Martial Saint with Passives

It wasn’t an ideal choice to begin with. To then face such a harsh assessment just to switch cultivation techniques right upon arrival inevitably bred resentment and panic.

Seeing the two young women’s gloomy expressions, Bao Da laughed heartily, patting his chest as he offered some words of comfort:

”Come on, why are you two so down?”

”Since we’re here, let’s make the best of it! We’re all prodigies who fought our way out of our respective State Mansions. To make it into the top ninety-nine, which of us isn’t one in a million?”

”Sure, our start is a bit rougher than those Direct Disciples, but we’ve got plenty of real combat experience! As long as we get through this, with our talent, we won’t necessarily be any worse than those sheltered flowers!”

”Besides, we all live in the same courtyard. If we run into anything we don’t understand in our Cultivation, we can just discuss it and help each other out. If the four of us stick together, how can we fail this assessment?”

Bao Da’s words, though a bit of a cliché pep talk, genuinely worked.

Lin Xiao’s expression softened slightly. She nodded and said, ”Senior Brother Bao is right. Instead of complaining, we should hurry up and get to it.”

Su Xiaoxiao straightened up as well, pumping a fist. ”That’s right! I have extraordinary Talent; this will be no problem at all!”

Watching this unfold, Jiang Che’s estimation of Bao Da rose.

’He might be a gossip, but his attitude is excellent, and he has a real knack for rallying people. A talented man indeed.’

”Alright, it’s getting late,” Jiang Che said, rising to his feet. ”We have to go to Xingdao Peak tomorrow to hear the Instructor Elder’s lecture, so we should all get some rest.”

Seeing him leave, the others also got up and departed.

Back in his room, Jiang Che sat cross-legged on his bed. He took out the cyan Jade Scroll, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

’Difficult to convert?’

He immediately probed the Jade Scroll with his Divine Thought.

’Alright then, let’s see... just what mysteries does this supposed most-difficult-to-learn Top-level Cultivation Technique hold!’

...

「The next morning.」

Jiang Che sat cross-legged on his bed, slowly exhaling a breath of turbid air.

The breath didn’t dissipate. Instead, it condensed before him into a white ribbon that lingered for a long time, a sign of the abundant and dense True Qi within him.

”Haaah...”

Jiang Che opened his eyes, a look of unconcealable shock flashing within them.

’So this is the Myriad Phenomena Dao Sect? Its reputation is truly well-deserved!’

After just one night, he had gained a profound understanding of the vast chasm between a top-tier sect and a regional one.

Here, in an ordinary disciple’s room on Chuyang Peak, the ambient concentration of the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Mechanism and Spiritual Qi was even richer than in a Spirit-level Cultivation Room of the Cangyun Sect!

And this was just an outer area, meant for New Disciples and Outer Disciples.

What would it be like on the four main peaks where Spiritual Qi converged, or even the legendary forbidden ground, Taixu Peak...

’If even the most ordinary dormitories are like this, what magnificent sight would a true Grotto Heaven Blessed Land be?’

A sense of yearning stirred in Jiang Che’s heart.

No wonder Martial Artists the world over would do anything to get into one of the Three Top Sects.

One day of Cultivation here was worth ten in the outside world!

A gap like that at the starting line wasn’t something that could be easily overcome with hard work alone.

After a moment of reflection, Jiang Che returned to his study of the Basic Chapter of the Myriad Phenomena Infinite Dao.

However, despite his now top-tier Comprehension and profound Martial Arts Knowledge, an entire night passed, and he still hadn’t even reached the Entry Level.

’As expected of the Myriad Phenomena Infinite Dao... It really is convoluted and obscure.’

Jiang Che lamented internally.

”Brother Jiang, are you up?”

”Just a moment!”

Hearing Bao Da’s voice outside his door, Jiang Che ceased his cultivation, stood up, and quickly tidied himself up before leaving the room.

The four of them then left the dormitory area together, heading for Xingdao Peak.

Xingdao Peak was not far from Chuyang Peak, and the two were connected by a rope bridge.

Along the way, they saw many New Disciples in green robes, all walking in small groups with hurried expressions, clearly rushing to the lecture.

Since the four of them were new and didn’t know the way, Bao Da stopped a passing senior brother and, after a few pleasant words, got clear directions.

About half an hour later, a magnificent, colossal hall appeared before their eyes.

A plaque carved from an unknown wood hung before the hall. Inscribed upon it were the two words ”Wenda Hall,” written in a fluid, powerful script that exuded a profound, Daoist charm.

This was the place where the Instructor Elder delivered his lectures.

The great hall was extremely spacious, large enough to accommodate several thousand people sitting cross-legged.

Although the Elder had not yet arrived, the hall was already bustling with activity, every meditation cushion occupied by a disciple.

Jiang Che’s gaze swept across the hall. He noticed that apart from the ”outsiders” like themselves, who had come through the Celestial Strategy Guard’s selection, there was another group of young men and women with a completely different aura sitting in the front rows.

Most of them appeared to be around twenty years old, some even younger.

Yet each one wore a finely crafted Sect Daoist Robe, and though their faces were youthful, they exuded an innate confidence and composure.

What shocked Jiang Che even more was their aura.

Despite their youth, the purity of their Qi Blood and the density of their True Qi were in no way inferior to prodigies like them, who had fought their way out of the various State Mansions!

In fact, when it came to the solidity of their foundations, they were even superior!

”Those... must be the Direct Disciples the Sect has raised since they were children, right?”

Bao Da whispered from the side, his tone tinged with envy. ”It’s good to have powerful backing. Their starting line is on a whole different level.”

Lin Xiao pursed her lips, a flicker of urgency in her eyes.

Su Xiaoxiao just huffed, and though she said nothing, her expression also grew more serious.

The four of them found a spot relatively close to the center and sat down to wait quietly.

DONG—

DONG—