No matter what, being able to cultivate faster is always good. Chu Ning stood up and soon saw Shang Zhaoxiang and Qiu Shunyi on the road in the distance.
As Chu Ning stood up, the two also saw him.
From afar, Shang Zhaoxiang called out to him, and Chu Ning quickly caught up.
"Old Cao left already?"
As soon as Chu Ning walked up, Shang Zhaoxiang smiled and asked.
Without waiting for Chu Ning to respond, he continued, "Old Cao has a strange personality. Over the years, new disciples under him have had quite a tough time.
He doesn't teach some simple spells, which is fine, but he also pushes time constraints hard.
So, you need to be mentally prepared. Most people following him take more than a year to independently cultivate a Spirit Field."
Hearing this, both Chu Ning and Qiu Shunyi were somewhat puzzled. Qiu Shunyi, quick to speak, asked first:
"Isn't it three months?"
Shang Zhaoxiang shook his head and said, "The three-month timeline is based on completing Qi Refining and entering the First Layer of Qi Refining, while also mastering several basic spells for planting Spirit Plants.
For instance, the Accelerating Technique to help seeds grow, the Clearing Technique to remove weeds and impurities, and the Ganlin Technique to ensure the Spirit Plants are well-watered. You're not expected to master them perfectly, but at least be able to perform one or two.
Of course, if you can master the Cyan Wood Spring Blossom Skill you saw, that would be ideal."
"Both cultivation methods and practicing spells take time. If you follow Old Cao, your cultivation time is at most half of others', and he doesn't teach spells much. Can you achieve this in three months?"
Hearing this, Qiu Shunyi looked at Chu Ning with a sympathetic gaze.
Qi Refining? Cyan Wood Spring Blossom Skill? I already know a little bit, Chu Ning thought to himself, but outwardly he displayed a hint of nervousness and asked:
"So why does it take more than a year if you don't pass the assessment?"
Shang Zhaoxiang explained, "Because in three months, it's time for the sect's disciples' advancement assessment. Every district will have some disciples advancing, and the vacated Spirit Fields will be distributed.
Once the Spirit Fields are allocated, naturally, you also have to wait another year."
"The sect doesn't take care of this?" Chu Ning asked, looking bitter.
This expression wasn't feigned; he had no issues with the First Layer of Qi Refining or the Cyan Wood Spring Blossom Skill, but there were other spells to consider.
"They do take care of it!" Shang Zhaoxiang replied.
"Every half month, don't you go to the Transmission Room for a group lecture? If spells are not taught, you can tell the Transmission Disciples, and they'll teach you.
But regarding time, the sect can't control it either."
At this point, Shang Zhaoxiang paused for a moment before adding,
"I know you might ask why the sect doesn't centralize your cultivation first and wants you to follow us instead."
Chu Ning and Qiu Shunyi nodded; Shang Zhaoxiang then said,
"This mainly started in the last century. It used to be centralized teaching and centralized cultivation, arranging disciples to their respective houses after a few months of cultivation.
In the last century, especially the last five or six decades, the number of Servant Disciples in the sect has sharply decreased, so many tasks in the Hundred Arts Hall need new disciples.
For example, planting Spirit Fields. If you don't follow us and learn for two or three months first, the sect won't feel confident letting you manage the Spirit Fields."
Hearing this, Chu Ning thoughtfully asked, "So, Senior Brother Shang, why has the number of Servant Disciples in the sect decreased in recent decades? Is it because fewer people are recruited?"
"The sect only says there's a sect mission arrangement, with no precise explanation." Shang Zhaoxiang hesitated for a moment before continuing,
"There's also a rumor circulating among the Servant Disciples privately.
It's said that the sect discovered a treasure land elsewhere, with better Spiritual Qi than our current Cyan Creek Mountain Range, so many disciples have been selected to develop that place.
Initially, they only selected those from the eighth and ninth layers of Qi Refining, and now there are reports that even those from the Seventh and even Sixth Layers may have opportunities."
Shang Zhaoxiang's words carried a tinge of envy, evidently regretting that he wasn't chosen.
"Such a fortunate opportunity!" Qiu Shunyi's eyes lit up upon hearing this.
Chu Ning also acted interested at this moment, but inwardly he was somewhat cautious, as something seemed off about this.
"Until I understand the nuances behind this, it's better to keep a low profile. Even if I reach the Sixth or Seventh Layer of Qi Refining, I should not let others find out, to avoid being selected.",
Chu Ning advised himself mentally.
At this instant, Shang Zhaoxiang's voice came up again.
"Moreover, not everyone is like Old Cao; most of us are happy to guide new disciples well."
Shang Zhaoxiang said this with a smile at Chu Ning,
"I'm teaching Shunyi anyway, so if you have any questions about cultivation methods, you can ask me. Once you've completed Qi Refining, you can come to me for spells and such too."
Upon hearing this, Chu Ning showed a look of gratitude on his face, "Thank you, Senior Brother Shang!"
At this point, Shang Zhaoxiang added, "Don't overthink it, I'm not like Old Cao. He's a lone wolf, while I have a big family outside the sect.
I can't make friends with the higher-ups, so I like to get close to new disciples like you to create good ties for my family."
Upon hearing this, Chu Ning and Qiu Shunyi understood the motivations of this kind-hearted brother and expressed their gratitude continuously.
As they chatted casually along the way, they returned to the courtyard. After bidding farewell to the two, Chu Ning went back to the courtyard.
After lighting a fire and cooking, Chu Ning did some chores. In the afternoon, he was once again sent to the field by Cao Dongxin, who said he needed to watch over the pests and birds.
Chu Ning was happy to go, as he could cultivate in the field.
Initially, Chu Ning believed the field had denser Spiritual Qi, but upon closer inspection, he found it wasn't the case.
It turned out the Spiritual Qi at their residence was even denser than in the field.
But it made sense, as their residence was closer to the mountain range.
Chu Ning continued to choose the place he cultivated in the morning. To his slight surprise, this session of cultivation wasn't as fast as in the morning.
His time spent meditating extended, but his proficiency only increased by one point.
In the evening, he cultivated in his room, and it increased by another point.
Early the next morning, Chu Ning practiced the Nine Tigers Body Refining Technique and then started making breakfast.
Perhaps it was because Shang Zhaoxiang had mocked him the day before—
Or because Chu Ning got up early to make breakfast, Cao Dongxin left later than usual today, almost neck and neck with Shang Zhaoxiang next door.
The group arrived at the field, where Cao Dongxin first observed the growth of the Spirit Rice.
At this moment, instead of avoiding Chu Ning, he somewhat proudly said,
"I applied the Cyan Wood Spring Blossom Skill to these yesterday. After just one day, you can see a growth difference from the others. With the spell applied to the remaining rice today, in about a month, we'll cover it all, and both yield and quality of the Spirit Rice will improve."
As he spoke, Cao Dongxin led Chu Ning forward.
Upon reaching a corner, he stopped and murmured in confusion,
"Hmm, what's with this area? I remember applying the Cyan Wood Spring Blossom Skill here yesterday; why is there no growth difference in this patch?"
Hearing these words, Chu Ning's heart skipped a beat.
This area was precisely where he chose to cultivate yesterday.
"Could it be that I absorbed the Spiritual Qi gathered by the Cyan Wood Spring Blossom Skill while cultivating?"
Chu Ning's mind flashed with a guess.