Chapter 67: Apprenticeship in the Zhonghang Sect
Lin Jiang has been in Yunzhong City for many years, but he doesn't really know much about the three major sects. Lin Jiang thinks that these giants are too far away from him, so there is no need to seriously understand them at all.
Now, for Cao Ying, Lin Jiang has made serious inquiries. These are not secrets at all, and even the three major sects intentionally promote their own characteristics. It is easy to know what is going on.
Firstly, all three major sects have outstanding comprehensive strength, with no weaknesses, only more advantageous areas. For example, Cloud Sword Sect's strongest point is its Sword-washing Peak. The disciples on this peak are all sword cultivators, and the cultivation world considers sword cultivators to have the strongest offensive power. The Sword-washing Peak represents Cloud Sword Sect's highest combat power, probably the highest in Yun State.
But the strength of other peaks in Cloud Sword Sect should not be underestimated. Any one of them can easily defeat ordinary small-to-medium sects.
Five Elements Sect, on the other hand, is the most balanced, and their highlight is their proficiency in the Five Elements spells and Spiritual Farmer level. Five Elements Sect has many miraculous spells and is highly renowned.
Zhonghang Sect is the best in formation techniques, and they are also known for their strong Alchemy. Among all the Alchemists in Yun State, Zhonghang Sect has the most powerful team.
However, in recent years, Pill King Li Ruoxu has surpassed Zhonghang Sect's Alchemy skills. So, they don't talk about it much anymore. Li Ruoxu's success is actually quite unexpected. Normally, an independent cultivator shouldn't be able to surpass a big sect like Zhonghang Sect in Alchemy, because Alchemy requires both talent and experience.
What is experience? It means practicing for a long time, and it requires a lot of resources. Can an independent cultivator's resources compete with those of a big sect?
But the reality is different. Li Ruoxu's Alchemy is really stronger than Zhonghang Sect's. That's why Zhonghang Sect feels embarrassed and doesn't emphasize their Alchemy skills anymore.
However, Zhonghang Sect is still very strong in Alchemy. Li Ruoxu may be strong, but he is just one person. Zhonghang Sect has a whole team of Alchemists, and they have different levels of proficiency.
"Cao Ying has a talent for fire-based elemental cultivation, so we can eliminate Cloud Sword Sect as an option. Now, we have to choose between Zhonghang Sect and Five Elements Sect. The Five Elements Sect has strong fire-based spells, and Zhonghang Sect has deep knowledge of fire-based cultivation due to their focus on Alchemy. Which sect is better?"
Lin Jiang looked at the information of both sects and was still worried. After thinking for a long time, he couldn't make a decision.
"Uncle, Uncle, I finished taking a bath!"
While Lin Jiang was worrying, Cao Ying came running out of the bathroom. During this time, Lin Jiang had bought her a lot of spiritual medicines for her medicinal bath.
"Put on another jacket so you don't catch a cold."
"Put it on, put it on, uncle. When are we going to eat? I'm hungry."
Cao Ying pouted and said that every time she finished soaking in the medicine bath, she would feel very hungry and could eat three big bowls of spirit rice.
"It's ready, on the table. Come and eat."
Lin Jiang put away the documents and took Cao Ying to eat.
"Uncle, you've been frowning a lot lately."
"It's all because I'm worried about your future. Uncle was never so worried even when I filled out my college application."
"What is the college entrance exam, is it roasted meat? Is it tasty?"
"Eat, eat, eat. All you think about is eating. It really worries me as your old father."
"Aren't you my uncle? Why did you become my dad again?"
"Please eat some more rice and keep your mouth shut, thank you."
Lin Jiang rolled his eyes. Cao Ying's personality was nothing like her parents, who were quiet and reserved. This girl, on the other hand, was more like her uncle Zhang Ruifeng, quite a chatterbox. Could it be that a nephew is meant to resemble his uncle?
"Cao Ying, do you want to go to the Five Elements Sect or Zhonghang Sect?"
"Where is the Five Elements Sect and where is Zhonghang Sect?"
"Our Yunzhong City is the territory of Zhonghang Sect. The Five Elements Sect is far away. Even if Uncle rides on Big Shadiao, it will take a whole day to fly there."
"Then I'll go to Zhonghang Sect. It's closer to Uncle, and I can come back to visit him more often."
"I knew you would say that. Let's flip a spirit stone. Heads for Zhonghang Sect, tails for the Five Elements Sect. You flip it."
Lin Jiang took out a spirit stone, cast a spell to transform it into the shape of a coin, and wrote the Chinese character for "中" on one side and the word "五" on the other side. He then handed it to Cao Ying.
"Oh yeah, it's the Zhonghang Sect."
Cao Ying casually tossed it, and it landed on the front side. Cao Ying was so happy, she almost jumped up.
"That doesn't count, let's try again."
"Uncle, you're cheating."
"Stop talking and throw it quickly. Otherwise, we'll only have jerky to eat tonight, nothing else."
"Hmph."
Cao Ying immediately compromised. After being bombarded by Lin Jiang's food, Cao Ying's taste buds became picky. She couldn't just eat plain jerky like those two dummies, Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao, who have eaten it for decades without getting tired of it.
"Uncle, look, it's the front side again."
"Let's try again."
"Uncle, don't play like this."
"One last time."
"Hmmm, hmmm, hmmm."
Cao Ying was not happy, but still threw it once. This time Lin Jiang was stunned, and it landed on the front side.
"Cao Ying, tell me honestly, are you a gambling god? Otherwise, it's impossible to have a fifty percent chance of getting heads three times in a row."
"Uncle, what is a gambling god? Is it a fairy?"
"Forget it, I'll toss it myself."
Lin Jiang took the spirit stone coin and casually tossed it.
"Oh my goodness."
Lin Jiang looked at the spirit stone coin and was completely speechless, it was still darn positive.
·······
Such was fate, Lin Jiang had no choice but to choose the Zhonghang Sect for Cao Ying. However, before they left, Lin Jiang still told Cao Ying many things, like not talking to outsiders about the matters of Big Shadiao and Small Shadiao on Lin Jiang's side.
It had been several decades since Lin Jiang killed He Yunwei, but the He family was still around. There must be many people who remembered this matter. Although Lin Jiang could find excuses to cover up the past, what if those people didn't follow martial virtues and didn't listen to your explanations? It was better to kill the wrong person than to let them go.
After preparing for half a month, Lin Jiang finally took Cao Ying to the entrance of the Zhonghang Sect.
The Zhonghang Sect is a large sect that accepts disciples all year round, but their requirements for disciples are high. At the very least, they must have Three Spiritual Roots or show some other talents. Only when there is a shortage of outer disciples and servant disciples do they start a large-scale testing of the mortal Spiritual Roots near the Zhonghang Sect and recruit a large number of them.
This kind of large-scale recruitment is rare. It usually happens once every fifty to sixty years. It is also regular. When the previous batch of outer disciples and servant disciples get old and die, and there is a shortage of labor, they start recruiting.
"Is the taoist friend here to test her Spiritual Root?"
"Yes, but she is not my daughter, she is the daughter of my deceased friend. Her parents have both passed away, and I have adopted her."
"Taoist Friend Lin, I really admire you."
When the steward responsible for recruiting disciples from Zhonghang Sect heard this, he immediately respected Lin Jiang. Being an independent cultivator is hard, so it's really kind of him to be willing to bring along a "dragging oil bottle" (someone who is not skilled) with him.
"I am just doing it as a favor for someone, this is my identification."
Lin Jiang took out another proof. Zhonghang Sect doesn't accept just anyone. The most important requirement is to have a clear background and not be involved in any evil ways or be a spy from other sects. So, they need a proof of identity.
This proof of identity is quite simple. It just proves that Lin Jiang has been living in Yunzhong City for over ten years and is not associated with any evil ways or other sects. It can be verified. If Cao Ying can enter the inner sect and even become a personal disciple, they will need to verify what is stated on the proof. If she is only an outer sect disciple or a servant disciple, this proof is useless, as they will not have access to the core secrets of Zhonghang Sect.
"Then, please let the Taoist friend in and let the little girl come in for the Spiritual Root test."
"Cao Ying, come in."
Lin Jiang waved to Cao Ying and then followed the steward into a room.
In the room, there was a stone platform with a Bagua compass on it. The steward asked Lin Jiang to prick Cao Ying's finger and let the blood cover her palm. Then, they pressed her hand on the stone platform.
"It hurts."
Cao Ying was almost crying. Last time, only a few drops of blood came out, but this time there were many.
"Fire-type Single Spiritual Root, no no no, there's also a companion Spiritual Root, wind-type strange Spiritual Root."
The steward stared at the glowing stone platform and was completely stunned. Then, he showed a joyful expression.
"Congratulations, taoist friend, congratulations, taoist friend."
"Sir steward, is this the companion Spiritual Root?"
"Good thing, good thing. The fire rising with the wind, this is great!"
The steward explained carefully to Lin Jiang. He told Lin Jiang that actually everyone has all five types of Spiritual Roots. The reason why there is talk about Single Spiritual Root and double Spiritual Roots is because some Spiritual Roots are very prominent, completely overshadowing the existence of other Spiritual Roots.
The Five Spiritual Roots are when all five types of Spiritual Roots are very prominent, which means there's no such thing as a companion Spiritual Root.
Besides the Five Elements Spiritual Root, there are also three other types of Spiritual Roots: wind, thunder, and ice. If these three types of Spiritual Roots are equally outstanding, their talent is on par with a Single Spiritual Root and they are also valued by the sect.
As the steward spoke, he already activated a Sound Passing Talisman. In no time, a powerful force descended upon this place.
"I have met Elder Nalan."
The steward was somewhat surprised, as the outer sect's Grand Elder Nalan De from the Zhonghang Sect had unexpectedly come personally.
Lin Jiang also looked towards Nalan De. He had only witnessed Wen Xing's matter as a bystander, but he had heard the story of the Nalan family many times. However, encountering someone like Nalan De, such a prominent figure, was a first for him.
"No need for many formalities, where is the new disciple?"
"Elder, this is the new disciple named Cao Ying."
"Oh, it's a girl. Good, is her Spiritual Root confirmed?"
"Elder, we have tested her and confirmed that she has a fire attribute Single Spiritual Root along with a wind attribute variant Spiritual Root."
"Let's test again to make sure everything is perfect."
Nalan De said, "The Spirit Measuring Platform is not completely accurate, occasionally there might be one or two mistakes."
"Here we go again?"
As soon as Cao Ying heard this, she became furious. She didn't want to do it anymore, she just wanted to go home. It hurt so much.
"Cao Ying, be a good girl, do it one more time. Your hands are already wounded, no need for more cuts. When we go home, I'll make you delicious food..."
Lin Jiang felt awkward and quickly comforted Cao Ying. After much effort, he finally persuaded her to test again.
"Okay, okay..."
Nalan De saw the test results and burst into laughter. Lin Jiang knew that everything was going well.
"Sir Steward, take a look at this..."
"Taoist friend, most of this matter is settled now. I still have a few questions to ask you. If there are no problems, we can process your admission formalities."
"Okay, Mr. Steward, please ask."
Next, the steward asked Lin Jiang many detailed questions, such as whether Cao Ying can read. If not, they would arrange someone to educate Cao Ying. They also asked if Lin Jiang had practiced any martial arts techniques.
Lin Jiang mostly told the truth, except for hiding Cao Ying's parents' situation. He only mentioned that they were ordinary independent cultivators who died in an accident. They didn't ask much about it because it's normal for independent cultivators to die in accidents.
"Uncle, when are we going home?"
"Cao Ying, you are now a disciple of Zhonghang Sect. You can't go home with your uncle."
"Ah, Uncle, don't you want me anymore?"
"It's not that I don't want you..."
"I want to go home. I don't want to stay here..."
Cao Ying started crying loudly, making Lin Jiang feel very uncomfortable. He felt a bit shy around people.
The steward, however, wasn't surprised at all. He tried to comfort her with some snacks, but they didn't have any effect.
Lin Jiang took a deep breath and directly grabbed Cao Ying, saying, "Mr. Steward, Elder Nalan, when Cao Ying was still very young, her parents passed away unexpectedly. She has been with me for nearly ten years, and we have a father-daughter bond. I have indulged her at home, but I know that Cao Ying needs to face challenges to grow and become talented, so she can break free from the Lin family's control."
"You are a rational and intelligent person. In my Zhonghang Sect, we will not let her talent go to waste. Don't worry, I will send someone to take good care of her. Don't come to Zhonghang Sect to see her for the next six months. You can visit after six months."
Nalan De looked approvingly at Lin Jiang. Sometimes, elders spoil their juniors too much, even if they have great talent, they end up being useless.
"Thank you, Elder Nalan."
"Steward, give him ten times the resettlement fee. I will take him with me."
"Yes, Elder Nalan."
The steward quickly agreed. As Lin Jiang watched the tearful Cao Ying being taken away by Nalan De, his heart ached. It felt like he was back to his emotions when he left the Lin family.
