Chapter 3

Lin Fan sensed the attitude of the Sect Master and asked, "Sect Master, it seems you don't favor sword riding?"

"No, I just don't favor sword driving," the Sect Master explained. "Sword driving has nothing to do with cultivation. As long as one refines a treasure sword and understands the method of sword driving, they can fly on the sword. The sword's spiritual energy will gradually wear out, eventually turning into scrap metal. Then, one would have to refine another piece of cold iron into a sword. This cause and effect will be repaid during the cultivation of sword riding at the Core Formation stage. It might lead to a halt in cultivation, preventing any further breakthrough. Therefore, I have only one rule for you: do not drive a sword before you can ride one." Although many people cannot reach the Core Formation stage.

"Huh?" Lin Fan did not understand.

The Sect Master, impatient, said, "You can think of it this way: if you change your bed partner every day, when it's time to marry, can you not think of the other women? Sword riding requires sincerity. Only with sincerity can one achieve oneness with the sword. Therefore, all sects have certain restrictions. To refine cold iron, one must obtain the personal approval of the Sect Master."

Elder Zhang said, "Little Three, after the foundation building, you will need to undergo training. Who will Lin Fan go with?"

"Let it be natural," the Sect Master said. "During Lin Fan's training, I will be in seclusion. Elder Zhang, you can entertain yourself... There are not many training opportunities. If Lin Fan has nothing to do, he should spend more time with Elder Zhang."

"Understood," Lin Fan nodded.

...

The hundred-day foundation building went smoothly. On that day, Lin Fan also reported to the Sect Master's hall. Whenever a disciple completes their foundation building, they must report to the Sect Master's hall. Then, a dedicated person records their information, and they are grouped with three to four peers to form a team. In the future, when needed, the Sect Master will evaluate each team's situation and dispatch disciples accordingly. Some may never be dispatched, and the three or four members might never know each other.

Three hundred years ago, the evil sects invaded the Twelve Continents, causing widespread suffering. The Cult of Magic and the righteous path joined forces, ultimately defeating the evil sects and driving them back to the desolate wasteland. During this great battle, the Cult of Magic's combat units of four to five people showed remarkable fighting power. After the battle, this method was emulated by various sects.

"Senior Brother, I'm here to register for training," Lin Fan said to a scribe disciple in the side hall. The disciples take turns performing various duties, such as guarding the mountain gate or organizing documents and books.

The scribe disciple looked up at Lin Fan and asked, "Sect?"

"Zhengyi Sect."

"Name?"

"Lin Fan."

"Age?"

"Sixteen."

"Time of entry?"

"Seven years ago."

"Specialty?"

"Sky Nine Cards."

"..." The scribe disciple, who was writing well, was taken aback by this answer and smeared the paper with ink. The scribe disciple looked at Lin Fan, "Strange Door Hexagram? Sword, Dao techniques, alchemy, pill refinement..."

Lin Fan thought for a moment, "Drawing talismans."

"Specializes in talismans." The scribe disciple asked, "Can you drive a sword?"

"No."

"Alright, Junior Brother, return to the sect. If there is training, someone will inform you. If you need to leave the mountain gate, please come to me to record it."

"Thank you, Senior Brother." Lin Fan bowed and left. The Sect Master's hall was deserted. Lin Fan had no interest in staying longer and returned to the Zhengyi Sect. The Sect Master had already entered seclusion, leaving only Elder Zhang. Young people and old people can occasionally play chess, but it gets boring over time. Without the permission of a senior, disciples cannot visit other sects, so Lin Fan had nowhere to go and could only go to the library to read and sleep.

Two hours later, a disciple flew to Zhengyi Mountain on a sword: "Transmitting the Sect Master's order... Is anyone here? Is anyone here?"

An hour later, the disciple was frustrated. He had been wandering Zhengyi Mountain for so long and had not seen a single person. This situation had been encountered by messenger disciples before, and usually, they just placed the Sect Master's document in the sect hall. However, this was a verbal order from the Sect Master, and he couldn't just throw it away.

"Is anyone here?"

Lin Fan finally heard the voice in his dream, stuck his head out of the library, and saw the messenger disciple. Lin Fan drew a wind talisman and jumped out of the window, "I'm coming, I'm coming."

Finally seeing someone, the messenger disciple flew to Lin Fan and said, "Transmitting the Sect Master's order, Zhengyi Sect disciple Lin Fan, report to the hall."

"Thank you, Senior Brother," Lin Fan said politely.

"Indeed, it was hard work," the messenger disciple said without being polite and returned to the hall to deliver the order.

...

Inside the hall, a woman who looked no more than thirty was standing by the side bookshelf, quietly reading and waiting. She was the current Sect Master of Yunqing Sect, Immortal Qianyu.

Below, three disciples stood. One wore a white Daoist robe, a male, around sixteen or seventeen, refined and elegant, with a fair complexion and a beautiful appearance.

One wore a black Daoist robe, a male, around seventeen or eighteen, with a sword scabbard on his back, standing like a pine tree, motionless, with sharp eyebrows and bright eyes, cold and proud.

One wore a light green dress, a female, around sixteen or seventeen, dignified and beautiful, with a small bamboo tube on her back.

A disciple outside the hall reported, "Zhengyi Sect disciple Lin Fan has arrived."

"Let him in," the Sect Master put away her book, placed it back on the bookshelf, and walked to the center.

Lin Fan was seeing the Sect Master for the first time. He knew the Sect Master was a woman but did not expect her to be so young. However, in the world of cultivation, one cannot judge age by appearance. Lin Fan bowed, "Zhengyi Sect disciple Lin Fan greets the Sect Master."

"Better late than never," the Sect Master said. "Introduce yourselves first."

The man in the white Daoist robe bowed, "Bai Mu."

The man in the black Daoist robe nodded slightly, "Gu Yan."

The woman in the light green dress bowed, "Ye Wushuang."

Lin Fan bowed, "Lin Fan." It was better to be in his own sect; he had already bowed so many times that day.

The Sect Master, with her hands behind her back, looked at the four and said, "From now on, you will be a team. Gu Yan, you are the oldest, so you will be the team leader."

"Yes!" Gu Yan answered, standing straight.

The Sect Master asked, "Who among you knows about Little Dongzhou?"

Bai Mu answered, "About four hundred miles west of here is the Great Crossing River. Beyond the Great Crossing River is the territory of Little Dongzhou. Little Dongzhou is surrounded by water on three sides and mountains on one side, making it the granary of the Twelve Continents. To the east, it borders Dongzhou, and to the west, it borders Zhongzhou, making it a necessary route to Zhongzhou. Little Dongzhou venerates Buddhism and devalues Daoism, a tradition that has lasted for hundreds of years. Among them, Tianyin Temple is the largest temple in the Twelve Continents. In Little Dongzhou, there are very few Daoist cultivation sects."

The Sect Master nodded, "Indeed, the disciples of Qingyuan Sect are well-read and knowledgeable about the world without leaving their doors. The border between Little Dongzhou and Zhongzhou is called Jiulang Mountain, which stretches for a hundred miles. There is a Daoist temple called Sanqing Temple within it. It is an ordinary temple with over ten Daoist disciples. Nearby, there are two villages. However, two months ago, Daoist disciples and villagers began to disappear one after another. The abbot of Sanqing Temple was once a wayward disciple of our Yunqing Sect, expelled from the sect. He has some cultivation and noticed something was wrong, so he sought help from our Yunqing Sect. You will go to handle this matter. Here is the map and the location of Sanqing Temple."

Gu Yan stepped forward and took it, "I will not let the sect down."

The Sect Master said, "Additionally, you already know that Little Dongzhou venerates Buddhism and devalues Daoism. Buddhists are naturally gentle and will avoid confrontation even if you are aggressive. However, the people of Little Dongzhou may be disrespectful to you, and you must yield and not bully them."

The four answered together, "We will follow the Sect Master's teachings."

The Sect Master waved her hand, "You may go."

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