Cultivation Starting from Choosing Augments-Chapter 47 - 46: Elder Chen’s Test

The New Year’s Eve feast lasted a full two hours. Each table was served a total of eighty-eight dishes, with plates stacked over a foot high.

It was a good thing cultivators had large appetites, or else there would have been a lot of leftovers.

But to Xiao Chen’s surprise, aside from the servants bustling back and forth with dishes, the only sound in the garden was that of people swallowing their food.

Despite there being several hundred people, not a single person was whispering. Everyone was focused on eating.

Still, from time to time, the crowd would cast curious glances at Xiao Chen.

It wasn’t until the Chen Family’s old master, seated in the very center, had eaten his fill and begun to wipe his mouth that everyone else immediately put down their chopsticks and picked up their silk napkins.

Then, as was tradition, the Chen Family’s old master gave a short speech.

He concluded by saying, "If we old folks stay here, no one will be able to relax. I’ll head to the rear courtyard first. From now on, everyone, please eat, drink, and enjoy yourselves as you please."

Elder Chen, Chen Tianyuan, and a group of clan elders also rose and departed with him.

The three tables in the center had originally been occupied by Elder Chen’s family, Chen Tianyuan’s family, and the clan elders, each group at their own table.

Now, they were almost all empty, leaving only Chen Zhi’an, Chen Zhiquan, and Xiao Chen.

However, after the plates were cleared away and replaced with fruit platters and fine wine, Chen Zhi’an and Chen Zhiquan also raised their wine glasses in succession, saying, "Our wives and children are still in the rear courtyard. Junior Brother Xiao, please enjoy yourself. We’ll be taking our leave now."

Xiao Chen understood. It was New Year’s, after all. Of course, they’d want to be with their families first.

Setting down his wine glass, he planned to find a quiet spot to wait for the New Year’s vigil and seize the opportunity to cultivate two Grand Circulations.

’The other disciples are probably all drinking and making merry right now. I, on the other hand, will cultivate diligently. I’ll outwork you all to death.’

However, before Xiao Chen could even take a step, a middle-aged man from a nearby table came over. "Xiao, happy New Year. Allow me to toast you. I wish you prosperity in the coming year."

The man offered the blessing with a beaming smile, so Xiao Chen raised his wine glass and took a sip. "To you as well, to you as well. I also wish you prosperity."

As a result, the wine glass by his hand was never empty again.

He didn’t even need to pour it himself; his wine glass was always full. Xiao Chen ended up having to taste the wine from every single table just to return all the well-wishes from those around him.

He thought that would be the end of it, but to his surprise, people even started inquiring about his background.

Later, a red-faced, middle-aged man reeking of alcohol even said, "I have a daughter at home, well-read and sensible. Come on, I’ll take you to see her. See if you like her."

"Ah, I’ll have to pass," Xiao Chen quickly refused. Seeing the man was about to say more, he directly raised his wine glass. "To a smooth and prosperous new year! Cheers!"

After downing the wine glass, the man instantly became dazed and forgot all about showing him his daughter.

But this gave others the same idea. Many people started pulling at Xiao Chen, saying they also had a daughter and that he absolutely had to go see her. If he was interested, they could arrange a marriage.

Xiao Chen was speechless.

’Why has everyone suddenly become so enthusiastic? Are they all drunk?’

The key thing was, these people were all members of the Chen Family’s branch lineages, practically his own people.

With everyone greeting him with smiles and blessings, he couldn’t very well scowl at them. He had no choice but to use his Magical Power to neutralize the alcohol’s effects while raising his glass to return their blessings.

’Damn it, my face is getting stiff from smiling so much.’

He missed four hours ago, when he had just arrived and could sit quietly in a corner by himself.

CRACKLE! POP!

At 12:45 AM, a continuous string of firecrackers went off, heralding the arrival of the new year.

Everyone was arranged into nearby side rooms to rest. Despite the large number of people, Xiao Chen was given a large guest room all to himself.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK! At 2:45 AM, a soft knock suddenly came from the door.

Xiao Chen was a light sleeper in unfamiliar places and had always been a vigilant person. Plus, he wasn’t drunk at all, so he woke up instantly. "Who’s knocking?"

"Shh, it’s me. Come with me for a moment."

The voice from outside the door belonged to Elder Chen.

Xiao Chen scrambled out of bed and pulled open the door, only to see Elder Chen gesturing with his eyes, signaling for him to follow.

The two of them twisted and turned through the corridors, eventually arriving at a study in a side courtyard.

Elder Chen wore a grave expression. "I’ve called you here so late at night because I have important news to tell you in advance, lest I get caught up in New Year’s visits tomorrow and delay it."

"This matter is top secret. It goes from my mouth to your ears and must not reach a third person."

Xiao Chen immediately declared, "I guarantee, my lips are sealed."

Elder Chen nodded, then got straight to the point. "The Flame Pool Secret Realm within the sect’s territory was originally scheduled to open the year after next."

"However, due to a shift in the Earth Veins six months ago, it has now been confirmed that the entrance will reappear in three months."

"This is a great opportunity for Body Tempering, but the Fire Qi in the Flame Pool Secret Realm is too intense and will erode the physical bodies of any cultivators who enter. Let me ask you, do you know any cultivation techniques or magic for avoiding fire?"

Xiao Chen frowned and answered honestly, "Not at the moment."

Elder Chen turned, opened a hidden box on the bookshelf, and took out two manuals. "I have two magical techniques here. Once mastered, they both offer protection from fire."

"The one on the left is a Profound-level technique, while the one on the right is only a Yellow-level Technique. Choose one."

By offering two Cultivation Techniques, Elder Chen was also presenting a hidden test.

Time was now short. To ensure he wouldn’t miss the Secret Realm, the logical choice was the Yellow-level Technique, as it would be faster to learn.

But under normal circumstances, faced with the temptation of a Profound-level technique, an ordinary cultivator would surely hesitate.

Elder Chen wanted to see if his disciple could figure this out in time, and how long it would take him to make a decision.

However, in the very next moment, Xiao Chen spoke directly, "I choose the Yellow-level Technique."

Elder Chen was taken aback. "Why?"

Xiao Chen was prepared for this. He had thought about this very question before when he chose a Yellow-level cultivation technique. "I know my own aptitude is poor and my talent is lacking, so I dare not be greedy."

He had been turning these words over in his mind for half a year and had practiced them many times in private. Now, when he said them, his tone was full of emotion and sounded completely natural.

"Good!" Elder Chen nodded in satisfaction.

He then handed the manual in his right hand to Xiao Chen. "Hurry and make the most of this opportunity."

He was very pleased now. Xiao Chen knew what was important and understood humility. This was a good thing; it meant he had a future and was worth cultivating.

Elder Chen couldn’t help but ask, "Have you made any progress in your alchemy? It’s been over a month since I last asked you about the pill quality, hasn’t it?"

Xiao Chen answered truthfully, "I’ve just reached the entry-level for the Qi Nourishing Pill. I’ve been refining it repeatedly for the past month."

"You’ve already reached the entry-level? Good, good, good."

Hearing this, Elder Chen was even more gratified. The Chen Family was in desperate need of Tier Two Alchemists.

Judging from his past performance, as long as the family helped him gather resources, the Foundation Establishment stage shouldn’t be an obstacle for Xiao Chen. In the future, he would be another great asset to the family.

He offered a few more words of encouragement before sending Xiao Chen back to rest.

「Early the next morning.」

Before dawn, Xiao Chen was waiting at the door for Chen Zhi’an. "Zhi’an, I’m heading back now. I’ve already spoken with Master, and I just came to let you know."

Chen Zhi’an tried to persuade him to stay. "Why not stay a few more days? Many more friends and relatives will be visiting over the next couple of days."

Xiao Chen recalled the events of the previous night, his tone resolute.

"No, I’m leaving right now!"