"Do I still need to have my Spiritual Root tested?"
At the sight of the Jade Orb, Ye Fei's expression changed.
Back in Hidden Dragon Village, the immortal from the Void-Surpassing Gate had used just such a Jade Orb to test his Spiritual Root.
"Oh? Have you had your Spiritual Root tested before?"
The beautiful woman asked with interest.
"N-no."
Ye Fei gave an awkward smile, his heart pounding.
He had concealed the truth perhaps because the unwillingness in his heart was stirring up trouble.
"Don't worry. I'm only testing your Spiritual Root to see whether you're suited to cultivation."
"With this Jade Plaque, I'll let you stay whether you have a Spiritual Root or not."
"Place your hand on the Jade Orb."
As though she had seen through his thoughts, the beautiful woman smiled calmly.
Then she pointed with a slender finger, and the Jade Orb flew in front of Ye Fei.
Her explanation put Ye Fei at ease, and he hurriedly placed his hand on the Jade Orb.
The Jade Orb was white all over and appeared unremarkable.
Yet once Ye Fei placed his palm against it, five lights-gold, green, blue, red, and yellow-began flashing in turn.
At first, the five lights flashed slowly, then faster and faster, until they abruptly froze.
When the lights settled, all five colors appeared on the Jade Orb at once.
Their proportions were exactly equal, with none galloping far ahead of the rest.
"A five-element mixed spirit root, and so evenly balanced..."
Looking at the result, the beautiful woman shook her head gently and gave Ye Fei a complicated look.
Unlike her, Ye Fei stared at the Jade Orb in astonishment.
When his Spiritual Root had been tested before, the Jade Orb had not lit up at all.
But today, the Jade Orb had actually lit up.
Although the test had revealed a Mixed Spiritual Root, having a Spiritual Root was entirely different from having none.
At the very least, he could cultivate now.
Before Ye Fei could rejoice, the beautiful woman sighed softly.
That immediately made him nervous.
"With your aptitude, you would ordinarily be unqualified to become my disciple. But in light of my promise back then, I will accept you as a nominal disciple."
"However, before you reach Foundation Establishment, you cannot cultivate here on Green Bamboo Peak. You must gain experience in the outer sect. Once you successfully reach Foundation Establishment, you may formally become my disciple."
"You needn't lose heart. Cultivation depends on opportunities and fortune. Even someone with a Mixed Spiritual Root has a chance of attaining the Great Dao."
The beautiful woman spoke slowly, her tone filled with encouragement for Ye Fei.
Hearing this, Ye Fei sighed inwardly.
How could he fail to understand what she meant?
But at that moment, he had no other choice.
"Your disciple, Ye Fei, pays his respects to Master."
Though unwilling to settle for this, Ye Fei did not hesitate. He knelt before the beautiful woman and performed the ceremony of accepting a master.
"Since you have accepted me as your master, give me that Jade Plaque."
After Ye Fei finished the ceremony, the beautiful woman spoke calmly.
With matters having come this far, Ye Fei could only reach into his robes and take out the purple Jade Plaque.
Looking at the plaque in his hand, he felt reluctant to part with it.
But he had no alternative and could only offer it to the beautiful woman.
Rather than reach out to take it, she curled a slender finger, and the Jade Plaque flew into her hand.
Once she had it, she put the Jade Plaque away immediately.
"Siyu, I'll leave the rest to you."
"Tell Li Zaitian to issue Ye Fei's monthly stipend at the rate for Inner Sect Disciples."
After giving these instructions to the girl beside her, the beautiful woman rose and walked toward her cave abode.
"Junior Brother Ye Fei, my name is Ning Siyu. From now on, you can call me Senior Sister Siyu."
Although Ning Siyu had witnessed everything that had just happened, she did not look down on Ye Fei and took the initiative to introduce herself.
"My respects, Senior Sister Siyu."
Ning Siyu's attitude warmed Ye Fei's heart, and he bowed to her.
"There's no need to be so polite, Junior Brother Ye. Let's head to Black Cloud Peak."
Seeing how courteous Ye Fei was, Ning Siyu hurriedly waved her hand.
She first glanced at the immortal crane by the cave entrance, seemingly recalling what had happened earlier, then gently shook her head.
Next, she touched her waist with a finger of her right hand. A flying sword flashed out of the storage pouch at her waist and settled before them.
The sword was about five feet long and a foot wide, leaving ample room for the two of them to stand.
After Ye Fei and the other person stepped onto the sword one after the other, Ning Siyu guided it down from Green Bamboo Peak.
Compared with the beautiful woman's ruyi scepter, the sword was noticeably slower. It was even somewhat slower than the immortal crane.
They flew for a full quarter of an hour before reaching the air above another peak.
Of all the peaks in the Free and Easy Gate, this one was the lowest, but it covered the largest area.
A huge square occupied its summit, with four two-story pavilions standing beside it.
Ning Siyu guided the sword to a stop in front of the leftmost pavilion.
"Reception Pavilion."
After stepping off the sword, Ye Fei looked up and saw the sign above the pavilion.
"Ah, Junior Sister Ning is here! Come in, come in."
Ning Siyu had just put away her sword when hearty laughter rang out from within.
Hearing that laughter, Ning Siyu smiled faintly and led Ye Fei inside.
The moment they crossed the threshold, an elderly man in green robes with a white beard came forward to greet them.
He was Li Zaitian, an outer sect elder of the Free and Easy Gate.
"My respects, Senior Brother Li."
At the sight of Li Zaitian, Ning Siyu promptly cupped her hands in a courteous salute.
Ye Fei followed her example and cupped his hands toward the elderly man as well.
"And this is?"
Seeing Ye Fei merely offer him a cupped-hand salute, the elderly man could not help looking surprised.
"Senior Brother Li, this is Ye Fei, the nominal disciple my master has just accepted."
"I've brought Junior Brother Ye here so you can make the necessary arrangements for him."
"Master said his cultivation is currently too low for him to cultivate on Green Bamboo Peak. Once he reaches Foundation Establishment here, he will be brought to Green Bamboo Peak."
Ning Siyu explained to Li Zaitian with a bright smile.
When he heard that Ye Fei was the Grand Supreme Elder's newly accepted nominal disciple, an unusual gleam flashed through Li Zaitian's eyes.
But he quickly recovered and said with a smile:
"So you're the new junior brother Martial Aunt Luo has accepted. Rest assured, Junior Sister Ning. With me here, everything will be properly arranged. I won't let our junior brother suffer the slightest mistreatment."
As he spoke, Li Zaitian looked Ye Fei over.
"Sorry for the trouble, Senior Brother Li. Master also said Junior Brother Ye's monthly stipend should be issued at the rate for Inner Sect Disciples for now."
Ning Siyu cupped her hands toward Li Zaitian again.
"Of course, of course!"
Li Zaitian smiled, nodded, and agreed.
"Here is this month's stipend, along with some things all newly admitted disciples receive. I'll give them to Junior Brother Ye now."
As he spoke, Li Zaitian touched his belt with his right hand. A wooden box about three feet long flew out of it toward Ye Fei.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Li."
Ye Fei hurriedly thanked him, took the wooden box, and hugged it tightly to his chest.
"You're too polite, Junior Brother Ye. Do you have any particular requirements for your cave abode?"
Li Zaitian smiled faintly and asked casually.
"Junior Brother Ye prefers quiet. Please find him a secluded cave abode, Senior Brother Li."
Before Ye Fei could answer, Ning Siyu spoke up.
"Since Junior Brother Ye prefers quiet, he can stay in Cave Abode Jia-3. Its location is excellent."
Li Zaitian gave Ning Siyu a surprised look. After a moment's thought, he touched his belt again, took out a green Jade Plaque, and offered it to Ye Fei.
Ye Fei hurried forward to accept the Jade Plaque as well.
The Jade Plaque was about two inches long and one inch wide, with the character "Jia" engraved on the front and the number "three" on the back.
After he accepted the Jade Plaque, the three exchanged a few more pleasantries before Ning Siyu led Ye Fei away.
"I'll take you to your lodgings first, Junior Brother."
In the square, Ning Siyu summoned her flying sword again and carried Ye Fei down from Black Cloud Peak.
Inside the Reception Pavilion, Li Zaitian watched Ye Fei and Ning Siyu's retreating figures, the smile gradually vanishing from his face.
Why has that woman chosen to accept a nominal disciple now?
And after accepting him, why leave him in the outer sect?
Could she have something else in mind?
Li Zaitian murmured to himself, his brows tightly furrowed.
With Ning Siyu guiding the way, they soon arrived before Cave Abode Jia-3.
The abode lay halfway up Black Cloud Peak, in a secluded spot with no other cave abodes within a hundred yards.
Not only that, but a sizable spirit field lay outside its entrance.
"This place is quite nice. Cultivate diligently here from now on, Junior Brother Ye."
Ning Siyu surveyed the surroundings and nodded in satisfaction.
"Thank you for looking after me, Senior Sister Siyu."
Setting the wooden box on the ground, Ye Fei bowed respectfully to Ning Siyu.
Seeing how well-behaved and courteous Ye Fei was, Ning Siyu smiled sweetly, offered him a milky-white Jade Plaque, and said:
"You're too polite, Junior Brother Ye. We belong to the same sect. There's no need for such formality."
"This is my Voice Transmission Jade Plaque. If anything comes up, just send me a message."
"Work hard at your cultivation, Junior Brother Ye. I'll be waiting for you on Green Bamboo Peak."
Once Ye Fei accepted the Jade Plaque, Ning Siyu did not linger. She immediately stepped onto her flying sword and left.
Watching her receding figure, Ye Fei silently bowed toward Ning Siyu once more. Only after she vanished from sight did he pick up the wooden box and enter his cave abode.
The abode had been carved into the mountain. It was fairly spacious, about thirty feet square.
Inside were three rooms: a sitting room, a bedroom, and a simple kitchen.
Tables, chairs, stools, pots, bowls, ladles-everything was provided. There was even half a sack of rice.
"I've finally joined the sect!"
Setting the wooden box on the sitting room table, Ye Fei let out a long breath.
Whatever else happened, he had finally succeeded in joining the Free and Easy Gate.
After resting briefly, Ye Fei turned his attention to the wooden box.
He was very curious about what exactly was inside.
Before you continue