Lin Sisi

"Huang Hua, you are too kind, Junior Brother Shen. If there is anything you do not understand, feel free to ask me."

The young man in yellow robes said enthusiastically as he accepted the spirit stones.

"Senior Brother Huang, do we only return to the main altar after the Immortal Ascension Assembly ends? During this period, may I identify myself as a disciple of the Spirit Control Sect?"

Shen Long asked politely.

"That is correct. Junior Brother Shen is already considered a disciple of our Spirit Control Sect, though you must pay respects to the founder before you are officially initiated. Of course, you may tell your friends now that you have joined the Spirit Control Sect, but do not leave the Marketplace on your own. Wait for the Immortal Ascension Assembly to conclude, and we will return to the main altar together," Huang Hua explained.

"Senior Brother Huang, is having contact with the Barbarian Race a serious matter?"

Shen Long continued to ask.

"Having contact with the Barbarian Race is nothing, but if one is a spy for the Barbarian Race, then there is only one path: death. The Barbarian Race is the mortal enemy of our human race. As for the specific details, someone will explain this aspect to you after you are officially initiated," Huang Hua said.

"We have to learn about this even after joining?"

Shen Long was slightly stunned; he had assumed he would be learning cultivation knowledge directly upon entry.

"Of course. Aside from the history of the East Hua Cultivation World and the origins of the Spirit Control Sect, you must also learn the language of beasts. Cultivators from loose backgrounds or small families often receive incomplete cultivation knowledge and require a proper, orthodox education," Huang Hua explained.

"The language of beasts? Can I communicate with spirit beasts after learning it?"

Shen Long was slightly taken aback.

"Not entirely. It can also be used to deal with low-level demonic beasts. Once you are initiated, you will understand. Putting other things aside, when it comes to the art of insect taming and beast control, our Spirit Control Sect dares to claim second place in the East Hua Cultivation World, and no other faction dares to claim first," Huang Hua said, his face full of pride.

"Who is the senior ancestor leading the team this time? And how should I address the senior uncle from earlier?"

Shen Long continued to ask.

"Senior Ancestor Lin is leading the team this time. The one outside is Senior Uncle Liu Ye; Senior Uncle Liu is the youngest disciple of Senior Ancestor Lin," Huang Hua explained patiently.

"Many thanks for your guidance, Senior Brother Huang."

Shen Long expressed his gratitude.

"It is a small matter. By the way, let me take you to where the new disciples are gathering! Get to know a few more people; you will be fellow disciples from now on."

Huang Hua led Shen Long out of the secret room and into a spacious, bright hall where more than a dozen Qi Refining cultivators had gathered.

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

A handsome young man in red robes and a burly, bearded man caught Shen Long's attention. The young man in red was tall with fair skin and red lips, wearing a white jade belt at his waist with a red jade pendant hanging from it. The character "Gu" was carved on the front of the pendant, clearly indicating he came from a certain cultivation family. Several Qi Refining cultivators were gathered around him.

The bearded man had a face full of flesh, and a terrifying, earthworm-like scar ran from his right cheek to his forehead, making him look fierce and menacing.

"This is Junior Brother Shen Long. He has also passed the assessment," Huang Hua introduced.

The young man in red glanced at Shen Long and stopped paying attention.

"Junior Brother Shen, we are all fellow disciples from now on, so we must look out for one another. My name is Qin Bao," the bearded man said, his voice booming.

"Greetings, Senior Brother Qin," Shen Long said politely.

Qin Bao was at the ninth level of Qi Refining and had several Qi Refining cultivators gathered around him.

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

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

Shen Long smiled and nodded, walking over to Ye Yuqing's side to chat with Ye Yuqing and Ye Yutang via voice transmission.

The dozen or so Qi Refining cultivators came from all over the world, and most did not know each other, forming several small cliques.

Less than half a quarter of an hour later, Huang Hua walked in with a girl in a green dress who looked to be in her early twenties.

The girl in the green dress was beautiful, with skin like congealed fat and eyes as clear as water. Her hair was styled in a hibiscus bun, and there was a red maple leaf pattern on her sleeves.

"This is Junior Sister Lin Sisi. Junior Sister Lin, you all stay here for now," Huang Hua introduced before leaving.

The young man in red stepped forward, cupped his hands, and said, "I am Gu Tianhong of Golden Goose Valley. May I ask if Junior Sister Lin is from the Red Leaf Ridge Lin Family?"

"That is correct," Lin Sisi nodded. Her gaze swept over the cultivators present before she walked over to Gu Tianhong's side.

Gu Tianhong began to chat with Lin Sisi. Lin Sisi's attitude was rather cold, but Gu Tianhong remained very enthusiastic.

Since one of Lin Sisi's relatives was the dao companion of a Core Formation cultivator, Gu Tianhong naturally wanted to build a good relationship with her.

Time passed bit by bit, and Qi Refining cultivators walked in one after another. After the better part of a day, more than fifty Qi Refining cultivators had gathered in the hall. Most were disciples from immortal cultivation families, with very few rogue cultivators; the requirement of being at the eighth level of Qi Refining alone had screened out a vast number of them.

There were as many as seven disciples from the Lin Family, all with at least eighth-level Qi Refining cultivation, and each of them had a Spirit Beast Bag tied to their waist.

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

He led Shen Long and the others out of the Hundred Monster Tower. By this time, the sky had darkened, and the Mystic Yang Sect, Purple Firmament Gate, Seven Rosy Clouds Sect, and Tyrant Blade Villa had all suspended their assessments, to be continued tomorrow.

Shen Long did not return to his lodging, instead wandering the streets.

Passing by a certain fork in the road, Shen Long saw Chen Handian and Chen Hanyue, both of whom looked utterly dejected.

They had both failed the selection and did not pass the assessment.

"Sigh, I really don't know how to explain this to Father."

Chen Handian sighed, his mouth full of bitterness.

The family had placed high hopes on them, yet they had failed; they truly had no face to return and see their kin.

"There was nothing to be done about it. Clearing nine levels in a row without being allowed to use second-tier talismans—it was just too difficult."

Chen Hanyue's face was full of sorrow.

They had never experienced life-or-death combat; their duels had always relied on talismans, magical artifacts, and spirit beasts. The difficulty of clearing nine levels was simply too high.

They did not recognize Shen Long, and Shen Long brushed past them.

Shen Long went to visit the Qi Refining cultivators he knew and revealed his real name. Upon learning that Shen Long had joined the Spirit Control Sect, these cultivators did not mind such a small 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 the Tyrant Blade Villa.

"By the way, Fellow Daoist Shen, there is an underground auction tomorrow night at the hour of the rat. The location is Yaming Pavilion. If you are interested, you can go and participate."

Zhao Feng said.

"Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Zhao."

Shen Long expressed his gratitude.

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

Passing by a winery, Shen Long spent thirty spirit stones to buy a pot of Ice Cloud Brew, which had the effect of refining one's mana.

Returning to the Gathering Immortals Inn, Shen Long took out the Ice Cloud Brew and three wine cups, pouring three cups of spirit wine.

He picked up one cup and said, "Father, Mother, if you are alive, I must see you; if you are dead, I must see your remains. I will definitely find you, no matter how long it takes or what the cost. This cup of wine is my tribute to you."

After saying this, he poured the spirit wine onto the ground.

After so many years, the chance of his parents still being alive was negligible.

Shen Long picked up the second cup of spirit wine, clinked it against the wine pot, and said, "This cup is a tribute to myself. Heaven rewards diligence; I repeat this phrase to myself every day. Thank you to myself for the years of bitter cultivation that led to today."

After saying this, he drank the spirit wine in the cup.

As the wine hit his stomach, a chill rose in his abdomen, spreading to his limbs and bones, leaving his whole body feeling indescribably comfortable.

He picked up the third cup of spirit wine, clinked it against the wine pot, and said, "This cup is a tribute to Shopkeeper Sun. Without his shelter, I might have starved to death or been trafficked. If I have the chance, I will go back to see him and bring him a jar of good wine."

After Shen Long finished speaking, he drank the third cup of spirit wine.

The pot of Ice Cloud Brew was quickly finished. Shen Long felt his abdomen grow slightly warm, and a surge of spiritual energy rose in his gut, darting about chaotically.

He quickly sat cross-legged on the wooden bed and began to circulate his cultivation technique to refine this spiritual energy.