Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

Laoshan Mountain follows the rule of "it is easy to enter the mountain gate, but difficult to enter the inner gate": only those who rank in the top 200 after the three-month-long major examination can enter the inner gate, and those who rank below 200 are directly expelled from the mountain gate.

Outer disciple:

Clothing: Uniform blue cloth Taoist robe with coarse cloth lining, two sets per year, damaged items must be repaired by the wearer, no spiritual protection.

Diet: Two meals a day, spiritual rice and vegetarian vegetables from the mountains, three fasting pills per month, no private cooking allowed, and strict prohibition of meat and fish.

Accommodation: Two people share a bamboo hut, preferably near the spiritual spring. There is no spirit-gathering formation, and you need to absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth on your own.

Travel: Limited to the outer mountain area. Entry into the inner mountain, spiritual vein forbidden area, and alchemy and artifact room is prohibited. Travelers must report to the steward before traveling.

Benefits: Ten low-grade spirit stones, one basic cultivation manual, and a simple storage bag per month; outstanding performance may earn low-grade spirit herbs and healing pills.

Daily duties include physical training at dawn, homework at dawn, and rule study at dusk, in addition to shifts for sweeping, watering spiritual herbs, guarding the spiritual spring, and transporting supplies. One must bow to inner disciples and obey the orders of stewards and elders.

Inner disciples:

Clothing: Cloud-patterned spiritual silk Taoist robe, with built-in spirit-gathering runes, impervious to heat and cold, can be replaced if damaged.

Food: Spirit rice and fine cuisine, paired with medicinal cuisine of cinnabar fruit, ten medium-grade fasting pills per month, can be obtained from the dining hall to consume nourishing spiritual food.

Accommodation: An independent stone cave dwelling, equipped with a spirit-gathering array, close to the main vein's spiritual eye, with a spiritual energy concentration several times higher than that of the outer mountains.

Travel: Can pass through most areas of the inner mountain, and is permitted to enter the lower level of the Sutra Repository, the Alchemy Room, and the Utensils Pavilion. Can go down the mountain with their master for training.

Benefits: Fifty low-grade spirit stones or five mid-grade spirit stones per month, unlimited supply of direct-lineage cultivation techniques, exclusive magic weapons, and pills, and personal instruction in cultivation methods from elders.

Daily duties: Can manage outer disciples, participate in sect competitions, have the opportunity to be accepted as a personal disciple by a True Person, and outstanding inner disciples can enter the core and take charge of a pavilion's affairs.

Everyone gazed at the regulations displayed on the spiritual light, their faces filled with envy and solemnity. The outer sect was the foundation, but also a trial. Lin Yan understood this perfectly; there were no free opportunities in Laoshan. The so-called entry was merely a transformation from a candidate to a menial outer sect disciple. The true gate lay deep within the inner mountain's mists.

At dawn, when the rooster crows, the bell of the outer mountain disciples' courtyard rings precisely on time.

Lin Yan and Chen Dagang got up. Although the bamboo hut was simple, it was warmed by the spiritual spring near it. Lin Yan sat cross-legged and circulated the "Laoshan Basic Technique" to resonate with the inheritance of the Canglan Sea Emperor in his dantian. After a night of cultivation, the sixth level of Qi Refining became more and more stable, and he faintly touched the seventh level barrier.

Although Chen Dagang lacked spiritual roots, he practiced the physical training method taught by Lin Yan in the courtyard, punching and kicking, his blood and qi surging. His injuries from yesterday, nourished by the spiritual energy, had improved somewhat. He lowered his voice considerably: "Brother Lin, I'll go fetch water and chop wood. I won't hold you back!"

Lin Yan nodded and handed him a low-grade spirit stone: "Use this to absorb spiritual energy and temper your physical body more quickly."

On the other side of the bamboo hut, Yi Azhu was enveloped in the spiritual energy of the spring. Her water spirit body operated spontaneously, and she could perceive the slightest movement of the plants and the flow of the spring. Yun Xi stood guard beside her, her natal sword gently protecting her and helping to regulate the excessive spiritual energy to prevent it from overwhelming her body.

"Ah Zhu, from today onwards, you will practice swordsmanship with me. This will not only protect you but also stabilize your water spirit body."

Yi Azhu gripped the Soul-Warming Pearl tightly and nodded emphatically.

At Chen Shi (7-9 AM), everyone gathered at the martial arts arena. Master Danxuan sat on the high platform, with the outer sect deacons standing on either side.

"Today's tasks are as follows: outer disciples are divided into four groups: watering the spirit herb garden, guarding the spirit spring, cleaning the mountain paths, and protecting the martial arts arena. Those on duty must not slack off; one absence will result in a deduction of three spirit stones; three or more absences will result in immediate expulsion!"

Lin Yan was assigned to guard the Spirit Spring, his duty being to stabilize the spiritual energy at the spring's source and prevent it from leaking out and becoming disordered. This job had the densest spiritual energy and was most suitable for cultivation, which made many disciples secretly envious.

Yunxi and Yi Azhu entered the Spirit Herb Garden. The spiritual energy of the plants and trees was compatible with Azhu's constitution, and Yunxi could also use the sword intent of the plants and trees to calm her mind.

Chen Dagang was the strongest and was assigned to sweep the mountain path and carry supplies. Although it was hard work, he was able to hone his muscles and bones with spiritual energy.

We rested at noon by the sacred spring.

Lin Yan took out the Sea-Gazing Inkstone. The inkstone resonated with the Sea Emperor's legacy, and pure water-elemental spiritual energy overflowed from the wave patterns, merging with the spiritual veins of Laoshan. He secretly deduced that the "Laoshan Sea-Gazing Technique" emphasizes observing the sea and listening to the waves to stabilize one's state of mind, while the "Azure Sea Emperor Technique" wields the power of the deep sea and is incomparably domineering. The two are of the same origin and complement each other. If he can completely integrate them, his combat power will definitely increase exponentially.

Not far away, several outer disciples whispered among themselves, their eyes frequently sweeping over.

"That Lin Yan is only at the sixth level of Qi Refining, so why does he deserve the favor of True Person Danxuan?"

"I heard he slew demons in the secret realm, and he has a female sword cultivator and a little girl by his side. He must have some background."

"The big exam in March is just around the corner, we need to keep an eye on him and make sure he doesn't get a spot in the inner sect."

Lin Yan swept his divine sense across the area, taking in all the hostility, yet remained unmoved. The cultivation world is a dog-eat-dog world; competition in the outer sects is inherently brutal, and only strength is the foundation for survival.

During the Wei hour (1-3 PM), Master Danxuan emphasized the ten things the Jinshan School would not accept: those who are treacherous, belligerent, disrespectful to their teachers, disobedient to their parents, disloyal, unfilial, thieving, dishonest, lustful, or alcoholic would be expelled from the school and never be accepted again.

"Entering the mountain gate is easy, but entering the sect is not. When my sect accepts disciples, we first cultivate their minds, then their cultivation. If their character is not up to par, no matter how high their cultivation level is, it is useless."

During the hour of You (5-7 PM), people can freely cultivate, and the martial arts arena is filled with the crisscrossing sword energy and surging spiritual power.

Yunxi drew her sword and practiced, her sword intent as steadfast as a pine tree, resonating with the spiritual energy of the mountains, attracting many disciples to stop and watch. Yi Azhu sat to the side, her water spirit body absorbing spiritual energy with all its might, her body radiating a faint glow.

Chen Dagang sweated profusely, his punches and kicks were powerful, and his physical strength increased steadily.

In the blink of an eye, the setting sun sank into the vast sea, and the last golden rays swept across the peaks of Laoshan Mountain. The clouds and mist covering the mountain were dyed a warm orange-red, which slowly faded into pale purple and deep blue as dusk deepened, and was finally swallowed up by the boundless night.

A gentle evening breeze swept through the mountains, carrying the crisp fragrance of medicinal herbs. It brushed against the green-tiled bamboo houses, causing the bamboo curtains hanging from the windows to rustle softly. The spring water gurgled and bubbled, its droplets splashing onto the stones with a clear, melodious tinkling sound. One by one, faint lights lit up in each bamboo house, their dim yellow glow filtering through the bamboo and casting dappled shadows on the bluestone floor.

As night fell, the clock struck midnight precisely, and the lights on the outer mountain went out one by one, leaving only the faint glow of the spiritual spring, illuminating the resolute profile of the young man. Lin Yan sat cross-legged by the spiritual spring, cultivating both techniques simultaneously. Within his dantian, pale blue spiritual light surged like a tide, and spiritual energy circulated endlessly through his meridians.

The spirit turtle in the spiritual spring suddenly awoke, its body expanding at a visible speed. In just a few breaths, it grew to more than half a zhang in size, its shell pattern as black as ink, its spiritual light flowing, faintly revealing the majesty of an ancient spirit species.

Immediately afterwards, a long and solemn turtle call resounded along the spring, unlike the roar of ordinary beasts, but closer to the pure sound of the Great Dao. A stream of extremely pure water-attribute spiritual energy surged from the turtle's body, seeped into Lin Yan's body through his palm, and perfectly merged with the Azure Sea Emperor's spiritual light deep within his dantian, becoming one with him.

Lin Yan's heart stirred slightly; perhaps this was the true meaning of the Canglan Sea Emperor's inheritance.

After half an incense stick's time, the strange phenomenon gradually subsided, and the spirit turtle slowly shrank back into its small form, quietly lying by the spring.

The shimmering light from the spring made the boy's profile appear even more serene and resolute.