Luo Jinxiang noticed something and pondered silently, her heart stirring slightly.
“You, come here,” Elder Xie sighed, gesturing for her.
Luo Jinxiang took a final glance in the direction Qu Wei Yin had left before obediently returning to Elder Xie.
“Aren’t you here to be my disciple? Help me rebuild this wall,” Elder Xie said, looking worriedly at his courtyard wall.
“Yes, Master,” Luo Jinxiang replied, feeling a faint thrill; she was now truly a disciple.
After a busy half-day, she finished repairing the wall section Qu Wei Yin had damaged. With the task complete, the sun was setting, casting a fiery red glow across the sky. Dust-covered, Luo Jinxiang set down her tools and brushed off her arms.
She took a moment to reflect, then went to bathe and changed into the clothes Qu Wei Yin had given her.
In the bronze mirror, she saw a young woman with her hair tied up, the sleek, deep green robes draped beautifully around her slender frame. Her dress’s hem swayed as she moved, accentuating her graceful figure.
Luo Jinxiang gazed at her reflection, reaching out to gather spiritual energy in her palm. The silvery-white light flickered briefly before vanishing, like a dying flame.
She frowned, feeling a momentary disappointment.
However, such dejection was fleeting. Taking a deep breath, she closed her door and went to find Elder Xie.
She knocked gently. Upon hearing his acknowledgment, she entered. The room was ordinary, like a mountain dwelling, with only a table and chair.
“Though I agreed to teach you, there is no contract, and you shall not call me Master,” Elder Xie stated sternly, sitting upright.
Luo Jinxiang didn’t mind as long as she could learn something. She smiled sweetly and agreed.
“Something on your mind? Ask,” Elder Xie sensed her thoughts, leaning back.
Without hesitation, Luo Jinxiang asked earnestly, “What about my spiritual veins? Why can’t they be classified, and what is this ‘special and unique method’?”
Elder Xie seemed surprised and replied slowly, “Most spiritual veins are similar, except for those with extreme Yin or Yang qualities. Extreme Yin veins aren’t particularly useful for cultivation but benefit others greatly.”
“Extreme Yin…” Luo Jinxiang recalled Elder He’s words. She had stumbled upon something fortunate.
Her current body seemed to have what was called Extremely Yin spiritual veins, the “Exquisite Icy Heart.”
She understood why she could enter the “Wuhui Sect.”
Her brow furrowed deeper. Elder Xie’s cough brought her back to reality.
“So, does this mean I have spiritual veins but still a weak constitution?” Luo Jinxiang asked.
“You could say that,” Elder Xie nodded.
“But Qu Wei Yin, as a junior disciple, she…”
“She has extremely Yang spiritual veins and a ‘Tiang Xuan Golden Body.’ She is naturally different from you.”
Luo Jinxiang felt the weight of fate’s disparity among cultivators, swallowing a stone of realization.
She was momentarily despondent, unsure of what to say.
“Why can’t my spiritual veins be classified?” she inquired again.
“I do not know,” Elder Xie shook his head genuinely.
“I understand, thank you, Master,” Luo Jinxiang lowered her head, sensing something amiss but unable to pinpoint it.
“I promised that girl to teach you, but your learning depends on your abilities,” Elder Xie said, toying with an ancient teacup before handing her a book. “This contains secret techniques to enhance your spiritual power. Focus on this.”
“I understand,” Luo Jinxiang said.
She needed to enhance her spiritual power; other concerns could wait.
Returning to her room, she practiced with the book, finding mostly common techniques. However, some text was obscured with ink, hinting at hidden content.
Lighting a lamp, she carefully deciphered the hidden text.
“Tian Di Hui Ju, Wan Wu Gui Xu,” she repeated softly, committing it to memory despite not understanding its meaning.
Days passed with Luo Jinxiang cultivating and meditating. At night, she would visit the pool where she had met Qu Wei Yin. Her spiritual power grew, though her cultivation remained unchanged.
Occasionally, she trained with other disciples but didn’t encounter Qu Wei Yin. Her life became serene and fulfilling. Without constant thoughts of Qu Wei Yin, she felt she had matured in her secluded life.
One morning, while tying her hair and sweeping the courtyard, a bird excitedly flapped its wings near her ear. The birds chirped that they would learn the third-level summoning formation.
Luo Jinxiang knew she couldn’t summon anything, so she made her way to the “Wuhui Sect,” munching on a steamed bun.
Upon arrival, she found the grand hall with only a dozen new disciples, making it seem empty.
“Luo Jinxiang! Over here!” Lu Fanzhi waved, and Luo Jinxiang smiled, joining her. Her light cyan skirt fluttered, and her clear features made her approachable.
Lu Fanzhi playfully poked her face. “Smile more. You’ve seemed unapproachable lately. Your dimples make you pleasant.”
Embarrassed, Luo Jinxiang swatted her hand away, rolling her eyes.
Slow to warm up, Luo Jinxiang revealed her true nature over time. Lu Fanzhi’s care, like a worried mother, touched her deeply.
“Who teaches today? Summoning a spirit beast is crucial; it will accompany us for years,” an enthusiastic boy named Baili Qingzhou said.
A timid girl worriedly said, “I haven’t learned the third-level array. What if I summon nothing?”
“Don’t worry. It’s better than being useless,” Yan Ying said disdainfully, eyeing Luo Jinxiang.
Luo Jinxiang returned her gaze with disdain.
“Quiet, Senior Uncle Qu and Senior Brother Siyu are here,” someone shouted, and the hall fell silent. Luo Jinxiang stood in the corner, her eyes on the door.
Qu Wei Yin entered, wearing a black martial outfit with floral patterns, a dark red sash, and a Crescent Moon Star Sword on her back. Her presence commanded attention.
The young men and women stared in awe.
Chang Siyu, following her, was so engrossed in Qu Wei Yin that he almost tripped.
“Senior Uncle Qu, let me help you,” Chang Siyu offered, reaching for Qu Wei Yin’s sword, but she deftly avoided him.
“You can’t carry it,” she replied calmly.
“Today, we summon a spirit beast. Sometimes, impure entities are summoned, so Senior Uncle Qu is here,” Chang Siyu reassured them, smiling.
“With me, nothing will go wrong,” he assured, calling Baili Qingzhou to begin.
As Baili Qingzhou set up the array, Luo Jinxiang quietly asked Lu Fanzhi, “What impure entities?”
“Years ago, a disciple summoned an evil spirit. The Wuhui Sect was cleansed for days,” Lu Fanzhi explained, shaking her head.
“An evil spirit? It’s supposed to be a spirit beast,” Luo Jinxiang puzzled.
“Some people are different. Senior Uncle Qu once summoned the Moon Star sword’s spirit with a third-level array,” Lu Fanzhi said. “She’s a genius, and destiny has its ways.”
Luo Jinxiang nodded, fearing she might summon something undesirable.
If that happened, she feared expulsion from the Sect.
“It’s your turn! Go!” Lu Fanzhi shouted, pushing her forward.
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