Qin Ran's Cloud Driving Technology

Cultivators have a tight schedule.

They have to make the most of their time to find spiritual energy because once their bodies mature and stabilize, it becomes difficult to find it.

After finding spiritual energy, they must quickly embark on foundation building because during the Foundation Establishment stage, cultivators can live for a maximum of 180 years. They need to reach the Core Formation stage before their lifespan ends.

After Core Formation, they must promptly proceed to Nascent Soul Formation because Nascent Soul Formation is extremely difficult and requires their full dedication and preparation.

However, the time for cultivators is also very long.

Once they successfully build their foundation, their lifespan becomes nearly limitless, approaching 180 years. Once they achieve Core Formation, their lifespan soars to 800 years, not to mention the transformation to Nascent Soul and Deity Transformation.

During this lengthy period, they do not need to attend school or work. They don't even need to eat or drink, and if possible, they don't have bodily needs. Most of their requirements are minimized. However, such an extended and monotonous period of time is also difficult to endure.

Cultivation knows no years; centuries pass in the blink of an eye.

With this perception of time, even major sects like the Dao Sword Sect still appear lax despite having certain rules and regulations.

New disciples have to wait for three years before undergoing qualification assessments. The assessment process is intentionally drawn out, with one round of tests per day, lasting a full nine days, just to select ten individuals out of over five hundred disciples. The distribution of assessment rewards is also delayed until the day after the assessment, rather than on the same day.

"Why didn't they distribute the assessment rewards yesterday?" Qin Ran complained, echoing what Long Qiqi had said yesterday.

"Master, are you capable or not?" Li Shiyin giggled beside him.

Qin Ran glared at her and replied, "As your master, my magical abilities are vast and limitless. Can't I just ride on a cloud? Why can't I do that?"

During the assessment period, they traveled between Dan Peak and Master Peak, with Chasing the Wind carrying them back and forth. However, that silly child, Chasing the Wind, had gone out last night and still hadn't returned.

So, if they wanted to go together to Master Peak today, someone had to perform a spell to summon a cloud and carry all three of them.

Li Shiyin was a sword cultivator, and her primary flying spell was transforming her body into a sword. As for Long Qiqi... let's not trouble this mischievous little girl, shall we? That left Qin Ran to cast the spell.

But Qin Ran...

He naturally had practiced this kind of escape spell. The problem was... "Sigh!" He sighed inwardly, gritted his teeth, and performed the spell, conjuring a cloud.

"What a simple spell," he feigned calmness and took the lead, stepping onto the cloud, hovering three feet above the ground. He said to Li Shiyin and Long Qiqi, "Come, hop on. I'll take you for a spin."

Li Shiyin knew best that her master had a fear of heights. But she was fearless, and besides, he was her master. She jumped on without hesitation and naturally leaned against Qin Ran, placing her hands on his back.

But Long Qiqi was different. She also knew that Qin Ran was afraid of heights, but she was timid and didn't completely trust him...

She stood on the lawn, looking up at Qin Ran and Li Shiyin, hesitating. She suggested, "Shiyin, why don't you take me on your sword? Or we can each fly on our own. I can fly too, even if I'm a bit slower. I can fly."

Qin Ran's face darkened as he looked at Long Qiqi and said, "Do you want to come up? Today is the day we're sending Shiyin to receive her reward. Whether you come or not, it's up to you."

Upon hearing this, Long Qiqi gritted her teeth and made a firm decision before jumping onto the cloud.

With her short arms and legs, she climbed onto the cloud and whispered to Li Shiyin, "Shiyin, remember to catch me later!" She had already assumed that Qin Ran's cloud was going to "crash."

Qin Ran's face turned black. He fixed his gaze on the direction of the main peak, placed one hand behind his back, closed his eyes, and rode the cloud.

With his eyes closed and hands behind his back, he flew on the cloud in the blue sky and white clouds, aided by a gentle breeze, giving off an ethereal and immortal aura.

Until...

"Master," Li Shiyin whispered in his ear, "We've flown past."

And then everything fell apart.

Luckily, Qin Ran had thick skin. He landed the cloud on the main peak's square while enduring intense dizziness and disorientation.

As soon as the cloud touched the ground, Long Qiqi jumped off and patted her chest repeatedly, saying in a trembling voice, "That scared me... That scared me... I'm still alive... I'm still alive..."

Qin Ran felt a bit dizzy and glanced at Long Qiqi, asking, "Was it that dramatic? My driving skills are pretty stable."

Long Qiqi gave him a look that let him experience it for himself.

"Hehehe..." Li Shiyin covered her mouth and giggled.

The master and disciples arrived at the perfect time, after all. Qin Ran specifically chose the timing, and it wouldn't be appropriate to arrive too early or too late. When they arrived, there were already some people in the square, and people were flying in the sky using magical tools or spells. After a brief adjustment, they headed towards the position of the Dan Peak.

Li Shiyin was indeed ranked first in this assessment, regardless of how she achieved it. That's what being first means.

To put it bluntly, those who had the qualifications to question her first place didn't care, and those who didn't have the qualifications could only gossip behind her back. They wouldn't dare to come forward and say to Li Shiyin's face that her first place was rigged.

So, as the master and disciples walked through the square, they were met with smiling faces and polite greetings. There were no foolish individuals who dared to provoke them or foolishly accuse them in front of everyone.

There were very few people at the Dan Peak, only three... After all, there were no menial disciples or external disciples, only one direct disciple.

They stood there, looking a little shabby.

"Master, how about we find some external disciples to liven things up?" Li Shiyin suggested to Qin Ran, looking at the lively scenes at other peaks.

"The more people, the more complicated it gets," Qin Ran shook his head.

They were not isolated either. Soon, Lu Junxing and Dong Zhongyuan from the Master Peak arrived with Jiang Ran and Jiang Qin, the two sisters. They chatted with them for a while.

After three years, Jiang Ran and Jiang Qin had become even more beautiful. In terms of appearance alone, they were on par with Li Shiyin and Tian Wenjin. One could imagine that in a few more years, they would become the unrivaled twin beauties of the Dao Sword Sect.

Lu Junxing and the others left, and Liu Baixuan, Qi Yuan, and Tian Wenjin from the Sword Peak also came and stayed for a while until the sect leader was about to start a long lecture before leaving.

These people, if we count them, are all friends Li Shiyin has made over the past few years. As for Qin Ran, well, he's a total otaku and has no friends.

People from various peaks and sects have all gathered here. The sect leader appeared at the forefront as usual and gave a half-hour speech full of nonsense before getting to the point:

"In this assessment, the top one hundred participants will receive rewards.

"Among them, the rewards for those ranked from one hundred to fifty are...

"The rewards for those ranked from fifty to twenty are...

"The rewards for those ranked from twenty to ten are...

"Finally, the top ten participants in this assessment are: Li Shiyin, Dong Zhongyuan, Lu Junxing, Liu Baixuan, Tian Wenjin, Qi Yuan, Yao Qingke, Ximen Wushang, Ye Qingxuan, and Xiao Bufan. They will proceed to the Daoist Gate for further training..."