## [Village Square - Evening]
The three approaching cultivators materialized from the twilight mist with the effortless grace that marked true masters of their craft. Chen Wei watched from beside his family as the visitors landed softly in the village square, their spiritual robes barely disturbed by their flight.
The leader was a woman who appeared to be in her thirties, though Chen Wei's Reader's Eyes detected the telltale signs of advanced cultivation that could preserve youth for centuries. Her silver-blue robes marked her as high-ranking Celestial Star Sect, and her spiritual presence radiated the controlled power of someone comfortable with authority.
**[Visitor Analysis: Elder Moonwhisper - Liu Qingmei]**
**[Cultivation: Core Formation 4th Level]**
**[Position: Celestial Star Sect Recruitment Elder]**
**[Specialization: Talent assessment and diplomatic relations]**
**[Current Mood: Professionally curious with underlying excitement]**
Her two companions flanked her respectfully - both Foundation Building cultivators with the disciplined bearing of sect inner disciples.
**[Companion 1: Inner Disciple Zhao Feng]**
**[Cultivation: Foundation Building 3rd Level]**
**[Role: Security and protocol specialist]**
**[Companion 2: Inner Disciple Wang Mei]**
**[Cultivation: Foundation Building 2nd Level]**
**[Role: Documentation and assessment support]**
Old Man Feng stepped forward to greet them, his own cultivation aura visible now as he represented the village's interests.
"Elder Liu Qingmei," he said with a respectful bow. "Chen Village welcomes the Celestial Star Sect. I am Feng Wuxian, currently serving as this village's cultivation affairs coordinator."
Elder Liu returned the bow with exactly the correct degree of respect - acknowledging Old Man Feng's Foundation Building cultivation while maintaining her superior position.
"Elder Feng. Sect Master Li Xingfeng sends her regards and has asked me to investigate the... interesting events that occurred here recently."
Her eyes moved to survey the gathered villagers, and Chen Wei felt her spiritual senses wash over him like a gentle but thorough examination.
"Specifically," Elder Liu continued, "we've come to meet the young man whose strategic insights impressed our Sect Master so greatly."
**[Official Recognition: Celestial Star Sect interest in Chen Wei confirmed]**
**[Purpose: Formal talent assessment and potential recruitment]**
**[Status: High-priority visit with sect leadership backing]**
Chen Daoling stepped forward protectively. "Honored Elder, my son Wei'er is still recovering from recent events. If you have questions..."
"Father, it's all right," Chen Wei said quietly, then approached Elder Liu with appropriate respect. "I am Chen Wei. I'm honored that Sect Master Li found our humble efforts noteworthy."
Elder Liu studied him intently, her spiritual senses probing more deeply now that she had his permission.
"Fascinating," she murmured after a moment. "Your spiritual foundation is quite unusual, young man. Foundation Building 1st Level cultivation, but your spiritual senses are operating at levels I would expect from someone two or three major realms higher."
Chen Wei had expected this discovery. His Reader's Eyes and other abilities were beyond what his current cultivation level should support.
"The head injury I suffered recently seems to have... awakened latent abilities, Elder Liu. I don't fully understand it myself."
"Hmm." Elder Liu's expression suggested she found this explanation interesting rather than believable, but she didn't challenge it directly. "Would you be willing to demonstrate these enhanced senses? I'm quite curious about their practical applications."
**[Test Requested: Demonstration of Chen Wei's abilities]**
**[Risk: Revealing too much vs. Need to show enough to be interesting]**
**[Strategy: Controlled demonstration focusing on non-threatening applications]**
Chen Wei nodded. "What would you like me to demonstrate, Elder?"
"Let's start simple. Can you tell me anything about my companions that wouldn't be obvious to normal observation?"
Chen Wei activated his Reader's Eyes and examined the two inner disciples more carefully.
"Inner Disciple Zhao Feng specializes in defensive formations and has a natural earth-element affinity. He's concerned about security but impressed by our village's organization. Inner Disciple Wang Mei practices wind-element techniques and has been tasked with documenting our conversation. She's excited because this is her first major recruitment mission."
**[Accurate Assessment Delivered: Demonstrating advanced perception without revealing dangerous capabilities]**
**[Elder Liu's Response: Increased interest and professional excitement]**
**[Disciples' Response: Surprise and wariness at being read so easily]**
Both disciples exchanged glances, confirming Chen Wei's assessments were accurate.
"Remarkable," Elder Liu said with genuine admiration. "You read their cultivation specializations, emotional states, and current responsibilities from brief observation. Most cultivators require years of training to develop such perceptive abilities."
"Can you tell us anything about the village's current situation?" Zhao Feng asked, his professional curiosity overcoming his initial wariness.
Chen Wei looked around the village with his enhanced senses, reading the spiritual energy patterns and story threads that connected various elements.
"The immediate threats have been resolved, but the village sits on significantly more cultivation resources than anyone previously realized. There are at least five more hidden sites similar to the one we explored today. The spiritual energy concentration here is naturally high, which explains why retired cultivators were drawn to settle here."
He paused, reading deeper patterns.
"There's also something... bigger connected to this place. Story threads that reach toward distant provinces, connecting to events and people I can't identify yet. Whatever conspiracy targeted our village, it's part of a much larger pattern."
**[Advanced Demonstration: Regional pattern recognition and threat assessment]**
**[Elder Liu's Assessment: This level of strategic analysis is exceptional]**
**[Information Value: Provides sect with actionable intelligence]**
Elder Liu's excitement was becoming more obvious despite her professional composure. "Young Chen Wei, your abilities are truly extraordinary. Have you considered advanced cultivation training? The resources and techniques available at our sect could help you develop these talents far beyond what's possible in a village setting."
Chen Wei had been expecting this recruitment pitch, but he needed to handle it carefully. Joining a sect would provide incredible opportunities for advancement, but it would also separate him from his family and village.
"I'm honored by your interest, Elder Liu. But my abilities seem to work best when I'm protecting people I care about. Would cultivation at your sect allow me to continue supporting my family and village?"
**[Recruitment Negotiation: Chen Wei establishing his priorities]**
**[Key Requirement: Family protection and continued connection]**
**[Elder Liu's Challenge: Finding arrangement that benefits both parties]**
Elder Liu looked thoughtful. "An interesting perspective. Most young cultivators are eager to leave their origins behind in pursuit of power and advancement."
"With respect, Elder, power without purpose seems hollow to me. My abilities awakened in response to threats against my loved ones. I suspect they would diminish if I abandoned that foundation."
This was partially true - Chen Wei's transmigrator knowledge and Reader's Eyes were strongest when applied to protecting people and solving problems he cared about.
"A mature outlook," Elder Liu acknowledged. "Let me ask you this - what if your family could benefit from sect connections as well? Our sect maintains affiliate programs for promising family groups."
Chen Wei's interest sharpened immediately. "What kind of affiliate programs?"
Wang Mei stepped forward, consulting notes from her documentation activities. "The Celestial Star Sect offers several family cultivation programs. Talented relatives of inner disciples can receive advanced training, cultivation resources, and sect protection while maintaining their independence."
**[Solution Presented: Family affiliate program]**
**[Benefits: Advanced training and resources without forced separation]**
**[Chen Wei's Response: High interest in arrangement that protects everyone]**
"What would that involve for my family?" Chen Wei asked.
Elder Liu smiled, recognizing his priorities. "Your family would receive cultivation manuals appropriate to their aptitudes, access to training facilities, and regular guidance from sect instructors. In exchange, they would serve as the sect's official representatives in this region, helping to maintain stability and identify threats."
She gestured toward Old Man Feng. "Elder Feng's experience and your family's unique talents would make you excellent regional coordinators. The sect benefits from local expertise and early warning about problems, while your family gains resources and protection."
Chen Daoling looked interested despite his caution. "And what would be expected of Wei'er specifically?"
"Inner disciple training at our mountain stronghold, with regular visits home to maintain family connections and fulfill regional responsibilities. Wei'er's strategic abilities and unusual perceptions make him ideal for our intelligence and problem-solving divisions."
**[Formal Offer: Inner disciple status with family affiliate program]**
**[Benefits: Advanced cultivation training, family protection, regional authority]**
**[Requirements: Sect loyalty, regional coordination, intelligence work]**
Chen Wei looked at his family, reading their expressions and emotional states with his enhanced senses. His parents were intrigued but cautious. Chen Hao was excited about the possibility of advanced cultivation resources. Chen Ling was practically bouncing with enthusiasm at the prospect of sect training.
"Elder Liu, could we have some time to discuss this as a family? This is a significant decision that affects all of us."
"Of course. Such decisions shouldn't be rushed." Elder Liu looked around the village. "We'll remain as guests tonight if that's acceptable. Tomorrow morning, you can give us your answer."
Old Man Feng stepped forward. "The village would be honored to host Celestial Star Sect representatives. We can provide comfortable accommodations and a proper meal."
As arrangements were made for the visitors' lodging, Chen Wei found himself approached by Wang Mei during a quiet moment.
"Chen Wei," she said with the enthusiasm of someone close to his own age, "I've been studying cultivation talent assessment for three years, and I've never seen anyone with abilities like yours. Most sect disciples would need decades to develop the kind of comprehensive awareness you demonstrated tonight."
**[Peer Recognition: Wang Mei impressed by Chen Wei's exceptional abilities]**
**[Information: His talents are genuinely unprecedented in sect experience]**
**[Implication: Sect interest is based on truly rare potential]**
"Thank you for saying so. Can I ask - what's life really like at the Celestial Star Sect? For someone like me, I mean."
Wang Mei considered this carefully. "Honestly? It would be challenging but incredible. Inner disciples get access to cultivation resources that most people can only dream of. Advanced techniques, spirit stones, training facilities, knowledge that's been accumulated over thousands of years."
She paused, looking around the peaceful village. "But it's also competitive and demanding. You'd be surrounded by other exceptional people, all working to advance their cultivation and prove their worth. Some would see your unusual abilities as advantages to emulate. Others might see them as threats to their own advancement."
**[Realistic Assessment: Sect life involves both incredible opportunities and significant challenges]**
**[Social Dynamics: Competition and potential rivalry among disciples]**
**[Wang Mei's Honesty: Building trust through candid information]**
"What about family connections? Do other inner disciples maintain relationships outside the sect?"
"Some do, but it's not common at higher levels. Most cultivators find that advancing in cultivation creates... distance from non-cultivating relatives. But your situation is different - your family is beginning their own cultivation journey."
Chen Wei nodded thoughtfully. The sect offered everything he needed to develop his abilities and prepare for the cosmic-level challenges Master Liu had warned him about. But it would also thrust him into a new social environment with unknown allies and enemies.
As the evening wound down and the Celestial Star representatives were shown to their guest accommodations, Chen Wei gathered with his family in their courtyard for a private discussion.
"So," Chen Daoling said quietly, "what do we think about this opportunity?"
"The cultivation resources alone would be worth it," Chen Hao said immediately. "Advanced techniques, experienced teachers, access to knowledge we could never get here."
"But Wei'er would have to leave us," Lin Suhua said with concern. "Live at their mountain stronghold, surrounded by strangers."
"Not entirely, Mother. Elder Liu said I'd be able to visit regularly, and the affiliate program would give all of you sect connections and protection."
Chen Ling looked up from where she'd been quietly practicing the energy circulation techniques they'd learned earlier. "Brother, if you don't take this chance, will you regret it later?"
**[Family Council: Each member contributing their perspective]**
**[Key Question: Long-term regret vs. short-term separation]**
**[Chen Ling's Wisdom: Sometimes the youngest sees most clearly]**
Chen Wei considered his sister's question carefully. Master Liu had warned him about escalating challenges and cosmic-level threats. The village was safe for now, but larger conflicts were coming. Sect training might be the only way to develop the power necessary to protect everyone he cared about.
"Honestly? Yes, I think I would regret not taking this opportunity. The abilities I've awakened are growing stronger, but I need proper guidance to develop them safely. And the sect can provide protection for our family that I can't manage alone."
Chen Daoling nodded slowly. "Then we support your decision. But we also accept their affiliate program - this family grows stronger together, not apart."
**[Family Decision: United support for Chen Wei's advancement with continued family bonds]**
**[Strategy: Accept sect training while maintaining family cultivation and connections]**
**[Emotional Foundation: Love and mutual support driving decisions]**
As they prepared for sleep, Chen Wei felt a mixture of excitement and nervousness about the path ahead. Tomorrow, he would officially begin his journey from village cultivator to sect disciple.
But tonight, surrounded by his family and secure in their support, he felt ready for whatever challenges lay ahead.
The tutorial village phase of his cultivation journey was ending. The real cultivation world was about to begin.
**[Chapter 17 Complete]**