Chapter 160 Ning Tang's Disciple Selection
"An acquaintance?" Xia Xining asked curiously, "Who is it? Male or female?"
Song Yin locked her gaze on the slender figure on the first floor. "Why is she in Xianxiao City?"
Shi Heming: "Who?"
Song Yin: "The little girl who blocked our way in the mortal realm, I remember her name was Xiao Tang." She explained to Xia Xining in detail: "Back then, we were in the mortal realm. This little girl wanted to sell herself to get money to buy a simple coffin for her mother's burial, but I didn't agree. If we delayed any longer, the body would only decompose more, so I advised her to bury the person quickly, and it would be too late to move the grave later if there was an opportunity."
"How did this little girl from the mortal realm get to Xianxiao City?" Xia Xining found it strange, after all, it wasn't the day the sect was recruiting disciples.
Song Yin withdrew her divine sense: "Who knows?" At least there's a good outcome now. Working as an errand boy at this restaurant, at least food and lodging aren't a problem.
Xia Xining picked up some food and put it in her mouth, her cheeks puffing out. "It's such a pity I missed the chance to go out with you guys. It must have been so much fun."
Shi Heming placed the food into Song Yin's bowl, saying, "It's also dangerous."
Song Yin said with lingering fear, "Yes, you have no idea how fiercely the lightning tribulation struck us."
Xia Xining: "It's good that you're back. Stay in the sect from now on and don't rush to leave again." She had envied them for advancing to the Nascent Soul stage, but now she only felt sorry for them. Xia Xining also put food on Song Yin's plate, lying through her teeth: "Eat more, you've gotten so thin from all the eating."
Song Yin: "I'm not going out, I won't be going out for a while. You two stop, stop putting food on my plate, or I won't be able to finish it." After eating for most of the day, her bowl was still full.
Ning Tang ran errands on the first floor, serving tea and water or wiping tables.
She was wiping the table when several more customers came into the restaurant.
"Please come in, sir." Someone immediately went to greet them.
"You go about your business, don't worry about us. We just came to see Xiaotang."
Upon hearing this, the waiter immediately called out, "Xiao Tang, the seniors have come to see you again."
"Coming right away!" Ning Tang quickly wiped the table, washed and wrung out the rag, washed her hands, and then ran to meet the person.
She was able to come to Immortal Cloud City and witness sights she had never seen before, all thanks to the help of the four immortals. Of course, she was most grateful to the stranger immortal who had infused her with spiritual energy; if it weren't for this immortal, the four immortals wouldn't have noticed her at all.
"Xiao Tang, the Immortal Cloud Sect will be accepting disciples next year, so you need to be prepared." The tallest female cultivator among the four bent down and patted Ning Tang's shoulder.
They left their sect today specifically to see this little bitter gourd.
Young Foundation Establishment cultivators are at the peak of their desire to uphold justice. Ning Tang was fortunate to have met this group of upright and kind-hearted righteous cultivators.
"Understood, thank you Immortal Wang," Ning Tang said sincerely.
Wang Xi: "I already told you to just call us older brother and older sister. Once you join the sect, you can call us senior brother and senior sister."
Ning Tang: "Thank you, Sister Wang."
"With Xiao Tang's talent, I believe it won't be long before she can establish her foundation after joining a sect."
Another person said, "Who knows, she might be a peerless genius like Elder Song!" The thought of the person they picked up eventually becoming a renowned cultivator is exciting.
Ning Tang opened her eyes wide and asked curiously, "Who is Elder Song?"
Wang Xi couldn't hide his excitement and admiration: "I know, I know! Elder Song is a legend in our Immortal Firmament Sect! She and her friends are geniuses that the Immortal Firmament Sect has only seen once in a hundred years! They are role models for all disciples of the Immortal Firmament Sect! Their strength is extraordinary, and they are invincible in the same realm!"
Ning Tang sketched a blurry figure in her mind. What kind of person was the object of Sister Wang's admiration?
Ning Tang hadn't met many important people, and the blurry image in her mind automatically replaced it with the important person she had stopped at the city gate... No, no, Sister Wang and the others were talking about even more powerful immortals, not mortals.
The four people chatted with Xiao Tang, and the shopkeeper smiled at this before continuing with his work. These four Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Immortal Firmament Sect were kind-hearted, and they even gave him extra spirit stones to persuade him to keep the little girl. Although he didn't care about those spirit stones, he still accepted Ning Tang, considering it a good deed to accumulate some merit.
After finishing their meal, Song Yin and the others did not deliberately appear in front of Ning Tang, but left directly.
Later, while Ning Tang was working, she looked curiously towards the stairwell many times, but unfortunately she didn't see any familiar figures. She thought to herself that she must have been mistaken.
After Song Yin returned, the happiest people were the disciples of Danque Peak. They received guidance from Elder Song in their cultivation almost every day, and they simply chose to stay on Danque Peak and not go out.
When the non-Danque Peak disciples found out, they almost ground their back teeth to dust. The Danque Peak disciples were eating so well! They were so envious!
After finishing their sword practice for the day, the disciples of Wujian Peak dispersed on the spot. Some returned to their residences, some flew away from Wujian Peak, and some stayed to do extra training.
Song Yinfei landed beside Shen Yuzhu and, like Shen Yuzhu, observed these ordinary disciples. "Senior Brother, have you chosen a candidate for a personal disciple?"
Shen Yuzhu: "I have noticed a few people for now, but I still need to observe them."
"Who?" Song Yin asked curiously.
Shen Yuzhu said, "Yan Jin'an is a disciple who has only been in the sect for a few years and is still in the outer sect."
Song Yin: "I thought my senior brother would choose one of these ordinary disciples to be his personal disciple."
Shen Yuzhu: "None of them are suitable."
...
A year has passed in the blink of an eye, and the Immortal Cloud Sect is once again accepting new disciples. Song Yin will also be giving lectures at the outer sect academy once more.
Many young people who are interested in the Immortal Cloud Sect gather in Immortal Cloud City, and restaurants and inns are always fully booked.
Xiao Tang works non-stop at the restaurant from the moment she opens her eyes.
The shopkeeper quickly grabbed Xiao Tang's arm, "Don't go running errands today. Change into clean clothes and go to the Immortal Cloud Sect to register."
Overwhelmed with work, Ning Tang said, "Ah? Okay, I'll go right away."
Ning Tang changed into clean clothes, and the shopkeeper told her to go to the teleportation array and queue up herself.
The Immortal Cloud Sect is built in mid-air, so Ning Tang can only get up there via the teleportation array.
Having spent a year getting acquainted with life in the cultivation world and gaining some knowledge of its common aspects, Ning Tang, feeling dizzy, ran to the vicinity of the teleportation array and joined the long queue of people.
"Ever since the Immortal Firmament Sect relaxed its requirements for accepting disciples and removed the entrance test, the number of people applying has never been small. I wonder how many disciples the Immortal Firmament Sect has now." The people in line were mostly from the cultivation world, so they naturally knew more about these things than Ning Tang.
Ning Tang listened to their conversation in the group, trying her best to memorize the useful knowledge.
"Actually, the number of people is about the same as the other five major sects, after all, only those who have reached the Foundation Establishment stage are considered to have officially joined the Immortal Firmament Sect."
"Foundation Establishment stage?! Aren't Qi Refining stage disciples disciples of the Immortal Firmament Sect?"
"Another one who's popped out of nowhere. The Immortal Cloud Sect has ostensibly relaxed its requirements for accepting disciples, but in reality, it's become more difficult. If you think you can enter one of the five major sects and enjoy top-tier cultivation resources without lifting a finger, I advise you to stop daydreaming."
"Who's daydreaming? I'm here to become Elder Song of the Immortal Cloud Sect's disciple and her personal chief disciple."
"Yuan Lijun? Pfft, don't be ridiculous. Everyone knows that Yuan Lijun has no intention of taking on disciples. You should first successfully join the sect and then cultivate to the Foundation Establishment stage before we talk about it."
When it was her turn, Ning Tang stepped into the teleportation array and was teleported to the outer square of the Immortal Firmament Sect by a cultivator from the Immortal Firmament Sect.
In the blink of an eye, they were high in the sky. Ning Tang's legs went weak, and she sat down on the flat, clean ground.
She turned her head to observe her surroundings. Clouds and mist swirled around her, revealing magnificent palaces and pavilions. Cranes flew overhead, leaving behind their clear calls. Further on, the sea and sky merged into one.
"Little girl, are you alright?" The voice rang out from above.
Ning Tang looked up and saw a graceful man reaching out his hand to her.
Jiang Youyi pulled the little girl up, then said to the people behind her, "Fellow Daoist Hu, please take stock of the disciples we brought from the mortal realm, and then send them to register. I'll go to the bamboo hut first and settle their accommodations."
Jiang Youyi, who has already reached the late Foundation Establishment stage, went to the mortal realm to recruit people this year, and Fellow Daoist Hu accompanied her.
Ning Tang seized on the key words, "Um, I'm also from the mortal realm."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Youyi looked down at the short child. She didn't ask any further questions, but instead said, "Fellow Daoist Hu, please bring this child along as well."
Ning Tang followed behind, listening to their conversation, and then heard the key point—Elder Song.
Who exactly is Elder Song?
After all the procedures were completed, Ning Tang had her own small courtyard before it got dark. She ran back and forth between the rooms, unable to hide her smile.
That's great, she has her own house now.
When the day came for Ning Tang to go to school, Wang Xi and the other three came to pick her up.
Walking to the school with Foundation Establishment stage disciples, many people mistook Ning Tang for a scion of some aristocratic family.
Upon arriving at the school, Ning Tang was shocked to find that the entire building was a place for learning. She never imagined that she would one day be able to step into a school.
Thinking of what Senior Sister Wang and the others said about needing to reach the Foundation Establishment stage before returning to the mortal realm, Ning Tang pursed her lips into a thin line. She needed to study hard so that she would have a chance to go back and relocate her mother's grave.
"Hurry, hurry, hurry! If you're late, there won't be any seats left! This is Elder Song's first time lecturing at the outside school since he returned. If you miss it, who knows how long you'll have to wait!"
Song Yin's decision was sudden, and many people were unaware of it.
Wang Xi and the others perked up, grabbed Ning Tang's arm, and squeezed her into the preaching area.
Ning Tang, a small child, was squeezed in the crowd and couldn't see what was in front of her; she could only see the backs of the adults. When they arrived, there were no seats left, so they had to stand in the back row.
"Xiao Tang, you're so lucky! You got to hear Elder Song preach on your first day at school! It's okay if you don't understand today. Just soak up the atmosphere. After it's over, you can tell others that you listened to Elder Song preach on your first day at school. I guarantee everyone will be envious of you."
Wang Xi was so excited that she talked nonsense and vigorously rubbed Ning Tang's face, "I've never been able to get a seat before, but you got one as soon as you arrived. You're my lucky star!"
Wang Xi stood behind Ning Tang, placed his hands under Ning Tang's armpits, lifted Ning Tang high, and then released his hands. His spiritual energy supported Ning Tang, allowing her to float in the air and see clearly ahead.
Elder Song… Ning Tang murmured to herself.
The crowd quickly quieted down, and a golden light fell directly in front of them.
This must be Elder Song, right? Ning Tang hadn't yet cultivated her inner energy, and her eyesight wasn't as good as others, so she couldn't see the person in front of her clearly.
Song Yin extended her divine sense and saw a child being lifted into the air by spiritual energy. She observed intently, her eyebrows slightly raised.
A year later, I saw the child again.
"I didn't expect there to be a child who hasn't yet mastered Qi cultivation. Is he a newly initiated disciple?"
All eyes were focused on Ning Tang, who panicked and tried her best to stop trembling.
Wang Xi was startled, not expecting that Elder Song would notice Xiao Tang as soon as he arrived!
"Xiao Tang, answer quickly!" Wang Xi whispered to Ning Tang, unsure whether today's actions were good or bad for Xiao Tang.
Ning Tang was still a child, and her body couldn't help but tremble slightly, but her voice was very steady as she spoke, "Reporting to the elder, this disciple just entered the sect yesterday."
"She's just started learning and she's already here to listen to Elder Song's lectures. Isn't that just taking up a spot for nothing? She hasn't even mastered the Qi Induction Technique yet, how could she possibly understand what Elder Song is saying?"
"Isn't this ridiculous?"
Some disciples whispered among themselves.
"Quiet." Song Yin's ethereal voice echoed throughout every corner.
In an instant, the scene fell silent. Ning Tang felt Elder Song's authority for the first time.
Jiang Youyi, who was also in the crowd, turned around and recognized Ning Tang as the child from yesterday.
With a flick of her finger, Song Yin sent Ning Tang flying over the heads of the people sitting on the prayer mats, before she landed steadily in the first row.
Wang Xi and the others watched nervously ahead, wondering how Elder Song would deal with Xiao Tang. They had been too naive, forgetting that Xiao Tang was still a new disciple who hadn't yet achieved Qi Induction.
Not only were Wang Xi and his group worried about Ning Tang, but everyone else was also curious about how Elder Song would handle the matter.
Song Yin: "You can't see from the back, so you can sit in the front row."
Ning Tang was stunned, staring blankly at Elder Song in front of her.
She had seen this Elder Song before!
At this moment, Ning Tang understood where the extra spiritual energy in her body last year came from.
"Hey, kid, hurry up and thank Elder Song for his kindness." The cultivator in the front row transmitted his voice to Ning Tang, while also envying her for being noticed by Elder Song.
Ning Tang knelt down with a thud and kowtowed heavily, "Thank you, Elder!" Her heart pounded. This expression of gratitude contained so much.
Song Yin had casually sent Ning Tang to Xianxiao City with a wisp of spiritual energy, and now she had sent Ning Tang to her right in front of her with another flick of her finger.
"No need for such formalities."
Ning Tang slowly raised her head. The honest child was also honest in kowtowing, and her forehead was now red.
Upon seeing this, Song Yin's lips curled up slightly, but she quickly let it fall back down.
As the sermon began, everyone quickly became immersed in the learning and enlightenment. Ning Tang didn't understand, but she tried her best to listen, remembering what she didn't understand and coming back to comprehend it later.
Song Yin stopped speaking halfway through her speech and looked at Ning Tang in the front row with surprise.
Is she... drawing qi into her body?
"So fast to draw Qi into the body?" Song Yin thought of how she had failed to draw Qi into the body for so long back then, and silently wiped away a tear.
At the same time, Song Yin's heart stirred. As a disciple with good talent who had not yet formally started learning cultivation, she was like a blank sheet of paper. What kind of future would she have? Everything was unknown.
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Author's Note: Song Yin: I'm a little tempted, but I'm afraid I'll miss out if I'm too slow. Maybe I should act first? [Glasses]
Ning Tang: Master, look at me! Master, look at me! [Sprinkling flowers]
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[Empty bowl]
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