Chapter 6

“Wait,” Yan Yueheng immediately spoke up to stop her. “Le Li, think carefully. Becoming a formal disciple of Master Han is indeed official, but Master Han is truly advanced in age. If you were to become my disciple, though only a registered disciple, you would have many years ahead of you. Besides, Master Han has no fire spirit root at all. You must consider carefully which path to choose.”

“Master Yan, what do you mean by that?” Lin Pei immediately bristled upon hearing her implication that his senior brother’s lifespan was limited.

Yan Yueheng lowered her gaze. “I’m simply stating a fact. After all, disciples have the right to know the truth.”

“How do you know my senior brother cannot break through?” Lin Pei retorted sharply but was cut off by Han Yongnian. “Junior brother, there’s no need to argue. My age is nothing to hide. The choice is entirely up to Le Li.”

Indeed, Master Han was advanced in years, while Yan Yueheng was in the prime of her youth, not even two hundred years old, with at least four hundred years of lifespan ahead. Her cultivation would only deepen over time, and she was an indisputable leader among fire attribute cultivators.

If it were anyone else, they might have rushed to become Yan Yueheng’s disciple.

But Le Li was different. She longed to distance herself from Yan Yueheng. Whether or not Han Yongnian accepted her as a disciple, she would never want to be near Yan Yueheng.

Seeing that Le Li was unmoved, Yan Yueheng’s eyes darkened slightly. “Your fire spirit root is not damaged. If you come to my Qingxuan Peak, I can give you another chance to refine the Nanming Li Fire. If you succeed, I will officially accept you as my disciple.”

Her words shocked Sheng Di and the other Golden Core masters present. They sensed something extraordinary about Le Li and immediately cast their divine senses on her.

Le Li felt a chill run down her spine, trembling. She not only suspected that Yan Yueheng had noticed her rebirth but even wondered if Yan Yueheng herself had been reborn, given her unusual behavior today.

Han Yongnian chuckled, “Senior Sister Yan is forcing the issue, scaring the child. If one didn’t know better, they’d think there was something remarkable about her. Besides having an ice spirit root, what else could there be?”

Sheng Di and the other Golden Core masters nodded in agreement. They had all examined her and found nothing special. Le Li could not have concealed anything from all of them.

Chen Qiaoxuan finally understood what was amiss, frowning deeply, clenching his fist unconsciously, anxious about her choice.

At that moment, Le Li seemed to awaken. She bowed crisply to Yan Yueheng and said quickly, “Thank you, Master Yan. The facts prove I have no affinity with Nanming Li Fire. I dare not harbor any more hope.”

After speaking, she decisively strode forward and knelt firmly before Han Yongnian. “Disciple Le Li pays respects to Master!”

“Well done, well done! Get up quickly, my child!” Han Yongnian’s heart was filled with relief. He gestured toward Lin Pei. “Come, pay respects to your Master’s uncle!”

Le Li rose and bowed again. “Junior disciple greets Master’s uncle!”

“No need for such formality,” Lin Pei said, lightly supporting her.

Le Li then stood beside Han Yongnian.

At that moment, Yan Yueheng’s intuition grew stronger. Something was off; it was as if something had veered from its original course.

Cultivators sense the world; no feeling arises without cause. Unable to find the reason, Yan Yueheng intended to keep Le Li close and investigate slowly.

She had thought that given Le Li’s current spirit root condition, even if recognized only as a registered disciple, Le Li would be grateful to serve under her.

Unexpectedly, Han Yongnian abruptly intervened, and despite the grand opportunity offered, Le Li was unmoved. Without hesitation, she chose to become Han Yongnian’s disciple.

The situation defied all expectations, and Yan Yueheng’s face darkened.

Le Li saw Yan Yueheng’s cold expression clearly and suddenly understood.

Yan Yueheng had not been reborn, nor had she sensed Le Li’s rebirth; otherwise, she would not have merely shown a cold face. She would not have given up so easily on recruiting her.

With this conclusion, Le Li’s heart settled as she bowed to her new master, no longer tense.

Glancing sideways, she saw Chen Qiaoxuan arch an eyebrow at her, to which she responded with a slight smile.

The grand hall’s atmosphere warmed again as the four masters resumed the contest for Lu Yuan.

After several rounds of back and forth, the outcome mirrored the previous life: Lu Yuan was accepted as the third disciple by Yin Bifang, inheriting the “Azure Sea Tidal Sound Technique,” cultivating through sound.

The other three masters expressed regret but, given the excellence of this choice, did not select from their other disciples.

After confirming that none of the Golden Core masters would take more disciples, Sheng Di called the steward and announced the lists of inner and outer disciples.

In Lingxiao Sect, inner disciples enjoyed benefits more than twice those of outer disciples.

However, having a single or double spirit root did not guarantee inner disciple status. The number of spirit roots and their values were crucial.

If the root value was too low, even a single spirit root could not qualify for inner disciple. Conversely, if one root had a very high value and others were low, even with five spirit roots, one might be listed as an inner disciple.

Other factors included悟性 (comprehension) and unique talents in certain skills. The sect’s three-year evaluation period was sufficient to assess these comprehensively, determining disciple status accordingly.

Aside from the eleven disciples taken by the Golden Core masters, twenty-five were listed as inner disciples; the rest were outer disciples. Only then were they officially inducted into the sect.

“Tomorrow, all disciples will go to the Steward Hall to receive their new identity jade talismans. You may disperse!” Sheng Di waved his sleeve as the steward led the disciples out of the hall to their residences.

Those accepted by the Golden Core masters remained to follow their masters’ instructions.

Le Li was taken directly by Han Yongnian back to Qianyuan Peak and into his cave dwelling.

Han Yongnian settled down. “Le Li, if it weren’t for your ice spirit root, I would not have accepted you as my disciple. Now that the master-disciple bond is formed, it is fate. For as long as I live, I will do my best to teach you. How far you go depends on yourself.”

“Disciple will diligently cultivate and not disappoint Master’s teachings!” Le Li answered sincerely, avoiding empty flattery.

Han Yongnian nodded in satisfaction. “In the face of sudden upheaval, your calmness shows you have a strong mind. The technique I will teach requires a resolute will and perseverance for many years.”

Le Li listened attentively as Han Yongnian continued, “Few have spirit roots like yours, where water and fire or ice and fire are mutually antagonistic. But rare does not mean nonexistent. Such cultivators usually focus on the root with higher value, suppressing the weaker one, concentrating on one type of spiritual power.”

“Yes!” Le Li had planned to specialize in fire attribute cultivation, suppressing the ice spirit root.

Han Yongnian waved his hand. “The technique I will teach you is different. There is no suppression. Both spirit roots are cultivated simultaneously.”

“Simultaneously?” Le Li’s eyes flickered with surprise.

“Exactly,” Han Yongnian stroked his beard. “This technique is called ‘Taiji Dual Phenomenon Technique.’ Though unlike the Longevity Qi Refining Art, which is non-attribute, this one has minimal influence on spirit root attributes. Cultivating it causes the fire and ice spiritual energies to grow together while mutually neutralizing. Hence, the cultivation speed is slower than focusing on one attribute, requiring double the effort but not yielding double the reward.”

“But since I can command both fire and ice energies freely, I have an advantage in casting spells over single-spirit-root cultivators,” Le Li added naturally.

“That’s not all. After neutralization, the transformed fire and ice energies become purer and more active than in ordinary techniques,” Han Yongnian said with a broad smile. “Your young age but clear understanding of this technique’s essence shows your exceptional comprehension.”

“Master, you flatter me,” Le Li lowered her head slightly, feeling a bit shy. She was not truly thirteen; in her previous life at that age, she had not reached such clarity.

“No need for such modesty. Comprehension is harder to come by than good spirit roots. The higher the cultivation, the more it tests comprehension. Spirit roots become secondary,” Han Yongnian said, then shifted the topic. “The ‘Taiji Dual Phenomenon Technique’ I acquired from Central Continent is only partially complete up to the Golden Core stage. It should suffice for your needs. If you ever have the chance to advance to Nascent Soul, you can personally seek the latter half there.”

At this moment, he produced a jade slip and a blade. “This jade slip records the Qi Refining stage of the Taiji Dual Phenomenon Technique. Study and cultivate it well. If you have questions, come to me. Do not pretend to understand when you do not. I am skilled with a blade, famed for my Asura Blade Technique. You will train in blade techniques with me. This blade is called Hongming, a superior fire-attribute artifact, perfectly suited for you now. Once your basic blade skills become second nature, I will teach you the Asura Blade Technique.”

Han Yongnian handed the jade slip and blade to Le Li, who accepted them with both hands. “Disciple thanks Master for these gifts!”

Le Li naturally accepted her fate to wield the blade as her weapon. She even felt a quiet joy as she fondled the blade a few times before storing both blade and jade slip into her storage pouch.

Yan Yueheng’s attempt to take her as a disciple had made Le Li more cautious.

In her former life, she used a sword, a style taught by Yan Yueheng. If she continued using the sword, her subconscious moves might attract Yan Yueheng’s attention or suspicion. Now, by switching to the blade, she could avoid this risk entirely.

This life, she abandoned the Nanming Li Fire and refused to become Yan Yueheng’s disciple. Now, she had even abandoned the sword—a clean, thorough break without leaving a trace. Very good!

Han Yongnian sensed Le Li’s mood and was pleased to see her holding the blade. He felt even happier. “That’s enough for today. You’ve struggled through your trial for a few days. Rest well tonight and first thing tomorrow, go exchange for your identity jade talisman.”

He produced his own communication jade slip and gave it to Le Li. She offered hers in return. Han Yongnian then sent a mental summons, and soon a middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator entered the cave.

“Master!”

“Le Li, this is He Kun. He has been by my side for years. Ah Kun, this is Le Li, my newly accepted disciple. Take her to the Purple Bamboo Courtyard halfway up the mountain. She will reside there from now on.”

“Disciple takes leave!” Le Li followed He Kun out of the cave, cupping her hands respectfully. “Uncle Kun, I am new here. Please guide me!”

“No, no, just call me Senior Brother,” He Kun replied politely, but was pleased with Le Li’s attitude. “You are a disciple of the master and will have his guidance. But if you need help with trivial matters, just ask me.”

“Thank you for your care, Senior Brother He!” Le Li readily changed her form of address and began making conversation. “Senior Brother He, who else is on our peak? Please introduce them to me.”