Chapter 1 Brother and Sister

  Yun Ning Temple, the incense is flourishing, smoke and clouds are swirling, the faint fragrance of sandalwood wafts up, smelling it has a unique flavor, giving people a feeling of ascending to immortality.

  Yun Ning Hall is not a main hall within the Qian Yu Men, it's usually just a place inside the gate where some miscellaneous matters are handled, such as: testing new disciples' potential and progress.

  When Lu Xing and Zuo Qinghua entered the Yuning Hall, there were already many people standing inside in neat rows. These people were undoubtedly young boys and girls of similar age to Lu Xing and Zuo Qinghua, all wearing the uniform Daoist robes of Qianyu Gate. A rough count showed that there were dozens of them.

  The two of them obviously arrived late, and as soon as they entered, they were met with these disciples' strange gazes.

  There are two kinds of gazes, one is filled with envy, admiration and even jealousy, all of which are directed at Zuo Qing Hua. As someone who became an inner disciple as soon as she entered the sect, Zuo Qing Hua naturally always receives this kind of enviable treatment.

  Another kind, on the contrary, was filled with contempt, disdain, and even ridicule and sarcasm, it was obvious that these gazes fell on Lu Chen's body without exception.

  Lu Chen vaguely remembered the faces of these people, who were all young men seeking immortality and asking about the Tao on Mount Mi a year ago, just like himself. Since that day when the core disciple in charge of receiving them announced Lu Chen's talent as an absolute waste material that was hard to find even among millions, such gazes had never been absent for a whole year.

  Long accustomed to such gazes, Lu Chen and Zuo Qinghua exchanged a glance and walked into the young man's team.

  In front of the hall, an old man sat majestically, with a slender and elegant figure, white hair and eyebrows, his eyes slightly closed, and a hint of immortal energy lingering around him. At first glance, he was a cultivator who had achieved great success. His identity was also noble: Qianyu Gate's Reception Elder, Qingyun True Man, whose strength had reached the late stage of foundation building.

  The Xianling continent has a clear division of cultivator levels, starting from the Qi Refining stage, followed by Foundation Building, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, and Merging with the Void. Each major realm is divided into three stages: early, middle, and late, except for the Qi Refining stage which is divided into ten layers. As long as one cultivates to the ultimate realm, they can transcend the Heavenly Tribulation and become a flying immortal.

  Don't look at these few realms as being not many, yet cultivation is difficult, more difficult than ascending to the blue sky. This also leads to those like Qing Yun True Person who are in the later stages of foundation building appearing transcendent and extraordinary.

  There was a Taoist nun sitting beside Qingyun Zhenren, someone Lu Chen was very familiar with. She was Lian Yu Zhenren, the master of Zuo Qingxuan, and her strength was similar to that of Qingyun Zhenren, also in the later stage of foundation building.

  Lu Chen and Zuo Qingxuan arrived late, and the face of Qingyun True Person had a clear displeasure. However, due to the relationship between Zuo Qingxuan and her master Lan Yu, he didn't erupt, pretending not to have seen them, and said: "Everyone is here, let's begin."

  An ordinary command, yet it gives off an aura of majesty that dares not be disobeyed. As soon as Qingyun's words left his mouth, the three core disciples immediately stepped forward.

  Qianyu Men has strict rules, and the disciples under its gate are also treated with strict hierarchy. Usually, new entrants have to undergo assessment, which mostly tests whether they have the physique for cultivation, that is, spiritual roots. Apart from this, it's about perseverance in cultivation. People who come here generally don't lack perseverance; as for spiritual roots, it depends on one's innate talent.

  Newly recruited disciples, first register and learn the mysterious skills for a period of one year. Within one year, as long as you cultivate to the third layer of refining energy, you will become an inner disciple.

  The sound of reports from the core disciples echoed in his ears, and Lu Chen's disdainful expression grew even stronger.

  "Alas, I really don't understand why they came here. Obviously, they can't cultivate true energy and will only end up embarrassing themselves?" Lu Chen thought to himself, his eyes occasionally drifting towards the girl from the Tian Jiao squad not far away.

  "Little girl, I really can't argue with you. Alright, there's still a month left, and then I won't have to put up with these white eyes anymore."

  His gaze swept over the row of young men again, and Lu Chen suddenly saw a pair of eyes filled with disdainful smile.

  Chen Hu ~

  At this time, someone called out the name of the owner of those eyes.

  "During ~"

  Chen Huo responded loudly and confidently walked to the very front.

  Take a step, stand still, raise both arms and gather them in front of your chest.

  "Cheers!"

  A fierce aura emanated from Chen Hu, and a simple yet unadorned ripple began to flow, appearing as a thin layer of mist, only slightly stronger than the previous named disciples.

  "Very good." After testing for so long, Qingyun finally spoke out in praise. Looking at Chen Hu, Qingyun said with satisfaction: "Reaching the third layer of Qi training in less than a year is quite an achievement, very good."

  Another "very good", Chen Huoyang self-satisfied, bowed and retreated, turned back and deliberately gave Lu Chen a extremely contemptuous look.

  He took in Chen Hu's expression, and Lu Chen snorted in disdain, then casually pulled out a low-grade spirit stone he had won from Chen Hu and shook it. His eyes were filled with even more mockery: "Let you pretend, what's the big deal about being at the third layer of Qi Refining? You're still being cheated by me! Heaven is really unfair, such a brainless and arrogant guy can actually cultivate to the third layer realm... Heavens, are you blind?"

  Chen Hu's expression suddenly changed from being pleased with himself to revealing a fierce glint in his eyes.

  "Idiot, think you can hit me? I've been through a thousand battles and a hundred refinements. How could I be affected by someone like you?" Chen Hu's face turned red with rage, while Lu Chen secretly felt pleased.

  "Lu Chen"

  At this time, the core disciple finally called out Lu Chen's name.

  "Ah~, here it comes."

  Lu Chen's response was quite characteristic, and it instantly brought a brief burst of stifled laughter to the grand hall. Qingyun slightly opened his old eyes, his face iron-green, obviously extremely disgusted with Lu Chen, this kind of petty city character, but there was no way around it, who let the Lanyu True Person beside him make a bet with him for a year.

  He didn't know that at this moment, Lan Yu's face was also not good-looking. She was too embarrassed to even lift her eyelids, seemingly closing her eyes to rest, but in fact she was also extremely annoyed. In her heart, she was secretly comforting herself: "Forget it, for the sake of Hua'er, there is only one month left, just bear with it."

  Two steps slowed down to three, Lu Chen directly ignored the contemptuous gaze cast by the surrounding people and arrived at the grand hall with a leisurely and self-satisfied expression. Standing there, he made a pose, his demeanor calm and composed, full of confidence.

  Everyone was stunned at first sight.

  "Huh? Has this kid actually cultivated true energy?"

  "Ah, looks like this is how it's going to be."

  "No way! Just two days ago, he hadn't even discovered his true energy yet? Could it be..."

  "Shh, don't say anything, just take a look and you'll know."

  Still in shock, everyone was expecting Lu Chen to make some astonishing move. But soon they realized they were wrong.

  "Cheers!"

  Lu Chen's body didn't have even a hint of true energy fluctuation, everything was calm and could be described as still water without ripples.

  Inside the grand hall, not a sound was heard from the ravens and sparrows. The old face of Qingyun's cloud was twitching with rage, and Lanyu closed her half-open eyelids again, a cold sweat quietly dripping down.

  The crowd of disciples were initially stunned, but then burst out laughing, and soon the grand hall was filled with mocking voices.

  "Damn it, this kid has been cheated."

  "What a scoundrel! The Qianyu Gate actually has such a person, fortunately it's only for a year, otherwise if it spreads to other immortal sects, wouldn't it be laughed at?"

  "What a shame! I don't know this person."

  ……

  The sound of ridicule rose and fell, Qingyun finally couldn't sit still, didn't use that core disciple to speak up, but instead angrily said: "Get out of here, next one."

  Lu Chen smiled and returned to his position in the formation, completely unfazed by Qing Yun's rebuke.

  The core disciple saw Qingyun's anger and hastily said with a red face: "Next one, Zuo Qinghua."

  The disciples heard the sound, hurriedly closed their mouths, and at the same time, the disdainful expression on their faces suddenly changed, and they stared intently at that enchanting figure.

  Zuo Qinghua slowly walked forward, stood still, and didn't move a single thread. With a stir of his true energy, an astonishing aura that had never been seen before burst out, instantly stunning the entire audience.

  "Practicing Qi has four layers, Practicing Qi has four layers."

  "What a terrifying natural talent! He's only 11 months old and has already reached this level, is he even letting others live?"

  "It's indeed worthy of being a Heaven Spirit Root. Not only can it cultivate two types of elemental True Qi, but in less than a year, it has actually reached the fourth layer."

  Unlike previous rumors, Zuo Qinghua's demonstrated strength is enough to make one gasp in amazement.

  In less than a year, he has cultivated his Qi to the fourth layer, this innate talent is extremely rare in the world.

  At this moment, Qingyun and Lanyu's faces looked much better. They glanced at the heavenly beauty, then at the absolute waste of a genius, and let out a sigh with a shake of their heads, unsure whether they should be happy or angry.

  "Why is there such a big gap between people?"

  "It's actually already at the fourth level, and our family's Huāěr really isn't covering it up." Lù Chén had put his heart into Left Qīng Huā for over a decade, and seeing her reach this level of attainment also greatly comforted him.

  Surrounded by a crowd of disciples, all praising him to the skies, Zuo Qing Hua didn't show any signs of excitement, instead carrying a strong sense of loss. Walking from the front of the hall to Lu Chen's side, Zuo Qing Hua didn't know what to say, hesitating for a while before forcing a smile and comforting him: "Brother, don't give up, isn't there still a month left? Maybe a miracle will happen?"

  Lu Chen smiled and reached out to gently scratch Xiao Qinghe's nose, saying nonchalantly: "Don't worry, I'm fine. On the contrary, it's you - you've actually cultivated to the fourth layer of Qi Refining so quickly, truly astonishing."

  "It's all thanks to brother." Zuo Qinghua spoke quickly, but halfway through, she realized it wasn't good and hurriedly closed her mouth, changing the subject: "But brother, you..."

  Liao arrived, and Zuo Qingwan was worried about himself. Lu Chen waved his hand and said: "I'm fine, I don't have anything to do here, I'll go back first, you shouldn't disappoint my expectations, cultivate well, goodbye."

  Although it seemed fine on the surface, Zuo Qing Hua naturally sensed a hint of melancholy from that departing figure's back, and Xiao Yao's nose involuntarily turned sour as two streams of hot tears rolled down.