Apprenticeship

Seeing the blue-robed man, who seemed like an immortal, slowly appear in the courtyard, Li Xiangping's mouth immediately went bitter as he secretly thought:

Damn it, the owner of that Mirror Fragment must have come looking!

He was instantly seized by terror and unease, feeling that this man was profoundly uncanny and unfathomable. Looking up at Li Chijing and Li Tongya, he saw that although they appeared composed, their eyes held the same panicked unease. They likely shared Li Xiangping's thoughts.

"I am Si Yuanbai, Peak Master of Green Spike Peak of the Green Pool Sect."

Si Yuanbai smiled faintly. Seeing how guarded the Li Clan members were, unlike ordinary people who would prostrate themselves in worship, he became even more certain of his judgment. Smiling, he answered, "There is no need for you to be nervous. Gu Li Road falls under my Green Pool Sect. Since you have cultivated the Immortal Dao, you naturally come under the Green Pool Sect's jurisdiction."

Seeing that he had not come for the Mirror Fragment, Li Tongya and the others immediately relaxed, and their hostility toward Si Yuanbai diminished considerably. Li Tongya clasped his hands and respectfully said:

"We are mere country folk, ignorant and poorly informed. We accidentally entered the Profound Scene and do not know what great sect your honored sect is. We have been remiss in receiving your excellency."

Si Yuanbai froze, then immediately understood. No one had been sent to deal with Gu Li Road for several hundred years; these villagers did not even know the Green Pool Sect's name. He formed a hand seal, and a lifelike image of the Yue Kingdom appeared before them.

This move immediately stunned the Li Clan members. Though Li Chijing and the others had learned hand seals and could summon mana, even shaping it into a form was difficult enough for them, much less controlling it with such finesse to mold it into a map.

"This is the Yue Kingdom."

With a thought from Si Yuanbai, a patch of green immediately appeared in the south of the Yue Kingdom in his hand. It occupied roughly a quarter of the kingdom.

"This is my Green Pool Sect."

"So it is the Green Pool Immortal Sect." Li Mutian clasped his hands and said:

"When this old man was young, I followed General Yang in attacking the Mountain Yue. Those talismans must have been issued by the Green Pool Immortal Sect."

"We absolutely cannot bear the title of Immortal Sect."

Si Yuanbai repeatedly waved his hand and said to Li Xiangping and the other two:

"Since you have entered the gate of the Profound Scene, the few villages along Gu Li Road will fall under your governance. You need only remember to offer the sect's required provisions every year."

"There are several other clans along Gu Li Road. Your family's foundations are shallow, so yield whenever you can and do not contend too fiercely. Every five years, the sect will send people to take recruits up the mountain. If your clan can produce an outstanding individual, it will also greatly benefit your family."

Li Tongya's expression shifted slightly as he asked in a low voice, "May I ask about these provisions...?"

"Once every five years: ten White Essence Fruits and two hundred jin of spirit rice each time."

Si Yuanbai said gravely:

"These provisions must not be lacking in the slightest. It would be best if someone from your clan could enter the sect as a disciple; otherwise, these deductions will be unavoidable..."

Having put it so plainly, how could Li Tongya fail to understand what he meant? The few of them exchanged glances. Li Mutian secretly thought, He came neither early nor late, yet appeared precisely when Jing Er broke through. He most likely wants Jing Er to join the Green Pool Sect.

That would not be bad. Jing Er's talent is exceptional; it truly wrongs him to remain in these deep mountains. Better for him to spread his wings in that Immortal Sect, where there will also be support for the family both within and without.

Thinking this, Li Mutian gently nodded at Li Chijing. Seeing his father's expression, Li Chijing immediately understood. He made a deep bow to Si Yuanbai and respectfully said:

"Chi Jing's talent is dull, yet I admire Your Peak Master's bearing. I hope to study under Your Peak Master as a menial boy, heeding your immortal teachings."

"Good. You belong in my Green Spike Peak."

Si Yuanbai did not stand on ceremony. Smiling, he nodded, then slapped his left hand against his waist. Two bundles, one large and one small, appeared on the ground. Seeing their astonished expressions, he explained:

"These are Storage Bags. You will be able to use them once you cultivate the Jade Capital Wheel."

"The larger bundle contains spirit rice seeds, while the smaller one contains the pits of the White Essence Fruits."

Si Yuanbai turned over his left hand, revealing several Wooden Slips, and continued:

"There is no need for you to be a menial boy. Since you have entered my tutelage, you should know my name. Your master's surname is Si, given name Yuanbai. I am also the master of a peak within the Green Pool Sect, so I naturally will not let you be wronged."

"These three volumes contain the methods of Rogue Cultivators of the Yue Kingdom, which your family may study and draw upon. The remaining volume contains the cultivation methods for spirit rice and White Essence Fruits. You must study it diligently!"

They all murmured their assent. Si Yuanbai smiled and said:

"There is no need to be so nervous. What cultivation method do you practice?"

Li Xiangping and the others immediately faced a great enemy. They exchanged several glances, but for a time, no one spoke.

Seeing them hemming and hawing, Si Yuanbai suddenly understood and repeatedly waved his hand. "I understand, I understand. That senior must have left some instructions."

Si Yuanbai had only succeeded in Foundation Establishment last year, so he naturally regarded that Foundation Establishment cultivator from ten years ago as a senior.

Hearing this, Li Mutian coughed and stepped out from behind the others, saying softly:

"This old man saved a senior more than ten years ago. That senior recuperated at this old man's home for several years, left behind this cultivation method, and instructed this old man not to reveal it. After saying that, he drifted away..."

"Exactly!"

Si Yuanbai nodded lightly, inwardly delighted by his own cleverness. He mused, At most, it is some Wheel Nurturing method. Could it possibly be some immortal art of gathering moonlight and absorbing sun essence? No need to force the matter and hurt this disciple's feelings.

He looked pityingly at the old man, then turned his palm over to reveal a pale green Jade Seal. Gently brushing it, the seal slowly lit with golden light, and several large golden characters emerged:

"Under the Governance of Green Pool."

Si Yuanbai looked at everyone and said:

"This is proof of affiliation under my Green Pool Sect. I have already imprinted it with a dharma seal. With this, you may draw boundaries with the neighboring clans, and you may also use it to seek aid from the sect. Keep it safe."

Held aloft in his left hand, the Jade Seal slowly descended into Li Tongya's grasp. Watching Li Tongya put it away, Si Yuanbai smiled and turned to Li Chijing. "Good disciple, bid your family farewell."

With reddened eyes, Li Chijing embraced his two elder brothers. Before Li Mutian, he kowtowed several times and said through tears:

"Your son is unfilial. From now on, I cannot attend upon Father and Mother at your knees. I only ask that you take great care of your health."

Li Mutian coughed several times, hurriedly helping Li Chijing up as he instructed:

"Your two elder brothers will handle matters at home, so do not worry. Cultivate well in the sect and become a pillar of support for our Li Clan."

After bidding farewell to his two elder brothers as well, Li Chijing reluctantly walked to Si Yuanbai's side and replied:

"Master, your disciple has bid farewell to his family."

Si Yuanbai repeatedly nodded. Without even bothering to acknowledge Li Tongya and the others as they bowed low, he laughed heartily and muttered to himself, "Today I have taken in a fine disciple, so I shall spare that pig demon!"

With that, he took Li Chijing's hand from the ground and lightly beckoned. A Flying Shuttle slowly appeared before them. Forming another hand seal, he forcibly stretched the Flying Shuttle several times longer. The two stepped onto it and shot northward like a meteor.