Chapter 84: Mirror Moon Main Lineage

“Instructor Shu, you flatter me.” Chen Beiwu said humbly.

“Junior Brother Chen, there’s no need to be modest. With your talent, once you enter the sect, you will surely be placed under the guidance of a Golden Core elder. By then, this Senior Sister may even have to trouble you for some help.” Shu You shifted the tone of her words.

“Senior Sister overpraises. Without your guidance into the sect, I would still be nothing but an unknown rogue cultivator outside the mountain gate.”

At this point, Chen Beiwu paused slightly before speaking solemnly, “If Senior Sister ever has something for me to do in the future, Zi’ang will be at your service anytime.”

Currently, Shu You was at the Foundation Establishment stage. If anything truly happened, with his present cultivation, he certainly would not be of help.

What he needed to show now was merely his attitude.

As expected, upon hearing these words, Shu You glanced at Chen Beiwu, the smile on her face growing even more radiant as she shifted the topic, “Junior Brother, look. Next comes the second trial of the Moon-Choosing Ceremony, the Heart-Testing Refinement.”

As her words fell, the storage ring between Shu You’s fingers flashed with a glimmer, and dozens of streaks of light shot skyward before descending upon the center of the market square, forming a profound and complex formation that enveloped all participating cultivators.

In an instant, white mist surged forth, and the hundreds of cultivators within the market all froze, their gazes becoming vacant as they fell into illusions from which they could not awaken.

“Impossible! There is no way I will die here!”

Gu Chun erupted with spiritual power as she rose, her eyes filled with thick killing intent.

However, when she noticed the dazed expressions of the surrounding cultivators, her face changed. She instantly realized what was happening and retracted the vast spiritual power that was about to burst forth from within her body.

“Not bad. To awaken within ten breaths shows that Gu Chun’s state of mind is excellent.” Shu You nodded slightly, her expression carrying approval.

Although Gu Chun had rejected her pursuit, that did not affect Shu You’s appreciation for this Second Young Lady of the Gu Clan.

“Truly impressive.” Chen Beiwu also nodded, his gaze sweeping across the Heart-Testing Refinement Formation disk.

Sensing Chen Beiwu’s gaze, Shu You’s eyes shifted slightly, “Junior Brother, are you interested in formations?”

She possessed some attainments in the Dao of Formations.

If Chen Beiwu was interested, she could use this topic to converse, strengthening the bond between fellow sect members.

“Yes.” Chen Beiwu nodded slightly, curiosity in his eyes. “May I ask Senior Sister Shu, what kind of illusion formation is this?”

“This formation comes from the Illusory Sea Lineage of the sect. It is a second-tier mid-grade formation known as the Heart-Testing Spirit Refinement Formation.”

Looking at the cultivators below, Shu You explained, “The Heart-Testing Spirit Refinement Formation can draw upon the qi of the water and wood earth veins to create a realistic illusion, causing cultivators to become immersed and unable to awaken. Even a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator who enters this formation would sink into it, unable to extricate themselves.”

“In order to test the cultivators’ state of mind, I deliberately suppressed the power of the Heart-Testing Spirit Refinement Formation to its lowest. Qi Refining cultivators whose hearts hold the Dao and whose will is firm can break through this formation within five breaths and awaken their consciousness.”

“So that’s how it is.” Chen Beiwu’s gaze toward Gu Chun subtly changed.

Even with Shu You deliberately restraining its power, the Heart-Testing Spirit Refinement Formation was still a second-tier mid-grade formation.

For Gu Chun to awaken within ten breaths meant her personality and outward appearance did not match—she was definitely someone ruthless.

Soon, as the two conversed, Shi Botao and Wei Xuesong gradually awoke from the illusion formation, successfully passing the assessment, though many more cultivators were eliminated at this stage.

With a wave of her sleeve, Shu You put away both the Spirit-Testing Disk and the formation, then flung out eleven jade slips. “Those who successfully passed the first two trials may now become outer disciples of the Mirror Moon Sect. These jade slips serve as proof of entry into the sect.”

“The third trial is the skill assessment. Cultivators with achievements in cultivation-related arts may step forward.”

As her words landed, eleven cultivators, including Gu Chun, who had received jade slips, all stepped forward.

In addition, several dozen rogue cultivators who had been eliminated in the first two trials also stepped forward.

“Very well. The next skill assessment has no time limit and will be overseen and recorded by the Gu Clan.”

After speaking, Shu You controlled the cloud boat, transforming into a streak of rainbow light as she vanished, leaving behind only a crowd of astonished rogue cultivators.

Only the cultivators of the Gu, Chi, Yu, Yuan, and Shui Clans remained calm and composed.

The present was no longer like the past.

Before, Shu at Foundation Establishment might have stayed until the skill assessment concluded, then led the new disciples away from the market to formally enter the Mirror Moon Sect.

But today was different—now that there was a heaven’s chosen like Chen Zi’ang, all new disciples at Hidden Mist Market seemed dim in comparison. How could Shu at Foundation Establishment remain behind?

……

Spirit Cuisine Restaurant.

Shu You brought Chen Beiwu toward the first Heaven-ranked private room.

As was usual, she knocked three times upon the door and respectfully said, “Inner disciple Shu You requests an audience with the Moon-Choosing Envoy!”

After a while, a cold and aloof female voice came from within the room, “Enter.”

Following Shu You inside, Chen Beiwu immediately saw the female cultivator he had encountered once before.

As their gazes met, Zhu Qiong’s brows furrowed slightly. “Who is he?”

Although Chen Beiwu’s prior words of praise had somewhat lifted her mood, she still had no desire to deal with unrelated male cultivators.

“Moon-Choosing Envoy, this disciple found a promising talent during the Moon-Choosing Ceremony, named Chen Zi’ang.” Shu You respectfully presented a jade slip.

“Water-attribute pseudo-Heavenly Root, wood-attribute Earth-Grade Root, age sixteen, eighth level of Qi Refining, aptitude rated as Gibbous Moon high-grade.”

Seeing the information recorded by the Spirit-Testing Disk, Zhu Qiong was momentarily stunned, a smile then appearing on her face.

“To think Hidden Mist Market would harbor a Heavenly Root cultivator. Not bad. I will rate your performance in this sect mission assessment as excellent.”

Hearing this, Shu You was overjoyed.

Her judgment had been correct—Zhu, the true disciple, was a capable leader who would not hoard all merit for herself.

If Shu could use this chance to join Zhu Qiong’s faction and receive her care, she might even have hope of advancing to the Golden Core stage.

“You may withdraw.” Zhu Qiong waved her hand, watching Shu You close the door as she departed, then turned her gaze toward Chen Zi’ang, a thoughtful look upon her face.

Although she had seen through Chen Zi’ang’s true appearance earlier, she had been too indifferent to probe into his age or cultivation. As a result, she nearly missed an outstanding seedling.

‘Could it be that I revealed some flaw?’ Though Chen Beiwu’s expression remained calm, within his heart waves surged turbulently.

This should not be!

The Mirror Moon Sect had even accepted disciples from declining sects and families allied with hostile cultivation clans.

By reason, there was no way they would reject a rogue cultivator like him, whose background was barely clean.

After all, Chen Zi’ang’s identity was verifiable, originating from Shuishan Town—a poor household where the son had gone missing in childhood and both parents were deceased.

“You’ve reached the eighth level of Qi Refining at such a young age, and you also display considerable understanding in the Dao of Talismans.”

After a moment’s contemplation, Zhu Qiong said, “Would you be interested in joining the Mirror Moon Lineage and becoming my junior brother?”

Heavenly Root cultivators were a rarity seen only once in a thousand years.

Though Chen Beiwu possessed only a pseudo-Heavenly Root, it was water-attribute, a talent ranked among the very best even within the Mirror Moon Sect.

Although she found taking disciples on behalf of her master somewhat troublesome, missing out on such a genius would only earn her nagging from her teacher, creating even more trouble.

“Senior Sister Zhu.” Chen Beiwu felt inwardly relieved, replying without hesitation.

The Mirror Moon Sect was divided into six lineages—Mirror Moon, Illusory Sea, Cold Marrow, Deep Pool, Flowing Libation, and Empty Spring.

Among them, Mirror Moon stood foremost, as the main lineage of the sect, while the other five were equal in rank.

To be accepted into the lineage with the highest status and position within the sect was something he naturally would not refuse.

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