The day after the rewards were distributed, at dusk, Xiao Qi was practicing the basic sword technique in the courtyard. The setting sun cast his shadow, along with the glint of his wooden sword, onto the blue stone slabs. Though his movements were still immature, compared to before entering the secret realm, there was now more steadiness and strength. After the life-and-death battles and spiritual energy tempering in the secret realm, his understanding of the sword technique seemed to have deepened.
Just as he finished his movements, breathed out, and steadied his slightly rapid breathing, a gentle voice came from outside the courtyard gate: "Xiao Qi."
Xiao Qi looked up to see his master standing beyond the simple wicker gate, seemingly having arrived unnoticed. He wore an ordinary grey Daoist robe, stood with his hands behind his back, and regarded him with a calm gaze. The mountain breeze brushed through his graying hair and beard, adding to his ethereal bearing.
"Master!" Xiao Qi quickly put away his wooden sword, stepped forward briskly, respectfully opened the gate, and bowed. "Why have you come? Please, come in."
The master nodded slightly and walked into the small courtyard. His eyes casually swept over the small herb garden that Xiao Qi had tended to with great vitality, and the unremarkable black frying pan in the corner, finally settling on Xiao Qi. He said softly, "I hear you gained quite a lot from your trip to the secret realm."
Xiao Qi's heart tightened a little, knowing that what was inevitable had finally come. He lowered his head and replied, "It was only by luck, entirely thanks to the sect's protection and the care of my senior fellow disciples."
The master neither confirmed nor denied this. He walked to the stone table and sat down, gesturing for Xiao Qi to sit as well. "Tell me again, in detail, about the technique you used to save someone that day. Leave nothing out, especially its origin."
Xiao Qi had prepared for this, so he repeated the same story he had told the deacon elder: in a hidden cave within the secret realm, he had stumbled upon a dilapidated stone chamber containing the remains of a deceased senior cultivator, next to which lay an ancient jade slip. Upon touching it, the jade slip turned into a stream of light that entered his brow, and he obtained the technique called *Basic Purification Technique*. As for the exact location of the cave, it was now impossible to find because the secret realm had collapsed.
As he spoke, he tried to keep his tone steady, but he could not help feeling nervous. Although this explanation accounted for the origin of the Purification Technique, it could not explain why he had been able to grasp it so quickly and successfully use it at a critical moment. After all, for an ordinary disciple to receive an unfamiliar technique, even just understanding the basics would take a considerable amount of time.
The master listened quietly, his fingers unconsciously tapping lightly on the stone table, his eyes deep as if they could see through a person's heart. Only after Xiao Qi finished did he slowly speak, his voice not loud but every word clear: "Jade slip inheritance does exist. However, this technique, though appearing basic, contains profound mysteries and is no ordinary purification art. That you were able to channel its power in such a short time and save a life is a matter of your affinity and your fortune."
Xiao Qi held his breath, not daring to respond.
The master then shifted his tone, becoming more solemn: "Xiao Qi, have you heard the saying, 'A common man is innocent, but possessing a jade may bring him trouble'?"
Xiao Qi's heart jolted. He looked up and met his master's eyes, which seemed to have seen all the ways of the world. "Disciple… has heard it."
"Good that you know." The master's gaze was sharp as he fixed his eyes on Xiao Qi. "This technique can counter demonic energy, which is a blessing for the righteous path. But the cultivation world is treacherous and unpredictable. Demonic cultivators, if they learn you have this art, will surely seek to destroy you. Even among those who call themselves righteous, it is hard to guarantee they will not covet it—either forcing you to hand over the technique or abducting you to serve them. Your cultivation is still low. This art is both a protective talisman and a death warrant for you."
A chill ran down Xiao Qi's spine. What his master said was exactly his greatest inner fear. His impulsive act at the exit of the secret realm had saved his fellow disciples, but it had also thrust him into the limelight.
"Disciple understands," Xiao Qi said, his voice a little dry. "In the future, I will be even more cautious and will never use this art unless absolutely necessary."
The master nodded slightly, his expression softening a bit. "It is good that you think this way. Remember, before you have enough strength to protect yourself and this art, hiding your brilliance is more important than showing your edge. Although the sect can offer you shelter, it cannot protect you at all times. True safety comes from your own power."
"Yes, Master. Your teachings will be engraved on my heart." Xiao Qi replied solemnly.
The master looked at him, silent for a moment, a complex emotion flickering in his eyes—seemingly both reminiscence and reflection. "Your spiritual roots are mixed, your aptitude appears ordinary, but your mind is resilient, and your encounters are extraordinary. Since you came under my tutelage, you have seemed dull but actually have hidden talent, often making surprising moves in small details. That frying pan…" His gaze swept again toward the corner of the courtyard but did not pursue the matter. He continued, "And now this Purification Technique—all prove that you are not meant to remain in a small pond."
He paused, his tone becoming unprecedentedly serious: "From today onward, you will no longer be merely my registered disciple. I will truly train you as a core disciple, teaching you the core techniques of Qingxu Temple and guiding you through the difficulties of cultivation. Correspondingly, you must also bear more responsibility toward the sect. Are you willing?"
Xiao Qi was stunned. *Core disciple!* That meant his master would teach him without reservation, provide him with better cultivation resources and guidance than ordinary inner disciples, and even give him the opportunity to access the true core heritage of Qingxu Temple! This was something he had never dared to dream of before.
A wave of immense joy hit him, but he quickly calmed down. He recalled his master's warning just now, the secrets he carried, and the risks ahead. Becoming a core disciple would mean more attention and make it even harder to hide his secrets.
Yet, this was also an opportunity—the best way to quickly increase his strength and gain the power to protect himself!
He took a deep breath, stepped back from the stone stool, retreated two steps, and then respectfully knelt on the ground, kowtowing to his master. "Disciple Tang Xiaoqi, by Master's grace and without being abandoned, is willing to formally enter Master's tutelage, listen to your teachings, train diligently, and never fail Master's or the sect's high expectations!"
This time, it was no longer the casualness of a registered disciple, but the solemnity of a true formal apprenticeship.
A faint, barely noticeable smile appeared on the master's face. He accepted Xiao Qi's bow, then made a slight lifting gesture with his hand. "Rise. Since you have entered my school, you must abide by its rules, temper your Dao-heart, and give rise to no evil thoughts."
"Yes!"
"Tomorrow at the hour of Chen [7-9 a.m.], come to my cave dwelling. Now that you have reached the mid-stage of Qi Refining, you should choose a main cultivation technique to solidify your foundation. As for that Purification Technique… you may comprehend it on your own. If you have any questions, you may ask me, but remember, do not show it to others lightly." The master rose and gave his final instructions.
"Disciple obeys."
The master said no more. He turned and drifted away, his grey robe swaying gently in the mountain breeze, soon disappearing into the dusk at the end of the mountain path.
Xiao Qi stood alone in the courtyard, motionless for a long time. The sun had completely sunk below the mountain ridge, leaving only a dark red afterglow on the horizon. The night wind grew cool, blowing at his clothes.
His master's heart-to-heart talk had struck him like a heavy hammer, waking him from the slight restlessness brought on by receiving rewards. *A common man is innocent, but possessing a jade may bring him trouble*—those four simple words spoke volumes about the cruel reality of the cultivation world. Yet at the same time, his master's recognition and acceptance were like a bright lamp, illuminating the path ahead and giving him a solid foundation to lean on.
He touched the warm jade pendant on his chest and looked at the green token on the stone table, which represented permission to enter the lower level of the Scripture Pavilion. Contribution points, core disciple status, access to the Scripture Pavilion… all of these would be stepping stones to help him climb the path of immortality.
The road ahead was still full of thorns—the shadow of the demonic entity, the mystery of his origins, potential covetous eyes… But at this moment, Xiao Qi's heart was filled with unprecedented strength and determination.
He looked up at the night sky, where a few sparse stars had already appeared, his gaze firm. Since he had set foot on this path, he would walk it step by step, growing strong enough to protect himself and everything worth protecting, until all the mists were cleared away.
The night deepened, and the small courtyard returned to silence. But a seed belonging to a core disciple had been quietly planted at this moment, waiting only to break through the soil and grow in the wind.