Two days later at dawn, the flying ship sailed into the Golden Spirit Sect's territory.
The new disciples walked out of their cabins and gathered on the deck, forming small circles.
Mountains overlapped in verdant shades, ancient pines and cypresses swayed in the wind, peaks were shrouded in mist, appearing and disappearing.
Streams trickled through the mountains like countless jade ribbons winding around ridges, finally converging in the valley to form a vast lake.
Ancient halls stood silently amidst the lush greenery, with blue-tiled roofs and upturned eaves, exuding a mysterious charm.
Some rode on Immortal Cranes soaring through the skies, some controlled swords and howled freely through the clouds, transcending the mundane world.
Ji An gazed at this earthly paradise, his heart surged with emotion.
Entering the sect, he had taken his first step in cultivating immortality, a beginning much higher than that of a loose cultivator.
In the original world, a century of life passed like a fleeting horse, eventually turning into a handful of yellow earth.
In this world, achieving success in cultivation allowed one to live for thousands of years with ease.
From the azure sea at dawn to the Cangwu at dusk, from gazing at the clear sky to reaching for the sun.
For immortal cultivators, this was not a dream; he too wished to experience the elegance of soaring on the wind and grasping the moon in the Nine Heavens.
Zhang Yuanshan gave a gentle cough and spoke steadily:
"Everyone, as far as I know, after disembarking the flying ship, we'll be divided and assigned to different halls, so our chances of meeting will be much lesser in the future.
Cultivating immortality emphasizes Dharma, Companions, Wealth, and Land. Since we all come from the Cyan Pine Daoist School and are fortunate to be accepted by an Upper Sect today, we should support each other even more.
How about we agree today to meet every six months, to exchange information and assist each other?"
Chu River immediately echoed:
"Senior Brother Zhang is absolutely right, it should be so."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
A single thread can't form a line, a single tree can't form a forest, cultivating immortality isn't about shutting oneself in a room; more exchanges are only beneficial.
We all come from the same place, giving us a natural affinity for each other.
Ji An also nodded, but secretly held reservations.
The situation was akin to university graduates going their separate ways, and promised gatherings slowly became impossible for various reasons, eventually breaking into smaller groups.
After about one double hour of travel, the flying ship slowly landed on a clearing in front of a grand hall built halfway up the mountain.
Three Foundation Establishment cultivators stepped out from the top-level cabin, disembarked the flying ship, and were followed by all the disciples exiting in succession.
The white-haired cultivator cupped his hands towards a round-faced cultivator who was walking towards them and said:
"Senior Brother Tian, this year we have accepted a total of 360 disciples, and here is the roster."
He handed over a gray cloth bag as he spoke.
This is a Storage Bag, containing a hidden space inside, used by cultivators to store items.
The round-faced cultivator accepted the Storage Bag with a smiling face and said:
"Thank you for your hard work, Junior Brothers."
Then, with a serious face, the round-faced cultivator addressed the many new disciples in a deep voice:
"I am Tian Qingbai, holding the position of Vice Hall Master of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.
All of you are to wait here and must not leave without permission."
...
A double hour later.
Currently, only two people remained in this clearing.
Ji An observed the other similarly unfortunate fellow and speculated about their current situation.
Seemingly sensing his gaze, the person lifted his head, met his eyes, gave a friendly smile, and nodded in greeting.
He seemed to be an easygoing person.
Ji An shouldered the bundle at his feet, smiled, stepped forward, and cupped his hands in salute:
"Senior Brother, I am Ji An. It's a pleasure to meet you."
The other replied in kind: "No need to be so formal, Junior Brother. I am Liu Yu."
"Ah, I wonder which mountain we'll be assigned to, feeling quite anxious."
"We'll find out in due time, just wait patiently."
Liu Yu spoke unhurriedly, with a calm demeanor, as if he didn't care about the outcome.
Ji An was silent; the other's luxurious Daoist Robe, clearly mixed with Spiritual Silk, puzzled him.
He couldn't understand why someone from such a family background would end up in a similar situation as him.
Just now, various Senior Brothers from different halls had come to fetch people, including the Artifact Refining Hall and Beast Taming Hall, which were good places.
As for the so-called random assignment, he didn't believe it at all.
The best places would surely be claimed first, leaving undesirable positions behind.
At this moment, a chubby fellow ran out from the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall and greeted them with a beaming smile:
"Are you Liu Yu and Ji An?"
Both saluted: "Greetings, Senior Brother."
"Apologies for delaying the double hour, Junior Brothers, please forgive me! I'm Wei Songnian.
You've both been assigned to plant Spirit Grain by Jade Water Lake, here are your Jade Tokens."
He opened his hand and handed over two white Jade Tokens.
Ji An and Liu Yu took their respective Jade Tokens and expressed their thanks once again.
Wei Songnian confirmed their identities, then took out two Jade Slips from his waist pouch:
"These are the cultivation techniques for Outer Disciples of the Sect, each hall's disciples receive differently.
You two have received the Qingyuan Scripture, Small Cloud Rain Technique, and Thick Earth Technique.
The Qingyuan Scripture is a cultivation method for absorbing nature's spiritual energy and advancing your cultivation, supporting you until the mid-stage of Qi Refining.
The Small Cloud Rain Technique and Thick Earth Technique are Five Elements Magic, essential planting techniques for Spirit Farmers. However, only the first two layers are available, supporting up to the third layer of the technique.
The Jade Slip contains various sect rules and regulations for you to review at your leisure later."
Techniques are categorized into five levels: entry, mastery, minor achievement, great success, and perfection.
Ji An silently received the Jade Slip, smiling bitterly in his heart.
It was one thing to be assigned as a Spirit Farmer, but not even receiving one attack technique.
He cupped his hands and asked:
"Senior Brother, where should we go if we wish to learn new cultivation methods or techniques?"
Wei Songnian waved his hand, speaking familiarly:
"No need for formality between us brothers.
The answer to your question is in the Jade Slip."
He pointed at the sky and continued:
"I'll escort you two to your residence, best to arrive before sunset."
With that, he took out from his Storage Bag three sheets of pale yellow paper resembling origami cranes.
Each paper was the size of a palm, with green Talismans drawn on them.
"These are paper geese, input Spiritual Power into them to make them fly."
Liu Yu waved his hand warmly and said:
"Thank you, Senior Brother, but I have my own Talisman Bird."
He took out a red and white origami from his bosom, which rapidly enlarged once infused with Spiritual Power.
It was an Immortal Crane, much larger than a real crane, lifelike in appearance.
"Quite the Talisman Bird," Wei Songnian praised, turning his gaze toward Ji An.
What a wealthy family... Ji An was envious and smiled calmly:
"I need Senior Brother's help; I have just entered the Qi Refining Stage and have not yet refined my Magical Power."
"Haha, you're quite lucky, Junior Brother. Just opened your Immortal Vein recently, I see."
Wei Songnian remained enthusiastic, infusing the paper geese with Spiritual Power, then explaining how to control them, which Ji An memorized diligently.
The three mounted them and flew eastward in a triangular formation.
Though the flying speed wasn't fast, Ji An was even more thrilled than when aboard the flying ship, unable to resist a long howl.
Wei Songnian looked back, recalling his own excitement when first riding a Talisman Bird, smiled kindly...
Under the setting sun, vast emerald waves were painted in shades of orange.
Wei Songnian pointed loudly at a valley beside the lake:
"We'll arrive soon; that's your residence—Spirit Field numbered Gui Wei by Jade Water Lake."