Cultivation: Starting with Sterilizing My Own Father

Seeing that her sister could accept the earth spirit, Wei Zhiying took her sister to the training ground that evening to ride on the scorpion. The sand scorpion was a full meter long, perfect for carrying two five-year-old children.

Under the setting sun, Wei Lanyin clung tightly to her younger brother's clothes, the two of them sitting cross-legged on Tu Ling's body, surprisingly stable.

Over at the training ground, Leng Yue was still receiving training from her senior brothers and sisters. Seeing this, Wei Zhiying quickly picked some more flowers to adorn her scorpion. Although Wei Lanyin was puzzled, she still subconsciously helped, "Why are you dressing up the earth spirit again?"

"You don't know, but this morning Leng Yue was scared to tears by the earth spirit. Those senior brothers and sisters want to toughen Leng Yue up, so I'll have to trouble you, sister, not to come down. I think having a girl of similar age sitting up there should alleviate Leng Yue's fear."

"Okay!" Wei Lanyin sat back on Tu Ling. "Don't worry, leave it to me." She then placed her hands on Tu Ling's large pincers.

With everything prepared, Wei Zhiying and her sister stepped onto the training ground. However, Wei Zhiying's actions had been noticed by her very serious senior sister, who approached and said, "We've met several times, but you've never introduced yourself. My surname is Ming, and my given name is Jiao. I have the three spiritual roots of metal, earth, and thunder."

Wei Zhiying and her sister bowed and said, "Senior Sister Ming."

When Wei Lanyin cupped her hands in greeting, she wanted to get down, but thinking of her younger brother's words, she hesitated. Ming Jiao, however, raised her hand and said, "It's alright. Leng Yue is indeed too timid. We've always wanted to train her. You've dressed your spirit beast up like this; I think it coincides with my plan."

Wei Zhiying smiled and nodded: "Senior Sister wanted Leng Yue to practice her courage this morning, but Tu Ling ran away. Now that she has seen Senior Sister again, she will probably have to do what she did this morning."

Mingjiao turned to the four men and three women beside Leng Yue: "Zong Rang, bring Leng Yue over here. This is Qin Zong Rang, a five-elemental-root."

Guiyi Sect is a gathering place for people with extremely high talent. Those with low to medium grade three spiritual roots or below, apart from royal family members like Leng Yue, are either rich or powerful people.

Wei Zhiying asked timidly, "Excuse me... are your surnames... the same as those of the Left and Right Chancellors of the Northern Shu Kingdom?"

"That's right." Qin Zongrang led Leng Yue over: "Jiaojiao's grandfather is the Right Chancellor, and my father is the Left Chancellor, who is slightly lower in rank."

Wei Zhiying looked on with a gossipy expression: "You call him Senior Brother Qin so affectionately, we must have known each other before."

Mingjiao looked to the side: "It's just that our families were quite familiar with each other by accident, we grew up together by accident, we attended the same academy when we were young, and we were both found to have spiritual roots by accident."

Wei Zhiying and Wei Lanyin looked up at the two expectantly with their little faces. Qin Zongrang reached out and ruffled the heads of the siblings: "Alright, don't think about those messy things. What you're thinking is impossible. The Left and Right Prime Ministers are already in high positions of power. If the two families were to form a marriage alliance..." Qin Zongrang glanced at Leng Yue and changed his words: "But it's also because my father and Jiao Jiao's grandfather don't get along. Although they are familiar with each other, they are complete mortal enemies. Let's not talk about that. Leng Yue, come and pet this junior brother's spirit beast."

Wei Zhiying gestured for Tu Ling to stay still: "Its name is Tu Ling, and it's a little boy. Come on, Leng Yue, look, my sister is sitting up there, it's okay."

The sand scorpion was basically covered by flowers, and Wei Lanyin was sitting on it, even though Wei Lanyin had once slapped Leng Yue so badly that she had been avoiding her ever since.

After Wei Zhiying realized that Leng Yue still didn't dare to approach her, she felt that the chances of her sister and Leng Yue becoming good friends were really going to be null and void, even though they were only five years old.

Wei Zhiying switched places with her sister, and sat on Tu Ling's lap, extending her hand to Leng Yue: "Come on, you can hold my hand first."

Leng Yue had just finished training and was still panting. Beads of sweat slid down her slightly flushed cheeks. As the sweat dripped down, Leng Yue grasped Wei Zhiying's hand and felt her already pounding heart beat even faster and louder. Leng Yue carefully looked around at the people around her, as if worried that she might disturb them.

Wei Zhiying took Leng Yue's hand and slowly placed it on Tu Ling's head: "It's okay, don't be afraid, it won't bite you or sting you."

"Hmm..." Leng Yue gently stroked the earth spirit, and Wei Zhiying slowly removed the flower wreaths from the earth spirit piece by piece. After they were all removed, Leng Yue was completely used to it: "Sit on and take a look. Let's walk around the training ground."

Leng Yue was taken aback. Wei Zhiying pulled her over and said, "It's alright, it's alright. Come on, as long as you sit properly, you won't fall. If you're still worried, I'll support you from behind, or you can hold onto my waist."

Mingjiao crossed her arms and said, "Since that's the case, thank you. Lengyue, you can sit in the front. If you want to learn beast taming in the future, you'll have to adapt. Whether you learn beast taming or not, you'll still have to adapt. You'll always encounter monsters when you go out to train."

Wei Zhiying moved back a little: "Come on, don't be afraid."

Leng Yue carefully sat down, and Wei Zhiying supported her waist. He couldn't help but recall sitting in the back seat of an adult's car in his previous life, feeling a strong sense of security as he held onto their broad waist. Their slender waists made him seem fragile and easily broken. Thinking this, Wei Zhiying casually pinched her waist. Seeing Leng Yue turn her head in surprise with a blush on her face, Wei Zhiying realized that things were different now. He was a boy now and couldn't touch a girl like he used to.

Because the only girl she had ever interacted with before was her older sister, and because Wei Zhiying was already gender-ambiguous and not straight, her behavior was exactly the same as in her previous life: "Yes...yes...yes...I'm sorry...I...I..." Wei Zhiying tried hard to think of how to say it without getting slapped, and how to quickly explain before Leng Yue's slap landed on her face: "I...I accidentally got used to it, because before it was always...my older sister who sat in front, so I accidentally...got used to teasing her."

Wei Zhiying's voice grew softer and softer until she could only manage an awkward smile. Seeing Leng Yue's increasingly pale expression, just as Wei Zhiying was about to think of another excuse, Leng Yue simply said, "Oh, so you think of me as your older sister. We're both five years old, but my birthday is in March."

Wei Zhiying quickly said, "I was born in late August! You see... you... you're older than me... so I... I..."

Seeing Leng Yue's increasingly grim expression, Wei Zhiying quickly changed the subject: "Oh dear, but speaking of which, we rarely hear about human trafficking in the country. I wonder if you've heard of any palace maids or noble ladies being trafficked while in the palace?"

"No!"

Yue's shout drew even more attention from fellow disciples who were already focused on spirit beasts, making them even more focused on Wei Zhiying.

Wei Zhiying silently moved back a little, her heart pounding with despair: Oh no… Will I be used as a negative example? Will I be publicly criticized in class the day after tomorrow? Why did I have to be so clumsy with my hands?! Damn it, I'm a man now! I have to change, I really have to change some habits, or it'll be the end of me!!

Mingjiao and Qin Zongrang were a little confused, but seeing that the two hadn't started fighting, and that Wei Zhiying had moved back and kept apologizing, and considering that they were both only five years old, they didn't think too much about it.

Mingjiao pinched Wei Lanyin's cheek: "Oh dear, but these reforms really come in waves. Ever since the shortage of Lingli (a type of immortality cultivation) started, other sects have begun to lower the age of cultivation. Only Guiyi Sect has been stubbornly holding on, only recruiting disciples aged 15. But do you know how many good talents are being recruited by other sects at such a young age? The year before last, Guiyi Sect didn't receive any disciples at all. So, they got anxious and lowered the age to ten last year, but only received a few disciples, and their aptitude wasn't very good. This year, they followed suit and lowered the age of acceptance to five, which is how they accepted your batch. But your batch's aptitude is really good. Although there are very few top-tier ones, it's still quite good."

Wei Lanyin asked curiously, "Sister, what realm are you at now?"

"I'm in the late stage of Qi Refining." Mingjiao's lips curled up slightly: "I'm the disciple I just mentioned who was recruited last year. Although I have three spiritual roots, they're still ranked as top-grade."

Wei Lanyin was very puzzled: "What was your ranking in the outer sect competition, sister? Did none of your batch pass?"

"Yes." Mingjiao looked at Qin Zongrang, who was observing Wei Zhiying and Leng Yue, and said, "Sister didn't sign up for the competition back then. Oh dear, it's because some idiot, despite having low aptitude, still donated a large sum of snacks to the sect to force his way in. Now look what's happened, he's only just passed the early stage of Qi Refining, and who knows how many years it will take him to enter the inner sect."

"Sister, are you waiting for him?"

"What else can I do? We've been going to school together since we were little. Even if we're in the outer sect, it won't hinder my cultivation."

Wei Lanyin clenched her small fists, her face slightly flushed: "People in our village always say that childhood sweethearts are destined to be husband and wife. Why can't my brother and sister be together? Is it because the elders are arguing?"

Mingjiao patted Wei Lanyin's head: "Take a look. When you grow up, or when you stand in a high position in the future, you will understand that some things are not so simple. In order to reassure the people above, even if the relationship is very good, you have to pretend to be very bad."

Wei Lanyin was completely bewildered.