Dharma Transmission

Half a month later, the flying boat arrived at a place surrounded by mountain ranges and wreathed in mist.

As the clouds gradually dispersed, countless buildings came into view. Their style was ancient and elegant, brimming with immortal charm—just as everyone had imagined a place where an immortal sect cultivated.

The flying boat dropped the many youths off in a plaza before departing. Fang Xiao looked around and saw nearly a thousand new disciples. At the center of the square, a middle-aged cultivator dressed like a Daoist was already waiting for them.

"I heard that among this batch of recruits, there was a Heavenly Spiritual Root genius. The sect made an exception and admitted him directly into the inner sect."

"That's right. Besides the Heavenly Spiritual Root, there are more than a dozen Dual Spirit Roots and variant spirit roots. If we can build ties with them, our paths of cultivation will surely go more smoothly."

Those words were merely something to listen to. Fang Xiao had no intention of joining in. Still, he had not expected that two Dual Spirit Root cultivators would emerge from a tiny place like Golden Jade City at once. Since Xiao Yan was a fellow townsman, he could keep in closer contact with him.

"Silence. From this day forth, you are outer sect disciples of my Tianlan Sect. Since fate has brought you into the sect, you must cultivate diligently and never slacken. Observe the sect rules faithfully. Those who violate them will be dealt with by the Law Enforcement Hall. Take them away and arrange their lodgings." The middle-aged cultivator gave his orders.

Several disciples accepted the command and began calling names.

Before long, the small group of more than ten people that Fang Xiao belonged to was led away from the plaza and brought beside a row of courtyards.

"My surname is Zhao. I am a disciple of the External Affairs Hall, and this is where you will live. These are your Identity Tokens. Once you have chosen a courtyard, use your Identity Token to activate its formation. Unless the owner permits it, no one can force their way inside."

"Yes, Senior Brother Zhao."

The disciple leading them finished assigning the courtyards, then continued guiding them onward.

"On the tables in your rooms, you will find the sect rules and the Sect Handbook. For your daily chores, you may choose two Servant Disciples to handle them."

"We have arrived. This is the External Affairs Hall, which primarily assigns missions to disciples. During your first year in the sect, you will not need to carry out missions. After that, there will be one mandatory mission every month. Completing sect missions earns Merit Points, which can be used to exchange for cultivation resources and cultivation manuals."

"You may exchange them at the Merit Hall across the way. Once you achieve Qi Induction into Body and enter the Qi Condensation First Layer, you may claim one Low-grade Magic Tool, one Magic Robe, ten Spirit Stones, and one bottle of Qi Nurturing Pills. Afterward, you will receive five Spirit Stones and one bottle of Qi Nurturing Pills every month."

"Senior Brother Zhao, will it always be like this?" a foolish-looking youth asked.

Senior Brother Zhao was interrupted mid-speech, and a trace of displeasure appeared on his face.

"Hmph. Once you reach the Qi Condensation Fourth Layer, you will naturally receive different treatment. Let's go."

"This is the Scripture Repository and the Dharma Transmission Hall. Your most important task now is to select a cultivation method suited to yourselves and swiftly enter the Qi Condensation First Layer. With your Identity Tokens, you may receive one cultivation method and three techniques. Do you have any more questions?"

At the mention of choosing cultivation methods, everyone immediately became excited.

After thinking for a moment, Fang Xiao stepped forward and asked.

"Senior Brother Zhao, how should one choose a cultivation method? And if we encounter questions in cultivation, whom should we seek for answers?"

"The sect elders within the Scripture Repository will guide you in selecting suitable cultivation methods. The Dharma Transmission Hall can answer cultivation questions. Elders occasionally give lectures here, and duty disciples can also resolve your doubts. However, after one year, you will need to pay Merit Points for further guidance." Senior Brother Zhao nodded.

With no more questions, the crowd could no longer wait and rushed into the Scripture Repository.

The Outer Court Scripture Repository contained manuals from the Qi Condensation Stage and some from the Foundation Establishment Realm. Even so, as Fang Xiao looked at the vast sea of books and Jade Slips before him, he was dumbfounded and had no idea where to begin.

Right—he should ask that elder for some guidance.

Looking at the slovenly old man before him, who seemed half-asleep and was yawning, Fang Xiao could not help wondering: was this really a sect elder?

"Senior?"

"Here to choose a cultivation method? Come over and let this old man take a look at your aptitude."

Watching the dark, gleaming claw that had just been digging in its owner's nose reach toward him, Fang Xiao hesitated, but did not move. He let the old man feel him up and down.

"Eh? Your spirit roots are actually this exceptional, and you have a special physique as well. Let this old man think... it seems to be a physique suited to the sword path. A perfect match! If you don't become a Sword Cultivator, heaven's justice will not allow it."

Joy overflowed from Fang Xiao's face. What young man had not dreamed of riding a sword through the skies and splitting open the gates of heaven with a single blade of sword light?

"Senior, there are countless cultivation methods here. Might you offer this junior some guidance?" Fang Xiao bent at the waist and cupped his hands.

The old man began digging in his nose again as though some treasure lay hidden within.

"You do know your manners. Choosing a cultivation method is easy enough. One of the thirteen supreme methods of my Tianlan Sect is the Taibai Soaring Sword Canon. It can be cultivated all the way to the Deity Transformation Stage. Its sword light is like lightning; in battle, it can strike after the enemy yet arrive first. Its defining trait is speed. Boy, do you want to become the fastest man in the Cultivation World?"

"I do—uh, Senior, please stop teasing me. Where is this Taibai Soaring Sword Canon kept?"

"Naturally, it is in the Scripture Repository of my Tianlan Sect."

"..."

"Boy, I'll stop teasing you. To cultivate the Taibai Soaring Sword Canon, you must first become a True Disciple. But this Soaring Sword Art is a simplified cultivation method derived from it. It is enough to let you break through to the Foundation Establishment Late Stage. Once you pass the True Disciple assessment, it will not be too late to switch to the Taibai Soaring Sword Canon. If not for your extraordinary aptitude, it would not be something anyone could cultivate just because they wished to."

The old man took out a cultivation manual and waved it before Fang Xiao.

Fang Xiao's eyes went wide.

"However, this old man has another suggestion. I wonder whether you are willing to hear it."

"This junior will naturally listen with rapt attention to Senior's advice."

"I would not mention this to anyone else, but it would be somewhat wasteful for you to cultivate only one method with your physique. I suggest that you cultivate a second method alongside it."

"Cultivate two methods?" Fang Xiao asked doubtfully.

"That's right. The supreme cultivation method of the ancient Great White Sword Sect was the Taibai Sword Art. Our sect's Taibai Soaring Sword Canon was created precisely in an attempt to restore the Taibai Sword Art's former glory, though it took a different path."

"The Taibai Soaring Sword Canon represents ultimate speed, while the Taibai Sword Art is famed for peerless offense. The sect possesses an incomplete copy of the Taibai Sword Art. Its methods of condensation and Secret Arts are still complete, so they will not interfere with your dual cultivation."

"Furthermore, it should aid you when you form your core. At worst, it can help you form a high-grade core. That would give you hope of reaching Nascent Soul, and even a sliver of a chance at Spirit Transformation."

The old man took out another cultivation manual.

Fang Xiao was immensely excited. He accepted it with both hands and said gratefully, "Thank you for Senior's guidance. May I know how Senior is addressed? Should Senior ever have need of me in the future, this junior will never refuse."

"Mhm. This old man is Fan Tingshu. You should focus on cultivating properly. As for owing me a favor, we can discuss it when your cultivation surpasses this old man's." Old Man Fan nodded in satisfaction.

Afterward, Fang Xiao selected three more techniques: the Heavenly Eye Technique, the Breath Concealment Technique, and the Object Manipulation Technique.

Both the Soaring Sword Art and the Taibai Sword Art contained corresponding techniques as well. Among ordinary techniques, these few were the most practical. In any case, they were common goods; he could make up for whatever he lacked later.

After leaving the Scripture Repository, Fang Xiao found that Senior Brother Zhao had already departed. Rather than hurrying back to his residence, he headed for the Dharma Transmission Hall across the way.

The cultivation manuals' descriptions of meridians and acupoints were not something he understood very well. Then again, compared to the other new disciples, some could not even read.

After entering the hall, Fang Xiao walked straight to a duty disciple. He handed over his Identity Token, cupped his hands, and said, "Greetings, Senior Brother. I am Fang Xiao, a disciple who has just entered the sect. I have some cultivation questions I would like to ask Senior Brother about."

"So you are Junior Brother Fang. It seems Junior Brother has already chosen a cultivation method. Which one did you choose?"

"The Soaring Sword Art. I simply do not understand the body's meridians and acupoints very well, so I hope Senior Brother can instruct me."

Since he only wished to resolve the issue of circulating qi through the meridians and acupoints, Fang Xiao did not mention that he intended to cultivate the Taibai Sword Art as well.

"Junior Brother Fang actually has Sword Cultivation Aptitude. The Soaring Sword Art is not something just anyone can cultivate. As for this Human Meridian Acupoint Chart, first use it to familiarize yourself with the diagram and cultivate accordingly. Once you enter the Qi Condensation First Layer and develop Spiritual Sense, allowing you to use Inner Vision, you can make minor adjustments."

It turned out that everyone's meridians and acupoints differed slightly. One only needed to remember their approximate locations, achieve Qi Induction into Body, guide the qi to those approximate positions, circulate it through one full cycle, and return it to the Dantian. Once one reached the Qi Condensation First Layer, Spiritual Sense would emerge.

By using Spiritual Sense for Inner Vision to observe and guide the operation of one's cultivation method and the state of one's physical body, cultivation would then be set upon the proper track.

"Thank you for Senior Brother's guidance. This junior is eager to cultivate, so I shall take my leave."

"Mhm. Cultivation requires perseverance; you must never rush for quick success. If something goes wrong, at best you will injure your body and affect your cultivation progress. At worst, it will damage your path ahead and ruin it completely. Go."

Fang Xiao acknowledged the advice, left the Dharma Transmission Hall, and headed toward his residence.

Some disciples were already returning along the road, while others remained in the Scripture Repository, dazzled by the choices before them and unable to decide.

None of that had anything to do with Fang Xiao.

When he returned to the residential area, there was no one he knew in the nearby courtyards. He immediately activated the formation and entered his room.

However, he did not begin cultivating at once. Instead, he carefully read through the sect rules and Sect Handbook on the table, lest he unknowingly violate the sect's regulations.

Only after his excitement gradually settled did he sit cross-legged upon the Meditation Cushion and begin comprehending the cultivation method, first studying how to sense spiritual qi.