Chapter 39: Chapter 37: Quiet Cultivation, Quiet Alchemy
After the "interview" was over, Master Ma took Du Youqian to the Dharma Transmission Hall to change his status.
"Registering him as an Inner Disciple? So soon? It’s only been, what, seven months since he joined the Outer Sect? And Master Ma, you’re taking him as your personal disciple?" The Steward on duty first put on a fawning smile and showered Master Ma with flattery.
Only then did he earnestly begin the process of changing Du Youqian’s status.
"Cultivation level? Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer?" His eyes widened in disbelief. "Nephew Qiu, you have a Lower Grade Fire Spirit Root, don’t you?"
"Yes."
"When you joined the sect... let me see... you hadn’t even started your Cultivation. And in seven months, you’re already at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer?" As he spoke, the Steward’s voice even began to tremble.
It wasn’t impossible for a new disciple to reach the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer in seven months.
You just needed to be talented enough, possessing a Top Grade Spirit Root, an Earth Spirit Root, or a Celestial Spirit Root.
Someone with an Upper Grade Spirit Root using a suitable Cultivation Technique could also occasionally achieve it.
But you just have a Lower Grade Spirit Root! Lower Grade!
For a normal person with a Lower Grade Spirit Root to reach the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer, it would take at least... three or four years, right?
And the Zhongxuan Sect’s Entry Level Cultivation Methods weren’t exactly top-tier.
Du Youqian smiled faintly. "Martial Uncle, please don’t be alarmed. I practiced Martial Arts in the Mortal World and was what they call a Martial Arts Innate Grandmaster. In the Early Stage of Cultivation, I can convert all my Innate True Qi into Magical Power, so my Cultivation has a rapid growth period. Once I reach the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer and all my Innate True Qi is converted, my Cultivation speed will return to normal."
In this new life, even though the Zhongxuan Sect’s Cultivation Technique was actually inferior to the Five Elements Spirit Absorption Technique, Du Youqian’s Cultivation speed was far faster than in his previous life.
If his Spirit Root had one point in all Five Elements in his previous life, then in this life, his Fire Spirit Root had three points. While it still didn’t meet the standard for a Middle Grade Spirit Root, it was a vast improvement.
The Cultivation speed of a three-point Spirit Root wasn’t just three times faster than that of a one-point Spirit Root.
Based on his experience, his speed of meditation and Breathing should be faster by a factor of three squared—nine times faster.
Moreover, although the Zhongxuan Sect had declined, its main Spirit Vein was still Tier Three, and the branch veins allocated to ordinary Outer Disciples for their Cultivation were Tier One. This was a much better situation than in his last life.
That was why it had taken him over a decade to reach the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer in his previous life, whereas he had achieved it in just seven months in this one.
"So that’s how it is." The Steward was finally relieved.
Master Ma knew all of this and didn’t need Du Youqian’s explanation. He just urged the Steward, "Hurry up and finish the paperwork. Also, give him the back pay for the last seven months’ stipend at the Inner Disciple rate."
"I can get back pay?" Du Youqian asked, surprised.
Master Ma put on a stern face. "I don’t know. What do you say?"
He was asking the Steward.
The poor Steward trembled, shook his head, then thought for a moment before saying with a mournful look, "If you say it’s possible, then it’s possible."
"I don’t know if it’s possible. I’m asking you if it’s possible."
"..." The Steward gritted his teeth and nodded. "It’s possible."
Du Youqian watched the show from the sidelines. ’Seeing the big picture from this small interaction,’ he thought, ’I’m afraid many things in the Zhongxuan Sect aren’t exactly done by the book.’
’But that’s to be expected.’
’Cultivators are still human, not true Immortals devoid of emotion and desire.’
’People with desires naturally give rise to all sorts of relationships and conflicts.’
’And where there are relationships and conflicts, it’s impossible for everyone to follow the rules completely.’
’There will be those who show favoritism and those who break the rules.’
’It’s only human nature.’
Du Youqian had no intention of changing any of it.
As long as he was on the benefiting end, not the one being bullied, that was all that mattered.
And Master Ma’s performance just now was quite interesting, actually.
Du Youqian had a faint feeling that he wasn’t just fighting for benefits for his new disciple.
He was also trying to bring this Steward under his sway.
’It seems this new master of mine isn’t some ascetic cultivator who ignores worldly affairs and focuses only on refining Inner and Outer Elixirs.’
’Having a master like this has its pros and cons.’
’On the plus side, I won’t have to worry about being bullied, as my master will stand up for me.’
’But on the downside, a master like him is destined to not be low-key.’
And if Du Youqian wanted to live peacefully to the end of his lifespan and reincarnate, he couldn’t be too high-profile, lest he become the nail that gets hammered down and fall victim to schemes.
But on second thought, ’if I always keep a low profile, it might affect the final evaluation of this life and reduce the number of Spiritual Root Points I receive.’
’Of course, all things considered, living out my life in a low-key manner is still the optimal choice.’
’At the very least, it guarantees that I can successfully live to the end of my natural lifespan and reincarnate every time.’
’And as long as I can keep reincarnating, even if the gains are smaller each time, they will add up.’
’But if I’m too high-profile... if even once I get schemed against or even suppressed outright, leading to a violent death, then there will be no future for me.’
’Reincarnation is only possible after a natural death... A violent death means no Reincarnation.’
’Anyone with half a brain would know what to choose.’
’Even if I want to make some waves, it has to be on the foundation of my own safety.’
’I absolutely cannot let myself become a public target.’
Therefore, after his status was changed, when Master Ma asked Du Youqian about his plans, Du Youqian offered his well-considered answer: "This disciple only wishes to pursue Cultivation and Alchemy in peace. For now, I have no other plans."
’Even if I did have plans, they would have to wait until I have some power to protect myself.’
And Master Ma was very satisfied with his answer.
"Humble and patient. Very good. I have always believed that while talent is important, whether you can fully realize that talent depends on your mental fortitude. You have a gift for Alchemy, but you only have a Lower Grade Spirit Root. Without an unyielding will, unfazed by honor or disgrace, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment Realm will be quite difficult. And if you can’t break through to Foundation Establishment, you won’t be able to concoct certain High Tier Elixirs. No matter how great your talent for Alchemy, you won’t be able to fully realize it."
Du Youqian had thought that as long as he kept a low profile, he could live a few peaceful years.
He never expected that while he didn’t look for trouble, trouble would come looking for him.
Less than a month after he began studying under Master Ma, a thunderous voice suddenly boomed from outside the Alchemy Room: "Ma Chongyu, get out here!"
Master Ma, who was in the middle of a lesson with Du Youqian, wasn’t the least bit surprised. Instead, he had a "finally, they’re here" look on his face and even smiled at Du Youqian. "Disciple, you always seem so thoughtful and meticulous, as if you’ve planned for every contingency. Why don’t you take a guess as to who our visitor is?"
A thought struck Du Youqian, and he immediately recalled the rumors that had long been circulating in the Sect—that he was a genius in both Alchemy and Artifact Refining.
But the Pill Furnace Hall had beaten everyone to the punch.
The people from the Treasure Hall had long been dissatisfied about this. However, their Hall Master was approaching a major birthday and was in year-round seclusion trying to break through to the next Realm. The several Vice Hall Masters were all busy with their own affairs, so for the time being, no one had come to argue the matter with the Pill Furnace Hall.
This time, it was likely that a Vice Hall Master from the Treasure Hall had come out of seclusion to have it out with the Pill Furnace Hall.
The reason Du Youqian didn’t guess it was the Treasure Hall’s Hall Master was, naturally, because the Sect had its rules.
If the Hall Master of the Treasure Hall came over to bully Ma Chongyu, a Vice Hall Master, it would be a breach of the rules.
Besides, Du Youqian had also heard rumors about one of the Treasure Hall’s Vice Hall Masters who frequently made public appearances. This person was said to have a fiery temper and a booming voice, and was always shouting and making a racket, which matched the characteristics of the person outside the Alchemy Room.
