He Didn't Hear Enough

Only after spending a long time in the sect did he gradually discover that many things there seemed quite different from what he had known or imagined.

Even so, this did nothing to change his original belief that his sect was incredibly powerful.

He eventually learned that his master, Lin Dayou, was not some reclusive great expert with profound cultivation.

Lin Dayou had even suggested that he find another master, saying that there was not much he could teach him when it came to cultivation.

But Mo Yuanjiao had never taken another master.

That was because he had discovered that he did not really need anyone else’s guidance in cultivation. His own cultivation speed was already astonishingly fast. Even Senior Liao, with his wealth of experience, had said that a cultivation speed like his would make him a once-in-a-century genius even in the cultivation world.

Having grown up spoiled or pressured all his life, Mo Yuanjiao had always been somewhat impatient and flighty.

On top of that, his single-spirit-root aptitude had earned him the admiration of everyone around him from a young age, so he had begun to show signs of being arrogant and overestimating himself.

He did not need much instruction in cultivation. Senior Brother Sect Master and Senior Liao could answer most of his questions. Yet Mo Yuanjiao felt that, as far as he was concerned, Lin Dayou was a master who could benefit him immensely.

Lin Dayou had taught him how to raise seedlings, how to fertilize them, and how to observe different crops and weather conditions. He had taught him what it meant to adapt to local conditions, to do things at the proper time, and to know when enough was enough…

Most importantly, his master had taught him what it meant to be grounded.

During these several years at Lingxian Sect, he had truly learned many things he had never noticed or considered before.

So although his master’s cultivation advanced rather slowly, Mo Yuanjiao had still resolved to remain his disciple.

But he was still young, after all. When it came to how rapidly his sect had grown in strength, Mo Yuanjiao really wanted to show off properly to the people he knew.

In the past, however, the sect had been unwilling to attract attention, so he had not felt comfortable returning to the imperial capital to boast about it.

Whenever people asked about his own cultivation or that of the others in the sect, he had always answered vaguely.

As for Xuanyuan Haoyue, the two of them had never been very close to begin with, since they were older now and had to observe the boundaries between men and women. After the girl joined the sect, she became even busier, spending every day cultivating and working. She often failed to notice Mo Yuanjiao when she passed him, and on the rare occasions when she did see him, she would merely nod before hurrying away.

The two of them could hardly be said to have a conversation.

Now that Li Zhouxuan had joined, Mo Yuanjiao finally had someone he could talk to at length!

They were fellow disciples, so these secrets about the sect’s dealings with the outside world no longer counted as secrets!

Besides, the sect had now begun revealing its strength to the outside world in a measured manner. Mo Yuanjiao was delighted. Back when he had first decided to leave the imperial capital, all his friends had been skeptical. They had thought he was indulging in wild fantasies and making up that so-called opportunity from his dream.

Hmph!

“Oh, right. Don’t spread this around for now.” Mo Yuanjiao remembered and casually reminded him.

The point was to keep outsiders guessing about the sect’s true strength. They could speculate all they wanted—there was no way they would ever figure out the exact situation.

Li Zhouxuan stared blankly and nodded. It took him quite a while to recover before he asked, “Our sect really has a great cultivator at the Soul Formation stage?”

“Of course. It’s Senior Liao. He only reached the Soul Formation stage a few days ago, and he even reconstructed his physical body.” Mo Yuanjiao immediately answered. “You don’t know this, but Senior Liao wasn’t even complete before. Only part of his soul remained, dwelling inside a Soul-Nourishing Wood. He walked and talked every day while using a piece of wood as his body. Later, Senior Brother Sect Master got him a soul-nourishing jade pendant, and he looked much less strange after that…”

“I’m telling you, Senior Liao used to be incredibly wealthy in the cultivation world. Last year, when the sect went to the cultivation world to trade, I went with him. His cave abode was packed with valuable treasures! Oh, right—you don’t know this yet, but our sect has a way to travel directly to the cultivation world. It just costs a tremendous number of spirit stones every time we use it…”

Mo Yuanjiao chattered on, revealing everything about Lingxian Sect to Li Zhouxuan without the slightest concern that his cousin was still completely dumbfounded—and growing more confused with every word.

Of course, everything Mo Yuanjiao told Li Zhouxuan was information known by virtually everyone in Lingxian Sect.

These matters were also published in every issue of the monthly newsletter, which clearly stated what could be disclosed to outsiders and what was best kept confidential.

Just as Mo Yuanjiao was speaking enthusiastically, someone outside Li Zhouxuan’s dormitory called out, “Imperial Brother, aren’t you coming out yet?”

The Miscellaneous Affairs Hall had summoned the several newly admitted disciples that day so they could collect their standard disciple allowances and receive an introduction to the sect’s various procedures. Li Zhouxuan had already arranged to go there with three other cousins from the imperial clan.

Another person outside called out twice as well. Only then did Li Zhouxuan barely manage to return to his senses. He said to Mo Yuanjiao, “I’ll go to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall first. Continue when I get back.”

There was too much information. He hadn’t heard enough.

On the seventh day of the first lunar month, all the market districts in Xiushui City reopened, and most of the shops along the streets had resumed business as well. Only a few still had their doors shut.

The city’s Trade Affairs Center also officially began work for the new year.

Today was Li Zhouxuan’s first day on the job.

Early that morning, he went down the mountain with the disciples from the sect who also worked at the Trade Affairs Center. They entered the courtyard of the center through the staff-only passage.

Everyone then went to their respective department offices.

Back when Li Zhouxuan had still been the emperor, he liked to keep tea and light snacks beside him while reviewing memorials. Whenever he became tired or drowsy from working, he could have some tea and refreshments to distract himself for a moment and relax amid his busy schedule.

Now that he had joined Lingxian Sect, he had not changed this habit.

After arriving at his desk, he set up a small kettle beside it. Beneath the kettle, he placed a miniature fire-starting formation, which Mo Yuanjiao had personally made and given to him the previous day.

The miniature fire-starting formation consumed very little spiritual power. A single spirit stone could keep it running for several months. Its flames were not particularly strong—just enough to boil a kettle of water for everyday use—but it had one special advantage: it could be set to keep the water warm, so there was no need to keep watch over it constantly to prevent the pot from boiling dry.

The formation seemed almost tailor-made for Li Zhouxuan’s tastes.

There was a well in the courtyard, supplied by water drawn from the spirit spring beside Lingxian Sect’s Guiyuan Mountain Residence. The water was rich in spiritual energy.

Li Zhouxuan drew water from the well and filled the kettle. He then returned to his office, set the kettle on the miniature fire-starting formation, adjusted the settings slightly, and began boiling the water.

After that, he took a small purple-clay teapot from his storage pouch. He had brought it along when he packed his luggage during his return to the imperial capital two days earlier.

Next, he took out a tin of spirit tea.

This had also been given to him by Mo Yuanjiao. When Mo Yuanjiao presented it to him, he had proudly emphasized that he had personally grown the tea the previous year and personally harvested it this year.

He did not know how to roast tea leaves, however, so all of it had been sent to the Spirit Food Hall, where Old Master Ma Changlong had roasted it.