Ping Qi grabbed Yan Chihuo and leaped onto the Giant soft-shelled turtle's back. The turtle turned around and glided across the river toward the opposite bank, as swift as an arrow loosed from a bowstring. Though it moved incredibly fast, it was remarkably steady; even a bowl filled to the brim would not spill a drop. Yan Chihuo was riding one for the first time and found it fascinating.
Ping Qi said, "This is one of our sect's Three Mountain-Protecting Spirits, the Spirit Water Turtle. It has lived for over a thousand years. More than four hundred years ago, it had already reached the Qi Gathering Stage. In the water, even two or three ordinary cultivators of the same stage would be hard-pressed to do anything to it."
Yan Chihuo said, "It's that powerful? Looks like I'll have to call you Senior Turtle. I wonder when my cultivation will reach your level."
Just then, the Spirit Water Turtle rumbled, "What's there to brag about? I've just lived a long time and grown big."
Yan Chihuo was startled. "Senior Turtle, you can talk?"
The Spirit Water Turtle said, "Demon Race beings like us can speak once we reach the Qi Gathering Stage. We can even take human form, but I'm too bulky to transform, so I have to keep my original body and ferry you around this Spirit Water River. Unlike the monkey and Black Eagle, who can both turn into humans."
Ping Qi said, "The monkey and Black Eagle it mentioned are the other two of the Three Mountain-Protecting Spirits. They've both reached the Qi Gathering Stage, too. Let me give you a general overview of our Cloud Soaring Sect. Aside from the sect master, there are four elders. The sect master, Tian Lingzi, has reached the Dao Foundation Stage. He's also the only expert at that stage in our sect. The four elders are Wu Yunhe, Yang Chenglin, Daoist Iron Sword, and your master here. We've all reached the Qi Gathering Stage, but my cultivation is shallow, and I'm nowhere near as strong as the other three."
The Spirit Water Turtle said, "Don't listen to your master being modest. Back in the day, he was the strongest cultivator beneath the sect master, and the one with the best chance of breaking through to the Dao Foundation Stage."
Ping Qi shook his head. "That's ancient history. I suffered a hidden injury in the Ten Thousand Bone Cave. I didn't know about it at the time, and my attempt to break through to the Dao Foundation Stage failed. My cultivation fell to the Qi Gathering Initial Stage, and it's stayed there all these years without the slightest improvement. How could I compare with the other three?"
Yan Chihuo said, "Master, is there really no way to heal your injury?"
"There are spirit medicines that can heal it, but they're far too rare. Our Cloud Soaring Sect can't get our hands on them."
Yan Chihuo's spirits sank. He couldn't help thinking of himself. The poison in the Demon Immortal Fruit was nearly impossible to dispel. He had hoped to suppress it by rapidly improving his cultivation, but even that turned out to be incredibly difficult.
The two men and the turtle chatted casually as they crossed the river, and before long they reached the opposite bank. Ping Qi and Yan Chihuo bade the Spirit Water Turtle farewell and headed up toward the mountaintop. After walking for a while, Yan Chihuo asked, "Since the Spirit Water Turtle has reached the Qi Gathering Stage, why does it still have to ferry disciples around?"
"Do you think it ferries just anyone? It only takes newly initiated inner disciples and honored guests. Once you enter the sect, don't expect the old turtle to ferry you around. It doesn't bother with outer disciples, either."
"Then I'm an inner disciple now?"
"You're my only disciple, and you've reached the Body Tempering Middle Stage. Of course you're an inner disciple."
Ping Qi added, "You're not just an inner disciple, either. You're a Cloud Hall disciple."
Yan Chihuo asked, "What's a Cloud Hall disciple?"
Ping Qi said, "Including the sect master, only five people in the Cloud Soaring Sect have reached the Qi Gathering Stage or higher. Those five have taken just over thirty disciples. Your master, for instance, has only taken you. But there are hundreds of inner disciples, so they're divided into two groups. Disciples like you, taken by elders who've reached the Qi Gathering Stage or by the sect master, are called Cloud Hall disciples. The rest are Scattered Hall disciples."
Yan Chihuo pondered this. Cloud Hall disciples were personally taught by elders and the sect master, and their status was quite different. The name itself said it all: Cloud Hall suggested a place high above, among the clouds. Scattered Hall, though packed with people, sounded scattered and disorganized. Without a master to guide them in cultivation, its disciples naturally couldn't compare with those of Cloud Hall.
Ping Qi said, "Chihuo, don't get cocky. Scattered Hall disciples may not measure up to Cloud Hall disciples, but that doesn't mean no one guides them. Since there are so many inner disciples, the sect master has ordered every elder and himself to give lectures on the Dao each month, so these Scattered Hall disciples don't stray from the right path in their cultivation. And there are plenty of people in Scattered Hall, including many talented ones. Don't look down on them."
Yan Chihuo naturally nodded in agreement. Once they reached the shore, the two continued toward the mountaintop. Halfway up, Ping Qi led Yan Chihuo into a valley dotted with many buildings. A man in blue robes came over and bowed to Ping Qi. "Elder Ping, you're back so soon. What can I do for you?"
Ping Qi said, "Shu Yuan, this is Yan Chihuo, the disciple I just took in. Arrange the formalities for him. His cave dwelling should be close to mine."
"Elder Ping has taken a disciple? That's wonderful news. Junior Brother Yan, come with me."
Ping Qi said, "Go with him. Come see me tomorrow."
Shu Yuan led Yan Chihuo into a small hall and gave him a set of blue robes and a token. Then he said, "These blue robes are our Cloud Soaring Sect's uniform. They aren't useful for much, but they never get dirty and don't need washing. This token is your identity token. With it, you can enter your cave dwelling and collect Jade Crystals."
Yan Chihuo asked, "What are Jade Crystals?"
Shu Yuan looked him over. "Looks like Junior Brother really is a hard-core cultivator. You've reached the Body Tempering Middle Stage and still don't know what Jade Crystals are. They're very useful in the cultivation world. You can use them to cultivate and restore your spiritual power, and many formations need Jade Crystals to function. More importantly, many high-grade materials in the cultivation world can only be traded for with Jade Crystals; silver won't do. They're the equivalent of silver in the mortal world."
Yan Chihuo asked, "They're that useful? I wonder how many I can collect."
"You're an inner disciple, so you can collect one low-grade Jade Crystal each month. If you want more, you'll have to complete sect missions."
Yan Chihuo grimaced inwardly. One a month seemed far too little. Then Shu Yuan added, "Outer disciples can only earn Jade Crystals by completing missions. Their strength is low, so the missions they can take are low-level, too. Earning Jade Crystals is extremely difficult for them, and most still have to rely on silver."
Yan Chihuo asked again, "Senior Brother said I can get one low-grade Jade Crystal each month. Does that mean there are different grades?"
"That's right. Jade Crystals come in low, middle, and high grades. One middle-grade Jade Crystal is worth ten low-grade ones, and one high-grade Jade Crystal is worth ten middle-grade ones. But our Cloud Soaring Sect only has low-grade Jade Crystals. You'll have to figure out how to get middle-grade ones yourself."
He added, "By the way, since you're an inner disciple, you can claim one Talisman Artifact for free. As for which one suits you, I think you should ask Elder Ping. Let me also show you where your cave dwelling is." As he spoke, he took out a blank sheet of paper made of some unknown material.
He pointed at the sheet. A layer of white mist swept over it, and a map appeared, complete with flowing streams, blowing wind, and lifelike mountains, caves, and trees—though all much smaller.
Shu Yuan pointed to a pavilion. "This is Elder Ping's residence." Then he pointed to the right. "There's a cave dwelling over there that's unoccupied. It's just right for you. I'll mark it here. When you get there, you can enter with your token."
"Thank you, Senior Brother Shu." Following the map, Yan Chihuo went to the cave dwelling. It wasn't large, but it was more than enough for him alone, and it came furnished with tables, chairs, a bed, and everything else he needed. Yan Chihuo hadn't reached the stage where he could go without food, so the cave even had cooking utensils.
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