Chapter 10

A few days later, a few disciples had already successfully created one-star Qi symbols and immediately showed them off, feeling quite proud of themselves, which also drew many envious glances. Li Moran, who had seven Qi symbols, learned about this and smiled without a word, with no intention of making it known.

Half a month later, one day, Li Moran was meditating in his room.

Although the speed of cultivation during the day was very slow, it was better than nothing, and the Qi cultivated during the day would not disappear for no reason. Therefore, Li Moran still persisted in his practice, but he rested for a few hours before dinner.

A series of urgent knocks interrupted him. He put away his cultivation technique, opened the door, and saw Mu Li, who looked tense.

"Junior Brother Mu, why are you so panicked?" Li Moran asked in surprise.

Mu Li, panting, said, "Senior Brother Zhao, I just found out that Senior Aunt Zixia has returned to the sect!"

"So soon!" Li Moran was startled, but he was not overly anxious, after all, he had a few Qi symbols.

Li Moran asked, "So, we should go to pay our respects and ask her to take us as disciples?"

Mu Li shook his head and continued, "I heard from Senior Brother Qingfeng that Senior Aunt Zixia had an accident and was injured. She will be in seclusion to recover, which will take about a month. The matter of taking disciples will be discussed after she comes out of seclusion."

"I came to inform Senior Brother Zhao as soon as I knew, so that Senior Brother Zhao could be prepared!"

Li Moran nodded. He saw that Mu Li was drenched in sweat, clearly having run a considerable distance, and felt quite grateful.

"Thank you, Junior Brother Mu!" Li Moran said, "Actually, I am prepared and believe I can impress Senior Aunt Zixia. I wonder if Junior Brother Mu has any plans? After all, a month is too short, and even if you practice diligently during this period, your cultivation will not improve significantly."

Mu Li sighed in frustration and replied, "I am thinking of a plan, but I haven't come up with a good idea yet."

Li Moran had an idea and said, "If Junior Brother Mu trusts me, give me your few talismans!"

"Talismans? Is Senior Brother Zhao going to make talismans? I tried twice before and failed, wasting a lot of hard-earned Qi, so I didn't dare to try again. I have eight left, all of which I will give to Senior Brother Zhao!" Without hesitation, Mu Li took out a small oilcloth-wrapped pouch from his chest, took out a few neatly folded talismans, and handed them all to Li Moran.

For these disciples who had just been enlightened, these few talismans were their most precious possessions, so they always carried them with them.

"I will go and inform the other senior brothers so that they can be prepared!" Mu Li bowed and was about to leave.

"Wait!" Li Moran called out to Mu Li, frowning and said, "Junior Brother Mu, do you know what it means to inform the other senior brothers?"

"What do you mean, Senior Brother Zhao?" Mu Li opened his eyes wide, looking confused.

Li Moran said calmly, "Even if Senior Aunt Zixia decides to take disciples, she will not take all of us. Naturally, she will choose the two or three most outstanding among us. If you inform those senior brothers early, they will have more time to prepare, and their chances will be greater, while your chances will be smaller. In the end, you will be the one who suffers!"

Mu Li was stunned and couldn't speak for a moment.

Li Moran continued, "In your situation, many people would resort to all sorts of underhanded tactics to deal with their fellow disciples to stand out. You not using such tactics is already quite commendable, and there's no need to deliberately help your competitors, including me."

These words, which only someone with experience could see through, were indeed rare to hear from a young man. Mu Li fell silent upon hearing them.

To Mu Li, this Zhao Wuming, who was usually quiet, was speaking such a long and meaningful sentence for the first time, which was indeed profound.

After a moment, Mu Li smiled and said, "Thank you for your advice, Senior Brother Zhao! I understand your meaning, but I still plan to inform the other senior brothers. The path to immortality is long and uncertain, and not everyone has the opportunity to pursue it. Even if I don't have the chance, I will be happy and satisfied to see other senior brothers continue their cultivation."

Li Moran nodded, quite admiringly, and said, "To think you can think this way is truly commendable! However, although I disdain underhanded tactics, I don't have your noble sentiments, so I won't accompany you."

Mu Li then took his leave, and Li Moran watched his back, lost in thought.

Whether the other junior brothers could impress Senior Aunt Zixia and stay in the sect depended on their own fate and abilities. However, Li Moran decided to help Mu Li.

Not for any other reason, but for the kindness of a meal and his rare sense of justice!

As a listener disciple without a master, Li Moran's situation was not entirely bad. At least during this period, he was free, with no miscellaneous tasks or orders from a master, so he could focus entirely on cultivation.

His diligence was evident. He practiced every morning and afternoon. He would sleep in the afternoon and wake up before dinner; after dinner, he would continue to practice. Out of the twelve hours in a day, he spent eight or nine hours in cultivation. While others were deep in sleep, he was in the midst of intense practice.

Li Moran found that although the Qi of heaven and earth cultivated at night could not remain in the body for long, it could be used to unblock the meridians before it dissipated.

The eight extraordinary meridians in the human body were not as unobstructed as other meridians but were blocked to varying degrees by various impurities. Unblocking the meridians was a process of cleansing the body with the Qi of heaven and earth and purifying impurities. During this process, one sometimes felt comfortable and ethereal, while at other times, it was excruciating, as if being bitten by thousands of ants.

Although all the disciples knew that to improve their cultivation, this pain was inevitable, facing such unbearable pain, these young men, who were only fifteen or sixteen years old, inevitably hesitated. Only a few could grit their teeth and continue their practice without interruption.

A month later, Li Moran and a few other listener disciples indeed received a notice to go to Zixia Peak to meet Senior Aunt Zixia.

"Junior Brother Mu, are you prepared?" On the way, Li Moran asked Mu Li.

Mu Li said with some worry, "I have prepared something, but I don't know if it will meet Senior Aunt Zixia's standards."

Li Moran smiled slightly, took out a pouch from his chest, and handed it to Mu Li, saying, "Don't worry. If it doesn't work, present the talismans in this pouch to Senior Aunt, and she might take you as a disciple!"

Mu Li was stunned, opened the pouch, and saw a stack of neatly folded Qi symbols. He counted them, and there were seven.

"Did Senior Brother Zhao draw all these?" Mu Li was greatly surprised, almost disbelieving.

Li Moran smiled and nodded in acknowledgment, "The hard work of the past few years has not been in vain. I made eight talismans and failed once, so I have seven Qi symbols. With seven Qi symbols, you should be among the best among the disciples!"

Mu Li was deeply moved and murmured, "To make so many Qi symbols, how much Qi must have been spent! Senior Brother Zhao's cultivation is not easy, and to spend so much effort for a junior brother, I am truly unworthy! Senior Brother Zhao, take all the Qi symbols back. I will keep one, and even one Qi symbol can be presented to Senior Aunt Zixia!"

Li Moran waved his hand and said, "Let's see how it goes. If Senior Aunt Zixia has high standards and strict requirements for disciples, one Qi symbol might not be enough!"

Li Moran firmly refused to take back the talismans, and Mu Li had to put them away, feeling very grateful.

After crossing several peaks and entering the gate of Zixia Temple, they soon arrived at a fairly large but somewhat old temple. A familiar figure stood at the temple gate, which was Qingfengzi.

"Senior Brother Qingfeng, greetings!" Li Moran and Mu Li hurriedly bowed.

"Junior brothers, please wait in the main hall. Master will be here soon," Qingfengzi said indifferently, guiding them into the main hall.

The main hall was empty and unusually quiet, making both of them even more nervous.

Not long after, the other listener disciples also arrived, and they exchanged glances, seeing a hint of unease and worry in each other's eyes.

The disciples waited silently for about half an hour, and finally, light footsteps came from the inner hall.

Then, a middle-aged man in his forties with a black beard walked to the main seat in the hall and smiled at the disciples.

"Are you the listener disciples mentioned by Master?"

The disciples immediately realized and hurriedly bowed to the middle-aged man, "Disciples greet Senior Aunt Zixia!"

Li Moran noticed that although Senior Aunt Zixia was called a Daoist, she did not dress like one but more like a middle-aged scholar. She also smiled, but unlike the kind and amiable smile of Master Cangxia, her smile revealed a sense of dignity and authority.

Senior Aunt Zixia's face was somewhat pale, which matched the rumors of her injury. It was unknown whether her recent recovery would affect her mood and thus influence her decision to take disciples.

"Disciples are devoted to the Dao and seek to be taken as disciples by Senior Aunt Zixia!" The disciples bowed again, expressing their intentions.

Senior Aunt Zixia chuckled and said, "Although I do not strictly require innate talent, I do have certain requirements for my disciples. Tell me, what are your strengths, and how can you meet my standards?"

As she spoke, her eyes flashed with a sharp light, scanning each disciple. When she saw Li Moran, her eyes narrowed slightly, revealing a hint of surprise.