I gain ten years' worth of cultivation every day, and even geniuses will only see my doorstep!

Deep within the Taiyi Hall lies a quiet room, its furnishings extremely simple—a low table, two cushions, and an empty wall. On the low table sits a pot of tea and two white porcelain cups.

The Qingwei Sect Leader sat down in the main seat and gestured for Qin Yuan to sit down as well.

Qin Yuan sat down as instructed, keeping his back straight and his hands naturally placed on his knees.

The Qingwei Sect Leader did not speak immediately. He first picked up the teapot, poured half a cup of tea for Qin Yuan, and then poured half a cup for himself.

The tea was clear, emitting a very faint fragrance. Qin Yuan recognized it as a sixth-grade spiritual plant called "Cloud Mist Spiritual Tea," which had the effects of calming the mind and aiding in enlightenment. However, in the hands of a Dao Integration stage expert, this auxiliary effect was almost negligible.

Master Qingwei was simply drinking tea.

He took a sip of tea, put down the teacup, and finally spoke.

"Do you know why the Taiyi Immortal Sect hasn't established a Daoist successor for nearly a century?"

Qin Yuan pondered for a moment, then replied, "This disciple does not know."

"Because no one is worthy of it." The Qingwei Sect Leader spoke calmly, as if stating a trivial fact. "The Dao Child is the future of the sect. If we entrust the position to the wrong person, it will at least delay the sect's fortune for a hundred years, and at worst shake the foundation of ten thousand years. Rather than having someone fill the position vacant, it is better to leave it vacant."

He looked at Qin Yuan.

"Do you know why I chose you?"

This time, Qin Yuan didn't say "I don't know." He was silent for a moment, then said, "Because this disciple is a ninth-level Nascent Soul cultivator."

"Yes, and not entirely." Sect Leader Qingwei shook his head. "The Nine-Turn Nascent Soul is the foundation, but the foundation is not everything. Among the geniuses of the three major sects in the Southern Continent, there are many with foundations comparable to yours. Some are born with Dao bodies, some are born with the bloodline of divine beasts, and some are even born with a resonance with the inheritance of ancient great beings. Compared with them, your Nine-Turn Nascent Soul is rare, but it is not unique."

He paused.

"I chose you because you have a spirit within you."

Qin Yuan looked up.

"That tone wasn't one of competitive spirit, nor of vengeful resentment, nor of a desire for immortality." The Qingwei Sect Leader looked at Qin Yuan, his gaze gentle yet profound. "That tone was one of defiance."

"You refused to accept that your birth determines your fate, that talent determines your potential, and that the powerful can trample on the weak at will. From the Xuan Yuan Sect to the Tai Yi Sect, from the Foundation Establishment stage to the Void Refinement stage, every step you took was a climb over your defiance."

He picked up his teacup, then put it down again.

"When I was young, I also had that kind of spirit. Later, as my cultivation deepened and my knowledge broadened, that spirit gradually dissipated. It wasn't that my edges were smoothed out, but rather that I discovered—some things cannot be changed by a single breath."

He looked at Qin Yuan.

"But you are still young, and you still have your spirit. I don't know how far this spirit can take you, but I'm willing to see."

Qin Yuan remained silent for a long time.

Then he said, "This disciple will not disappoint the sect leader."

The Qingwei Sect Leader smiled faintly, like ripples left by a spring breeze on the water.

"I don't have high hopes for you, I just don't want to see a talented young man go astray because no one is guiding him." He paused, "You asked me what Nanzhou is, and I can answer you now."

His gaze passed over Qin Yuan and landed on the empty white wall. There was nothing on the white wall, but Qin Yuan felt that he could see a very, very far place.

"Nanzhou is not a city, a sect, or a region," the Qingwei Sect Leader said slowly. "Nanzhou is a sieve."

"It gathers together all those who consider themselves geniuses and then filters them again and again. The first time, it filters out those with insufficient foundation; the second time, it filters out those with weak will; the third time, it filters out those with bad luck... This process is repeated until only a handful of people are selected, who either ascend to the upper realm, attain enlightenment and overcome tribulations, or become the founders of a sect."

He withdrew his gaze and looked at Qin Yuan.

"The five major sects all have their predecessors in Nanzhou. Some are Dao-Merging Elders, some are Guest Retainers, and some are even the heads of their own sects. But no one can protect their successors, because the rule in Nanzhou is that the strong rise and the weak fall. If you are capable, you are an honored guest; if you are not, you are just a stepping stone."

Qin Yuan listened quietly.

So, are you still going?

Qin Yuan did not hesitate.

"go."

The Qingwei Sect Leader looked at him, his eyes showing neither disappointment nor surprise.

"When do we set off?"

"After I've finished dealing with some personal matters..."

"That one from the Aoki Sect?"

Qin Yuan did not deny it.

The Qingwei Sect Leader remained silent for a moment before saying, "I know a little about Mu Sangzi. He is at the late stage of the Refinement of Void realm and has been operating within the Qingmu Sect for hundreds of years, with a deep foundation. If you come to him as a Dao Child, he will not openly make things difficult for you, but he will not easily give in either."

He paused.

"Elder Mu Qinglan of the Qingmu Sect has some old ties with me. I can write a letter for you to take to her. She may not necessarily help you, but at least... she won't let Mu Sangzi go too far."

Qin Yuan stood up and bowed solemnly: "Thank you, Sect Leader."

The Qingwei Sect Leader waved his hand: "No need to thank me. I just don't want the new disciple of the Taiyi Sect to die before he even begins his journey."

He picked up the teapot and poured himself another half cup of tea.

Qin Yuan knew that this summons was coming to an end.

He bowed again, then turned to leave.

"Qin Yuan".

Qin Yuan stopped.

The voice of the Qingwei Sect Leader came from behind, still calm and gentle.

"I don't know how you achieved your Nine Revolutions Nascent Soul stage, nor do I know what you obtained in the Temple of War. But I must remind you of one thing—"

There are no free opportunities in this world. Every bit of power you gain now will come at a price in the future.

Qin Yuan did not turn around.

"Disciple understands."

He pushed open the door and went out.

The door to the quiet room slowly closed behind him.

Qin Yuan stood outside the door, the morning light shining through the eaves onto him, turning his dark blue Taoist robe into a warm gold.

He squinted slightly, gazing at the undulating mountains in the distance.

cost.

He was no stranger to this word.

From the moment he was harassed by Steward Lin at the Xuan Yuan Sect, he understood that everything in this world comes at a price.

He devoted countless days and nights to rigorous training, countless life-or-death battles, the loneliness of separation from loved ones, and the forbearance of enduring misunderstanding and contempt.

These are the prices he has paid to get to where he is today.

But he has yet to pay the full price.

Three days later, Qin Yuan left the Taiyi Immortal Sect.

He traveled alone, without any attendants, with a Taoist tablet hanging from his waist and a magic sword on his back, embarking on the road to the Green Wood Sect.

The Qingmu Sect is located in the southeast of Qingzhou, adjacent to the Wanli Qingmu Forest. This primeval forest with its towering spiritual trees serves as both a natural barrier for the Qingmu Sect and an ideal place for its disciples to cultivate wood-based techniques.

Qin Yuan arrived at the Qingmu Sect's mountain gate at noon.

He made no attempt to conceal his presence, nor did he present a formal invitation. He simply stood outside the mountain gate, gazing up at the towering, cloud-like protective tree, awaiting the Green Wood Sect's response.

Soon, a commotion arose inside the mountain gate.

Several figures flew out, led by a middle-aged Taoist with a gloomy face and three long tufts of beard. This man was at the late stage of the Refinement of Void Realm, dressed in the robes of an elder of the Green Wood Sect, and his gaze toward Qin Yuan was filled with undisguised hostility.

Mulberry seeds.