Secrets of the Ritual

The reward for taking first place in the minor tournament was delivered to Shen Qingzhou's courtyard by a Steward Hall disciple early the next morning.

For the coming year, his monthly stipend of twenty low-grade spirit stones was directly doubled to forty, and he was also given three bottles of high-grade Qi-Refining Powder.

Besides that, there were two jade talismans.

One was a pass for the Sword Qi Well, allowing him to enter it at any time and cultivate there for three days. The Sword Qi Well was a peculiar place formed by the earth veins of Sword-Coming Peak, immensely beneficial to sword cultivators.

The other was a pass for the Inner Sect Sword Pavilion, allowing him to choose one mid-grade Qi Refining spell or sword art from within.

After Ahu learned of this, he was even more excited than Shen Qingzhou himself. He would probably be unable to resist boasting about it to three or five friends.

Shen Qingzhou put the items away, his expression unchanged.

To ordinary inner sect disciples, these resources were no small sum, enough to support several years of arduous cultivation. To him, however, they merely eased his pressing needs.

He was now at Qi Refining, Fifth Layer, and with the boost from his [Dao Strife] ability, his cultivation speed far surpassed that of ordinary people. His consumption of resources was likewise a bottomless pit.

Moreover, which of the profession fusions, talisman crafting, and sword art deductions on the panel did not require money?

These rewards had merely turned him from a penniless pauper into a pauper with a little spare money.

The title of champion would let him obtain more resources, while his status as Cloud Hermit's final disciple would shield him from quite a few troubles.

Just as he was considering how to convert these rewards into strength as quickly as possible, Su Yu's communication talisman transformed into a waterbird and landed on his shoulder.

"Master summons you. Come quickly."

Shen Qingzhou straightened his robes, gave Ahu a few instructions, then headed directly toward Cloud Hermit's courtyard in the back mountain.

The courtyard was as chilly and quiet as ever. Beneath the green plum tree, Cloud Hermit sat beside a stone table, personally boiling a pot of spring water. Su Yu was nowhere to be seen; presumably, after delivering the message, she had gone off somewhere to sleep again.

"Sit."

Cloud Hermit pointed at the stone stool across from him.

Shen Qingzhou sat as instructed and said nothing.

The spring water gurgled over the fire, sending up white steam.

"Aren't you curious why Li Changqing attacked you yesterday?" Cloud Hermit lifted the teapot and poured Shen Qingzhou a cup of hot tea.

"This disciple is slow-witted." Shen Qingzhou accepted the teacup. "I only felt that although that Sword Qi was sharp, it carried no intent to kill."

"You're not stupid after all."

Cloud Hermit smiled. "He wasn't trying to kill you. He was testing you."

At those words, Shen Qingzhou's hand holding the teacup paused.

Cloud Hermit spoke unhurriedly. "A tree that rises above the forest will surely be broken by the wind. The sect is not a solid slab of iron; more than one or two people have their eyes on you."

"Once this play was staged, those who wanted to lay hands on you would have to weigh their options."

Shen Qingzhou understood at once. This had been a show, performed for certain people to see.

"He's cunning enough. If I hadn't acted, he would have taken the chance to vent that boy's anger for him."

Cloud Hermit waved a hand. "You stepped on someone else to rise. Naturally, he was displeased. Matters within this sect are not so simple."

He took a sip of tea and continued, "Within Profound Heaven Sect, there are broadly two factions. One is the sect's mountain peaks, bound together by the inheritances of each peak, such as our Sword-Coming Peak, Cinnabar Glow Peak, Blackwater Peak, and so on. This is the foundation of the sect.

"The other is the aristocratic lineages, rooted in bloodlines. Their branches and roots are tangled throughout the sect, and their power is enormous."

"Tracing matters back to their source, when the sect was founded, it was not established by some patriarch opening a mountain and founding a school. Rather, it began as an alliance formed by several cultivation lineages joining together for mutual support. Among them, the Zhou Family's ancestor, Heavenly Balance True Lord, and the Sun Family's ancestor, Blazing Sun True Lord, possessed the highest cultivation. Only after they joined hands to consolidate the various forces did the rudimentary form of Profound Heaven Sect come into being."

Shen Qingzhou suddenly understood. So that was its history.

Cloud Hermit's tone carried a hint of emotion. "From its roots, the sect was built upon the lineages. Later, in pursuit of growth, it opened its gates wide and took in countless talented cultivators from humble backgrounds, growing ever more powerful. There was once a bold and visionary sect master who attempted to completely sever the lineages' monopoly and implement reforms, seeking to place the sect's authority entirely in the hands of the mountain peak inheritances rather than the lineages.

"Unfortunately, that reform was thunderous but brought only a few drops of rain. In the end, under the lineages' united resistance, it came to nothing. It only nominally established the status of the mountain peak inheritances, creating today's peculiar situation, where the sect and the lineages coexist while restraining one another.

"So, much of the time, their asses are still planted on the side of their lineages."

Shen Qingzhou secretly found it regrettable.

That sect master had possessed vision. What a pity...

"Within the sect today, the Zhou, Liu, and Sun Families are the most powerful. The Zhou and Sun Families need no introduction; they are founding elders of the sect, with foundations unfathomably deep. The Liu Family, meanwhile, rose abruptly several centuries ago. Their ancestor, Clearwave True Lord, burst onto the scene and, through his own strength, attained the Purple Palace realm, forcibly raising the Liu Family to a status equal to the Zhou and Sun clans. All three families have Purple Palace patriarchs overseeing them, their roots and branches intertwined everywhere."

Cloud Hermit's words gave Shen Qingzhou a clear understanding.

"This disciple understands."

"Good."

Cloud Hermit set down his teacup and said quietly, "You were born with a Kan-Water Fate, and you revealed that move during the minor tournament. They had long since fixed their eyes on you. Taking you as my final disciple today was meant to cut off their hopes in the open."

"In the future, you will inevitably have to choose a side."

Shen Qingzhou pressed his lips together, thoughts racing through his mind.

"You are now at Qi Refining, Fifth Layer. Your foundation is solid, and you have developed Sword Force. You are not far from the Late Qi Refining Stage. It is time to make plans for Foundation Establishment."

The words Foundation Establishment stirred Shen Qingzhou's heart as well.

Cloud Hermit said leisurely, "As a master, I am undoubtedly unqualified. I have not even done as much as Su Yu. There are some secrets I cannot tell you... I hope you do not resent me for it."

"There are three necessities for Foundation Establishment.

"First, spiritual resources. You will need a great quantity of spiritual materials from the Kan Water Lineage to refine your mana and condense your Dao foundation."

"Second, a method. You need a fundamental cultivation art capable of forging a Dao foundation. You can only find a way to obtain that yourself; following my old path would only harm you."

"The last is timing. The sect grand tournament is the best opportunity."

Cloud Hermit looked at him. "The sect grand tournament will be held in three years. If you can enter the top ten, you may be considered a Foundation Establishment seed and receive the treatment of a true disciple. It is far better than that of an inner sect disciple, and you can also obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill."

"There are four trials and three necessities in Foundation Establishment. Divine sense, physical body, mana, and Dao attainments—none can be lacking. There is no need to elaborate further here..."

Shen Qingzhou committed all these words to memory.

"Master," Shen Qingzhou asked, "why did you take me as your disciple?"

Cloud Hermit glanced at him. "Su Yu thinks highly of you. That is one reason. And then..."

He paused.

"Some of your understanding of Dao attainments is not rigid and inflexible."

"You possess some ability to break new ground and innovate," he assessed.

"Since the Heavenly River ran dry, the road ahead for the Kan Water Lineage has become difficult. But remember this: honor the ancients, but do not become shackled to the ancients."

There was an indescribable helplessness in his tone as he gave his final warning.

"The original path has already changed. As time passes, that change will only grow more severe. If you wish to advance further, you cannot continue walking the old road."

"However,"

A glimmer of life unexpectedly shone in Cloud Hermit's eyes.

"The Heavenly Dao is utterly impartial. Where there is loss, there must be gain."

"That gain is the Ritual."

"Ritual?" This was Shen Qingzhou's first time hearing the term.

"Yes. Before the Kan Water patriarch fell, he once gravely wounded the great power at the source of the Wèi Earth Tradition. This was the achievement of Earth Granary Sinking Current. That achievement was acknowledged by heaven and earth, becoming a unique authority imprinted within the laws of Kan Water. If later disciples can recreate certain fragments of the patriarch's achievement, they can stir resonance with heaven and earth and receive bestowed rewards. This is a Ritual."

"The improvements gained through a Ritual originate from heaven and earth. They perfectly fit the cultivator, carry no hidden consequences, and are immensely beneficial to cultivation."

"Unfortunately, after the Heavenly River ran dry, the methods for activating many Rituals were also lost and can no longer be reproduced. What I can tell you are only a few incomplete ideas."

Cloud Hermit extended a finger and drew a circle on the stone table.

"Kan Water spiritual resources are difficult to find, but the method of Rituals is unaffected. Yet it must correspond to the imagery of the tradition!"

"If you can explore a method of activating Rituals on your own, your cultivation speed will become even faster, greatly avoiding the effects of the tradition's decline."

Shen Qingzhou's heartbeat quickened by several beats.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master!" He rose once more and gave a solemn bow.

Cloud Hermit calmly accepted his bow, then took out a jade slip that was deep blue throughout and handed it over.

"This contains the subsequent cultivation method for the Abyss-Sinking Formula, as well as the few remaining spells of my Kan Water Lineage. It is enough for you to cultivate until before Foundation Establishment. Take it, and study it carefully. You may ask your senior sister about specific cultivation matters."

Shen Qingzhou accepted the jade slip with both hands and sent his divine sense into it.

A huge mass of information flooded into his mind: the sixth and seventh layers of the Abyss-Sinking Formula's subsequent methods... all the way to the Qi Refining Great Perfection realm, clear beyond compare.

Besides that, there was the complete Mirror Flower, Water Moon Art, Jade Well Purifying Radiance, Stars-Separated Unseen Sword, and several other spells and sword arts.

"Go."

Cloud Hermit waved a hand, closed his eyes again, and returned to that lazy, drowsy appearance. "Do not tarnish my name."

"This disciple obeys!"

Shen Qingzhou put away the jade slip, gave another deep bow, then turned and left the small courtyard.

His heart was surging with excitement. He had to hurry back, sort through his thoughts, and set new goals.