Chapter Six: Joining the Qiongyun Sect

I heard a few coughs from the inner room, reminding me that the immortal had already woken up. I hurriedly ran inside to check on his condition.

When I opened the door, I saw that he had changed into a clean blue robe, and his complexion had recovered. However, his piercing phoenix eyes stared at me, as if he wanted to devour me whole.

He stared at me for a long time before slowly speaking, "Did you bandage this wound? It's a bit tight."

I looked innocent and said, "Oh? Really? I might not have noticed at the time. Let me loosen it for you now."

Hearing this, he raised an eyebrow and a meaningful smile tugged at his lips. Suddenly, he reached out and knocked on my head. Although it wasn't hard, it startled me.

I stepped back a few paces and, seeing his expression soften, asked, "I heard you encountered another monster in the cave on the back mountain? Linglu is usually meticulous and rarely makes mistakes. She must have been flustered this time. I apologize on her behalf."

I quickly waved my hand and said, "No, no. You saved me twice; I should be the one thanking you. Given the circumstances, I certainly don't blame your sister."

"If you're alright and have rested enough, you can leave..."

Before he could finish, the woman's sweet voice interrupted from behind me, "Brother, Master asked me to remind you to consider the future of Qiongyun."

The immortal's expression became slightly troubled. He suddenly looked up and asked if I was willing to stay at Qiongyun for a while.

I was a bit surprised and didn't respond immediately. He took my hesitation as confusion and explained, "The Moon Spirit Jade you carry is a magnet for demons and monsters. Staying at Qiongyun can keep you safe for now and teach you self-defense techniques for the future. However, if you insist on leaving, I won't stop you. Will you stay?"

Though puzzled why his sister's words changed his mind about letting me go, I found the idea of learning immortal arts intriguing. So, I nodded in agreement.

She then remarked that it wouldn't be fair to other new disciples if I joined Qiongyun so easily. She suggested I should first learn for a few years and pass trials before becoming a formal disciple. The immortal then said that I didn't need to officially join the sect but could simply follow him and learn from his guidance, which silenced her.

It seemed she wanted me to stay without truly mastering advanced techniques, which made me even more suspicious. But since the immortal had spoken, I decided to make the best of the situation.

Shortly after, the man who had saved me in the cave brought a girl about my age, and we went to the Record Pavilion to register my name.

As we walked, we chatted and got to know each other.

Her name was Luo Yi'er, and she had just passed Qiongyun's trials this year. Her brother, Luo Xi, was also a disciple of Ling Yi.

The place was filled with many palaces and houses that looked like they were built from white jade. The blue and white appearance didn't resemble ordinary bricks or precious stones but seemed more like ice and snow.

We walked for what felt like a long time, and when we finally arrived at the so-called "Record Pavilion," Luo Yi'er suddenly turned and asked if I knew about the Qiongyun Sect. I nodded uncertainly.

I knew this was a place to learn immortal arts, but I didn't know much else.

She gestured for me to follow her inside and took out a bamboo scroll, reading aloud: "Why is this place called 'Qiongyun'? According to ancient records, this was once the residence of an immortal. He was punished by the heavens for breaking celestial rules and dismembered. His immortal body transformed into clouds that lingered for millennia, and his bones became ice walls recording the ways of immortality. The sky-reaching clouds and the ethereal mist gave this place its name: Qiongyun."

Heavenly punishment… dismembered… These obscure terms swirled in my mind before slipping away.

Looking inside, I saw several shelves holding scrolls and items, along with a few large chests filled with books.

Luo Yi'er covered her nose and mouth as she pulled out a bamboo slip from a dusty box. She spread it open and grabbed a pen with fresh ink to write down my name, then showed it to me to check if she had written it correctly.

I looked at the name and saw it was correct, but my name was placed right after Luo Yi'er's, who was a new disciple this year. I wondered why the bamboo slip was already so dusty.

So, I asked her if she had been at Qiongyun for a while.

She dusted off her hands and nodded, saying, "Yes, we've been here for almost two months now. You've probably missed a lot of lessons, but Uncle Que is the future head of the sect. With his personal guidance, I'm sure you'll catch up quickly."

Two months... If I don't double my efforts to catch up, I might not pass the trials and won't be able to learn immortal arts from the immortal. It would tarnish the future head's reputation... Wait, what master? Suddenly, I blurted out, "He's not my master!"

"If he's not your master, why would Uncle Que personally teach you? Don't worry, most of what we've been practicing these two months is just basic skills. Now that your name is recorded, I should head to the back mountain to practice swordsmanship. You should return to your master." She handed me a piece of paper, waved, and ran off.

I unfolded the paper and realized it was a map of the Qiongyun Sect.

No way, is the Qiongyun Sect really this big? I looked at the map and quickly found the Record Pavilion. Where should I go next? I saw the words "Hundred Culinary Hall" and instinctively licked my lips.

After much effort, I found the Hundred Culinary Hall, only to be told by the disciples there that food was only distributed at designated times. Disappointed, I returned to the empty Tianxuan Palace and slumped over the table, sighing continuously.

I closed my eyes, thinking of delicious osmanthus cakes and crystal candies. The scent seemed to surround me. Was I hallucinating from hunger? I sniffed and sniffed, then bumped into a wide sleeve. The cool fabric brushed my face, and I instantly woke up.

To my surprise, the immortal had brought me food. I jumped up from the table and began stuffing the cakes into my mouth.

He watched me eat quietly. Feeling a bit embarrassed, I extended a piece to him.

He didn't take it and simply said, "These were specially made for you by Linglu. Once you're done, we'll start with the basics of cultivation."

When I saw the mountains of bamboo slips, I realized that those seemingly simple spells required learning many intricate steps.

The complex incantations and breathing techniques in the books gave me headaches. Several times, I couldn't resist the urge to nap, dozing off at the table.

One day, I saw the immortal's sister bring a redwood box to him, filled with cakes. She asked if the cakes she prepared last time were to his liking. That's when I realized the cakes I had been eating were meant for him, but he gave them all to me.

Feeling moved, I decided to put more effort into my studies and cultivation, not wanting to disappoint him.

Extreme methods like tying my hair to the ceiling beam or stabbing my thigh wouldn't work for me. Instead, I asked the immortal to explain the difficult incantations, then translated the bamboo slips into easier-to-understand notes and repeatedly practiced them. After some time, I made noticeable progress and could perform some simple spells.

Day by day, time flew by, and before I knew it, I had been at Qiongyun for three years.