36: Chapter 36 Formal Apprenticeship, the Seventh Disciple of Danxia Peak

[Personal Disciple! This carries so much more weight than being a Named Disciple. Now, within the Azure Cloud Sect, I can be considered someone with a proper background.]

[You hurriedly bowed once more, saying verbally, 'I leave it entirely to my Master's discretion.' But in your heart, you had already begun calculating how to better utilize this status in the future to add bricks and tiles to your grand 'Way of Survival' enterprise.]

[Early the next morning, you were led by a medicine boy to Danxia Peak once again.]

[Today, Danxia Peak seemed even livelier than yesterday. In the main hall of the Immortal Cave, the massive Pill Furnace still blazed fiercely, but several figures now stood beside it.]

[You spotted your Master, Liu Changfeng, at a glance. Today, he wore a brand-new crimson ceremonial robe, his face radiant and his spirits vigorous, looking at least ten years younger than yesterday.]

[Standing beside him were six people, four men and two women. These were likely your yet-unmet Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters.]

[The moment you stepped through the door, six pairs of eyes simultaneously fixed upon you.]

[Your heart skipped a beat. Good grief, this setup felt like a formal inquisition.]

[You quickly composed yourself, plastering your signature [Affable and Amiable] smile on your face. You stepped forward and respectfully performed a deep bow towards Liu Changfeng: 'Disciple Tang Xun pays his respects to Master.']

['Good, good, good, rise quickly.' Liu Changfeng's mood was clearly excellent today. He personally stepped forward to help you up, then gestured towards the six people beside him to begin introductions.]

['Come, let your Master introduce you. This is your Eldest Senior Brother, Shi Jian.']

[Following the direction he pointed, you saw a tall, square-faced young man who appeared to be in his thirties, examining you with a steady gaze. He stood there like an immovable boulder, exuding an aura of extreme reliability. Late Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation, with a solid and condensed aura, his Foundation rock-solid.]

[You promptly bowed towards him: 'Tang Xun greets Eldest Senior Brother.']

[Shi Jian nodded at you, his voice resonant: 'No need for such formality, Junior Brother. From now on, we are family. If you need anything, don't hesitate to come to me.']

[You thought to yourself: 'This Eldest Senior Brother seems like a straightforward, honest fellow. Someone I can get along with.']

['This is your Second Senior Sister, Liu Ruyan.']

[You looked over upon hearing this. A woman in a fiery red dress, with a graceful figure and stunningly beautiful features, stood with her arms crossed, scrutinizing you from head to toe with a critical eye. Her cultivation was also at the Late Foundation Establishment Stage, but the fluctuations of her fire-attribute Spiritual Qi seemed exceptionally active, even somewhat volatile.]

['Oh, so this is the precious gem Master picked up? The legendary 'Genius' who secluded himself for twenty years just to Breakthrough from Qi Refining Seventh Layer to Foundation Establishment?' Liu Ruyan's voice held a note of mockery, sounding far from friendly.]

[You inwardly chuckled. Here it comes, the attempt to put me in my place, right?]

[You didn't get angry, still smiling as you bowed: 'Tang Xun greets Second Senior Sister. Senior Sister jests. This Disciple's Aptitude is dull. Achieving Foundation Establishment relied entirely on Master's excellent guidance and a sliver of luck.']

[Your unflustered, neither humble nor arrogant attitude, which incidentally flattered the Master, caused the barrage of sarcasm Liu Ruyan had prepared to get stuck in her throat. She snorted, turned her head away, and said nothing more.]

[Liu Changfeng shot her a glare, shook his head helplessly, and continued the introductions: 'This is your Third Senior Brother, Qian Duoduo.']

['Qian Duoduo?' Hearing this name, you almost couldn't hold back a laugh. The name was just too blatant.]

[You looked up to see a slightly plump young man, whose face perpetually wore a smile of 'harmony begets wealth,' winking and making faces at you. His cultivation was at the Middle Foundation Establishment Stage, but you couldn't shake the feeling that the scent of money on him was stronger than the scent of Spiritual Qi.]

['Seventh Junior Brother, hello, hello!' Qian Duoduo approached with familiar ease, patting your shoulder. 'If you ever come across any money-making opportunities in the future, you absolutely must not forget your Senior Brother! The channels for selling our Danxia Peak's Medicinal Pills to the outside are all in my hands! I'll give you a twenty percent discount!']

[The corner of your mouth twitched. You thought to yourself, this Third Senior Brother might just be the Reincarnation of a miser.]

['Many thanks, Third Senior Brother.']

[Next, Liu Changfeng introduced your Fourth Martial Brother and Fifth Senior Sister. They were a pair of Dragon and Phoenix twins named Lin Mo and Lin Yu. Both were at the Middle Foundation Establishment Stage, their personalities rather introverted. They merely gave you a friendly nod.]

[Finally, there was your Sixth Senior Brother, Zhou Tong. A young man who seemed somewhat dull, at the Early Stage Foundation Establishment, seemingly not skilled with words. He just gave you a simple, honest smile.]

[You paid your respects to each in turn, forming a rough impression of your future Sect family in your mind.]

[Eldest Senior Brother was the pillar, steady and reliable. Second Senior Sister was a firecracker, ready to ignite at a touch. Third Senior Brother was the God of Wealth, his mind full of business. Fourth Martial Brother and Fifth Senior Sister were the inconspicuous ones, quiet and unproblematic. Sixth Senior Brother was the honest, simple type, who looked easy to bully.]

['Hmm, good. A very complete composition. Everything a normal family should have is here,' you silently assessed.]

['Alright, everyone is here.' Liu Changfeng cleared his throat, his expression turning solemn.]

['Today, in the presence of your Senior Brothers and Sisters, I, Liu Changfeng, formally accept Tang Xun as the seventh Personal Disciple under my tutelage! Commence the Master Acceptance Ceremony!']

[Hearing this, you immediately straightened your robes, knelt solemnly on the ground, and respectfully kowtowed three times to Liu Changfeng.]

['Disciple Tang Xun pays homage to Master! May Master live ten thousand years, his immortal path forever prosperous!']

['Good! Good! Good!' Liu Changfeng said 'good' three times in succession, personally helping you to your feet.]

['From this day forward, you are a member of my Danxia Peak! Our glory is shared, our losses are shared! You, as fellow Disciples, must help and support each other. No harming of fellow Sect members is permitted. Do you understand?']

['We understand!' Shi Jian and the others responded in unison.]

['This is the gift your Master has prepared for your acceptance.' Liu Changfeng handed you a Storage Pouch. 'Inside is a High Grade defensive Magical Artifact, the 'Mysterious Tortoise Shield,' along with one thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, and some Medicinal Pills for healing and restoring Spiritual Power. You are about to participate in the Crimson Trial. Be cautious in all matters, prioritize survival.']

[You took the Storage Pouch, another wave of ecstasy surging in your heart. A High Grade Magical Artifact! One thousand Spirit Stones! This Master is incredibly generous!]

['Thank you, Master!']

['Seventh Junior Brother, this is a greeting gift from your Senior Brother.' Eldest Senior Brother Shi Jian also presented a jade box. 'Inside is a 'Barrier-Breaking Pill.' It can assist you when you encounter a Bottleneck while attempting to Breakthrough to the Middle Foundation Establishment Stage.']

['Hmph, for you.' Second Senior Sister Liu Ruyan, despite still wearing a sour expression, tossed a pill bottle your way. 'This is 'Separated Flame Pill.' It can temporarily boost the power of your fire-attribute Spells. It might save your life at a critical moment.']

['Junior Brother, Junior Brother, this is a small token from your Third Senior Brother!' Qian Duoduo cheerfully stuffed a stack of Talismans into your hand. 'Ten 'Earth Evasion Talismans.' If you can't win a fight, run! As long as the green hills remain, there will be no shortage of firewood!']

[Fourth Martial Brother, Fifth Senior Sister, and Sixth Senior Brother also each presented their greeting gifts. Though not as valuable as the previous ones, they were all practical items.]

[Looking at the pile of gifts in your hands, your heart felt warm.]

['Holy crap, is this what it feels like to have an organization? This is amazing! Before, it was always me robbing others. Now, it's others giving me gifts. This feeling... not bad at all!']

[You thanked them one by one and carefully stored all the gifts.]

[After the Master Acceptance Ceremony concluded, the atmosphere relaxed.]

['Little Seventh, are you really going to participate in that Crimson Trial?' Eldest Senior Brother Shi Jian asked with a furrowed brow, a note of worry in his tone. 'You've just achieved Foundation Establishment; your Foundation isn't stable yet. That place is no joke. In past trials, if half the participating Disciples returned alive, it was considered good luck.']

['Yes, yes, Seventh Junior Brother,' Qian Duoduo chimed in. 'Listen to your Senior Brother's advice. Wouldn't it be wonderful to practice Alchemy safely and steadily within the Sect? Fighting and killing is so dangerous. What if you get hurt? It's just not cost-effective.']

[Seeing the concern in their eyes, you knew their intentions were good.]

['Thank you for your concern, Senior Brothers. However, this Disciple's mind is made up. The path of cultivation is, by nature, a struggle against the heavens, the earth, and other people. Secluding oneself and building castles in the air will ultimately lead nowhere. I want to go out and see, to experience true blood and fire firsthand.' You spoke with a tone full of youthful fervor.]

[Of course, what you were really thinking was: 'If I don't go, where will I find the Materials to forge my precious Flying Sword? You guys don't understand a thing!']

[Seeing your resolute attitude, Shi Jian and the others couldn't persuade you further.]

['Since you've decided, we won't say more. Here is some intelligence we've compiled regarding the Crimson Trial, along with information on the main Disciples from other Sects. Take it, study it, so you have an idea of what to expect.' Shi Jian handed you a Jade Slip.]

['Remember, inside, do not trust anyone except fellow Disciples of our Azure Cloud Sect. Especially people from the Heavenly Demon Valley and the Beast Taming Manor. They act ruthlessly and love nothing more than killing for treasure.']

[You took the Jade Slip and nodded solemnly: 'Thank you, Eldest Senior Brother. I'll remember.']

[For the following month, you settled in at Danxia Peak.]

[During the day, you listened to Liu Changfeng's lectures on the Dao with your Senior Brothers and Sisters, learning the art of Alchemy. At night, you returned to your room to carefully study the Jade Slip Shi Jian had given you, making final preparations for the upcoming Crimson Trial.]

[You discovered that Alchemy was actually quite interesting. Especially with theBlessing of the [Epiphany] trait, your understanding of the Pill Dao advanced by leaps and bounds. Many intricate medicinal interactions that seemed profoundly complex to your Senior Brothers and Sisters appeared simple and clear to you.]

[Your performance once again astounded Liu Changfeng, who exclaimed repeatedly that he had truly found a treasure.]

[Your relationships with your several Senior Brothers and Sisters also warmed rapidly during this month of interaction.]

[You found that they were actually all quite good people. Eldest Senior Brother was like a mother hen, wanting to manage everything. Second Senior Sister had a sharp tongue but a soft heart; her words were cutting, but every time you failed at Alchemy, she would secretly give you pointers. Third Senior Brother pulled you aside daily to discuss how to sell Medicinal Pills at the highest price to achieve 'financial freedom.']

[This long-lost, family-like warmth brought a sliver of comfort to your Soul, which had wandered alone in this otherworld for many years.]

['This feeling... seems pretty good.']

[A month passed in the blink of an eye.]

[The Crimson Trial was finally about to begin.]

[On this day, the vast square atop the Azure Cloud Sect's main peak gathered over a hundred Inner Sect Disciples at the Foundation Establishment Stage. Each exuded powerful auras, their expressions solemn, their eyes flickering with a mix of anticipation and nervousness.]

[You were among them.]

['Little Seventh, be careful in all things!']

['Seventh Junior Brother, come back alive! I'll treat you to drinks when you return!']

['If you dare die in there, I'll enshrine your memorial tablet next to the Pill Furnace and roast you with pill fire every day!']

[Your Senior Brothers and Sisters had all come to see you off. Each spoke harsh words, but the worry in their eyes was impossible to hide.]

[You smiled and waved at them.]

[Just then, the space above the square twisted. A middle-aged Daoist in purple-gold robes, with a majestic face and an aura as deep as the sea, appeared out of thin air.]

[Nascent Soul Old Ancestor!]

[All Disciples, including the Core Formation Stage Elder leading the expedition, bowed in unison.]

['We pay our respects to the Sect Master!']

[The Nascent Soul Old Ancestor's gaze swept across the assembly. His voice, like a great bell, resonated in everyone's ears.]

['The Crimson Trial is the best Opportunity for Disciples of our Azure Cloud Sect to obtain chances and temper themselves! But Opportunities often accompany life and death! I hope that once you enter, you will work together in unity to bring glory to the Sect! But I hope even more that you can return alive!']

['Now, open the Crimson Gate!']

[As his words fell, he waved his sleeve. A pillar of purple divine light, connecting heaven and earth, shot towards the center of the square.]

[There, space began to violently twist and fold. Finally, it formed a slowly rotating, blood-red vortex, thirty meters tall.]

[An aura of desolation, blood, and ancient times washed over everyone from the vortex.]

['Depart!']

[At the command of the leading Elder, over a hundred Azure Cloud Sect Disciples transformed into streams of light and charged resolutely into the blood-red vortex.]

[Mingling within the crowd, you looked at the vortex resembling a giant beast's maw, took a deep breath, and your eyes turned exceptionally sharp.]

['Crimson Trial... I'm coming!']

['nine heavens breathing soil... you absolutely must wait for me!']