A Pity for Going Astray

No one dared to boast that they had fully comprehended the Pill Refining Art, nor did anyone dare to claim mastery over the secrets of formations. However, even so, it was already an incredible feat!

In cultivation, the most foolish thing is to only know how to meditate and practice qi, absorbing spiritual power!

Elder Chu was not that immortal master with the full beard and cold expression. He was unaware of Qin Haoxuan's performance and remarks from yesterday and today. After glancing at Qin Haoxuan a few times, he stopped paying attention to him. For him, as long as he taught the four disciples who had already rooted well, it would be enough. The future of the Taichu Sect rested on their shoulders.

Meditating in class, with the Enlightenment Immortal Master presiding, Qin Haoxuan felt unprecedentedly relaxed before meditating this time, under the watchful eyes of everyone. He no longer had to worry about Zhang Kuang or Li Jing sending someone to ambush him.

He circulated the Great Dao Heart Seed Demon Technique, and a massive amount of spiritual power surged into Qin Haoxuan's body. Under his skilled manipulation, it quickly neutralized the fiery medicinal effects in his body and was re-infused into the Immortal Seed. He watched, bit by bit, as the roots of the immortal seedling within the Immortal Seed grew longer. Zhang Kuang's persecution of him was becoming more obvious, and he had to hurry to root himself. After exhausting the medicinal power accumulated from the One-Leaf Golden Lotus in his body, he would then make a trip to the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley. If he could find some spiritual elixirs, that would be great, but if he could find some protective magic treasures, that would be even better.

Elder Chu, who was lecturing incessantly, occasionally glanced at Qin Haoxuan, who was meditating. A Weak Seed is just a Weak Seed. When absorbing spiritual power, there isn't even the slightest fluctuation. At this rate of absorbing spiritual power, even if he meditated all day, he wouldn't even catch up to a Gray Seed disciple, let alone a Purple Seed!

It seemed that after being confined for a few days, not only had he not become smarter, but he had also gone deeper into a dead end.

Recalling the surprise he felt when Qin Haoxuan broke his seed on the first day, Elder Chu sighed inwardly, "Such a good Dao Heart, yet it has gone astray. What a pity, what a pity!"

As Elder Chu delved deeper into the topic of Bagua numerology, more and more disciples felt lost, completely unable to understand what he was talking about. A Weak Seed disciple thought to himself, Since I can't understand anyway, why not meditate and cultivate like Qin Haoxuan? At least I can improve my strength a little!

He had just crossed his legs and was about to enter a meditative state when he was suddenly sent flying by a wind blade. Elder Chu, with an angry glare, roared from the lecture platform, "Get out!"

The unfortunate disciple, who was dizzy from the wind blade, pointed at Qin Haoxuan, trying to defend himself. Elder Chu sent another wind blade, expelling him from the classroom!

Watching the Weak Seed disciple being sent flying, the others looked at Qin Haoxuan, who was allowed to meditate freely, with envy. Some whispers and rumors began to spread.

"As expected, he has a Purple Seed disciple backing him. Even Elder Chu doesn't dare to discipline him for meditating during class."

"That's right. It's a shame there's only one female Purple Seed disciple. Otherwise, this brother would find one to hug and sleep with for a night, and then run rampant in the Taichu Sect."

The latter voice belonged to Murong Chao. They were far from Qin Haoxuan and thought he couldn't hear them. However, they never expected that Qin Haoxuan, who practiced the Great Dao Heart Seed Demon Technique, not only had a very strong body but also extremely keen senses. Their hushed whispers reached his ears word for word, and he could easily distinguish who was speaking.

Qin Haoxuan sneered inwardly. Back then, you wanted to establish your authority and be the bad guys, snatching the blankets of fellow disciples. If I hadn't been strong, he and Xu Yu would have frozen all night. Now that someone has made a name for himself and become a Purple Seed disciple valued by the sect, and is on very good terms with me! You're jealous again, trying every way to win them over, and when you can't, you spread these rumors, putting on a different face behind their backs! How can you possibly cultivate with such a mindset? You can't even remain unfazed by honor and disgrace. If you are lucky enough to cultivate to the Tribulation Crossing stage in the future, you will definitely be crippled by inner demons, at best becoming a cripple, at worst becoming a dead person!

However, not everyone can cultivate to the Tribulation Crossing stage. With their disposition, Qin Haoxuan could guarantee that it was absolutely impossible!

Elder Chu lectured until noon before dismissing the class. As he announced the end of the lesson, Qin Haoxuan, who had been cultivating, also felt hungry. He happened to open his eyes.

Seeing Qin Haoxuan concluding his cultivation as the class ended, Elder Chu cast a look of disdain at him and sighed, "Rotten wood cannot be carved!"

To him, Qin Haoxuan cultivating during class was a sign of disrespect. Even though he had a Purple Seed disciple as a backer and he couldn't drive him out of the classroom out of respect for the Purple Seed disciple, there was no need to give him a good look.

Qin Haoxuan knew that Elder Chu's words "rotten wood cannot be carved" were also referring to him. He cast a remorseful glance at Elder Chu, feeling extremely helpless. It wasn't that he didn't want to listen to the lecture. On the contrary, the lectures Elder Chu gave were all basic common sense for cultivation, very useful. However, the price of listening to the lecture was his body being overwhelmed by the remaining medicinal power of the One-Leaf Golden Lotus.

Although he had his difficulties, he couldn't explain them, which made Qin Haoxuan feel very stifled. Under the disdainful gazes of the other disciples, he left the classroom with Xu Yu.

Because the Bagua numerology discussed in the morning was too profound and difficult for these disciples who were just beginning to cultivate to understand, and it was difficult to digest too much at once, Elder Chu let the disciples study or cultivate on their own in the afternoon.

After lunch, Qin Haoxuan still went to Xu Yu's room. While looking at the notes, Xu Yu explained the Bagua numerology to him. It had to be said that Xu Yu's comprehension was excellent. The Bagua numerology, which sounded like heavenly script to others, was not a problem for her at all. She not only fully recounted Elder Chu's lecture but also added many of her own understandings and viewpoints. Although Qin Haoxuan still only half-understood it, it was much better than looking at the heavenly script notes by himself.

This entire afternoon passed with Xu Yu's explanations and Qin Haoxuan's meditation and cultivation. Xu Yu had also grown accustomed to Qin Haoxuan suddenly becoming anxious and entering a meditative state during her explanations, cultivating for a while before returning to normal and continuing to listen to her lecture.

Among these new disciples, besides someone giving Qin Haoxuan special tutoring, Zhang Yang was also receiving the same treatment.

Right after lunch, he quietly left Spirit Field Valley and arrived at their agreed meeting spot, where he saw his master, Gu Yunzi, who had been waiting for him for a long time.

Gu Yunzi, with his plump body, stood with his hands behind his back on a large rock, gazing into the depths of Dayu Mountain. Misty clouds swirled there, indicating the direction of the Immortal-Slaying Poison Valley.

Zhang Yang arrived and respectfully bowed. He then told Gu Yunzi his doubts about the Bagua numerology that day. Gu Yunzi sneered and said, "Bagua numerology, this kind of thing is what Xia Yunzi is best at. My good disciple, your master tells you, there are thousands of paths in cultivation, and there is absolutely no need to take those so-called shortcuts. The motto of our Gu Yun Hall is that personal strength trumps everything!"

He paused and then added with a hint of pride, "Look at Xiayun Hall, they are proficient in formations and Bagua, alchemy and medicine. Xia Yunzi spends his days calculating Bagua numerology and studying alchemy and medicine texts, and his hair has all fallen out. Yet, he is still on par with your master, sitting as an equal. You just need to cultivate diligently now. While these basic knowledge are important to understand, you don't need to dwell on them too much, lest it hinder your own progress."

Hearing his master's words, Zhang Yang felt a bit unconvinced in his heart. However, recalling that with his master's support, he had succeeded in rooting himself in seven days and was now on par with Purple Seed disciples, enjoying immense prestige, he no longer doubted and nodded in agreement.

Under Gu Yunzi's guidance, Zhang Yang practiced for a while longer, but a faint hint of worry lingered on his face. Gu Yunzi, being experienced, couldn't help but notice and asked Zhang Yang seriously, "Disciple, do you have something on your mind? If you hold onto something in your heart for too long, it can become a heart ailment, which will be extremely detrimental to your future."

"Master, I do have something on my mind." Zhang Yang bowed deeply and said, "I have a fellow townsman who is also under the Taichu Sect now, named Qin Haoxuan. Although he is only a Weak Seed disciple, his strength is incredibly formidable. He even fought to a draw with an expert at the Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf. He is like a mountain, constantly weighing on my heart."

"Oh, your fellow townsman? Then he should also be Zhang Kuang's fellow townsman. I remember you and Zhang Kuang being very close, right?"

"Zhang Kuang is arrogant and overbearing in front of others, but in front of Qin Haoxuan, he is like a mouse seeing a cat. Yesterday, he was even humiliated and ridden by him."

Gu Yunzi scoffed, and a flash of inspiration struck him. "Although Zhang Kuang is a Purple Seed, his Dao Heart is too lacking. Don't worry, leave this matter to me."

With his master Gu Yunzi's assurance, Zhang Yang happily continued practicing. Gu Yunzi fell into deep thought. He had also heard disciples in the hall mention this newly admitted Weak Seed disciple. However, he thought it was an exaggeration. A mere mortal who had just joined the sect a few days ago, struck by a spirit technique from an Immortal Seedling Realm Third Leaf expert, yet acted as if he was unharmed? And he even fought to a draw with an Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf expert in the Lava Cellar? That place, the Lava Cellar, could a mortal even survive walking out alive, let alone fight an Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf expert? Besides, even though the Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf realm was considered weak, it shouldn't be so unbearable, right?

How could all this sound so outlandish? Perhaps he had some minor fortuitous encounter that even Qin Haoxuan himself didn't know about?

Gu Yunzi originally didn't pay much attention to Qin Haoxuan. Even if a mere mortal had a fortuitous encounter, it would only be a minor one. Major fortuitous encounters usually came with great risks.

There were also disciples in the Taichu Sect who had experienced fortuitous encounters. It was just that the rules of the cultivation world were usually that major fortuitous encounters were accompanied by great risks. Generally, the elders of Taichu would not snatch minor fortuitous encounters.

It was like finding three copper coins on the road was a huge windfall for a child, but for an adult, it was just three copper coins.

However, now... Gu Yunzi, because of Zhang Yang's words, had come up with a plan that Qin Haoxuan could help him complete! This plan could also perfectly evade the Sect Master Huang Long's investigation afterward.

In cultivation, while improving one's cultivation is important, the most crucial aspect is cultivating the heart. For cultivators with heart ailments, even with exceptional talent, their future achievements will be limited. From the disciple's account just now, Qin Haoxuan must be the common heart ailment of both Zhang Kuang and Zhang Yang. Gu Yunzi planned to fulfill Zhang Yang's wish to overcome Qin Haoxuan, completely removing his heart ailment, and at the same time, adding a trump card for Zhang Kuang to defeat the Purple Seed disciple in the future.

Years ago, Gu Yunzi had a fortuitous encounter and obtained some spirit techniques from the Heavenly Corpse Sect.

The spirit techniques practiced by the Heavenly Corpse Sect were extremely sinister. They refined cultivators into their own corpse soldiers. These corpse soldiers could not only inherit all the cultivation of the person being refined but also had no self-awareness, obeying the refiner completely. More importantly, the corpse soldiers would also improve as their master's cultivation increased. The better the refining materials, the greater the future growth potential of the corpse soldier.

If what Zhang Yang said was true, then this Qin Haoxuan was a perfect material for refining a corpse soldier. His body was strong, and he could fight an Immortal Seedling Realm Fifth Leaf disciple to a draw without sprouting. Even Gu Yunzi was somewhat tempted. However, to help Zhang Yang achieve his goals and experience the prestige of being an supreme Sect Master in the future, he decided to give such good refining material to Zhang Yang.

It was just that harming a disciple of his own sect like this made Gu Yunzi feel uneasy. After careful consideration, he persuaded himself that Qin Haoxuan was just a Weak Seed disciple, and his future progress would be limited. It would be better to turn him into a corpse soldier to assist Zhang Yang, which would also contribute to the Taichu Sect. When he descended the mountain in the future, he would give Qin Haoxuan's parents more silver to let them live a good old age. In this way, Qin Haoxuan becoming a corpse soldier could also be considered filial piety.