The sound of lucky money dropping to the ground was melodious, and it was quickly swept away by everyone using the Mystical Object technique, and they all laughed happily.
The brief ceremony was thus completed, and He Kao leapt down from the beam. Lan Jiwan quickly came forward, took out a gold ingot, and stuffed it joyfully into his hand, saying, "This is what I grabbed for you!"
They set up a table in the open space, and everyone had another gathering over a meal. Amidst the laughter, He Kao's gaze swept over everyone, feeling that although the Sect was small, the atmosphere was truly wonderful...
The disciples of the Hidden Moth Sect had always been few, and those present today could be said to be "picked up" by He Kao.
Originally, their cultivation was not in Insect Concealment Skill, but looking at the experiences of Lan Jiwan, Er Ji, and Chang'an Residence, each excelled in disguise, lurking, assassination, and tracking, naturally fitting the requirements of the Hidden Moth Sect.
Only Ye Liangchen seemed to be an exception; his most outstanding qualities were meticulousness, patience, and reliability, qualities every Sect needs for "housekeeping" talents.
During the meeting, He Kao specifically mentioned that the Hidden Moth Sect could start considering recruiting the next generation of disciples, and to pay attention when encountering good seedlings, but the assessment process must be especially cautious.
This was mainly directed at Er Ji and Chang'an Residence because, given the age of the other three, they clearly weren't ready to recruit disciples.
Disciples of the Hidden Moth Sect are hard to find, not just because the cultivation requirements of the Insect Concealment Skill are special, but also because the nature of the Hidden Moth Sect is unique.
After the luncheon, He Kao called Er Ji aside to exchange insights on the cultivation of the Insect Concealment Skill, offering many pointers based on his own experience.
In terms of age, Er Ji would definitely count as a senior to He Kao, but in terms of cultivation and mastery of the Insect Concealment Skill, He Kao was clearly ahead by a big realm, making this guidance very necessary and valuable.
He Kao also specifically instructed Er Ji to cultivate while guarding the central part of the Grotto Heaven, as it would greatly benefit his comprehension of the Insect Concealment Skill. If he ever had the opportunity to break through to Tier Five, it would be best to choose to break the gate within the Floating Colors Grotto Heaven.
He Kao once had doubts about Er Ji, but after those doubts were dispelled, he decided to accept him into the Hidden Moth Sect and wholeheartedly provide all kinds of help.
After joining the Sect, Er Ji has also played an irreplaceable role.
After speaking with Er Ji, Lan Jiwan tiptoed over again, twisting her fingers as if she had something to say.
He Kao kindly said, "Junior Sister, do you have something to ask of me?"
Lan Jiwan softly said, "Yes, I also want to consult about cultivation."
The once cold and poisonous Lan Jiwan now had such a shy demeanor. He Kao smiled and said, "Seeking advice on cultivation is proper; just be straightforward, there's no need to be so bashful."
Lan Jiwan said, "I'm afraid Brother will be too busy, and it might delay your matters."
He Kao said, "This is my duty; no matter how busy, I should find the time... come with me, we'll talk while we walk."
He Kao left the central basin and entered the mountain wilds east of the Ancestral Hall, where there were no paths, walking where the vegetation was sparse, and the rugged terrain couldn't stop his steps.
Lan Jiwan followed curiously behind, wondering why they were heading into the wilds. Surely, he was taking her to gather herbs, as the Sect Leader Senior Brother had especially brought back an alchemy cauldron today...
Although curious, she asked no more, trusting that wherever the Sect Leader Senior Brother took her was fine. They conversed as they walked, with Lan Jiwan sharing her recent troubles.
She was already a Tier Four Artisan refining the Micro-Entry Skill, but after joining the Hidden Moth Sect, everyone had to retrain in the Insect Concealment Skill, using it as their cultivation foundation.
Using studying as an example, it wasn't like simply choosing a minor, but like changing majors entirely and starting fresh, while the original major became the minor.
This had the advantage that after retraining in the Insect Concealment Skill, before breaking through the original realm, theoretically, there was no need to undergo tribulation again.
But it also had drawbacks, as it required changing many ingrained habits to adapt, and more importantly, the changed Fundamental Technique might not completely align with one's innate qualities.
Take He Kao, who was something of an all-rounder. Yet he had not yet reached entry-level in Lingxi Skill... because human energy is limited, and everyone excels at different things. It's unlikely to excel at everything.
To an observer, Lan Jiwan's retraining in the Insect Concealment Skill seemed rapidly advanced, now a Tier Three Explorer, just one step away from breaking through to Tier Four.
If following ancient legends, upon becoming a Tier Four Scholar of the Hidden Moth Sect, she would also be called Yin Niang, titled Lan Yin Niang.
But stuck at this one step, Lan Jiwan felt she couldn't break through, despite having high-tier cultivation and experience in the field. It shouldn't be this difficult, right?
Originally, she didn't need to be anxious, and could focus on her cultivation. In the Hidden Moth Sect, apart from Brother Huo Qing, her cultivation was the highest, allowing her to do many things for him.
But recently, the Sect Leader Senior Brother had brought back an old monk named Er Ji, whose cultivation was already that of a Tier Four Scholar, also known as "Kong'Er" in ancient legends, and was also very knowledgeable...
Lan Jiwan wouldn't be jealous of an old monk, but she did feel a slight sense of urgency and anxiety.
He Kao, after listening, didn't just persuade her not to worry because doing so alone wouldn't help. First, he praised Lan Jiwan for achieving such high cultivation at such a young age, already considered a genius within the Magic Sect.
Not only had she cultivated the Micro-Entry Skill to a high level, but she had also reached Tier Three in the Insect Concealment Skill in a short time, something neither Ye Liangchen nor Chang'an Residence had achieved.
Chang'an Residence originally cultivated the Spirit Awakening Skill, having broken through Tier Three cultivation, and after retraining in the Insect Concealment Skill, had just recently broken through Tier Two.
As for Ye Liangchen, originally a Tier Three Sorcerer cultivating the Micro-Entry Skill, he had only recently reached entry level after retraining in the Insect Concealment Skill... which slightly surprised He Kao, as he initially thought Ye Liangchen would find it hard to even begin.
Then he analyzed, "For a thousand years, although the core of each technique has not changed, the methods of cultivation have greatly improved. Each major Magic Sect has summarized many advancement rituals..."
Lan Jiwan interjected, "But the Insect Concealment Skill has no advancement ritual, at least Brother, you haven't taught me."
He Kao shook his head and said, "It's not that I haven't taught you, but rather that I also don't know. The situation of the Hidden Moth Sect is unique; the Insect Concealment Skill remains in its form from a thousand years ago. Maybe our generation can do something, like summarize and explore a set of advancement rituals.
After understanding Er Ji's cultivation experiences and combining them with my own cultivation, I always feel there's some sort of patternβ¦"
Er Ji's unique experience was that upon breaking through to Tier Four, he wasn't the original Zhang Yanfei but had another identity.
But it wasn't as simple as disguise, nor was it a role-play.
Zhang Yanfei wasn't playing the role of Er Ji; he truly became Er Ji, even during his tenure as dean of Nanhua Academy of Fine Arts, he had already assumed the identity of Er Ji.
After Zhang Yanfei faked his death to escape, he continued living as Er Ji, encountered He Kao during his pursuit of the Hidden Moth, and joined the Hidden Moth Sect.
As for He Kao himself, he was both a programmer and a Secret Disciple of a legendary Magic Sect Elder in Jianghu, simultaneously the enigmatic Hidden Moth, Sect Leader Huo Qing of the Hidden Moth Sect.
He Kao wasn't playing the role of Hidden Moth; he was the Hidden Moth. Although he often appeared as Feng Zilong, he wasn't portraying the long-vanquished Feng Zilong, just borrowing his appearance.
If needed, he could also appear as Feng Ziniu or Feng Zima.
The experiences of He Kao and Er Ji might contain a pattern that aligns with the requirements of Insect Concealment Skill cultivation.
The true wonder of the Insect Concealment Skill is not making oneself invisible, but that even when seen, one remains unnoticed...
Lan Jiwan might simply follow this line of thinking as a trial; if she succeeds, then analyzing the details of her experiences, they might just summarize the pattern from Tier Three to Tier Four in Insect Concealment Skill, and perfect it into an advancement ritual.
What the ancients didn't leave behind can be created by us today.
**
