Living in the Mountains and Sprouting Immortal Seedlings

Even if it can't bring glory, it would be great if Natural Hall could continue to thrive.

Xuanjizi fell silent in thought for a moment, then looked at Qin Haoxuan and sighed. "Weak Seeds have a difficult time surviving in the sect, but Heaven has made Immortal Seeds resilient. This is also a test for us. Since your Dao Heart is firm and you are devoted to the Dao, I will accept you as my disciple. After your three-month introductory training and completing the [Entering the Immortal Dao] trial, report to Natural Hall. If you encounter trouble in the future, just mention my name, Xuanjizi, and those who pester you will likely decrease. If someone still insists on bothering you, and you are in the right, I will certainly stand up for you. Even if it reaches Huang Long, I still have the influence."

Huang Long? Qin Haoxuan had been in Taichu for many days. Everyone spoke of the Sect Master with their hands clasped high above their heads, showing utmost respect, calling him [Sect Master True Lord]. Even Elder Chu addressed the Sect Master with such deference. This was the first time he'd heard someone casually address him by his Daoist name.

Sensing Qin Haoxuan's surprised gaze, Xuanjizi simply smiled faintly, exuding an otherworldly aura distinct from mortals. His smile held a touch of admiration and kindness. Feeling the sincerity in his eyes, Qin Haoxuan immediately knelt and performed the full kowtow ritual to formally accept him as a master.

"Keep this Spirit Talisman with you for protection. If anyone dares to bully you here, use this talisman. Even if you kill someone, I, as your master, will cover for you. You've only performed the disciple-acceptance ceremony early. If you fail to enter the Immortal Dao, this ceremony will have been for naught. So don't think that just because you've kowtowed, everything is worry-free. The path of cultivation cannot rely on others; it ultimately depends on yourself."

After Qin Haoxuan completed the disciple-acceptance ritual, Xuanjizi's gaze swept over the two individuals with ill intentions who had attempted to assassinate Qin Haoxuan. He took out a Spirit Talisman with the power of an Immortal Seedling Realm twenty-leaf cultivator from his robes and handed it to Qin Haoxuan.

Feeling the terrifying spiritual power emanating from the Spirit Talisman, Qin Haoxuan was overjoyed and bowed again. This Xuanjizi was indeed as kind as Pu Hanzhong had said, lacking the arrogance of others and considering every detail, showing great care for his disciples. It was no wonder Pu Hanzhong held him in such high regard.

After Xuanjizi left with Pu Hanzhong, Qin Haoxuan, now without a protector, clutched the Spirit Talisman gifted by Xuanjizi. With this trump card in hand, he fearlessly surveyed the assassins lying on the ground.

The intense spiritual power fluctuations emanating from the Spirit Talisman sent a shiver of fear down the spines of the group of six-leaf cultivators. They knew clearly that if this Spirit Talisman were to activate, its power would be far beyond their ability to resist.

For the past ten days, each of them had eaten less than half a bowl of rice daily. In the Nine Yin Ice Cave, a place that severely depleted one's energy, even three meals a day, each with a full portion, wouldn't be enough. Eating only a small portion of rice daily barely kept them from starving to death.

Half a month of hunger and cold, coupled with Qin Haoxuan's imposing aura, had completely stripped them of the arrogance they had when they first entered the Nine Yin Ice Cave, as well as their ambition to kill Qin Haoxuan for a chance at a brighter future. Now, their deepest desire was simply to survive and escape this wretched place, and to stay as far away as possible from anything related to Qin Haoxuan in the future.

When Qin Haoxuan stepped on their injured companions again, they no longer had the courage to intervene.

Clutching the Immortal Seedling Realm twenty-leaf Spirit Talisman, Qin Haoxuan had no intention of letting them off the hook. He delivered a fierce punch to the Dantian of one of them, causing him to grimace in pain, but he dared not retaliate. From his understanding of Qin Haoxuan over the past few days, if provoked, he truly might fight to the death.

This was how aura worked: if you were weak, they were strong; if you were strong, they were weak! Qin Haoxuan understood this principle well.

Over the next five days, Qin Haoxuan seized the opportunity to absorb spiritual power and nurture his Immortal Seed. Although there were no signs of sprouting yet, the Immortal Seed had grown considerably larger, now five times the size of an ordinary Immortal Seed.

When the time was up, under the escort of enforcement disciples, Qin Haoxuan, who still felt unsatisfied after twenty days of relative peace, emerged from the Nine Yin Ice Cave. After he left, both the heavily injured assassins still held captive and the other dozen or so old hands breathed a heavy sigh of relief.

Qin Haoxuan considered reporting the assassins to the enforcement team, but now that they were severely injured, he would need witnesses. Among those confined in the Nine Yin Ice Cave, perhaps only Pu Hanzhong would be willing to testify for him. If he implicated his kind Senior Brother Pu in this matter, it would be a great disservice.

After much deliberation, Qin Haoxuan decided to let the matter go as if it never happened. Those six-leaf senior brothers would likely lack the courage and face to see him again in the future.

Returning to Spirit Field Valley after a twenty-day absence, Qin Haoxuan eagerly headed towards Xu Yu's room. After twenty days, he wondered if she had sprouted yet.

As he walked, Qin Haoxuan sensed an extremely dense spiritual energy emanating from Zhang Kuang's room. Shortly after, a faint purple aura shot up into the sky from Zhang Kuang's room.

Could Zhang Kuang have sprouted? Qin Haoxuan quickened his pace and saw a crowd of people outside Zhang Kuang's room, bustling with activity.

Many disciples, drawn by the unusual phenomenon from Zhang Kuang's place, had gathered outside his room. As the faint purple aura gradually dissipated and everything returned to normal, Zhang Kuang emerged with a smug smile and an arrogant expression. His numerous followers waiting outside immediately offered their congratulations.

"Congratulations, Boss, on successfully sprouting and becoming the first Purple Seed!"

"Sprouting is the boundary between cultivators and mortals. Boss, you're truly amazing, leaving the other two Purple Seeds behind and becoming the first cultivator!"

"Li Jing's schemes and machinations are all in vain. He will always be one level below Boss in terms of strength and realm. He will never be our Boss's opponent!"

"That's right. Li Jing thought he could contend with you by roping in Xu Yu, what a pipe dream!"

As Zhang Kuang's followers fawned over him, many Menial Disciples, sensing the commotion and guessing that Zhang Kuang had sprouted, rushed over. These Immortal Seedling Realm cultivators showered him with praise and flattery. Their skill in flattering was far beyond that of the new disciples, which Zhang Kuang greatly enjoyed. This was followed by the customary gift-giving, an essential step in currying favor.

"Congratulations, Junior Brother Zhang, on sprouting. Sprouting in a month and a half breaks the sect's fastest sprouting record. Even many supreme great sects don't have disciples as talented as you! Junior Brother Zhang, these are some Spirit Medicines I cultivated. I hope Junior Brother won't mind." An Immortal Seedling Realm fifth-leaf senior brother placed several noticeably good-quality Spirit Medicines into Zhang Kuang's hand.

"Junior Brother Zhang, these are some elixirs I made myself..."

"This Spirit Talisman is equivalent to the full power strike of an Immortal Seedling Realm ten-leaf expert. Please accept it, Junior Brother Zhang!"

In an instant, various items, both valuable and ordinary, were presented by the Menial Senior Brothers who had rushed over, piling up beside Zhang Kuang until they were nearly as tall as a person.

Zhang Kuang was accustomed to such flattery; it would be abnormal if no one came to fawn over him. Whether the gifts were good or bad, he accepted them all and expressed his thanks. Although these Menial Disciples were insignificant in the sect and their words carried little weight, it wouldn't hurt if they helped spread his reputation for treating others with courtesy.

Qin Haoxuan gave a wry smile. The last time he emerged from confinement, he encountered Zhang Kuang's rooting; this time, emerging from confinement, he encountered Zhang Kuang's sprouting. What a coincidence!

Zhang Kuang, surrounded and flattered by the crowd, saw Qin Haoxuan passing by and let out a disdainful snort, a sense of superiority welling up after his sprouting.

No matter what, even if you could find a Spirit Spring land, even if you could defeat an Immortal Seedling Realm expert, even if you rooted in twenty days, so what? You're still a mortal, but I have already crossed the boundary of mortals and become a cultivator!

At this moment, Zhang Kuang viewed Qin Haoxuan as one would view an ant, not even having the desire to step on him! After sprouting, his state of mind had broadened considerably, allowing him to better understand the meaning of True Lord Huang Long's words. Only Li Jing and Xu Yu were qualified to be his opponents; even Zhang Yang wasn't!

Facing Zhang Kuang's gaze, which treated him like an ant, Qin Haoxuan simply smiled faintly and continued on his way towards Xu Yu's location.

Still a dozen or so zhang away from Xu Yu's room, Qin Haoxuan felt an extremely strong spiritual power fluctuation, identical to the one he felt when Zhang Kuang sprouted!

This was a sign of sprouting. Could Xu Yu be sprouting too? Qin Haoxuan's heart leaped with joy.

The spiritual energy around Xu Yu's room gradually intensified, finally condensing into a faint purple light that shot straight into the heavens. This purple light was wondrous and mysterious, as if it connected to the profound mysteries of heaven and earth, opening the path of cultivation for the unity of man and nature.

Gradually, the purple light receded, and the door to Xu Yu's room opened the next moment. Qin Haoxuan, whose senses were extremely sharp, saw from afar a faint, celestial smile on Xu Yu's face. After sprouting, even Zhang Kuang had exuded a subtle, otherworldly aura, but Xu Yu's demeanor was even more ethereal and transcendent, like a celestial maiden untouched by worldly affairs.

Third update... Because of this morning's mistake... This is the third update today... I will definitely not make any more mistakes in the future!