Non-stop

Even the more knowledgeable cultivators were astonished, so there was no need to mention the others who had never come into contact with cultivation before.

More than a hundred people stood in the open space on the floating island, experiencing for the first time the novelty of being high up in the sky.

The clouds surrounding them looked close enough to touch, but when they actually reached out, they found there was nothing to grasp.

Only then did many of them realize what clouds were really like.

They had always looked up at the sky and imagined that the white clouds would feel like cotton.

After the tremendous shock of the floating island, the subsequent visits to the Spiritual Dining Hall and the Scripture Repository fell within the realm of normalcy.

The Enforcement Hall and the Finance Hall were even less noteworthy; recognizing where they were was all that mattered.

The only place that could still earn everyone’s praise for its beauty was Spirit-Embracing Mountain, which had been deliberately landscaped with all kinds of flowers and plants over the past few years.

However, a minor incident occurred while they were visiting the Enforcement Hall—one that most people failed to notice.

As Hall Master Yang Jinshu was welcoming the group, the corner of her eye inadvertently caught sight of a figure she had yearned for day and night over the past twenty years!

When Yang Jinshu, utterly shaken, focused her gaze and clearly saw the gray-haired elderly woman in the crowd smiling at her and giving a slight shake of her head, even her usually dignified figure could not help but sway.

Her eyes instantly reddened.

Mother!

She called out in her heart.

But knowing that this was not the right time for them to acknowledge each other, she used every ounce of self-control she possessed to suppress the excitement and joy surging through her.

Few people noticed Yang Jinshu’s abnormal behavior. Liu Yunan merely realized that his mother had suddenly become somewhat agitated for no apparent reason. He was puzzled for a moment, but when he saw her regain her composure, he did not ask about it and continued speaking to the new disciples.

After calming herself somewhat, Yang Jinshu swept her gaze around.

Yet she did not see her father anywhere.

Perhaps it was the bond between father and daughter that made her draw a deep breath and prepare herself for the worst.

Even so, she still held on to a sliver of hope that perhaps her father had simply failed to pass the Heart-Questioning Path and was waiting at the foot of the mountain.

When Zhu Xiurong saw that her daughter had recognized her and was now looking around in search of someone, her heart filled with melancholy.

The two did not acknowledge each other. After the new disciples finished touring the Enforcement Hall, Zhu Xiurong followed the larger group to the next destination.

It was also the final stop: the Yaoguang Small World.

However, the final tour went like this:

Liu Yunan led everyone to the center of the floating island and pointed to the small pearl hovering above the little fountain on the ground.

“This is the entrance to our sect’s medicine garden,” he told them.

“However, since the place is filled with medicinal herbs, having more than a hundred people enter at once would result in the fields being trampled. So we won’t be going inside today. If anyone is curious later, you can enter from here on your own.”

In truth, they could have gone in a few groups.

However, after asking Senior Liao for his opinion the previous night, Liu Yunan had decided against it in order to save time.

Liao Pantu felt that tending and cultivating the medicinal herbs was no difficult task for him, and he had no intention of competing with the other places that were in more urgent need of manpower.

Besides, he believed that with the beauty of his medicine garden, there would certainly be plenty of people willing to volunteer for the work in the future.

Therefore, he did not care whether the newcomers toured the medicine garden or not.

After rushing from place to place, the new disciples finally completed their tour of the entire sect by noon.

Along the way, Liu Yunan had also taken the opportunity to explain various common-sense matters and precautions whenever he introduced a new location.

After receiving this overall introduction, each new disciple finally gained a structured understanding of the Lingxian Sect.

Next, Liu Yunan began the next stage of his plan.

It was now noon.

Since the new disciples had eaten spiritual food the previous night, and although it was not specifically intended to ward off hunger like Fasting Pills, it was still extremely filling—at the very least, going a day or two without eating would have no effect on them.

Thus, Liu Yunan had not arranged breakfast or lunch, avoiding any unnecessary waste of time.

He led the new disciples back without pause to the Cultivation Hall in their residential area.

Only after watching the new disciples sit in orderly fashion on the meditation cushions inside the hall did Liu Yunan, standing at the front, speak to them.

“All right. Now that we’ve finished touring the sect, I believe everyone has gained a general understanding of the Lingxian Sect and some idea of what your daily cultivation life will be like. From here on, it’s time for you to get moving.”

At his words, all the new disciples below instinctively perked up. A small commotion arose among the younger ones.

It was finally time to get to the real business!

Cultivating immortality!

It was coming! It was really coming!

Then they heard Liu Yunan continue.

“Speaking of cultivation, the place we’re in right now will be your Cultivation Hall from now on. Listen carefully: starting tomorrow, you are to come here every day at the Mao hour. Each day, a different instructor will teach your cultivation class.”

“There are eleven instructors in total. I’ve posted their teaching schedule here.” As he spoke, he pointed to the area beside the front door, then continued, “Of course, there will be no punishment for being late or absent. After all, cultivation is ultimately a matter of personal responsibility. However, to encourage diligence, we’ll be giving a small reward to anyone with a perfect attendance record each month.”

He looked around at all the new disciples below. His gaze eventually settled on Baizhu.

“Baizhu was the first among you to pass the Heart-Questioning Path. For the next month, I’d like him to help record everyone’s lateness. Baizhu, are you willing?”

The final sentence was directed at Baizhu.

Since birth, Baizhu had never known who his parents were. From the moment he gained awareness, he had survived by begging for food alongside various old beggars. It was only after growing a little older that he had been able to do odd jobs for kindhearted people.

Elder Liu’s sudden commission and show of trust caused the thirteen-year-old Baizhu’s eyes to turn red.

He looked at Liu Yunan with reddened eyes that shone with unusual brightness, then nodded solemnly.

“I won’t let you down. I’ll make sure to do this well.”

Liu Yunan naturally saw the expression on his face.

Perhaps reminded of something, Liu Yunan smiled and nodded at him after receiving his answer, then continued speaking to everyone.

“Oh, there’s one more thing I should mention in advance. The mountain we’re on right now will be your residential and cultivation grounds from this point forward. This mountain doesn’t have a name yet, so over the next few days, everyone should think of a suitable one. Baizhu will collect your suggestions, and then all of you can discuss them and choose the best name yourselves. That name will be used to name your mountain.”