunqing, Yunying, and Zong Jin arrived. The remaining six of them had now divided into two small groups.

Although Yunqing and Yunying acted together, they still could not stand each other. They merely maintained a surface peace and still cultivated separately.

"Yunying, come line up here."

Wei Yunxi maintained a good relationship with Yunying. Since there was no conflict between them for the time being, she was willing to preserve her image as an obedient younger sister.

After hearing her, Wei Yunying came over to ask about the situation. Yunxi relayed to the three people across from her what Zonghao had learned, and they went to the back of the line to queue up.

The line moved quickly. When it was Wei Yunxi's turn, the person receiving her was an old acquaintance, Senior Sister Hua Xuanzi.

"Senior Sister Hua, long time no see. Are you on duty here now?"