Volume 1, Chapter 65 – The Involution Begins

Finally, it was the five outer sect elders’ turn.

Elder Jin Feng’s gaze was sharp as he spoke first.

“Wang Teng, Li Haoran, step forward.”

Hearing his name, Wang Teng immediately perked up and stepped out with his head held high and his chest out.

Li Haoran, meanwhile, was a composed young man with a firm gaze.

“The two of you possess sound foundations and acceptable temperaments. Are you willing to cultivate under me?”

“We are willing!” the two answered loudly.

Qingluo smiled gently and selected three kindhearted girls with pure wood spiritual roots: Liu Qingqing, Bai Zhi, and Lan Yue.

Canghai chose two mild-tempered disciples with exceptional water spiritual roots, one male and one female: Su Yurou and Jiang Che.

Hongying immediately took a liking to two lively disciples with fire spiritual roots, Liu Lie and Zhu Xiaoxiao, as well as Chiyu, a fire-attribute demonic beast cub.

Elder Xuanya, charming yet steady, selected two dependable disciples with earth spiritual roots: Shi Lei and Yue Shan.

By the time the selections were complete, a little over sixty disciples had been accepted under the various elders.

The remaining seventy or so had not been selected for the time being.

Below the platform, Xiao Minghai watched as his granddaughter, Xiao Ya, entered under Elder Die Wu, a Mahayana cultivator.

The great weight in his heart finally lifted, and a sincere smile of relief appeared on his face.

A direct disciple of a Mahayana elder!

That status would give both Xiao Ya and the Great Yan Dynasty more than enough confidence in the future.

After all the elders had completed their selections, Yun Yun stepped forward once again.

Rеaԁ οո ΚαtRеαԁіngCafе

The square fell silent, and every gaze focused on the dignified Deputy Palace Master.

“The elders have now finished selecting their disciples.”

Yun Yun’s voice was gentle, yet it clearly reached everyone’s ears.

“Once you have entered an elder’s tutelage, you must respect your Master and the Dao, and cultivate diligently.”

“Beginning this month, the elder of each peak may collect 3,000 mid-grade spirit stones from the storehouse every month to cover the peak’s daily expenses and provide basic resources for its disciples.”

Three thousand mid-grade spirit stones! That was equivalent to 300,000 low-grade spirit stones!

For a Body Integration elder and the many disciples under them who had only just begun cultivating, this was unquestionably an abundant supply of resources.

It was enough to support the initial operation of a small peak.

Delight appeared in the eyes of all five outer sect elders. Yaochi Immortal Palace truly possessed profound foundations.

“In addition,” Yun Yun continued,

“once a disciple reaches Foundation Establishment, their teacher may take them to the storehouse to select one yellow-rank supreme-grade artifact.”

“When they reach Golden Core in the future, they may select another profound-rank supreme-grade artifact.”

The instant those words were spoken, the square erupted.

“A yellow-rank supreme-grade artifact at Foundation Establishment?”

“We can obtain a profound-rank supreme-grade artifact at Golden Core?”

“I heard that many Golden Core cultivators are still using yellow-rank artifacts!”

“Yaochi Immortal Palace is far too generous!”

“I have to cultivate hard and reach Foundation Establishment as soon as possible!”

Rеаԁ oո ΚαtRеaԁіոgСаfе

Excited discussions rose and fell among the disciples. Their eyes gleamed, and each of them was filled with fighting spirit.

Even those who had been somewhat disappointed at not being selected on the spot felt their hopes reignited by the generous rewards.

The elders also wore smiles. The Palace Master’s decision not only gave the disciples tangible motivation,

but also gave them greater confidence when teaching their disciples.

Yun Yun raised a hand, signaling for everyone to quiet down.

“Resources may be valuable, but they are ultimately external things. The foundation of cultivation lies within your own heart. Remember this well.”

“The elders may now lead their disciples back to their respective peaks and begin their preliminary instruction.”

“For the time being, Liu Ruyan and Gu Luoli will arrange accommodations for the unselected disciples and take turns providing them with basic cultivation instruction.”

“You are dismissed.”

“We shall obey the Deputy Palace Master’s command!”

Everyone answered in unison, their voices loud and filled with anticipation for the future.

The crowd in the square soon began to split into separate groups.

Yun Miaoyi, Die Wu, Mo Lin, Fushan, and the five outer sect elders each led their newly accepted disciples away, transforming into streaks of light that flew toward their respective peaks throughout the Immortal Palace.

Wang Teng followed Elder Jin Feng with his head held high, feeling that his future could not be brighter.

Zhao Ling’er and Wang Zhaojun walked beside Yun Miaoyi, quietly sharing their hopes for the future.

Xiao Ya followed Die Wu with curiosity and had already begun asking about some basic formation principles…

Under the reassurance of Liu Ruyan and Gu Luoli, the remaining seventy or so disciples also made their way to their respective courtyards in an orderly manner.

In the days that followed, the peaks, halls, and pavilions throughout Yaochi Immortal Palace became scenes of fervent cultivation.

Rеаd oո КatRеαԁіոɡСаfe

Clear sword cries rang across Snow Moon Peak.

Under Li Hanyi’s cold and strict guidance, Li Zhiwei and Murong Xue began with the most fundamental exercises, learning how to hold a sword and maintain their stances as they sensed sword intent.

The fragrance of medicinal herbs permeated Cinnabar Cloud Peak, where the Alchemy Pavilion stood.

Yun Miaoyi patiently explained medicinal principles to Zhao Ling’er, Wang Zhaojun, and the others, while introducing them to the basic spiritual plants in the Myriad-Phenomena Medicinal Garden.

Die Wu’s Dream-Illusion Peak was shrouded in a faint seven-colored glow.

Xiao Ya and the others immersed themselves in the basic illusion formations and world of runes she created, utterly fascinated.

From time to time, booming impacts and bold shouts echoed across Fushan’s Giant Spirit Peak.

The disciples there tempered their bodies in the most “straightforward” manner possible.

Mo Lin’s Dragonhead Peak had been built beside the water. Mist intertwined with faint flashes of lightning as the disciples contemplated the gentleness of water and the ferocity of thunder.

The five outer sect elders also possessed distinct teaching styles. Beginning with the most basic methods of drawing spiritual energy into the body and sensing the five elements, they instructed their disciples in a systematic manner.

The disciples temporarily taught by Liu Ruyan and Gu Luoli did not dare slack off either.

The two took turns guiding everyone’s cultivation. They did not treat the disciples differently merely because their talents were slightly inferior, and both worked hard to fulfill their responsibilities as senior sisters.

Every disciple in the Immortal Palace, no matter where they were, seemed as though they had been wound as tightly as a clockwork spring.

Before dawn, disciples could already be found practicing breathing exercises on mountaintops or beside the lake.

Even late at night, when the moon hung high, some still worked silently in their residences or secluded cultivation chambers.

Those who had successfully drawn spiritual energy into their bodies worked to widen their meridians and accumulate spiritual power.

Those who had yet to succeed tried again and again without becoming discouraged.

Those tempering their bodies sweated profusely as they strengthened their muscles and bones.

Rеαd on ΚatReadinɡCаfе

Those practicing the sword repeated the fundamental movements hundreds and thousands of times, striving for precision.

The whole of Yaochi Immortal Palace was filled with an atmosphere of cultivation in which everyone chased after one another, terrified of falling behind.

No one knew who had started it, but the term “involution” quietly began circulating among the disciples.

It gradually became their private, joking description for this state of frenzied cultivation.

Meanwhile, inside the main hall,

Gu Han’s divine sense covered the entire Immortal Palace.

Watching every disciple cultivate with such diligence filled her with satisfaction.

These children were the future of Yaochi Immortal Palace, as well as the seeds of the storms that would sweep across the continent in years to come.

“System,”

she murmured inwardly,

“it seems this first group of disciples will begin growing into their potential before long.”

[Ding! Detected exceptionally high cultivation enthusiasm among the sect disciples. The cultivation atmosphere is intense, and the sect vitality index has increased!]

[Additional reward: 5,000 Master Dao Points!]

[Reminder: The Southern Region’s Secret Realm of Laws will open in one year. Host, please prepare accordingly.]

“The Secret Realm of Laws?”

The corners of Gu Han’s lips rose slightly.

“It is time for the name of Yaochi Immortal Palace to truly resound throughout the land.”