Chapter 9

Host: Yan Taibai Gender: Male Age: Six years old Spiritual Root: Metal Heavenly Spiritual Root Cultivation Technique: Golden Firmament Spirit Art Realm: 11th Layer of Qi Condensation Spells: Golden Light Incantation, Golden Blade Light Beam, Golden Armor Body Protection. Magical Tools: Top-tier magical tool, Formless Golden Shadow Needle, Bone-Melting Treasure Fan. The former was a top-tier magical tool left behind by Old Man Qiong, an imitation of Old Man Qiong's natal magical treasure: the Formless Needle. The latter was a famous top-tier magical tool of the Yan Family. The poisonous mist it released would instantly dissolve skin and melt flesh upon the slightest contact, making it incomparably fierce. It was also a gift from Mr. Xuanye. Form: Childhood phase. [First Simulated Immortality complete: Reward Metal Heavenly Spiritual Root] [Second Simulated Immortality requirement: Read ten thousand books. Progress: Eighty percent]

This was Yan Taibai, his achievements over the past three years in Yan Family Fortress. Three years ago, after Old Man Qiong accepted him as a disciple, with the Yan Family's vigorous cultivation, it took him only three years to reach the 11th Layer of Qi Condensation, and the progress of [Read ten thousand books] had also reached eighty percent. This progress was not considered slow, especially in terms of cultivation. Although the Yan Family was said to be the number one immortal cultivation clan in Yue Country, they still lacked the ability to hand out medicinal pills like jellybeans for Yan Taibai to consume. Most of his cultivation resources came from Spirit Stones.

On the second floor of the Scripture Pavilion in Yan Family Fortress, looking at his simulated immortality panel, Yan Taibai shook his head and then put it away. At that moment, a tender, crisp, silver-bell-like voice rang out. "Brother Taibai, Yan'er has come to find you."

Yan Ruyan, Yan Taibai's fiancée, possessor of the Water Heavenly Spiritual Root. Two Heavenly Spiritual Root possessors in a single era meant that the Yan Family Fortress, already the top immortal cultivation clan of Yue Country, directly became the most sought-after immortal cultivation clan in all of Yue Country. To put it bluntly, as long as Yan Taibai and Yan Ruyan grew up, the entire Yan Family Fortress would have nothing to worry about for the next several centuries, with no need to fret over any matters whatsoever. The status of the number one immortal cultivation clan in Yue Country was also completely unshakeable. Naturally, without the slightest exception, they had become the "thorn in the side" of the Seven Sects of Yue Country. However, the Moon Masking Sect had already accepted both Yan Taibai and Yan Ruyan. Yan Taibai took Old Man Qiong as his master, and Yan Ruyan took Fairy Nishang as hers. Coupled with the fact that the Yan Family had quite a few high-ranking members in the Moon Masking Sect, they did not suffer much impact. And although the two of them had not yet officially entered the Moon Masking Sect for cultivation, their identities had already been locked in.

"Yan'er, is there something going on with the family again?" Yan Taibai left his room on the second floor of the Scripture Pavilion, and standing right outside the door was a little girl carved out of pink jade, exquisite and flawless, resembling a perfect porcelain doll. She was precisely Yan Taibai's fiancée: Yan Ruyan, the proud daughter of heaven of Yan Family Fortress. Yet she was currently just a little toddler who had just passed her third birthday. As for her spiritual root, it had already been tested the moment Yan Ruyan was born. Upon confirming that she was a Water Heavenly Spiritual Root, the more than 100,000 people up and down the entire Yan Family Fortress received an extra year's worth of monthly stipend. Whether they were cultivators or mortal laymen, it was all given in Spirit Stones. One could well imagine just how overjoyed the Yan Family Ancestor was. Compared to Yan Taibai, with whom he shared very little blood relation, the Yan Family Ancestor naturally valued Yan Ruyan much more. As for this engagement, it was originally made to win over Yan Taibai. Since both of them were Heavenly Spiritual Root possessors, it was even more fitting—a match made in heaven, you could say. It was only a pity that the two of them were far too young and neither had reached the Foundation Establishment stage, making it naturally impossible to hold a Daoist wedding ceremony.

By now, the scholarly aura about Yan Taibai—or what Mr. Xuanye called the Qi of Awe-Inspiring Righteousness—was growing increasingly dense, and his pair of eyes shone with a brilliant gleam, like pearls capable of illuminating and seeing through everything in the world. In the secular world, he would likely be mistaken for some kind of youthful prodigy.

However, Yan Taibai did not care much about these things. According to what Mr. Xuanye had said, he was indeed suited for cultivating "Confucian" techniques, taking the Qi of Awe-Inspiring Righteousness within him as his foundation, which, combined with his Metal Heavenly Spiritual Root aptitude, would surely allow him to progress by leaps and bounds. It was just that the Yan Family Fortress originally originated from the Ghost Spirit Sect and lacked the corresponding Confucian techniques; moreover, the drawbacks were something Yan Taibai simply could not accept. Namely, the cultivation techniques and divine abilities he would practice in the future would need to be bound by and dependent on the Qi of Awe-Inspiring Righteousness. In particular, if the Qi of Awe-Inspiring Righteousness were ever tainted, a severe drop in cultivation realm would be the least of his worries. Although cultivating the Qi of Awe-Inspiring Righteousness had numerous benefits, Yan Taibai could not accept this drawback. As for being suited to Slay Demons and Exorcise Evils— Ahem! Let us not forget what kind of background the Yan Family Fortress had. Therefore, let us forget about this Slay Demons and Exorcise Evils business!

"Ancestor said that someone from the Moon Masking Sect has arrived, saying you've reached the 11th Layer of Qi Condensation and want to take you to the Moon Masking Sect for cultivation. It just so happens that Master is the one who came." Yan Ruyan's crisp voice chirped away as she answered Yan Taibai's earlier question.

"Senior Sister Nishang? It is indeed time to go over." Hearing this, Yan Taibai was slightly startled, pulled Yan Ruyan straight into his arms, and said in a low voice. Although he was only six years old, perhaps due to the Yan Family Fortress's diet and the sheer excellence of the elixirs, he was no different from ordinary boys of eight, nine, or even eleven or twelve years old. Lifting up a little toddler like Yan Ruyan was more than effortless for him, and he was quite practiced at it, clearly not doing it for the first time. Yan Ruyan showed not the slightest bit of shyness; instead, her little face flushed red as she wrapped her arms around Yan Taibai's neck, brimming with joy. After all, she was already aware of her relationship with Yan Taibai, so no matter how intimate they were, nobody would say a word, nor would anyone dare to say anything. Nowadays, the two of them were the little ancestors of the Yan Family, and their status was extraordinary.

"Mm! Will Brother Taibai still come back to see Yan'er? I heard Mother say that Qi Condensation disciples of the Moon Masking Sect only get a single chance to go out every year." Yan Ruyan pouted her little mouth, full of dissatisfaction as she spoke in a soft whisper.

"Mm! I will definitely come back to see Yan'er. Yan'er must cultivate diligently too; once you break through to the 10th Layer of Qi Condensation, we'll both be able to cultivate in the Moon Masking Sect." Yan Taibai nodded and smiled lightly. As for this tiny "fiancée" Yan Ruyan, he naturally liked her dearly, but for now it was just a brother's affection for a sister. As for romance between a man and a woman, there was not an ounce of it. He only liked older sisters, such as Fairy Nishang.

"Mm-hmm, Yan'er has only just started cultivating, and the 10th Layer of Qi Condensation is still a long, long way off!" Hearing Yan Taibai's words, Yan Ruyan's little face filled with melancholy as she muttered softly.

"No matter, it's only a matter of time. Yan'er doesn't need to rush. Just cultivate at your own pace." Yan Taibai stroked Yan Ruyan's small head, comforting her gently.

However, he did not plan to leave Yan Family Fortress right away to cultivate in the Moon Masking Sect. He had only just finished reading the books on the second floor, and there were still the third, fourth, and fifth floors. It was just that the books and jade slips on the third floor required Yan Family disciples to advance to the Foundation Establishment stage before they could view them. It wasn't because the rules of Yan Family Fortress were overly strict, but rather that the contents within were unsuited for cultivators below the Foundation Establishment stage to peruse. Doing so could easily affect one's state of mind, leading to errors in cultivation or even Qi deviation, and that was no trivial matter. Yet Yan Taibai's status in Yan Family Fortress was extraordinary; as long as he submitted a request, the likelihood of being allowed to view them was not small. Naturally, if he still hadn't completed [Read ten thousand books] by then, he would simply have to go read places like the Scripture Pavilion of the Moon Masking Sect. Through the Foundation Establishment cultivators who had entered the Moon Masking Sect from Yan Family Fortress, he had already gained a relatively clear understanding of the sect. This way, he wouldn't be completely in the dark upon entering the Moon Masking Sect, knowing nothing at all.