From the moment Li Yan entered and heard that gentle voice, to seeing Wei Zhongran's humble face and the subsequent apprenticeship process, he couldn't help but subconsciously overlap him with Strategist Ji. This was despite the vast difference in their figures—one fat, one thin—making them impossible to truly overlap. As a result, he felt that even though he had become a disciple, it was a case of having to bow his head under someone else's roof. Who could blame him for being so weak now? But from the bottom of his heart, he didn't have the slightest respect for this master. He didn't know if a knife was hidden behind that humble face.
But now that he was being called up, he had to brace himself and walk forward. As he did, everyone below looked at him. They didn't know what their master was doing. Only the Martial Mother seemed to know what was about to happen. Seeing Li Yan's apprehensive expression, she couldn't help but smile sweetly. In the bamboo house, it was like a gentle breeze in a shady forest on a clear summer day. Her crimson lips parted slightly. "The little fellow looks a bit scared."
Wei Zhongran also noticed Li Yan's expression. His deep, mellow voice rang out. "I'm just checking your aptitude so I can choose a cultivation technique for you later." Up to now, he knew very little about this new disciple's cultivation. Even his background was what Li Yan himself had said, and his aptitude was what he had heard from Senior Brother Feng. Unlike other disciples, whose detailed information was reported by subordinate sects or tested by him personally before they entered the sect.
As he spoke, he reached out and grabbed Li Yan's wrist. The fatty, who had seemed like an ordinary mortal just a moment ago, instantly became incomparably sharp in his presence. Before the dazed Li Yan could react, he felt a pure, warm spiritual energy invade his body. By the time Li Yan looked up, the spiritual energy had vanished without a trace, and the pressure on his body was also completely gone.
Wei Zhongran released Li Yan's wrist, his face thoughtful. Although he had long heard what Li Yan's aptitude was, and he wouldn't doubt that Senior Brother Feng would lie about this matter, he still held onto a sliver of hope. The result was, of course, still somewhat disappointing. A Miscellaneous Spirit Root, a genuine Miscellaneous Spirit Root. This was unique even in the Malevolent Spirit Sect; they wouldn't even accept such a spirit root for handyman disciples.
Wei Zhongran pondered for a moment, then broke into a smile. "Li Yan, your spirit root is best suited for the water attribute. So, don't practice the entry-level technique from Spirit Insect Peak anymore. In a while, I'll have your Eldest Senior Brother take you to this peak's treasured collection to choose a water-attribute cultivation technique and a few immortal arts. This will be more suitable for your cultivation. Hmm, after you've chosen, you can have your Eldest Senior Brother explain and teach you first. If you have any questions you don't understand, you can also come and ask me directly. How about that?"
Li Yan was stunned. It turned out he was helping him choose a cultivation technique and immortal arts. Although he wouldn't cultivate the sect's techniques, the man had said so. Besides, even if he didn't want the technique, he needed those immortal arts. Ever since seeing Strategist Ji's "Fireball Art" and "Wood Thorn Art," he had longed for immortal arts.
In fact, Li Yan didn't know how much Wei Zhongran was looking out for him. For an entry-level technique for someone at his Qi Condensation stage, in the major sects, it would be explained by a senior brother at around the ninth or tenth layer of Qi Condensation. They were the Transmission Senior Brothers, specializing in helping new disciples.
For someone like Li Wuyi at the Foundation Establishment stage to teach him was definitely overkill. Even the seventh senior brother, Lin Daqiao, a master at the Qi Condensation stage, would have been more than enough. It was just that the higher the level of the explanation, the more you could comprehend. That's why Wei Zhongran told Li Yan he could come and ask him if he had any questions. Such treatment was extremely rare in the sect.
This was also because Wei Zhongran knew Li Yan's aptitude was not good, so he wanted to give him the best help possible.
Of course, Li Yan didn't know any of this. He thought it was normal for a master to teach his disciple. Besides, here he was only letting his Eldest Senior Brother guide him. So, on the surface, he respectfully said, "Thank you, Master."
"Well, that's settled. You may all leave. Wuyi, take Li Yan to arrange his accommodation, then go to the treasured collection to select a cultivation technique and immortal arts."
"Master, Eldest Senior Brother, let me take the little junior brother. I can handle these things. When the little junior brother starts cultivating the technique, he can go to Eldest Senior Brother for guidance," a clear voice rang out at that moment.
Everyone looked over and saw it was the long-armed Lin Daqiao. He had already stood up and was walking towards Li Yan.
Wei Zhongran understood the reason at a glance. This Lin Daqiao had entered the sect relatively late and had not yet broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage. Among this group of disciples, he was the only one who was still a Disciple-in-Name. Now he must have found a companion and was happy.
Wei Zhongran smiled and nodded. "Hehe, that's fine too. Wuyi, you can have Daqiao handle it." After speaking, he glanced at the beautiful woman in the white palace dress beside him. The two stood up at the same time and floated out the door, leaving the disciples to stand up and respectfully see them off.
After the two of them disappeared from the doorway, a pleasant voice came through.
"Daqiao, why are you calling him little junior brother? Are you trying to promote yourself?" It was the Fourth Senior Sister, Miao Wangqing, in the goose-yellow dress, looking at Lin Daqiao with a teasing expression.
It turned out that before Li Yan came, Lin Daqiao was the youngest Disciple-in-Name here. Everyone naturally called him "little junior brother," which made him feel like he would never grow up in their eyes, much to his annoyance. Now that Li Yan had just arrived, he couldn't wait to get rid of this title.
Lin Daqiao had already walked up to Li Yan and enthusiastically put an arm around his shoulders. He turned his head to look at his Fourth Senior Sister. "Isn't that right? If you still call me 'little junior brother,' wouldn't I have to call Junior Brother Li 'Senior Brother Li'?" After speaking, he winked at Li Yan.
Since the incident with Strategist Ji, Li Yan was very unaccustomed to being so close to people. But seeing this Seventh Senior Brother being so familiar, he couldn't bring himself to push his hand away and could only smile.
Miao Wangqing saw Lin Daqiao's triumphant look and then looked at the others who were all watching her. She secretly glanced at Li Wuyi, puffed out her chest, making her figure look even fuller, and was about to continue speaking when another voice rang out. "Fourth Senior Sister, let's go." At this moment, the short-haired Sixth Senior Sister, Gong Chenying, stood up, her figure appearing even more slender and fit. She just glanced at Li Yan again faintly, then pulled on Miao Wangqing's dress and walked out.
"Junior Sister, Junior Sister, I still have words to teach Daqiao a lesson, don't be in such a hurry to leave." Miao Wangqing was reluctantly pulled out by the cold Gong Chenying.
"Is that so? Are you sure it's great... skill?" They had already reached the door, and the cold voice drifted back faintly, but it seemed to emphasize a certain word heavily.
This time, Miao Wangqing didn't say anything more. She looked flustered, clapped a hand over Gong Chenying's mouth, and pulled her away in a hurry.
Only three people were left in the room. Li Yan was completely bewildered, but he could clearly feel the arm of the Seventh Senior Brother hugging him shaking continuously, his face holding back a laugh. The next moment, his expression changed, and he turned to look at Li Wuyi with a tragic expression, then said in a low voice, "Ah, one can't be too handsome, or else you won't dare to go out for days."
Li Wuyi rubbed his nose with a frustrated look.
At this time, the excessively burly Second Senior Brother also walked up to Li Yan and patted him on the shoulder. "Eighth Junior Brother, come over to my courtyard when you have time. You can also ask me if you have any questions. Cultivate as soon as possible, so you can spar with your Second Senior Brother. Alas!" The first part was said to Li Yan, but at the end, he looked at the frustrated Li Wuyi, sighed, then turned and left the main hall.
With that pat, Li Yan felt as if a big bear had struck him. Half of his body instantly went numb, and he couldn't help but grimace. He was only fifteen now; how could he understand the words of these people? He just felt that they were all very strange, but they seemed to be talking about his Eldest Senior Brother.
"Second Senior Brother, Second Senior Brother, you have to call him little junior brother, little junior brother!" Lin Daqiao shouted at the back of the big man.
"Ahem, Eighth... little junior brother, your Second Senior Brother is a cultivation fanatic. When your realm gets higher, you'll have to... hmm, how should I put it, your Second Senior Brother might quite like to discuss cultivation techniques and immortal arts with you."
Li Wuyi gave a dry cough and said to Li Yan. He had actually called Li Yan little junior brother. Li Yan thought, 'It's just that this Second Senior Brother probably likes to compete with people.' But at this moment, he really didn't take it to heart. Only heaven knew when he would reach Foundation Establishment.
Li Wuyi looked at Lin Daqiao again and saw him still staring at the door, muttering non-stop.
"Hehe, Daqiao, you take the little junior brother to arrange his accommodation, then explain the sect rules and various entry-level basics to him. Oh, and it would be best if you tell the little junior brother all the knowledge you learned when you first entered your subordinate immortal sect. You heard his background just now; he doesn't have much knowledge of the cultivation world, so the more detailed, the better. Hmm, as for the choice of cultivation technique, I'll handle it. By the time you've arranged all this, it will probably be evening. I'll go find the little junior brother tomorrow morning."
He was letting Lin Daqiao be responsible for giving Li Yan the entry-level knowledge, which he was confident about. But then he considered this junior brother's jumpy personality. Choosing a cultivation technique was a major matter, so it was better for him to be responsible. It had to be said that he was a very thoughtful person.
"Alright, you can rest assured, Eldest Senior Brother!" Lin Daqiao beamed with joy as he heard Li Wuyi say the words 'little junior brother' more and more smoothly.
"Alright then, little junior brother, I'll go back first. It will probably be evening by the time these things are done today. You get some good rest, familiarize yourself with the environment, and I'll come find you tomorrow morning to choose a cultivation technique and immortal arts."
Li Wuyi was thorough and reminded Li Yan once more.
"Okay, Eldest Senior Brother. Thank you for your trouble today," Li Yan said politely.
Afterward, the three of them left the main hall and went their separate ways outside.
Li Yan walked behind the main hall he had just left. Lin Daqiao led him up the mountain, talking as they went. Li Yan felt that Lin Daqiao was a talkative person, but he had a good impression of him. He felt that this person was rather simple-minded, the kind of person who would say whatever came to mind. Li Yan would occasionally interject, and Lin Daqiao would answer any question.
Just like that, Li Yan easily learned some things about Lin Daqiao. Lin Daqiao was twenty years old this year and came from a third-rate immortal sect in Changkong Continent. This continent was also within the jurisdiction of the Malevolent Spirit Sect, in its southwest. It was dominated by a few third-rate sects, without even a single second-rate sect.
The immortal sect Lin Daqiao belonged to was considered one of the best in Changkong Continent. His aptitude was the most outstanding among the several third-rate sects at the time. It was just that he was discovered relatively late by that third-rate immortal sect, only at the age of twelve. This was a few years earlier than Li Yan's entry into the immortal path. He reached the second layer of Qi Condensation after only one year of cultivation there and was regarded as a once-in-a-century genius by this third-rate sect. By the third year, he had reached the fifth layer. It happened to be the time when the Malevolent Spirit Sect was recruiting disciples, so he was sent over. Unexpectedly, he was spotted by Wei Zhongran and accepted as a Disciple-in-Name. It has been more than six years since he entered the sect this year, and he has already cultivated to the tenth layer of Qi Condensation. He advanced a layer in just over a year. You have to know that the further you go in cultivation, the harder it is to ad
Li Yan found this strange. The subordinate sects sent their hard-found geniuses to the superior immortal sects like this. How could these small sects develop themselves? Lin Daqiao's subsequent words put him at ease.
It turned out that when the four great sects recruited disciples, the subordinate immortal sects could choose not to send disciples. But for the disciples in the subordinate immortal sects, they would lose an excellent opportunity for immortal ascension. Because in terms of cultivation techniques, immortal arts, and various resources, with all the resources of their sect, it was basically hopeless to support a great Golden Core cultivator in two hundred years. But in the four great sects, there was this possibility.
In addition, after these people who were sent to the four great sects established their foundation or formed a Golden Core, they had to serve as elders or supreme elders of their original immortal sects. At that time, the four great sects would also give their sects a generous reward for finding such talented individuals. These rewards could take years, decades, or even hundreds of years for second-rate, third-rate, and even unranked sects to accumulate. This would greatly enhance the strength of these small immortal sects and allow them to develop rapidly. Why wouldn't the subordinate immortal sects be happy to do this?
As for why the four great sects did such thankless things, that was purely Li Yan's ignorance. Although these people returned to their original immortal sects, these immortal sects still belonged to the four great sects. The stronger they became, the more powerful the four great sects would be. Furthermore, their soul lamps after establishing their foundation would remain in the four great sects. When the four great sects were in trouble, they themselves, and even their entire sects, would have to assist. So this was a mutually beneficial matter. Otherwise, they might end up with their lamp extinguished and their life forfeit.
In addition, due to the rich resources of the four great sects, there were still many people who, after establishing their foundation and condensing their core, would serve as elders and supreme elders of their original small immortal sects but would not leave the four great sects, staying in the sect to cultivate in seclusion. This also led to the four great sects having many Golden Core cultivators and a large number of Foundation Establishment cultivators.
However, for some ambitious second and third-rate sects that wanted to develop their own sects into superpowers, they were unwilling. So some sects would not send their true elites and geniuses. But for these small fries, the four great sects also turned a blind eye. They were behemoths. If someone wanted to shake them, there would be signs beforehand. As soon as the signs appeared, they would strike casually, and those with ambitions would be reduced to ashes, their entire sect wiped out.