Chapter 20 The sect I went to will naturally become my companion...
The world was in turmoil. When Ji Mingran fell, he was hanging upside down. Although the Vajra Formation protected 90% of his body, it still aggravated his old injuries. Now, his left ankle is aching, and the wound on his back is tearing with pain whenever he moves.
To ease the pain, she walked with a hunched back, looking like a lame old woman.
The gazes directed at her instantly changed, and the other cultivators frowned, their habitual smiles fading slightly.
"Hello."
Ji Mingran was still unaware. She walked up to the cultivator from the Jing Shi Sect, politely cupped her hands in greeting, and asked in a clear voice, "Fellow Daoist, what conditions must one meet to join your sect?"
The eager smile on the Jing Shi Sect cultivator's face didn't have time to fade. His body stiffened, as if he hadn't heard, and he naturally but hastily turned to walk past Ji Mingran.
"Huh?" Ji Mingran asked in confusion, taking a step forward and calling out, "Fellow Daoist, Fellow Daoist!"
The cultivator from the Jing Shi Sect curled his lip, glanced at Ji Mingran out of the corner of his eye, his smile vanished, and he continued walking.
"Ah!" Ji Mingran's expression suddenly changed to one of understanding. Could it be that he couldn't hear?
Her eyes showed concern, and she raised her voice to ask by name, "That big-nosed cultivator from the Jing Shi Sect!"
The cultivators from the Jing Shi Sect stopped in their tracks.
"A cultivator from the Jing Shi Sect?" Ji Mingran called out again, "A cultivator with a big nose?"
The cultivator immediately blushed and turned around angrily, saying, "What do you mean, 'big nose'? Don't you have any manners?!"
"Oh, sorry." Ji Mingran, worried that he might not hear him clearly, asked in a loud voice, "How should I address you, fellow Daoist? May I ask how to join your sect?"
The sound was so loud that it attracted the attention of many people.
"I can hear you, keep your voice down!" The Jing Shi Sect cultivator glanced left and right, and seeing that many cultivators around had already noticed him, he quickly took a few steps back to distance himself from Ji Mingran.
He let out a heavy sigh and said with a forced smile, "When I'm out in the world, ordinary people call me Elder Ma."
Ji Mingran nodded, patiently changed his form of address, and asked again, "Elder Ma, what conditions must one meet to join your sect?"
Elder Ma snorted again through his large nose, and said in a low voice with a fake smile, "I don't want you to do this. Go away."
Ji Mingran asked curiously, "Why?"
Elder Ma lowered his voice even further: "How many spirit stones do you have?"
"Spirit stones?" Ji Mingran was stunned.
Elder Ma said with dissatisfaction, "Do you think my Jing Shi Sect is one of those small sects that can accept disciples at will? The Jing Shi Sect's outer disciples are charged four thousand spirit stones per year."
"Do you have any?" Elder Ma glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, his eyes filled with disdain, and said quickly in a low voice, "Don't you even know your own worth? Saying more is beneath your dignity. Don't follow me anymore!"
He stopped responding, turned his back, resumed his enthusiastic demeanor, and ran towards another group of people.
Ji Mingran suddenly realized that cultivation required tuition fees, and judging from Elder Ma's tone, it seemed that the larger the sect, the higher the fees.
I don't know the exact value of four thousand spirit stones.
Thinking of this, Ji Mingran reached for the brocade pouch in her bosom. Boss Jiang had promised her a monthly allowance, but inside there were only five round pebbles.
If this is the spirit stone, then she only has five spirit stones on her, which is not enough to afford it.
Is the only way to join a spiritual sect by paying tuition?
Ji Mingran scratched his head, thinking of asking again, but found that everyone around him was looking over.
Perfect, saves me the trouble of asking everyone individually. She simply asked loudly to everyone, "I hope you can enlighten me. What are the requirements for each sect to accept disciples?"
The onlookers' eyes darted around instantly, and no one responded.
Why? Those present knew the answer without saying a word.
Fees are a symbol of a sect's strength; the more renowned the sect, the higher the fees.
The sect does not accept useless people, nor does it accept people without money.
Those with talent will be recruited, and those without talent but with wealth will also be accepted as outer disciples by the sect, who will teach them some basic cultivation techniques.
Which cultivator who transcends worldly affairs isn't impeccably dressed, dignified, and possesses a handsome appearance and refined demeanor? Even if their appearance isn't the best, their cultivation and physique are still top-notch.
Those who thrive in the small world are naturally either rich or noble. Even if they don't have spirit stones now, they will surely create value for the sect in the future.
The girl in front of me was not only dressed in tattered clothes and had messy hair, but she was also covered in mud, broken branches and fallen leaves. It was obvious that she was unsteady on her feet due to her low cultivation level. Moreover, she was thin and bony, with a bluish face, a hunched figure and injuries to her bones.
In short, it has no spirit stones, no cultivation level, no appearance, and is also disabled, making it utterly useless.
Anyone with a modicum of self-awareness wouldn't dare to come here and invite trouble.
But she didn't; she was foolish enough not to realize it.
The various sects present were all secretly vying for power; engaging with such a person for no reason would only be beneath their dignity. As for the cultivators from the other smaller worlds, they were no longer hot-blooded youths just entering the world; since it was none of their business, they didn't get involved and simply watched from the sidelines.
However, the less anyone answered, the more excited Ji Mingran seemed to become. She even limped around and started asking questions one by one, but wherever she asked, silence would fall.
The silence was tinged with awkwardness, but the person in question acted as if they were asking a market vendor for a price. If one vendor didn't sell, they would happily move on to the next one, without the slightest bit of embarrassment.
Is there something wrong with his brain?
The monks couldn't help but take a few steps back when they saw her swaggering over.
"Miss." The cultivator from Zangjiudao, who was standing not far from Ji Mingran, finally spoke up. She held up a handful of slips of paper in her hand, which were a large pile of talismans.
“The teleportation talisman in my hand can only be used by Foundation Establishment cultivators. If I give it to you, can you use it?” She shook her head. “At your age and with your cultivation level, you can’t even compare to a child in the spiritual cultivation world.” Her gaze moved down to Ji Mingran’s left leg, and she continued, “And this hidden ailment of yours, it’s not a new injury, it’s an old problem deep in your bones, isn’t it?”
As soon as he finished speaking, all eyes turned back to Ji Mingran.
Ji Mingran tilted her head, completely unaware of the barbed gaze fixed on her. She even raised her lame leg, pointed, and asked, "You mean this? It is indeed an old injury. Does this have anything to do with me becoming your apprentice?"
The Daoist monk frowned. He had exhausted his remaining good sutras and was unwilling to get entangled with the young girl any longer. He continued what he was doing, distributing talismans to the new disciples.
Seeing that she ignored him, Ji Mingran shrugged and decided to ask at the next sect's stall.
Perhaps seeing that someone had started, or perhaps because the various sects had already recruited enough people, and the people waiting in the same spot were all shameless, one after another, other people said, "The sects don't accept useless people, you should go back."
Ji Mingran frowned and muttered, "Why? Because of my foot? Just one foot, and they consider it useless? Are the sects in the spiritual cultivation world really so demanding about the physical condition of their disciples?"
Someone reminded her, "Young lady, if you have enough spirit stones, you could buy an outer disciple status from a small sect, but there isn't a suitable sect for you here."
"That's one way," Ji Mingran said. "May I ask, fellow Daoist, how much is the tuition for a sect?"
The man patiently explained, "A medium-sized sect costs at least three thousand spirit stones a year. Smaller sects, especially those that have just been established, reportedly start at three hundred spirit stones."
Ji Mingran pondered for a moment, then shook his head with a serious expression and said, "These sects are not very suitable for me."
"What's inappropriate about it? Although the minor sect isn't as famous as the major sect, it's still a legitimate sect." The man's eyes widened slightly in surprise as he looked Ji Mingran up and down.
The young girl was down on her luck, but she had a calm demeanor. Could it be that she was hiding her true abilities and therefore felt that Xiao Zong was not a good match for her?
"It's mainly because it doesn't quite suit my unassuming and unpretentious temperament," Ji Mingran said sincerely. "Fellow Daoist, are there any sects that have a rich history but are relatively low-key and dignified?"
The man looked shocked. Could he be someone who was hiding his true abilities?
His tone softened considerably: "It's easy to talk about sects with a strong foundation, but I wonder what you mean by 'low-key and magnanimous'?"
"Tuition fees of five spirit stones or less, preferably free."
"Five elemental stones." The man's lips twitched. "Are you crazy?"
He hurriedly covered his face with his sleeve, filled with regret, and retreated repeatedly. She was actually a fool, and he had gone to great lengths to explain things to a fool, only to make a fool of himself and become extremely embarrassed.
"She really does have some mental issues." Bystanders whispered among themselves, exchanging knowing glances and drawing circles on their foreheads with their fingers. "She might have gotten stupid from the fall."
A sneer drifted from the crowd: "You're crippled and useless, how dare you stay here? If you can't afford to pay, you should get out of here and stop buzzing around like a fly."
"I'm new here and don't know much about the rules for accepting disciples in the spiritual cultivation world. It's always good to ask more questions. Are there really no sects here that don't charge fees?" Ji Mingran tilted her head, her gaze precisely fixed on the person hiding in the crowded throng who was cricketing. "Elder Ma."
Elder Ma, who was identified, felt a pang of guilt. He had hidden himself so well and even changed his voice; how could he have been recognized?
He glanced around and saw that everyone was looking at Ji Mingran with disapproval, and his heart immediately calmed down. Everyone else treated her as an oddity, and besides, his sect's disciple recruitment was already over, so what was there to be ashamed of?
Elder Ma became more self-righteous, strode out from the crowd, and said with his head held high: "If any minor sect takes notice of you, you should be hiding and secretly rejoicing. Don't even think about eating for free!"
"Elder Ma, you misunderstood." Ji Mingran corrected him seriously, "The sect I want to go to is not only one with low tuition fees, but also one with a strong foundation, the kind that is famous and renowned."
"A Grand Sect?" Elder Ma's voice suddenly rose to a shrill tone. "You still dare to dream of becoming a disciple of a Grand Sect?" He jumped up excitedly, his face flushed. "Don't you even know your own worth? You shamelessly want to climb up to a Grand Sect. Which Grand Sect would want a cripple like you? Absolutely not!"
Ji Mingran scratched the back of his head, his face scrunched up, and said in a troubled tone, "Oh dear, what should I do?"
Elder Ma rolled his eyes, about to launch into another sarcastic remark, when a voice murmured from the side.
It was that cultivator from Xiaosu Pavilion. "Fellow Daoist has lofty aspirations; there is a sect that would be a suitable match for you."
Elder Ma looked at him in surprise, and even Cang Jiudao turned his gaze to look.
The cultivator from Xiaosu Pavilion added slowly, "There are sects that don't charge tuition fees, and coincidentally, that one is a large sect with a solid foundation."
The cultivator from the Hidden Nine Paths understood something, and his gaze turned cold.
Ji Mingran was overjoyed and said, "Free? Which sect is so generous?"
These words, when spoken, took on a different meaning in the ears of some.
“Not charging tuition is a sign of great generosity.” Elder Ma glared at her. “How dare you indirectly accuse our sect of being petty?”
Ji Mingran pondered for a moment, then said sincerely, "Relatively speaking, I didn't mean that, but you can understand it that way."
"You! You!" Elder Ma's eyes widened as he pointed a finger at Ji Mingran: "What nonsense! How dare you slander us! Every sect here is a famous faction from various continents. Are you from a small world? You're ignorant and still spouting lies!"
Although they knew Elder Ma was just saying it out of anger, the expressions of the cultivators who had come from the small world immediately turned unfriendly.
Despite being sprayed all over his face, Ji Mingran remained unfazed, his eyes crinkling as he turned to the cultivator from Xiaosu Pavilion and asked in a clear voice, "Please tell me, senior, which sect is exempt from tuition fees?"
Elder Ma interjected angrily, "This little brat has such a narrow vision and is so eager for quick success. Be careful not to shoot yourself in the foot."
The cultivator from the Hidden Nine Paths glanced at Elder Ma's excited expression, his lips pursed, and his gaze returned to Ji Mingran. He spoke indifferently, "It's good that you have lofty ambitions, but your aptitude... If you are truly interested in cultivating the Dao, you should save some money and find a minor sect to become an outer disciple."
Ji Mingran persisted in inquiring with the cultivators of Xiaosu Pavilion: "Since there is something readily available right now, why bother looking far and wide?"
How to save money? How much to save? By how long? Life is finite, time flies, and we cannot afford to waste it.
The cultivator from the Hidden Nine Paths frowned deeply. If he hadn't seen how serious she was, he would have thought she was deliberately trying to antagonize him.
Elder Ma, seemingly determined to challenge her, interrupted, "Do you think they're being kind? They just need risk-taking outer disciples to patrol the forest and suppress the demonic beasts."
The cultivator from Xiaosu Pavilion said slowly, "These are all rumors. We are still within Lin Peak, so it's best to be careful what we say."
"How many years has it been since they've had a new person participate in the spiritual cultivation competition? They haven't been able to find enough new disciples all these years, so I think the rumors are true!"
"Are you sure it wasn't because they were too weak and simply withdrew from the competition?"
"I guess it's because the new disciples were all eaten by the monsters."
Ji Mingran listened quietly to the discussion, cleared his throat, and asked curiously, "Which sect are you all talking about?"
The cultivator from Xiaosu Pavilion raised the corners of his mouth in a smile that was hard to decipher, and pointed into the distance.
Elder Ma's sarcastic voice echoed in his ears: "You can't even suppress the demonic beasts within your borders. You've fallen so low. What kind of great sect are you? You're doomed to perish sooner or later. As for you, you look like you'll die young. You're only good for filling the bellies of demonic beasts. You're a perfect match for any kind of pot!"
Ji Mingran turned her head to look; it was the direction she had come from.
"So, it used to be a major sect." Ji Mingran said thoughtfully, then turned her head back and said happily, "That's perfect."
“If we can give it a try, why not give it our all?” She grinned at the people around her, her pearly white teeth sparkling. “Elder Ma, don’t worry, I won’t die. As for what kind of pot goes with what kind of lid, the sect I’m going to is a perfect match for me. It will only get better and better, complementing me perfectly.”
"You mean it'll be revitalized because of you? Just because of you?" Elder Ma sneered. "Who do you think you are? Who do you think you are?"
"Probably..." Ji Mingran smiled slyly, "...the one that's better than yours?"
"You!" Elder Ma, whose sore spot had been hit, was about to jump up again.
However, a golden light appeared, and the girl vanished from the spot.
"How dare she look down on me! I'll make her regret it!" Elder Ma couldn't swallow this insult and angrily chased after her.
The Daoist monk Zangyuan pressed him down, warning him in a low voice, "You've already said many inappropriate things. Don't forget where you are. Speaking disrespectfully to people on their turf, even if you don't respect them, don't forget they have a Venerable One among them! Don't drag us into this!"
“Although the young girl is young, she is very perceptive.” A tall, thin cultivator stepped out from the Jing Shi Sect’s group and said, “If you can try, why not try? Your words have awakened me from my dream and cleared away my confusion. Since I have gone to such lengths, I should now strive for something higher. Your sect’s style is different from what I seek, so I will take my leave.”
Another cultivator stepped out from the Zang Jiudao group: "That young lady just now reminded me that I risked my life to come here to realize my ambitions. The affairs of the sect cannot be compromised. I need to consider things more carefully before making a decision."
“I have only just arrived here and do not yet understand the spiritual cultivation world. Choosing a sect directly would be too hasty. I also need to consider it further.” Not only the Jing Shi Sect, but also cultivators from other sects stepped forward, making to leave.
Elder Ma's attention was drawn to the situation, and he immediately lost all interest in staying. He angrily said, "Do as you please!" With a change of gesture, a square frame of energy appeared out of thin air in front of him, like a door. "Let's go!" He stepped in first, and the others followed one by one until the last person entered, at which point the door frame disappeared.
"You've got your wish." The Cangjiudao cultivator glanced quietly at the Xiaosuge cultivator, then called to the rest, "Let's go." The talisman ignited, and the Cangjiudao group vanished from the spot.
"Heh." The cultivator from Xiaosu Pavilion chuckled briefly, a sword floating in mid-air. Behind him, the others also changed into their swords and flew away together.
Gradually, people left or dispersed.
The once bustling corner of the forest quickly returned to its usual tranquility.
The crowd dispersed, leaving only a dense forest in the mirror.
The red-haired boy stared at the mirror, a mischievous smile playing on his lips as he chewed on a stalk of grass.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com