The meal stretched late into the evening. The women who came to clean up saw that they were still sitting and chatting, so they kindly reheated the dishes without a hint of impatience.
Everyone had drunk, but neither Ah Shou nor Du Rong had gotten drunk this time. Ah Shou didn't say anything, but Chen Xiao could tell that he had been truly awakened by Xi Yunqing. Starting tomorrow, he wouldn't waste his days but would definitely strive for progress.
After finishing the meal, the group returned to their respective homes. Since it was dark and the distance was a bit far, Chen Xiao took a torch to light the way. Xi Yunqing, being considerate of Chen Xiao, walked alongside him at a leisurely pace.
Chen Xiao rubbed his stomach contentedly, helping with digestion as he quickened his pace to get some rest soon. Despite having only sat and written things down all day, he felt truly exhausted.
For the first time, Xi Yunqing broke the silence and said, "What you said yesterday morning has come true. Indeed, Changjia Village has many talented and virtuous people. Even among them, there's an example of an extremely rare variant with excellent single spiritual roots."
Chen Xiao responded with a smile, "Yes, this shows that feng shui techniques are not useless. While they might not directly help with cultivation, they certainly have their effects."
Xi Yunqing's voice was calm as he replied, "Indeed, it shows that things are never absolute. I was hasty in my judgment when I first discussed this with the Master. I didn't look into it in depth before drawing conclusions. That was a mistake."
Chen Xiao, noticing something unusual in his tone, stopped and turned to look at him. Fortunately, Xi Yunqing had stopped too. Chen Xiao, sensing a hint of unease, asked tentatively, "Immortal Master, is something wrong?"
Xi Yunqing, normally unreadable, didn't show much emotion, but this time, there was a slight shift in his expression. The change was subtle, so subtle that only someone paying close attention, like Chen Xiao, would notice it. Xi Yunqing's gaze flickered for a moment, and he quickly averted his eyes, not wanting to meet Chen Xiao's gaze. This was rare and told Chen Xiao that something was off.
Xi Yunqing, avoiding the sensitive issue, responded lightly, "It's nothing. Your conclusion is correct. This feng shui technique does have this effect and will certainly shine in the cultivation world. It will help those sects and independent cultivators who are looking for disciples avoid many detours."
Chen Xiao observed carefully, and it seemed like Xi Yunqing was perhaps a little disappointed? But he doubted himself, thinking it wasn't possible. How could Immortal Master be disappointed about his correct conclusion? The logic seemed off.
Unable to figure out the connection, Chen Xiao decided to discard the thought. Since Xi Yunqing had steered the conversation here, Chen Xiao decided to follow his lead and said, "That's right. I do plan to collaborate with immortal sects in the future, to help them find suitable disciples… Well, I mean apprentices." He paused, then looked at Xi Yunqing earnestly, adding, "So, there's something I'd like to ask of you, Immortal Master."
Xi Yunqing, still feeling embarrassed about his earlier mistake, was relieved to see that Chen Xiao wasn't trying to test his hypothesis. Chen Xiao was genuinely confident in the outcome and wanted to suggest this to him. The discomfort in Xi Yunqing's heart faded, and he took a deep breath, his expression becoming more serious. He turned his gaze back to Chen Xiao. "What is it?"
Chen Xiao didn't notice the inner turmoil in Xi Yunqing and asked earnestly the question he had been pondering for a long time, "Would it be possible for you to introduce this feng shui technique to the people in your sect? When Chongxuan Sect next selects disciples, could you consider using my methods?"
Xi Yunqing paused, frowning slightly before quickly relaxing. "I will report the situation in Changjia Village to the head of the Administrative Hall and the elders when I return to the sect. I believe the feng shui technique could be very helpful for selecting disciples, but the next time we open the sect to new students will be ten years from now."
Chen Xiao quickly responded, "That's fine, I can wait. As long as the Immortal Masters of Chongxuan Sect can use it then, I'll be ready whenever you need me."
Seeing how humble and eager Chen Xiao was, Xi Yunqing, though slightly uncomfortable, said, "There's no need to sell yourself short. Since the feng shui technique has such a function, you will undoubtedly make great strides before ten years pass. You'll gain fame far and wide. It might not even be about waiting for a request; maybe the sect will come to ask you to lend a hand."
Chen Xiao blinked, then smiled, finally convinced that the normally stoic Xi Yunqing had made a joke. "Thank you for your kind words. But, if there is a need, you don't have to wait for the sect to make a formal request. Just let me know, and I will not turn it down."
Xi Yunqing gave a small smile, his mood improving. The two of them continued walking toward the village, chatting as they went. Chen Xiao asked, "Immortal Master, what do you think of the high-quality spiritual roots found in Changjia Village? It seems that, although the sect's recruitment period has passed, it would be a shame to leave such talents neglected in this remote village."
Xi Yunqing spoke in a low voice, "Do you know that once these people are selected by the sect, they can receive a new disciple certificate from the Zhishi Hall? And with Chongxuan Sect backing them, they won't even need to verify their previous disciple status."
Chen Xiao knew this well. When he had crossed the sea, it was thanks to Tong Nuonuo that he had obtained a temporary disciple certificate to buy a boat ticket. However, he didn't think it was the right time to mention this to Xi Yunqing, so he simply hummed in agreement. Then, he suddenly realized something and asked, "Would there be any trouble with the lord of Hanshan City if the people from Changjia Village were accepted into Chongxuan Sect?"
Xi Yunqing shook his head. "No, there won't be any trouble. Not to mention, for these years, the Han family has not known the location of Changjia Village, so they couldn't possibly know these people are descendants of the Chang family. Even though the Zhishi Hall is partly managed by the Han family, they dare not interfere with the sect's selection of disciples."
Chen Xiao finally felt relieved. He asked, "Will Immortal Master Xi select some to bring to the Chongxuan Sect?"
Xi Yunqing replied, "Anyone under middle age, with above-average talent, who has been tested for comprehension, can be selected. There are no limits on the number of candidates."
Chen Xiao was slightly taken aback. The conditions were surprisingly lenient. As far as he knew, sects usually chose children of the right age to become disciples. He had never heard of adults being accepted. He asked, "Can adults from Changjia Village be selected too? Won't their age be a problem?"
Xi Yunqing shook his head. "No, it won't. These adults are practicing general cultivation methods. They can directly select corresponding mental cultivation methods to continue their practice." Seeing that Chen Xiao was still puzzled, Immortal Master Xi explained, "The situation here is different from the outside world. It's an exceptional case. Outside, anyone with good spiritual roots wouldn't fall into the plight where adults have no path. Either they're recruited by cultivation families or accepted by wandering cultivators."
Chen Xiao now understood. The Chongxuan Sect usually selected disciples of the appropriate age, and there were no adults among them. Moreover, Immortal Master Xi's decision to open the door this time was probably because the previous batch of students did not have the qualifications that the people of Changjia Village have now. Those students might have already been selected by powerful families, such as the Fan family, when they were still in school. No wonder Zhao Fang was so strict about the selection; it turned out to be a case of finding a general among short men.
There was another reason that Immortal Master Xi didn't mention, but Chen Xiao understood. It was for Ah Shou. With such an excellent spiritual root, as long as he wasn't too stupid, his cultivation progress wouldn't be bad. Since he had been awakened by Immortal Master Xi's guidance, he would definitely work hard and become a person capable of becoming an immortal in the future.
Chen Xiao had always been curious about one thing, and now was the perfect opportunity to ask Immortal Master Xi. He said, "How did the Chongxuan Sect get to Fan Village to select disciples? It's so far from Hanshan City, and there are many barriers separating it from the Chongxuan Sect's region. How does your sect decide where to select disciples?"
Immortal Master Xi replied, "Sects usually select disciples every ten years. Each time, a team is sent out to explore lower-tier heavens. After arriving, they go to the local 'Zhishi Hall' to consult the map directory. They eliminate areas that have already been visited by other sects within the past ten years, copy the list of available locations, and then visit each one."
"Huh?" Chen Xiao was surprised. "Zhishi Hall even registers small villages like Fan Village?"
Immortal Master Xi nodded. "That's right. This directory has been compiled over many years. Some places have faded away, while new ones have been added. It's because of this directory that sects save a lot of effort in recruiting disciples. In the past, students had to travel to a sect's location to wait for selection, but that came with major drawbacks: long and dangerous journeys, and often, the barriers between the heavens prevented them from reaching their desired sect. On the sect's side, it was also difficult to find gifted candidates without a clear destination, wasting time and effort."
By now, they had reached the house where they were staying. It was already late, but the family hadn't closed the door, waiting for them to return. After thanking the host, the two of them entered. Since they hadn't finished their conversation, Immortal Master Xi sat on a chair in Chen Xiao's room, waiting for Chen Xiao to light a lamp before continuing their discussion.
Immortal Master Xi said, "As Zhishi Hall grew larger, it provided a very convenient route for cultivators. There was even a sect offering a reward for a list of locations. The sect's requirements weren't strict: as long as the location had previous cultivators and their descendants, it could be registered."
Not wanting Chen Xiao to misunderstand, Immortal Master Xi took the initiative to explain, "That's because when a cultivator appears in a family, there's a much higher chance that their descendants will possess spiritual roots compared to other places."
Chen Xiao understood well. Although the main backgrounds might differ, the role of family heritage was probably similar in its effect.
Immortal Master Xi continued, "Because of the convenience provided by Zhishi Hall, major sects have adhered to the established rules for many years. Wherever they go, they must inform the local cultivating force in advance. They don't randomly take large numbers of disciples from someone else's territory without notice. In the Gengsheng Lesser Heaven, the local governing force is Hanshan City. As for the smaller areas below, local powers have the right to select disciples first to replenish the local cultivation families. Areas registered with Zhishi Hall cannot refuse a sect's visit for recruitment."
Xi Yunqing was unbothered by the astonished expressions and gazes of those around him. Calmly, he took a plate of mixed vegetables from the table and said, "The Fasting Pill was only necessary when I was in the mountains to facilitate my cultivation. Now that I'm out for training, there's no need to use it anymore." He added, "I didn't eat it a few days ago simply because the effects of the last one hadn't worn off yet."
Tong Nuonuo suddenly realized, and immediately began recommending the dishes on the table to Xi Yunqing. "This one is particularly delicious. It was freshly picked this morning." Chen Xiao closed his mouth. Xi Yunqing's decision made perfect sense, and he felt that it was the others who were overreacting.
Chen Xiao took a sip of the golden porridge on the table and then grabbed a small, round steamed bun to eat. He found the breakfast unusually fragrant today. Whether it was the mixed vegetables, the porridge, or the steamed bun, they were all of a much higher quality than what he had experienced before.
Du Rong was still sharing a bed with Ah Shou. Since Ah Shou's bed was large enough, Du Rong hadn't bothered to find a place to stay in another villager's house. The two rough men didn't mind, and they made do with what they had. Having spent so much time in this house, Du Rong knew a lot of things that Chen Xiao wasn't aware of.
Seeing how much Chen Xiao was enjoying the food, Du Rong turned to him and said, "These villagers are quite thoughtful. Not only did they prepare a hearty meal last night as a thank-you, but they even specially sent these dishes over this morning. The taste is much better than what the neighbor usually makes."
Ah Shou chuckled and replied, "Brother Du, I'm glad you like it. To thank you, the village chief and the elders already discussed it and decided that a few of the village women with good cooking skills will take turns delivering meals."
Du Rong laughed heartily. "We're truly benefiting from Immortal Master Xi's favor."
The simple but delicious breakfast was finished, and before long, a few women arrived to clean up the remnants. The group sat in the courtyard and discussed how long they would stay in the village.
With the pills given by Xi Yunqing, Wu Qing's injuries were improving day by day. He was starting to feel sensation in his limbs, and once he took another dose of the medicine, he would be able to sit up. The amount of pills Xi Yunqing had provided was enough to help Wu Qing stand and move. As for the more nourishing rest pills, Xi Yunqing hadn't given them, and Wu Qing didn't ask for them. While Xi Yunqing was willing to help, he was not the type to overextend himself. Wu Qing understood this well and harbored no resentment.
With the small bottle of Restorative Pills that Tong Nuonuo had given him earlier, Wu Qing's internal injuries and meridians were almost healed. He was optimistic, thinking that once the group exposed the wicked Immortal Master Li, the Zhishi Hall would send a Nascent Soul cultivator to take action. At that point, the victims, including himself, would likely receive compensation. With that money, Wu Qing could buy more Restorative Pills and fully recover.
After calculating how long they would stay in the village for about twenty more days, everyone felt that the time was quite long and began making plans for things to do. Immortal Master Xi didn't like to idle around, so he decided to find a quiet spot to practice or meditate each day. Chen Xiao had other plans and told Du Rong that he would go up the mountain. Tong Nuonuo, being directionally challenged, naturally followed wherever the others went. Wherever Chen Xiao went, he would follow.
After they decided on their individual plans, they were about to head out when Ah Shou, who had been sitting restlessly on the side, suddenly stood up. He rushed to Xi Yunqing and performed the most formal and respectful bow. Kneeling on the ground, he placed his hands on the floor and lowered his head, pressing his forehead firmly to the ground.
No matter how much he had neglected his cultivation, Ah Shou still had the foundational strength of a cultivator with the ability to establish a foundation. However, due to his long-term neglect, his cultivation had regressed, even though his realm hadn't dropped. Du Rong could tell that Ah Shou was barely stronger than himself, which reflected just how poor his current situation was. However, even with this, Ah Shou had already bowed before Xi Yunqing before Chen Xiao had even fully processed the situation.
Du Rong blinked in surprise. Once he realized what was happening, he exclaimed, "Ah Shou, what are you doing?"
Ah Shou didn't respond to Du Rong's question, but instead continued with his respectful bow. His voice, muffled from the position, reached the group's ears as he spoke: "Immortal Master Xi, I, Chang Shou, beg you to accept me as your disciple and let me join the Chongxuan Sect."
Chen Xiao, standing nearby, clearly saw the slight smile on Xi Yunqing's lips. He immediately felt a surge of joy in his heart. It seemed that Ah Shou's performance had pleased Immortal Master Xi. After over twenty years of neglect, Ah Shou had finally found the resolve to seek out a chance and request to join the immortal sect.