Lin Sisi

"Huang Hua, Junior Brother Shen, you're too polite. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask me."

The yellow-shirted youth said warmly as he accepted the Spirit Stones.

"Senior Brother Huang, do we only return to the General Headquarters after the Immortal Ascension Assembly ends? During this time, may I consider myself a disciple of the Spirit Control Sect?"

Shen Long asked politely.

"Exactly. Junior Brother Shen already counts as a disciple of our Spirit Control Sect. Only after paying respects to the Grandmaster will you officially enter the sect. Of course, you can now tell your friends that you have joined the Spirit Control Sect. However, do not leave the Marketplace without permission. Wait until the Immortal Ascension Assembly is over, then return to the General Headquarters with us."

Huang Hua explained.

"Senior Brother Huang, is it serious to have come into contact with the Barbarian Race?"

Shen Long continued asking.

"There is nothing wrong with having come into contact with the Barbarian Race. But if you are a Barbarian Race spy, there is only a dead end waiting for you. The Barbarian Race is the mortal enemy of our Human Race. As for the specifics, once you officially enter the sect, someone will specially explain this matter to you."

Huang Hua said.

"After entering the sect, we still have to study that?"

Shen Long was slightly stunned. He had thought that after entering the sect, he would directly begin learning cultivation knowledge.

"Of course. Besides the history of the cultivation world and the origins of the Spirit Control Sect, you must also study Beast Language. Cultivators born as Rogue Cultivators or from small Lineages receive incomplete cultivation knowledge, so they need to undergo orthodox cultivation education."

Huang Hua explained.

"Beast Language? After learning it, can one communicate with Spirit Beasts?"

Shen Long was slightly taken aback.

"Not entirely. It can also be used to deal with low-rank Monster Beasts. Once you enter the sect, you will understand. I cannot speak for anything else, but when it comes to insect control and beast taming, if our Spirit Control Sect dares call itself second in the East Hua Cultivation World, no faction would dare call itself first."

Huang Hua's face was full of pride.

"Which Grandmaster is leading the team this time? And what is the name of that Uncle-Master from earlier?"

Shen Long continued asking.

"Grandmaster Lin is leading this time. The one outside is Uncle-Master Liu Ye. Uncle-Master Liu is Grandmaster Lin's youngest disciple."

Huang Hua explained patiently.

"Many thanks for Senior Brother Huang's guidance."

Shen Long thanked him.

"It was only a small matter. Right, I'll take you to where the new disciples are gathered! Get to know a few more people. From now on, you will be fellow disciples."

Huang Hua led Shen Long out of the secret chamber and into a spacious, brightly lit hall, where more than ten Qi Refining Cultivators had gathered.

Shen Long saw Ye Yuqing and Ye Yutang, but he did not know the other Qi Refining Cultivators.

A handsome red-shirted youth and a broad-waisted Curly-Bearded Man caught Shen Long's attention. The red-shirted youth was tall, with red lips and white teeth. A white jade belt circled his waist, from which hung a Red Jade Pendant. The front of the pendant was engraved with the character "Gu," clearly marking him as someone from a cultivation Lineage. Several Qi Refining Cultivators surrounded the red-shirted youth.

The Curly-Bearded Man's face was covered in flesh, and a horrifying, earthworm-like scar ran from his right cheek to his forehead, making him look savage and terrifying.

"This is Junior Brother Shen Long. He also passed the assessment."

Huang Hua introduced him.

The red-shirted youth swept Shen Long a glance, then paid him no further attention.

"Junior Brother Shen, we will all be fellow disciples from now on, so we should look after one another. My name is Qin Bao."

The Curly-Bearded Man spoke in a booming voice.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Qin."

Shen Long said politely.

Qin Bao possessed Ninth Layer of Qi Refining cultivation, and many Qi Refining Cultivators had gathered around him.

Ye Yuqing smiled faintly at Shen Long and said, "Fellow Daoist Shen—no, Junior Brother Shen. From now on, we are fellow disciples."

They had passed the assessment first, so they were nominally his senior sisters.

Shen Long smiled and nodded. He walked over to Ye Yuqing and chatted with Ye Yuqing and Ye Yutang through voice transmission.

The dozen or so Qi Refining Cultivators came from all corners of the world. Most did not know one another and had formed several small groups.

Before half an hour had passed, Huang Hua entered with a green-skirted girl in her early twenties.

The green-skirted girl was delicately beautiful, with skin like congealed cream and clear eyes like water. Her long black hair was arranged into a hibiscus bun, and a red maple leaf pattern adorned her sleeve.

"This is Junior Sister Lin Sisi. Junior Sister Lin, stay here with the others for now."

Huang Hua made the introduction and then left.

The red-shirted youth stepped forward, cupped his fists, and said, "I am Gu Tianhong of Golden Goose Valley. May I ask whether Junior Sister Lin is from the Red Leaf Ridge Lin Family?"

"That is correct."

Lin Sisi nodded. Her gaze swept across the cultivators present before she walked to Gu Tianhong's side.

Gu Tianhong began speaking with Lin Sisi. Lin Sisi's attitude was rather indifferent, but Gu Tianhong remained enthusiastic.

One of Lin Sisi's relatives was the Dao companion of a Golden Core Cultivator, so Gu Tianhong naturally wanted to build a good relationship with Lin Sisi.

Time passed bit by bit. Qi Refining Cultivators entered one after another. By half a day later, more than fifty Qi Refining Cultivators had gathered in the hall. Most were disciples of cultivation Lineages, while Rogue Cultivators were comparatively few. The requirement of Qi Refining Eighth Layer alone had screened out a great many Rogue Cultivators.

There were as many as seven Lin Family disciples, the weakest of whom still possessed Qi Refining Eighth Layer cultivation. Spirit Beast Bags hung from all their waists.

Huang Hua walked in and said, "The trials have ended for today. You may leave the Hundred Monster Tower and return to rest. Do not leave the Marketplace. The Immortal Ascension Assembly will last several more days."

He led Shen Long and the others out of the Hundred Monster Tower. By then, the sky had darkened, and Mystic Yang Sect, Purple Firmament Gate, Seven Rosy Clouds Sect, and Tyrant Blade Villa had all suspended their assessments until the next day.

Shen Long did not return to his residence. Instead, he wandered the streets.

As he passed a side street, Shen Long saw Chen Handian and Chen Hanyue. Both wore dejected expressions.

Neither of them had been selected. They had failed to pass the assessment.

"Alas, I really do not know how to explain this to Father."

Chen Handian sighed, bitterness filling his mouth.

Their Lineage had placed great hopes on them, yet they had been rejected. They truly had no face to return and see their relatives.

"There is nothing we can do about it. Clearing nine floors in a row without being allowed to use Second-Rank Talismans was simply too difficult."

Chen Hanyue's face was full of worry.

They had never experienced a life-and-death battle. Their fighting methods relied on Talismans, Dharma Artifacts, and Spirit Beasts. Clearing nine floors in succession was far too difficult.

They did not recognize Shen Long, and Shen Long passed them by.

Shen Long paid visits to the Qi Refining Cultivators he knew and revealed his true name. When they learned that Shen Long had joined the Spirit Control Sect, these Qi Refining Cultivators did not fuss over such a trivial matter.

Wang Shuo and his two sons had left the Marketplace. Lu Yudie, Su Tianchen, and Su Tianyue had joined the Purple Firmament Gate; Huang Xiuyun had joined the Seven Rosy Clouds Sect; Zhao Feng had joined the Mystic Yang Sect; and Wei Tianbao had joined Tyrant Blade Villa.

"By the way, Fellow Daoist Shen, there will be an Underground Auction tomorrow night at midnight. It will be held at Yaming Pavilion. If you are interested, you may attend."

Zhao Feng said.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Zhao."

Shen Long thanked him.

After chatting for a few more moments, Shen Long took his leave.

When passing a wine shop, Shen Long spent thirty Spirit Stones to buy a jug of Ice Cloud Brew, which could improve one's cultivation power.

After returning to the Gathering Immortals Inn, Shen Long took out the Ice Cloud Brew and three wine cups, then poured three cups of Spirit Wine.

He raised one of the cups and said, "Father, Mother, alive, I must see you; dead, I must see your bodies. I will definitely find you, no matter how long it takes or how great the price. This cup of wine is from your son, in tribute to you."

After saying this, he poured the Spirit Wine onto the ground.

After so many years, the chance that his parents were still alive was so slim it could be ignored.

Shen Long picked up the second cup of Spirit Wine and clinked it against the wine jug. "This cup is for myself. Heaven rewards diligence. I repeat these words to myself every day. Thank you to myself for years of bitter cultivation, which gave me what I have today."

After saying this, he drained the Spirit Wine in his cup.

As soon as the wine entered his stomach, a cool sensation rose in his abdomen and spread toward his limbs and bones, leaving his entire body indescribably comfortable.

He raised the third cup of Spirit Wine and clinked it against the wine jug. "This cup is for Shopkeeper Sun. Without him taking me in, I might have starved to death or been abducted and sold. If I have the chance, I will go back to see him and bring him a jar of fine wine."

After saying this, Shen Long drained the Spirit Wine in his cup.

He soon finished the entire jug of Ice Cloud Brew. Shen Long felt a faint warmth in his abdomen as a stream of spiritual qi rose within it and darted about in all directions.

He hurriedly sat cross-legged on the wooden bed and circulated his cultivation technique to refine that spiritual qi.