The front was engraved with the six characters ‘Xuantian Sect Disciple Token,’ and the back depicted the Wolong Pan Zhu pattern.
She explained these were disciple tokens infused with low-grade Xuanyin ore. The Xuantian Sect had a very strict Great Protective Sect Array.
Only those wearing the disciple token could pass freely through most of the sect’s areas.
Even back on the immortal ship, the Steward Hall had already recorded Yun Miao and the others as visitors in the array, so the array didn’t react to their presence.
Those who had been eliminated already had their visitor status removed and were no longer allowed free access to the sect.
Yun Miao and the others’ visitor status would expire tomorrow, so from then on, they must remember to wear their disciple tokens when going out.
Curious Yun Miao immediately raised her hand: “What if I don’t get the disciple token by tomorrow morning?”
Ning Yu’s tone turned cold: “It is said—thousand years ago, the Magic Cult launched a massive invasion of our Xuantian Sect.”
“The Sect Leader deliberately lured the enemy in deeply and then fully activated the Great Protective Sect Array.”
“The Magic Cult cultivators below Nascent Soul Stage instantly exploded into blood mist. Even those at Out-of-Body and Divine Transformation were crushed into pulp in an instant.”
A few people gasped and hastily reached for their floating disciple tokens, fearing the tokens might suddenly explode if they were too slow.
But when their fingers touched the tokens, they felt a sting, and a drop of crimson blood was absorbed by the token.
Then, next to ‘Xuantian Sect Disciple Token,’ a few small characters appeared—each of their names.
Huaxin calmly picked up her disciple token: “Since Sister said the array only has such power when fully activated, I suppose it doesn’t usually work this way.”
White Deer rolled her eyes at Ning Yu: “That sister’s guess is right. Usually, if the array detects suspicious people sneaking in, it only issues a warning to the sect.”
“Then the Disciplinary Hall and patrol guards from the peaks check the situation. Trust me, don’t listen to Ning Yu’s nonsense; she just likes to scare people.”
Ning Yu pretended not to hear White Deer and continued, “Also, this disciple token has a Transmission via Spiritual Sense function.”
“Before, I used it to communicate with Big Antler Deer and summoned the Human-faced Owls from Shou Peak. As for how to use it exactly, the Enlightenment Hall people will teach you later, so I won’t elaborate.”
Then she activated her magic again, and a set of white robes made of soft silk floated up from the counter.
The sleeves and hem were embroidered with silver cloud patterns that shimmered in the sunlight like rippling waves.
The collar was stitched with the Wolong Pan Zhu emblem, matching the robes worn by Xuantian Sect disciples they had seen along the way.
“This is the Xuantian Sect disciple uniform, a low-grade magic garment. When the defensive formation on it is activated, it can withstand a full-force strike from a Jindan Stage cultivator.”
“The Wolong Pan Zhu pattern is the sect’s emblem. Most cultivators in the cultivation world will recognize you as Xuantian Sect disciples at a glance.”
“You may dye it and embroider small patterns as you wish, but do not drastically alter the cut or damage the emblem or collar covering the Wolong Pan Zhu pattern, or the defensive formation will fail.”
“Of course, this protection is only for each disciple. Except for certain important days, the sect does not force you to wear the uniform every day.”
“You may dress as you like, but be sure to be decent—don’t go too far…”
White Deer: “You little brats, even if you cross-dress in Xuantian Sect, no one cares.”
“But absolutely no bellybands or running around half-naked in the sect, messing with fellow disciples’ eyes! If I see that, don’t blame me for going crazy on you!”
Most disciples immediately shook their heads, firmly denying they would dare.
Huaxin glanced silently at Yun Miao.
Yun Miao hugged herself in shock: “Why are you looking at me? I still have a bit of shame in this area, okay!”
Tan Xiaobai nodded seriously: “Exactly, I believe in the boss!”
Ning Yu and the others who overheard this:
…could hardly believe it.
…They had also taken it for granted to believe before, but now hearing this, they started to have doubts.
Yun Miao pointed at White Deer to change the subject: “By the way, Brother Deer, aren’t you wearing clothes?”
Everyone was stunned, then all looked over in unison. Their gaze involuntarily drifted downward: “Eh? There’s nothing there?”
White Deer clamped her legs tightly and glared at them: “You little brats, what are you staring at? Who said I’m not wearing clothes?”
“This is a specially made magic robe that changes with my human and beast forms. Right now, it’s just manifested as fur. I’m fully covered!”
Yun Miao’s gaze lowered and found there really was nothing to see. She disdainfully turned her head: “Tch!”
White Deer snorted angrily and lowered her head, ready to charge and butt someone: “Hey, what’s that ‘tch’ about? Got a problem with my outfit?”
Fearless Yun Miao immediately took a fighting stance, but Ning Yu expressionlessly raised her hand and froze White Deer’s hooves in place.
At the same time, a hailstone the size of a fist dropped from above, hitting Yun Miao’s head squarely.
The thud was painful just to hear. Only Yun Miao pouted and rubbed her head: “Senior sister, don’t you care about me anymore?”
White Deer mooed angrily: “Let go of me! I’m going to ram this annoying brat to death!”
Ning Yu pretended not to hear Yun Miao: “Xuantian Sect forbids attacking fellow disciples, and high-rank bullying low-rank is even worse. Big Antler Deer, if you’re itching to taste the whip, I’m happy to help.”
White Deer immediately shut up.
More items floated up from the counter as Ning Yu continued her explanations.
“This is a Storage Pouch. Once you break through the first layer of the Qi Refining Stage, you can use it.”
“After Foundation Establishment Stage and cultivating your Spiritual Sense, you can imprint it with your Spiritual Mark, so cultivators with weaker Spiritual Sense cannot open it. However, cultivators with stronger Spiritual Sense can still remove the mark and steal your stuff.”
“So remember the saying ‘A cunning rabbit has three burrows.’ When you become wealthy, buy multiple Storage Pouches to store things. There have always been idiots who stuff all their belongings into one pouch when leaving the sect, as if they wanted to carry their whole house with them.”
“The result: when their pouches were stolen or robbed, they came back crying, throwing their belts onto the beams and threatening to hang themselves. Foolish beyond measure.”
Yun Miao blinked innocently: “I feel like I’ve been scolded, not sure, better watch again.”
Ning Yu: “These four bottles are Little Qi Gathering Pills, Little Spirit Restoration Pills, Fasting Pills, and Golden Sore Medicine, all low-grade pills. Their effects are…”
“This is a Formation Plate, engraved with low-level defense, self-purification, and spirit-gathering arrays. Later I’ll take you to choose your residences and help activate the arrays inside…”
***
“Infinite good stories, all at Jinjiang Literature City.”
“These low-grade talismans are Speed Talismans, Vajra Talismans, Amplifying Talismans, Dust Removal Talismans, Water Gathering Talismans… Even mortals can tear them open and use them immediately.”
“This is a Physical Peak Medicinal Bath pack, with some mild muscle-washing and marrow-cleansing effects…”
“These are the Low-grade Qi Refining Manual and Compendium of Five Element Techniques… The Enlightenment Hall will teach you later…”
“This is a single Fox Demon’s Tail Fur and a Wooden Sword Hairpin. Lastly, each of you gets ten pieces of Low-grade Ling Shi.”
The piles of items on the counter seemed to have a will of their own, flying into fifty-nine Storage Pouches. Then these pouches flew to each person.
“Among them, Ling Shi, pills, talismans, and medicinal bath packs are your basic monthly stipend. Next month, you’ll need to collect them yourselves. As your realm rises, your monthly stipend will also increase. That’s all I have to say. Any questions?”
Everyone hurriedly thanked the senior sister and happily accepted the gifts. Even Yun Miao was a bit emotional—she didn’t expect this late newbie package to be so generous!
Tan Xiaobai imitated the boss and raised his hand: “Senior sister, what are the last two items for?”
Ning Yu: “Useless. The Sect Leader mandates that each peak must prepare a gift to welcome new disciples.”
“Shou Peak wanted to give you beasts but was refused by the Sect Leader for being too dangerous, so they sent beast fur instead.”
“Sword Peak is always short on resources, so they broke off some branches on the spot to give you.”
White Deer kicked over: “What do you mean ‘beast fur’? Don’t make our Shou Peak welcome gift sound cheap like a feather duster, okay?”
“This is the tail fur of an elder fox at Nascent Soul Stage! Carrying it protects you from low-level illusion spells and can intimidate or repel other low-level beasts!”
“And these wooden hairpins? They’re handmade by Sword Peak disciples. Though ordinary wood, they secretly contain a sliver of sword intent—full of sincerity. Don’t you know what ‘a gift, though light, is heavy in affection’ means?”
Ning Yu dodged White Deer’s hoof with a flash and sneered, “I really don’t get ‘a gift light in weight but heavy in sentiment.’”
“I only know that after the elder fox’s tail was plucked bare, it went mad in the sect and caused the Disciplinary Hall a lot of trouble.”
“Sword Peak disciples took revenge and secretly cut down the Fuhuai Tree we planted in the Disciplinary Hall. Absolutely outrageous!”
“What? There’s such a thing?”
Yun Miao and the others secretly perked up, eager to hear more gossip, but Ning Yu turned to them and quietly warned, “Just as Big Antler Deer said, these hairpins contain sword intent. So be careful when you tie your hair with them—if your hand slips… haha, cutting off your head wouldn’t be good.”
At that moment, a breeze blew through the window, and everyone felt a chill on their necks.
After leaving the Steward Hall, Ning Yu took everyone to visit the Book Repository and Treasure Repository, also built on the Qingtian Ancient Tree.
Just as she was about to lead everyone back up to fly to the other peaks, her disciple token suddenly flickered—a message from the Disciplinary Hall urgently requiring her attention.
Ning Yu had no choice but to let Big Antler Deer lead everyone to find places to settle.
After the Xuantian Sect Disciple Recruitment Ceremony tomorrow, she would take them to familiarize themselves with the other peaks.
Big Antler Deer acknowledged and, after Ning Yu left, began asking the group about their current affiliations to arrange housing. Yun Miao’s first words startled him.
“What? You actually became a disciple of the Sect Leader?”
His Spiritual Sense swept over her, and his astonishment shifted into a different kind of surprise: “Fifteen years of bone age, Qi Refining Seventh Layer cultivation?”
“Didn’t expect you little brat to be a one-in-a-million genius. Not much different from the senior brother back then.”
Except for a few disciples who had already seen the situation through the Floating Light Mirror, everyone’s pupils dilated in shock.
“What? A low-grade Five Element Root can reach this level?”
“The one they thought was the weakest is actually this strong?!”
“How did she do it? Is this why the Sect Leader took her in? If that’s the case… then they really can’t compare.”
Yun Miao basked in the awed gazes, somewhat pleased. But just as she was waiting for more praise, Big Antler Deer suddenly lowered his head and butted her off the Human-faced Owl’s back.
The canopy of the Qingtian Ancient Tree sagged accordingly, and a branch curled around her waist, suspending her like cured meat high up in the sky.