Mountain Venerable and Sea Immortal

Master Yu Lan of the Nine Waters Spirit Palace stepped forward slowly and spoke softly, her voice resounding throughout the entire area:

"You two hundred newly recruited disciples will have all your needs met by the sect, including food, clothing, and lodging. The five prefectures have a special courtyard for newly recruited elites located on the slopes of Mingxia Pass, a place where spiritual veins converge, quiet and elegant. Those who have performed exceptionally well in this grand ceremony, regardless of which prefecture they belong to, may live together, supporting each other and cultivating together. Within the courtyard, each person will be assigned a separate room for two, ensuring privacy and undisturbed interaction. Monthly stipends of spiritual rice, spiritual spring water, foundation-strengthening pills, and low-grade talismans will be distributed monthly by the stewards. Diligent individuals may apply for additional stipends, while those who are negligent or violate discipline will have their rations reduced."

Immediately afterwards, Elder Wudao raised his whisk and formally announced the allocation results: "Now, according to spiritual roots, temperament, and talent, the five palaces will be allocated."

Taiqing Inner Palace: It accepts individuals with exceptional talent and innate sword skills, such as Yunxi, Shen Yue, and Su Lingyue, into the Transmission Hall, where the Master and Elder Xuanzhen personally impart the foundation of the Great Dao and teach them the orthodox Laoshan mental cultivation methods.

Mingxuan Heavenly Gate: It accepts individuals with pure wood spirit roots and resolute character, such as Ye Qing, to cultivate the methods of array control, vigilance, and spiritual communication with plants and trees, and to guard the natural barriers of mountains and seas with Elder Guanhai.

Hua Lou Dan Fu: It accepts those with outstanding fire spirit roots who are interested in alchemy and artifact crafting. They can enter the alchemy furnace and artifact crafting workshop and be guided by Dan Chenzi in alchemy, artifact crafting, and treasure tempering.

Nine Waters Spiritual Mansion: It accepts disciples with pure water spiritual roots, such as Lin Yan and Yi Azhu, and places them in a separate courtyard by the Weizhu Spiritual Pool. They are personally taught the techniques of marrow cleansing, qi cultivation, healing, and water control by True Person Yulan.

Taiping Xuanfu: It accepts individuals like Chen Dagang who possess upright character and strong will, and they enter the Zhenwu Dharma Hall to cultivate magic and suppress demons, patrol the coast, and uphold the law.

Lin Yan, Yun Xi, Ye Qing, Yi Azhu, and Chen Dagang have made outstanding contributions in eliminating evil and upholding justice during this grand ceremony. They have been specially arranged to stay together in the newly promoted elite villa, each in their own separate room, with adjacent courtyards, so that they can learn from each other and help each other.

As soon as he finished speaking, the disciples and stewards from each prefecture lined up and stepped forward, holding their rosters, waiting to be led to them.

"Disciples from each prefecture will follow the stewards into their respective prefectures to claim their residences, robes, storage bags, and introductory cultivation methods. Three days later, a unified apprenticeship ceremony will be held to formally accept you into the sect. Elders will then open the altar to preach the Dharma, guiding you into the true inner sect cultivation."

The two hundred new disciples were invigorated and bowed in unison, saying, "Thank you, Sect Master! Thank you, Elders!"

Just then, Elder Guanhai's gaze fell on Lin Yan, and he smiled slightly, transmitting his voice secretly: "You and I already have a master-disciple relationship, so there is no need to formally acknowledge anyone else. At the grand ceremony three days later, you may attend as my personal disciple. You may temporarily reside in the Elite Villa for the convenience of cultivation and support. I will continue to personally teach you the Daoist arts, and you will not be bound by the rules and regulations for ordinary disciples."

Lin Yan understood and nodded secretly.

Yi Azhu, being a naturally born water spirit, formally became a disciple of Master Yulan.

Yunxi and Shen Yue joined Elder Wudao's tutelage and began practicing the orthodox Laoshan cultivation method.

Ye Qing followed Elder Guan Hai to practice the formation and be on guard.

Chen Dagang then became a disciple of Elder Xuanzhen, specializing in suppressing demons and protecting the Dharma.

Although the five individuals had different teachers and belonged to five different families, they all moved into the newly established elite villa together.

Afterwards, the steward led everyone to the foot of Mingxia'ao, where a newly built elite villa nestled against the mountain and by the water suddenly appeared.

Nestled against verdant peaks and facing the Spirit Stream, this place is shrouded in light mist, with fragrant herbs growing everywhere. Ancient pines and bamboos, some thousands of years old, sway in the breeze, their shadows dancing and the pines rustling softly, like celestial music. A clear Spirit Stream meanders through the courtyard, its waters so clear that koi carp glide their tails, and the pebbles at the bottom shimmer with a faint spiritual light, flowing ceaselessly year-round.

Within the villa, courtyards are scattered, all paved with white stones, with railings made of spirit wood, and delicate, elegant eaves, exuding a natural, ethereal charm without being ostentatious. Each courtyard is an independent dwelling, shared by two people, with bright windows, clean tables, bamboo curtains hanging from the doors, and moss growing on the steps, creating a refined and tranquil atmosphere. In each courtyard, there might be a spirit peach tree or a cluster of orchids, where the morning glow illuminates the courtyard and the night moonlight blankets the ground, the spiritual energy so rich it's almost palpable.

In the distance, towering peaks rise majestically amidst surging seas of clouds; nearby, babbling brooks murmur and birdsong is melodious. Free from the hustle and bustle of the world and nourished by spiritual energy, it is truly an ideal place for spiritual cultivation and tranquility.

The steward raised his hand to indicate: "You may choose any of the courtyards here."

Lin Yan glanced around and immediately chose the courtyard closest to the Spirit Stream, which had its own small waterside pavilion. The breeze from the stream caressed his face, and the misty air was perfect for his pure water spiritual root and the inheritance of the Azure Sea Emperor. When he meditated, he could draw the stream water into his body, making his efforts twice as effective.

Yunxi chose a bamboo house on the west side, which was high up and had a wide view. There was a grove of bamboo in front of the window, and the wind rustled like the sound of swords, which was perfect for honing her sword intent. In the morning, she could also be the first to absorb the spiritual energy of the eastern sunrise.

Ye Qing chose the courtyard on the south side, where the vegetation was most lush and the fragrance of herbs was most serene. Several ancient trees with intertwined roots and abundant spiritual herbs grew in front of the door, resonating with his wood-type spiritual energy. As he sat quietly, the vitality of the plants entered his body.

Yi Azhu immediately took a liking to the pink and white courtyard next to Lin Yan's house, which had a small flower bed and a babbling brook. Flowers bloomed all year round, which complemented her innate water spirit body and made it convenient for her and Lin Yan to take care of each other.

Without saying a word, Chen Dagang chose the small stone-built courtyard on the east side. The courtyard was square and spacious, with a flat area, making it the perfect place to hone his body and strengthen his bones every day, fully displaying his powerful and robust nature.

The five courtyards are adjacent to each other, each with its own unique view, neither disturbing the others nor failing to look at each other from afar.

After settling in, dusk settled in, and Mingxia'ao was shrouded in a light, moonlit mist.

Lin Yan instructed Yi Azhu to rest and recuperate as soon as possible, and then gave some instructions to Yun Xi, Ye Qing, and Chen Dagang. He then quietly left the Elite Villa alone, following his memories from the daytime, and headed towards Mingxuan Tianguan.

Mingxuan Tianguan stands atop a precipice, with thousands of stone steps and swirling clouds and mist.

The guards and scouts along the way sensed the faint aura of Elder Guanhai on Lin Yan, but did not stop him. They simply bowed slightly and allowed him to ascend the steps.

Upon arriving outside the Lingxiao Palace, one sees a figure in a green robe standing with his hands behind his back on the edge of the cliff, gazing at the vast East Sea. It is none other than the Taoist Guanhai.

The mountain breeze stirred his clothes, and his aura was as deep and restrained as a pool, as if he had merged with the mountains and sea.

Lin Yan quickly stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and said, "Disciple Lin Yan greets Master."

The Taoist Master Guanhai slowly turned around, his gaze falling on him with a hint of gentleness and a deeper meaning: "You've arrived quickly. Now that you've entered the inner sect, are you satisfied with your lodgings?"

"Thanks to Master's great blessings, my residence is near a stream and water, which suits me perfectly, and I am deeply grateful." Lin Yan paused before finally speaking, "However, there is still one thing I don't understand. Years ago, my hometown was struck by a sudden maritime disaster. Huge waves crashed, and the village was overturned. If it weren't for a stroke of luck, we would have perished at sea... Was this truly just a natural disaster?"

The Taoist priest gazed at the dark sea in the distance, his eyes darkening slightly, and he sighed softly:

"I have been waiting for you to ask this question for a long time. It was not a natural disaster."

Lin Yan's body trembled, and he looked up at his master.

"That tsunami was caused by an overseas sea leap, which was deliberately caused by a forbidden technique called the tide-inducing array to forcibly stir up the spiritual veins of the East China Sea in a deep-sea secret realm thousands of miles away."

The Taoist Guanhai's voice was calm, yet carried a hint of coldness. "This demon cultivates unorthodox water magic, is ruthless, and attempted to use the blood and energy of living beings to refine magical treasures. He chose your coastal villages and towns as blood sacrifices."

"However, he didn't expect that the Laoshan spiritual vein runs across the East China Sea. His reckless use of forbidden techniques alerted the core of the giant peak array, which I detected in time and intervened to intercept most of its ferocious power. Even so, the coastal areas still suffered heavy casualties..."

Lin Yan slowly clenched his fists, his heart churning with turmoil.

"Haiyue..."

Looking at his bitten lip, Guan Hai slowly said, "It's no accident that you survived. You possess a pure water spiritual root, and you were swept away by the aftershocks of the spiritual veins during the most ferocious moment of the tsunami. You unintentionally merged with a trace of deep-sea dragon energy, which led to your later extraordinary encounter. This is both a calamity and your destiny."

The Taoist Guanhai paused, then said solemnly, "Hai Yue is still wandering among the islands of the East China Sea. His cultivation is unfathomable, and he has a long-standing grudge against Laoshan. You will join my sect to cultivate water magic, practice swordsmanship, and strengthen your mind. There will surely be a day when you face him head-on. Until then, you must cultivate patiently and steadily, and do not act impulsively."

Lin Yan's eyes glistened with tears. He took a deep breath, bowed again, and said in a steady and firm voice, "Disciple will remember Master's teachings. I will diligently cultivate and live up to Master's expectations, and I will not let down those villagers who died unjustly. When my cultivation is complete in the future, I will personally settle this score."

The Taoist Master Guanhai nodded slightly, a hint of approval in his eyes. Below the cliff, the sea wind howled, and the clouds churned. After a moment of silence, the Taoist Master Guanhai said, "That peach wood sword at your waist does have quite a history."

Lin Yan was taken aback, and reached out to press his hand on the sword hilt: "Does Master know about this sword?"

"This wood is no ordinary wood."

The Taoist Guanhai said softly, "Back then, in your hometown near the sea, there was a thousand-year-old peach tree growing beside the ancient ferry crossing of Zhenhai. It absorbed the sea breeze and tides year after year and had long since developed a trace of spirituality. When the tsunami broke out, the forbidden technique of the Sea Leap swept in with ferocity. In order to protect the land, this tree burned its spiritual energy to block the evil. The tree trunk collapsed, leaving only a section of the main trunk."

"When you were swept away by the giant wave, you happened to be holding onto this piece of peach wood. With its last bit of spiritual power, it protected your heart and prevented it from dissipating, which allowed you to hold on until you were discovered by the disciples of Laoshan."

Lin Yan was deeply shaken, his fingertips trembling slightly. It turned out that the peach wood sword that had accompanied him all this way was the last protection of his hometown.

The Taoist Guanhai continued, "Although this wood appears ordinary, it has been imbued with the spiritual energy of the tides, blocked the evil power of demonic cultivators, and protected your life force. It is connected to your bloodline and destiny. You could exchange it for an ordinary magic weapon, but this peach wood sword is your destined weapon. As your cultivation deepens in the future, nurture it with water and temper it with sword intent, and it may very well transform from mortal to spiritual, becoming a protective weapon no less powerful than an ancient divine weapon."

Lin Yan gripped the peach wood sword tightly, his heart filled with a mix of emotions. There was the pain of his parents and fellow villagers dying unjustly, the gratitude of the old tree protecting its master, the hardships of his own life, and the vow to attain enlightenment in the future.

Lin Yan bowed deeply and said in a solemn voice, "This disciple understands. As long as this sword remains, my hometown remains. This disciple will certainly use this sword to slay evil and uphold righteousness, and live up to the protection of this thousand-year-old peach wood."