Chapter 295: Big Disciple

In the Twin Rice Sect, those at the Spring Realm are considered "outer disciples." Upon reaching the Five Seas Realm, one can become an "inner disciple." Reaching the fifth stage of the Five Seas Realm officially designates one as a "core disciple," offering the opportunity to study under elders, venerables, or hall masters as a registered student.

Those who break through to the Dao Seed Realm become "true disciples." True disciples hold a very high status and can undertake missions independently. For instance, they might explore unknown areas of underground immortal mansions, intercept and capture intruders, or gain experience on the surface.

Those with higher cultivation are known as "Grand True Disciples," enjoying equal standing with elders and possessing greater autonomy, even establishing their own residences. After planting the Death Spirit Fire, they can freely enter and exit the main altar.

Li Weiyi followed Yao Qingxuan to the Spirit Valley Hall.

"Greetings, Southern Venerable!""Welcome, Venerable!"

As Yao Qingxuan passed, all inner and core disciples she encountered moved to the side of the path, knelt on one knee, and dared not look up. Even true disciples bowed respectfully, each filled with awe. This was the power of an Eternal Realm magnate! Transcending mortals, they wield the power of life and death, making them pivotal figures in any faction.

Elder Xu, whose name was Xu Tingsheng, was responsible for the assessment and registration of true disciples. Upon seeing Yao Qingxuan enter, he instantly became alert from his drowsy state and immediately stepped forward to greet her.

"This is my eldest disciple, Li Weiyi. Go ahead and register him!"

Yao Qingxuan did not even glance at him, walking straight to the highest seat, which rightfully belonged to Elder Xu.

Anyone capable of cultivating their Dao Heart Phenomenon to the level of "One-Mile Heaven and Earth," and who is over sixty years old, can be promoted to elder. True disciples who fail to reach this level by age sixty are relegated to a status like that of Zuo Sheng and Zuo Shi, being ordered around and led by younger divine sons and daughters. "One-Mile Heaven and Earth" is also a prerequisite for being listed in the *Jiazi Register*. Shi Jiuzhai reached this level at the fifth stage of the Dao Seed Realm. Inheritor-level figures often reach the fourth stage of the Dao Seed Realm, forming a Dao Lotus, at which point their Dao Heart Phenomenon can touch "One-Mile Heaven and Earth," granting them entry into the *Jiazi Register*.

While all are elders, the twenty-eight elders of the World Hall, who oversee the twenty-eight provinces of the Lingxiao Life Realm, are of higher caliber and possess greater strength. Some of these individuals are even Holy Spirit Nian Masters and Eternal Realm magnates. The elders of the twenty-eight mansions in the Spirit Valley Hall's main altar are also of exceptionally high standard.

Li Weiyi gained widespread fame at the Hidden Dragon Lantern Festival, in addition to his identity as a Divine Concealer from the Jiuli Hidden Sect. Consequently, the news of the Southern Venerable taking him as a disciple quickly spread throughout the main altar, attracting countless inner and core disciples to watch. Even some true disciples were startled.

Following Elder Xu's instructions, Li Weiyi fully unleashed his Nian power.

"Whoosh!"Spiritual light burst forth. From his glabella, a radiant brilliance emanated, as if it held a miniature blazing sun. Instantly, the dazzling light forced the inner and core disciples present to shut their eyes, completely illuminating the valley where the Spirit Valley Hall was located. His Spiritual God Projection ascended, transforming into two interdependent mulberry trees, shimmering with golden light and radiating intense heat.

Outside the assessment area, the Rice Sect disciples exclaimed in continuous chatter.

"How can this be Nian power? Isn't he a martial artist? I heard he's a peerless genius capable of defeating Young Heavenly Princes, a talent rarely seen in the Lingxiao Life Realm in ten thousand years."

"You're ignorant, aren't you? He's not only a martial artist but also an insect master, cultivating both martial arts and Nian power. Tsk, tsk, no one probably imagined his Nian power was so potent before this, not merely that of a One-Star Nian Master."

"His martial arts are crippled; his Ancestral Field was shattered by an Eternal Realm magnate, forcing him to switch to Nian power cultivation."

"So what if his martial path is blocked? A genius is always a genius. To become a Nian Master at such a young age, coupled with the seven Marquis-level exotic insects he raises, he still has unimaginable achievements ahead of him."

"His Spiritual God Projection is quite extraordinary, like two divine trees. Perhaps in the future, they can take root in the earth and spread their branches into the void."

Elder Xu was secretly astonished: "A Two-Star Nian Master! This meets the true disciple requirements. You may retract your Nian power and Spiritual God Projection now!"

In the past two months, Li Weiyi had refined all seven remaining Star Day Pills. Concurrently, he had continuously absorbed the radiance of the Fusang Divine Tree in the Tang Valley Sea, cultivating to the limit of a Two-Star Nian Master. However, the accumulation period was too short, and repeated attempts to condense a third Nian Power Star all ended in failure.

Seated at the head, Yao Qingxuan felt a slight surprise in her heart. Her surprise was not due to Li Weiyi's significant increase in Nian power. After all, she had heard from Shan Ze that Li Weiyi possessed "Star Day Pills," a high-grade magical elixir for boosting Nian power. What surprised her was that in just two months, the Golden Crow flames condensed on the Fusang Divine Tree Projection had grown even stronger. Two months prior, the Golden Crow flames he manifested with his Nian power had only the strength of a minor art from the first level. If he continued cultivating, the Golden Crow flames would soon transform to the power of a major art from the first level.

How did he achieve this? Was the Fusang Divine Tree Spiritual God Projection truly so profound?

"Haha!" A thunderous, booming laugh resonated from the sky.

An avatar shrouded in Dharma energy descended from the sky and landed within the Spirit Valley Hall. With massive wings, it strode in and declared, "Congratulations, Southern Venerable, on acquiring such an excellent disciple and finding a Young Heavenly Prince-level talent for our Divine Sect."

Outside, the Rice Sect disciples instantly prostrated themselves in worship. Li Weiyi felt immense pressure, retreated to the side, and discreetly observed. Within the bright Dharma energy mist, stood a monstrous strongman with a snake head, dragon claws, phoenix wings, a dog tail, and a human body, towering like a mountain. This being had consumed the blood of four ancient immortal beasts, manifesting four distinct transformations. Normally, only an Eternal Realm magnate could achieve this. Although the visitor offered congratulations, Li Weiyi sensed his ill intent. Li Weiyi wished to conceal his true abilities and only display his Nian power talent, but the visitor deliberately brought up the "Young Heavenly Prince" title, indicating malicious intentions.

Yao Qingxuan looked at the grotesque figure opposite her and said, "It's just accepting a disciple; I didn't expect it would alarm you, the Vice Hall Master of the Heavenly Principle Hall."

Chu Tianshu, the Vice Hall Master of the Heavenly Principle Hall, chuckled, "Our Divine Sect has never produced a Young Heavenly Prince-level prodigy in its history. Now that we've gained one, it's naturally a major event for the entire sect to celebrate. I suggest holding a grand ceremony to directly confer him the title of Divine Son and notify the two Rice Patriarchs in the Sacred Heart Layer."

Yao Qingxuan replied, "Does the Vice Hall Master not know that his Ancestral Field was once shattered, severely limiting his martial path? He now primarily cultivates Nian power."

Chu Tianshu said, "Has the Southern Venerable already investigated this? Was his Ancestral Field truly shattered?"

Li Weiyi remained calm, realizing that the Vice Hall Master's target was Yao Qingxuan, not him.

"What? Does the Vice Hall Master wish to investigate again? I took him as a disciple because I value his Nian power talent, not his martial arts talent," Yao Qingxuan replied flawlessly.

Chu Tianshu let out a hearty laugh. "Since the Southern Venerable has already investigated, it seems this matter is true. Alas, what a pity! However, to cultivate the Fusang Divine Tree Spiritual God Projection, coupled with the assistance of seven Marquis-level exotic insects, he is truly a legendary Nian power genius and insect master."

"The Southern Venerable is an Eternal Realm martial artist. How can you effectively teach a Nian power genius? Our Heavenly Principle Hall is the true holy ground for Nian power cultivation."

Li Weiyi met the Eternal Realm magnate's gaze, neither subservient nor arrogant, "Thank you for your kind offer, Vice Hall Master. I've always been unwilling to give up, and I'm already preparing to plant the Dao in my Wind Palace. I will cultivate both Nian power and martial arts!"

If Li Weiyi truly planted the Dao in his Wind Palace, it would naturally dispel everyone's doubts. At the same time, he used softness to overcome hardness, deflecting Chu Tianshu's targeting and leaving him speechless.

"Good, good, good, what ambition! Weiyi, the gates of the Heavenly Principle Hall are always open for you."

Chu Tianshu's Dharma energy projection receded like a tide, vanishing into the northern sky.

"What a Vice Hall Master of the Heavenly Principle Hall," Li Weiyi mused. "With just a few subtle maneuvers, he dug a huge pit for Yao Qingxuan. At the same time, he highlighted that I've cultivated the Fusang Divine Tree Spirit God and possess seven exotic insects, as if afraid that the true disciples, divine sons, and divine daughters of the Rice Sect wouldn't know. I wonder if the straw man puppet assassination was related to him."

Sixth Divine Daughter's Residence.

Yang Qingxi, after listening to Yang Yun's report, pushed open the door of her cultivation chamber and emerged after several months.

"Whoosh!"

Above the residence, the vast and bright projection of the Celestial River transformed into thousands of streams of Dharma energy, surging into her body. Her entire being shimmered with divine light, and her skin glowed like immortal jade. Compared to a year ago, having entered the second stage of the Dao Seed Realm, her aura had become sharper, as if transcending the mortal realm. Yang Yun used to be able to face his strong older sister calmly, but now he couldn't even stand straight, appearing less like a younger brother and more like a grandson.

Yang Qingxi softly asked, "You said Li Weiyi could easily defeat Zuo Sheng, who is at the second stage of the Dao Seed Realm?"

Yang Yun nodded like a pecking chick. "He released a spiritual flame whip from his glabella, whipping it around, able to contend with Zuo Sheng using only Nian power. Although his martial arts are crippled, his Nian power has risen again, making him quite formidable."

Yang Qingxi pondered deeply, "He sent you to relay a message to Wang Shu, meaning he wants to draw me into the game."

"I think so too, Sister. We shouldn't let him use us," Yang Yun said.

Yang Qingxi remained silent, her mind preoccupied with other thoughts. After using the Dragon Seed to plant the Dao, she analyzed the Dao of the ancient Heavenly Emperor's flying dragon, cross-referencing it with her own martial arts. She gained new insights daily, and her cultivation advanced rapidly. However, she was still unable to break through to the third stage of the Dao Seed Realm. She clearly understood that her physical strength was lagging behind her martial arts cultivation, hindering her progress. Therefore, recently, Yang Qingxi had been refining blood crystals and consuming pills to enhance her physique. Although her strength had significantly improved, her financial resources were being consumed like flowing water. Without control over the worldly industries she once managed, Yang Qingxi could no longer enrich herself, and her pockets were now rather empty.

At the Dao Seed Realm, every cultivation expense amounted to a massive sum. Any sect, even one as large as the Zuoqiu Courtyard with its tens of millions of members, required Dao Seed Realm cultivators to explore secret realms and seek resources themselves, as the sect could only provide a portion. The Spring Realm and Five Seas Realm cultivators were like saplings, while Dao Seed Realm cultivators were the pillars supporting a sect or clan.

Yang Qingxi knew that Wang Shu, the Fourth Divine Son, had opened a secret treasury while exploring an underground immortal mansion and possessed considerable resources. The reason for his exceptional comprehension, allowing him to successfully cultivate major arts, was linked to that very treasury.