"How is that possible? Five spiritual roots are that powerful?"

"I'm not lying to you. If I were, I'd get caught by Junior Sister Yama again and be punished by sweeping the back mountain!"

"Oh, you weren't punished enough last time..." Yan Hongran suddenly poked his head out from the tree, his delicate face filled with an evil smile.

"Ahhh! Sister Yama, what are you doing here!"

The two disciples screamed in fright. Senior Sister Yan was the most active of the head disciples, and she often appeared in unexpected corners all year round.

Thump! Thump! She jumped down gracefully, giving each of them a sharp rap on the head, then stood with her arms crossed, her small figure exuding an air of authority.

"The reason you were punished last time was because you spread rumors."

"But this time, you're absolutely right."

"award--"

The two disciples slumped their heads, looking dejected and showing no hope whatsoever.

"—Of course not."

That's really not surprising.

Yan Hongran moved nimbly, lightly touching his toes, and quickly disappeared from the sight of the two disciples who were chatting idly, muttering "Hurry up and make the most of the time."

The two disciples patted their chests in relief, as if they had escaped a disaster, and continued sweeping the fallen leaves.

----------------

Tu Longjian avoided the cultivators who wanted to find her to congratulate her or ask for advice. He and Gan Xiuming made an excuse and brought the newly made roast chicken to Shi Zixue's residence.

Upon entering the courtyard, there was nothing there except some ice crystals.

The house was completely empty, and the family was destitute.

I never expected Shi Zixue to be living in such dire straits.

"You've arrived." The woman's voice, as clear and cold as ice and snow, rang out.

Shi Zixue opened her eyes from her meditation and got up to greet Tu Longjian.

"That day, you fell into quicksand, and I searched for you for a long time, but I couldn't find you."

"The box made a sound, I know you're okay."

"But I just can't get into that place of bitter summer heat."

Shi Zixue tilted her head, looking somewhat troubled.

"I'm sorry to have worried you. It was my oversight." Tu Longjian looked apologetic. She knew that Shi Zixue was simple-minded and not good at expressing herself. She must have searched for a long time with great difficulty.

"I made another roast chicken, and some pastries, for you."

Tu Longjian carried in several large bags of pastries, candied fruits, and roast chicken from outside.

She bought the pastries and candied fruits at the foot of the mountain, and also bought a free-range chicken, marinated it with Orleans seasoning, and roasted it in the oven in the modern kitchen, filling the air with its aroma.

Shi Zixue swallowed hard, her index finger twitching.

The two chatted while eating chicken legs.

Tu Longjian gave a general account of his experience of falling into the bitter summer, omitting some things that should not be mentioned.

Under the cover of the fortune-telling device, she maintained her Qi Refining Star Rank strength, so the matter of Foundation Establishment was also hidden.

"The most important thing I came here for is to share the 'Flowing Light and Flying Snow Spirit Scripture' with you. This is an ice-type secret manual for Golden Core cultivators, which is very suitable for you."

Shi Zixue accepted it without hesitation.

Tu Longjian pressed his forehead close to Shi Zixue's forehead and transmitted the secret manual in his mind to her.

"It's really suitable for my cultivation. Thank you. This is the second time you've given me a gift."

Shi Zixue's smile was like ice melting, her cold eyes overflowing with laughter.

"I also have a gift for you."

She took out a small, colorful flower.

The petals are small but delicate, clearly showing that they have been carefully cared for by a penniless owner.

"It looks good, just like you."

Tu Longjian fell in love with the gift at first sight; the petals had vibrant colors, just like her multifaceted personality.

It looks small and delicate, but its branches and leaves grow straight upwards tenaciously.

"I really like it, thank you."

Tu Longjian carefully put the flowers away and planted them in a flowerpot in the modern space.

Later, Tu Longjian went to visit Senior Brother Li and Master Chang Guxian.

She selected a magical artifact and a Qi-refining pill she had obtained and gave them to Senior Brother Li as a token of her gratitude for his help and care all along.

Li Shixiong's happy expression showed a hint of sadness, but it was quickly wiped away.

He was genuinely happy for Tu Longjian, "Junior Sister Chunxiang, congratulations. Heaven rewards diligence."

He kindly explained the basic situation of each peak in the sect to Tu Longjian.

"The main peak where the sect leader is located is full of talented people. She is the one who doesn't value background or talent the most, and emphasizes teaching according to aptitude. There are even cultivators with four spiritual roots among her core disciples."

"I highly recommend that you join the main peak. It's the most suitable for you in terms of both resources and spiritual roots."

Tu Longjian nodded in agreement. As far as she knew, Gan Xiuming had originally become a disciple of the main peak's leader.

However, the main peak took in many female disciples, and Gan Xiuming was living a very comfortable life there, flirting with beautiful women everywhere and having a great time.

If Gan Xiuming really joins the main peak, I'd better join the main peak as well, stop his romantic entanglements, and hurry up and finish conquering him.

"There's just one downside: with so many disciples and so many other things to do, it's hard for the sect leader to pay attention to each one."

Senior Brother Li pondered for a moment.

"With your diligence, going to a peak with fewer disciples might be a good choice, and your master will devote more attention to you."

"For example, Yan Peak and Dan Peak where Senior Sister Yan is located, and Xia Peak, which is good at music, and so on."

"Sword Peak doesn't have high requirements for aptitude; it values ​​comprehension more. If you have talent in swordsmanship, you can also choose it."

Tu Longjian nodded to acknowledge his instruction, then suddenly a thought struck him, and he asked hesitantly:

"What about Xu Feng?"

Senior Brother Li scratched his head and racked his brains, but he really couldn't remember anything.

"I've only been a member of this sect for a little over a decade, and I've only vaguely heard of this Xufeng. It's probably not a mainstream sect."

After thanking his senior brother Li, Tu Longjian inquired about Changgu's cave dwelling from him.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator who brought them from the mortal realm abandoned them after they registered.

It's likely that Gan Xiuming's master had done Chang Gu a great favor, which is why she, a Foundation Establishment cultivator, traveled all the way to the mortal realm to bring them here.

However, the two actually had little relationship, and she was also someone who acted according to her own joys and sorrows.

That's why the embarrassing situation of mistaking one's apprentice for another occurred.

Tu Longjian had a good impression of this type of person, and now that he had some savings, it wasn't too stingy to give a gift with a magical artifact.

Chang Gu still had some impression of Tu Longjian; he was a beautiful and sweet-talking man who had won her heart. So she happily welcomed Tu Longjian in.

Tu Longjian also inquired about Xufeng. Chang Gu was a Foundation Establishment cultivator who had been in the sect for a long time and should know something about it.

“Xu Feng…” Chang Gu indeed knew some information and told her everything he knew without reservation.

“My master said that the existence of Xufeng has been around for a very long time.”

"Core disciples are few and far between, living in seclusion and rarely appearing in front of others."

"The criteria for accepting apprentices are also mysterious and have no discernible pattern."

"What, you're thinking of joining the Void Peak?"

Chang Gu looked puzzled.

"It's not that I want to become their disciple, but they seem interested in taking me on as a student. However, it was said by one of their disciples; I haven't met the peak master myself."