Late at night.
Qingyun Dao Sect.
Inside the Kitchen Hall.
Grand Hua Daoist sat at the head of the table, while the other seven disciples took their seats in two rows to either side.
It was already the third watch.
The entire Qingyun Dao Sect was exceedingly quiet.
Apart from the chirping of insects, there was nothing unusual.
A single candle burned, illuminating the long table.
Grand Hua Daoist looked at the disciples with grave seriousness, then took the lead in breaking the silence.
"I presume Changyu has already told you everything."
"Right now, the major sects throughout Qingzhou are competing with one another like fire and water. There are even rumors that in a few years, the Dali Pavilion of Qingzhou's sects will purge some of the unranked sects. Therefore, within these next two years, we must advance Qingyun Dao Sect into a Third-rank Sect."
"And the key lies with your little junior brother. To advance to the third rank, the sect must have eight disciples. Now that we have finally gained a new disciple, you must all be extremely cautious. Do not let him discover the true state of our sect. Otherwise, just like before, not only will he turn his back on us without a shred of mercy, he will blacken Qingyun Dao Sect's name everywhere. We truly raised a pack of ungrateful wolves."
Grand Hua Daoist said solemnly.
"We understand."
Everyone answered in lowered voices, their expressions stern.
But soon, someone spoke up.
"Master, for Qingyun Dao Sect to advance to the third rank, the process will take at least a year and a half. Although Eldest Senior Brother has bluffed this little junior brother for now, paper cannot wrap up fire forever. Once this little junior brother begins cultivating, he will sooner or later discover the state of our sect."
A disciple spoke, unable to help saying this.
At those words, Grand Hua Daoist merely shook his head dismissively.
"Your master has long since prepared a plan."
"Third, you are right. Paper cannot wrap up fire forever, but we can stall!"
"Changyu has already bluffed your little junior brother. Your master can also see that he greatly reveres the path of cultivation. He certainly will not leave in the short term. As for cultivation, we can stall! Keep stalling! Wait until the very end before teaching him cultivation."
"Starting tomorrow, Changyu, teach him swordsmanship. The more outrageous, the better. First, to bluff him; second, to buy us some time. If one day he finds sword practice dull, Luo Chen can teach him alchemy."
"Your master has calculated it. The seven of you will take turns teaching him, with each person teaching for two months. A year will pass in the blink of an eye. By then, even if he discovers the state of our sect, it will be too late to do anything about it. Understand?"
Grand Hua Daoist looked as though victory was already in his grasp, and the disciples all nodded.
However, the woman seated second on the right could not help but speak.
She had sweet features and looked slightly younger than Ye Ping. She was the sect's Little Junior Sister, though she was now Ye Ping's senior sister.
"Master, this method sounds workable, but this little junior brother is no fool. Sooner or later, he will ask questions about cultivation. If he asks one of us, how should we answer?"
This was Qingyun Dao Sect's Little Junior Sister, Chen Lingrou.
"Very simple." Grand Hua Daoist answered almost without thinking. "Teach him some basic cultivation methods, but exaggerate them a little. Exaggerate the cultivation art and tell him that cultivators at the Qi Cultivation First Layer who practice the Qingyun Qi Cultivation Art are somewhat stronger than others at the same realm."
"However, you must also remind him that our Qingyun Qi Cultivation Art focuses on nourishing the body and laying a firm foundation. Otherwise, if he truly believes himself powerful and starts fighting other cultivators, that would be troublesome."
Grand Hua Daoist was kind-hearted after all. He deliberately made it clear that the cultivation art was merely for nourishing the body, lest Ye Ping truly think himself strong and go picking fights.
"Understood."
Chen Lingrou nodded to show that she understood.
"Alright. During this period, do not interact too much with this junior brother. Remain as mysterious as possible. If he does not seek you out, do not seek him out either. The sect's future rests on you."
By the end, Grand Hua Daoist's tone had grown even firmer, though his voice remained quiet for fear of disturbing Ye Ping.
"We understand!"
Everyone answered in lowered voices again, their faces filled with resolve.
"Good. Meeting adjourned."
The next moment, Grand Hua Daoist left, and the other disciples departed as well.
At this very moment.
Within Qingyun Dao Sect.
The stars filling the sky shone with incomparable brilliance.
Ye Ping lay on his bed, gazing at the sky beyond the window, his heart brimming with anticipation.
Three years ago, he had transmigrated into this world.
At first, he had indeed been confused and lonely, but fortunately, he had always been an optimistic sort. He quickly adapted to this world.
Now, he had never expected it to be a world of cultivation.
Ye Ping was filled with passion for cultivation. Perhaps because he had loved reading tales of Gods and Devils and strange legends since childhood, he was full of curiosity and expectation toward cultivation.
He did not harbor many extravagant hopes—becoming an immortal patriarch, wielding the power of the world while awake, or lying drunk upon the knees of beautiful women.
Ye Ping's thoughts were simple. Through cultivation, he wanted to live a few hundred years longer, find the woman he loved, marry and have children, and happily pass through this life.
However, Ye Ping also knew that the path of cultivation was unimaginably long, and its dangers were likely beyond imagination.
Therefore, he had to be cautious in all things from now on. He had to be careful, and more importantly, persevere without fail. He could not become disheartened because of a little difficulty.
Having lived two lives had made Ye Ping far more mature. Though he no longer possessed a heart full of hot-blooded fervor, he had gained a maturity and perseverance ordinary people lacked.
I wonder what my talent is really like.
Lying on the bed, Ye Ping's heart was full of curiosity.
Although he had tested as having No Spiritual Roots, Ye Ping still felt that he should not be that bad.
As long as it was not too bad, he could accept it.
Thus, Ye Ping did not fall asleep until late into the night.
However, the next day.
Ye Ping woke early.
He did not sleep in. On the contrary, he was even more diligent and hardworking than when he had studied, because cultivation and studying were entirely different things.
Knock, knock.
Just as Ye Ping awoke, a knock sounded at the door.
"Who is it?"
Ye Ping asked instinctively. He rose, but before he could open the door, a familiar voice sounded.
"Little Junior Brother, by Master's order, your senior brother has come to teach you the Dao of the Sword. In the time it takes an incense stick to burn, I will wait for you at the sect's Back Cliff."
It was Su Changyu's voice.
Upon hearing this, Ye Ping immediately replied.
"Alright. Thank you, Senior Brother."
Once the words fell, Su Changyu left.
Ye Ping immediately washed and dressed.
At the same time, he straightened his robes, hoping to leave a good impression.
After tidying himself up, Ye Ping opened the door and headed toward the Back Cliff, his entire heart filled with excitement.
Yet amid that excitement was also a trace of nervousness.
Ye Ping was mainly worried about his aptitude.
If his aptitude was too poor and Eldest Senior Brother came to despise him, would that not be rather awkward?
But Ye Ping quickly comforted himself, thinking that Hidden Sects loved nothing more than turning trash into talent. What meaning was there in teaching geniuses?
Did geniuses need someone to teach them?
Was the sense of achievement from teaching a genius greater than that of teaching a piece of trash?
At that thought, Ye Ping's nervousness gradually settled.
And while Ye Ping let his thoughts run wild.
At last, he arrived at the Back Cliff.
Before you continue