Chapter 5100 — Reflections on Cultivation
The Blossom Guardian · Page 1 of 3
At these words from Xin Yi'an, the expressions of the secular-world cultivators shifted in every direction. Some were eager to try their luck; others wore deep frowns. Ten and a half months to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage looked like no easy feat by any measure. Yet whatever else might be said, Xin Yi'an's earlier remark had been true enough: this was a chance that came once in a thousand years.
"Very well. Next, this old man will take you all to a fine place. Stick close to your sect's senior brother in charge—once we arrive, they will pass on the elementary entry-level mantras to you, and you may put any doubts or questions to them as well. Let us be off." With that, Xin Yi'an nodded to Wei Zhao and led the crowd to the rear hall, which was precisely where the teleportation formation of the Ancient Passage stood.
"The place you speak of—surely it is not in the Ancient Little Jianghu?" Wei Zhao asked, puzzled.
"You misunderstand, Grand-Uncle-Master. Though this formation is part of the Ancient Passage, what lies at the other end is not the Ancient Little Jianghu, but a most peculiar way station," Xin Yi'an replied.
"Oh?" Wei Zhao's brows lifted slightly. That was unexpected.
"All right. Each sect's senior brother in charge will take responsibility—transport will proceed sect by sect, in batches. As for the spirit jade required for the passage, naturally each sect will bear its own. Begin," Xin Yi'an said, turning back to the crowd.
In principle, this disciple selection assembly set no quota on the number of disciples each Ancient sect might take—but that did not mean the more the better. The more people teleported, the more spirit jade would naturally be consumed. A sect like Snow Sword, which had picked four quasi-disciples at a stroke, would burn ten pieces of spirit jade per passage counting senior brother Xue Jianming, their leader—no small sum at all.
So unless a sect was so rolling in wealth it had spirit jade to burn, every Ancient sect kept its selection standards high. Not only was compatibility of aptitude required, sufficient strength was demanded as well—otherwise, failing to break through to Foundation Establishment within ten and a half months, one would end up with nothing to show for it anyway. That thirty-three secular-world cultivators had survived the first round of selection was genuinely remarkable.
While queuing and waiting, Wei Zhao chatted idly with the secular cultivators. After all, many among these thirty-three were scions of sects and clans he knew well—the Ice Palace, the Snow Valley, the Dark Night Palace, and the like. Even if there was no particular bond of friendship, for the sake of those sects it was still worth Wei Zhao's while to offer a pointer or two.
Of course, not every secular sect was on good terms with Wei Zhao. Disciples of sects like the Five Luminaries Sect held complicated feelings toward him. They had once stood opposed, yet now, forced by circumstance, they had no choice but to bow their heads to Wei Zhao—otherwise he alone could strike their entire sect from the rolls.
And that was to say nothing of the fact that Wei Zhao was now unquestionably the leading figure among all the secular cultivation powers. To make an enemy of Wei Zhao was to make an enemy of every secular cultivation power—and possibly of the Ancient Alliance as well. One had only to remember that he was Xin Yi'an's Grand-Uncle-Master. The very thought sent a chill down the spine.
Seeing Wei Zhao chatting so merrily with the disciples of the Ice Palace, the Snow Valley, and the like, the others could not help feeling a little awkward. They would have liked nothing better than to cling to so sturdy a leg, but what if Wei Zhao simply ignored them?