Starting with a daily divination to build an immortal clan

Chapter 67: Strong Seed
Surrounded by mountains, the clouds and mist condense into a light veil, and seventy-two steps, as if built of white jade, extend out from the vortex of clouds.

The shuttle flew by, stirring up the mist before slowly coming to a stop on a spacious terrace.

One by one, everyone jumped off the flying shuttle. Looking around, the clouds and rosy clouds overhead, and the morning light shone, turning the green peaks and mountains golden.

Ancient trees grow freely in the valley, with wisps of mist hanging from their branches, and elegant, antique buildings appearing and disappearing among them.

A stream flows gently from the distant mountain peaks, its flow creating mist in the crevices of rocks, while flowers and trees bloom in profusion, defying the seasons.

As everyone was stunned, a group of more than ten people slowly descended the white jade steps in front of them.

Upon seeing this, Li Heshan and Zhong Liqing hurriedly stepped forward and bowed to the white-bearded old man at the head of the group.

"Disciple pays homage to master."

"Greetings to all my senior uncles."

The old man nodded, then looked at Shen Wen'an and the other hundred-plus children with some surprise.

"There are so many immortal seedlings with spiritual roots in the Yangnao Land?"

Li Heshan nodded slightly, a smile on his face as he cupped his hands in greeting: "I was also a little surprised. I didn't think this trip would yield much."

"It's probably because the screening requirements were a bit too low."

“Master, I plan to have them tested again. Those with excellent spiritual roots will be taken into the four academies by several senior uncles, and the rest can be taken into the outer sect and distributed to various spiritual fields to take care of the spiritual seeds.”

The old man nodded slightly.

"Our Qiyun Valley is currently suffering from a shortage of talent and has very few disciples. It is truly fortunate that more than a hundred people with spiritual roots have arrived!"

At this point, his expression changed slightly, and he said, "The major high-grade immortal sects previously looked down on Yangnao Land, but now my Qiyun Valley has gained a great advantage in Yangnao Land. This matter must not be revealed."

"Otherwise, the top-tier immortal sects might not care too much, but the immortal sects in Qishan that are similar to Qiyun Valley will definitely try to seize it."

No sooner had he finished speaking than an elderly man with a mustache, a slightly plump build, and a whisk in his hand spoke up behind him: "There are spies from other sects in Qiyun Valley. This kind of thing can't be kept secret for long. The most urgent task is to quickly set up a plan in Yangnao Land and try to gain more benefits."

Upon hearing this, Li Heshan smiled faintly and cupped his hands: "Uncle Baiyun, rest assured, Junior Sister Qing and I have already reached a deal with a secular dynasty called Yu Kingdom in Yangnao Land to set up Ascension Pavilions in various parts of Yu Kingdom to be responsible for testing the spiritual roots of the common people."

"And left a large number of spiritual seeds in the Ascension Pavilion for the common people to choose from."

"This will allow us to investigate whether there are spiritual veins in Yangnao Land."

"At that time, whether it is a spiritual root cultivator or a spiritual vein from Yangnao Land, my Qiyun Valley will be able to gain the upper hand."

Hearing his words, the old man nodded with satisfaction and said, "Indeed, well thought out. It seems that this experience has yielded good results."

"Alright, take all these children inside."

"According to He Shan, the junior brothers will be tested and selected first, and the rest will be sent to the spirit fields in various places of the outer courtyard to be accepted as outer disciples."

The people behind him cupped their hands in greeting, and several disciples from Qiyun Valley immediately stepped forward to lead Shen Wen'an and his group into the valley.

As Li Heshan said, he still went easy on the formations used by the various Ascension Pavilions in Yu Kingdom to test spiritual roots.

Of the more than one hundred children brought, only sixty eventually entered the four academies of Qiyun Valley. The majority of the rest were sent to the outer academies to serve as outer disciples.

They are responsible for taking care of the spirit seeds in the spirit field every day.

Compared to them, the children who can get into the Fourth Hospital are much luckier.

The four courtyards of Qiyun Valley are the core; only those disciples who enter them can be considered true disciples of the Immortal Sect.

Inside the Hidden Cloud Academy, one of the four academies, Shen Wen'an, holding a long sword, faced off against an old man dressed in gray, with a thin face and white hair and beard.

There was also a group of older young men and women standing nearby.

These are all disciples of Hidden Cloud Academy. They heard that their master had selected some top-grade immortal seedlings from among many immortal seedlings today, and they came to watch out of curiosity.

However, the other seedlings were very obedient and followed the arrangements, choosing the recommended cultivation method.

Only Shen Wen'an, standing before him, insisted on practicing swordsmanship.

Qiyun Valley is founded on alchemy and formations. Although it also practices swordsmanship, it is only used as a supplementary means and it is not considered to be proficient in it.

"Boy, as I told you, you should focus your main energy on cultivation, and swordsmanship is just an auxiliary skill."

Pei Zhao, the master of Yinyun Academy, spoke helplessly.

Shen Wen'an was one of the few with superior aptitude among the fifteen promising talents he had selected.

The little guy has a resilient character, and his persistence and seriousness shine through his bones, which he likes very much.

But who would have thought that this very persistence would now be causing him a headache?

"I just want to practice swordsmanship."

Shen Wen'an's voice was calm, showing no sign of compromise.

"Hey!"

"What a stubborn guy!"

Pei Zhao sneered in anger and paced back and forth in front of him with his hands behind his back.

He glanced at him several times, wanting to say something, but seeing the expression on his face, he didn't know what to say. "Boy, if you don't obey, I'll have no choice but to send you back, and you'll be forever barred from the path to immortality."

Unable to persuade him, Pei Zhao resorted to threats.

In his view, Shen Wen'an was so obsessed with sword practice that he would definitely not give up this opportunity to become an immortal.

The disciples of Hidden Cloud Academy nearby also chimed in, saying, "Little one, just listen to your master. Cultivation and sword practice don't conflict."

"That's right, that's right. If you lose this chance to become an immortal, no matter how skilled you are in swordsmanship, you're still just a mortal."

"Many people would spend several lifetimes trying to cultivate a chance at immortality, so don't be ungrateful."

He seemed not to listen to anyone's advice at all, and his expression remained unchanged.

Upon seeing this, Pei Zhao also became furious.

"okay!"

"I really don't believe it!"

"Boss, go and find your senior brother Heshan!"

Upon hearing this, an older young man in the crowd quickly stepped forward to comfort him, saying, "Master, please calm down. This junior brother is just..."

"Junior brother?"

"What junior brother!?"

"I haven't taken him in yet!"

"Stop talking nonsense and get going!"

Seeing his master get angry, the young man didn't dare to say anything more and could only bow and run out.

A moment later, Li Heshan rushed over.

"Uncle-Master Pei."

Pei Zhao pointed to Shen Wen'an in front of him, sighed, and pulled Li Heshan aside.

"He Shan, where did you find this stubborn fellow?"

"I only want to practice swordsmanship, nothing else!"

"Tell me, where in my Qiyun Valley do I find any sword cultivation techniques for him to practice?"

Li Heshan glanced at Shen Wen'an with a strange expression, then helplessly cupped his hands and said, "Uncle-Master, please wait a moment, let me try to persuade him."

As he spoke, he approached Shen Wen'an and leaned down, saying, "You're the Shen family's young master, aren't you?"

Shen Wen'an nodded.

“I am acquainted with your elder brother and know about your family.”

"If you can become a disciple of Qiyun Valley, I will give your elder brother some rewards when we return this time."

"It might even get the Emperor to give your family some benefits."

When his elder brother and family were mentioned, a thoughtful look appeared in Shen Wen'an's eyes.

"Furthermore, cultivation methods are fundamental. Whether it's sword practice or alchemy, one must have their own realm of cultivation as support."

"Promise your master that you'll find a way to learn sword cultivation after you break through to the embryonic breathing stage, okay?"

Li Heshan's words made him fall into deep thought.

After a long while, Shen Wen'an turned to look at Pei Zhao, knelt down and bowed his head: "Master, please accept my bow."

Although Pei Zhao looked angry, he was actually very happy inside.

"Get up."

"Boss, take him down and pick a cultivation technique suitable for his metal-type spiritual root."

With the commotion resolved, Li Heshan cupped his hands slightly and said, "Uncle-Master Pei, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now."

Pei Zhao nodded, then asked, "When will we go to Yangnao again?"

"Three days from now, Uncle-Master, is something the matter?"

Pei Zhao pondered for a moment and said, "Your martial uncle wants you to take Yu Wan with you to gain some experience."

"That girl is simple-minded. She has the cultivation level of the ninth level of Qi Refining, but she has never stepped out of Qiyun Valley. Danzhou is dangerous. Letting her go to Yangnao Land to see the local customs and culture might be a good choice."

Li Heshan's expression was strange. Thinking of Pei Yuwan's personality, he couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

But since his uncle had already spoken, he couldn't very well refuse.

"Then... I'll have Junior Sister Yuwan wait for me at the mountain gate in three days."

Pei Zhao smiled and nodded.

(End of this chapter)