45: Disciple Selection + Farewell

August 13th.

There were still two days until the Bixiao Sect Competition.

At the hour of Mao, around five in the morning, the gates of the Bixiao Sect became lively.

The Bixiao Sect held Disciple selections once a year.

However, because it was held annually, unlike other Sects that held selections every three or five years, the Bixiao Sect only selected a small number of Disciples each time, just over fifty.

Most of these fifty-plus Disciples would become Outer Sect Disciples, with only a small portion becoming Inner Sect Disciples, or even Personal Disciples.

On the mountaintop.

A formidable spirit boat floated in the sky.

Yun Qingyao, dressed in a pristine white dress, kept her beautiful face taut, her hands behind her back, looking down at the Mortals from the secular world below the spirit boat, each one climbing the Outer Sect mountain of the Bixiao Sect.

This was not only a test of one's tenacity but also a test of a Disciple's “Luck.”

Beside Yun Qingyao.

Three Personal Disciples followed.

Xing Lie, a Personal Disciple of the Second Peak Elder and the second Disciple of this generation to Breakthrough to the Qi Refinement Stage, glanced down at the foot of the mountain.

"Even if the Sect only limits the time and not the number of people who can reach the summit, those at the top will still try every means to make things difficult for others."

Yun Qingyao smiled and said, "The path of cultivation is inherently a struggle for resources with all things. They have only just had their first lesson on the path of cultivation."

"Exactly!"

Meng Ting, a Personal Disciple from Medicine Peak, agreed, "Young Sect Master is right!

Look over there, that person is clearly weaker than the people on this side, but because the path he chose had few people, his progress is actually faster than over here.

Strength isn't the most important thing; the most important thing is to achieve results while alive."

At noon.

Yun Qingyao controlled the spirit boat to land on the large plaza in front of the Outer Sect mountain gate.

The more than four hundred people who had reached the mountain gate within the Regulation time looked up at the sky.

Some were surprised.

"A flying boat!"

"As expected of Immortals!"

"Who is the young girl leading? Why is a young girl standing at the very front?"

The Outer Sect Disciple next to him heard this.

He scoffed.

"This is the Sect Master's Personal Disciple, and also the future Sect Master. Do you think she's young? She is already in the Qi Refining Realm at only twelve years old."

The others exchanged glances.

"How impressive!"

"As expected of the Sect Master's Personal Disciple!"

"Is this what a Cultivation Genius is like!"

Yun Qingyao, on the spirit boat, felt the gazes of admiration and awe from everyone, and she smiled.

As Beautiful Master and Aunt Lin said, once these “new Disciples” saw her win the Sect Competition, they would develop a fanatical worship for her.

At that time, her prestige within the Sect would be further enhanced!

"Quiet!"

Yun Qingyao glanced at the crowd in the mountain gate plaza.

Her voice, imbued with Spiritual Qi, rang out.

"Do you think you can stay just by reaching this point? Next, you will see the cruel side of cultivation.

You will undergo a talent test; this is something you are born with and cannot change.

You will find that if your talent is insufficient, no matter how hard you try, it will be in vain!

Afterward, you will also enter an illusion to test your Heart-Nature. If your Heart-Nature is not good, even with talent, you will not go far on the path of cultivation, or you might even be harmful to the cultivation world.

Next, I announce!

The talent test officially begins!"

As Yun Qingyao finished speaking.

The Outer Sect Disciples became busy.

They guided these Mortals seeking Immortality to line up for talent testing, ranking, and assignment steps.

Yun Qingyao enjoyed the feeling of “giving orders” and the adoration people had for her!

...On Lingwu Mountain.

A young girl in a peach-pink dress ran nimbly through the forest, her movements unpredictable.

With a slight shift of her foot, she dodged the pounce of a short-tailed leopard.

Then, the young girl used her hands, arms, waist, and legs, directly coiling herself around the leopard.

With a *click*, the leopard's neck was snapped, and it fell heavily to the ground, its life extinguished.

Jiang Ning nodded.

"She has the Coiled River Python's agile movements and perception of danger.

She can also track the prey's movements, taking it by surprise and strangling it!

Good, Huanhuan, your compatibility with the Spirit Serpent is getting higher and higher."

The young girl was none other than Shen Jinhuan, who was training in the mountains!

Jiang Ning put the short-tailed leopard's corpse into his Storage Pouch.

In just two days.

The young girl on Lingwu Mountain.

She had already directly hunted three Early Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beasts, ambushed five Early Stage Rank 1 Spirit Beasts, and as for Body Tempering Stage Spirit Beasts, there were over thirty.

For this Sect Competition, Shen Jinhuan worked very hard.

Jiang Ning saw it all.

Shen Jinhuan wiped the sweat from her forehead.

"Revered Master, my strength isn't enough yet. I need to hurry; the Sect Competition is the day after tomorrow."

"Cultivation requires a balance of effort and rest... I think you need to summarize your combat experience from these two days, and at the same time, delve deeper into the meaning of the Coiled River Python based on the beast print in your Divine Sense Sea."

Jiang Ning stepped forward and wiped Shen Jinhuan's slightly dirty, pretty face clean.

"Let's go back. You can now contend with Early Stage Qi Refining Cultivators with just your physical strength, and with your Spiritual Qi cultivation, you have a very good chance of winning this Competition.

Don't be too anxious."

Shen Jinhuan thought about it.

She felt Jiang Ning was right, so she nodded.

The Master and Disciple flew back to their courtyard on their swords.

Upon landing.

Shen Jinhuan immediately sat cross-legged and began to recall and review her battles from the past few days, identifying any flaws and what strengths she needed to maintain.

Afterward, she began to breathe, absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi to consolidate her Early Stage Qi Refining cultivation.

Jiang Ning sighed.

With his Disciple being so diligent, he, as the Master, seemed a bit useless!

August 14th.

Jiang Ning took Shen Jinhuan to the Li residence to bid farewell to the Li family father and daughter.

Li Yunxi held Shen Jinhuan's hand, her eyes teary, as she whispered girl talk to Shen Jinhuan.

Jiang Ning glanced over.

"Yunxi has entered the Qi Refining Realm... Congratulations, Brother Li."

Li Tingyue cupped his fists, "Thanks to Brother Jiang, I cannot express my gratitude enough."

He pulled out a string of keys and handed them over.

"These are the keys to the courtyard where you stayed. I'm gifting them to Brother Jiang and Huanhuan. It will be more convenient if you come to Lingwu City in the future, saving you the trouble of renting."

These were the keys to Courtyard No. 8 on Earth-Grade Street 13. As soon as Jiang Ning checked out, the Li family sent someone to buy it and brought the keys.

"Brother Li..."

"Take them."

Li Tingyue smiled and said,

"If you can come and reside in my Lingwu City, wouldn't that also strengthen my Li family's position in Lingwu City?"

Jiang Ning then accepted the keys.

They had lived in that small courtyard for a month and a half, and when they checked out, both Jiang Ning and Shen Jinhuan felt a sense of reluctance.

When Shen Jinhuan also finished her conversation.

Jiang Ning walked over, summoned his Azure Wave Sword, and extended his hand to Shen Jinhuan.

"Huanhuan, it's time for us to go back."

Shen Jinhuan hummed in response, her charming face showing displeasure.

The spirit sword ascended, cutting through the air, carrying the two towards the Bixiao Sect.

Jiang Ning held Shen Jinhuan, looking at her as she tightly embraced his waist.

He asked, "Do you like Lingwu City?"

"I do."

Shen Jinhuan looked in the direction of Lingwu City.

In this city, she had her friends, and she had very precious memories.

Jiang Ning laughed heartily.

"Good! After the Sect Competition, we will settle down in this Lingwu City!"