Chapter 6

A sharp wind whistled, caused by him excitedly throwing punches into the air. He had finally officially joined the immortal sect; from this moment on, he could consider himself half an immortal master. To truly become an immortal master, one had to enter the Qi Condensation 1st Layer and possess the magic power of a powerful steed!

Chapter 14: Two Neighbors

Perhaps the senior brother in charge of dormitory assignments knew that Yelin was highly regarded by the steward and Daoist Xuanling, as he had specifically assigned him a room with a window. Yelin also noticed that quite a few senior brothers and sisters in the sect seemed to have heard of him. The incident regarding the ambush by the Blood Shadow Cult must have caused quite a stir, known throughout the entire Taixuan Sect, and as the sole survivor, he naturally attracted a great deal of attention. Opening the window, Yelin could see the vast sea of clouds mid-way up Taixuan Peak, the various quaint and exquisite immortal-style buildings, and a plaza where senior brothers and sisters in Taixuan Sect robes were practicing sword techniques and fist arts. After admiring the scenery outside the window for a while, Yelin gently touched the silk quilt, something he had never come into contact with before. He felt incredibly comfortable, as if his very soul were trembling. As a slave, he had grown up only knowing coarse cloth. In the mortal world, only high-ranking officials and noblemen could afford to wear silk, and now, it was within his reach... It felt like a penniless beggar who had suddenly stumbled into a treasury filled with gold and jewels. Overcome with excitement, he dove headfirst into the bedding, pressing his face into the quilts, savoring the softness of the cotton and the faint, sweet scent of flowers and grass. Beyond that, Yelin curiously inspected every item in the dormitory, discovering that the quality was exceptionally high. The stools and chairs were not made from ordinary wood and were remarkably sturdy. Although they had clearly had many previous occupants, no one had left any marks on them. This was likely due to sect regulations; damaging furniture probably required paying full compensation. Half an hour later, Yelin's excitement had subsided slightly, and he was fully accustomed to his small dormitory. He even stepped out the door to look around for a while. This preparatory servant dormitory building had a full ten floors and was constructed from solid boulders and timber. To the mortal world, it was an unimaginable structure, but within the Taixuan Sect, it seemed quite commonplace. Yelin lived on the fifth floor. Opposite the preparatory servant dormitory building was another dormitory building, though it faced away from the one Yelin was in. Yelin could faintly see pretty young girls opening their windows to peer out in curiosity. It seemed the building opposite was a preparatory servant dormitory specifically for female cultivators. According to the senior brother’s introduction, the living quarters for official servants were much more spacious, usually located not far from their work sites. Every official servant had a separate house, and some even had their own courtyards. After all, the Taixuan Sect was a sect with tens of thousands of cultivators, covering an area larger than a major city of a million people; land resources were quite abundant. This filled Yelin with anticipation for his promotion to official servant. As Yelin stood at his door looking around curiously, a plump, fair-skinned boy of about thirteen with small eyes, dressed in silk and satin, emerged from the room to his left. The boy bowed to Yelin with a smile: "I am Wang Changsheng. My family runs a small business. From now on, we are neighbors; I hope we can look out for one another." Just then, another boy, handsome and cold-eyed, dressed in golden robes and looking about eleven or twelve, walked out from the room to his right. He also gave a slight cupped-hand salute to Yelin. "I am Song Lingtian. My family... is primarily engaged in government administration." Yelin was slightly taken aback. He sensed that both of these people were either wealthy or noble, and their backgrounds were far from simple. He smiled and returned the salute: "I am Yelin. My ancestors have all been servants; please excuse my background." Yelin did not hide his origins. After all, both the others had introduced themselves, and he was still wearing tattered, coarse cloth robes—one of which even had a small tear at the seat—so no one would believe him if he claimed to be from a wealthy family anyway. Moreover, in his view, once one became a Taixuan Sect disciple, no matter how noble one's mortal status was, everyone was equal now. If they looked down on him because of his background, Yelin would simply choose not to associate with them in the future. Hearing Yelin’s self-introduction, Wang Changsheng and Song Lingtian, who were in the middle of returning the salute, were both slightly stunned. They looked at Yelin deeply, their expressions perfectly synchronized. Instead of the contempt Yelin expected, they seemed rather surprised. What Yelin did not know was that the senior brother had assigned him to a zone reserved for scions of noble families—the most prestigious zone for such youths at that. That he, a man of the humblest slave origins, had been placed there made both Wang Changsheng and Song Lingtian feel that Yelin was someone not to be underestimated.At least within the Taixuan Sect, having connections was the only way to receive such special treatment.

Wang Changsheng seemed to know Song Lingtian; after a brief exchange of salutes, neither felt the need to introduce themselves.

Wang Changsheng laughed heartily. "Today at noon, I’ll be the host. I’m inviting both of you brothers to join me for a meal, so we can get to know each other better. That way, we can look out for one another within the sect."

Yelin was slightly taken aback. "A meal?"

Wang Changsheng chuckled. "Brother Yelin, did you think the Taixuan Sect only had the communal canteen? Here, as long as you have money—or more accurately, as long as you have Spirit Stones—you can enjoy a grand feast at the restaurants right here in the sect!"

As he spoke, a flash of spiritual light flickered in Wang Changsheng’s hand, revealing an oval-shaped piece of jade, the size of a fist. It was crystal clear and radiated a faint, deep blue glow.

Yelin keenly sensed that this piece of jade contained an abundant amount of spiritual energy. If one were to practice near it, the efficiency of absorbing spiritual energy while breathing and meditating would surely far exceed the norm.

This was the currency used by immortals: a Spirit Stone!

In the world of cultivation, Spirit Stones had an incredibly wide range of uses. Back on the flying boat, the Senior Sisters had taught Yelin a lesson: while Spirit Stones weren't omnipotent in the cultivation world, one could do absolutely nothing without them. They were essential for every step. Yet, earning them was no easy task.

The fact that an official handyman disciple only received a monthly stipend of two Spirit Stones showed just how precious they were. Yelin couldn't even begin to measure the value of a single Spirit Stone in terms of gold or silver. He even mused that the value of this one stone might be far greater than his own profound iron treasure sword.

That Wang Changsheng was so lavishly spending them made Yelin wonder: did his family really just run a "small business"? It was more like a "massive business."

The fact that Wang Changsheng was willing to spend Spirit Stones to treat him and Song Lingtian to a meal showed his sincere desire to build a friendship with them.

A pang of regret pricked at Yelin’s heart. *If you want to be friends, just say so! Give me the Spirit Stones to boost my cultivation, and we’ll be brothers for life... anything is negotiable.*

Of course, he couldn't say that out loud; it would make him seem too unsophisticated. Having been looked down upon since childhood, Yelin had finally risen to the heavens in one leap, and he certainly didn't want to feel that kind of contempt again.

Song Lingtian replied to Wang Changsheng calmly, "See you at noon, then."

With that, Song Lingtian closed his door, off to attend to who knows what.

It was only then that Yelin recalled that Song Lingtian’s family seemed to be involved in government administration. At first, he had been a bit confused—Yelin’s knowledge base was severely lacking—but now, thinking it over, it clicked. Government administration... wouldn't that mean royalty? This Song Lingtian was actually a prince of the Great Xuan Dynasty!

"Brother Yelin, see you at noon!" Wang Changsheng returned to his own small dormitory as well.

Following that, Yelin wandered around curiously for a moment before returning to his own quarters, where he closed the window and bolted the door.

A flash of spiritual light flickered between Yelin’s fingers, and the ancient, rustic Ancient Ring appeared once more.

In truth, Yelin’s main purpose in going out had been to scout the surroundings and confirm whether there were any high-level Taixuan Sect cultivators nearby. His success in rising to the heavens in one leap was primarily due to the contributions of Xiaobai and Xiaoqiang, and naturally, he wanted to share his joy with them.

However, the Taixuan Sect was teeming with cultivators. Yelin wasn't sure if releasing Xiaobai and Xiaoqiang would alert others to their demonic aura. If his concealment of demonic creatures were discovered, the Ancient Ring would be exposed as well.

Especially after realizing that both of his neighbors were such extraordinary individuals, he weighed his options carefully and ultimately abandoned the idea of releasing Xiaobai and Xiaoqiang for now. He understood now that in this world, a single wrong step could cost him his life—or lead to a fate worse than death.

Yelin stroked the Ancient Ring. "It’s a pity I can't share the joy of being accepted into the immortal sect with you... I don't even know if you're hungry."

Just then, a pleasant, soft, girl-like voice echoed in Yelin’s mind.

"Master... congratulations! You’ve become, you’ve become an immortal master!"

It was Xiaobai’s voice, still stuttering slightly as she spoke.

"Master, you, you don't have to worry. Here, our consumption while in a dormant state is extremely low. Even if we sleep for a hundred years, we won't starve to death..."

Immediately after, Yelin heard several joyful chirps. Clearly, Xiaoqiang’s consciousness had awakened as well, and it was expressing its own excitement and joy.

Being able to communicate mentally with Xiaobai and Xiaoqiang through the Ancient Ring filled Yelin with immense joy and excitement.

"Truly, this is worthy of being an heirloom of the Yelin family!"Yelin said, "Xiaoqiang, thank you for stepping in last time; otherwise, I would have already become a demonic evil's human cauldron—and an ugly one at that..." Chirp, chirp, chirp, chirp! Xiaoqiang seemed to reply, *Don't mention it, it was no trouble at all. Next time there's a good opportunity to bash someone's head in, remember to call me.* "Alright, I wonder when you'll actually be able to speak. You should learn how to make sounds from Xiaobai more often..." Chirp... Xiaobai said, "Well, Master should still be a bit careful usually. Xiaobai felt that Master was in danger and was very worried for Master..." Feeling the concern from Xiaobai and Xiaoqiang, Yelin felt a warmth bloom in his chest. "Don't worry, once I learn some basic knowledge and make sure there's no danger, I'll let you out early." Xiaobai said, "Master, Master actually doesn't need to rush. While sleeping, it seems we can wander through dreams, and in dreams, we comprehend some... some secret techniques. It shouldn't be long before Xiaobai can comprehend the insect clan secret technique for concealing auras!" Yelin's eyes lit up. So the Ancient Ring had this function as well; Xiaobai and Xiaoqiang could grow stronger while sleeping—that was simply fantastic. "Keep it up, both of you. Once I enter the Spirit Beast Peak, I should be able to keep you out in the open..." ... Just like every other day, Yelin chatted with Xiaobai and Xiaoqiang for a while about what he had seen and experienced, then let Xiaoqiang and Xiaobai continue sleeping so as not to disturb their comprehension of the insect clan secret technique. Yelin pondered for a moment, picked up a teacup from his dormitory, and with a thought, the teacup vanished from his hand. Closing his eyes, he could clearly see the teacup appearing in the barren desert where Xiaobai and Xiaoqiang were sleeping. "Just like a Qiankun Bag, it can store items!" This made Yelin's heart race frantically! You must know that the Qiankun Bag issued by the Taixuan Sect could only hold a small table; its space could be described as very cramped. Yet this barren desert was a full hundred meters wide and long—did this not mean that Yelin possessed a storage bag hundreds or thousands of times larger? However, he couldn't just store anything he wanted. Whether it was the Ancient Ring or a Qiankun Bag, putting items in consumed a certain amount of magical power, and the condition was that the item had to be held in one's hand. In other words, when an object was too large or too heavy, he might face a shortage of magical power, making it impossible to store it in the storage space. This was basic knowledge when using a Qiankun Bag. With another thought from Yelin, a flash of spiritual light flickered in his palm, and the exquisite porcelain teacup appeared in his hand once more. "It's a hundred times easier than letting Xiaoqiang or Xiaobai out, and it basically consumes almost no mental energy. Xiaoqiang's body isn't even a few times larger than this teacup, so why is the consumption so absurd..." Yelin couldn't help but complain inwardly. After confirming that the Ancient Ring possessed storage capabilities, Yelin felt more strongly than ever that the Ancient Ring was far more extraordinary than he had imagined. At first, he thought the Ancient Ring was just an ordinary celestial treasure; now he could basically confirm that it was an incredible celestial supreme treasure, one that could bring him mortal danger at any moment. This made him even more cautious, and over and over again he resolved never to expose the secret of the Ancient Ring to anyone. Afterward, he carried a large bucket of water to the floor's communal latrine, where vat after vat of clean water was provided for the disciples to wash up. Yelin drew a bucket of water, chose a small stall, and quickly washed his body and hair inside. After drying off with a brand-new towel provided in the dormitory, Yelin took out the light blue Daoist robe issued by the Taixuan Sect and put it on carefully. Yelin still remembered the senior brother who handed out the robes saying that this was a magical garment that mortal flames could not burn, water could not penetrate, and dust could not stain. However, his magical power was still insufficient right now, so he couldn't utilize those traits. Yelin came before an antique bronze mirror in the latrine. As the saying goes, clothes make the man. He was naturally heroic and handsome; even when wearing tattered coarse cloth clothes, he was quite favored by the senior sisters. After putting on the Taixuan Sect Daoist robe, his temperament underwent an even more drastic transformation. From Yelin, not a single trace of a lowly servant could be found. His gaze was resolute, his temperament steady, and coupled with the multiple pearls gifted by Xiaobai that had expelled the impurities from his body, his skin appeared smooth, flawless, and full of healthy vitality, devoid of any spots or blemishes. From the moment he stepped onto the flying boat, Yelin had completely cast off his identity as a servant. And from the moment he put on the Taixuan Sect robe, he completely shed his appearance as a servant! Yelin smiled at himself in the bronze mirror, then threw his coarse cloth clothes into the trash can in the latrine. Head held high, he strode out with unprecedented confidence, returning to his own small dormitory. Along the way, quite a few cultivators from the same dormitory clasped their fists to greet him, and he smiled and clasped his fists in return. Upon coming to the Taixuan Sect and feeling the goodwill of the people around him, Yelin's personality had undergone some obvious changes, making him somewhat willing to socialize despite his previously reclusive nature. Chapter 16: Taixuan Sect Rules Back in the dormitory, Yelin took out a thick stack of books; these books had all been given to him during the initiation process. Through three months of self-study and secretly learning from the private school of the Lin estate for a long time, Yelin's current knowledge level was still far inferior to that of aristocratic scions who had studied since childhood, but he knew the vast majority of common characters, understood most common terms, and had no major issues with reading. Without rushing to study them thoroughly one by one, he first opened the table of contents to get a general overview. The contents of the book titled *Taixuan Sect Rules* went without saying. Yelin directly found the rule regarding privately raising demons, devils, and ghosts without reporting them to the sect for registration, and after reading it, cold sweat broke out on his back. "Lightly, face a wall in reflection for half a year; heavily, have one's cultivation crippled and be expelled from the Taixuan Sect!" The book also recorded some interpretations of the rules. This particular rule was primarily aimed at cultivators below the Foundation Establishment stage; those at or above the Foundation Establishment stage were not restricted by it. Raising demons, devils, and ghosts, or driving them, was not uncommon even within righteous sects, but one had to register and report them properly, accept regular inspections by the sect, and follow regulated procedures for handling them. For example, one could not let the raised demons display ferocious behavior in front of mortals, so as not to ruin the image of the immortal sect and immortals; violators would be punished. For example, raised demons were not allowed to consume the flesh and blood of living poultry, as this would increase the ferocity of the demons; violators would be punished. As for raising them using the flesh and blood of living humans, that went without saying—they would be executed directly according to the standards of demonic sect disciples. The flesh and blood of corpses was also strictly forbidden to be consumed, though the punishment for that was slightly lighter. Additionally, the rules appended some of the hazards of losing control over raised demons. A certain disciple raised an extraterrestrial Heavenly Demon, only to end up bewitched and possessed by the Heavenly Demon, lurking in the sect for several years before being discovered by the Demon-Revealing Mirror and struck dead on the spot. A certain disciple raised a Flying Tiger, but due to lax management, the tiger's ferocity erupted, and it hunted down more than a dozen powerless reserve handymen in a single night. The tiger was struck dead on the spot, and the disciple had his cultivation crippled and was expelled from library—the Taixuan Sect. A certain disciple raised a Lustful Ghost, and was ultimately seduced by it, having his vital essence sucked dry and dying a miserable death. The Lustful Ghost was discovered and killed while trying to lure its next prey. ... One had to admit that although the Taixuan Sect had many rules, every single rule made sense. Most of them were strict rules established only after past precedents had caused disasters. Yelin did not resent this. After all, a country had its laws and a family had its rules. With such a massive sect numbering tens of thousands of people, and the Taixuan Sect also governing the Great Xuan Dynasty with its population of over a billion, without rules, things would have long since descended into chaos and perished. As for Yelin himself, he could only shake off the shackles of regulations when he became strong enough. The rules stated very clearly that Foundation Establishment cultivators were not bound by this particular regulation. Of course, this did not mean that the Taixuan Sect's Foundation Establishment cultivators could act lawlessly; there was a completely different, systematic set of rules governing their behavior. Yelin was extremely glad now that he hadn't rushed to release Xiaobai and Xiaoqiang; otherwise, once an incident occurred, not only would he come to a bad end, but Xiaobai and Xiaoqiang would likely be ruthlessly executed by the Taixuan Sect as well. Therefore, Yelin had gained yet another goal: to secure a proper, legitimate identity for Xiaobai and Xiaoqiang. Demons with official identities were protected by the Taixuan Sect rules, and even other disciples could not arbitrarily harm or kill them. Yelin flipped through more of the rulebook's contents and found that reading the rules could actually broaden one's horizons, as every single rule was followed by numerous practical case studies... "This book might as well be renamed *One Hundred and Eight Ways to Die for a Taixuan Sect Disciple*," Yelin muttered in complaint. There was still more than an hour left before noon. Yelin spent more than half an hour reading the sect rules and another short half-hour getting a general sense of the contents of the other books. Among them, the thickest and most content-rich book was none of other than *Seeking Dragon Mountains Chronicles*. This book contained far too many things; it was impossible for Yelin to read it in meticulous detail, so he could only leave it there to study slowly in the future. *Seeking Dragon Mountains Chronicles* introduced the landscape of immortal cultivation forces in the Seeking Dragon Mountains, provided a general map of the mountains, detailed common demons, ghosts, and spirits, common spiritual herbs, and ancient cultivator ruins, and even included various legends and stories. Yelin only flipped through the first few pages and learned that the Seeking Dragon Mountains did not belong solely to the Taixuan Sect, and that the Taixuan Sect was actually ranked third among the righteous sects.