Jiang Sixuan's Decision

Li Fire Market, a side room on the second floor of White Jade Teahouse.

Jiang Sixuan met her third brother, Jiang Cungang, ahead of time.

"That's not strange. Half a year ago, didn't that Lin Ping'an pick up a Purple Orchid Fungus and break through in one fell swoop? He just stepped in dog shit and got lucky."

"Third Brother, but he was able to produce nearly Two Hundred Spirit Stones. Could he have some other hidden background?"

"Eighth Sister, you've read too many storybooks. Where would this world get so many hidden powers? As for whether Xiao Chen is poor or rich, once I bring out the Qi Nourishing Pills later, one test will tell."

"Alright. Third Brother, why didn't Sixth Sister come with you?"

"Sixth Sister advanced to the outer sect a year and a half ago. She finally broke through to Qi Refining Fifth Layer the day before yesterday, so she went home first to share the good news. She'll arrive later."

"So fast!"

Jiang Sixuan's eyes widened as she felt a wave of pressure.

The Jiang Family's Direct Lineage did not need to take part in Secular Affairs, as the family provided for them. Thus, they could devote themselves fully to cultivation.

However, to advance more than twice as fast as ordinary cultivators still required bitter effort, diligent study, and relentless practice.

Ideally, one had to break through to Late-Stage Qi Refining before the age of twenty-two, become an Inner Sect Disciple, and enjoy more sect benefits.

From the initial spiritual root test at age twelve, crossing from Qi Refining First Layer to 6th level of Qi Refining within ten years meant achieving a breakthrough every two years on average.

"Third Brother, Eighth Sister, I'm here. What a coincidence—I ran into the Chore Peak steward on the way and found out Xiao Chen and Ye Fei's exact ages."

"Really? That's wonderful! Sixth Sister, tell us quickly."

"That Ye Fei is only eighteen this year. He entered the sect late but cultivates quickly; he truly is a promising seedling, with a strong chance of breaking through to Late-Stage Qi Refining in the future. As for Xiao Chen, he is already twenty-one."

Although the Li Fire Sect had no explicit rule, the vast majority of Inner Sect Disciples had broken through to Late-Stage Qi Refining before turning twenty-two.

Only a sliver of opportunity was left for the occasional genius disciple who had undergone the spiritual root test too late, as well as the descendants of a few Elders.

Upon hearing Xiao Chen's age, Jiang Cungang immediately sentenced him to death in his heart.

Unless he could miraculously break through three realms in succession within two years, advancing from Qi Refining Fourth Layer to 7th level of Qi Refining.

Otherwise, he would directly lose any possibility of advancing further.

Could such a thing happen to someone who had given up on cultivation?

Impossible. Absolutely impossible!

Jiang Sixuan frowned as well.

Knock, knock, knock. "Miss Jiang, all the guests have been invited to the Tea Hall."

The waiter's knocking interrupted Jiang Sixuan's thoughts.

Besides Ye Fei and Xiao Chen, Jiang Sixuan had also invited several of her friends tonight, making it appear to be nothing more than a simple celebratory banquet.

After exchanging pleasantries and introducing themselves, everyone took their seats.

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of dishes, Jiang Cungang waved his hand, and a Jade Box appeared out of thin air on the table.

"Everyone here today is my little sister's friend. As her elder brother, I prepared a small gift as thanks for looking after Sixuan all this time."

As he spoke, he opened the Jade Box. Inside were bottles of spirit pills. "There are some Qi Nourishing Pills here. They can help Qi Refining Realm cultivators regulate their Mana more effectively."

Jiang Sixuan took the Jade Box and distributed them one by one. "My third brother is an Alchemist, so everyone, please don't stand on ceremony."

The cultivators present were all familiar with Qi Nourishing Pills.

This was a famous classic pill. After taking one, a day of cultivation would equal three ordinary days; taking them continuously was equivalent to gaining triple cultivation speed.

However, a bottle of ten cost five Spirit Stones. Ordinary disciples simply could not afford them.

Even though Jiang Cungang was an Alchemist, such a gift was still rather too valuable.

Yet that was precisely Jiang Cungang's purpose. By observing their reactions upon seeing the Qi Nourishing Pills, he could judge the extent of their wealth.

Ye Fei remained calm and unruffled. He had joined the Pill Refining Hall precisely to learn pill refinement; before long, he too would be able to refine Qi Nourishing Pills.

When Xiao Chen accepted the pills, a perfectly measured trace of delight appeared on his face. This was the reaction he had planned before coming.

Jiang Sixuan had first given him Spirit Stones, then pills. Her intention to befriend and win him over was undisguised.

But after careful consideration, Xiao Chen did not wish to become embroiled in the struggle between the sect and the cultivation families merely for some Cultivation Resources.

Right now, he only wanted to cultivate wholeheartedly, then obtain more Hextech.

Thus, he deliberately showed delight and acted flattered by the favor, using it to prove in reverse that he was merely an ordinary cultivator with no investment value.

Besides, getting a bottle of Qi Nourishing Pills for free really was something worth being happy about.

Jiang Cungang took in every bit of this, further confirming his judgment from the side.

What followed was ordinary small talk. After host and guests had enjoyed themselves, the guests were seen off, and the three Jiang siblings returned to the side room.

Jiang Sixuan circulated her cultivation for a moment and dispersed the scent of wine. "Third Brother, how did it turn out?"

"That Ye Fei is very good. My Black Jade Disc can sense that he is carrying a Mid-Grade Magic Tool as well. His origins are definitely far from ordinary, so he is worth paying attention to."

Jiang Cungang stroked the jade disc in his hand, then changed the subject. "As for Xiao Chen, it can now be confirmed that he merely stepped in dog shit and got lucky. He has neither background nor potential."

For some reason, Jiang Sixuan still had doubts in her heart.

Because she had personally witnessed Xiao Chen's breakthrough, her intuition told her that Xiao Chen was not so simple. "Sixth Sister, what do you think?"

"Third Brother is right." Sixth Sister Jiang Ruyue agreed. "At the dinner table just now, Xiao Chen did not show any knowledge, nor did he display any manners."

"He also lacks understanding of the Great Powers around the Li Fire Sect. It is obvious that he was born an ordinary mortal from some small village or county town."

"Eighth Sister, pay more attention to Ye Fei in the future and win him over as an ally. Spend the rest of your time cultivating diligently and strive to enter the Inner Sect as soon as possible."

"Your talent and appearance are both better than Sixth Sister's. When the time comes, choose a young Inner Sect prodigy to marry. In the future, you may very well become the wife of one of the sect's High-Level figures."

Jiang Sixuan nodded. "Mm, I understand."

The Jiang Family had always encouraged its children to form Marriage Alliances with Inner Sect Disciples, instilling this idea in them from childhood.

Because of this, the number of Jiang Clan members within the Li Fire Sect had grown year after year, soon catching up to the other four cultivation families. Outsiders even called them the Five Great Immortal Clans.

Jiang Sixuan sorted out her thoughts and decided to cultivate first, striving to break through to Qi Refining Fifth Layer within a year and to 6th level of Qi Refining within three years.

As for her remaining limited time, she would follow Sixth Sister's advice and keep in contact with Ye Fei, to see whether she could gain any pleasant surprises.

As for Xiao Chen, she would simply consider it a chance to forge a good connection.

Influenced by Jiang Cungang's assessment, she now also felt that Xiao Chen might merely be an ordinary cultivator who had gotten lucky, someone who would soon vanish into the masses and was not worth much attention.

Yet for some reason, after making this decision, she felt as though she had vaguely missed out on some fateful opportunity.

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