Chapter 8: Awakening the Seed in the Spirit Field Valley

Under the intense gaze of so many, Qin Haoxuan’s face flushed red. No matter how mature he acted for his age, he was still a young man with a thin skin.

Similarly, Xu Yu, her identity revealed, walked down from the platform with her head bowed, a deep blush spreading to her neck.

It was one thing before, but now that everyone knew, the memory of being held in the arms of a strange man for a whole night was mortifying. How could she face anyone in the future?

As soon as she stepped down, Xu Yu was instantly surrounded by a crowd of disciples eager to curry favor. She was terrified by the sudden attention and, at a loss, cast a pleading look towards the only person she knew: Qin Haoxuan.

Still blushing himself, Qin Haoxuan quickly pushed through the crowd and shielded the surrounded Xu Yu behind him. Seeing Qin Haoxuan’s tall, broad back, Xu Yu felt a sense of security wash over her. He had always given her a sense of peace that no one else could, something that had nothing to do with aptitude or strength.

Hiding behind Qin Haoxuan, Xu Yu once again drew a great deal of animosity towards him. Those who wanted to get close to her now hated Qin Haoxuan for no reason. He, however, paid no mind to their hostile and resentful glares. To him, this was just more fuel to become stronger.

At that moment, Li Jing also walked over, dispersing the crowd around Xu Yu. With a charming smile, he clasped his hands. “Junior Sister Xu, it seems I failed to recognize your greatness yesterday. I never imagined the small and slight Brother Xu was actually a beautiful young lady. Please forgive me if I caused any offense.”

“Congratulations, Junior Sister Xu. Now you won’t have to worry about being bullied, or about someone stealing your quilt at night,” a cold voice came from behind Li Jing. It was Zhang Kuang. “However, it would be best for you to draw a clear line with Qin Haoxuan. You are an Unsurpassed Purple Seed, while my dear townsman here is just an Uncolored Seed. The difference between you is like heaven and earth. If you are seen together too often, people might think he’s relying on a woman’s influence! And he is a very proud man.”

Li Jing’s expression immediately darkened. Zhang Kuang, true to his name which meant “arrogant,” dared to provoke him so openly and taunt Qin Haoxuan with such impatience. But beneath his arrogance was a cunning side; seeing that Li Jing was trying to win over Xu Yu, he had immediately come to stir up trouble.

Just then, the Sect Master, Perfected Man Huanglong, announced from the stage, “The final test for this year’s new disciples is now concluded. Regardless of the strength of your Immortal Seed, I hope you will avoid arrogance and laziness, and study diligently. Otherwise, even the best aptitude will go to waste. You will now begin a three-month introductory training period. These three months will determine the fate of your entire lives!”

With that, several elders led the 200 new disciples onto a massive, fully enclosed Immortal Cloud Carriage, heading for a place called the Spirit Field Valley.

…………………………

Emperor Peak, Sect Master’s Hall

All the high-ranking members of the Taichu Sect were gathered.

Perfected Man Huanglong, his hands resting on the arms of his grand chair, spoke with a grave expression. “Everyone, regarding the matter of the Purple Seeds today, I ask that you all return to your respective halls and issue orders to lock down this information. If news of this leaks out from any hall, and the Taichu Sect is destroyed because of it, none of us will be able to face our ancestors.”

Everyone nodded, the earlier atmosphere of rivalry over disciples gone, replaced by solemn expressions. They all understood the gravity of the situation. If a Ten-Thousand-Year Great Sect learned of this… they would likely descend upon their mountain gate in an instant. While the current Taichu Sect might be able to bloody their noses, the sect itself would surely be annihilated. Those were terrifying existences that had survived the tribulations of ages.

The Immortal Cloud Carriage soared into the sky, breaking through the layer of clouds at the mountainside.

“Because three Purple Seed disciples have appeared among you, the Sect Master has granted you all permission to view the entirety of Emperor Peak. The peak is in harmony with the Great Dao. This is a rare opportunity, so observe it carefully and seek enlightenment!”

After the elder’s announcement, the sealed windows of the carriage slowly opened. Several elders waved their hands, performing hand seals, and streams of immortal spiritual energy shot out, opening the Mountain-Protecting Grand Formation that guarded the main peak. The mist lingering in the air dispersed.

Even the worldly and noble Third Prince, Li Jing, showed a look of excitement. The layout and scenery of Emperor Peak embodied the insights of generations of ancestors into the Great Dao, conforming to its fundamental principles. Even a single glance was a profound cleansing for one’s state of mind. This was a reward usually reserved for disciples who had made great contributions to the sect.

Thanks to the three Purple Seed disciples, the other hundred-odd disciples, who might never have had the chance to see the full view of Emperor Peak in their entire lives, were also benefiting. If they could grasp even a fraction of the insights, it would be of immense help to their future cultivation. Even if they couldn’t, the experience itself was the ultimate bragging right.

The Immortal Cloud Carriage moved swiftly and smoothly through the air, offering a panoramic view of the peak. The various buildings, arranged in a pleasing, scattered pattern, and the natural, perfect growth of every blade of grass and every tree, were a sight to behold. It was a heart-lifting and refreshing scene, causing many worldly thoughts and distractions to vanish, replaced by a feeling of grand, benevolent compassion.

As the saying goes, “the layman watches the spectacle, while the expert sees the technique.” The few elders sat in meditation, contemplating the Great Dao. Even for them, such an opportunity was rare. As for the new disciples, apart from a few with exceptional perception, most were captivated by the heavenly scenery. If the Mid-Hill Pavilion was already breathtaking to them, the immortal-aura-wreathed Emperor Peak was on another level entirely.

The azure sky was like a mirror, without a single cloud. A gentle breeze blew, and from time to time, an immortal crane would glide gracefully past the carriage. In contrast to the disciples who were shouting in excitement, the cranes were serene and elegant.

The peak of Emperor Peak looked as if it had been sliced off by a giant axe, leaving a vast, flat summit. On this summit stood the Taichu Treasure Hall, an object of longing for everyone in the Soaring Dragon Nation. It covered over a thousand acres, massive and majestic, with the sounds of bells and Daoist chants echoing endlessly.

Below the Treasure Hall, numerous exquisite courtyards and buildings, even grander than those on the mountainside, were built along the mountain’s contours, appearing and disappearing among the towering ancient trees. Only the senior experts and core disciples of the Taichu Sect could enter this area.

The Immortal Cloud Carriage moved at great speed. After circling Emperor Peak once, it descended into a valley behind the peak.

The Spirit Field Valley, as its name suggested, was a valley rich in spiritual energy. It was like a fertile field where generation after generation of new disciples began their cultivation journey, planting their Immortal Roots and growing into talents.

Qin Haoxuan’s batch was no exception. In a finely constructed lecture hall, the 200 new disciples waited with anticipation. A middle-aged man with the appearance of a scholar gracefully appeared before them.

“I am your Initiate Master, Chu Cai, an elder of the Spirit Field Valley. For the next three months, you will all study spiritual techniques and begin the Rooting Stage. Those who can successfully shatter their seed, sprout a seedling, and break through to the Spirit Sprout Realm within these three months will be nurtured as key talents by the sect, and may even be directly promoted to the Inner Sect and become disciples of the Four Lineage Heads. Furthermore, your family stipend will be increased from 200 to 400 taels a year. If you cannot sprout a seedling within three months, you will be assigned work and start as a Menial Disciple.”

After his direct introduction, Elder Chu distributed a gray, longan-sized pill, rich with spiritual energy, to each person.

“Right now, you are all mortals and cannot sense the pure spiritual energy of heaven and earth. Under normal circumstances, even a disciple with exceptional perception would need at least a month to feel it. To speed up the process of guiding spiritual energy into your bodies, each of you will receive one Spirit Induction Pill every day for the next three months. It will allow you to instantly feel the presence of spiritual energy. As for how long it takes you to actually draw it into your body, that will depend on your own fortune. Remember, after taking the pill, its effect only lasts for half an hour. If you fail, you must wait until tomorrow to try again!”

“This first step is a test of your Dao Heart and aptitude. You must remain calm and patient. Otherwise, you will not succeed! Remember this!”

After explaining the method, Elder Chu repeatedly emphasized the key points before lighting a long stick of incense.

The incense served both to calm the mind and to keep time.

The moment to finally begin cultivating had arrived. The 200 excited new disciples each found a spot, sat down, calmed their minds, and swallowed the Spirit Induction Pill. Whether for the 400-tael stipend or the chance to become a disciple of a Lineage Head, everyone was determined to succeed as quickly as possible.

The Spirit Induction Pill melted in his mouth, flowing down his throat. A moment later, Qin Haoxuan felt his body lighten. The air, which had seemed empty before, was now filled with the pure spiritual energy of heaven and earth, colorless and formless, yet incredibly refreshing to the soul.

Although this was the first time his human body had felt spiritual energy, he was no stranger to it. His soul had felt it countless times while possessing the snake.

Even the most barren places had some spiritual energy, albeit thin. Many spiritual herbs also emitted their own unique spiritual energies. The snake’s ability to find these herbs was due to its extremely keen perception of these energies.

While Qin Haoxuan was still savoring the wonderful sensation of his body feeling spiritual energy for the first time, some of the other new disciples had already begun to try guiding it into their bodies.

Boom! A heaven-piercing aura erupted from the northwest corner. Li Jing was the first to succeed. Having been systematically trained since childhood and raised on elixirs and spiritual medicines, his Immortal Seed was undeniably the most vigorous among the new disciples. The moment he took the pill, his aura surged, and he instantly drew the spiritual energy into his body, watering his Immortal Seed. The seed trembled slightly and sent out a tiny, thread-like root.

After succeeding, Li Jing’s face became rosy, and a trace of spiritual energy now emanated from his body. His eyes were much more vibrant than before, and his already handsome features now had an air of refined elegance. He gave off a lofty aura that made people want to get close to him, yet also feel a sense of inferiority.

Li Jing had already left the others far behind. For the next three months, all he had to do was focus on drawing in spiritual energy to water his Immortal Seed and make it sprout as quickly as possible. His speed left the Initiate Master, Elder Chu, dumbfounded, his old face flushed with excitement.

He had heard that the current Sect Master, Perfected Man Huanglong, had taken the time it takes for a cup of tea to cool to succeed. This boy, a prince with a Purple Seed, had succeeded almost the instant the pill entered his mouth, shattering his seed and crossing the first threshold on the path of cultivation.

Elder Chu sighed. No wonder the Unsurpassed Great Sects would fight to the death over a Purple Seed disciple. With such powerful aptitude and perception, judging by his speed alone, his future achievements would be limitless!

Guiding qi into the body was the very first step of cultivation: the Seed Shattering Stage. For those with exceptional aptitude, it was as easy as turning their hand, but it could trap disciples with weak seeds for a very long time.

Stunned by Li Jing’s success, most of the new disciples opened their eyes, many sighing in admiration. Elder Chu did a quick count and noted that fewer than ten had remained undisturbed, still deep in meditation. Qin Haoxuan was one of them.

His gaze lingered on Qin Haoxuan for a moment. This youth emanated a faint spiritual energy that was different from the spiritual energy of heaven and earth—it was extremely weak but exceptionally pure, far purer than the energy on Great Islet Mountain.

Having been an Initiate Master his entire life, Chu Cai had never seen someone emit such a pure and gentle spiritual energy before even succeeding in guiding qi into their body. It was a pity the boy’s aptitude seemed so average.

While Elder Chu was still pondering this, a burst of energy from someone next to Qin Haoxuan drew his full attention.

This time, it was Xu Yu. After succeeding, her face became rosy, and she faintly exuded a remarkable feminine grace. Her bright eyes glanced at Qin Haoxuan. Seeing him still deep in meditation, she ignored the envious and fawning gazes of the others and also closed her eyes to begin absorbing spiritual energy, striving to reach the Spirit Sprout Realm as soon as possible.

Even with this happening right next to him, under the influence of such a powerful aura, Qin Haoxuan showed no reaction. From his expression and breathing, he was neither anxious nor felt inferior due to others’ success. This unshakeable state of mind earned a silent nod of approval from Chu Cai. It was just a pity about his aptitude.

Before Elder Chu could even sigh, another burst of energy erupted from not far away. It was Zhang Kuang, and his aura was tinged with a wildness that reflected his personality.

In less than 30 breaths, the three Purple Seed disciples had all succeeded in guiding spiritual energy into their bodies and shattering their Immortal Seeds.