Chapter 35

Little Fatty beamed with joy, feeling extremely happy. He was so excited that it seemed as if Meng Hao becoming an Inner Sect disciple was the same as him becoming one.

Shangguan Xiu remained silent in the crowd. After a while, he lowered his head and turned to leave. As he left, his face was filled with a cold expression, but there was also a sense of helplessness. Meng Hao had become an Inner Sect disciple, and even as an elder, he had no right to question anything. After all, the Inner Sect was considered the true disciples of the Mountain Support Sect.

"Under thirty years old, or at the Seventh Layer of Qi Condensation, or the first in the Inner Sect trial, one can enter the Inner Sect..." Shangguan Xiu sighed inwardly, but he was unwilling to give up and could only endure it.

At this moment, neither Shangguan Xiu nor Grand Elder Ouyang, nor even Sect Master Heluohua, had noticed that outside the Mountain Support Sect, on the desolate peak of a black mountain, a figure with surging blood energy stood outside an empty cave.

This figure was very blurry, and its face could not be seen clearly. However, there was a unique aura emanating from this person, different from the natural energy of the world. It seemed that this aura was rejected by the world, and the surroundings changed subtly, with cracks appearing. But when outsiders looked, they saw nothing, as if everything was normal.

"Mountain Support Sect... a vulgar name. Even if it was deliberately changed a thousand years ago to avoid the punishment of the Heavenly Dao, it is ultimately... the Demon Sealing Sect! And the disciples of the Demon Sealing Sect dare to consume the Dragon Pill and inherit the legacy of demons... interesting, it was not in vain that I helped you twice." A hoarse voice slowly emerged from the blood-colored figure. The voice carried a sense of otherworldliness, and as it echoed, the sky rumbled, and red lightning descended, but it shattered a thousand feet away from the blood-colored figure, as if even the heavens could not shake it.

"Eventually, I will defy this Heavenly Dao!" The red figure seemed to frown, looked up at the sky coldly, and then took a step towards the Southern Domain, disappearing instantly.

"My true form is still in slumber, and my divine consciousness scanning the world has seen this strange scene. Interesting, very interesting." Laughter echoed, and the red figure vanished.

His appearance and departure, the rolling of the sky, and the descent of lightning were all unseen by outsiders!

Time passed quickly, and seven days had gone by.

During these seven days, the only topic of conversation in the Outer Sect was Meng Hao becoming an Inner Sect disciple. Everyone had witnessed it, and the shock it brought still lingered even after seven days. Whenever they looked up at the Eastern Peak, they showed envy.

Some people regretted Wang Tengfei, but no one mentioned his name. It seemed that after the battle in the Inner Sect, Wang Tengfei had become a thing of the past.

The disciples who had previously had conflicts with Meng Hao were all uneasy and fearful. Since Meng Hao was no longer in the Outer Sect, they could only try to win over Little Fatty to gain favor.

Little Fatty had been very impressive these past few days, becoming the stall owner in the low-level public area, completely taking over from Meng Hao. He enjoyed the admiration of his fellow disciples, even when grinding his teeth, and he had moved to a very nice residence in the Outer Sect.

During these seven days, Meng Hao had also been very busy. Although the Mountain Support Sect was in decline, some rules still existed. For seven days, Meng Hao bathed, changed clothes, and paid respects to the portrait of the Mountain Support Ancestor and the ancestors of the Mountain Support Sect, among other tedious tasks.

During this time, he did not see Senior Sister Xu, who had been in seclusion for months, but he did see Senior Brother Chen Fan, who wore a silver robe. In Meng Hao's memory, Senior Brother Chen Fan rarely smiled and seemed quite stern. However, after interacting with him, Meng Hao found that no matter what questions he had, Senior Brother Chen Fan would answer them in great detail, which made Meng Hao feel good. He thought about the rumors about Senior Brother Chen Fan, which mostly said that he was devoted to the Dao and had a righteous aura.

After seven days, Meng Hao finally had some free time. He was granted a cave dwelling on the Eastern Peak, which was rich in spiritual springs and filled with spiritual energy, far surpassing his previous dwelling.

However, his good mood was shattered when he received the spirit stones and elixirs for Inner Sect disciples for the first time. He stood there, dumbfounded, staring at the spirit stones in his hand.

These spirit stones were clearly superior to those he had received in the Outer Sect, slightly larger, and not completely transparent, but rather somewhat foggy and blurry. Although not much, it made Meng Hao's face gradually turn pale.

"Is this a mid-grade spirit stone? Inner Sect disciples receive one per year... one such spirit stone can be exchanged for a hundred low-grade spirit stones from the Outer Sect..." Meng Hao muttered, his mind buzzing. Next to him was an ancient jade that specifically introduced the identification and differentiation of spirit stones for Qi Condensation cultivators.

"Above mid-grade spirit stones is the legendary high-grade spirit stone, of which there is not even one in the entire Zhao Kingdom. One high-grade spirit stone can be exchanged for ten thousand low-grade spirit stones... but it is priceless." Meng Hao's heart ached. He quickly took out the few large spirit stones in his storage bag and compared them, his face becoming increasingly grim.

"Based on the size and the density of the fog-like structures inside, one can determine the grade of the spirit stone. High-grade spirit stones are larger, and the fog-like structures inside cover most of the stone... the spiritual energy does not dissipate, and only Foundation Establishment cultivators can absorb it." Meng Hao muttered, staring at the large spirit stone in his hand. This spirit stone was three times the size of a mid-grade spirit stone, and the fog-like structures inside almost filled the entire stone, looking dazzling, but no spiritual energy was emitted.

"Could this... could this be a high-grade spirit stone? I... I actually spent two thousand high-grade spirit stones!" Meng Hao's heart ached, and he tried to comfort himself, but thinking about the extraordinary wooden sword, Wang Tengfei's concern, and the equivalent exchange of the bronze mirror, he now understood how much value he had spent...

"But why do I feel that the large spirit stone in my hand is even larger than the described high-grade spirit stone? The fog-like structures inside are even more numerous?" Meng Hao's heart skipped a beat. He dared not think further, his face pale, and his heart aching intensely.

After a long while, he finally calmed down and quickly put away the large spirit stones.

"Just two thousand high-grade spirit stones, it's nothing, it's nothing." Meng Hao gritted his teeth, saying the word "just" with great difficulty.

A few more days passed.

"Junior Brother, I observed that you used many magical treasures in your battle. If you run out of magical treasures, you will be at a disadvantage. You should visit the Dharma Pavilion more often. There are many ancient texts from the Mountain Support Sect's thousand-year history, and you should study them."

"Junior Brother, I noticed that you have been hunting small beasts and cooking them recently. This is not right. As cultivators, we absorb the natural energy of the world to transcend our mortal bodies. If you continue to eat mortal beasts, you will be wasting the natural energy."

"Junior Brother, you have too many storage bags. You should not do this. You should store all your items in one storage bag for easier access."

In the past few days, Meng Hao forced himself not to think about the spirit stones and instead followed Senior Brother Chen Fan. As he got to know him better, he heard his teachings almost every day. He gradually realized that this senior brother was somewhat different from the rumors in the Outer Sect. Although he was indeed devoted to the Dao, he was not silent and spoke little. Instead, once he started talking, he could go on for hours or even a whole day.

Eventually, it was not Meng Hao who sought out Chen Fan, but Chen Fan who came to his cave dwelling early in the morning to talk.

Meng Hao could not refuse and could only listen with a bitter smile. Many times, he fell asleep while listening, and when he woke up, he could still hear Senior Brother Chen Fan's words, feeling somewhat sorry for his senior brother.

"There are too few Inner Sect disciples, so Senior Brother Chen has no one to talk to, which has formed this peculiar habit..." Similarly, Meng Hao suddenly understood why Senior Sister Xu often went into seclusion. Even he had many times thought about going into seclusion to escape the torment.

Even when they walked out of the cave dwelling, Chen Fan would continue talking to Meng Hao as they walked.

"I wonder when Senior Sister Xu will come out of seclusion and what her reaction will be when she sees me." Meng Hao, wearing a silver robe, smiled and sat on a rock on the Eastern Peak, his long hair fluttering in the breeze as he looked at the distant sunset, automatically ignoring the words of Senior Brother Chen beside him.

"Junior Brother, are you thinking about when Senior Sister Xu will come out of seclusion?" Senior Brother Chen smiled and looked at Meng Hao.

"Um... what?" Meng Hao was taken aback by the different words coming from Senior Brother Chen.

"Junior Brother, there's no need to be shy. Senior Sister Xu is naturally beautiful, and it's normal for you to secretly like her." Senior Brother Chen Fan smiled, his eyes showing a teasing glint. He had a calm and easy-going personality and had a good impression of Meng Hao. After interacting with him, he had already recognized him as his junior brother.

"Xu Qing? Cough, no, no, I don't... By the way, Senior Brother, what did you say about what happens after a cultivator reaches the Great Completion of Qi Condensation?" Meng Hao quickly spoke, coughing a few times and changing the subject.

"After Qi Condensation comes Foundation Establishment, where one transcends the mortal body and is called a spirit cultivator or cultivator." Senior Brother Chen Fan looked at Meng Hao, shook his head, and smiled, no longer teasing but speaking gently.

"Foundation Establishment involves building a spiritual foundation and raising nine Dao Platforms in the Dan Lake. The light from the Dao Platforms spreads throughout the body. Foundation Establishment also has different levels, based on the Dao Platforms formed by different cultivation techniques, such as the Nine Flawless Foundation Establishment, the Eighteen Flawed Foundation Establishment, and the Foundation Establishment with more than eighteen cracks, with the Flawless being the best, the Flawed being good, and the Cracked being widespread."

"In the Mountain Support Sect, there was once a Flawless Foundation Establishment technique, which the Mountain Support Ancestor obtained. It was through this technique that he became famous in the Zhao Kingdom and spread his name throughout the Southern Domain. Unfortunately, it has been lost with the Ancestor's departure." Chen Fan spoke in great detail, as was his nature, and Meng Hao had gotten used to it over the past few days.

"After Foundation Establishment comes the Core Formation stage, like the Sect Master. After that, the Nascent Soul stage, where one becomes a terrestrial immortal."

"What about after the Nascent Soul stage?" Meng Hao listened intently, his heart full of longing.

"After the Nascent Soul stage comes the Spirit Severing stage, like the Mountain Support Ancestor. He was at this stage, but it is extremely difficult, a matter of life and death, and one must sever the spirit multiple times to achieve it. The Mountain Support Ancestor went into seclusion outside and has not returned to this day." Chen Fan spoke softly, his eyes showing a calm but determined look.

"I wonder if I, Meng Hao, will ever reach the Spirit Severing stage. What comes after the Spirit Severing stage?" Meng Hao muttered.

"After the Spirit Severing stage, the realm is too high, and I don't know the specifics. One must go to the major sects in the Southern Domain to learn more, but ultimately, it is all for the sake of becoming an immortal." Chen Fan said softly.

"Immortal?"

"Immortal."

The mountain breeze blew, reaching the peak, and the long hair of the two brothers was blown away, their words drifting further and further.

"Junior Brother, if you go out for trials in the future, do not limit yourself to the Zhao Kingdom. You must know that the Zhao Kingdom is just a small, remote country in the Southern Region of the Southern Continent, with limited natural energy and few cultivators." Chen Fan turned to look at Meng Hao and said gently.

"The Southern Region is the true realm of cultivation, where the weak are preyed upon by the strong, but it also represents the peak of the Southern Continent, with many heroes and talented individuals.

Compared to there, the Zhao Kingdom is much more peaceful. As cultivators, we must step over mountains and bones." Chen Fan's eyes showed a strange light, as if he was speaking to himself rather than to Meng Hao.

Meng Hao was deeply moved. These words, which he had previously not understood, were now being clearly explained to him for the first time. In his mind, a vast map seemed to unfold, showing the Eastern Land of Tang and the heroes of the Southern Region.

"Entering the path of cultivation is like leaving the mortal world. From then on, you are no longer a mortal. As a cultivator, you are defying the heavens. If you are not strong, you have no right to survive, no right to cultivate, and no right to live. You will only be at the mercy of others. Such a life... do you want it?" Chen Fan looked at Meng Hao, his words reaching Meng Hao's ears, each word landing in his heart. Meng Hao's eyes showed confusion, and he fell into deep thought.

"I am a scholar from Yunjie County, whose parents disappeared when I was young. My original dream was just to become a wealthy person, to no longer live a hard life, and to have enough money to see the Eastern Land of Tang..." The night breeze was cool, blowing through his hair. At this moment, Meng Hao was pondering his life, just as he had done on the Great Green Mountain, thinking about his future path.