Cultivation Method and Goals

Next.

Gu Jiu carried Yue Shuo's bundle and followed behind him.

After joining the children and youths from several nearby courtyards, Yue Shuo spotted two familiar boys.

When the two saw him, their eyes lit up as they hurried over.

"Yue Er!"

In an unfamiliar environment, although they had been treated well, the boys, all no older than ten or so, were still rather uneasy.

Seeing familiar faces.

Their moods relaxed greatly.

As he responded, Yue Shuo counted how many people on Little Hemmu Island had been found to possess Spiritual Roots this time.

Fourteen in total.

Each had a blue-clad servant following behind them.

They were mostly sturdy servants with brisk steps, each wearing a respectful expression and remaining deferential even toward these young children.

"More than a hundred of us came, but only the three of us passed..."

Zou Chongying, who had come from the town on Lesser Desolate Island, quietly said to Yue Shuo.

Tian Wan beside him added:

"Our island's passing rate was still the highest. I heard several thousand people came to this Ascension Assembly!"

Yue Shuo silently calculated.

That meant the Qin Clan controlled a population equivalent to at least dozens of Lesser Desolate Islands.

Of course,

Little Hemmu Island alone was probably more than ten times, perhaps even dozens of times, the size and population of Lesser Desolate Island.

It was difficult to calculate exactly how many people lived within the Qin Clan's territory.

As they spoke, three people flew over.

Azure radiance shone beneath their feet.

All three wore white robes, looking like immortals drifting through the air as they flew over.

To be honest, they were not as fast as Yue Shuo had imagined. Perhaps they were too focused on putting on a show and had not flown at full speed.

The three landed.

The leader was the middle-aged man who had tested Yue Shuo's Spiritual Root.

The other two looked much younger.

The middle-aged man's expression remained impassive, while the two younger men smiled faintly in satisfaction at the dozen or so people before them.

"You were all born Mortals under the protection of my Qin Clan."

"Now that Spiritual Roots have been detected in you, you have received the great grace of the main family and may enter the immortal path. Above, you must be loyal to the Lineage; below, protect the elders and common folk of your homeland! Build up a family estate and inheritance for yourselves and your kin, so that you do not betray the outstanding gifts Heaven has bestowed upon you!"

The children and youths were wildly excited.

Yue Shuo's calmness could not conceal his excitement either as he looked expectantly at the middle-aged man.

Unhurriedly, the middle-aged man continued:

"Little Hemmu Island's spiritual energy is scant. Spirit-Drawing Entry is difficult to cultivate here. By the main family's great grace, guest disciples are likewise granted the chance to cultivate on the main island!"

"But!

Those unable to achieve Spirit-Drawing Entry within one month, or reach Qi Refining Level One within one year, will lose their qualification to reside permanently on the main island!"

Seeing the nervous looks on the newcomers' faces, the middle-aged man sighed inwardly.

If it had been in the past, how could the conditions possibly have been so lenient?

Of course,

Even these sufficiently lenient conditions.

Were far too difficult for someone with a Five-Element Spirit Root to meet... He glanced at the Yue-surnamed child whose root he had tested.

Though Five-Element Spirit Roots also varied in strength.

Those born in a place like Lesser Desolate Island, where spiritual energy was nearly nonexistent.

Were Innately born with a lower total amount of Spiritual Root than those raised in areas with better spiritual energy.

Then it had to be divided among five types of Spiritual Roots.

To have even one root value exceed thirty percent, possessing cultivation efficiency half again as good as the lowest level, was already exceedingly rare.

But cultivation was like this. It depended far too much on talent.

Of course, comprehension could strengthen talent.

The middle-aged man did not dwell on it for long.

After saying some stock phrases, employing both favor and intimidation to give them a few warnings, then displaying a little artifact-riding flight technique.

He led the group of newcomers aboard a first-rank high-grade artifact ship docked outside.

The ship was already loaded with supplies.

But taking aboard another dozen or so children was nothing.

Next.

The speed at which the artifact ship traveled across the sea once again shocked the children, deepening their reverence for cultivation and for the Qin Clan.

Yue Shuo also experienced the speed of this seagoing vessel, which was as large as a steamship.

A natural look of envy and anticipation appeared in his eyes.

Taking this ship from Little Hemmu Island back to Lesser Desolate Island would probably take less than an hour, and it could provide ample defense at sea as well.

Yue Shuo maintained the image of an intelligent, quiet, poorly informed child from a desolate island.

Along the way, he spoke as little as possible and listened as much as he could.

He memorized some common knowledge.

Several hours later, they arrived at Hemu Island.

After disembarking, Yue Shuo immediately sensed an obvious difference. The fresh air carried a comfortable feeling that surpassed Little Hemmu Island's.

Of course, the difference was not too exaggerated.

The two young cultivators remained aboard to handle the supplies, while the middle-aged man led the children and youths to the entrance of a three-story wooden pavilion.

He had them raise their heads and remember the place:

"From now on, whether you cultivate and advance, or accept missions, submit items, and receive supplies, everything will be handled here!"

"Now, go in one by one to register, receive your cultivation method, and be assigned duties!"

"Of course, during this first year, you may choose not to accept any duties. You simply will not have the income that comes with a post. Food, lodging, and daily supplies will still be provided during the first year."

"Those who cannot read may come here every day for lessons over the next month."

"You may delay Spirit Induction by one month, but the total one-year limit for Qi Refining Level One will not change! All right, go in!"

After saying that.

The middle-aged man vanished in a flash.

The others were all bewildered. Only Yue Shuo had already gone to queue up, and he had just stepped onto the pavilion's entrance stairs.

"Come in!" someone called from inside.

Yue Shuo entered first in line.

Only then did the others imitate him and line up behind him. By then, Yue Shuo had already obediently walked inside.

There was only one person inside, an elderly man who looked quite spirited.

Yue Shuo stepped forward and bowed. The old man lazily nodded.

With a beckoning gesture, the black wooden token at Yue Shuo's waist flew into the old man's hand. He glanced at it, then slapped several booklets onto the table.

"Pick one. Oh, can you read?"

"Yes."

"Not bad."

The old man gave Yue Shuo another look.

Yue Shuo stepped forward and read the titles of the booklets. Then he carefully opened one and glanced at the old man.

Seeing no objection from him.

He quickly memorized the contents of the Origin Return Art in his hands, which was only around ten pages long.

Then he rapidly flipped through the other booklets as well.

He closed his eyes. Originally, he had merely intended to use this technique to deepen his memory, striving to memorize these short cultivation methods in one go.

But out of habit, he swept his gaze over the character attribute panel.

Under the cultivation method section.

Five flashing cultivation method names appeared.

He quickly opened one with a thought, and corresponding information appeared over the method's name.

[First-Rank Origin Return Art]

Cultivation Requirement: None

Cultivation speed -2 points per level, spiritual power limit +10%... At completion, Foundation Establishment breakthrough chance +30%.

Can activate: First-rank spell, "Origin Return Technique."

(Can restore one's own vitality and blood during battle)

Yue Shuo was overjoyed. A cultivation method that could increase breakthrough odds and restore health in battle—this was simply a divine skill.

However, he read it through once more from the beginning.

Cultivation speed minus two per level!?

At first glance, he had thought it added two points. It actually reduced it?

Yue Shuo: "..."

"Have you chosen yet?!" The old man urged lazily, though with clear impatience. "What is there for you to choose with a Five-Element Spirit Root!"

Yue Shuo did not mind his attitude.

He bowed deeply again. "May I ask this elder to offer me some guidance?"

The old man looked impatient.

But he still picked up two books, then took another one.

He asked, "Boy, do you cultivate because you want to earn more family wealth, because you want a long life, or because you want to roam the seas and fight?"