The next day.

Just as Ye Shanhu had predicted, an envoy arrived to re-evaluate their Spirit Roots.

The envoy was none other than Liu Chuansheng. Seeing his face, Xu Changshou breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

At the very least, he no longer had to fear his true Spirit Root being exposed.

Within the courtyard pavilion.

Wielding a rod-like artifact that faintly glowed, Liu Chuansheng began testing the assembly.

"Su Mo: Wind, Fire, Metal."

"Lin Xian'er: Water, Fire, Wood."

"Ye Shanhu: Water, Fire, Wood."

"Han Zong: Earth, Wood, Darkness."

"Jiang Xiaochuan: Fire, Earth, Metal."

"Qian Yuanbao: Water, Fire, Wood."

"Zhang Feixian: Water, Fire, Wood."

"Li Linhao: Water, Metal, Lightning."

...

Watching the results tally up, Xu Changshou furrowed his brow.

In his memory, only Zhang Feixian possessed a Water, Fire, and Wood foundation. How did four of them suddenly manifest the exact same triad? Even Ye Shanhu was suddenly 'Water, Fire, and Wood'.

Could it be that even Spirit Root evaluations are rigged?

Xu Changshou stroked his chin. Liu Chuansheng had always struck him as a slippery character; it was highly probable the man had been bought.

Otherwise, this sudden influx of Water, Fire, and Wood foundations was statistically impossible.

After all, everyone knew those specific three elements were the absolute pinnacle for alchemy.

When it was finally his turn, Liu Chuansheng simply waved his wide sleeve. "No need to test. I remember you. Xu Changshou, this year's sole Five-Element Mixed Spirit Root."

With that, Liu Chuansheng departed. In his wake, the atmosphere turned peculiar. Everyone exchanged subtle, knowing smiles before silently dispersing to their own quarters.

Only Xu Changshou and Jiang Xiaochuan remained in the pavilion.

"Junior Brother Jiang, something is rotten. How did so many suddenly test for Water, Fire, and Wood?" Xu Changshou asked, keeping his voice low.

Jiang Xiaochuan flashed a secretive smile. "Senior Brother Xu, you are out of the loop. A few palms were greased. Gifts were offered to Senior Brother Liu."

Just as I suspected!

Xu Changshou nodded inwardly. Damn it all, it really is just a game of favors and connections.

Liu Chuansheng was utterly corrupt. Xu Changshou had personally watched Zhang Zhengyuan bribe the man with three Spirit Stone fragments to alter a ledger's timeline.

"Junior Brother Jiang, does greasing Senior Brother Liu's palms guarantee entry into Danxia Peak?"

Jiang Xiaochuan shook his head. "Bribery only buys peace of mind. What does it matter if everyone registers as Water, Fire, and Wood? The Danxia Peak has a strict quota. They will prioritize the genuine article first. Only if the pool of true candidates runs dry will they begin picking from the fakes."

"You mean to say Senior Brother Liu plays both sides, hoarding bribes with no guarantee of fulfilling his end?" Xu Changshou asked, incredulous.

"Heh!"

Jiang Xiaochuan chuckled. "Senior Brother Liu does keep two separate ledgers, but you cannot entirely blame him. He is not the final judge. It is simply a matter of willing buyers and a willing seller."

"And if the genuine candidates fall short, how do the elders choose from the fakes?"

Jiang Xiaochuan looked up, his eyes sharp. "That depends entirely on who offered the heaviest tribute, and whose clan backing is the most formidable."

"I see!"

Xu Changshou sighed inwardly, feeling his eyes opened to the grim reality of the Sect.

If a lowly, menial post at Danxia Peak warranted such cutthroat bribery and scheming...

Then the bloodbath over the Foundation Establishment Pills must be apocalyptic.

"Junior Brother Jiang, speak truthfully. Did you offer tribute?"

"Ah..."

Jiang Xiaochuan smiled bitterly. "This dictates the trajectory of my entire life. Naturally, I had to act."

"Senior Brother Xu, do not say I didn't warn you. The ledgers will be sealed in half a month. Use this time to pay tribute or pull whatever strings you have. No matter the cost, you cannot allow yourself to be cast into Green Ink Peak."

"Understood, understood. I will see what I can scrape together."

Xu Changshou offered a placating dismissal before returning to his quarters to cultivate.

Two days later.

Word spread that a senior was giving a lecture at the Teaching Hall, focusing primarily on the nuances of the Qi Condensation realm.

Having fumbled blindly through his cultivation thus far, Xu Changshou harbored numerous questions. A formal lecture would save him the trouble of interrogating his peers.

On the first morning of the lecture, Xu Changshou made his way to the hall.

To his surprise, attendance was pathetic. From the entire Gengzi Courtyard, he was the sole disciple present.

It was painfully obvious. Jiang Xiaochuan and the other scions had already been spoon-fed cultivation secrets by their clan elders.

They had no need for basic lectures.

"Dear Junior Brothers and Junior Sisters, for the next three days, I shall impart my personal insights regarding the Qi Condensation realm. Should I misspeak, I welcome your debate."

The voice was strikingly familiar. Xu Changshou raised his head to see a graceful, enchanting silhouette standing upon the dais. It was Liu Rushi.

Senior Sister Liu is instructing us?

A spike of pleasant surprise thrilled through him.

Ever since their brief encounter at the Duty Hall, her face had frequently occupied his thoughts. She had even graced his dreams.

At twelve or thirteen years of age, Xu Changshou was just entering the dawn of adolescence; it was only natural for his gaze to linger on an exceptionally beautiful woman.

Ye Shanhu and Lin Xian'er were merely pampered girls barely a decade old-green, unripe sprouts completely devoid of appeal.

It was the mature allure of an older woman like Liu Rushi that captivated a boy of his age.

Naturally, this budding infatuation was a far cry from true, romantic love.

"Under normal circumstances, so long as one possesses a suitable technique and adheres to its prescribed energy pathways, progress is assured. There is little wisdom I can add to that."

"Today, I will discuss the treacherous Bottlenecks encountered during the Qi Condensation stage."

"The transition from the third layer to the fourth, the sixth to the seventh, and the ninth to the tenth."

"These are the three major Bottlenecks of our realm."

"Regardless of talent, upon striking these barriers, one's cultivation will inevitably stagnate."

"Should any of you find yourselves trapped in such a state, allow me to share my methods."

"I utilize three methods to shatter a Bottleneck. The first is to temporarily abandon cultivation. Walk the peaks, clear your mind, and balance tension with rest. This often harmonizes the spirit."

"The second method is the Barrier Breaking Pill. Consuming one remains the most direct and effective method."

"The third method is for those who cannot afford a Barrier Breaking Pill and lack the enlightenment to break through organically. In such cases, one must ingest massive quantities of Qi Gathering Pills. Overwhelming force forges miracles. Sufficient medicinal power can violently force the acupoints open..."

For three consecutive days, Xu Changshou attended every single lecture.

Ye Shanhu and the rest of the legacy disciples remained entirely absent. They departed at the crack of dawn and slunk back late into the night.

It was painfully obvious they were scurrying about, bartering for their peak assignments.

With only half a month remaining before the ledgers were sealed, they were in no mood to sit in a quiet hall and cultivate.

Xu Changshou, however, had long since accepted his utter lack of leverage. He remained entirely unbothered.

When it was time to cultivate, he cultivated. When it was time to listen, he listened.

Liu Rushi's teachings had granted him a profound sense of clarity.

Currently, he possessed four Qi Gathering Pills. He would utilize them entirely for his early-stage progression.

Once exhausted, he would rely solely on grueling meditation to push himself to the absolute peak of the sixth layer. Only then would he liquidate his fifty Spirit Stone fragments into more Pills.

Since a Barrier Breaking Pill was laughably out of his financial reach, he would employ the third method: brute-forcing his way to the seventh layer with Qi Gathering Pills.

Once he broke into the seventh layer, his Bloodline Jade Talisman would finally unseal. He would plot his next move then.

Night fell.

Xu Changshou focused his mind and stabilized his breathing, preparing to consume his second Qi Gathering Pill.

This time, he was not flying blind. He had pillaged the Spirit Kitchen for a hefty sack of Dogtooth Rice, keeping it within arm's reach to fend off the inevitable starvation.

No matter what, I am not nearly starving to death again.

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