Chapter 13: I have the bearing of a leader

Accumulated Minor Mountain, Outer Peak of the Soaring Cloud Sect.

A winding, twisting mountain path led straight to the Heaven’s Gate, shrouded in clouds and mist.

Countless figures seeking immortality at the Soaring Cloud Sect struggled up the path, gritting their teeth to persist even when exhausted.

Only by reaching the summit and passing the Disciple Examination at Heaven’s Gate could one become an Outer Disciple of the Soaring Cloud Sect.

With so many Outer Disciples, some would never become Inner Disciples in their lifetime, never truly step into the threshold of cultivation.

Yet, the status of a Soaring Cloud Sect Outer Disciple, along with the meager monthly allotment of Low-grade Spirit Stones and Foundational Cultivation Techniques, was enough for them to be revered as Immortal Masters among mortals.

The reason Ning Yin was resented was simply because, despite only having the aptitude of an Outer Disciple, she became the personal disciple of Yu Wei Immortal Lord of Muyun Peak.

Yet she neither knew humility nor restraint, carrying herself with arrogance and domineering pride, thus making countless enemies.

Mo Dashan was one of those climbing Heaven’s Gate to become a disciple.

He moved within the vast procession. Unlike the other Famed Family Young Masters in fine robes or accompanied by exotic spirit pets, he hailed from a poor farming household, trudging between muddy fields and a thatched hut day after day.

On the day his Spirit Root was tested, all his family could scrape together were a tattered bundle, a few sets of patched clothes, several dry cakes, and a pair of cloth shoes meant for his future wedding.

Now, those cloth shoes were already worn to rags.

Everyone registering for the examination hoped to embark on the path of cultivation after becoming an Outer Disciple, but Mo Dashan didn’t care much for becoming an Immortal.

As long as he made it into the Outer Peak, he was satisfied.

A single Low-grade Spirit Stone could fetch enough silver in the mortal world to feed his family of five for three years. Let alone, after it was revealed he had an awakenable Spiritual Root, his family was treated with newfound respect.

If he truly became an Outer Disciple of the Soaring Cloud Sect, his parents would not have to labor so hard, and his siblings could have better futures.

With this belief, Mo Dashan climbed through countless nights and days, finally reaching the summit just as his feet were rubbed raw and bloody.

Before him, the grand hall towered, imposing and majestic, far surpassing even the most splendid mansions he’d ever seen in the city.

Outer Disciples guarding the entrance wore identical uniforms, maintaining order with stern pride.

Unaccustomed to such grandeur, Mo Dashan was stunned, standing there dazed and looking about in confusion, not noticing he’d stepped on the foot of the person beside him.

“ Tsk! Are you blind? You dirtied my shoes, brat!”

Mo Dashan snapped back to himself, hurriedly bowing. “Forgive me, Young Master! I’ll clean them right away!”

Several Outer Disciples glanced over.

The Famed Family Young Master in embroidered robes frowned in disgust, then waved it off. “Forget it, just my bad luck.” He brushed his sleeve and moved away.

The line moved forward, one by one.

Before entering the Soaring Cloud Sect’s main hall, everyone had to place their hand on a stone—the Spirit Root Testing Stone.

It checked whether a Spiritual Root had awakened and assessed one’s talent. If no Spiritual Root was awakened, or one’s talent was too poor, they’d be eliminated.

The Soaring Cloud Sect, being one of the seven great Sects, would never allow frauds to enter.

It was Mo Dashan’s turn.

Of the ten people ahead of him, seven had already failed the test and, protesting in disbelief, were thrown down the mountain by Outer Disciples.

So many wealthy Young Masters had failed. Could someone like him, a poor farmer’s child, possibly have the aptitude for cultivation?

Uneasy, Mo Dashan placed his trembling palm on the Spirit Root Testing Stone.

The Outer Disciple beside the stone glanced at him; the stone showed no reaction.

“No Spiritual Root.”

Mo Dashan stammered, “No Spiritual Root? How… how is that possible? I already tested…”

“The stones in the mortal world are often inaccurate. The Sect’s Spirit Root Testing Stone is the standard.”

The Famed Family Young Master behind Mo Dashan shoved him aside, “Another fraud trying to sneak in—get lost!”

Mo Dashan tried to explain, “No, that’s not it! The Immortal Master in our village, a man of great repute, told me I had the potential to cultivate, said I was extremely gi—”

“Pfft—hahaha! A talentless waste with no Spiritual Root, and you dare say you’re gifted? Have you even looked at yourself in the mirror?”

“Immortal Master, let me try again, just once more—I really do have a Spiritual Root!”

The Outer Disciples ignored him and dragged him away, tossing him down the mountain.

The world spun; he crashed to the ground, pain radiating through his shattered bones, unable to stand after several attempts, left crawling in the dirt.

With difficulty, he looked up through the settling dust at the distant, unreachable Heaven’s Gate above the clouds, suddenly realizing how far he’d climbed.

Climbing up took days and nights. Falling down took only a moment.

Several streaks of light tore through the sky, landing atop Accumulated Minor Mountain.

Si Heyu led a group of Inner Disciples to the plaza before the great hall, instantly causing a commotion.

Outer Disciples hurried over to bow in salute, “Greetings, Senior Brother! What brings Senior Brother to Accumulated Minor Mountain today?”

Si Heyu scanned the area silently, eyes landing on the Spirit Root Testing Stone to the side. His brows drew together. With a single glance, he declared, “The Spirit Root Testing Stone is broken. Replace it.”

The Famed Family Young Master who’d just been told he had no Spiritual Root instantly lit up. “I knew it! My awakening was guided by Qianyuan Immortal Elder himself. How could I suddenly lose my Spiritual Root? Thank you, Senior Brother!”

Si Heyu said nothing more and strode into the hall.

Muyun Peak Back Mountain.

Ning Yin, gripping the Splendor Sword, dashed nimbly through the forest as the Rock Golem thundered after her, each step slamming the ground in pursuit. The crashing echoed through the woods.

Agile and quick, Ning Yin dodged beneath the Rock Golem’s whistling stone arms, each escape perilously close.

Jagged rocks grazed her sleeves, gusts of wind stinging her cheeks.

Suddenly, her heart lurched. Looking back, she saw a massive boulder falling straight at her, no way to dodge. She braced herself, turning to block the blow with her sword, the impact numbing her hand.

No time to think. Pouring nearly half her spiritual energy into the Splendor Sword, she willed the blade to life.

The sword resonated, splitting into several shimmering afterimages that pierced through the Rock Golem.

Ash scattered.

The Rock Golem let out a howl of agony, its massive form swaying. The hard black rock cracked apart, crumbling into dust.

“Killing the Rock Golem—the eighth method.”

In just two days, Ning Yin could now easily kill the Rock Golem in the Illusory Realm. Her confidence swelled by the day; where once she feared the Sect Competition next month, now she was even eager to test herself.

The illusion faded.

She glanced at Yan Hanzhou, who sat meditating to the side, his shoulders dusted with slender bamboo leaves.

Ning Yin quietly brushed the leaves away.

Yan Hanzhou had been in seclusion for two days now, ever since deciding to refine the Soul Power he inherited from Lingxiao Immortal Lord, lest trouble brew the longer it dragged on.

Ning Yin knew the gravity of this matter.

In the novel, after Shi Yunzhao inherited Lingxiao Immortal Lord’s legacy, the Sect Master personally guarded her, helping her refine the Soul Power. Shi Yunzhao alone could never have managed such vast Soul Power.

Yan Hanzhou had only just gained a Spiritual Root, yet wanted to refine the Soul Power alone? Ning Yin wanted to warn him not to be so reckless, but this stubborn man had gone into meditation without a word, caring nothing for his own life.

Each time she saw him now, he was either coughing blood or writhing in pain, and she feared he might explode and die at any moment.

Thankfully, few disciples ever visited Muyun Peak Back Mountain. Otherwise, being interrupted while refining Soul Power could be fatal.

By her calculation, Yan Hanzhou should be waking soon if nothing went wrong.

Sure enough, before long, Yan Hanzhou opened his eyes.

“Well? Did it work?”

Yan Hanzhou shook his head. “The spiritual energy in the Soaring Cloud Sect is too thin. It can’t support complete refinement of the Soul Power.”

“So what now?”

“Unless I have the support of abundant spiritual energy, fully refining the Soul Power won’t be possible overnight.”

The support of abundant spiritual energy?

Ning Yin’s eyes lit up as she remembered the mist-like spiritual energy condensed inside the Cangming Ring.

She raised her hand, showing Yan Hanzhou the ring. “There’s rich spiritual energy inside the Cangming Ring. It should be enough for you to fully refine the Soul Power.”

Yan Hanzhou knew about the Cangming Ring’s abundant spiritual energy.

But—

“The Cangming Ring has already recognized you as its master. Only you can use the spiritual energy within. There’s no rush—let’s take it slow.”

“Take it slow? The Sect Competition is next month! How can you take it slow?” Mentioning the Cangming Ring’s energy made Ning Yin sigh, “The spiritual energy in the Cangming Ring is so dense, even I can’t use it. Whenever I touch it, it feels like my meridians are about to burst.”

“Your foundation is too shallow. The spiritual energy in the Cangming Ring is too concentrated. If you force it, it’ll be your death knell.”

“Is there any way to get it out for you to use?”

Yan Hanzhou pondered. “The Cangming Ring has recognized you as its master through a drop of blood. Just send a strand of spiritual sense into the ring and silently recite the mantra ‘Qi Return Hidden, Myriad Worlds Untraceable.’ The spiritual energy will come out as you will, even condensing into spirit stones. You can use or take them as you wish.”

Before Yan Hanzhou could finish, Ning Yin closed her eyes, calming her mind as she sent a strand of spiritual sense into the Cangming Ring and chanted the mantra.

Before long, a wisp of dense, mist-like spiritual energy emerged from the ring, swirling around her like a living thing.

Seeing the spiritual energy appear, Ning Yin’s eyes sparkled with excitement. “It worked! It really worked!”

Yan Hanzhou’s lips curled into a faint smile.

Ning Yin willed the energy into Yan Hanzhou’s sea of consciousness, asking eagerly, “Can you use it?”

“I can.” Yan Hanzhou nodded, his expression turning serious.

“But refining Soul Power requires a massive amount of spiritual energy. You’ll need to keep drawing spiritual energy from the Cangming Ring nonstop. Each time you summon energy, it consumes your spiritual sense. You won’t be able to hold out for long.”

“How do you know I won’t know until I try? You can use your avatar to boost my cultivation—why can’t I help you refine the Soul Power?” Ning Yin’s tone was firm.

“Even if I can’t hold out for long, just letting you refine a bit more is worth it! That’s the Soul Power inherited from Lingxiao Immortal Lord! Do you know who helped Senior Sister refine it in the novel? The Sect Master! If I can help you refine Soul Power, wouldn’t that mean I have the makings of a Sect Master myself?”

“Enough talking. Let’s just try it. I know what I’m doing. Just tell me what to do after I draw out the energy.”

Yan Hanzhou opened his mouth to speak, but Ning Yin had already closed her eyes and recited the mantra.

A wisp of misty, cloud-like spiritual energy drifted out of the Cangming Ring.

Yan Hanzhou hesitated, then reached out to grasp Ning Yin’s right hand, the one wearing the Cangming Ring.

The moment their fingers intertwined, Ning Yin froze. Unaccustomed to such closeness with a man, she instinctively wanted to pull away, but quickly composed herself and held on tighter.

A thick, white mist of spiritual energy poured from the Cangming Ring, flowing continuously through their clasped fingers into Yan Hanzhou’s body.

Yan Hanzhou closed his eyes, focusing, letting the energy circulate through his meridians, cycling endlessly.

Under the nourishment of this spiritual energy, his frail Spiritual Root swiftly strengthened, and the millennia-old Soul Power merged with his own remnant soul, becoming one.

But, as Yan Hanzhou warned, summoning spiritual energy from the Cangming Ring demanded a strong spiritual sense.

Ning Yin’s cultivation was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, her spiritual sense weak. In just half an hour, sweat beaded on her brow and her grip on Yan Hanzhou’s hand trembled.

The flow of energy from the Cangming Ring slowed, and sensing her exhaustion, Yan Hanzhou tried to loosen his grip—only for Ning Yin to grasp him even tighter.

Time slipped by in silence, lost in the haze of spiritual mist and the burning of Ning Yin’s mind.

Her body was nearing its limit. Each time she drew the energy, it felt as though her sea of consciousness was being torn apart.

Cold sweat soaked her hair and face, dripping onto Yan Hanzhou’s hand.

Yan Hanzhou’s eyelids fluttered.

“Hold on! Just a little longer… almost there…” she silently encouraged herself, her nails digging crescent marks into the back of Yan Hanzhou’s hand.

Just as she felt her spiritual sense straining to its very breaking point, her consciousness on the verge of falling into endless darkness, an indescribable force suddenly surged from deep within her exhausted mind.

Clear and vast, her spiritual sense rushed forth, washing away the pain as if it had never existed. Clarity and strength swept through her entire body.

She could feel it—her spiritual sense had become much stronger.

Two hours later, Yan Hanzhou opened his eyes.

The Soul Power within him had completely merged with his own soul, a lifetime’s comprehension of swordsmanship burning like starlight at his core.

Ning Yin, clothes drenched in cold sweat, face deathly pale and weak, forced a smile as Yan Hanzhou awoke, a look of proud satisfaction on her face. “See? Didn’t I say—I have the makings of a Sect Master.”