Sour Grapes

That little Qi Refining rookie sure knew how to flatter, but sweet talk did nothing for him. "Looks like you're not in the top ten. Are you buying or not?" The moment he finished speaking, he caught sight of the young man behind the boy out of the corner of his eye.

Well, this was rare. The top scorer of the preliminary test had actually come to browse the market himself? Could he be here to show off his results?

"You're friends?" Seeing the two nod, the disciple immediately said, "Since you're friends, why not have him pay for you? The top scorer of the preliminary test gets a ninety-percent discount."

After all, anyone who could place first in Yonglu Mountain's examination would most likely become an inner disciple. Building goodwill with an inner disciple was no loss in this deal.

"What? Senior Brother, how did you know he came first in the preliminary test?"

This senior brother could not help rolling his eyes. "Anyone with eyes can tell at a glance. When you two walked over just now, I'm afraid everyone looked at you. Didn't you notice?"

Bian Chunchou thought, I thought everyone kept staring because there were no blind people in the cultivation world.

"Is it because of the token?" Wen Xu had sensed something the moment he entered. But walking with his eyes closed, perhaps because his Qi Sea had opened, he could now feel the surging currents in the air with exceptional clarity. The information carried by the wind meant that, even without seeing the world, he could still walk as normally as anyone else, not like a blind man at all.

In other words, he had been absorbed in exploring the pros and cons of pretending to be blind and had not paid attention to other people's gazes.

"What else could it be? The tokens of the top ten are different, and first place is the most distinctive of all. 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 will be battered by the wind. Those with outstanding talent are naturally meant to draw attention. If you do not even have the mindset to bear this honor, why fight for first place?"

So that was how it was. Still, Wen Xu had obtained the Fragrant Elixir King Grass, so he absolutely deserved first place. Bian Chunchou was simply a little worried. His new friend had only just arrived from the Mortal Realm; if his first-place result caused others to target him during the Mountain Examination, things might not go well.

Thinking of this, he decided to lend all his spirit stones to his friend. A ninety-percent discount, after all. Letting such a bargain slip away would be an outrage against heaven and earth.

Elder Zhan brought the preliminary test list and the Fragrant Elixir King Grass back to the sect to report on 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 especially concerned this year with recruiting new disciples.

"This year, someone actually picked the Fragrant Elixir King Grass? Since when had the cultivation world produced such a remarkably gifted person?" Or was his luck simply exceptionally good?

"Reporting to Sect Master, this youth is called Wen Xu. He accidentally entered the Cloud-Breaking Secret Realm from the Mortal Realm." Elder Zhan briefly described Wen Xu's origins, then added, "Though his spirit roots have yet to be tested, this child's talent must be exceptional. Thus, I presumptuously placed him first."

Gu Wufang was truly astonished now, but surprise quickly turned to delight. "That is all well and good. I am rather looking forward to his performance in the Mountain Examination."

Sour Grapes

"Wen Xu, don't listen. They're just sour remarks."

Bian Chunchou pulled him into a secluded corner. Three days had passed, and today was the day of the Mountain Examination. Thanks to Wen Xu's first-place result in the preliminary test, most businesses in Langyuan City had thrown open their doors in friendship. Cloud Immortal Pavilion, the city's finest inn, had even been willing to lend them a superior room with a First-Rank Spirit-Gathering Formation free of charge. At the same time, however, there were now plenty of jealous fools whispering behind their backs.

Yonglu Mountain was one of the great sects under heaven, and every recruitment drive drew countless eyes. Golden Cauldron Pavilion had even specially opened a news section to gather information on the future cultivation prodigies listed in the preliminary test rosters of the five great sects. For instance, some great Lineage might have produced another genius, or some penniless nobody might rise like a strange army from nowhere. Wen Xu belonged to the latter.

Three days ago, no one had heard the name Wen Xu. But now, at least in present-day Langyuan City, even the city lord probably 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 preferential policies. If he had come from a great Lineage, he might have been too embarrassed to accept such benefits. But Wen Xu was not, and Old Scholar Wen, who had raised him, was not particularly wealthy either. He had understood from an early age that compared to those illusory reputations, what was actually in one's hand was the most solid thing of all.

"I don't mind. Besides, didn't you say these benefits are what I deserve?" More accurately, it was a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Bian Chunchou waved a hand. "You're just too good-tempered. What's deserved is deserved, but... forget it. There are simply people in this world whose brains were left behind in their mothers' wombs before they were born, so they say things without putting them through their heads."

Wen Xu discovered that he could always hear all sorts of fresh new ways to insult people from his new friend. Very good. Today brought another new one.

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

"Really?"

"Of course it's true."

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

Bian practically had disbelief written all over his face, but fortunately Wen Xu "could not see." The two continued their friendly conversation with remarkable smoothness. Naturally, they had not spent the past three days simply 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 was better off, since he already possessed the cultivation of the third level of the Qi Refining Stage. Wen Xu, on the other hand, was truly a blank sheet of paper. The first time he circulated a celestial circuit, he had relied on the medicinal effect of a Qi-Replenishing Pill.

Now, sitting within the Spirit-Gathering Formation, even though he was not cultivating any particular technique, he could still instinctively draw upon the abundant spiritual energy in the air. That spiritual energy slowly gathered around him, and part of it then entered his body. It flowed gradually with his breath before finally returning to his Qi Sea, then rose slowly from the Qi Sea again. Repeating this cycle, it completed one Greater Celestial Circuit.

It was a very subtle sensation. For once, Wen Xu did not know how to put it into words. But he was happy, exhilarated—it was an entirely pure bodily instinct. His health had never been particularly good. Between his childhood experiences and his daily studies, he would fall ill whenever the seasons changed. Yet just now, he felt that every hidden injury within his body had been repaired 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.