Eldest Senior Brother's Lecture

Azure Cloud Master was a responsible School Leader; that was beyond question.

But perhaps he had put all his talent points into Immortal Cultivation and excelled at nothing else, which was why the Azure Cloud Sect had ended up in its current state.

Now that the Azure Cloud Sect had gained more than eighty disciples with no arrangements made for them, how could he possibly settle his mind and enter seclusion?

So, he had actually been keeping watch over the changes in the Azure Cloud Sect, pondering what method he could use to resolve its predicament.

Though he had shouted that he would not interfere with Zhang Yang's reforms of the Azure Cloud Sect, if something went wrong, he would still have to step forward and solve it. No matter what, he was the School Leader of the Azure Cloud Sect.

The moment Zhang Yang returned to the Azure Cloud Sect, he noticed.

What he had not expected was that Zhang Yang had brought back so many spirit herbs and artifact-refining materials.

Even more unexpectedly, he had somehow brought back a great many Spirit Stones.

The next moment, he was furious.

Ten thousand Spirit Stones per person, and there was not even a mention of him?

The Azure Cloud Sect had been accustomed to poverty for all these years. They had never possessed so many Spirit Stones... Back when they had outfitted Zhang Yang with that set of equipment, several of them had racked their brains to exchange labor for it, without ever seeing a single Spirit Stone.

So, he immediately jumped out.

He needed Spirit Stones too!

"Master!" Zhang Yang was somewhat surprised. "Didn't you go into seclusion?"

He had truly thought Azure Cloud Master had entered seclusion, which was why he had not given him any Spirit Stones.

Besides, by the time Azure Cloud Master emerged from half a year of seclusion, the Azure Cloud Sect might no longer lack Spirit Stones.

Azure Cloud Master glared at Zhang Yang. "You still remember that I'm your master? Where are the Spirit Stones that belong to me?"

Zhang Yang laughed and took out ten thousand Spirit Stones for each person, handing them over one by one. Naturally, Azure Cloud Master was not left out.

"Master, and all you martial uncles, once you receive the Spirit Stones, hurry and improve your cultivation! In the end, our Azure Cloud Sect will still have to rely on all of you. But none of you should enter a dead seclusion, lest we need your help and cannot find you.

"I'll keep the excess Spirit Stones for now, since many places require expenditures. Once the Azure Cloud Sect's reforms are complete, we can discuss who will manage the accounts. Oh, right, Master, I accepted a registered disciple on your behalf. Since you have emerged from seclusion, how about meeting him tomorrow and passing down a cultivation method to him?" Zhang Yang looked at Azure Cloud Master.

Azure Cloud Master's smile froze.

He had only just gotten some Spirit Stones, and this unfilial disciple had found him another disciple?

Seeing the change in Azure Cloud Master's expression, Zhang Yang explained, "Rest assured, Master. You only need to meet him once and pass down a cultivation method. I'll arrange everything else."

Azure Cloud Master was relieved and nodded. "Then have him meet me in the Main Hall at the hour of the dragon tomorrow. Fine, now that we have Spirit Stones, everyone, go cultivate!"

After saying that, he was the first to leave.

The other members of the Azure Cloud Seven Sons also departed one after another, except for Ling Yunzi.

Zhang Yang was the last to leave. His residence was on Azure Cloud Peak; after all, he was the School Leader's disciple.

Upon returning to Azure Cloud Peak, Zhang Yang shut the door and took out Spirit Stones to cultivate as well.

With Spirit Stones, the efficiency was far greater than Qi Refining.

Zhang Yang looked inward at his Dantian and stared at the Golden Core, no bigger than a soybean. He continuously took out Spirit Stones, absorbing their spiritual energy to strengthen that Golden Core.

The spiritual energy within one Spirit Stone was equivalent to five days of all-out Qi Refining in the past.

"This is true Immortal Cultivation!" Zhang Yang smiled smugly.

The next morning, sunlight illuminated the Azure Cloud Sect's Main Hall.

The plaza outside the Main Hall was already filled with the Azure Cloud Sect's eighty-seven disciples.

Today was the first day of imparting cultivation methods. Everyone attached great importance to it and had arrived at Main Hall Plaza early.

Jiang Zhiqiu stood nearby.

At that moment, Jiang Zhiqiu was also somewhat uneasy.

Though Zhang Yang had agreed to let him join the Azure Cloud Sect, he had not truly joined it yet.

There was also another question: after joining the Azure Cloud Sect, would he truly receive an authentic cultivation-method inheritance?

Under everyone's gaze, figures drifted down from the various mountain peaks toward the Main Hall.

Watching them ride the wind as they arrived, the ordinary disciples' eyes lit up, their hearts surging like tidal waves.

In truth, even Jiang Zhiqiu felt somewhat excited.

The Azure Cloud Sect truly deserved to be called a sect with a long inheritance. It actually had so many experts whose cultivation he could not see through?

Azure Cloud Master and the others entered the Main Hall and took their seats. Zhang Yang instructed the many ordinary disciples, "Sit quietly and wait!"

He gestured for Jiang Zhiqiu to enter the Main Hall with him.

Everyone in the Main Hall looked refreshed and radiant today, their faces beaming with delight.

Clearly, after cultivating with Spirit Stones last night, they had all undergone considerable changes.

Seeing Jiang Zhiqiu enter, Azure Cloud Master said with a smile, "I have already heard Zhang Yang speak of you. I am willing to accept you as a registered disciple. Though you are my disciple, you will not yet be included among the disciples' ranks. Once you achieve results in cultivation, you may become a true disciple!"

If Zhang Yang had not accepted him on his behalf, he would never have taken Jiang Zhiqiu as a disciple.

He did not accept disciples lightly.

Jiang Zhiqiu bowed in a grand salute. "Jiang Zhiqiu pays respects to Master and to all martial uncles!"

Even as a registered disciple, he finally had someone to rely on.

Azure Cloud Master raised a hand, signaling Jiang Zhiqiu to rise, then said, "Your cultivation is somewhat higher than Zhang Yang's; you have already reached Golden Core Mid-Stage. However, Zhang Yang entered the sect before you, and he is also the Azure Cloud Sect's candidate for the next School Leader. You should still address him as Eldest Senior Brother.

"For any matter within the Azure Cloud Sect, you may seek him out. Later, have him take you to the Scripture Repository to find a secret manual suitable for you. But I must remind you: once you enter the Azure Cloud Sect, you must abide by the sect rules. Fellow disciples must care for one another and must not slaughter each other like brothers turning their blades upon one another. Otherwise, punishment will be severe!"

"This disciple will certainly abide by the sect rules!" Jiang Zhiqiu hurriedly said.

"Mm." Azure Cloud Master nodded. "If you have any questions about cultivation, you may come to Azure Cloud Peak to find me, or visit the other peaks to seek guidance from your other martial uncles. However, we will likely all be busy during this period, so come ask for instruction later!"

"Thank you, Master, and thank you, martial uncles!" Jiang Zhiqiu expressed his gratitude again.

After the entrance ceremony, Azure Cloud Master and the others left one after another to attend to their own affairs.

In fact, if Jiang Zhiqu had not entered the sect with prior cultivation, they would not even have appeared to meet him. Zhang Yang would have handled everything.

Now that they had Spirit Stones and all manner of resources, they naturally had to make use of them as quickly as possible to raise their cultivation.

After watching the elders leave, Jiang Zhiqiu turned to Zhang Yang. "Eldest Senior Brother, please take good care of me in the future!"

Zhang Yang nodded. "Let me first give those brats outside a lesson, then I'll take you to choose a cultivation method!"

"It's fine, Eldest Senior Brother. Attend to your work first!" Now that Jiang Zhiqiu had joined the Azure Cloud Sect, he naturally was not in a hurry.

When the people outside the Main Hall saw Zhang Yang emerge, they could not help but straighten their backs and wait for his lecture.

Zhang Yang swept his gaze over them and said seriously, "Not every sect accepts disciples without making any selection. You are very fortunate to have joined the Azure Cloud Sect at this particular moment. Do you know why?"

Everyone shook their heads. They knew nothing at all about cultivation.

Zhang Yang said sternly, "Immortal Cultivation requires talent! No matter how good the cultivation method or how abundant the resources, without talent, it is all in vain! What every sect tests is, in truth, cultivation talent.

"None of you underwent testing before entering the sect, so it cannot be ruled out that some of you lack the talent for cultivation.

"But I guarantee you this: no matter who you are, even if you possess no cultivation talent whatsoever, you may remain in the Azure Cloud Sect. Because the Azure Cloud Sect now needs people, and there will certainly be a place where you can put your strength to use."