Sour Chickens

That little Qi Refining Stage rookie was pretty good at flattery, but sweet words did nothing for him. "So you're not in the top ten. Are you buying or not?" No sooner had he finished speaking than he caught sight, from the corner of his eye, of the young man behind the boy.

How rare. The first place in the Preliminary Trial actually came to browse the market himself? Could he be here to show off his results?

"You two are friends?" Seeing them both nod, the disciple immediately said, "Since you're friends, why not have him pay for you? First place in the Preliminary Trial gets a ninety percent discount."

After all, anyone who could take first place at Yonglu Mountain would most likely become an Inner Sect disciple. Building goodwill with an Inner Sect disciple was no losing deal.

"What? How did you know he took first place in the Preliminary Trial, Senior Brother?"

The senior brother could not help rolling his eyes. "Anyone with eyes can tell at a glance. From the moment you two walked over here, I'm afraid everyone looked at you. Didn't you notice?"

Bian Chunchou thought, I thought they kept looking because there are no blind people in the Cultivation Realm.

"Is it because of the token?" Wen Xu had felt something the moment he entered, but he walked with his eyes closed. Perhaps because his Qi Sea had opened, he could now feel the currents in the air with exceptional clarity—the information carried by the wind. Even without seeing the world, he could still walk as normally as anyone else, unlike a blind man.

In other words, he had been too absorbed in exploring the pros and cons of pretending to be blind to pay attention to other people's stares.

"What else would it be? The tokens for the top ten are different. First place is especially distinctive. Forget Yonglu Mountain disciples—even ordinary cultivators who know the details can recognize it at a glance. As the saying goes, a tree that rises above the forest is battered by the wind. Those blessed with extraordinary talent are naturally meant to draw attention. If you do not even have the mindset to bear such honor, why fight for first place?"

So that was it. Still, Wen Xu-Xu had obtained the Fragrant Elixir King Grass, so taking first place was absolutely well deserved. Bian Chunchou was merely worried that his new friend had just come from the Mortal Realm. If others targeted him during the Mountain Examination because of his first-place result, things might not end well.

With that thought, he decided to lend all his Spirit Stones to his friend. After all, it was a ninety percent discount. Letting that fleece go unshorn would be intolerable to heaven's law.

Elder Zhan brought the Preliminary Trial rankings and the Fragrant Elixir King Grass back to the sect to report his mission. Because the Fragrant Elixir King Grass was so precious, he reported directly to Sect Master Gu Wufang. Of course, it was also because the sect master had been particularly concerned with recruiting new disciples this year.

"Someone actually picked the Fragrant Elixir King Grass this year? When did such an extraordinarily gifted person appear in the Cultivation Realm again?" Or was his luck simply exceptionally good?

"Reporting to Sect Master, this boy is named Wen Xu. He entered the Cloud-Breaking Secret Realm by accident from the Mortal Realm." Elder Zhan briefly described Wen Xu's origins, then said, "Though his Spiritual Root has yet to be tested, this boy's talent must be exceptional. Thus, I took the liberty of ranking him first."

This truly startled Gu Wufang, but surprise soon gave way to delight. "That is good as well. I am rather looking forward to his performance in the Mountain Examination."

"Wen Xu-Xu, don't listen. They're just malicious comments."

Bian Chunchou promptly pulled him into a secluded corner. Once the three days had passed, today would be the day of the Mountain Examination. Thanks to Wen Xu-Xu's first-place finish in the Preliminary Trial, most merchants in Langyuan City had opened their doors to him with friendliness. Cloud Immortal Pavilion, the city's finest inn, had even offered to lend them a superior room with a First-Rank Spirit-Gathering Formation free of charge. At the same time, however, there were many more sour chickens whispering behind their backs.

Yonglu Mountain was one of the great sects under heaven, and every recruitment drew countless eyes. Golden Cauldron Pavilion had even set aside a special news section to gather information on the future cultivation prodigies listed in the Preliminary Trial rankings of the Five Major Sects. For instance, some Aristocratic Clan might produce another genius, or some penniless nobody might rise like a strange army. Wen Xu belonged to the latter.

Three days ago, no one had heard the name Wen Xu. But now, at least in Langyuan City, even the city lord likely found the name somewhat familiar.

The Lineages and merchants doing business in the city were also very skilled at winning people over, offering all manner of discounts and preferential policies. If he had come from an Aristocratic Clan, he might have been too embarrassed to accept such benefits. But Wen Xu was not, nor was Old Scholar Wen, who had adopted him, particularly wealthy. He had understood long ago that compared to insubstantial reputation, what landed in one's hands was what truly mattered.

"I don't mind. Besides, didn't you say it yourself? These benefits are what I deserve." It should be said that this was mutually beneficial.

Bian Chunchou waved a hand. "Your temper is just too good. Deserved or not, forget it. There are simply people in this world who left their brains behind in their mothers' wombs and say things without thinking."

Wen Xu discovered that he could always hear all kinds of remarkably fresh methods of insulting people from his new friend. Very good—today, there was another new one.

"Actually, my temper isn't as good as you think." He simply had just arrived and did not wish to make too many enemies.

"Really?"

"Of course it's true."

Bian Chunchou: I don't believe you.jpg.

Bian was plainly covered in disbelief, but fortunately Wen Xu could not "see." The two of them continued their friendly conversation with remarkable smoothness. Of course, they had not spent these three days merely waiting around. Being able to stay in a room with a First-Rank Spirit-Gathering Formation was a first-time experience for both Bian Chunchou and Wen Xu.

Bian Chunchou had it somewhat better. After all, he already possessed the cultivation of the Third Layer of Qi Refining. Wen Xu, meanwhile, was truly a blank sheet of paper. The first time he circulated a celestial circuit, he had relied on the medicinal effects of a Qi-Replenishing Pill.

Now, seated upon the Spirit-Gathering Formation, even though he was not practicing any cultivation technique, he could still instinctively draw upon the abundant spiritual energy in the air. This spiritual energy slowly gathered around him, after which part of it entered his body. It flowed slowly along with his breath, eventually returning to his Qi Sea, then gradually rose back up from the Qi Sea. Repeating this cycle, it completed one Greater Celestial Circuit.

It was a very subtle sensation. For once, Wen Xu did not know how to describe it in words. Yet he was happy, exhilarated—it was a completely pure bodily instinct. His health had never been particularly good. Because of his childhood experiences and his daily hard studying, he fell ill whenever the seasons changed. Yet just now, he felt that all the hidden injuries within his body had been mended and soothed by spiritual energy.

From body to heart, from within to without, he felt comfortable everywhere.

And this was merely the beginning of cultivation.