Entering the Sect (Seeking Recommendations)

Whoosh!

Amid howling winds, a Green Leaf Boat tore through the clouds and sped toward the interior of Jade Island.

On the deck, Fang Qing gazed at the layer of green light shielding the dharma vessel. He could not feel the slightest wind blade against his face and could not help clicking his tongue in wonder.

A little tail followed behind him—it was Zhu'er.

It was now the third day after the Immortal Destiny Assembly.

The Azure Sea Sect disciples had given those spirit-root children who passed the test one day to settle their family affairs before setting off for the Azure Sea Sect's mountain gate.

The price of cultivation truly beggars belief.

Fang Qing sighed inwardly as he recalled what had happened the previous night. The moment word spread that Zhu'er and I had tested positive for spirit-root aptitude, Dahua Fishing Village immediately responded—Ruan Qi had already been sacrificed to the Sea Dragon King. They said his own father and brothers had done it themselves!

Of course... Zhu'er may have caused the greater stir. After all, her aptitude is high-grade.

He looked at the doll-like little girl behind him, and a faint smile touched his lips.

Zhu'er had naturally been terrified to leave her family and head for the sect. It was only natural that she clung to him, the only familiar person she had.

Thanks to that, he had also gained a little face before disciples such as Gong Susu, Wei Gutong, and Kan Zimeng.

"Little Sister Zhu'er."

At that moment, Gong Susu walked over. "We'll reach our sect's mountain gate soon... Of all the spirit-seeking envoys this time, I'm afraid few have done better than our group. That is all thanks to you."

"There are many spirit-seeking routes?"

Fang Qing was rather surprised.

"Of course. Our Azure Sea Sect has been guarded by Core Formation ancestors for generations, its might shaking all directions... Even those Foundation Establishment factions beyond the island send their direct descendants to our sect."

Gong Susu answered proudly, then gave Fang Qing a meaningful glance.

Clearly, Fang Qing's household registration was no secret, but the Azure Sea Sect did not care.

"Senior Sister Gong, Zhu'er and I still know little about cultivation... Could you perhaps clear up our confusion?"

Fang Qing cupped his fists and asked earnestly.

"Of course. I'll tell you all I know. Once you enter the sect, appropriate books will naturally be distributed, but I can tell you a little beforehand..."

Gong Susu considered for a moment, then said, "Heaven and earth contain spiritual qi. We cultivators possess spirit roots, allowing us to absorb spiritual qi and cultivate... Spirit roots are divided into different grades. For instance, Junior Brother Fang, yours can be called a Middle-Grade Water Spirit Root, while Junior Sister Zhu'er possesses a High-Grade Water Spirit Root... The better the spirit root, the faster one cultivates, and the less likely one is to encounter bottlenecks when breaking through in the future... As for the legendary Heaven-Grade Spirit Root, it is said that there are no bottlenecks at all before Core Formation."

"The stages of cultivation include Qi Refinement, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, and more... Great cultivators of the Nascent Soul Realm have long vanished from the Lesser Vast Sea. Core Formation cultivators are sect ancestors. Our sect has seven great inner islands, and every island lord is a great cultivator at Foundation Establishment Late Stage or above... If disciples like us can enter one island and rank among the True Disciples, we may have hope of Foundation Establishment in the future. Once one achieves Foundation Establishment, one may enjoy one hundred and eighty years of life. Core Formation ancestors live for five hundred years..."

After Gong Susu's explanation, Fang Qing finally gained a rough understanding of the Lesser Vast Sea Cultivation Realm and the Azure Sea Sect.

"Little Sister Zhu'er and I thank Senior Sister for clearing our confusion."

He thanked her sincerely, then asked, "However, the immortal path is fraught with hardship. I hope Senior Sister can point us through the maze."

This was actually rather crafty—he was essentially tying himself and Zhu'er together.

Gong Susu gave an unreadable smile and said, "After entering the sect, you will first pay respects to the ancestors and receive your disciple identity tokens and other miscellaneous items. Then you must choose cultivation arts... Most disciples begin in the outer sect or as menial workers before advancing to the inner sect and then becoming True Disciples. But Senior Sister has a path here that can let you directly enter Pill Island as inner sect disciples... Among the Hundred Arts of Immortality, minor paths such as talisman crafting have long been studied by Rogue Cultivators until they flood every street. Only great paths such as alchemy, artifact refinement, and formations can accumulate sufficient cultivation resources..."

Fang Qing summed it up. The rough meaning was that competition among Azure Sea Sect disciples was just as fierce. If one wanted to cultivate, one needed a skill to make a living.

Skills such as talisman drawing, spirit planting, and raising spirit beasts had too many competitors and had long become a sea of red.

Alchemy, artifact refinement, and formations, on the other hand, were high-value skills with high requirements... As long as one was willing to delve into them, one could earn vast amounts of Spirit Assets after producing results, aiding one's cultivation.

"Thank you, Senior Sister, for granting us this opportunity. Little Sister Zhu'er and I will certainly remember this favor."

Fang Qing hurriedly thanked her. Being able to learn alchemy was always a good thing.

Though he also knew that he was merely an addition to the bargain. The only one Gong Susu truly cared about was Zhu'er!

Rumble!

At that moment, the Green Leaf Boat arrived above a vast emerald lake.

The lake was like a mirror, deep and boundless. Countless flood dragons and serpents seemed to writhe beneath its surface.

At the center of the lake stood seven great islands arranged in a particular formation. Some were covered in magnificent gold and jade buildings, while others were veiled in a thin mist. It truly looked like a sacred immortal landscape.

"This is the Azure Sea Sect's mountain gate."

Gong Susu landed the flying boat upon a white jade plaza. She raised her chin, which was fairer and more delicate than the white jade itself. "Now... immortal seedlings with inferior aptitude will go to the outer sect for the entrance ceremony. Immortal seedlings with middle-grade aptitude should follow several senior brothers. Little Sister Zhu'er, wait here."

After Fang Qing and the other disciples had left, Gong Susu looked at the timid Zhu'er, and the smile on her face became ever gentler. "What do you think? That halfway brother of yours only wants to use you as a banner to ask for benefits... You must understand that after entering the sect, the only people you can truly rely on are your master and senior sisters... Also, your grandfather—I have already arranged for someone to fetch him. He will arrive a little later than us."

"Grandfather?"

Zhu'er's eyes immediately lit up. "As long as you bring my grandfather here, Sister, I'll agree to anything."

"Good, very good."

Gong Susu was overjoyed. She looked again at Fang Qing's retreating back, and her smile became increasingly playful. "Since I promised, I will naturally help you become an inner sect disciple and enter Pill Island... But alchemy is no easy matter. Especially at the beginning, ruining several batches of pills can bankrupt a household. You chose this yourself—it was not Senior Sister who set you up..."

"Middle-grade aptitude is not bad, but the odds of Foundation Establishment in the future may still be too low... Zhu'er, however, has considerable hope."

"Since that is so, I must make her even closer to me—and, while I'm at it, cut away her worldly ties!"

Fang Qing naturally had no idea that Gong Susu was badmouthing him behind his back.

He followed the group of middle-grade aptitude disciples to a great hall.

The hall was towering and majestic, with Qi Refinement disciples guarding both sides. It carried an air of solemn authority.

Three large characters were inscribed upon its plaque: "Vast Sea Hall."

Upon entering Vast Sea Hall, they saw several cultivators standing atop the steps. Each stood as deep and still as an abyss, as steady and imposing as a mountain. The disciples such as Kan Zimeng immediately bowed. "Greetings, Sect Leader and Elders..."

They then turned to the newly admitted disciples and said, "This is our sect's Sect Leader—Senior Uncle Linghu—as well as Elders Myriad Treasures and Heavenly Punishment... Why are you not quickly paying your respects?"

"Greetings, Sect Leader and Elders."

The disciples hurriedly followed suit and bowed.

"Enough... Your aptitudes are not poor. After entering the sect, you must cultivate diligently and not disappoint the path of cultivation..."

Sect Leader Linghu, dressed in blue robes with a lean and refined face, offered a few words of encouragement. He then had Elders Myriad Treasures and Heavenly Punishment lead the group of fledglings through the ceremony of taking a master, which mainly consisted of paying respects to the ancestral founder.

Within the enormous ancestral hall, rows upon rows of memorial tablets were arranged upward, and quite a few still glimmered with spiritual light.

At the very top hung a scroll painting.

The silk painting depicted a young man in blue robes, his face as fair as carved jade, his hands clasped behind his back as he faced the sea.

Within the sea, a vicious green flood dragon bowed its head in submission.

"Our sect's founding ancestor was the Azure Sea True Person. Back then... the True Person came to the Lesser Vast Sea and slew the Third-Order High-Grade vicious flood dragon that had stirred wind and waves. Only then did he establish the foundations of our Azure Sea Sect..."

Elder Myriad Treasures had a ruddy complexion and three wisps of long beard hanging naturally from his chin. He looked every bit like an enlightened immortal with white hair and a youthful face. After routinely praising the Azure Sea Sect's forebears, he finally said, "Every disciple of our sect may, after entering, use their identity token to collect one foundational cultivation art and several miscellaneous items from the Heavenly Books Pavilion on Myriad Treasures Island... In addition, you will receive one hundred Contribution Points. Cultivation and daily life within our Azure Sea Sect mostly consume Contribution Points, so you must use them carefully..."

After Elder Myriad Treasures came Elder Heavenly Punishment, whose expression was cold and stern, his authority apparent even without anger. "Our sect's rules contain seven great prohibitions and eighty-six articles. First, betraying one's master and exterminating one's ancestors. Second, fellow disciples slaughtering one another..."

Fang Qing listened attentively, but his gaze could not help drifting toward the painting of the Azure Sea Ancestor subduing the flood dragon.

To subdue a Third-Order High-Grade demon king, the Azure Sea Ancestor was likely at Core Formation perfection, wasn't he? I wonder whether he ever broke through to the Nascent Soul Realm and lived for a thousand years?

And if cultivators from here went to the Land of Ancient Shu, what would they be capable of? Could those Mid Qi Refinement and late-stage Qi Refinement disciples wipe out the Luo Family? Or would it take a great Foundation Establishment cultivator?

The complicated entrance ceremony lasted several hours before Fang Qing finally arrived by the lakeside with his welcome package.

This was where low-level disciples lived and cultivated. The spiritual qi was thin, inferior to that of the seven islands in the heart of the lake, but the area was exceptionally vast. Many Lakeside Manors had been built here, and even newly admitted disciples could receive an independent residence.

After entering the wooden house, Fang Qing first examined his newcomer's package.

Inside were an identity token, two sets of Azure Sea Sect blue uniforms, one bottle of Grain-Escaping Pills, a Green Leaf dharma artifact, and a refined steel dagger...

"These entry benefits are not bad."

Just as he was about to lie down and rest, he heard a knock at the door. When he went outside, he saw a graceful young woman standing there.

"Senior Brother, my name is Yu Taohua. I have a Middle-Grade Earth Spirit Root... We are both newly admitted disciples and neighbors. Senior Brother Hua Lianhua happens to be hosting a gathering. Would you be willing to honor us with your presence?"

The young woman smiled prettily as she extended the invitation.

"Senior Brother Hua? Of course I should go."

Fang Qing thought about it and agreed at once.

After arriving in a new environment, it was only natural for all sorts of little circles to spring up.

Even universities had hometown associations.

He followed Yu Taohua to a small pavilion and saw several newly admitted disciples already seated inside, along with a table of wine and dishes whose fragrance continually wafted through the air.

"To put together a table of fine wine and delicacies right after entering the sect, this Senior Brother Hua seems to have some connections..."

Fang Qing understood. The other party was displaying his own strength.