"Over there is the residence area. You can pick any room as long as there's no name written at the door. Once you've chosen, write your name at the door. Someone will take care of your daily needs, and you can make any requests to them. Clothing, accessories, snacks, daily necessities—anything that can be bought with mundane money, you can have as much as you want. But if it involves things that need to be purchased with Taoist money, you'll have to spend your own. In our lineage, you have six senior brothers and sisters. Currently, only the fifth is still around in the sect. The others have all gone out to travel."

As he led Qi Xiu through the vast complex, Daoist Yunxiong occasionally raised his hand to explain the purpose of each building to Qi Xiu and advised him on things to take note of while living here.

"There's plenty of time in the future; no need to hurry. Take your time getting familiar, and come ask me if there's anything you don't understand."

After patting Qi Xiu on the shoulder, Daoist Yunxiong suddenly seemed to remember something else and quickly added, "Oh, there's one more thing you must keep in mind. If you ever see an old Daoist with a goat's beard and a sleazy face, remember, turn around and run. Don't hesitate. Then shout for help, and I'll come immediately."

Seeing the serious and earnest expression on Daoist Yunxiong's face, Qi Xiu also grew serious and asked curiously, "What's the story with this goat-bearded old Daoist? A demon?"

"I can't go into details with you. You just need to remember to stay far away from this person! Bear this in mind, bear this in mind! Do not be negligent and forget."

After solemnly cautioning Qi Xiu, Daoist Yunxiong let him go find a courtyard to rest. The three rounds of assessments had really worn out all the candidates. It was time to rest well.

Pensively watching Daoist Yunxiong leave, Qi Xiu rubbed his forehead. A goat-bearded old Daoist? What kind of demon could sneak into the Mountain Gate of Shenxiao Sect? How curious.

「Fifteen days passed.」

Bright sunshine shone into the serene courtyard. Reclining on the rocking chair, Qi Xiu's fingers gently moved as he continuously formed talismans in the air, which then slowly dissipated.

Leaning against a big tree provides good shade. The ancients did not deceive me indeed.

During these days in Shenxiao Sect, Qi Xiu truly felt the peace and tranquility afforded to the disciples of great sects and schools. No need to worry about the chaos of demons. No need to be concerned about the assaults of evil cults. The protection of the majestic sect meant safety was never a concern. Just concentrate peacefully and practice diligently.

"No wonder the County Yamen's issuance of the Subdue Demon and Exorcise Monster Order has made the great sects and noble families so displeased. It's no surprise; having their leisurely and comfortable routine disrupted—anyone would be unhappy with that change."

While improving his calligraphy skills, Qi Xiu slightly turned his head to look toward the courtyard gate. He'd been on Yunti Peak for half a month now. Apart from the initial visit from Daoist Yunxiong, there had been complete silence, no news from him. Qi Xiu wanted to find him and inquire about certain matters, but he was also afraid of being intrusive and bothersome.

But it's better that he hasn't come. Whether to stick to the 'Hunyuan Dragon Tiger Scripture Mystery' or to discard my cultivation and switch to studying the 'Nine Heavens Shenxiao Thunder Commanding Scripture'—I haven't decided yet.

Rubbing his forehead, Qi Xiu wore a contemplative look. He really didn't want to give up either of these True Scriptures. The 'Hunyuan Dragon Tiger Scripture Mystery' was his life's effort. It also embodies his determination while stuck at the gateway to the Dao, his brave advancement, breaking through shackles. Moreover, the potential of the 'Hunyuan Dragon Tiger Scripture Mystery' is tremendous; it aims very high. Just the fact that the Dao-Entering Realm can condense three hundred and sixty-five Hunyuan, thus forming an unprecedented vast amount of Gang Qi—it might well be unmatched by any True Scripture Volume. The greatest shortcoming of the 'Hunyuan Dragon Tiger Scripture Mystery' as it stands now is its simplicity. Hunyuan True Essence returns to the basics, amalgamating all laws into one. This point is both its strongest and weakest feature. The strength lies in the compatibility of the Hunyuan True Essence, which can govern all laws, study all paths of the world, and encompass everything as one. Later stages would surely be astonishing! Its weakness is the lack of distinctive properties, making its early stage performance mediocre. It requires a long period of development.

On the other hand, the 'Nine Heavens Shenxiao Thunder Commanding Scripture' is different. As a paramount personal True Scripture that directly addresses the Primordial Spirit Great Path, the Imperial Lightning Zhen Gang cultivated from this True Scripture is incomparably domineering and overwhelmingly strong. It is also a complex True Gang, suitable for both spellcasting and martial prowess. It can use True Gang to initiate Thunder Magic—striking down the enemy with thunder from miles away! And also use True Gang to temper and stimulate the body—with a mere gesture, capable of moving mountains and parting seas.

What a pity, only direct disciples can cultivate the 'Nine Heavens Shenxiao Thunder Commanding Scripture.' And once you become a direct disciple, you have to give up the previous methods of practice. You can't have both the fish and the bear's paw. Otherwise, I could cultivate both True Scriptures. Perhaps in the future, I might even be able to merge these two True Scripture Volumes into one, to forge an even more terrifying True Scripture Volume.

Letting out a long, drawn-out sigh, Qi Xiu pursed his lips. Ah, life! The hardest part is making choices.

Just as Qi Xiu was contemplating the difficulty of choices in life, a stranger appeared at the gate of his courtyard.

"Excuse me, is this the courtyard of Junior Brother Qi Xiu?"

A crisp and clear voice rang out. Qi Xiu, surprised, stood up and looked toward the source of the voice. At the entrance of the courtyard, a man around thirty years old dressed in a deep cyan robe stood smiling, fair as the wind and clear as the moon, with a faint golden mark between his eyebrows.

"May I ask who you are?" Upon reaching the door, Qi Xiu raised his arm in greeting.

"My surname is Ge, with a single name of Ping, the fifth disciple of Daoist Yunxiong. I heard that our master has taken a new junior brother, but I was unaware of this while I was cultivating days ago. Having come out of seclusion, naturally, I wanted to pay a visit." Ge Ping, who exuded an air of gentle elegance and spoke slowly, did not seem like a cultivator who commanded the powers of thunder. He seemed more like a schoolteacher from a rural private academy.

"So it's Senior Brother Ge, please come in." Qi Xiu welcomed Ge Ping into the courtyard and smiled as he poured him a cup of tea, "Please forgive me, Senior Brother Ge, I have just arrived here, and what I'm serving is merely common worldly tea."

Ge Ping took a light sip of the tea and said with a smile, "Even common tea has its own taste. Junior brother, you need not be so formal. Our master always teaches us that Shenxiao Sect is different from other sects. Apart from respecting our masters, valuing the Dao, and upholding good intentions, there are no particularly strict rules. We are all disciples of the same master, thus equals. You may call me Fifth Senior Brother or Ge Ping."

Ge Ping's words strangely comforted Qi Xiu. Perhaps it was the atmosphere of Shenxiao Sect that gradually eased the tension he, who had never entered a sect before, had been holding inside.

"Then I'll call you Senior Brother Ge. Senior Brother Ge, there are some things I'd like to ask about, if that's not too much trouble."

"Speak freely."

"I have a few friends who passed the entrance examination with me. But after the examination ended, I was directly transferred to meet Daoist Yunxiong. I wonder if it was the same for my friends, if they were also sent to meet their mentors." Qi Xiu had always been looking for a chance to inquire about the whereabouts of Zhu Mo and Yan Baizhe among others. But Daoist Yunxiong was elusive, and with no opportunity to meet anyone, Qi Xiu had no chance to ask. Being a stranger in Shenxiao Sect, he also didn't dare to run around rashly. The arrival of Ge Ping had finally presented an opportunity to inquire.

"That's not the case. Only those who place in the top three in the examination are directly taken as personal disciples. The rest who pass the examination are assigned to either the Inner or Outer Sect. Outer Sect candidates need to complete their cultivation goals within three years to advance to the Inner Sect. Inner Sect Disciples must also pass the assessments of the Inner Sect Elders. Only then can they join the ranks of personal disciples, being selected by the Inner Sect Elders to become personal disciples. What are your friends' names? I can help you ask about them." After explaining, Ge Ping offered to help Qi Xiu inquire about the whereabouts of Zhu Mo and the others.

"Thank you very much, Senior Brother Ge. Their names are Zhu Mo, Yan Baizhe, Nie Gele..."

Ge Ping noted down the names Qi Xiu mentioned and gestured for him to wait a moment. He then brought his hands together as if holding something, and faint thunder light sparked in his palms. It seemed he was using a special method to transmit messages.

About a quarter of an hour later, Ge Ping ceased the technique and walked over to Qi Xiu, saying, "I have inquired about the whereabouts of your friends. This one named Zhu Mo has already entered the Inner Sect. And those Daliang wolf riders..."

Seeing Ge Ping hesitate, Qi Xiu frowned and said, "What about them, Senior Brother Ge? Please speak freely."

"There's nothing to worry about, actually. They gave up the opportunity to enter the Inner Sect and used it instead to take a Nine Heavens Profound Thunder Town Demon Treasure Seal!"

"Nine Heavens Profound Thunder Town Demon Treasure Seal?"

"Yes, that's a secret Magic Artifact of the Shenxiao Sect, not for sale. But if someone passes the initiation examination, they can take a Nine Heavens Profound Thunder Town Demon Treasure Seal. It seems that the tribes of these Daliang wolf riders must have encountered a demonic calamity and intend to use the Magic Artifact to suppress it," Ge Ping said.

"I see." Qi Xiu hadn't expected that Yan Baizhe and his seven brothers came to the Shenxiao Sect examination for the sake of obtaining that Nine Heavens Profound Thunder Town Demon Treasure Seal. He silently rotated the Flood Dragon Pool Ring on his thumb.

Old Yan, you didn't treat us like friends. It looks like I'll have to visit Northwestern Daliang someday and rightfully smack you on the face.

After learning the whereabouts of Zhu Mo, Yan Baizhe, and the others, Qi Xiu felt relieved and spent the night in deep conversation with Ge Ping. From his refined senior brother, Qi Xiu roughly understood what Shenxiao Sect was like, and the rights and responsibilities held by its disciples.

As a great Righteous Path sect that has come down from the Middle Ancient Era, Shenxiao Sect has seen its share of destruction. At its zenith during the Middle Ancient Era, it was listed among the top ten righteous sects. Afterwards, in an effort to eliminate one of the Ten Great Demon Sects, the Hell Dao, nearly every member perished. Following extensive recuperation over a long period, it slowly began to revive, but lost a vast number of core True Scriptures and secret manuals. In the Near Ancient Era, it fought a pyrrhic war with the Sword Sect, and was nearly decimated again by the assault of the five great Demon Sects. Fortunately, the seventy-fifth-generation patriarch emerged spectacularly, turning the tide and preventing Shenxiao Sect from becoming a mere historical term.

At the beginning of the Great Xuan nation, the eighty-first-generation patriarch refused the court's offer of amnesty and engaged the Great Xuan Army in a relentless war. This war lasted for over a hundred years, ending with the imperial troops' withdrawal and Shenxiao Sect's bitter victory.

After gaining a general understanding of Shenxiao Sect's history since its founding, Qi Xiu silently concluded in his mind. In summary, Shenxiao Sect's history could be described in four words over the years. Those four words are, 'defy and then fight.' No matter if it is one of the Ten Great Demon Sects, or a significant figure from the Sword Sect, or even an Imperial Court, as long as you dare to provoke us, even at the cost of the entire sect, we will fight you to the end. Perhaps it is with this relentless defiance that Shenxiao Sect has managed to survive through one perilous situation after another! Having gone through three catastrophic devastations, it still stands tall to this day!

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