Eternal Swordmaster
Chapter 597 - 592: Joining the Sect IV

Chapter 597: Chapter 592: Joining the Sect IV

For a moment, the Immortal Master didn’t seem inclined to speak any further, just quietly leading them onwards.

After passing through a street block and turning left a short distance, both sides were lined with a variety of shops for magical artifacts and alchemical pills, all signposted with Ancient Spirit Script.

He brought the group to a large gate guarded by two sentries.

The two guards were clad in full suits of grey-white armor, and behind their helmets, a white rune floated in the air, faintly visible.

Upon seeing the newcomers, one of the guards stepped forward and exchanged a few quiet words with the Immortal Master. The Immortal Master presented a jade token, and after receiving a nod of acknowledgment from the guard, they were allowed to pass.

"This is the first transfer point," the Immortal Master looked back and said indifferently, glancing over Lin Xin who was by his side.

"You, you, you. The three of you will stay here together."

He pointed at Lin Xin and casually at Chen Jingsi and Master Kuan An next to him.

"Okay."

Lin Xin responded calmly.

He was the first to walk through the gate.

Chen Jingsi let out a small sigh of relief and quickly followed.

Master Kuan An too turned around, offering a gentle smile to the others before following inside.

Zhao Tiecheng’s gaze flickered. Although he didn’t understand why Chen Jingsi had done this, it seemed likely to be beneficial, but now the opportunity had clearly passed.

The couple who were with them had a delayed realization, noticing something was amiss, but the Immortal Master was too lazy to pay them any heed.

"Let’s go to the next stop."

He resumed his impatient demeanor.

Zhao Tiecheng glanced back inside a few more times before leaving somewhat reluctantly.

As Lin Xin walked in, he immediately saw a large pond in front of him, next to which stood a stone stele.

’Disciples of Qing Shan, turn right.’

He turned right and after walking around the pond for a short while, he saw a three-story building materialize out of thin air where there had been nothing before.

The small building was quaint and elegant, constructed entirely of green bamboo.

"This is the standard residence for disciples of the Qing Shan realm," Chen Jingsi’s voice came from behind him.

"We are to stay here for three days?" Master Kuan An approached, "I wonder how food and accommodation will be arranged."

"There are Certain Spirits here specifically responsible for dining and lodging, including the cleaning of laundry," explained Chen Jingsi. "There’s a jade slip in the rooms that records everything; you’ll know when you read it carefully."

Lin Xin looked around; aside from the large pond, there were rows of neatly trimmed weeping willows.

He walked in and was immediately greeted by a screen.

On it was a large character ’Dao,’ which at a glance gave a sense of sharpness and a chill edge.

At a counter to the side, a beautiful woman smiled at them.

"Please come here to register for check-in."

Lin Xin approached and without seeing her do anything, a flash of blue light passed before his eyes.

"The ’Jia’ room on the second floor to the left is yours, here is your room plaque, please keep it safe."

She handed a wooden plaque to Lin Xin. He took it and went straight up the stairs.

"Lin Xin Daoist, please wait."

Chen Jingsi called out from behind him.

"What is it?"

Lin Xin turned and looked towards her.

"Would you mind joining us for a simple meal later?" Chen Jingsi said seriously, "My family has a thorough understanding of this discipleship selection, it may be of some help to you."

Lin Xin pondered for a moment.

"Fine. I’ll meet you downstairs in an hour."

"Hmm."

Chen Jingsi nodded.

*****************

After going upstairs to find his room, Lin Xin walked in and set up a small Formation to seal and isolate the surroundings.

Then he finally took a deep breath and relaxed.

The room was no different from an ordinary inn room, and there was a jade slip on the desk explaining the specifics of the place.

Inside such a vast power, one had to be cautious everywhere, lest a careless move invite unnecessary trouble.

He cultivated in solitude in his room, and because he did not have a primary Cultivation Technique, he could only use the Positive Yang Technique to regulate his Qi-Blood.

An hour passed quickly.

He stood up and sorted out his belongings.

His Storage Crystal and storage ring were placed together, sealed with a high-intensity Formation Talisman; it would take at least a month to unseal and open them.

This was to prevent leakage of his aura and being detected by powerful beings due to traces related to his identity as a Demonic Cultivator.

Furthermore, he had disassembled and dealt with some of the magical artifact materials that needed attention.

After leaving the room and going downstairs, a few cultivators who had eaten together were just getting ready to leave, inadvertently revealing auras that were at least at the Foundation Establishment Layer.

Lin Xin inwardly tensed, reminded that he was no longer in Qiushi.

The first floor was a designated dining area, and after scanning the room, he saw Chen Jingsi waving him over at a table.

Master Kuan An was there as well, smiling amiably at him.

In the dining hall with seating for ten or more tables, only three or four tables were occupied.

Lin Xin joined them, pulling up a chair and sitting down without any pretense.

"Let’s talk about this Qing Shan realm discipleship selection," he said.

He took out an Array Plate, and as a Spirit Stone in the center of the palm-sized black Array Plate glowed with a white light, a soundproof Barrier was instantly set up.

Seeing this, Chen Jingsi’s eyes narrowed slightly, and she began to make some estimates in her mind.

Being able to use an Array Plate driven by Spirit Stones so casually, this person must have considerable financial resources.

"That would depend on what Brother Lin wants to know,"

She paused.

"For this recruitment of disciples by the Qing Shan realm, invitations were sent far and wide, attracting relations from various sects and schools, as well as many Loose Cultivators who came upon hearing the news.

There are three kinds of disciples: Menial Disciples—hundred people are recruited without age restrictions, which is also the primary goal for most people.

Fifty Official Disciples are recruited, but without at least a Second Rank Spirit Vein, one need not consider it.

As for Core Disciples....."

"Let’s hear it,"

Lin Xin interrupted her.

Chen Jingsi looked at him.

"It is said that only three people will be recruited as Core Disciples; this time, there are already six Purebloods with Divine Child Bloodline and Divine Beast Bloodline of Earth Level qualifications. There are fifty-eight people with qualifications for Spirit Veins, each no older than thirty years of age."

"Spirit Veins? How is that classified? Does it refer to the Spirit Gathering Physique?" Lin Xin recalled the Spirit Gathering Physique from his time in the Underworld, where a single Spirit Gathering Physique was considered a genius among geniuses.

"A Spirit Gathering Physique is just a basic type of Spiritual Body." Chen Jingsi did not speak, but Master Kuan An at her side took over.

"Spiritual Bodies are divided into three levels: Spirit Gathering Physique, Pure Spirit Body, and Spirit Veins. Among these, only those with Spirit Veins are qualified to step into Green Lake Mountain and become one of them."

"Spirit Veins have standard divisions to determine rank, from one to nine, with each rank increasingly powerful. A Ninth Rank Spirit Vein is known as a Dragon Vein, capable of a terrifying strength that could suppress the fate of a country. With some luck, achieving the level of an Earth Immortal is also a hopeful possibility."

Lin Xin’s heart chilled as he remembered that this was no ordinary place; it could possibly be a gathering ground for the peak powers in the entire Mortal Realm.

"Earth Immortal? Such mighty beings are not ones we can discuss casually—speak discreetly," Master Kuan An was startled and quickly lowered his voice.

Chen Jingsi nodded.

"I want to know, just how strong is Green Lake Mountain?" said Lin Xin with a frown, "I’m actually only looking to join a Righteous Sect to properly devote myself to hidden cultivation; I don’t wish to think too much about other matters.

For some reason, I got a Token, and only after activating it did I come here. To be frank, I don’t know anything about Green Lake Mountain."

Chen Jingsi was slightly surprised; she didn’t expect him to be so candid.

"Seeing as how knowledgeable the junior sister is, understanding many of these secret matters, this old monk would also like to learn a thing or two... May I?"

Master Kuan An also looked towards Chen Jingsi.

Chen Jingsi pondered for a moment.

"Very well, Green Lake Mountain... it’s not a secret, so I will tell you,"

She scanned the first-floor hall, then her gaze fell on a group of red-robed cultivators who had just entered and were preparing to sit down for a meal.

"See those red-robed cultivators there? They are from the Golden Crown of Winter."

"Are they from one of the six factions, the Golden Crown of Winter?" Master Kuan An’s face showed surprise.

"Indeed," Chen Jingsi nodded. "Green Lake Mountain is also known as the City of Immortals and Demons. Our current location should be on the peripheral– the Welcoming Fairyland. This place doesn’t attract many people; it’s merely a transit point that leads to the actual location of Green Lake Mountain’s Mountain Gate."

"This place accepts all comers; as long as one is not a butcher who slaughters cities like a great demon, everyone is treated the same. From what I know, aside from the Four Seas Fairy Mountains and the Illusory Sea’s polar regions, other sects, compared to Green Lake Mountain, are like ants.

As a result, Green Lake Mountain is also the mainstay in the resistance against Demon Spirits by myriad races."

Lin Xin nodded lightly, gaining a sense of the situation.

"Does Junior Brother have anything else to ask?"

Chen Jingsi looked towards him with a smile.

Lin Xin shook his head slightly.

"You all talk; I’ll listen," he said.

"Very well, Junior Brother, don’t be shy. If there’s anything you want to ask for help with, just speak up," Chen Jingsi’s legs, dressed in tight long pants under the table, brushed subtly against Lin Xin.

Her lips curled slightly upward, and her face, usually profoundly valiant, now had a faint hint of seductiveness.

"It’s just that, it seems you’ve caught the eye of the Immortal Master leading the team. If there’s a chance, please don’t forget your sister here,"

She seemed to be flirting with him.

Lin Xin moved his leg away without showing any reaction, replying indifferently.

"Sister, you’ve misunderstood; I only asked a question that caught the Immortal Master off guard for a moment, that’s all."

"This Wang Immortal Master has quite the authority during the selection of Official Disciples, and sister isn’t greedy, I only hope that when Junior Brother gets through, you can casually mention sister a word or two."

Chen Jingsi’s hand stealthily reached towards Lin Xin’s thigh.

"If there’s a chance," Lin Xin moved her hand away, speaking calmly.

Having settled his matter, he then listened to Chen Jingsi and Master Kuan An’s Q&A, gaining understanding of many bits of common knowledge that were not available in Qiushi.

After finishing the meal, he suggested taking a walk alone, and soon left the table.

Chen Jingsi and the other remained seated, continuing their meal.

"Do you really think that kid will speak a few good words for you?"

Master Kuan An chuckled twice, speaking in a low voice.

"It’s fine. Regardless of the relationship with Lin Daoist, one shouldn’t give up on even the slightest possibility," Chen Jingsi glanced at Master Kuan An.

"If you could ensure my entry as an Official Disciple, it wouldn’t be difficult to follow you, would it?"

Master Kuan An smiled mysteriously.

"About other matters, I might not dare to guarantee, but as for entry... heh heh heh."

Chen Jingsi’s eyes brightened.

"Master, are you serious?"

"Believe it or not, up to you. But you can also wait until you’re truly in the sect to find me," Master Kuan An said with a half-smile.

After pondering for a moment, Chen Jingsi suddenly giggled coyly.

"If things work out, then this young lady will indeed have to see what Master is capable of~"

Her words were sultry to the bone, making one feel itchy at heart.

"Well said, well said~~" Master Kuan An also laughed.