Yun Jizi swept his large sleeve, gathering all thirty-two people into it, then he soared into the sky and flew towards the depths of the mountain range.
Lin Ping'an and the others felt a sudden darkness before their eyes, as if they had entered a small, confined space.
Crowded together, everyone felt a wave of dizziness and disorientation.
But in the blink of an eye, the world shifted, and they found themselves in a huge underground stone chamber.
Spiritual Qi permeated the air, white mist swirled, and a damp Aura filled the space.
Everyone simply felt the air here was incredibly fresh, with a slightly intoxicating sensation.
"These are Cultivation Techniques; you are to Cultivate according to the guidance within. I will come to fetch you in ten days!" With a wave of Yun Jizi's hand, a scroll of scripture appeared in the hands of all thirty-two people.
Lin Ping'an saw the words "Xuan Yuan Art" written on it.
Lin Ping'an, Zhou Mingxuan, and Tang Yurou exchanged glances, said nothing more, and immediately sat cross-legged according to the descriptions in the scripture.
Many people understood the solemnity in Yun Jizi's words and began to Cultivate.
Even the Ninth Prince and the young eunuch, at this moment, did not dare to speak much.
This was also why the Xuan Yuan Sect chose Disciples from the elite population of the Da Yu Dynasty; their Family foundations were deep, and Cultivation scriptures were not difficult for them to understand.
If they were to recruit Disciples directly from external villages, ninety-nine percent of the children would be illiterate.
After arriving at the Sect, if they were expected to Cultivate independently, someone would still need to help them recognize characters and explain the meaning of the scriptures to them.
This delay would take a year or even half a year.
Only when the Sect had truly established itself in this land would they then go out to seek Genius youths and lead them onto the path of Cultivation.
Lin Ping'an was extremely intelligent; those seemingly obscure and difficult-to-understand scriptures were not a problem for him.
The Xuan Yuan Art was the most basic method for absorbing Spiritual Qi, and also the introductory chapter of the Xuan Yuan Sect's fundamental Cultivation Technique, the Xuan Yuan Sutra.
Following the Cultivation Technique described in the scripture, Lin Ping'an quickly entered a state of Cultivation.
The Spiritual Qi, which had transformed into mist around him, entered his body with his breathing, and Lin Ping'an immediately felt comfortable all over, as if he had immersed himself in a hot spring.
However, as the Spiritual Qi circulated within his body, he discovered that it was gradually disappearing.
And what ultimately remained in his body was less than one-tenth of what he had absorbed.
"What's going on? This shouldn't be happening!" Lin Ping'an immediately felt that something was wrong; according to the records of the Xuan Yuan Art, there was no such situation.
The second time, the third time, it was still the same!
Soon, he also discovered that each time the Spiritual Qi circulated to his chest, it began to rapidly decrease.
"Could it be the copper coin at work?" Lin Ping'an took the copper coin from his neck and held it in his hand.
Sure enough, this time, when the Spiritual Qi reached his palm, it rapidly decreased.
"This... what exactly is going on? How can the copper coin absorb my Spiritual Qi? What does it want to do? Is this an evil treasure?"
Thinking of this, Lin Ping'an even wanted to throw the copper coin away.
But just as he had this thought, the copper coin suddenly disappeared.
"How is that possible!"
He almost cried out in surprise, because he felt as if a living thing had appeared inside his body, constantly moving around within him.
The copper coin circulated once inside his body and finally entered his lower abdomen.
The tiny bit of Spiritual Qi he had just absorbed was also gradually decreasing at this time; the copper coin seemed to be using this method to warn him.
Lin Ping'an was extremely anxious, practically regretting it so much that his guts turned green.
If he had known this earlier, he would have rather obediently offered up ninety percent of his Spiritual Qi; even one percent he could slowly accumulate.
He didn't expect the copper coin to know his thoughts; what should he do now?
I'm sorry, it was my fault, please come out quickly!
Lin Ping'an thought to himself.
The copper coin seemed to have truly heard his thoughts and reappeared on his neck.
Lin Ping'an knew the seriousness of the situation and no longer dared to harbor resentment, beginning to desperately absorb Spiritual Qi to Cultivate.
He was like a long-term laborer for a landlord, diligently absorbing Spiritual Qi; one-tenth belonged to him, while the other ninety percent was all absorbed by the copper coin.
Ten days later.
Lin Ping'an's cultivation broke through to the first level of Qi Condensation.
He felt that his body had grown much taller and stronger, and at this time, his body was full of strength.
There was a stream of Spiritual Qi, as thick as a chopstick, circulating within his body; this was the result of his ten days of Cultivation.
If it weren't for the copper coin... Lin Ping'an felt that he could have at least broken through to the fourth level of the Qi Condensation Realm.
It's a pity that so much Spiritual Qi was absorbed by the copper coin!
"Alright! Time's up!"
A voice entered everyone's ears, waking them directly from their Cultivation.
Yun Jizi's tall figure appeared in the stone chamber.
As soon as everyone woke up, they looked at the people around them.
Youngsters all have curiosity and a desire to compare.
"Haha! This Prince is at the third level of Qi Condensation! Who among you is higher than me!" As soon as the Ninth Prince opened his eyes, he laughed excitedly.
The young eunuch was startled; he thought he had done well to Cultivate to the second level of Qi Condensation, but he didn't expect the Ninth Prince to still be ahead of him.
"Your Highness is a born Martial Lord; who can compare to you!" The young eunuch quickly bowed and flattered him profusely.
Saying a few good words and flattering a few times wouldn't cost him a piece of flesh; the young eunuch had served in the palace for seven years and deeply understood this principle.
"Hmm! You're not bad either! You truly are this Prince's person!" The Ninth Prince was incredibly proud, patting the young eunuch's shoulder.
"What's there to be so Divine Qi about? This Young Miss is also at the third level of Qi Condensation!" Tang Yurou raised her head at this moment, looking at the Ninth Prince, her face full of pride.
"Miss Tang's talent, reaching the third level is normal!" Immediately, a few people around approached, speaking up for Tang Yurou and showing her favor.
"Yurou, why quarrel with this Prince? Let's join forces! The strongest talents, a powerful alliance; eventually, the Xuan Yuan Sect will be ours!"
"Hmph! Who's joining forces with you! And 'ours'... This is the Xuan Yuan Sect, not the Da Yu Dynasty!" Tang Yurou snorted coldly.
"It seems my talent is really poor!" Zhou Mingxuan sighed at this moment.
Everyone else was at the third level, while he had barely entered the first; the difference was not ordinary.
Only now did he truly understand how much the difference in talent would affect their future Cultivation.
One step behind, and ten steps unseen.
"Don't be discouraged, I'm also at the first level! We can be companions from now on!" Although Lin Ping'an felt bitter, he ultimately knew that his talent was actually better than everyone else's, so he wasn't disheartened.
He believed that as long as the copper coin no longer absorbed his Spiritual Qi, his Cultivation speed would definitely advance by leaps and bounds.
Yun Jizi's gaze swept over them, and his eyes immediately lit up.
Among the thirty-two people present, two had advanced to the third level of Qi Condensation, two had advanced to the second level of Qi Condensation, and the rest had all reached the first level of Qi Condensation.
This was both unexpected and within expectations.
"Hmm? How is it that Lin Ping'an, with the miscellaneous Spiritual Root, is only at the first level of Qi Condensation? This shouldn't be!" When Yun Jizi's gaze fell on Lin Ping'an, he couldn't help but be surprised.
He had monitored the cultivation chamber before, and the other party had also been Cultivating with full effort, and the absorbed Spiritual Qi was also very abundant.
But why was he only at the first level of Qi Condensation? What went wrong here?
However, he didn't waste words; this cultivation chamber was too precious, and several Elders were still waiting in line.
With a sweep of his large sleeve, he led everyone to the front of a grand hall.
At this moment, many Lords had already gathered in front of the hall.
Two old men sat in front of the grand hall; one had kind eyes and a benevolent smile, while the other had a majestic Aura and an expressionless face.
Their Aura was powerful, like a vast ocean, giving people an indescribable and powerful pressure.
The Xuan Yuan Sect Sect Master, dressed in a purple robe, was also present; although he was the Sect Master, both his seniority and cultivation were below these two old men, so he did not overstep.
"They're here! They're here!" The kind-eyed old man was precisely the Second Elder; when he saw the thirty-two Disciples appear, his face immediately filled with anticipation as he scanned them.
Upon seeing this, his expression immediately changed.
The young man he wanted to take as a Disciple... was actually only at the first level of Qi Condensation.
"Yun Jizi!" The Second Elder looked at Yun Jizi.
"Junior Martial Uncle, he did not slack off; perhaps... perhaps..." Yun Jizi perhaps-ed for a long time without saying the rest of his sentence.
With a wave of the Second Elder's hand, Lin Ping'an's body involuntarily flew towards him.
The Second Elder grasped Lin Ping'an's wrist, and a surge of magical power poured into his body.
"This is impossible!" The Second Elder's face was filled with disbelief.
Most of his magical power that entered Lin Ping'an's body inexplicably dissipated, with less than one-tenth remaining.
"Junior Brother, what's wrong?" The Grand Elder, with his stern expression, frowned slightly.
"Senior Brother, come and see!" The Second Elder sent Lin Ping'an over.
The Grand Elder did the same, and then his expression also turned gloomy.
"What a pity! A piece of beautiful jade and good talent, yet it's a Heaven-Leaking Physique! He won't achieve any Major Achievement!" The Grand Elder released his hand and shook his head slightly.
"Heaven-Leaking Physique?" The Xuan Yuan Sect Sect Master also stepped forward to examine, and ultimately also shook his head.
Lin Ping'an clearly knew that he was not a Heaven-Leaking Physique, but he couldn't explain it.
He felt that this copper coin was definitely an extraordinary treasure, and its Divine Qi absolutely could not be revealed.
"Never mind! Although it's a Heaven-Leaking Physique, it's still equivalent to a Disciple with a pseudo-Spiritual Root; with effort, there's still hope for Foundation Establishment!" The Second Elder sighed, "Originally, I intended to make you my True Disciple, but now... just be a Named Disciple!"
"Thank you, Master!" Lin Ping'an quickly bowed in gratitude.
The Second Elder was considered kind; he didn't directly kick Lin Ping'an away.
"Heaven-Leaking Physique! Hehe!" The Ninth Prince grinned, a gloating expression on his face.
"Indeed, a useless piece of trash!" The young eunuch quickly echoed.
"Mind your own business!" Tang Yurou glared fiercely at the two of them, then came to Lin Ping'an's side and encouraged him, "Lin Ping'an, don't be disheartened, I know you can do it!"
"Haha! Thank you, Young Miss Tang." Lin Ping'an smiled in response.
"Brother Chen, let's work hard together!" Zhou Mingxuan patted Lin Ping'an's shoulder.
Their respective Masters took their Disciples away, and Lin Ping'an also followed the Second Elder to his residence at Shuiyun Cave.
Although called a cave, it was actually a blessed land.
Here, water mist swirled, clouds steamed, Spirit Medicine was fragrant, ancient trees were rooted, and Spiritual Birds and exotic beasts roamed.
Lin Ping'an had never seen such a sight before and couldn't help but stare blankly.
"Lin Ping'an, I will impart to you several spell formulas. You are to go to Xiao Yun Peak and look after my three mu of Spirit fields! Although you have a Heaven-Leaking Physique, you must not be negligent. If you can Cultivate to the third level of Qi Condensation within three years, I will formally accept you as my Disciple. If not, you may Cultivate on Xiao Yun Peak from then on!"
A thin booklet and a small pouch fell into his hand.
The Second Elder was clearly very disappointed in Lin Ping'an and had no intention of keeping him by his side to teach him.
"Yes, Master!"
Lin Ping'an secretly glanced at the thin booklet and found several strong and powerful characters written on it: "Water Dragon Spell."
As for the small pouch, he didn't know what material it was made of; it felt very smooth to the touch, and when he tried to open it, he found it as hard as iron.
"That's a Storage Pouch; you need to infuse it with magical power to open it," the Second Elder reminded him.
"Thank you, Master!"
"Go!"
With a wave of the Second Elder's hand, a strong wind arose.
