Cultivating Immortality Through a Hundred Lifetimes: I Possess the Heavenly Book of Merit

The following day, at the withered tree dojo.

Yu Yan returned from planting trees and saw Wei Jing blocking his way, her ponytail swinging back with a smile on her face.

"Junior Brother Yu, there's progress on your promotion to inner disciple."

"Promoted to inner disciple, now?"

Yu Yan was taken aback, but quickly realized something.

Wei Jing observed the change in his expression and reached out to pat him on the shoulder.

"It's pretty much what you think. The situation is turbulent right now, with changes both inside and outside the sect. So Senior Qinglu decided to start the assessment for advancing to the inner sect through the Dao of Talismans ahead of schedule. I have to say, you're quite lucky."

Wei Jing walked down the mountain path and slowly recounted the recent events.

She definitely wouldn't tell the other outer disciples about these things.

But now that she's going to be Yu Yan's recommender and also get some benefits from him, it's best to make some things clear.

Moreover, having spent so much time together, Wei Jing believed she understood Yu Yan fairly well.

Many people were overwhelmed by the news that the ancestor was about to establish his foundation, and were extremely excited. Some people were afraid and hurriedly went out to escape. Only Yu Yan was able to sit still and kept his words in mind.

Unwavering, silent, and practicing diligently, drawing talismans.

Despite having only five spiritual roots, his spirit is by no means weak.

However, it is precisely because of his poor spiritual root talent that he has good comprehension.

Unfortunately, if it weren't for his poor spiritual roots, he would have been a truly promising talent.

However, even if Yu Yan fails the test, it won't be a big deal. It's just a matter of talking. It's a good thing to make connections, and who knows, it might be useful in the future.

"This is a great opportunity because it's being held earlier, so the requirements will be much more lenient. Even if you can't draw a mid-grade first-level talisman, you still have a chance to advance to the inner sect."

After Wei Jing finished speaking, she winked at Yu Yan.

So, work hard.

She just came to let me know, and after saying that, she quickly turned and left.

Yu Yan pondered Wei Jing's words repeatedly, his brows furrowing slightly.

"There's also a chance to advance to the inner sect, which means there's also a certain probability of being eliminated..."

"It seems I still need to try to master a mid-grade first-tier talisman."

Even if there's only one method, the chances of passing the assessment will greatly increase.

…………

From this day forward.

Every morning.

Yu Yan still came to the Dead Tree Dojo to plant trees.

However, during his rest time, he no longer cultivated, but instead studied talismans.

During this time, Yu Yan received a message from Wei Jing.

She had already submitted her name, and although some people had expressed objections to this disciple with five spiritual roots, unexpectedly, Daoist Qinglu actually spoke up to persuade her.

And so the matter was settled.

Yu Yan also learned from Wei Jing that Qi Hao ultimately failed to secure a spot to go to the secret realm, but he was still included in the list of participants for the assessment.

The rest of the disciples were outer disciples who had been in the sect for more than five years. Most of them had already reached the third level of Qi Refining. Even if they cultivated step by step, they would have a good chance of successfully advancing to the inner sect within ten years.

However, in order to obtain the treatment of inner disciples in advance, or perhaps to avoid making mistakes ten years later, they also used connections to get on the list.

"Now, let's see if I have the ability to seize this opportunity."

"I've filled the deserted temple with peach trees, and the hermit has come out to check on it many times. By now, he should have noticed the change in my behavior..."

Although Yu Yan initially had no intention of getting close to her, ever since the courtyard was filled with peach trees, the nun would often stand on the rooftop to observe and occasionally glance at Yu Yan.

The two didn't say much, but they had already become familiar with each other.

However, when Yu Yan looked at this Taoist priest, he always had a sense of déjà vu.

this day.

Yu Yan arrived at the temple early.

Smelling the fragrance of peach blossoms, he placed the books he had brought on the stone table he had made himself.

The Taoist priest appeared on the roof and suddenly beckoned him to come up and talk.

"Yu Yan, right? You're a local from Fengguo?"

"Um."

Yu Yan nodded. Whether in his past life or this life, he was born in Feng Kingdom.

Do you have any younger siblings or anything like that?

Yu Yan shook his head and looked at the old man with a slightly puzzled expression.

Why ask him that kind of question?

"Yes, that's true, you don't have it."

The nun muttered to himself and asked again:

"I've heard that you have five spiritual roots?"

"indeed."

The nun sighed.

"At least I have spiritual roots, so it's good that I can cultivate. It's better than not having spiritual roots, having no path to immortality, and spending my whole life without ever being able to step into the world of cultivation."

His tone was deep, and his eyes were fixed on the peach grove below, as if he had remembered something.

His cloudy eyes, reflected in his graying hair, held a hint of regret.

"I abandoned my family for the sake of immortality. I thought I could sever all ties, but because of my reluctance, my cultivation technique reversed during the Foundation Establishment stage, damaging my foundation. The destructive energy rushed into my body, and I became like this now."

"He brought this upon himself; he deserves to die."

Yu Yan suddenly froze.

The experience described by the nun seemed somewhat similar to that of the person in her memory.

"May I ask your secular name, senior?"

Yu Yan tried his best to control his racing heart, unsure whether he wanted to confirm the answer.

"The family I'm referring to for the rest of my life is my older brother, who shares your name, Yu Yan."

Hearing the other person's words, Yu Yan raised his head and looked at the Taoist priest in front of him, or rather, the Taoist priest of Tao'an.

You could also call him Er Gou (Second Dog).

She wanted to find the child who had planted the peach tree with her back then on that disfigured face.

But where are the similarities? And where can one still remember?

Those people from back then are no longer here.

"That's quite a coincidence."

Yu Yan let out a long sigh.

He had thought about how the two of them would meet again, and he thought that the cultivation world was so vast that they might never meet again, but he never expected it to be like this.

"Do you want to participate in the inner sect assessment for talismans?"

Tao'an Daoist looked at the book in Yu Yan's hand and asked softly.

"Um."

"I've heard about this assessment; they say the standards have been lowered, but it's different from before."

"This assessment will not only test your talisman-drawing skills, but also the number of basic runes and talismans you have mastered."

"The quantity... but Senior Brother Kong only gave us one copy, and there aren't any in the General Affairs Hall either..."

Tao'an Daoist shook his head.

"That's because you're still outer disciples and can't access the library at the top of the mountain. Basic talismans can't be fully covered in just one book."

As he spoke, he pulled a book from his pocket; the pages were yellowed and creased in some places.

Yu Yan opened it and could see dense annotations inside.

"This is what I learned in my graduate school. Since we are so destined to meet, I'll pass it on to you. Helping you will also fulfill a wish I couldn't complete many years ago."

Yu Yan knew what the other person was talking about.

But he simply bowed slightly and clasped his hands in thanks.

The Taoist priest pointed to the peach grove.

"I'm going to the secret realm. After I leave, please take good care of this peach grove for me."

"When I come back, I still want to eat the peaches you grew yourself..."