By the time Wei Yunxi could consistently draw top-grade first-rank Dust Removal Talismans, good news came from Wei Zonghao's side—he had broken through to the fourth level of Qi Refining in one go, to the astonishment of the other Wei disciples.
Wei Yunxi believed this was due to him fully refining the Bu Tian Pill, along with the spiritual energy he had accumulated from earlier cultivation. In any case, it was worth celebrating. The eight disciples of the Wei family gathered once again.
Wei Yunyīng even playfully urged Zonghao to share his cultivation secrets. Zonghao didn't keep it to himself and openly told everyone his method of exhausting all the spiritual energy in his dantian before cultivating again.
"This trick was actually something Yunxi told me. I just followed her advice, and the results were pretty obvious."
He had no intention of taking the credit all for himself.
Wei Yunqing, upon hearing this, immediately spoke in a sweet-but-sour tone.
"Little Sister Yunxi, if you had such a good method, why didn't you tell your sisters? We all live in the same courtyard, you know."
Wei Yunxi simply smiled.
"This technique should only be used in a completely safe cultivation environment. Otherwise, it's far too easy for others to take advantage of you."
Wei Zonghan nodded in agreement.
"That's true. When training outside, we must never deplete our spiritual energy. Until we reach Foundation Establishment, running out of spiritual power is the same as becoming a mortal child. We'd have no means to defend ourselves."
Wei Yunxi added, "Exactly. That's why I'm using talisman drawing to drain my spiritual energy. It improves both my inscription skills and my cultivation speed—two gains in one."
As she spoke, she handed everyone two practice-grade Dust Removal Talismans. Although they were low-grade first-rank, it was better than nothing.
Wei Yunqing didn't care for low-grade talismans at all, but seeing that the others accepted them, she casually tossed them into her storage pouch, planning to discard them later.
Wei Yunting smiled and thanked Yunxi, then addressed the group.
"Right now, five of us have reached the third level of Qi Refining, which secures our status as outer sect disciples. The other three, don't be discouraged. There are still nine months left. I believe you'll catch up.
I'll be attempting a breakthrough to the fifth level soon. Once I succeed, I plan to apply to cultivate near one of the inner sect peaks. If anything comes up, just send me a message talisman.
Even though we progress at different paces, we're all disciples of the Wei family. We need to look out for one another."
Wei Zonghan added, "Same goes for me. From now on, you all should travel together. Don't wander off alone. If anyone bullies you, come find your little uncle."
"We will," they responded together.
Then Zonghan turned to Wei Yunqing and said, "Little Sister Yunqing you have the best talent among us. The family has high hopes for you, so you must not slack off. Understood?"
Wei Yunqing's face stiffened. After a pause, she nodded and left soon after, using cultivation as an excuse.
Only then did Wei Yunyīng mutter, "Brother Zonghan, why bother reminding her? She probably doesn't appreciate it anyway. We used to think that with her talent, she'd at least become a registered disciple after passing the sect assessment, but nothing happened.
Now her cultivation speed can't even keep up with Zonghao, who has three spiritual roots. And she still dares to provoke Yunxi? She really doesn't know her place. Just because she has high aptitude doesn't mean we have to cater to her."
"That's enough, Yunyīng. No more of that," Wei Yunting said meaningfully. "Her failure doesn't benefit us. Cultivation is a personal journey. Yunxi also has three roots, yet she's keeping pace with Yunqing just fine.
Yunqing has the right to be proud of her talent. We don't, and there's no need to be jealous. Just focus on your own path. One day, your efforts will pay off."
This time, Yunyīng didn't argue. After all, she was about to break through to the third level herself. Other than spirit root potential, she didn't feel she was lacking in any way compared to Wei Yunqing.
Wei Yunxi couldn't help but smile at their exchange. In the original novel, Wei Yunqing had acted much like Yunyīng now. She buttered up the side character Wei Yunxi while constantly leeching off her resources, stirring up envy among the Wei disciples and nudging them to demand more from her under the guise of helping the family. Over time, she became overwhelmed, and her relationship with the other Wei disciples frayed. When real danger came, no one stepped forward to defend her.
This time, Wei Yunxi had hidden her talent, shifting that envious attention onto Wei Yunqing instead. Meanwhile, she crafted the image of a hard-working cultivator with poor spiritual roots, gaining more harmony with her fellow disciples.
Soon, the group changed the subject and exchanged communication talismans before heading off in their own directions.
After that, Wei Yunqing rarely joined the other Wei disciples in activities. Everyone gradually got used to it.
A year passed. The new disciples' protection period ended, and the Wei group began to show significant differences in cultivation.
Wei Yunting and Wei Zonghan took the top-grade Spirit-Nourishing Pills left by their little uncle and stabilized their cultivation at the sixth level of Qi Refining. They moved out of the old courtyard and relocated to the mountain peak where mid-stage disciples gathered.
Wei Yunyīng and Wei Yunqing both broke through to the fourth level, though they still lived in the same courtyard.
Wei Yunxi had already stabilized her cultivation at the eighth level but only revealed the fourth level on the surface. She spent most of her time in the cultivation hall. When not there, she was on the second or third floors of the scripture library or attending lectures. She barely interacted with her sisters anymore.
Wei Zonghao, taking full advantage of his improved spiritual roots, had stabilized at the late sixth level and was nearing the seventh. But instead of changing peaks, he continued to train in the original courtyard with Wei Zongyu and Wei Zongjin, who were at the fourth level.
Starting tomorrow, they could no longer focus solely on cultivation. Sect tasks would begin, and they were mandatory. Every outer sect disciple had to complete at least one sect mission per month. Failing to complete more than twenty missions in total would lead to punishment labor and demotion to servant disciple status.
Wei Yunxi had been looking forward to this day. Early in the morning, Wei Zonghao invited her to go with him and Zongyu to the outer sect's mission hall.
The hall was large, and it was packed with outer sect disciples. They were split into four lines based on cultivation level, each receiving missions appropriate to their strength.
Wei Zonghao returned after making a round and said to Yunxi, "Yunxi, let's queue over there. That line has tasks suited for us new disciples."
"Are they difficult?"
"Shouldn't be. With our current cultivation, they won't assign us anything too hard."
"Alright. Let's line up first."
The three joined the queue. Before long, Yunqing, Yunyīng, and Zongjin arrived. The six of them had clearly split into two small groups now.
Even though Yunqing and Yunyīng acted together, they didn't get along. They merely maintained surface-level harmony and trained separately.
"Sister Yunyīng, come queue over here," Wei Yunxi called out.
She maintained a good relationship with Yunyīng. Since there was no conflict for now, she didn't mind keeping up the role of a sweet-tempered younger sister.
Yunyīng came over to ask what was going on, and Yunxi repeated what Zonghao had found out. The three then moved to the end of the queue.
The line moved quickly. When it was Wei Yunxi's turn, she was surprised to see a familiar face behind the desk—Senior Sister Hua Xuanzǐ.
"Senior Sister Hua, long time no see. Are you stationed here now?"