The Method of Entering the Sect Early

After spending another half-day tidying up in the quiet room, Fang Shu no longer hesitated.

He leaped out of the well and excitedly went to find Du Yu'er, intending to compensate for the damaged rock wall in the quiet room and ask her where Lone Pavilion Master, as he had something to tell her.

"What? You broke the quiet room? How badly? Is it unusable now?"

Upon hearing this, Du Yu'er asked Fang Shu with a strange expression.

Fang Shu could only cough lightly. "It's usable, but it's a bit undignified."

Du Yu'er spread her hands. "The inner courtyard's meditation room is a very important place in our academy, and only inner courtyard disciples can enter and exit. If you really think that the meditation room has been damaged too much, then you can repair it yourself. Just ask the masters in the front courtyard for materials."

If you're too lazy to fix it, then just wait until the owner finds out, and then you can explain."

The other person paused, then added, "By the way, the sect leader is currently in seclusion, which has lasted for six or seven days. She is expected to emerge the day after tomorrow. You can find her in the council hall in the afternoon."

Fang Shu replied in a deep voice, "Yes, thank you, Yu'er Sister Yu'er."

After saying goodbye and leaving, Fang Shu hesitated for a moment, then returned to the quiet room to take another look.

He found that the quiet room was indeed too messy and dilapidated, and if the Lone Pavilion Master found out, it might lower his impression of the owner.

So he thought to himself, "Perfect, I have nothing else to do anyway. It's just adding bricks and stones outside the iron pillars."

This is not a difficult task for him now.

Afterwards, Fang Shu asked his second uncle to find someone to prepare thick, dark blue stones for him in the front yard.

He himself spent half a day carrying the stone into the courtyard, using his hands as knives to painstakingly attach it piece by piece to the walls of the meditation room, restoring it to its original state.

After finishing, Fang Shu looked at his neatly tidied quiet room and sighed with emotion:

"It seems we can't try this method again in the future."

We need to find a suitable place; otherwise, repairing it after it gets damaged will be quite a hassle.

Another day has passed.

The Lone Pavilion Master must have already left the pass, so Fang Shu hurriedly went to find him in the afternoon.

His purpose in going there was nothing more than to inform the other party that he had passed the tribulation of "Soft Bones, Crumbly Flesh" and officially become a second-tribulation Refining Essence Immortal.

Such a breakthrough in cultivation is a purely good thing, Fang Shu would not hide it from even his own master.

He secretly hoped that his master would give him some benefits in return for his hard work and rapid progress in cultivation.

With ulterior motives in mind, Fang Shu strode into the council hall.

Upon entering, he discovered that he was not the only one who had come today. There were others waiting in the council hall, who must have also been waiting for several days and knew that the Lone Pavilion Master had come out of seclusion today, so they came specifically to find out.

This person was none other than Qin Min, the most admired disciple with Spirit Root in the Solitary Gu Hall.

Qin Min seemed to have been talking with the Lone Pavilion Master for quite some time. When Fang Shu approached, he heard the owner speaking in a low voice:

"Yes, Master, I will study it carefully."

After a few brief words, the Lone Pavilion Master served tea and saw the guest out. "In that case, you may leave now."

After taking a sip of tea, the Lone Pavilion Master turned her gaze to Fang Shu, who was approaching. She didn't say anything, but simply gestured to Fang Shu with her eyes, implying that he should speak his mind.

Seeing this, Fang Shu spoke up decisively:

"Master, I have now passed through the second tribulation and have come to inquire about matters concerning cultivation to the third tribulation."

"Ahem." The Lone Pavilion Master didn't pay much attention at first, thinking that Fang Shu had some questions about cultivation. Thinking more broadly, she just assumed that Fang Shu was preparing to undergo his second tribulation and had come to ask about the key points of the tribulation.

To her surprise, her disciple passed the second tribulation without uttering a sound, which truly took her by surprise.

Not only was the Lone Pavilion Master taken aback, but Qin Min, who was walking towards the exit of the hall, also heard it.

The woman couldn't help but turn her head and glance back at Fang Shu, her eyes revealing a strange look.

Fang Shu, seeing the Lone Pavilion Master's surprise, calmly bowed with his hands clasped in greeting.

The next moment.

The Lone Pavilion Master suddenly stood up, came to Fang Shu's side, and extended his withered hand, gesturing for Fang Shu to lend a hand.

Fang Shu extended his hand as instructed.

Bang! Bang!

Their arms collided, and he took two blows from the Lone Pavilion Master before letting out a muffled groan and staggering back two steps.

"It seems it has indeed survived the second ordeal, and its condition is quite good."

The Lone Pavilion Master clicked his tongue and said, "What kind of Marrow Essence did you refine? It feels somewhat different from the Gu marrow in our establishment."

Fang Shu's answer was completely unvarnished:

"Master, I used the Lead Method Technique, with mercury as the medicine, to refine the White Mercury Marrow."

Upon hearing the words "White Mercury Marrow," the Lone Pavilion Master showed no surprise. He simply nodded, as if he had already guessed this and was merely confirming it aloud.

Faced with Fang Shu's practice of using Lead Method as the primary method and Insect Method as a supplementary method, the other party did not feel there was anything wrong with it, nor did they feel that Fang Shu's actions were suspected of deviating from the school's principles.

The Lone Pavilion Master even praised it:

"The Lead Method Refining Technique is quite dangerous and rare. If you can use this method to overcome your tribulation, and further supplement it with the toxicity of lead and mercury to obtain a White-Mercury Venom Marrow, the combination is quite wonderful."

She looked at Fang Shu with a smile, "Did you come up with this yourself, or did someone tell you?"

Fang Shu of the Insect Method and the Lead Method, and he was already thoroughly familiar with the contents of the first and second tribulations of both Cultivation Method. Naturally, this was a choice he made after careful consideration, not a random one.

"It was my own idea," he replied respectfully.

These words made the Lone Pavilion Master look at them with even greater appreciation:

"Your comprehension is truly remarkable; you are not bound by the Cultivation Method of this school and can independently discover their strengths and weaknesses."

After praising Fang Shu, the old woman then pondered for a Fang Shu and said:

"In about a year, you'll be able to overcome the first and second tribulations. If you put in a little more effort, you might be able to join the sect ahead of schedule next spring. At that time, you won't even be eighteen yet."

Fang Shu's expression shifted slightly, and he asked, "What does 'entering the sect ahead of schedule' mean?"

"This matter is also called the 'Spring Examination'," the Lone Pavilion Master explained with a smile.

In Guling Town, the way ordinary Daoist disciples, and even the scattered Immortal cultivator in the market, enter the Immortal Sect is to pass through the third tribulation and complete the Bandit Cultivator, so that their bodies are thoroughly tempered before they may be selected to enter the Immortal Sect to try their fortuitous opportunity in Refining Qi.

This is also the most common path; it's suitable for those under 18, under 25, and even under 35.

However, besides this method, there is another path to enter the sect, which is specifically designed for Daoist children under the age of eighteen.

Once a disciple has passed the third tribulation, regardless of when they passed it, they can participate in the selection competition.

Once successfully selected, the young disciples will be able to enter the Immortal Sect ahead of time for a study tour and cultivation that will last for more than three months, totaling one hundred days.

If the young disciple does not make much progress after one hundred days, he will be released and sent back down the mountain. He will then be allowed to rejoin the immortal Immortal Sect after he has completed the third Bandit Cultivator.

The Lone Pavilion Master spoke eloquently:

"Don't think three months is too short. Three months of cultivation within the Immortal Sect is equivalent to three years of cultivation at the foot of the mountain."

Therefore, although it was only three months, those who had joined the sect earlier, with the exception of a small number, basically did not leave the mountain to choose to rejoin the Immortal Sect.

After a pause, the Lone Pavilion Master continued:

"However, not all of those who did not return have achieved Refining Qi. Many, like ordinary Daoist disciples, either died on the path of Refining Qi or were too ashamed to descend the mountain to face their relatives and friends, and thus continued to suffer on the mountain."

Fang Shu understood and said as if he had grasped the meaning:

"Even if one has just passed the third tribulation, three months of cultivation within the Immortal Sect will be enough to reach the Perfection of Refining Essence. At that point, there will be no need to descend the mountain."

The Lone Pavilion Master gave Fang Shu an approving look. "Exactly."

Then she said with a hint of something:

"Such opportunities for the Spring Examination are usually held only once every two or three years, and a selection is only held after a batch has been gathered. You are not young anymore; if you miss this batch, you will have to take the conventional path to join the sect."

The old woman seemed to be openly or secretly encouraging Fang Shu to compete for the spot to enter the sect ahead of time.

This made Fang Shu wonder for a moment if, if he succeeded, the other party might also make a profit.

However, this early entry into the sect was indeed an opportunity for him!

Fang Shu voice:

"This disciple understands and will certainly continue to strive and cultivate diligently, hoping to participate in the Spring Examination and enter the sect ahead of schedule!"

"Excellent!" The Lone Pavilion Master looked pleased.

Her eyes were filled with anticipation and a look of great confidence, seemingly even more joyful than Fang Shu himself after Fang Shu breakthrough.

"Oh, right." Coming to his senses, the Lone Pavilion Master added:

"Since you have worked so hard, you must be rewarded. Go find Snake Master and choose something from his treasure vault."

Upon hearing this, Fang Shu finally showed joy.

Just as he expected, he was able to gain another benefit from this visit to his master.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries with the Lone Pavilion Master and listening to his teachings on cultivation, Fang Shu respectfully left the council hall.

As soon as he stepped out of the door, he walked briskly towards the basement of the Solitary Gu Hall to collect a valuable item.

But just then, a voice rang out in the hall, crisp and clear:

"Senior brother, please wait!"