Chapter 16: Chapter 16 Seeking Only the Company of My Junior Sister
Editor: Henyee Translations
As the Chief Disciple, Qiu Changtian, besides attending regular sessions in the Scripture Lecture Hall to listen to the Ziwei Master’s teachings, also had to return to explain scriptures and answer questions for his junior brothers and sisters.
The reason was simple: the Ziwei Sect Leader took on disciples every generation.
With so many generations, the number of disciples had long since surpassed one hundred, and it was impossible to fit everyone in the Scripture Lecture Hall.
Therefore, only the Chief Disciple of each generation could listen to the teachings in the Scripture Lecture Hall.
The remaining junior brothers and sisters could only wait for the Chief Disciple to finish listening before coming back to teach and answer questions on behalf of the master.
Of course, Xu Yinglian, who possessed the Seven Orifices Exquisite Heart, was an exception—having precious qualities for cultivation, she had privileges in Kunlun.
Inside the Scripture Lecture Hall, all the meditation cushions were divided into left and right rows, and their arrangement also followed particular importance.
Disciples at the Golden Core Stage sat on the left, those at the Foundation Establishment Stage sat on the right. Those with better aptitudes sat at the front, while those with lesser aptitudes sat at the back.
Additionally, the cushion at the very front of both rows was reserved for the strongest among all the Chief Disciples of the Golden Core Stage and the Foundation Establishment Stage, respectively.
Therefore, these two individuals had another title—called the “Great Chief Disciples.”
Others, although first among their peers, had to follow the hierarchy in front of the Sect Leader, and could only be considered “lesser Chief Disciples.”
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After the grand opening ceremony, Qiu Changtian came to listen to the teachings for the first time as a formal disciple and was appointed by the Real Ziwei to sit on the second cushion of the right row, causing envy and disappointment among the others.
The senior brother who originally occupied the second position on the right row, forced to give up his cushion, felt reluctant and had a gloomy expression. However, he was fiercely glared at by Xu Changqing, the senior brother and Great Chief Disciple of the Foundation Establishment Stage, in front of him, and he hastily lowered his head, not daring to show any further dissatisfaction.
Qiu Changtian took his cushion, apologized, and the other could only force a smile saying it was all right and then moved to sit on the third cushion in the back.
As for Ying Lian, if sorting by talent, she should have been sitting behind Qiu Changtian, on the third cushion.
But the Ziwei Master, knowing of her competitive nature and deep-seated obsession with Qiu Changtian,
feared that if she sat behind him, after a few more sessions, the girl would be gone.
Vomiting blood, biting through silver teeth, succumbing to Deviation, shouting thrice “If Ying Lian was born, why let Qiu be?” before passing away and having her soul drift down to the Netherworld.
Thus, the Master instructed her to move a cushion over and sit to the right of Qiu Changtian, forming a third row.
Xu Yinglian was somewhat puzzled, but since it was a command from her master, she complied and sat to the right of Qiu Changtian, her expression serene.
Once the Ziwei Sect Leader had finished lecturing, everyone listened engrossed and reluctant to leave.
But Qiu Changtian stayed behind, clearly having something to say.
Xu Yinglian, seeing that he didn’t leave, asked softly,
“Senior brother?”
Qiu Changtian gestured for her not to ask too much and to just listen by his side.
The Ziwei Master sat silently for a moment, eyes closed, then asked,
“What is it?”
“Reporting to master,” Qiu Changtian said respectfully, “your disciple wishes to go out for experiential training.”
Upon hearing this, the Ziwei Sect Leader lifted his eyelids to look at him, surprised, and asked,
“You’re short of spirit stones?”
Unruffled, Qiu Changtian replied,
“The disciple wishes to exert himself for the sake of our Sect.”
The Ziwei Master then chuckled and shook his head.
In today’s Cultivation World, with many Sects, the paths for outer sect disciples and inner sect disciples are completely different.
Outer sect disciples, with subpar aptitudes and limited sect resources, would definitely not be able to keep up with the rate at which their lifespan was used in normal cultivation. Therefore, they had to go out for training and perform sect missions, searching for remnants left over from ancient times in the hope of a serendipitous encounter.
Inner sect disciples, with superior aptitudes and generous resources from the Sect, enjoyed uninterrupted operation of their caverns’ Spirit Gathering Arrays for twelve hours a day. Consequently, unless they hit a bottleneck, they would want nothing more than to stay in the Sect and reach full level before venturing out.
Thus, the Ziwei Master’s assumption was that Qiu Changtian wanted to go out and obtain some treasures or spirit stones… You’re only at the Qi Refining Rank, what need have you for such treasures? Probably for exchanging spirit stones.
“Very well.” Seeing that he was unwilling to admit it, the Ziwei Master didn’t expose him further. “Go to the administrative hall and obtain the leave talisman.”
“Reporting to the master,” Qiu Changtian continued, “your disciple wishes to bring along junior sister Ying Lian.”
Xu Yinglian: ?
“Why is this?” the Ziwei Master asked again.
What reason could there be? The Synchronization Value was only at 77% now; it had to be brushed back up. Could he not rely on this junior sister?
“Master, this is also a disciple’s selfishness,” Qiu Changtian said with a bitter smile, “If your disciple encounters a fortuitous adventure outside and his cultivation level soars, I’m afraid the junior sister would not be convinced…”
“Who do you say would not be convinced?” Xu Yinglian burst out in anger.
“Then let me put it another way,” Qiu Changtian immediately corrected himself, “If I encounter a fortuitous adventure outside, my current state being at the Qi Refining Rank with modest mana, I may not be able to handle it. If junior sister Ying Lian could assist, our chances of success would be greater.”
The anger in Xu Yinglian’s face slowly subsided, hidden but not extinguished.
The Ziwei Master pondered for a moment, then smiled and said:
“You really have thought this through. However… if you really do come across a great opportunity, would you be willing to share it with your junior sister? Aren’t you afraid she may surpass you because of it?”
Within the Kunlun Sect, it was alright, but in the Cultivation Realm outside the sect, it was all about survival of the fittest. Killing for treasure was commonplace, with no authorities to intervene… What authorities are there for cultivators?
After discovering an opportunity, the normal reaction would be to secretly hoard it and monopolize the benefits. That would be the logical approach.
“Of course,” Qiu Changtian said earnestly, “If the junior sister can improve her cultivation through the opportunity and surpass your disciple, that would be a good thing.”
“Why?” Xu Yinglian asked incredulously.
Qiu Changtian gave a faint smile and said:
“Walking alone on the path of cultivation is quite lonely. Having the junior sister’s company would leave no regrets.”
What if he trained outside for too long and no one was there to boast to, causing the Synchronization Value to drop? What then?
Xu Yinglian was momentarily speechless, her anger had already dissipated, transforming into a complex expression as if deep in thought.
[Invincible Character Setting, Synchronization Value +1.]
“Good!” the Ziwei Master laughed and clapped his hands in approval, “Since you have this intention, I will not stop you.”
With a gesture of his sleeve, a sword descended from the hall above, and he said:
“This is the Tai Yi Dividing Light Sword, a treasured weapon of our sect. I will lend it to you temporarily; it will ensure your safety while traveling outside.”
Qiu Changtian was startled: the Tai Yi Dividing Light Sword, that was a famous Immortal Sword!
It had gained renown since the Ancient battle of Chanyi and was far beyond the Tenth Rank, an exceedingly powerful Immortal Sword that could not be measured by grade ranks!
He wanted to confirm this, but was afraid it would not fit with his character setting, so he maintained a dignified posture and responded solemnly:
“Thank you for the loan of the sword, Master.”
Xu Yinglian was also shockingly amazed, her words stuck in her throat.
After the two left, the Ziwei Master fell silent for a moment before slowly picking up the horsetail whisk beside the lotus platform, and murmured:
“Afflictions and deluded thoughts, sorrows both body and mind. Coveting the undying, how can one achieve tranquility?”
No sooner had Qiu Changtian left the Jade Void Palace than Xu Yinglian grabbed him from behind.
“What are you planning to do?” Xu Yinglian frowned and asked, “Venturing out for experience? What’s there to experience at the Qi Refinement Realm? Without a Flying Sword, I fear you won’t even be able to beat mundane martial artists.”
I’m going out to get Spirit Stones… Of course, Qiu Changtian couldn’t tell her that; otherwise, Xu Yinglian would certainly say, “I’ll lend them to you” “First, tell me what you need them for.”
So he just gave a faint smile and asked, “Are you scared?”
Xu Yinglian: ?!!
She nearly jumped in response.
Strangely enough, her disposition as a Seven Orifices Exquisite Heart meant that whether dealing with people or issues, she could see through them as if they were clear flames.
Because she could see through them, they held no interest for her.
Because they held no interest, she was detached.
Even though it was clear that her senior brother was using such simple provocation, she couldn’t contain the anger within. It surged up to the top of her head like an erupting volcano, unceasingly.
“Scared of what?” she scoffed, “Is it that the senior brother is too nervous for his first time venturing out, that you need to drag me along to bolster your courage?”
“It seems you’ve discovered this already,” Qiu Changtian said with a gleeful smile.
This teasing tone, as if tricking a girl, made Xu Yinglian even more irritated.