Welcome to Ability Store-Chapter 90 - 89: What Sect Refuses Disciples?

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As the candlelight flickered, Xu Yuanqing appeared somewhat surprised after listening to the report, "He didn’t follow you?"

"Yes." The cultivator standing on the other side of the desk was Su Qidong, "To avoid alarming them, I didn’t invite him further. Later, I saw the two of them heading to a small alley, and they even put away their Immortal Alliance token."

"So straightforward in refusing you, this kid must be the first." Xu Yuanqing stroked his beard and chuckled.

Cultivators from other places who come to Chang’an are naturally eager to blend into the local cultivator community. Given such a great opportunity, there’s no reason to refuse.

Chang’an City has developed to such a grand scale, offering leisure places for cultivators that are top-notch. Whether it’s fine wine from the Western Regions or beauties from various places, it’s all available. If one goes, it will definitely be a night of revelry.

And with this, I could take the opportunity to inquire about his background and the origin of that mysterious method.

After all, pleasure districts are unlike serious diplomatic occasions.

In such an environment, one can even better see the true nature of the other party.

"Perhaps he was accompanied by a woman," Su Qidong speculated.

"Heh, is that a problem?" Xu Yuanqing shook his head with a smile, "If the woman is a commoner, just send her back. If she is also a cultivator, why not go together? Aren’t there many female cultivators indulging in pleasure at the Florescent Tower? This could only mean one thing, that he has more important matters to attend to than mere revelry and connections with the Immortal Alliance."

He waved Su Qidong away after speaking, "You may go."

"Yes, I shall take my leave." The young cultivator cupped his hands and walked out of the study.

"Giving him the token while secretly watching him, what’s the point?" At this moment, a somewhat naive voice muttered.

The speaking girl was reclining on a velvet chaise longue and did not shy away even when Su Qidong and the governor were talking.

Xu Yuanqing had two sons and two daughters, Xuanling was the youngest.

"There’s certainly a point." He responded immediately, "I gave him the token to show the Immortal Alliance’s approval of him; afterward, watching the token’s movement is my personal precaution. If he takes the token to create havoc, you know how much damage can be done in a single night, and even if we punish him later, the lost prestige of the Immortal Alliance isn’t easily restored."

Besides, the Immortal Alliance is an organization, and an organization cannot be held accountable, the blame would likely fall on the governor who handed out the token.

Rather than let such an awkward situation arise, it’s better to prevent it from the start.

"Then, Father, are you satisfied?" Xuanling pouted.

"Quite satisfied." Xu Yuanqing affirmed while stroking his beard, "Being untempted by revelry means he is strong-willed; not eager to cling to Immortal Alliance cultivators means he is ambitious. But what’s most commendable is that, as a cultivator raised in foreign lands, he shows no trace of barbaric habits and does not demean those commoners beneath him. These qualities are rarely seen in the younger generation. Quite commendable, indeed!"

"I think he’s not so much approachable as he’s gotten used to blending with commoners." Xuanling swayed her legs, "Didn’t Brother Su say he later put away the token and went into the southwestern alley? It’s dirty and chaotic there, sewage runs along the streets, I really don’t see the appeal."

"Hmm... yes, that’s true." Xu Yuanqing didn’t deny it.

Cultivators should harbor a peaceful and fair heart, which is most beneficial to cultivation. But it doesn’t mean they should go out of their way to associate with commoners, let alone mingle with them daily. Since they’ve transcended the ordinary, their aesthetics, taste, and demeanor should also follow.

"But these are minor issues, after all, Chen Xuan once drifted in foreign lands. As long as he has a decent character and has mastered profound spells, he is worthy of the Immortal Alliance’s recruitment." Xu Yuanqing paused, teasingly looking at his daughter, "Besides, didn’t you always think you were exceptionally gifted? Sensing Qi at ten, casting spells at eleven, but even abroad there may be those just as good as you."

"Not necessarily. Father, you said yourself he’s at least in his twenties, and I’m just twelve, isn’t it natural to have a gap in spiritual energy?" Xuanling retorted, unconvinced.

"Spiritual energy isn’t hair, the older you grow, the longer it gets. I’ve seen plenty who sense Qi at twenty and remain stagnant at forty. Moreover, the gap in spiritual energy I mentioned is not in quantity, but in the way his spiritual energy is condensed like a star river, even I can’t compare to that."

"What kind of father are you, always putting down your daughter?" Xuanling pouted, "In that case, I’ll just join Chen Xuan’s sect!"

Xu Yuanqing was momentarily stunned, then touched his chin, "Doesn’t sound impossible."

"Eh, does that mean I won’t have to enter the Ascension Platform?" Now, Xuanling was surprised.

"The Ascension Platform teaches basically the same stuff that I can teach you. Moreover, whether it’s the Ascension Platform or the Celestial Derivation Tower, their current status is entirely due to the sect occupying the best resources in the Qinling Mountains. If the reports from the French envoy are true, then the resources held by the sect won’t be as valuable as they are now."

Cultivators reach higher levels through several main avenues: pills, meditation, and demon slaying, all of which essentially involve absorbing spiritual energy from the outside world, with demon slaying being the most efficient. For instance, the Ascension Platform is located in a Sumeru Mustard Seed Cave Heaven in Cyan Splendor Mountain where demons frequently appear, and surviving a journey there benefits cultivation greatly.

According to the envoy, the seas of France and England are filled with countless demons, far surpassing what Sumeru Mustard Seed Cave Heaven offers.

Even as an elder, entering the cave heaven isn’t at will.

Firstly, the sect has numerous members competing for access to treasured places, and there are multiple elders to consider who must also look after their disciples.

Secondly, if too many enter the treasure site, the cave heaven can become unstable, not only becoming chaotic but also attracting extremely powerful demons. At that point, surviving the ordeal would be lucky, let alone benefiting from demon slaying and Qi absorption.

"Father’s methods do seem somewhat logical..." Xuanling thoughtfully mused.

Xu Yuanqing chuckled, amused by his daughter’s demeanor, "When have I ever been unreasonable? Of course... the choice is yours."

"Then I won’t go to the Ascension Platform."

"Decided so quickly?"

"Didn’t Father say the Ascension Platform teaches things you can teach me, and the sect’s resources will take years to reach me, so there’s nothing to hesitate about. I also want to see just how miraculous these spells you speak of are." Xuanling replied very earnestly.

She’s quite a straightforward child, thought Xu Yuanqing.

Among his four children, Xuanling showed the most interest in cultivation. Before she even awakened her Qi sensing abilities, she was already mimicking her older brother’s meditation and diligently practicing swordsmanship; perhaps that is where her true talent lies.

Thinking this, Xu Yuanqing felt intrigued; he took a long sip from a wine gourd on the table and said to his youngest daughter, "Fine then, go and experience it yourself. But let me say this upfront, Father won’t intervene for you, getting into the sect will be solely up to your abilities, alright?"

"Of course," Xuanling confidently said, "If even I can’t join the sect, then he surely won’t take a single disciple!"