I Can Add Points Infinitely - Chapter 10
Seeing the inner sect elder’s favorable treatment of Shen Lian, the other disciples couldn’t help but glance at him with surprise.
Many of the more perceptive disciples began to piece things together.
“I heard the elder mention he’s at the peak of the first level of Qi Refining. To have completed his conversion to internal cultivation so quickly and reach this level of strength, it’s no wonder the elder treats him differently.”
“This Shen Lian must be the genius who stood out in this selection.”
“Most of us have just entered the Qi Refining stage, and the strongest among us have only reached mid-first level, yet he’s already at the peak?”
The disciples thought quietly, sneaking glances at Shen Lian.
They didn’t realize that Shen Lian’s strength came from consuming the Profound Spirit Pill. Without it, his talent would have put him at the bottom of the group.
Yet, no one even considered this possibility—not even the inner sect elder. The power of the Profound Spirit Pill was known to be too overwhelming; without expert guidance, an ordinary disciple would have their meridians severely damaged, if not completely destroyed.
Not long after, the statistics were finalized.
A total of forty-three disciples had successfully passed the first round of the selection and were promoted to inner sect disciples.
They followed the elder towards the inner sect.
The outer sect of Azure Cloud Sect was located at the base of Mount Chongshan. Following the mountain path upwards, past numerous formations, they reached the halfway point where the inner sect resided.
For most, this was their first time entering the inner sect, and they couldn’t help but look around curiously.
The most noticeable difference from the outer sect was the significantly fewer people. To advance here, one needed at least to be at the Qi Refining stage.
The structures and layout were similar to the outer sect, but on a much larger scale. Surrounded by spirit-gathering formations, the spiritual energy here was much denser.
The elder led them on a tour of the inner sect, explaining the rules and distributing the exclusive robes and cultivation materials for inner disciples.
Each promoted disciple received their own private courtyard.
If the outer sect’s small wooden huts were comparable to simple houses, then the inner sect’s residences were akin to luxurious villas.
Each courtyard had its own protective spirit array that only the owner could access with a personal token, greatly enhancing privacy.
After the tour, everyone returned to their new residences, except Shen Lian, who remained with the elder, having not been assigned a new place yet.
Though puzzled, Shen Lian didn’t ask any questions.
After a while, they reached a large residence. The elder finally stopped, retrieved a token, and deactivated the restrictions before entering.
Shen Lian followed obediently.
Inside, the elder sat cross-legged and finally looked at Shen Lian, nodding in satisfaction.
“To remain patient and not inquire until now shows commendable composure.”
“Elder, you praise me too highly,” Shen Lian replied respectfully.
“Let me introduce myself. I am Duan Mingzhi, ranked seventh among the inner sect elders. This is my place of quiet cultivation,” said the Seventh Elder Duan Mingzhi calmly.
“I brought you here because I intend to take you as my disciple.”
“According to sect rules, inner sect elders can take on disciples. If you agree, you will be promoted to a true disciple, a status higher than that of a regular inner sect disciple.”
“Of course, you may decline and seek another elder willing to take you as their disciple, which would also grant you the true disciple status,” Duan Mingzhi explained slowly.
Shen Lian now understood why he had been brought here separately.
He quickly weighed his options. Being a true disciple, just from the title alone, clearly offered better benefits and privileges than a regular inner disciple.
As a newcomer with no background and unfamiliar with the sect’s internal factions, Shen Lian was essentially blind to the power dynamics within the inner sect.
Although he could refuse, the risk of offending the elder seemed unnecessary.
More importantly, Shen Lian wasn’t concerned about the elder’s teaching ability; with the system, he had no worries about his cultivation. All he needed was a protective status and backing.
With that thought, Shen Lian made his decision. He immediately knelt and performed the formal three bows and nine kowtows.
“Disciple Shen Lian greets Master.”
“Hahaha… Good, good, very good!” The Seventh Elder laughed heartily, clearly pleased, repeating his approval three times.
“Since you are willing, from now on, you are my disciple, Duan Mingzhi’s disciple.”
“I don’t have as many rules as other elders. Just follow the sect’s rules, respect your teacher, and do not harm your fellow disciples.”
As he spoke, Duan Mingzhi waved his hand, and a surge of spiritual energy lifted Shen Lian to his feet. “Under my tutelage, there are four other disciples; you will be the fifth.”
“They’re currently away on missions, but I will introduce you to them when they return.”
With that, the Seventh Elder handed Shen Lian a storage pouch. “Inside are your true disciple robes, representing your status, along with a month’s worth of cultivation materials.”
“I’ve also prepared a manual on insights into the Qi Refining stage for you. You can study it at your leisure, and if you have any questions, feel free to ask me.”
“Go now. To the north of here, the sixth courtyard is vacant. You can open it with your token and leave your mark; it will be your private residence from now on.”
“Thank you, Master,” Shen Lian said, bowing deeply.
Duan Mingzhi waved dismissively, and Shen Lian left.
Following the elder’s directions, Shen Lian found the courtyard to the north, opened it with his token, and marked it as his.
The room was seven or eight times larger than his previous outer sect hut, spacious and bright.
The sizable courtyard outside, protected by an array, allowed him to practice his techniques without fear of being watched.
Pleased, Shen Lian checked the contents of the storage pouch.
Inside, he found twenty lower-grade spirit stones and a set of red robes, distinct from the plain robes of regular inner disciples.
The red robes were adorned with black patterns for decoration, giving them a more luxurious appearance.
A golden “七” character on the sleeve indicated his affiliation with the Seventh Elder.
Shen Lian changed into the robes and continued examining the contents. Besides everyday items, there was a thick book titled Qi Refining Insights.
Opening it, Shen Lian discovered it was handwritten, a personal work of the Seventh Elder.
It didn’t contain any cultivation techniques or martial arts, but it detailed the nuances of the Qi Refining stage and practical combat applications.
Much of the content left Shen Lian deeply impressed.
The two main stages before Foundation Establishment were Body Refining and Qi Refining.
These stages primarily laid the groundwork for future cultivation.
In the Body Refining stage, it was impossible to assess someone’s level without direct combat.
The Qi Refining stage’s unique feature was that you couldn’t gauge someone’s combat ability merely from their cultivation level.
The amount of spiritual energy within a person played only a minor role in actual combat.
Victory didn’t hinge on simply enveloping oneself in spiritual energy or coating one’s sword with it; it depended on the timing and application of that energy.
Strategic use in critical moments was far more impactful than continuously unleashing spiritual energy.
For instance, in a sword duel, intermittently covering the sword with spiritual energy or withdrawing it could unpredictably alter the sword’s length, creating an advantage that was difficult for the opponent to grasp.
The Seventh Elder’s in-depth insights into the Qi Refining stage captivated Shen Lian, drawing him deeply into the text.
He lost track of time, thoroughly engrossed, until suddenly, a system notification sounded in his mind.
Ding!
【System upgrade complete. New feature: Lottery Draw.】
【Please explore the details on your own.】
…