I forge immortality with a pagoda.

Shen Yu was not familiar with the naming and looked puzzled.

Seeing this, Kui Yuling replied indifferently, "Our sect's lower academy has ten regions, ordered by the Heavenly Stems, with Jia as the first and Gui as the last."

"The Jia-character courtyard is the best area in the lower courtyard. Each independent courtyard has a spiritual spring for the disciples to use."

"A small courtyard usually houses a dozen or so cultivators. Before they can have their own independent cave dwellings, it is already a good spiritual place for cultivation."

"I see." Shen Yu nodded.

It seems that the strength of the Lu Jing Sect is indeed quite considerable, as even the lower courtyard has so many spiritual springs for disciples to use in their cultivation.

Mo Lin quickly chimed in, comforting Shen Yu, "Senior Brother Shen, please be patient for a few days. Once Senior Sister Yue Ling returns from her travels, you will become an apprentice of an elder, and then you can find a propitious place on that spiritual vein to build your own cave dwelling."

"At that time, with the abundant spiritual energy within the cave, the progress of cultivation will surely be rapid, far surpassing that of the lower academy."

Shen Yu simply nodded slightly, indicating that she understood.

Xu Sidan wrote down Shen Yu's name in the register and handed over the gate restriction token. Shen Yu's entry procedures into the Lu Jing Sect were then completely completed.

After bidding farewell to Xu Sidan and Na Kui Yuling, the two headed together towards the direction of the lower courtyard.

Once the two figures disappeared at the end of the corridor outside the hall, Xu Sidan's kind expression instantly vanished.

Then a cold glint appeared on his face. "Boy, since you're one of Yue Ling's people, don't blame me for being ruthless."

With a flick of his sleeve, he moved the lower house register on the table aside, revealing another jade book.

On it are maps recording the mountains and landforms.

The many sacred peaks in the picture shimmer with different lusters, marking the cave dwellings that have been opened up.

Many other areas were dark and gloomy, clearly unclaimed and abandoned cave dwellings, not belonging to any elder.

Seeing this, Kui Yuling also flattered, "If Senior Brother Xiao finds out that Senior Uncle Xu has arranged for Shen Yu to be in the lower courtyard, he will surely remember this favor and their relationship will be even closer."

"However, in my humble opinion, even a top-tier academy would be too much of an honor for him. Why not just send him to a lower-tier academy?"

Xu Sidan glanced at him and snorted coldly, "You little brat, you've got a heart of stone."

"However, this time it's not that my master is unwilling to arrange him in the lowest-ranking courtyard, but rather that I must also consider the anger of that woman, Yue Ling."

"Nowadays, the infighting among the true disciples is so fierce that if one is not careful, someone will seize on a weakness and bring trouble upon themselves."

"I've arranged for him to stay in the Jia-class courtyard, making sure everything is in place so that even if Yue Ling comes back to check, she won't be able to use that as an excuse to make trouble for me."

Kui Yuling's eyes lit up, and she showed a look of sudden realization. "Senior Uncle is truly thoughtful and far-sighted! I was just too shallow in my thinking."

Xu Sidan was quite pleased. He stroked his beard and said, "You cultivate in your own cave, so your knowledge of the many trivial matters in the lower courtyard is ultimately limited. I arranged for this boy Shen Yu to be in courtyard number sixteen of the Jia section, firstly to avoid giving others cause for gossip, and secondly..."

"Oh? Could it be that Master Uncle has some other deeper meaning?" Kui Yuling asked curiously.

"That's natural," Xu Sidan pondered for a moment, "Do you know anyone named Yue Jianxin?"

Kui Yuling scratched his head. "I have naturally heard of Senior Brother Yue's name."

"Years ago, Senior Brother Yue, with his late-stage Qi Refining cultivation, fought against a six-armed Yin Demon in the Foundation Establishment stage and even cut off half of its arms. This caused a great uproar in our sect. Even the sect leader praised his swordsmanship talent as one in ten thousand. But what does this have to do with Shen Yu?"

Xu Sidan's lips curled slightly as he said, "Yue Jianxin broke through to the Foundation Establishment stage a few months ago and is currently honing his sword techniques on Lanxiu Peak!"

"What! Senior Brother Yue has already reached the Foundation Establishment stage so quickly?!"

Kui Yuling was shocked, her face showing no sign of astonishment. "He seems to have started his training later than Senior Sister Yueling, right? This speed is truly terrifying."

Xu Sidan remained noncommittal, only saying, "You know Yue Jianxin's temperament and character."

"Anyone he sets his sights on, regardless of their cultivation level, will have to exchange a few blows with him!"

"Back then, he even dared to draw his sword and test his skills against the sect leader; he was truly audacious!"

"Fortunately, the sect leader valued his talent and not only did not blame him, but also gave him some guidance. After this incident, no one dared to offend him because of his reputation as a sword fanatic."

Kui Yuling was clearly well aware of Yue Jianxin's difficulty in dealing with him. After a moment's thought, she understood Xu Sidan's intention in arranging Shen Yu in courtyard number sixteen of the Jiazi building.

"Does Master Uncle perhaps intend to use Uncle Yue to torment Shen Yu?"

Xu Sidan chuckled twice and said, "That's how it should be. Courtyard No. 16 of the Jia class is only a few miles away from Lanxiu Peak. Yue Jianxin will practice his sword on the peak and release his divine sense. He will definitely discover a new face who has been cultivating superior true qi. At that time, he will take the initiative to go and have a match with him."

"Now that he has reached the Foundation Establishment stage, his swordsmanship is even more powerful than before. Given his reckless and mad nature, he probably won't be careful around a junior in the Qi Refining stage."

"At best, it will cause Shen Yu some internal and physical injuries; at worst, it will damage his meridians and shake his foundation! No matter how talented he is, his future will be largely ruined!"

"Yue Jianxin has a special status and has always been indifferent to worldly affairs and does not participate in factional struggles. Even if he accidentally injures someone, it will mostly be considered an unintentional act and he will not be severely punished."

"Moreover, he is already a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Would the sect really punish a promising Foundation Establishment cultivator for the sake of an inner disciple who hasn't even formally become an apprentice?"

Kui Yuling listened with great admiration, "Senior Uncle is truly a genius. This move of using someone else to do the dirty work is so subtle and effective that it not only reduces Senior Sister Yueling's future support but also leaves her with no leverage."

"A cultivator who can refine superior true qi is certainly not someone to be trifled with. If we can seize this opportunity to eliminate him, it would be the best course of action."

Xu Sidan waved his hand, feigning indifference, and said, "This plan is merely going with the flow; whether it succeeds or fails is still uncertain."

"The key is whether Yue Jianxin goes into seclusion these days. If he does not come out into seclusion, or if he is not interested in Shen Yu, and that kid Shen manages to wait for Yue Ling to return, then with Yue Ling's protection, even Yue Jianxin will find it difficult to find another opportunity to make a move."

Kui Yuling nodded in agreement and fell into thought.

Not long after, he looked towards the direction of Lanxiu Peak outside the palace and muttered to himself.

"I hope this plan will succeed..."

...

Shen Yu followed Mo Lin, passing through numerous pavilions and palaces, and winding down a mountain path to a more secluded place with fewer cultivators.

Ancient trees and rare plants line both sides of the road, and the sounds of birdsong and babbling brooks can be heard from time to time.

The two then passed through a lush bamboo forest and crossed a rainbow bridge spanning a clear stream.

About an incense stick's time later, a courtyard with green tiles and white walls, nestled against the mountain and beside the water, came into view.

......

......