Chapter 10: Meeting is Fate

The Daoist teachings emphasize the principles of cause and effect and fate. Are the remnants left from her past life, due to her playful nature, meant for her rebirth in this life? Upon obtaining the Foundation Establishment Pill, as long as she reaches the peak of the Qi Refining stage, she need not worry about establishing her foundation. Once she breaks through to the Foundation Establishment stage, she will truly set foot on the path of immortality.

In the middle of this large tree, there is a depression filled with soft leaves. In her previous life, she came to the outer sect to receive tasks. Annoyed by being surrounded by a group of flattering junior disciples, she often slipped away to stay here.

A figure swept through the air, stirring the wind

Unless one possesses a spiritual mine at home, who can afford these consumable items? When cultivators engage in their practice, they typically choose one or two techniques that suit them. They rely on their own efforts to ensure their needs are met and then exchange what they require with others

Like talismans. Possessing a fifth-grade offensive talisman, a Qi Refinement stage disciple can throw it out and send a Foundation Establishment stage cultivator reeling in disarray.

Among all the tasks related to spirit plants, this task has the highest contribution points, and Xiao Mingyi was satisfied: "Although Lian'er cannot cultivate and is unable to perform other tasks, she is still quite loyal."

In shock, her heartbeat and breathing could no longer allow her to pretend to be asleep. Her eyelashes fluttered, and she reached out to rub her eyes, yawning as if she had just woken up

Static ... ... terrifying

In the cafeteria, the Merit Hall, and any place that Xiao Lian'er had mentioned, she inquired earnestly. This was especially true for the tasks that Xiao Lian'er had undertaken

Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother. Xiao Mingyi enjoyed a delicious meal for free, knowing that the other party was trying to inquire about the relationship between Shi Qingfeng and herself. With a smile, she clarified, "I entered the sect at the same time as Senior Brother Shi yesterday. He said he would come to see me when he has time. When he arrives, I will definitely tell him that Senior Brother takes good care of me"

The teachings of the Yuandao Sect to its disciples align with the saying: "The master leads you to the door, but the cultivation depends on the individual." On the first day of each month, disciples in the foundational stage receive tasks to conduct classes at the outer sect's lecture hall, explaining the techniques to their junior brothers and sisters in the qi refining stage. During regular times, disciples practice on their own.

Xiao's heart trembled greatly upon realizing that Shi Qingfeng had actually become a true disciple of the Master Daojun! She felt that her decision to squeeze over and strike up a conversation with Shi Qingfeng was indeed very wise. She smiled, her eyes curving with delight. However, she then thought that since Shi Qingfeng was at the ninth level of Qi Refinement, he would likely focus on his cultivation, striving to achieve a perfect foundation as soon as possible. It seemed he would not be coming to the outer sect for a long time. It was uncertain when she would truly have the opportunity to establish a connection with him.

The morning sun filters through the leaves. The mountain spring in the forest converges into a clear stream, flowing gently. Trees that have stood for countless years without being cut down bear the weight of ancient vicissitudes, silently gazing at the young girl approaching beneath them.

Xiao Lian'er let out a long breath. She wondered who could be colluding with outsiders and who could sneak into the Yuandao Sect without being noticed.

The more Xiao Mingyi thought about it, the happier he became, as if he could see Xiao Lianer earning more contribution points for him

It is still early, and she is in a hurry to go to a secret place. After more than one hundred years, she does not know whether that place has already been discovered by others

The gentle morning sunlight fell softly on her face, and Xiao Lian'er, relaxing her mood, curled up like a baby, basking in the warmth

Upon returning to her residence, Xiao Mingyi tried out the Dust-Washing Technique and the Water-Calling Technique, deep in thought: "No need to wash clothes, no need to buy meals, not even the hall needs to be cleaned. That girl has less work to do; she should be able to cultivate a few more acres of spiritual herbs, right"

Moments later, that peculiar silence vanished. It was as if the barriers and obstacles had been broken, and the chirping of the birds in the forest once again filled the air.

Xiao Mingyi is at the third level of Qi Refinement and has been unable to make a breakthrough for a long time. Upon learning that the next class will be held in ten days, she feels somewhat discouraged. The spiritual energy in the sect is ten times denser than at home, and she has also received a bottle of low-grade Qi Nourishing Pills. Xiao Mingyi feels that her cultivation speed is significantly faster than at home. This boosts her confidence greatly, and she decides to try taking the Qi Nourishing Pills to see if she can achieve a breakthrough

Xiao Lian'er got up early in the morning to prepare tea and water for the library, informing her that she was going to work in the medicinal herb field

Using the powder of bitter stone root, the gold-eating insects will actively crawl into the bamboo basket. Xiao Lian'er only needs to collect the insects and send them to the beast enclosure. She left her residence early in the morning and did not go to the medicinal herb garden

She arrived at the Sutra Repository and discovered that new disciples could freely choose one martial art and some low-level spells.

Junior sister possesses a water wood constitution. With a primary focus on the water element, it is advisable to choose water-based techniques. In the future, studying the art of talisman drawing will yield twice the result with half the effort, suggested the disciple managing the scripture repository

Xiao Mingyi was puzzled: "Are you saying that eating rabbit liver will cause lumps to form?"

It is truly wonderful that Brother Shi has become a disciple of the Supreme Master. However, he no longer has time to visit me. Xiao Mingyi propped her cheek up with her hand, her small face puffed up from her fist, looking extremely adorable

Xiao Mingyi chose the Huangjie Shanshui Jue and the Introduction to Talisman Making. She discovered that although the courses were free, it still required contribution points to copy them onto the jade tablet, which made her feel that life was becoming difficult.

The servant disciple gasped in surprise. The true disciple of the Daoist Master came to express gratitude to him for Xiao Ming? With two pills slipping through his fingers, he would benefit endlessly from them

The Tianqiong Peak spans several hundred miles. It accommodates tens of thousands of outer disciples of the Yuan Dao Sect, yet still retains vast areas of pristine forest. The only change is that the ferocious beasts have been driven away, transforming the forest into a garden for the outer disciples.

During their training, disciples may sit in meditation for an entire day without realizing it. Who has the patience to time their meals and go to the dining hall? During the Qi Refinement period, one cannot practice fasting. Many disciples spend an extra ten contribution points each month to have the dining hall's service disciples deliver meals to their door. It is convenient for them and earns contribution points for the service disciples, resulting in a win-win situation.

Gazing at these five characters, Xiao Lian'er felt her heart race with urgency

Disciples of the Yuan Dao Sect with a fire attribute physique all practice the Fire Technique. The scroll of this technique she left behind ranges from the Yellow Rank to the Earth Rank, allowing disciples to cultivate continuously until the Golden Core stage. It also meticulously details her cultivation experiences

During her cultivation, she did not want Xiao Lian'er to stay in the courtyard and disturb her, so she nodded and let her go.

The Dan Hall in the inner courtyard can only produce one hundred Foundation Establishment Pills each year. With one hundred thousand disciples in the Yuandao Sect, eighty percent are outer disciples. Many disciples are unable to establish their foundations due to a lack of pills. Unless they achieve merit for the sect and are rewarded with a Foundation Establishment Pill, each year the disciples can only compete for them through sect competitions. With so many people, obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill is as difficult as ascending to the heavens. It is easy to imagine the preciousness of these three pills.

As Xiao Mingyi thought, it was just as Xiao Lian'er had said. Lian'er truly understood how to cook demon beasts, bringing her along was indeed beneficial

She handed over her jade token. The servant disciple confiscated it: "Little junior sister, you are so adorable; this meal is on me, senior brother!"

Seeing the expression of this servant disciple, Xiao Mingyi thought with satisfaction that the meal he delivered must be worth more than its price. She immediately paid for a month's worth of meals. After finishing her meal, she left contentedly.

Xiao Lian'er reached into the hole and took out the ring, tightly clenching it in her palm. She lay weakly in the tree pit, opening her mouth in silent laughter, and through the branches and leaves above her head, she glimpsed a brilliant future

The servant disciple, upon hearing her call Shi Qingfeng "brother," felt a stir in his heart and inquired eagerly, "Are you and Senior Brother Shi quite familiar with each other?"

... ... unusual ... ... continue ... ... disciple ... ... Master Qingfeng ... ...

Indeed, there is a person sitting at the edge of the tree pit

Indeed. Who in the sect doesn't know? However, even if one accidentally ingests it, it is not a problem; simply boiling some wild mountain celery and using the water to wash oneself will suffice

Xiao Mingyi laughed heartily, pointing her finger at the spirit beast meat: "Senior brother, I would like to order a portion of meat"

The cultivation methods are categorized into different levels based on the principles of heaven and earth. In the Yuan Dao Sect, different levels of cultivation methods are imparted according to the disciples' abilities. Those with a water constitution and those with a wood constitution primarily practice the Water Technique and the Green Wood Technique, respectively. Xiao Mingyi is uncertain about which one to choose

On the tree wall, there is a line of words she wrote with her finger: "Meeting is fate."

Once Xiao Lian'er left, Xiao Mingyi began to harbor doubts: "Could this girl be deceiving me? No, I cannot just take her word for everything."

Xiao Lian'er arrived in front of a large tree. Looking around to ensure no one was watching, she chuckled softly and swiftly climbed up using the ancient vines entwined among the branches.

She first went to the dining hall. Upon seeing the meat dishes worth 10 contribution points, she swallowed hard. Xiao Lian'er could earn 200 contribution points each month, but she couldn't afford to eat that. Xiao Mingyi's eyes turned, and she decided to build a good relationship with the miscellaneous disciples in the dining hall

He turned his head. His eyebrows, almost flying into his temples, possessed a kind of unrestrained beauty.

Xiao Lian'er was greatly astonished. Her spiritual awareness was different from that of ordinary people; the fact that this person could silently approach her indicated that their cultivation and spiritual awareness were exceptionally powerful

The black robe drapes down, rippling in the gentle morning breeze, resembling the flowing clouds atop the mountains

Oh dear, does Junior Sister not know? Senior Brother Shi's talent has caught the eye of the Headmaster Daojun, and he has been accepted as a true disciple!" The servant disciple in the dining hall who shared this news had shining eyes.

No one in the Yuandao Sect would dare to call Elder Qingfeng, who is at the Nascent Soul stage, an old Daoist. The person speaking is certainly not a disciple of the Yuandao Sect

It feels as if footsteps are treading on fallen leaves, like the light paws of a leopard gently touching the ground

The servant disciple chuckled and said, "Junior sister, rest assured, we will manage it very cleanly and will definitely not cook the rabbit liver in."

At this moment, she suddenly felt that the surroundings had quieted down without her noticing.

The last address caused Xiao Lian'er to gasp for breath

The person is still far from the tree. A few indistinct words can be faintly heard in the wind

The cultivation method can enhance the practice of true energy. The spells are used to harness the power of true energy

He looked at Xiao Mingyi with a bit more eagerness: "Sister Xiao, you are busy with your cultivation, so you need not come to the dining hall for every meal. Just order your food, and I will bring it to you."

... ...

At that time, she thought with great pride that one day a junior disciple, whether a younger brother or sister, would inadvertently discover her secret stash and pay homage to her in the air, acknowledging her as their esteemed master.

She jumped in, her eyes fixed on a certain spot

At that time, I was young and filled with longing for the legend of someone who jumped off a cliff and encountered fortune, discovering a treasure of inheritance deep in the mountains. At the age of twenty, she formed a golden core and was hailed as a once-in-a-lifetime genius of the Canglan Continent. She had secretly come here before and hid a storage ring. Inside it were three foundation-building pills and a detailed scroll of the Fire Technique.

Her fingers trembled slightly as they brushed over the line of text, pressing firmly on the character for "fate".

She dared not release her spiritual awareness, slowed her breathing, and listened quietly

With determination, Xiao Mingyi stepped out the door

At that moment, the sunlight on her face seemed to be obscured by dark clouds. She suddenly felt someone sitting beside her, intently watching her.

Cultivating true energy and utilizing spells are two entirely different concepts. Excelling in reading does not necessarily equate to having strong practical skills, even if one possesses a wealth of knowledge. This is a similar principle.

Xiao Lian'er’s breathing suddenly became light and prolonged. She did not know why she had become so cautious. She only trusted her intuition

A cultivator at the Foundation Establishment stage, who cannot wield spells, can only passively endure attacks. In contrast, a Qi Refinement disciple with rich combat experience, even if only at the third level of cultivation, can wield powerful spells and it is quite normal for them to defeat someone with a cultivation level one or two levels higher. Among these, magical tools, treasures, talismans, formations, and elixirs serve as powerful means to enhance spells.

Spent 20 contribution points to replicate some low-level spells that can be learned for free using jade tokens. Then spent 50 contribution points to purchase the cheapest talisman brush, talisman paper, and cinnabar. Xiao Ming increasingly felt that the contribution points were insufficient.

With suspicion arising, she could no longer calm her mind and felt it necessary to personally understand the various circumstances of the sect. She then thought that she could conveniently visit the Scripture Pavilion to look at the texts and inquire about the whereabouts of Shi Qingfeng

Spirit beasts are raised by the sect. The kitchen also prepares some demon beasts for cooking. Unfortunately, today they are selling stewed long-eared badger rabbits. Xiao Mingyi recalled the experience of breaking out in hives after eating rabbit meat at home, and was so frightened that he dared not order it: "How can this meat be eaten? Eating it will cause hives!"

With a snap, the piece of wood engraved with the character for "fate" fell down, revealing a small hole.