A Small Goal

Meanwhile, Xie Yuyan, having successfully cleared the second assessment, arrived at the designated venue for the Yunhua Sect’s third and final trial.

According to the sect’s entry requirements, simply passing the second stage of vetting and meeting the aptitude standards was enough to be considered an official disciple, though merely an ordinary outer sect member.

The third assessment, however, was a test of individual prowess and self-expression; the more exceptional a participant’s performance, the greater their chance of catching the eye of a Yunhua Sect elder and being directly accepted as an inner sect disciple.

At this very moment, Xie Yuyan stood poised and valiant on the platform, her long spear clutched firmly in hand, surrounded by the successful candidates of the second assessment and the esteemed high-ranking officials of the Yunhua Sect.

Fairy Yunshuang and the six grand elders observed the proceedings from their vantage point on a nearby elevated platform.

“Ah, what a pity! To this moment, no one of truly exceptional aptitude has emerged. It feels as though all the Yunhua Sect’s good fortune has been monopolized by our Sect Master, our senior sister. To think she alone took in two disciples possessing unique innate physiques… truly, it stirs envy within me.” A woman in a flowing blue gown, exuding a gentle demeanor, remarked with a sigh.

The speaker was Yun Ning, the Sixth Elder and Pavilion Master of the Shuiyun Pavilion.

“Indeed,” another elder interjected, stroking his beard with a hint of sarcasm. “Yet, the Sect Master herself has been treading on thin ice of late. After all, the two disciples she accepted—one is the mother of the Heavenly Poison Maiden’s successor, and the other is their wife. Had the Yan family not raised an alarm about that young man, Yan Yun, our Yunhua Sect would have found itself in a truly indefensible position.”

This individual was Yunhong, the First Elder of the Yunhua Sect and, notably, Lin Mo’s master.

Yunhong, the chief disciple of the previous Sect Master, had unfortunately fallen short in aptitude compared to Yunshuang. After his defeat in the ultimate contest for the Sect Master position, he had settled for the role of First Elder.

This defeat had festered within him ever since.

He had initially harbored hopes of reclaiming his lost prestige by pitting the next generation of disciples against one another. Yet, to his dismay, his own disciple proved utterly inferior to those taken under Yunshuang’s wing, and was, in fact, even outmatched by Su Muyu.

Over the years, Yunhong had spared no effort in nurturing Lin Mo, employing various methods to enhance his aptitude. However, for a complete metamorphosis of his innate talent, the only path lay in finding a female cultivator with a compatible physique for dual cultivation.

The inherent challenge, however, was that any female cultivator possessing such rare aptitude was invariably a prodigy, a ‘heavenly daughter,’ of a prominent sect. Thus, Yunhong had long endeavored to forge a union between Lin Mo and Jiang Yao as cultivation partners.

Alas, the impending marriage alliance between the Jiang and Yan families had extinguished that aspiration. Furthermore, with the Lin family’s subsequent falling out with both clans, such a prospect had become utterly impossible.

“This humble maiden, Xie Yuyan, having reached the minor completion stage of the Spirit Gathering Realm, invites any esteemed cultivator to step onto this platform and offer guidance,” Xie Yuyan declared, her voice ringing out clearly as she issued her challenge.

Immediately, a young man of comparable cultivation, likewise wielding a long spear, vaulted onto the dueling platform.

“Du Jun, at your service, Miss Xie, seeking your valuable instruction. Observe my move!” The young man, having barely offered his greeting upon ascending the platform, wasted no time, launching an unreserved thrust, ‘Straight to the Yellow Dragon,’ directly at Xie Yuyan.

Upon witnessing his sudden assault, a faint smile graced Xie Yuyan’s lips. Her own long spear flashed out in an instant, its tip striking with unerring precision against the very point of his.

“What?” The young man’s expression instantly faltered.

As Xie Yuyan exerted a subtle force, the young man was instantly met with a formidable pushing power. He attempted to resist, but the iron spear in his grasp buckled and bent. Unable to hold his ground, he was propelled backward by the curving shaft, sent flying from the platform, and landed heavily on the ground below.

This impressive display immediately captured the keen interest of the high-ranking officials seated on the elevated platform.

“Oh? This little lass shows considerable promise!” exclaimed Yun Yan, the Second Elder of the Yunhua Sect, his voice laced with intrigue. “Despite being a girl, her physical strength appears formidable, and her precise command over her attacks is truly exceptional.”

After vanquishing her challenger with a single move, Xie Yuyan deftly twirled her spear, striking a pose of self-assured confidence, and announced with a triumphant air, “Too weak. Next!”

Consequently, other disciples of comparable cultivation stepped forward to challenge her, yet none could endure more than five moves before succumbing to inevitable defeat.

Throughout these bouts, Xie Yuyan refrained from deploying any intricate or advanced spear techniques, relying instead on a repetitive sequence of basic thrusts, sweeps, chops, lifts, and throws.

Nevertheless, even these elementary maneuvers, executed by Xie Yuyan, conveyed an extraordinary sense of power and masterful control.

This was an ingrained combat instinct, honed by Xie Yuyan through her extensive immersion in military camps.

“Excellent, excellent! This girl, I claim her!” Yun Yan declared, rising to his feet. “While her spiritual root may be somewhat deficient, she is unequivocally a born warrior.”

While superior aptitude was certainly desirable, its absence could not be forced. Across the entire cultivation world, cultivators possessing pure spiritual roots likely constituted less than ten percent of the population; such a trait simply could not be compelled.

Typically, even a single-attribute spiritual root was considered a commendable aptitude.

With a swift teleportation, Yun Yan appeared directly on the dueling platform, addressing Xie Yuyan. “Little lass, are you willing to become my disciple?”

Gazing at the somewhat boisterous, imposing figure before her, Xie Yuyan’s heart immediately swelled with a faint reluctance.

‘Why must it be another rough, burly man, just like my father?’ she thought, a silent lament. ‘I yearned for a beautiful female master!’

Yun Yan, seemingly discerning Xie Yuyan’s subtle disdain, immediately bristled, his eyes widening in a stern glare.

“Little lass, what is that expression on your face?” Yun Yan demanded, clearly displeased. “What, do you perhaps deem this old man unworthy?”

Xie Yuyan, realizing that such a direct refusal in the face of Yun Yan’s words would undoubtedly invite trouble, paused for a moment of contemplation before reluctantly assenting.

“Disciple Xie Yuyan offers her respects to Master,” she bowed.

Only then did Yun Yan nod with satisfaction, subsequently summoning a female disciple from the Huoyang Pavilion.

“Cheng Hong,” he instructed, “come here for a moment and escort your junior sister to complete her entry procedures.”

And so, Xie Yuyan successfully entered the Yunhua Sect, moreover becoming a disciple of the Huoyang Pavilion.

Not every aspirant possessed the qualifications to become a faction disciple. Attaining such status signified recognition by an elder, guaranteeing at least an inner sect disciple position.

The remuneration and privileges afforded to inner sect disciples far surpassed those of their outer sect counterparts.

“Hehe,” Xie Yuyan giggled, trailing behind Cheng Hong. Her old habit, that incessant chatter, resurfaced. “I never expected the Huoyang Pavilion to have female disciples! Wasn’t it rumored to be exclusively male?”

From a distance, Jiang Yao, witnessing Xie Yuyan’s successful entry into the Huoyang Pavilion, immediately dispatched a message of glad tidings to Yan Yun.

Having delivered the joyous news, she then departed the third assessment grounds, resuming her assigned mission.

Meanwhile, Yan Yun, upon learning of Xie Yuyan’s success as an inner sect disciple, felt a genuine surge of happiness for her, yet simultaneously, a distinct pang of envy and even a touch of resentment.

“Ah, if only my spiritual root could be concealed, what a boon that would be!” Yan Yun sighed inwardly. “For now, I shall continue my research into poisons, seeking to achieve yet another breakthrough.” With this resolve, he once more entered the Heavenly Tome space to delve deeper into his alchemy.

Within the Heavenly Tome space, the art of alchemy was limited only by one’s imagination; any concept could be brought to fruition. The Pill Heavenly Venerate and the Pill Dao Heavenly Tome proved perfectly adaptable to every form of alchemy, truly deserving the title of the grand compendium of all alchemical knowledge.

“To create,” Yan Yun mused inwardly, “if only I could concoct poison pills, that would be invaluable. Alas, to devise such potent concoctions, I must first master pharmacology. This will necessitate considerable time to fully comprehend every principle within the Pill Dao Heavenly Tome.”

Yan Yun would study for a period, then immediately put his newfound knowledge to the test, his command over alchemy growing more refined with each passing day.

For three consecutive days, Yan Yun dedicated his daylight hours to alchemy. By night, however, he would furtively slip away to spend precious moments with Jiang Yao, nurturing their affection.

On the surface, at least, no one would perceive anything amiss between them. Even if their clandestine meetings were discovered, it would typically not escalate into a significant issue.

On the eve of the holiday’s conclusion, deep in the night, they found themselves in a secluded, open-air spot within the Yunhua Sect, sitting hand-in-hand, lost in contemplation of the vast, luminous star river and the serene moon above.

“My dear,” Yan Yun murmured, his voice laced with longing, “I yearn to grow powerful quickly, so formidable that I need fear no one. Only then can I be with you openly, without constraint. These nightly rendezvous, they always feel so much like a clandestine affair.”

Jiang Yao let out a soft sigh.

“Alas, who could argue otherwise?” she replied. “If only one of us could rise to true power, that would be enough.”

Yet, a different apprehension gnawed at Yan Yun’s mind, one stemming from the future events revealed in his unlived memories.

In a decade or so, his own whereabouts would inadvertently be exposed due to a series of events, as foretold by those memories. He absolutely could not allow this to transpire. Consequently, Yan Yun resolved to seek a preemptive solution to avert this impending crisis.

He had already conceived of this solution, but its implementation hinged upon Yan Lingyun’s awakening and her subsequent consent.

What, then, was this audacious plan? It was to disseminate the cultivation method of this poison cultivation technique. For if enough people cultivated it, would not the burden of animosity be diffused among them all?

He firmly believed this poison cultivation technique would be widely embraced, for it was a rare and precious method that allowed even ordinary individuals to cultivate. It was inconceivable that such an opportunity would fail to stir the hearts of many.

While the Immortal Alliance remained beyond his current capabilities, the Lin family, in his eyes, was utterly unforgivable.

His primary objective upon entering the Yunhua Sect was to devise a way to eliminate Lin Mo, for he was the very source of all this evil.