After Yugong got his items, it was the turn of others.
Yiye chose a metal heart core that had gold, wind and water elements with a specification that it was fast and fluid, while Lingyue chose one with water and wind attributes, supposed to be able to carry more weight yet also portray artistic conceptions better.
Others came one after another, choosing the heart core recommended to them by the merit hall elder.
After everyone got their things, Elder He said goodbye to the merit hall elder, before taking the kids away.
As he took them, he drove down to around the middle point of the mountain.
There were several caves next to each other.
When one looked closer, one would see small pathways and stairs connecting them all together.
Elder He carried them to a larger cave, where he set them off.
He explained "This is the gathering hall of this surroundings, which includes fifteen caves. Everyone can choose the cave they want.
Once in the morning and once in the evening, a deacon will come here to offer take off.
On other times, you will have to walk down the stairs on your own.
In the late stage qi refining stage, you can fly on your own sword, or even earlier if you have formed weapon energy.
Alright, this is all.
You can choose things on your own, if you have more questions, you can visit me in the elder hall, the deacon will know where to take you."
Afterward, he glanced over to Yugong, then left.
Yiye and Lingyue instantly moved behind Yugong, as if to tell him that they would follow him in his choice.
He was fine with that, as having neighbours you like is always better.
About to leave, the boy that came from the same branch as them suddenly stopped them.
"Brothers, I wonder if you want to go together?" Lin Xinyun asked.
"What for?" Yugong didn't want to waste time, so he was direct.
Although it seemed like a question, it was more like a direct rejection.
He had seen the way this boy always looked at him – it was displeased and proud, acting like he was superior to Yugong.
The reason wasn't difficult to guess – initially, he feared Yugong would be favoured with his single wind root, but later it turned out that Yugong didn't chose the sword but the bow, a useless weapon for cowards, in his opinion.
Now, he saw the chance to form his own small group.
He was the favourite of the branch, so the branch leader had told him long about the sect.
Acting alone was difficult, not only inside the sect, more importantly, missions outside were usually done in groups.
So, he wanted to have a group right away.
Although he didn't respect Yugong, he still thought Yiye and Lingyue had good talents and that they should follow him instead.
"Well, in the sect-"
"We are all new to the sect and don't know a lot, so there is no need to talk about these matters." Yugong directly refuted, wanting to leave.
"Stop!" the boy called out.
Yugong looked over, killing intent forming in his eyes as he looked at the boy.
It had formed over he years of hunting.
He wasn't actually murderous. It would be extremely immature to be annoyed with a stupid kid.
He just wanted to scare the boy away so he could leave.
Xinyun really reacted and stepped aside – he didn't know why, but being looked at by Yugong made him feel like he was facing a tiger that would kill him in a heartbeat.
Yugong saw that the boy made way, so he simply left the large cave.
Although it was large, it only had few pieces of furniture, not worth any hesitation.
He left to the left, where there were five caves. On the right were the remaining ten.
Somehow in agreement, all other children chose the right, leaving the five caves on the left freely for Yugong, Yiye and Lingyue to choose from.
Yugong saw that the caves were arranged pretty much in a line, so he suggested something.
"Let's leave the first open, to keep a certain distance between us and the large cave.
I will keep the second… Yiye takes the third and Lingyue takes the fourth.
As for the fifth at the back, let's just make it a group room where we can meet together.
The sect won't bother us as long as no new disciple enters.
Even if one does, he can take the outermost cave."
The two agreed, not bothered by the choice.
As future swordsmen, they didn't worry that the distance between the caves and the large cave was too large.
The path they walked on was rather thing, only enough for two people to walk side by side.
If you squeezed, a third person would fit in too… but who would want to squeeze when there wasn't even a fence blocking the path?
Although it seemed dangerous, Yugong felt that this was another method to hone their will – to live at life's edge all the time.
Of course another reason was that he believed every cultivator had a perfect balance.
If you really fell down, it wasn't an accident, but intentional.
Anyways, the three split up soon, with Yugong leaving first.
The reason he wanted to take the second cave was so as to protect the other two behind him.
In case anyone came to their caves, they wouldn't be able to skip him.
'Who knows what these annoying brats want to do… although Yiye wouldn't follow directly, it's better to shield them off fully.'
Although he felt a bit overprotective, it was always better to be safe than sorry.
He came in front of the cave and entered.
Initially, it was dark and he couldn't see anything.
But, just as he entered fully, the sword badge he hung on his belt suddenly brightened up.
A small light shone and soon, the whole cave brightened up like a factory that just started.
He saw a small film forming around the cave.
'This must be a formation… well, it seems the cave will just be dark halls if no person was assigned to it.
I will have to check the last cave and see whether it can still be used.'
But these matters were for later – now, Yugong just entered the cave, looking forward to his first cultivation!