Pang Dahai's Guidance

A moment later.

"You're an interesting kid." Pang Dahai had already pocketed the two chunks of ore.

Yu Xiaodie stood to one side, trembling with fear. Seeing that he was not only unangered but actually smiling so happily, she truly could not understand what this senior brother was thinking.

Having seen enough sincerity, Pang Dahai spoke frankly. "Cultivation is a lifelong matter. Therefore, in the early stages, cultivators should ideally determine their direction based on their Cultivation Attribute or talent. Of course, the talent I mean is not the cultivation talent you tested just now, but your own compatibility with a particular faction."

"Faction?" Lu Ye keenly caught the key point, somewhat puzzled. Wasn't he supposed to be guiding them in choosing a sect? Why had the subject turned to factions?

"That's right, factions!" Pang Dahai nodded. "The Nine Provinces Cultivation World once had all sorts of strange and peculiar factions, but not many survived in the end. There are only six main factions: Body Cultivators, who focus on the physical body; Weapon Cultivators, who fight in close quarters; Spell Cultivators, who study spells; Medical Cultivators, who hang pots to save the world; Ghost Cultivators, who commune with spirits and the netherworld; and External Cultivators, who excel at pill refinement, talisman drawing, formation setting, artifact forging, and all manner of external things. Of course, some smaller factions have also survived, but they are uncommon. If you have the chance to encounter them in the future, you will naturally learn of them."

"It could be said that these Six Major Factions encompass ninety-nine percent of the cultivators in the Nine Provinces Cultivation World and determine their cultivation paths. If you choose the right path, your future cultivation will naturally yield twice the result with half the effort. For example, someone born with immense strength and a sturdy physique should naturally take the path of a Body Cultivator. Or if someone is exceptionally gifted in spells, they should naturally follow the path of a Spell Cultivator. Some people do not enjoy fighting and killing, so they can refine pills or save lives. All are choices suited to oneself. That is why determining your faction is so important. Otherwise, if someone who wants Sword Control joins Hundred Flowers Valley, no one there will be able to teach them."

Pang Dahai gave them an unending introduction, and both Lu Ye and Yu Xiaodie nodded repeatedly. Even Yu Xiaodie had never heard this information before.

"According to what you've said, Senior Brother, different sects emphasize different factions?" Lu Ye vaguely understood what he meant.

"Did I say that?" Pang Dahai asked in surprise.

"Senior Brother just said that people from Hundred Flowers Valley do not teach swordsmanship."

"You are clever indeed." Pang Dahai gave Lu Ye an approving look. He had not expected him to infer something from his words alone. "Generally speaking, a sect cannot have only one faction. At minimum, there are two or three; at most, four or five, or even more. The Ten First-Rank Sects, for instance, basically possess every faction. Naturally, there are exceptions. The Northern Profound Sword Sect has only one Weapon Cultivator faction, and it is the most extreme kind among Weapon Cultivators." At the mention of the Northern Profound Sword Sect, the fat on Pang Dahai's face twitched involuntarily, as though he had recalled some unpleasant memory.

After a pause, he continued, "Although a sect is made up of several factions, there will always be different priorities. The lower a sect's rank, the more obvious this becomes, because they do not have enough energy or resources to let every faction advance side by side. Take Burning Moon Mountain, which is here this time. They mainly focus on Spell Cultivators and Pill Cultivators among the External Cultivators. The Spiritual Pills refined by Burning Moon Mountain's Pill Cultivators enjoy a great reputation throughout Soldier Province. Those with fire among the Five Elements will undoubtedly have a greater advantage if they wish to join Burning Moon Mountain, because fire-element Spiritual Power is needed when refining pills and forging artifacts."

As he spoke that final sentence, he glanced at Lu Ye. The implication could not have been clearer.

Lu Ye came to a realization. "So this is what Senior Brother meant before by using one's Cultivation Attribute to determine one's faction?"

"Exactly." Pang Dahai nodded. "Metal governs sharpness, and one can take the paths of Weapon Cultivator, Spell Cultivator, or Body Cultivator. Wood governs vitality, and one can take the paths of Body Cultivator, Medical Cultivator, Spell Cultivator, Pill Cultivator, or Formation Cultivator. Water is gentle and flexible, embracing all things, so no faction rejects it. Fire is violent and wild; aside from Medical Cultivators and Ghost Cultivators, it is compatible with every other faction. Earth is heavy and solid, making it best suited for Body Cultivators. So whichever path you wish to take in the future, you must not only consider your interests, but also your Cultivation Attribute. Mortals have a saying: men fear entering the wrong trade. The same holds true in the Cultivation World."

"Now that everyone has finished testing, someone will distribute some things to you shortly. They will determine whether you stay or leave, so choose carefully. If you wish to join a sect, it is best to find out which factions that sect emphasizes and whether those factions conflict with your Cultivation Attribute."

"I understand." Lu Ye nodded solemnly and cupped his fist. "Thank you, Senior Brother."

Although Pang Dahai seemed somewhat greedy and had taken two chunks of his ore, the things he had said were indeed not something one ordinarily heard. They were enough to offset the value of those two chunks of ore.

Pang Dahai waved a hand. "It's all common knowledge. You simply have had little contact with the outside world, so you did not know."

"I still have a question for Senior Brother. My attribute is primarily fire and secondarily metal. Which sect would be best for me to choose this time?"

"Hmm, you..." Pang Dahai sized him up from head to toe, then gave a strange laugh. "I feel like you have no chance no matter which one you choose."

Lu Ye's face immediately darkened like the bottom of a pot. "Then why did Senior Brother tell me so much just now?"

Pang Dahai was delighted beyond measure. "I heard there was a fellow with One Leaf Talent, so I came to see the oddity! Do you know that all these years, I've never seen a One Leaf... Hahaha!"

He laughed so hard that the fat all over his body trembled. Lu Ye desperately wanted to rush up and beat him to death!

He had no idea which bastard had spread news of his talent. Sure enough, good news never left the house, while bad news traveled a thousand miles.

Just as Lu Ye was about to lose his patience, Pang Dahai suddenly stopped laughing. Lowering his voice, he said to Lu Ye, "If I were you, I would set my expectations as low as possible and not be of two minds. Then... you might have a chance of getting what you wish for!"

Having said that, he turned to Yu Xiaodie with a smiling expression. "Little girl, is there anything you would like Senior Brother to advise you on?"

Yu Xiaodie could not have asked for more. She quickly said, "Which sect does Senior Brother think would be best for me to join?"

"Do you like fighting and killing?" Pang Dahai asked.

Yu Xiaodie shook her head like a rattle drum. What girl liked fighting and killing?

"Then go to Hundred Flowers Valley." Pang Dahai said, "Most people in Hundred Flowers Valley are Medical Cultivators. You will not need to go into battle and fight, and even if you are captured, you will not be treated too harshly."

"Hundred Flowers Valley..." Yu Xiaodie fell into thought, then bowed. "Thank you, Senior Brother."

Wood was the primary element among her Five Elements, making her well suited for Hundred Flowers Valley. Pang Dahai had clearly known this when he gave her that advice.

Pang Dahai left, leaving Lu Ye standing where he was in a foul mood.

Yu Xiaodie wanted to comfort him, but did not know how to begin. She simply changed the subject. "Senior Brother, there's something I don't understand."

"What?"

"Earlier, you offered Senior Brother Pang four chunks of ore and he did not want them. Why did he take them once you had removed two?"

Lu Ye casually explained, "In his eyes, those four stones were already his. People do not cherish what they possess; only after losing it do they know its value."

Yu Xiaodie fell into thought upon hearing this, feeling that it made a great deal of sense.

Of course, it was also related to the fact that the two chunks of ore Lu Ye had taken were not worth much. The truly valuable ones were the two he had left behind.