107: Chapter 107 Advancement to a Fourth-Rank Sect, First Level of Nascent Soul

The first light of morning bloomed as golden rays pierced through the horizon.

Upon the vine trellis, an alabaster flower bud was tightly wrapped, its petal tips shyly peeking out.

Slender, veined vines crept from the west, inching upward to tenderly shroud the low-hanging bud.

The bud trembled slightly under the warm shadow, quivering as its layers unfurled, finally reaching full bloom to reveal delicate, pale yellow stamens.

Deep within the center, a drop of crystal-clear dew quietly condensed, becoming plump and full, trembling as it hung from the heart of the flower.

The wind blew, causing the stamens to shake violently.

The dewdrop fell, meandrously sliding down the inner side of the newly bloomed, moist petals before sinking into the soil, leaving a wet trail behind.

Lin Xiwei stepped upon the star trails, quietly landing in the courtyard of the Yixiang Residence.

After this period of secluded cultivation, she had reached the Great Perfection of the tenth level of Foundation Establishment, merely waiting for an opportunity to break through to the Golden Core Stage. Feeling restless after long stillness, and thinking it wasn't right to always trouble her Senior Sister to deliver breakfast, she had come personally today.

“Strange...” Lin Xiwei's delicate brows furrowed slightly.

Although various exquisite pastries were laid out on the long table, most had only been nibbled at, and some were even stone-cold, clearly untouched for a long time.

The soup simmering on the small charcoal stove had also cooled and solidified.

Most conspicuous was the heavy bamboo curtain at the kitchen door, which was completely lowered, sealing off the inside from the outside.

A trace of doubt rose in her heart. Lin Xiwei slowly approached the kitchen and peered inside through the gaps in the bamboo curtain.

!!!

With just one look, she instantly froze in place!

Lin Xiwei left,

Quietly she left, just as quietly as she had come. She waved her hand, without taking a single portion of breakfast.

Inside the kitchen, the light was dim.

The heavy bamboo curtain hung tightly, allowing only a few slender golden rays of morning light to leak through the gaps, outlining dancing dust particles in the air filled with lingering steam and a certain cloying, sweet warmth.

Ling Hao slowly opened his eyes, the faint light from the curtain gaps reflecting in his pupils, carrying a hint of helplessness.

Well, he had been caught red-handed by his fifth Disciple.

His gaze swept over the shattered ceramic spoon on the floor and the lotus-colored apron nearby. Finally, his eyes returned to the girl still sleeping soundly in his arms.

The girl's sleeping face was tranquil, her slender collarbones rising and falling slightly with her breath.

Ling Hao pulled her closer into his embrace and suddenly looked up, “Forget it, sleep a little longer...”

...

The sun reached its zenith. The sunlight was fierce; on the vine trellis, the shadow of the veined vines that had once covered the bud had completely vanished.

The fully bloomed flower swayed gracefully in the wind, with only that winding wet mark on the inner side of the white petals shimmering under the sun.

Rustling sounds and whispers came from inside the kitchen.

“Little Changning, if you're not going to eat lunch, stop fiddling...”

Ling Hao's lazy, sleep-deprived voice rang out.

“...”

“Revered Master... do you think Senior Sisters... will they blame me? Will they... hate me?”

“Now you're afraid?”

Ling Hao chuckled softly.

“Revered Master...”

Lu Changning's voice carried a hint of sobbing.

“There, there,”

“Your Senior Sisters aren't as petty as you imagine...”

“Rest easy. If they really pounce on you to beat you, your Revered Master will surely stand in front of you.”

“Revered Master... you're so good...”

The voice was muffled, carrying endless reliance.

...

Sunset at dusk, atop the Haoran Tower.

Ling Hao leaned against the railing and gazed into the distance, his eyes falling upon the shimmering Floating Gold Pool and Chenbi Bay below (two lakes on the Tianyuan Floating Island).

The sunset glow spread across the water, reflecting a shimmering golden-red. Within the pool and bay, dozens of young female Disciples were splashing and playing.

The water rippled as jade arms stretched out. Slender waists swayed in the water, and long legs occasionally broke the surface, splashing crystal droplets that fell back onto smooth, fair skin, refracting an alluring luster under the setting sun.

The sounds of feminine chatter and laughter mixed with the splashing water; the air was thick with youthful vitality and a faint, indefinable sense of romance.

Ling Hao narrowed his eyes contentedly and lazily swirled the jade cup in his hand.

“Sigh... truly... what a decadent and beautiful day.”

He whispered to himself, a satisfied smile playing on his lips.

Just then, a cool female voice rang out deep in Ling Hao's mind.

“Ding! System update complete! This update fixes some display anomalies on the Sect Master panel and optimizes the System itself.”

“Ding! Detected that Lu Changning's loyalty has reached 100%, triggering Heaven-Defying Fate Change! Mortal Body has evolved into the Exquisite Ice Heart Physique! Earth-grade Spiritual Root has been promoted to Immortal-grade Spiritual Root!”

Ling Hao's brow twitched. Just as he was about to feel happy for his little Disciple, the notification sounds continued incessantly.

“Ding! Detected that the Fourth-grade Sect promotion mission has been completed! Sect Master's Realm has been raised to the first level of the Nascent Soul Stage!”

Boom! A vast surge of spiritual energy instantly flooded his limbs and bones, his Sea of Consciousness expanded with a roar, and within his Dantian, the Golden Core shattered and reorganized. A small Nascent Soul figure, radiating seven-colored light and possessing a face identical to Ling Hao's, sat cross-legged upon the Dao platform.

With a thought from Ling Hao, a brand-new System information panel unfolded before his eyes:

Name: Ling Hao

Age: 22

Realm: First level of Nascent Soul Stage

Spiritual Root: Yin-Yang Spiritual Root (Immortal Grade), Void Spirit Root (Immortal Grade)

Physique: Chaos Dao Body, Heavenly Sun Body, Pure World Sacred Lotus Myriad Tribulation Body, Samsara Space-Time Dao Body

[Sect] | [Members] | [Mall] | [Grotto-Heaven]

Moonshadow Sect (Fourth-grade)

Sect Master: Ling Hao

Sect Population: 43,236 people

Nascent Soul Stage: 2 people

Golden Core Stage: 6 people (Chi Wanhe, Qin Zhaoxue, Du Yuqing, Huang Yutong, Qu Qingzhu, Li Sumei)

Foundation Establishment Stage: 2,678 people

Qi Refining Stage: 9,230 people

Qi Induction Stage: 15,052 people

Sect Territory: Radius of 30,000 li (A 3D holographic projection map appeared, showing mountains, rivers, cities, and kingdoms in minute detail, encompassing the entire Qing State and several neighboring countries!)

Main Buildings: (Holographic Projection) Sect Main Hall, Courtyard Residences, Sheng-Sheng Creation Spring, Mountain Protection Array · Taiyin Cycle Array, Scripture Pavilion, Pill Pavilion, Talisman Pavilion, Artifact Pavilion, Array Pavilion, Nine-Turn Corridor, Spirit Fields, Spirit Mines, North and South General Affairs Offices, Mission Hall, Grotto-Heaven Paradise, Hehuan Platform, Golden Lotus Workshop...

Sect Reputation: 8,752,525

Sect Spirit Stone Reserves:

Low-Grade Spirit Stones: 10 Million+

Mid-Grade Spirit Stones: 1 Million+

High-Grade Spirit Stones: 10,000+

Main Quest: One thousand Disciples successfully practice the Yin-Yang Aperture Drilling Method (108/1000)

Reward: Ten Thousand Streams Return to Source (Everything learned by Sect Disciples returns to oneself)

Fifth-grade Sect Promotion Conditions:

Golden Core Stage Disciples ≥ 30, members above Foundation Establishment Stage on the everlasting light tablet ≥ 3,000 (108/3000)

Promotion Rewards: yin-yang enlightenment tree, Void Dock, erosion suppression monument (Upgrade), tower of laws (Upgrade)

New Functions:

Tower of Grotto-Heaven (Grotto-Heaven Projection Transit Station): Once activated, the strength of all Moonshadow Sect Disciples within a hundred-li radius will temporarily increase by five minor Realms!

Hehuan Platform: As the name implies, a place for Yin-Yang harmony and the Great Dao of Dual Cultivation.

“Ding! Please specify the placement location for the Hehuan Platform.”

“Tianyuan Mountain.”

“Ding! Marrow Cleansing Pool function upgraded! Evolved into the Five Elements Chaos Spirit Pool! Can raise Spiritual Root Aptitude up to Heaven-grade at most!”

As soon as the notification ended, bursts of uncontrollable exclamations and commotion came from the direction of Houde Peak!

“Heavens! The Marrow Cleansing Pool... the Marrow Cleansing Pool has grown several times larger! The spiritual mist is so thick it won't disperse!”

“My Spiritual Root! My Earth-grade Spiritual Root seems to be throbbing! I feel... I feel it can be improved further!”

“This must be a gift from the Sect Master! The Sect Master's Divine Might!”

“Heehee, Senior Sister, why is your face so red? Are you remembering a few evenings ago, when you were soaking in the Marrow Cleansing Pool and the Sect Master personally came to help you improve your Spiritual Root?”

“o(*≧д≦)o!! Shut up! What nonsense are you talking about, you little brat! That... that was the Sect Master expending spiritual power to clear my Meridians and help me break through my Bottleneck! It was proper cultivation!”

“Oh~ proper cultivation~ The Sect Master used special Spiritual Qi in the pool water to help you clear it deeply for so long? No wonder your waist was soft and your steps were floating when you came out, Senior Sister~”

“Ya! See if I don't tear your mouth apart!”

Ling Hao stood atop the Haoran Tower, rubbing his nose helplessly:

“Tsk... sometimes having hearing that's too good isn't a good thing either...”

The cool female voice ignored his complaint and rang out again:

“Ding! Achievement System module is now open!”

Ling Hao's spirit was roused, suppressing the ripples in his heart.

“Oh? It's finally here? Let me see what new tricks there are this time...”