"That is what that fellow owes the Yan family."
The Yan Family Ancestor added this remark, leaving Yan Taibai deeply puzzled. He turned his head, his young face full of incomprehension as he looked toward Mr. Xuanye.
The other party did not clear up his confusion directly, instead leading him out of the attic.
Only after they had left the attic did Mr. Xuanye speak in a leisurely tone, answering the question that had just been on Yan Taibai's mind.
"The Ancestor has an elder sister who entered the Moon Masking Sect at around the same time as Elder Qiong of the Moon Masking Sect. Before reaching Foundation Establishment, they were even designated cultivation partners, having originally agreed to become formal mates once they achieved Foundation Establishment. Unfortunately, heaven does not always grant what mortals desire. Because of his temperament, Elder Qiong offended a high-tier demonic cultivator, which resulted in the two of them being hunted down. To stop that high-tier demonic cultivator, the Ancestor's sister ultimately met a tragic end and perished. Her soul was extracted and her spirit refined, denying her even the chance at reincarnation."
"Although Elder Qiong later killed that high-tier demonic cultivator, the Ancestor still harbors a bone-deep hatred for him. After all, the Ancestor's sister was the Ancestor's only surviving relative, having raised the Ancestor since childhood—much like your own little aunt."
"Under such circumstances, if you were in his shoes, would you hate that person to the bone?"
"Over the years, Elder Qiong has taken quite good care of the Yan family descendants within the Moon Masking Sect. His coming here today is, nine times out of ten, to take you as his disciple. After all, for many years now, he has been searching for a suitable successor. Yet because his standards are extremely proud, he has never found a disciple who caught his eye. Given your spiritual root aptitude, even with all his pickiness, you should satisfy his requirements."
"However, whether that is truly the case or not, we will only know for sure once we go over and see."
"Thank you, Sir, for clearing this up. Taibai understands."
Yan Taibai bowed respectfully and expressed his thanks.
I have to admit, this story is really full of clichés!
"Ha-ha! No need to thank me. This sort of matter is hardly a deep secret; given your status, you would have found out sooner or later anyway. It's nothing much."
"Of course, if that Elder Qiong truly takes you as his disciple, you should follow the Ancestor's instructions and simply agree. After all, the formless movement technique created by Elder Qiong himself is renowned throughout the entire Immortal Realm; even the various cultivation sects in the surrounding countries have long heard of its fame."
"If you are able to master it, it will be of immense benefit to you. This is also the reason the Ancestor has agreed to let you take him as your master. Even Nascent Soul cultivators covet this divine ability quite a bit."
The middle-aged Confucian scholar, Mr. Xuanye, said with a smiling expression.
"So that's how it is. Taibai understands."
Having heard the other's words, Yan Taibai once again bowed respectfully and impeccably.
"Mm, it is good that you understand. However, even if your master-apprenticeship is successful, you will not be able to enter the Moon Masking Sect to cultivate right away. You must at least reach the 10th Layer of Qi Condensation, and you will need to grow a bit older as well. The Moon Masking Sect is an immortal cultivation sect, not a family; no one will go out of their way to take care of your daily life. You will have to rely on yourself for all of that—no one is going to manage those things for you."
Mr. Xuanye reminded him once more.
"Understood! Taibai knows. That's fine too; this way, Taibai can spend more time reading in the family's Scripture Pavilion."
Upon hearing this, Yan Taibai actually felt a sense of relief.
After all, while the Moon Masking Sect did possess a Scripture Pavilion, it remained uncertain whether they would allow him to stay there to cultivate and read.
It fell far short of cultivating and reading within the Yan Family Fortress.
Until the progress value of his "Read Ten Thousand Books" trait was completed, he had no intention of entering the Moon Masking Sect to cultivate.
If he were unable to browse the scriptures and failed to complete the progress value for "Read Ten Thousand Books", it would become quite troublesome.
After all, he believed that this time, there were definitely good things waiting for him.
...
The Yan Family Fortress was massive; the population residing within its walls alone reached over a hundred thousand.
However, cultivators possessing spiritual roots were not numerous, though their proportion was still more than a hundred times greater than that of the outside mortal world—accounting for roughly one-tenth of the populace.
In contrast, while the outside mortal world was far more bustling and lively than the Yan Family Fortress, the probability of ordinary mortals possessing spiritual roots was merely one in a thousand, or even one in ten thousand.
Consequently, the Yan Family Fortress managed to boast a probability of one in tenth. Moreover, the majority of them possessed Yan family bloodlines; as for the outsiders from the mortal world who were taken in, the probability of them possessing spiritual roots was exceedingly rare.
Yet once someone possessed spiritual roots, they would be bestowed the surname "Yan" and granted the opportunity to wed the daughters of the Yan family as spouses or cultivation partners.
In this manner, a deep sense of belonging naturally arose toward the Yan Family Fortress.
Yan Taibai's ancestor was one such individual, which was why Yan Taibai did not share much direct blood relation with the Yan Family Ancestor.
Today, however, Yan Taibai had already become a core disciple of the Yan Family Fortress, receiving absolute attention from the entire fortress.
Once he grew a bit older and reached Foundation Establishment, the Yan Family Fortress would arrange for him to take a direct-line maiden from the Yan Family Ancestor's lineage as his cultivation partner.
It could be said that by then, the direct-line maidens of the Yan family would be his to choose from. Even if he were unwilling, he would still have to take one as a concubine.
This was what Mr. Xuanye had revealed to him bit by bit along the way, allowing him to prepare himself mentally.
After all, Yan Taibai still needed to rely on the resources of the Yan Family Fortress for his cultivation.
In return, the Yan Family Fortress would provide Yan Taibai with the finest cultivation environment and treatment, ensuring there would be no mistreatment whatsoever.
Even if Yan Taibai wished it, Mr. Xuanye could personally guide his cultivation; and should Mr. Xuanye lack the time, the Yan Family Fortress was not short of Foundation Establishment cultivators. Whenever Yan Taibai asked for instruction, they would undoubtedly share everything they knew without reservation.
This was the tremendous benefit brought by holding a Metal Heavenly Spiritual Root.
Naturally, once he achieved success in his cultivation, he would also be required to repay the Yan family.
That was only natural; Yan Taibai was no ungrateful ingrate.
However, the Yan Family Fortress was destined to defect to the Ghost Spirit Sect in the future.
Although Yan Taibai did not consider himself a good person, the Six Demonic Sects of the Immortal Realm truly possessed a rather poor reputation.
While the Yan Family Fortress and the Seven Sects of Yue Country were both somewhat unorthodox yet righteous, the vast majority of their cultivators and disciples ultimately did not slaughter the innocent at random, nor did they extract souls and refine venomous magical tools and magical treasures like demonic cultivators did.
Therefore, he still harbored a certain degree of repulsion toward the Yan Family Fortress eventually defecting to the Ghost Spirit Sect.
Yet if they did not defect to the Ghost Spirit Sect, given the strength of the Seven Sects of Yue Country, they would be utterly unable to block the invasion of the Six Demonic Sects. In the end, the Yan Family Fortress might even be forced to abandon their homeland—which paled in comparison to defecting to the Ghost Spirit Sect, only to later seize back control and supplant them.
However, all of this would need to be built upon the foundation of that young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect, Wang Chan, who had yet to appear or perhaps even be born.
Just as Yan Taibai's thoughts were wandering and his mind was running wild with speculations about his future path, Mr. Xuanye had already led him into the VIP grand hall of the Yan Family Fortress.
At this moment, three figures were already seated inside the hall—two women and a man. The male's appearance and image left much to be desired.
The leading man wore a blue robe patched in several places, sported a short head of hair only a few inches long, and had a washed-white cyan cloth pouch tucked at his waist, making him look as though he were someone who cared deeply about cleanliness.
Yet his face was covered in greasy grime, forming a large, blackened patch that obscured even his true features.
Clearly, this was none other than the legendary Elder Qiong of the Moon Masking Sect.
As for the other two women, they made Yan Taibai's eyes light up, joy welling across his face.