Sect Leader! Please strengthen our Dao Sect!

"I can't read."

Li Daniu gave a wry smile; he was illiterate.

"No problem, I can read it to you, or I can write it for you."

He Wenzheng patted Li Daniu on the shoulder, comforting him.

"Brother Hua..."

"I...I can read."

The three whispered conversation was naturally overheard by Shen Shanshui and the others.

Liu Jiujiang and Wu Lianshan were also curious as to why Shen Shanshui was preparing for the civil service exam and what kind of exam it was.

Although the sect of Tianyi Dao is small, it has quite a few rules and regulations.

"I do not need your answers. There is only one question, which is both a question and an answer, and also your choice."

"If you haven't reached the sixth level of Qi Refining, you shouldn't leave the mountain lightly. Would you all be willing to become disciples of my Heavenly Dao Sect?"

Young people are always full of vigor, especially those who haven't truly experienced cultivation. Their hearts are filled with longing for wandering the world with a sword, and they don't understand that the most important thing in cultivation is to endure loneliness.

These are Shen Shanshui's first batch of disciples. He may not care about their talent level, but he must control the quality, as this is his responsibility as the sect leader.

Tianyi Mountain is not lacking in spiritual energy, and Shen Shanshui will not be stingy with pills for his disciples. He will also do his best to guide them in cultivation.

With abundant spiritual energy, free elixirs, and personal guidance from a Foundation Establishment cultivator, these conditions can be described as luxurious. Therefore, reaching the sixth level of Qi Refining is by no means a high threshold; it's just a matter of time.

However, others could not fully understand Shen Shanshui's thoughts.

Before reaching the sixth level of Qi Refining, one should not easily descend the mountain. Cultivators who can reach the sixth level of Qi Refining within ten years are rare geniuses.

This is a disguised way of saying that once you join the Heavenly Dao Sect, you must cultivate diligently for at least ten years!

Not only did the faces of the young men in front of them change drastically, but even Liu and Wu were surprised that Shen Shanshui would make such a request.

What does the sixth level of Qi Refining mean? In most immortal sects in Jiangnan Prefecture, one could hold a teaching position.

The Celestial Dynasty is governed by Celestial Laws, and there is little conflict between Celestial Sects. Therefore, the probability of a cultivator who is officially registered in a Celestial Sect dying is not high.

This also leads to the fact that the number of disciples in the Immortal Sect will only grow larger over time, and the competition within the Immortal Sect headquarters is so fierce that it is difficult to accommodate so many cultivators.

Therefore, once disciples of the Immortal Sect reach the third level of Qi Refining, they can apply for external assignments to manage the sect's businesses or take up positions in branch sects in smaller places.

This is why countless people want to join the registered immortal sects; they are not thinking about cultivating immortality, but about securing a better future for themselves and their families.

"this……"

The boys looked at each other, many of them with conflicted expressions.

Before they came, they had heard that this master of the Heavenly Dao Sect might be an ascetic, but they came to become his disciples not because they wanted to become ascetics themselves.

"Sir, I don't have any objections. My parents passed away early, so it's fine for us to stay on the mountain for as long as we want. However, our land might become barren."

I have a brother at home. Could I go down the mountain first and tell him that he can farm my few acres of land?

Just as everyone was hesitating, Li Daniu earnestly expressed his concerns.

"hehe……"

Upon hearing this, Liu Jiujiang couldn't help but laugh out loud, stroking his beard incessantly.

Wu Lianshan glanced at Li Daniu indifferently and uttered a low voice:

"I want this kid."

Shen Shanshui looked at Li Daniu with a smile and said, "Okay."

"I hope you will forgive me, Master, as I have elderly relatives at home to take care of."

After a moment of internal struggle, the young man bowed deeply to Shen Shanshui.

He was unwilling to be a hermit for at least ten years. The Heavenly Dao Sect wasn't a renowned immortal sect, so why invite trouble upon themselves? Even if they switched sides, plenty of immortal sects would be willing to take them in.

"Please forgive me, real person."

Four more people stepped forward and bowed in unison, as if they had agreed beforehand.

The original eleven people were instantly reduced to six.

Shen Shanshui wasn't annoyed. He simply shook his head, then flicked his finger, and a plump, round Qi-refining pill, exuding a rich medicinal fragrance, appeared in the hands of the five people.

"What sin is there? You are so young, you should enjoy this vast world. Cultivation is just one option, and it can also be seen as a way to realize your inner thoughts."

I wish you all a bright future.

"Let's send you down the mountain first."

As soon as Shen Shanshui finished speaking, with a wave of his Taoist robe, the five people disappeared from the spot.

At the foot of Tianyi Mountain, the five people who had chosen to give up stood there, staring blankly at the Qi Refining Pills in their hands.

After they realized what had happened, a sense of regret arose in their hearts.

Teleportation out of thin air—that's the skill of a Foundation Establishment cultivator!

Shen Shanshui appeared too amiable and did not display any mysterious techniques, which made them careless for a moment.

They only thought about the tedium of ten years of hard training, but forgot that it really takes ten years for a disciple of a Foundation Establishment True Person to reach the sixth level of Qi Refining.

"Alas, I missed a tremendous opportunity."

Someone uttered this remark, and the expressions of the others also turned somber.

The young man's heart was not steady enough; this is the wonder of fate.

……

"The sect leader's sword technique is truly amazing; it can even be used as a teleportation technique."

Liu Jiujiang did not address him as "young friend"; in front of his disciples, he was now known as the Elder of the Serving.

Furthermore, he and Wu Lianshan were equally amazed by Shen Shanshui's ability to teleport people out of thin air.

That wasn't a spatial teleportation technique, but rather Shen Shanshui's Great Evolution Sword Qi opening up space in an extremely short time.

Shen Shanping smiled calmly.

"Wow, they disappeared in the blink of an eye?"

The chubby boy standing in the middle blinked, thinking he was seeing things.

"Anyone else wanting to give up?"

"If a true person does not abandon us, we are willing!"

The remaining people all bowed down. Li Daniu was a little slow to react, but he followed the example of the others and bowed down as well.

"good!"

Shen Shanshui smiled with satisfaction.

"The six of you may choose to become my disciples or the disciples of the two elders."

"Elder Liu and Elder Wu are both Foundation Establishment True Persons, and they are renowned in Jiangnan Prefecture, with the reputation of 'Dominating Fist of Jiujiang' and 'Heavenly Blade of Lianshan'."

No sooner had Shen Shanshui finished speaking than Wu Lianshan, with his straightforward nature, bluntly asked, "I will only accept one disciple. Li Daniu, are you willing to follow me?"

"what?"

Before Li Daniu could react, He Wenzheng quickly nudged him with his elbow and whispered, "Why aren't you paying your respects to your master yet?"

"Oh, disciple Li Dani greets Master!"

Li Daniu suddenly knelt down on the ground and then prostrated himself in a full-body bow.

This scene made Liu Jiujiang laugh again, and he couldn't help but tease, "Old Wu, you're such a straightforward person, and you're so straightforward in taking on a disciple. You two are truly a match made in heaven!"

"I will only accept one disciple. I wonder if any of you are interested in becoming my apprentice?"

……