After listening to her fifth senior brother recount their master's past, Qiyue's heart was filled with grief. She deeply understood that while climbing from the depths of adversity to the peak of success was one thing, falling from that peak straight back to the bottom was an entirely different and unbearable experience.
Therefore, she silently resolved to give it her all, study diligently, and work hard to bring honor to her master.
"By the way, Fifth Senior Brother, what is this selection tournament actually about? Do we need to take an exam?"
Recalling the selection tournament mentioned by her master, Qiyue couldn't help feeling a bit anxious, as she had no idea how the selection process worked.
Song Yifan seemed to sense her concerns, smiled slightly, and reassured her, "Junior Sister, there's no need to worry. Actually, Master has already pre-selected you as a disciple, so you are naturally different from the others. However, the necessary procedures are still indispensable. Generally speaking, the selection tournament is primarily for testing spiritual roots. Based on the quality of their spiritual roots, the participants are divided into three groups. The most outstanding batch of moldable talents will undergo a brief training period before being assigned to various peaks as official disciples. Those with slightly lesser aptitudes will, after training, be classified as outer sect disciples, mainly responsible for handling daily chores and certain external affairs."
"And then?"
"And then? That's it!"
Seeing that her senior brother stopped there without continuing, Qiyue couldn't help asking in surprise, "Fifth Senior Brother, didn't you just say there were three groups? How come it stops after two?"
Song Yifan smiled and continued, "Because the spiritual roots of those in the third group are simply too poor, they can only be eliminated."
"Ah? No way! So there are eliminations after all?"
"Naturally. Some people have aptitudes so poor they're no different from ordinary mortals; although they managed to get up Qingtai Mountain through connections, it is very difficult for them to ever achieve the immortal Dao. Keeping them around serves no purpose and will only bring us unnecessary trouble!"
Hearing this, Qiyue couldn't help feeling a bit worried.
"Fifth Senior Brother, do you think... do you think I'll be assigned to the third group?" she asked, frowning with a worried expression.
Upon hearing this, Song Yifan was momentarily stunned. Looking at her nervous appearance, he reassured her, "I—I don't think so!" Then, thinking it over carefully, he remembered that his junior sister was the disciple Master had personally brought down the mountain to take in—something everyone on Qingtai Mountain knew. His heart settled, and he smiled with relief.
"Junior sister, don't worry. Right now, everyone on Qingtai Mountain knows you are the disciple Master took in. Even if your aptitude is a bit lacking, Master's promise is absolute and he would never go back on it. Besides, looking at how quick-witted, clever, and sharp you are, your aptitude certainly won't be bad at all."
"Re—really?" Qiyue asked, half-doubting.
Though she had no idea what her spiritual root was actually like, hearing her senior brother say this was, after all, deeply comforting and encouraging.
Her heart felt a bit more at ease, and she hoped her aptitude would live up to everyone's expectations.
After all, becoming an immortal cultivator had always been her dream; if she failed to achieve it due to her aptitude, it would be a profound regret.
Yet, with her senior brother's encouragement in this moment, she felt she had gained a bit more confidence and courage. No matter what, she would strive hard in her cultivation and endeavor to achieve something on the path of immortality.
"That's right, Fifth Senior Brother, shouldn't I have seven senior brothers? Aside from the sixth and seventh senior brothers who had matters to attend to and couldn't come, shouldn't there also be an eldest senior brother?" Qiyue asked, looking at Song Yifan in puzzlement.
At the mention of the eldest senior brother, Yan Siming, Song Yifan's expression instantly turned somewhat unnatural.
"He... he is that Yan Siming the third senior brother mentioned today." Song Yifan hesitated for a moment before answering.
"It's actually him?" Hearing this name, Qiyue couldn't help being startled, as she vaguely remembered the third senior brother cursing Yan Siming as an ingrate.
"Indeed, Junior Sister. Originally, the eldest senior brother was a disciple under Master just like the rest of us. But feeling that his progress in cultivation here was too slow, he later defected to Second Uncle-Master Daoist Qingyang's side. Strange as it may seem, not long after going over there, he broke through from Early Foundation Establishment to Mid Foundation Establishment," Song Yifan said with a sigh.
"I see... Then what levels are you all at now?" Qiyue continued, full of curiosity.
"On our side, Second and Third Senior Brothers have already reached the Early Foundation Establishment realm. Fourth Senior Brother and I are at Level 10 Qi Condensation, while Sixth and Seventh Junior Brothers are at Level 5 Qi Condensation. Strangely enough, we seem to be perpetually stuck at the Early Foundation Establishment bottleneck and unable to advance our cultivation any further. As for Master, although he is at Late Foundation Establishment, he has likewise remained stuck and unable to break through to a higher level. Because of this, many people whisper behind our backs, claiming that since Master himself cannot advance, he is deliberately holding us back to prevent us from making progress. However, we know Master's character inside out; he would never do such a thing." At this point, Song Yifan grew indignant, feeling a deep sense of grievance and injustice on Master's behalf.
They continued chatting for a while. Seeing that the sky was growing dark and realizing that it was ultimately improper for a young man and woman to stay alone in a room together for too long, Song Yifan proactively suggested returning to his quarters to rest.
As he reached the doorway, Song Yifan seemed to remember something important. He paused, reached into his storage pouch, and pulled out several jade slips.
He handed the jade slips to Qiyue and said softly, "Junior Sister, these are some of the rules of Qingtai Mountain along with the basics of immortal cultivation. You can look through them when you have free time; they will be helpful for what you do hereafter."
Qiyue gazed at the jade slips in her fifth senior brother's hand, but hesitated to reach out and take them. Her face gradually flushed, and she lowered her head shyly, her hands continuously twisting the hem of her tunic.
"F-Fifth Senior Brother, I don't know how to read!" Qiyue's voice was as soft as a mosquito's hum, tinged with embarrassment. Her gaze drifted restlessly, not daring to meet Song Yifan's eyes.
Song Yifan was momentarily taken aback, then dawned with realization. Before Qiyue was offered in sacrifice, she had merely been an ordinary herd girl; let alone her, probably very few people in her entire village knew how to read.
He slapped his forehead and laughed, "Ah, how could I have forgotten about that! It doesn't matter, Junior Sister, illiteracy does not affect our study of the immortal Dao. How about this: starting tonight, I'll set aside time every day to teach you how to read, and along the way, I can explain the contents of the jade slips."
Hearing this, Qiyue felt a surge of joy, and the flush on her face deepened. She raised her head, looked at Song Yifan with gratitude, and nodded in agreement.
Seeing Qiyue looking so happy, Song Yifan's own spirits lifted. He smiled and said, "Very well, Junior Sister, put the jade slips away for now.
We'll start our studies a bit later. I believe that as long as you work hard, you will surely grasp the knowledge of immortal cultivation." With that, he gently patted Qiyue's shoulder and turned to leave the room.
Qiyue carefully took the jade slips and tucked them safely into her bosom. Feeling her fifth senior brother's care and encouragement, her heart was filled with warmth and motivation. She silently resolved to study diligently and not let down her fifth senior brother's expectations.