Xu Ning initially thought it would be some time before Shen Yuwei returned.
Zhaoyue Cliff remained quiet for a few more days.
There was no bone-chilling wind like the one on Cold Sword Peak, and thanks to the effects of the Warm Jade Body, his body was recovering.
The scabs on his wrist had already fallen off, and his left hand could finally muster a little strength.
Although he still looked somewhat sickly, he was much more spirited.
‘Good thing I have such a convenient physique.’
Xu Ning thought this occasionally.
But as soon as the thought arose, he suppressed it.
Given all the trouble it had caused him, there was nothing to be thankful for.
Unexpectedly, on the morning of the fifth day, a flash of sword light descended outside Zhaoyue Cliff.
The sword light converged, and the flower branches in the courtyard swayed wildly in the wind.
Shen Yuwei stepped out from the sword light, her sleeves rustling slightly.
She still wore the same plain moon-white robe, her hair bun neatly pinned, but there was a hint of undisguised fatigue between her brows.
Compared to the night she left, her breathing was much calmer. If Xu Ning hadn’t known about her lingering injury, he could hardly have detected any signs of weakness.
Xu Ning, who had been in the courtyard, promptly rose and bowed.
“Master Shen.”
Shen Yuwei nodded with a faint smile, then quickly turned her gaze to the medicine box on the table.
“Did someone from the Pill Hall come?”
Xu Ning nodded.
He recounted Chen Heng’s delivery of the medicine and the matter of the Guest Elder assessment.
As for the rumors and Chen Heng’s attitude, he didn’t mention them.
Those things had nothing to do with her, and bringing them up would feel like complaining. Xu Ning didn’t want to do that.
After listening, Shen Yuwei walked to the table and picked up the talisman paper he handed over.
“This is indeed a notification talisman from the Precepts Hall.”
Xu Ning asked, “Is what he said true?”
“Half of it is true.”
Shen Yuwei placed the white talisman back on the table.
“The Guest Elder token does need to be registered. Anyone holding the token who wishes to act under the Taiwei Immortal Sect’s identity as a guest elder must also pass a round of assessment.”
At this point, a helpless smile appeared on her face.
“I was negligent in this matter.”
Xu Ning looked up at her, his eyes clear.
Shen Yuwei explained, “I was away from the sect for many years. After returning, I went straight to Cold Sword Peak, and then got caught up in my old injury. I temporarily forgot that the Guest Elder token still required this procedure. It was truly not my intention.”
She spoke naturally, and there was an apologetic tone in her words.
But Xu Ning didn’t respond immediately.
Would a Golden Core true cultivator really forget such a thing?
This thought flashed through his mind.
Seeing Shen Yuwei’s open expression, she didn’t seem to be deliberately hiding anything.
Xu Ning lowered his eyes.
“I see.”
Shen Yuwei said seriously, “And what the Pill Hall disciple said about people dying in the assessment is also true.”
At this, she suddenly cracked a faint smile.
“But that’s not because the sect deliberately sends people to their deaths.”
“The path of cultivation is inherently risky. Guest elders take the sect’s resources, so they must also prove that they have at least some capability to handle unexpected situations.”
Xu Ning could understand that.
Looking at the white talisman between Shen Yuwei’s fingers, he said, “But I never actually intended to become a guest elder.”
“Master Shen gave me the token for temporary protection. If it’s going to be this much trouble, there’s no need.”
The resistance in his words was quite obvious.
Shen Yuwei smoothed her robe and sat down at the stone table in the courtyard, gesturing for him to come over.
Xu Ning sat across from her.
Looking at the young man before her, upright and slender as a bamboo, her eyes showed nothing but undisguised admiration.
With such appearance, even if he couldn’t cultivate, having him by her side as company would be a pleasing sight.
Let alone the fact that he was no mere vase.
Whether in household chores or in taking care of people, he was extremely attentive.
During these days by her disciple’s side, she had learned many things and gained a better understanding of Xu Ning.
“I know you want to return to Green Pond Town, but you can’t go back yet, can you?”
Shen Yuwei said gently, “As I told you before, the spiritual energy in your body right now… Hmm?”
Before she could finish, she suddenly stopped.
Her gaze fell on Xu Ning, and a hint of surprise appeared in her eyes.
“You’ve already drawn qi into your body?”
Since he had been discovered, Xu Ning admitted straightforwardly, “I tried following the Qi Attraction Technique these past few days. I can only draw in a little, and it doesn’t stay long.”
Shen Yuwei looked at him for a moment, then suddenly laughed.
“You call this ‘a little’?”
If she hadn’t known his nature, she might have thought he was boasting.
The spiritual energy inside Xu Ning, though thin, had already begun circulating in response to his body’s rhythm. To have achieved this level without any cultivation technique was astonishing.
Shen Yuwei suppressed a tremor in her heart.
He was even more reminiscent of a heavenly treasure.
Seeing Xu Ning’s confused expression, she explained, “For an ordinary person to sense the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, it takes at least ten days to half a month, sometimes even several months without success.”
“Without any guidance, relying only on the most basic Qi Attraction Technique, you’ve already stepped through the threshold. This shows your talent is exceptional.”
Xu Ning fell silent.
“Perhaps it was because you guided me that night.”
As soon as the words left his mouth, the expressions on both their faces froze simultaneously.
Shen Yuwei’s eyelashes drooped slightly, even her hand preparing tea stopped.
But as the warmth rose and the fragrance of tea spread, they quickly returned to normal.
“Perhaps that played a part.”
She looked up at him, her expression calm. “But this only further proves that you cannot leave Taiwei Immortal Sect rashly.”
“If you can protect yourself before leaving, won’t that be safer?”
Xu Ning looked at her. Her eyes, gentle as water, held no trace of coercion.
“Are you saying I should become a rogue cultivator, Master Shen, and be free?”
“Rogue cultivators are probably not as free as you think.”
Shen Yuwei smiled faintly. “They have their own circles too. Those who are alone are more easily targeted.”
“And you will be even more dangerous.”
She tapped the table lightly with her fingertip.
“Furthermore, there are demonic cultivators. Your abnormality will definitely attract the attention of people like that.”
Xu Ning’s eyelids flickered slightly, a trace of worry appearing.
“Even someone like me would draw their notice?”
Although he didn’t know the differences in cultivation methods, anything related to the word “demon” was unlikely to be an easy opponent.
Shen Yuwei nodded. “Naturally.”
“Even within righteous immortal sects, there are those who become greedy.”
“If demonic cultivators learned of the wondrous nature of your spiritual energy, do you think they would play by the rules with you?”
Xu Ning recalled the words the system had once given him.
If Lu Hanyi died, and the immortal sect investigated, he would be refined into a Warm Jade Pill by the Taiwei Pill Hall.
Even people within the immortal sect were like this. What about those outside? He could barely imagine.
Xu Ning looked at her.
“Do you think I should take the assessment, Master Shen?”
Shen Yuwei didn’t answer him immediately. Instead, she continued, “The identity of a guest elder comes with fewer restrictions than a disciple.”
“After passing the assessment, you can freely enter and leave certain parts of the sect. You can also accept some simple tasks to exchange for the medicines and techniques you need.”
“And what you need most right now is a technique.”
Shen Yuwei said, “The Qi Attraction Technique can only let you knock on the door. It cannot support you in truly moving forward.”
“If you don’t want to, I won’t make the decision for you. But if you ask for my opinion, I would say this path is safer than leaving the sect directly.”
Xu Ning let out a helpless smile.
“You don’t have to be so cautious in answering me, Master Shen.”
Shen Yuwei was only showing him kindness by considering things from his perspective.
This green spiritual energy was actually so valuable that it deserved such attention from an immortal…
Xu Ning pondered for a long time.
The other party had already laid out the pros and cons. It wouldn’t be appropriate for him to refuse repeatedly.
Besides, there were the rewards from the cause and effect.
He silently nodded, making his decision.
Shen Yuwei chuckled behind her hand.
She only knew Xu Ning was sensitive and needed careful reassurance, but today she saw him more relaxed and open.
It seemed Zhaoyue Cliff was indeed a nourishing place.
After a long while, Xu Ning asked, “If I go, won’t people detect the abnormality in my spiritual energy?”
Shen Yuwei seemed ready for this.
“I will teach you the Qi Concealment Technique.”
“Once you learn to conceal your spiritual energy, then go for the assessment.”
Xu Ning was startled.
He suddenly remembered the reward the system had given him.
It was also the Qi Concealment Technique.
But these past few days, the faint cyan text had never reappeared.
He never expected that the one to present this technique to him first would be Shen Yuwei.
That felt somewhat strange.
Seeing his worried expression, Shen Yuwei gently reassured him.
“Don’t worry. Concealing qi is a technique everyone learns. It’s normal for others to be unable to detect your spiritual energy.”
“Unless a Nascent Soul True Lord investigates with divine sense, it will be difficult for ordinary cultivators to see through.”
If he could actually attract a Nascent Soul cultivator to appear in person… Shen Yuwei smiled bitterly to herself.
With this peculiar spiritual energy…
Well, it wasn’t impossible.
Xu Ning stood up and bowed. “Thank you, Master.”
Seeing how solemn he was, Shen Yuwei’s eyes held a glint of amusement.
“Don’t thank me too early.”
Xu Ning looked up and asked, “Why?”
“You need to practice the Qi Concealment Technique and pass the assessment.”
Shen Yuwei said seriously, “But you don’t even have a formal cultivation technique right now. If I really let you go alone, I wouldn’t be at ease either.”
Xu Ning’s heart stirred.
“What do you mean, Master?”
“I will arrange a protector for you.”
When these words fell, Xu Ning’s expression immediately became somewhat subtle.
A certain figure involuntarily popped into his mind.
Shen Yuwei saw this and raised an eyebrow lightly.
“Who are you thinking of?”
Xu Ning was silent for a moment, then admitted frankly, “If it’s Fairy Lu, there’s no need.”
Shen Yuwei didn’t speak. She simply looked at him.
He continued, “Her injuries haven’t healed yet. She shouldn’t be running around for my sake.”
“Besides, I don’t want to owe her anything more.”
Shen Yuwei could tell that what he truly resisted was the latter part.
Xu Ning had done things for Lu Hanyi because she had saved his life.
Now that he had finally left Cold Sword Peak, he didn’t want to have any more involvement with her.
Shen Yuwei looked at the white talisman on the table and said softly, “Rest assured, I won’t arrange it that way.”
Xu Ning frowned.
“But if not Fairy Lu, who would be willing to accompany me to the assessment?”
He had no acquaintances in Taiwei Immortal Sect.
Needless to say about Cold Sword Peak. Apart from Shen Yuwei, Xu Ning had never seen any other disciples on Zhaoyue Cliff.
Shen Yuwei looked at him, and a rare hint of mischief suddenly appeared in her eyes.
This even added a touch of liveliness to her normally dignified and gentle demeanor.
Xu Ning felt a bad premonition forming.
“Do you already have someone in mind, Master?”
Shen Yuwei picked up the teacup beside her and took a slow, leisurely sip.
She didn’t answer.
Seeing her dangling the information like that, Xu Ning had to ask again, “Who is it?”
Shen Yuwei set down her teacup and smiled at him.
“When the assessment day comes, you’ll see.”