Only Seeking Junior Sister's Company

As the Chief Senior Brother, Qiu Changtian not only had to go to the Scripture Hall regularly to listen to the Ziwei Sect Master lecture, but he also had to return to lecture and answer questions for his junior disciples.

The reason was simple: the Ziwei Sect Master took in disciples from every generation.

Over so many generations, the number of disciples had long since exceeded a hundred, and it would be impossible to fit them all in the Scripture Hall.

Therefore, only the Chief Disciples from each generation could listen to the scriptures in the Scripture Hall.

The remaining junior disciples could only wait for the Chief Senior Brother to finish listening before he returned to teach and answer questions on behalf of the Sect Master.

Of course, Xu Yinglian, who possessed the Seven Orifices Exquisite Heart, was an exception—she had precious cultivation potential and could receive special privileges within Kunlun.

Inside the Scripture Hall, all the meditation cushions were divided into left and right rows, with a specific order.

Disciples in the Golden Core stage were on the left, and those in the Foundation Establishment Realm were on the right. Disciples with better aptitude were in front, and those with poorer aptitude were in the back.

Furthermore, the foremost meditation cushions in both the left and right rows were reserved for the two strongest disciples among all the Golden Core and Foundation Establishment stage Chief Disciples, respectively.

Thus, these two individuals had another title: "Great Chief Disciple."

Others, though first among their peers, still had to follow seniority in the eyes of the Sect Master and were only considered "Minor Chief Disciples."

After the Grand Opening Ceremony, Qiu Changtian, as a formal disciple, came to listen to the scriptures for the first time and was personally appointed by Ziwei True Person to sit on the second cushion in the right row, causing others to feel both envious and dejected.

The Senior Brother who originally occupied the second seat in the right row was forced to give up his cushion. Unwilling, his face darkened, but he was sternly glared at by the Foundation Establishment stage Great Chief Disciple in front of him, Xu Changqing, the Senior Brother Xu. He quickly lowered his head, not daring to show his displeasure further.

Qiu Changtian took his cushion and apologized. He forced a smile and said it was fine, then moved to sit on the third cushion at the back.

If Xu Yinglian were sorted by aptitude, she should have sat behind Qiu Changtian, on the third cushion.

However, the Ziwei Sect Master knew she was too competitive and had already developed a deep obsession with Qiu Changtian.

If she were to sit behind Qiu Changtian, after a few more lectures, this girl would likely be done for.

She would vomit blood, grind her teeth, suffer Qi Deviation, shout "If there is Lian, why is there Qiu!" three times, and then her life would be extinguished, her soul departing to the Yellow Springs.

Therefore, he instructed her to move a meditation cushion over and sit to Qiu Changtian's right, forming a third row.

Xu Yinglian was slightly bewildered, but since it was her master's instruction, she sat to Qiu Changtian's right with a calm expression.

The Ziwei Sect Master finished his lecture, and everyone listened intently, reluctant to leave.

Qiu Changtian, however, remained, clearly having something to say.

Seeing that he wasn't leaving, Xu Yinglian quietly asked:

"Senior Brother?"

Qiu Changtian gestured for her not to ask too much and to just listen.

The Ziwei Sect Master sat silently for a moment, closed his eyes, and asked:

"What is it?"

"Reporting to Master," Qiu Changtian bowed sincerely, "This disciple wishes to go out for training."

Upon hearing this, the Ziwei Sect Master raised his eyelids to look at him and asked in surprise:

"Are you short on spirit stones?"

Qiu Changtian's expression remained unchanged and he said:

"This disciple wishes to contribute to the sect."

The Ziwei Sect Master then chuckled and shook his head.

In the current cultivation world, among the many sects, the paths for outer disciples and inner disciples were completely different.

Outer disciples, with their inferior aptitude and limited sect resources, could not normally keep up with the rate of lifespan consumption through cultivation. Thus, they had to go out for training, undertake sect missions, and search for ancient ruins left by the Chan and Jie sects to seek fortuitous encounters.

Inner disciples, with their excellent aptitude and abundant sect resources, had spirit-gathering formations in their Cave Mansions that operated for twelve hours a day, never shutting off. Therefore, unless they encountered a bottleneck, they were like "ten-mile slope sword gods," wishing to stay in the sect and cultivate to max level before venturing out.

Thus, the Ziwei Sect Master's judgment was that Qiu Changtian wanted to go out and find some treasures or spirit stones... You're only in the Qi Refining Stage, what treasures do you need? It's probably still to exchange for spirit stones.

"Fine." Seeing that he was unwilling to admit it, the Ziwei Sect Master didn't expose him. "Go to the Hall of Affairs to get your sect-leaving token."

"Reporting to Master," Qiu Changtian continued, "This disciple wishes to bring Junior Sister Yinglian along."

Xu Yinglian:?

"What is the reason for this?" the Ziwei Sect Master asked again.

What reason? The synchronization value is only 77% left, I need to raise it back. Can't I rely on this Junior Sister?

"Master, this is also my selfish desire," Qiu Changtian said with a wry smile. "If I were to encounter a fortuitous encounter outside and my cultivation were to surge, I fear Junior Sister would not be convinced..."

"Who are you calling unconvinced?" Xu Yinglian became furious.

"Then let me rephrase," Qiu Changtian immediately changed his words. "If I were to encounter a fortuitous encounter outside, I am currently in the Qi Refining Stage with low Magical Power and might not be able to handle it. If Junior Sister Yinglian could assist me, our chances of victory would be greater."

Xu Yinglian's anger subsided, though she kept it hidden.

The Ziwei Sect Master pondered for a moment and smiled:

"You certainly think things through. However... if you truly gain a fortuitous encounter, are you willing to share it with your Junior Sister? Aren't you afraid she might surpass you because of it?"

One must know that while the Kunlun sect internal affairs were manageable, the cultivation world outside the sect was a complete jungle of the strong preying on the weak. Killing for treasures was commonplace, and no government would intervene... What government would exist for cultivators?

Discovering a fortuitous encounter and wanting to hoard it all for oneself was the norm.

"Naturally," Qiu Changtian said earnestly, "if Junior Sister can improve her cultivation through a fortuitous encounter and surpass me, that would be even better."

"Why?" Xu Yinglian asked incredulously.

Qiu Changtian smiled faintly and said:

"On the path of cultivation, walking alone at the forefront is truly lonely. With Junior Sister accompanying me, I will have no regrets."

What if I end up adventuring for too long and no one is around to show off for, causing my Synchronization Value to drop?

Xu Yinglian was stunned into silence, her anger completely dissipating, replaced by a thoughtful and complex expression.

[Invincible Persona, Synchronization Value +1.]

"Good!" The Ziwei Sect Master clapped his hands and laughed approvingly. "Since you have this intention, I, your master, will not stop you."

With a wave of his sleeve, a sword descended from the hall. He said:

"This is the sect's treasured artifact, the Taiyi Splitting Light Sword. I shall lend it to you for now, it will ensure your safety while traveling outside."

Qiu Changtian was greatly shocked: The Taiyi Splitting Light Sword was a renowned Immortal Sword!

It had already gained fame during the ancient war between Chan and Jie, far surpassing the Tenth Order, an immensely powerful Immortal Sword that couldn't be measured by rank!

He wanted to confirm, but feared it would be inconsistent with his persona, so he maintained a posture of neither servile nor overbearing, and said in a deep voice:

"Thank you, Master, for lending me the sword."

Beside him, Xu Yinglian was also astonished and hesitant to speak.

After the two left, the Ziwei Sect Master was silent for a moment before slowly picking up the Fly Whisk by the lotus platform and murmuring:

"Troubles and delusions, worries and suffering of body and mind. Greed is unending, how can there be tranquility?"

As soon as Qiu Changtian exited Yuxu Palace, Xu Yinglian grabbed him from behind.

"What are you doing?" Xu Yinglian asked, frowning. "Going out to adventure? What's there to adventure for in the Qi Refining Stage? Without a Flying Sword, you probably can't even defeat a martial artist."

I'm going out to get spirit stones... Qiu Changtian obviously couldn't say that, otherwise Xu Yinglian would definitely say, "I'll lend you some," or "Tell me what you need them for first."

So he just smiled faintly and asked, "Are you scared?"

Xu Yinglian:?!!

She almost jumped up.

It was strange, as someone with the Seven Orifices Exquisite Heart constitution, she could see through people and matters as clearly as if looking into fire.

Because she saw through everything, it was uninteresting.

Because it was uninteresting, she was aloof.

Even with Senior Brother's few words, Xu Yinglian understood they were a simple provocation, yet the anger in her chest couldn't be contained, surging towards her head like an erupting volcano.

"Scared of what?" she sneered. "Are you, Senior Brother, too nervous about going out for the first time, so you have to drag me along to bolster your courage?"

"You saw through it already, huh." Qiu Changtian said with a smile.

His teasing tone, as if he were flirting with a girl, made Xu Yinglian even more annoyed.