◎The Fastest Cultivation of the Foolish Bird Flies First ◎
In front of the majestic West Gate of the Clearwater Sect, the sky was filled with clouds and mist, dense and unyielding.
Faintly visible amidst the clouds and mist were thousands of stone steps, resembling a mirage, an otherworldly realm.
Around this mist, there were already many inner sect disciples waiting.
Those wearing inner sect robes with silver-threaded water patterns on the collar were at the Foundation Building stage, and those with golden-threaded water patterns were at the Core Formation stage.
Lin Shuang couldn’t help but look down at herself. Her inner sect green robe still had only three lines of water patterns on the waistband, indicating she was at the Third Level of Qi Refining.
In this place, she was the only one at the Qi Refining stage.
A lone wolf, Lin Xiaoshuang.
Sigh.
She sighed inwardly.
According to her original plan, she didn’t intend to participate in major sect events like the elite selection, inner sect disciple rankings, or arena battles until she was strong enough.
Before being strong enough, it was a waste of time to engage in these activities.
Once she was strong enough, everything would be much easier.
However, she couldn’t resist Senior Brother Xu Rui’s insistence on pushing her into these activities.
Fortunately, she had a plan in place for this anticipated pressure to participate.
If Senior Brother insisted on her participation, then she would participate in all three at once, saving her a lot of trouble.
“Seeking a companion at the 7000th level, specializing in both sword and knife techniques.”
“Seeking disciples between the 2000th and 3000th levels, anyone proficient in alchemy?”
“One more spot left at the 1500th level! Seeking senior brothers or sisters skilled in wide-range attacks, whether in sound cultivation or talisman crafting!”
Calls and announcements echoed, while amplification symbols and talismans floated in the sky before the mountain gate.
Disciples kept moving around, forming groups of three.
Lin Shuang blinked.
She took out Senior Brother Xu Rui’s records of admonishing outer sect disciples over the years from her mustard seed bag and reviewed the key points.
“Once you enter the inner sect, you’ll understand that your ranking among disciples is closely related to your treatment.”
“For example, the Zhenchuan trial, which opens once every ten years in the inner sect, has a total of 9,999 levels of mountain steps.”
“The first level of the mountain steps accommodates the weakest inner sect disciples and offers a meager treatment. However, ascending to 9,000 or higher provides resources comparable to those of sect elders.”
“Today, how hard you work will determine how high you can climb in the Zhenchuan trial in the future!”
Lin Shuang read through it quickly and put it back in her mustard seed bag.
She looked into the distance, and sure enough, she could vaguely see thousands of layers of stone steps in the sea of clouds.
Her Eyes of Fire and Gold Technique was activated, and her gaze, which had reached the Foundation Establishment stage with a perfected Qi Refining at 917 layers, could only see up to 3,000 layers of stairs in the mountains.
Above three thousand steps, everything was concealed by the dense spiritual mist.
“Disciples, prepare fully and you can enter Zhenchuan!”
“Up to three people in a group!”
From deep within the clouds, a majestic old man’s voice sounded.
The voice was like a resonating bell, profound and long-lasting, lingering for a long time.
Lin Shuang raised an eyebrow. There were signs of awakening in her several dormant dantian within her body, all triggered by this single voice.
One word almost activated the passive protection of her dantian.
This old man was at least in the later stages of Core Formation, or even entering the Nascent Realm.
Much more formidable than the outer sect’s several transmitting masters.
“Quickly enter.”
He reminded once again.
As he spoke, many disciples swiftly flew into the sea of clouds that resembled a mirage.
Here’s the translation of the text into English from the perspective of a Chinese reader:
But there were also a few teams with two members frantically searching for a third partner.
“Has anyone lost a swordsman? A practitioner of the Dao of the Blade will do.”
“Who has pills? Come join us!”
In front of Zhenchuan’s mirage-like sea of clouds, inner sect disciples were calling out incessantly.
Lin Shuang raised an eyebrow, and the words of Senior Brother Xu Rui, which she had just read, came to mind again.
“Swordsmanship, alchemy, artifacts, formations, talismans… No matter how deep your cultivation, there will still be shortcomings. After entering the inner sect, you should focus on one aspect, but gradually find fellow disciples whose cultivation paths complement your own.”
“In missions, secret realms, and trials, cooperate, play to your strengths, and avoid your weaknesses, showcasing the strength of our Clearwater Sect: Gathering droplets into a river, encompassing all streams!”
Cooperation for mutual benefit.
Lin Shuang nodded; she quite liked the sect culture of the Clearwater Sect. Even disciples with auxiliary abilities, as long as they cooperated well, could climb to high rankings.
There was no hierarchy of disdain.
“Junior Brother Bai, we’re all at the fifth level of Foundation Building, aiming for levels above five thousand. Join us.”
A call from a distance drew Lin Shuang’s attention.
She saw the elegant and white-haired Bai Yu being surrounded by several enthusiastic disciples as he tried to approach Huang Fuyuan.
“Huang Fuyuan has no combat ability left, and if you go above a thousand levels with him, you’ll definitely get injured.”
One of them glanced at Huang Fuyuan with disdain.
“With his declining cultivation level, he might have to return to the outer sect.”
Bai Yu’s expression changed.
Even though Huang Fuyuan was dressed in a green robe today and still wore a silver-sable cloak, he remained calm. With pale lips, he smiled gently at Bai Yu and said, “What these junior brothers are saying is correct, go ahead.”
Bai Yu clenched his teeth and eventually nodded.
As he left, he bypassed these disciples who had scorned Huang Fuyuan and approached another pair of Foundation Building Stage disciples.
“Hey, weren’t we just telling the truth?”
“What’s so great about him? He’s not the only one with a demonic bloodline. Let’s go!”
Bai Yu hastened his pace, clearly irritated.
Not long after he left, a disheveled-looking Meng Zi, carrying a sword, strolled over.
“How about me, senior brothers?”
As he spoke, he laughed and moved the large sword on his right shoulder to his left, narrowly avoiding slicing across the faces of these few people.
The group of disciples almost couldn’t dodge in time. “Meng Zi, what are you doing!”
“Oh, Senior Brother is angry? According to the sect’s rules, disciples are not allowed to engage in private fights. Offenders will be fined five hundred spirit stones.”
Meng Zi grinned and gripped the hilt of his sword.
“If Senior Brother gets angry and hits me, I’ll accept two hundred and fifty spirit stones, and I won’t report it to the elders.”
The group of disciples rolled their eyes upon hearing this. “Get lost, we don’t have time for you.”
“Do Senior Brother want to team up with me? I’m very affordable. During group battles, I’ll serve tea and water to Senior Brothers for only twenty-five spirit stones each time.”
“Get out of here!”
Meng Zi reached up to scratch his nose and left, carrying his large sword.
As he passed by Huang Fuyuan, Huang Fuyuan smiled gently and said, “Thank you, Junior Brother, for venting your anger on my behalf.”
Meng Zi waved his hand. “You’re welcome. Unfortunately, they wouldn’t hit me. I couldn’t extort any compensation for my loss of pills.”
Huang Fuyuan replied, “…”
Meng Zi quickly apologized with a fist over his chest. “Senior Brother Huang Fuyuan, for every five hundred levels we climb in Zhenchuan, there’s a reward of a thousand spirit stones. I’d like to help you, but I can’t team up with you.”
A slight twitch appeared at the corner of Huang Fu Yuan’s eyes, and he smiled gently. “That’s alright.”
Meng Zi nodded and walked away with large strides.
However, as he passed by, people scattered like birds and beasts, creating distance between themselves and Meng Zi.
“Here comes the money-grubber! Run!”
“Have you formed a team of three yet? Hurry, hurry, Meng Zi is coming!”
“Quick, enter Zhenchuan, if you team up with him; the minimum compensation starts at two hundred spirit stones!”
It was as if a whirlwind had swept through. Within a hundred steps, there was no one left around Meng Zi.
Meng Zi: “…”
Huang Fuyuan: “…”
Lin Shuang had been using her Eyes of Fire and Gold technique all along, standing on a snow-covered tree branch, observing everything from a distance.
She immediately stopped herself from wanting to find these two “acquaintances.”
They were just too unsociable.
The Fastest Way to Make Friends – Birds of a Feather Flock Together. Be cautious when making friends.
Thinking this, Lin Shuang jumped down from the snowy branches and headed towards another pair of inner sect disciples who had already gathered.
This senior brother formed hand seals and pointed at a talisman. “Looking for someone skilled in defense!”
“Senior Brother, I’m here.” Lin Shuang was delighted and stepped forward, introducing herself, “I don’t have any weaknesses in my cultivation, and I’m especially skilled in defense.”
The senior brother with thick eyebrows rejoiced and turned around, but when he saw Lin Shuang clearly, he was stunned.
“Who is this junior sister…”
He found her unfamiliar.
“Which cave mansion are you from?”
Lin Shuang narrowed her eyes and smiled, “I’m from an outer sect cave mansion.”
Senior Brother with thick eyebrows: “???”
He stared.
From head to toe, he scrutinized Lin Shuang.
Green robe, green belt.
Indeed, she was from the outer sect and at the Qi Refining Stage!
Senior Brother with thick eyebrows forced a smile and turned away.
Lin Shuang: “…”
Discrimination was blatant discrimination.
What’s wrong with being from the outer sect?
Amidst the serene white clouds, ten cranes flew gracefully, crying out clearly.
The voice of the elder, as majestic as a resounding bell, rang out once again.
“The Zhenchuan trial that occurs every ten years is about to begin—”
“For those who haven’t entered yet, hurry up!”
“Five breaths, four breaths, three…”
Lin Shuang’s eyelids twitched.
In the distance, Meng Zi’s eyelids also twitched. He looked at Huang Fuyuan, who was standing alone, and said, “Huang Fuyuan, why don’t we team up?”
Huang Fuyuan chuckled and held a newly decorated silver wire hand furnace with a chicken and rabbit carving. He took the lead and entered the surrounding mist.
“Junior Brother Meng, don’t consider me a burden,” said Huang Fuyuan.
Meng Zi sighed and bit his lip, then followed. “Alright, the two of us…”
Before he could finish his sentence, he saw a figure in green robes passing by them like the wind. At the moment when the mist was rolling and spreading on both sides, the figure’s clothes fluttered, and the scent of plum blossoms accompanied rapid breathing. Simultaneously, the figure stepped into the illusory world, much like a mirage.
“Senior Brothers, I have no weaknesses in my cultivation. How about forming a team with you?”
Of course, that was great!
A sucker, no, a junior sister who could join them and advance together.
A team of three would earn more spirit stones than a team of two!
Meng Zi was delighted.
In an instant, the space twisted, and the teleportation array opened.
The ground shook, and before them, there was chaos. They could only vaguely hear the voices of people around them.
“Let’s first go to the 1500th level. Luckily, we didn’t team up with Meng Zi; otherwise, he would have charged us for tea and water!”
In the darkness, Meng Zi blushed. “Junior Sister, don’t listen to their nonsense.”
“It’s okay, I don’t mind, Senior Brother.”
In the darkness, there was a clear and gentle female voice.
This junior sister was great!
She was gentle and sensible, just like Xiao Bai.
Meng Zi breathed a sigh of relief.
He didn’t want the three-person team to fall apart before even entering Zhenchuan. After all, for every five hundred levels they climbed, they would receive a thousand spirit stones.
“Hey, what’s the big deal about encountering Meng Zi? It’s better not to team up with Huang Fuyuan, who has been sick for a hundred years!”
Meng Zi: “!”
He suddenly felt anxious and looked towards the place where it seemed the junior sister in green robes had entered, along with the scent of plum blossoms.
“It’s alright, Senior Brother. I don’t mind Huang Fuyuan either. Don’t worry.”
The gentle and sensible junior sister’s voice sounded again.
Meng Zi sighed in relief once more.
Please bring him more junior sisters like her.
But for some reason, Meng Zi felt a slight stiffness from Huang Fuyuan at his side.
Just as he was about to ask if Huang Fuyuan was feeling unwell, he heard another discussion from the surrounding teams.
“Hey, what’s with you guys? Meng Zi is at the third level of the Foundation Building, and Huang Fuyuan has medicinal pills. They must be somewhat useful.”
“I encountered someone even more abnormal!”
Meng Zi let out a long sigh; they were not talking about them anymore.
But soon, he felt a slight pause in Huang Fu Yuan’s and the sensible junior sister’s breathing.
“Oh, what’s abnormal about him?” the team next to them asked.
Meng Zi felt the gentle junior sister in green robes at his side breathing even faster.
Huang Fuyuan turned his head slightly towards the sensible junior sister, seeming somewhat uncertain.
“Hahaha, this junior sister claims she has no weaknesses in her cultivation and wants to join us!”
Meng Zi listened with great interest.
But in an instant, he widened his eyes in the darkness.
“??”
Wait, why does this sound somewhat familiar?
“When I turned around to look, guess what I saw?”
“A Junior sister in Qi Refining, but she’s from the outer sect, wearing a green robe with three water patterns on her belt!”
Meng Zi: “???”
“A Qi Refining junior from the outer sect who attempts to enter the inner sect’s Zhenchuan for the once-in-ten-years event. Isn’t that hilarious?”
“Meng Zi and Huang Fuyuan are nothing compared to this outer sect junior sister. Hahaha!”
“I’m laughing so hard, dear heavens!”
The laughter faded into the distance.
The Zhenchuan array had completed its teleportation.
The shaking ground settled, and the chaos dissipated, revealing clarity before them.
Before the towering mountain pavilion, Meng Zi turned his neck stiffly, inch by inch, and looked to his side, where the scent of plum blossoms lingered.
There, he saw a slender figure — a white-washed Foundation Building belt.
On it, three water patterns were embroidered.
It cinched a green robe with a skirt that barely reached her knees.
Meng Zi: “!!!”
He closed his eyes, unable to believe it all.
The biggest sucker was actually him!?
Then, he heard a greeting from Huang Fu Yuan’s mouth that left him breathless.
“Junior Sister Lin Shuang, it’s you.”
Meng Zi stiffened, his eyes wide.
His gaze slowly moved up…
There, he saw Lin Shuang, with skin as white as snow and long black hair cascading down to her waist.
Her eyes were like stars, and she smiled at them without the slightest embarrassment or humility.
“Fate, Senior Brother Huang Fuyuan. This patrol team senior brother, I hope you’ve been well.”
“I don’t mind, Senior Brother. Senior Brother, you don’t mind me either, right?”
Meng Zi: “??!!”
***
Outer Sect Transmission Hall.
“Senior Masters, there’s a big problem.”
Xu Rui rushed over, his Eight Trigrams Sword slightly crooked on his back.
“What’s going on? You seem quite agitated?” Li Daowei frowned. “Cultivation is about cultivating the heart. Xu Rui, you’ve been in Foundation Building for thirteen years, and you still don’t understand—”
Xu Rui took a deep breath.
He didn’t have time to correct the elder. It had been thirteen years and six months since he entered the Foundation Building.
“Elders, Lin Shuang has gone to the Zhenchuan Secret Realm outside the mountain gate!”
“Please inform the inner sect immediately and bring Lin Shuang back,” Xu Rui urged urgently.
To advance to the Qi Refining stage was to qualify for entry into the Inner Sect. Not to mention the Ten-Year Opening, which was especially for ranking Inner Sect disciples.
Li Daowei was stunned. What?
“Nonsense!”
Once he realized what was going on, he experienced a toothache but immediately sat cross-legged.
He made a gesture.
“Zhenchuan? Then there’s no problem. She can’t get in.”
Xu Rui was taken aback. “Huh? Elder, I just checked the information on the Zhenchuan Secret Realm. With three people traveling together, they will be transported to the first corresponding assessment floor based on their combined cultivation level.”
“If she follows Foundation Building, she can mix in!”
“This is a loophole in our Qingshui Sect’s rules. It should be reported to the inner sect for correction as soon as possible—”
Before he could finish, the four elders’ eyes twitched.
What loophole?!
Which outer sect disciple, with a Foundation Building cultivation, dares to go to Zhenchuan with a group of inner sect Foundation Building and Core Formation disciples to vie for inner sect rankings?
The founder of the sect couldn’t have foreseen this a hundred years ago!
Li Daowei stroked his beard. “It’s also my oversight. Zhenchuan opens only once every ten years, and it’s natural for our outer sect disciples to be curious.”
After thinking for a moment, he took out a small jade card from his sleeve and shot it in front of Xu Rui.
“In any case, I have some connections.”
“So, while our outer sect selection hasn’t started yet, you will take the top three disciples and Lin Shuang.”
“Go to the Zhenchuan Tower, and do some miscellaneous tasks. Observe and listen carefully…”
Xu Rui took a deep breath. “Master, Lin Shuang is already inside.”
“No need to worry; she will be back soon.”
Another senior master, Chen, smiled calmly. “Xu Rui, you just said it yourself, Zhenchuan is for groups of three. Could it be that disgruntled inner sect disciples are willing to enter and compete with an outer sect Qi Refining stage disciple for assessment?”
The elders exchanged knowing smiles.
“You take Zhao Keran and the others and set off.”
“Maybe you’ll meet Lin Shuang at the entrance to Zhenchuan.”
***
Inside the Zhenchuan Secret Realm.
Lin Shuang stepped in and looked up at the Zhenchuan Mountain Tower, which stretched up to nine thousand levels.
It was entirely different from the illusory mountain shadow she had seen at the sect’s entrance.
All the turbulent clouds and winds had disappeared, and before her was a swift and wide river.
In the center, a majestic peak rose, its top hidden from view.
Zhenchuan, this mountain cliff suppressed an endless river.
The entire mountain was dark and rugged, devoid of greenery, seemingly fraught with danger.
But upon closer inspection, the mountain was sculpted with tiered stone steps, and on each level, there were several ornate doors made of black iron, each adorned with carved cloud patterns.
The lower the mountain, the more doors there were, and as one ascended, there were fewer iron doors.
This mountain appeared as if it had been carved into a treasure of a building by some great power.
“Lin Shuang — Are you a fool?”
But at this moment, Meng Zi, with his extreme frustration, stared at her.
“You, an idiot from the outer sect! I’m going to report you!”
He roared, holding his disciple’s badge, ready to send a message.
Lin Shuang shrugged.
The agitated Meng Zi was stopped by a cough from Huang Fuyuan. “Junior Brother Meng, it’s already settled. Your anger is futile.”
In front of the Zhenchuan gate stood a stone stele with inscriptions.
[Zhenchuan Mountain Tower Trial.]
[Entry of the 11,111th group of disciples: Huang Fuyuan, Meng Zi, Lin Shuang (sorted by entry time).]
Meng Zi took a step back in panic.
The moment they stepped into the same teleportation array, Zhenchuan considered them a group.
There was no returning this now!
He looked at the mustard seed bag with sorrow, which still contained dozens of self-made wooden plaques.
—Zhao Keran, why are you still living with Lin Shuang?
—Your talent is outstanding, entering the top three of the outer sect within three years, why are you so thoughtless?
—Quickly stay away from Lin Shuang!
Meng Zi closed his eyes in agony.
Little Bai, not only did Senior Brother fail to prevent others from following in your footsteps, but now he…
“Since we’re here, let’s be friendly. How about I hire Junior Brother Meng to protect me and Lin Junior Sister?”
Meng Zi’s hair stood on end in agony as he hesitated.
Lin Shuang also looked at Huang Fuyuan.
She saw his pale face and, with a polite nod, he signaled her not to speak.
“Although I’m seriously ill, as an alchemist, I will provide the first to third-level elixirs needed for this trip for free.”
“In addition, if you stay an extra hour in Zhenchuan, I’ll give Junior Brother Meng an extra hundred spirit stones. Tea fees, bodyguard fees, separate charges.”
Meng Zi’s back shivered, and he turned to look at Lin Shuang, his almond-shaped eyes scanning her from head to toe, followed by a snort.
But he quickly changed his demeanor and looked at Huang Fuyuan, who was weakly holding a silver-threaded hand stove to keep warm.
“Senior brother is polite. Protecting fellow disciples is what I should do. Why are you giving spirit stones and elixirs… then I’ll accept them!”
He said the last few words quickly, emphasizing them.
Huang Fuyuan was taken aback, then chuckled, “Alright, junior brother.”
Lin Shuang shook her head when she heard this.
But soon, a very familiar square wooden table was thrown in front of her, accompanied by a snort!
The third-level Swift Rune inscribed on the table, with its peculiar shapes and reduced effectiveness of only sixty percent compared to standard runes, had been sold by her for three thousand spirit stones.
Lin Shuang’s eyes widened.
“Humph, don’t die in front of me. I can’t bear the casualties of outer sect disciples!”
Meng Zi took a deep breath.
Then he turned around and walked forward with large strides.
“As we leave Zhenchuan, fees will be charged based on the number of uses! Two hundred spirit stones per use!”
Lin Shuang: “…”
Huang Fuyuan chuckled, but soon another square wooden table was thrust in front of his face.
“Senior brother, this table can gather spiritual energy. Borrow it for your use.”
Huang Fu Yuan’s handsome face stiffened.
Just as he was about to speak, a surge of spiritual energy shot out from the gate, enveloping them.
[Group 11,111 enters Zhenchuan:]
[Meng Zi: Peak of the Third Layer of Foundation Establishment]
[Huangfu Yuan: Elementary Stage of Foundation Establishment (with serious injuries)]
[Lin Shuang: ???, Qi Refining Third Layer (for unknown reasons, low ???)]
The information appeared on the fifth-order magical tool, the Spirit Stone Analyzer, and for a moment, Lin Shuang’s name seemed distorted.
As if in a state of confusion, she hesitated for a while before concluding.
Meng Zi pressed his brow.
Huangfu Yuan’s smile remained undiminished, and Lin Shuang acted as if she hadn’t seen it.
[Group 11,111 enters Zhenchuan, three members with an average cultivation level of Qi Refining Seventh Layer.]
[They will be directly teleported to the 349th level of Zhenchuan (a historical record of zero deaths or injuries in the trial).]
Meng Zi widened his eyes.
He had been to Zhenchuan once ten years ago and hadn’t received such treatment!
Was this the legendary “baby level” they talked about?!
[If they pass the trial, they will unlock the 500th level.]
[If they fail, they will fall back 300 levels!]
Lin Shuang was suddenly enveloped in a burst of spiritual light.
The long chant of an elder resounded gently in her ears.
[349th Level: Seated alone in the mountains, my shadow becomes three.]
Then, in front of them, an ancient stone cave covered in green moss with countless fallen leaves appeared slowly.
Above the cave’s entrance, three beast heads from the water were faintly carved.
Inside the cave, three straw mats appeared to have been there for hundreds of years.
***
[Challenging the 349th level: Huangfu Yuan, Meng Zi, Lin Shuang.]
[Would you like to watch the real-time trial image? Cost: 50 spirit stones.]
Outside the trial caves on the 2,000-plus levels, Bai Yu walked up to a Zhenchuan Stone and was immediately delighted when he saw his master’s name.
Finally found the master.
And Senior Brother Meng? What a coincidence.
But when Bai Yu saw the third name, the white hair on the back of his head stood on end.
Lin Shuang?!
He walked ahead, and his two Senior Brothers quickly followed.
“Junior Brother Bai, what are you looking at? What’s so interesting about the trial images on the 300th level?”
“Huh?!”
The two Senior Brothers widened their eyes.
“Is this team… serious?”
“Junior Brother Xu Rui, your outer sect disciples have really entered Zhenchuan, and they’re on the 300th level—”
“Open a real-time projection—”
“Junior Brother Xu Rui, don’t worry. Oh, no, you definitely have to worry. She’s a Qi Refining Third Layer following a guy with a century-old illness and another one demanding spirit stones! Pills! Don’t your outer sect people care at all!”
At the Outer Sect Management Department.
Senior Brother Xu Rui was talking to Zhao Keran and Zhou Xuanwu.
“Pack up quickly. Follow me to Zhenchuan to do some odd jobs.”
He lowered his head and saw the communication stone, and he was dumbfounded.
“Didn’t the four Senior Masters say that Senior Sister definitely wouldn’t get in?”
Zhao Keran was also taken aback.
Xu Rui immediately opened the communication image.
The image of Lin Shuang and the other two appeared instantly.
They stood in a cave with no walls on all sides, and only three straw mats on the ground. Three golden lights enveloped them from above.
“Hey Xu Rui, they’re in trouble, it’s an advancement test—”
“Only by advancing to the next stage within the specified time can they get out!”
“Unlucky, this kind of time-consuming cultivation test is the most feared in Zhenchuan. Especially Xu Rui, you, an outer sect Junior Brother, she’s only at the third layer of Qi Refining, her cultivation must be very slow, right?”
Xu Rui’s face turned pale.
An advancement test… it was indeed over.
Lin Shuang stubbornly refused to break through, even though her real strength had reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage. However, her dantian still showed the third layer of Qi Refining, as genuine as it could be.
But just as he was thinking, he heard Zhao Keran’s excited voice.
“Oh my! Senior Sister has made a breakthrough!”
“?”
Xu Rui’s expression of distress and worry was only halfway formed on his face.
He looked up at the projection and saw Lin Shuang sitting cross-legged on the cushion closest to the door.
It was strange that she didn’t choose the seat closest to the door today.
Xu Rui’s thoughts flashed for a moment.
Then he saw the golden light of the assessment enveloping her whole body start to flicker.
[Qi Refining Level Three → Level Four]
The words appeared on the assessment stone within the coverage.
The golden light of the assessment, upon contact with the upgrading spiritual energy, opened in an instant.
[Assessment Passed!]
Xu Rui was stunned.
Today, she cooperated so well…
He lowered his head and checked the communication stone; the message from the inner sect senior brother was also stuck.
[“Is she practicing very slowly…”]
[“Slow…”]
[“Slow…”]
[“…”]
[“Damn, why is she so fast!?”]
“No wonder she’s Senior Sister.”
Zhao Keran looked up with awe and admiration.
“She broke through faster than sending messages.”
Xu Rui: “…”
Zhou Xuanwu: “…”
But in the next moment, the second golden light barrier in the image in front of them closed in an instant.
[Qi Refining Level Four → Level Three]
[Failed! Please try again!]
“?”
Before they could speak, this light barrier inexplicably opened and closed several times.
Level Three → Level Four
Level Four → Level Three
Pass, fail, pass, fail…
In the formation, Lin Shuang in her green robe with a red cord tied to her sleeves sat with her eyes closed.
Her pitch-black eyelashes were reflected by the repeatedly flashing light barrier, sometimes bright as snow, sometimes dark as the abyss.
[“Xu Rui, you must save her quickly!”]
[“You guys from the outer sect have ruined the ten-year Zhenchuan trial!!”]
Xu Rui: “…!”
Zhou Xuanwu: “…”
Zhao Keran: “…”
Indeed, she’s Senior Sister.
Zhenchuan, the trial cave on the 349th floor.
For a change, Lin Shuang chose the middle cushion closest to the cave entrance.
Because…
She glanced at the pale-faced, slightly trembling eyelashes of Huang Fuyuan, who sat beside her.
She saw him cross-legged, holding a silver-threaded hand furnace for warmth. There was a ring of bright red fox fur around his pale, slender neck, making his skin appear almost translucent.
He looked as if he would collapse with a single gust of wind.
Lin Shuang shook her head inwardly.
She, Lin Shuang, wanted to become the fastest cultivator, and not disappoint the expectations of the Grandmother Dean.
But speed should come with wisdom.
When traveling, one should make way for the elderly, weak, sick, and pregnant.
Lin Shuang felt embarrassed to snatch a seat from this handsome man who was panting even when talking.
Thinking about it, she gave herself a mental pat on the back with a smile.
She continued to sit cross-legged in this trial formation.
In each of the three trial barriers, there was a trial stone.
[Enter the cave: Qi Refining Level Three.]
[Ascend one level to leave.]
As soon as she sat down on the cushion, she triggered the question on this trial stone.
She was indeed lucky.
This morning, her original plan was to practice for one incense stick’s worth of time.
Lin Shuang was extremely satisfied.
As expected, as she triggered the question in this light barrier, she found that, as Meng Zi had said, it was filled with six to seven times more spiritual energy than outside the sect.
The Zhenchuan trial was not only an assessment but also a great opportunity for disciples.
Many disciples could use it as an opportunity to break through.
She was lucky to have picked up a big bargain.
Lin Shuang felt ecstatic and quickly focused her mind.
108 threads of divine sense in her Dantian were all awakened.
In an instant, like 108 thick spider silk threads, they shot out and adhered to the spiritual energy in the light barrier, entering her body with thunderous force.
Today’s number four dantian, which was on duty inside her body, was stimulated and revolved rapidly.
It couldn’t bear the load and quickly exhaled a small Qi Refining Spirit.
In succession, these events repeated.
Continuously dozens of times.
Lin Shuang closed her eyes and observed inside. The newly generated Qi Refining Spirits gradually grew larger.
“Well, let’s call you the 92nd Dantian.”
It had just been born, and the fluctuations of spiritual energy were very strong, fresh, and vibrant.
The trial stone in the light barrier immediately displayed the text.
[Qi Refining Level Three → Level Four!]
Lin Shuang smiled.
Two Qi Refining Level Three dantians had the power equivalent to Qi Refining Level Four.
She got the data.
The trial barrier opened in an instant.
[Trial Passed!]
Lin Shuang smiled broadly.
She was ready to stand up, but when she looked around, her smile froze.
Meng Zhi was still practicing on her left, with his big sword resting on his knee.
“Junior Sister Lin, in this level advancement trial, a time-stagnation formation is set up. One year inside is equivalent to one day outside.”
Lin Shuang remembered what Huang Fuyuan had said before entering the trial and breathed a sigh of relief. Then, she turned to look at the right side, near the cave entrance.
She saw Huang Fuyuan sitting there, his eyes closed tightly. His handsome face had turned even paler, and his lips were strikingly red.
When Lin Shuang glanced at him, he reached into his chest and took out a small bottle, pouring three pills with rich spiritual energy into his mouth.
Lin Shuang’s eyelid twitched.
One was still practicing, and the other was still taking pills.
Neither of them had completed the trial.
She had completed it on her own, but she couldn’t leave.
Well, she might as well continue practicing for a while.
After all, the incense stick had not finished burning yet.
Lin Shuang thought this and closed her eyes again.
Immediately, the 92nd dantian entered a dormant state, leaving only the number four on duty.
[Qi Refining Level Four → Level Three]
[Trial Failed!]
Soon, all 108 threads of divine sense shot out again, rushing toward the spiritual energy within the barrier.
The 93rd dantian gradually formed within the time-stagnation formation.
[Qi Refining Level Three → Level Four]
[Trial Succeeded!]
Lin Shuang opened her eyes again and looked around.
They still haven’t made it.
She closed her eyes again.
[Qi Refining Level Four → Level Three]
[Qi Refining Level Three → Level Four]
[Trial Failed!]
[Trial Succeeded.]
…
[Trial Succeeded.]
…
The 97th dantian was formed!
Lin Shuang opened her eyes and helplessly looked around again.
Help, they still haven’t made it?
One year inside the formation, one day outside.
She had spent sixty-eight days inside the formation.
“Chen Sheng, Wu Xing, Zhao Zhikai, Qi Refining Level Four 349th Floor Trial Succeeded!”
“I’ve been meditating alone in the mountains, and shadows have become three people: it took 186 days.”
“For now, you’re the first in this level. Congratulations to the three of you. You can go to the scenic courtyard to check the rewards for this level.”
Above the air, the congratulatory red list silk ribbon, accompanied by the elderly’s congratulatory voices, floated past Lin Shuang.
Huh?
Is it their level?
?? It took 186 days?
Lin Shuang instantly caught the sensitive words in the red list.
It would take nearly half a year for this level.
Isn’t this too long?!
Every half year, she had to go on a spring and autumn trip, not to mention the holidays in winter and summer.
She didn’t want to be stuck in this time-stagnation formation for over 180 days.
“Huang Fuyuan, are you awake?”
“Meng Zi, are you awake?”
“Haven’t you broken through yet? How much longer?”
Huang Fuyuan: “…”
Meng Zi: “…?”
What did this mean? She had already broken through?!
Meng Zi opened his eyes and saw that she was already standing in front of him.
“Well, I’ve broken through. I’ve read the scriptures in the mustard seed bag seven times, and I’ve repeated the paintings three times. I also learned three new symbols…”
“…”
“If it’s going to take you a long time, I can secretly give you some tips to accelerate your cultivation?”
Lin Shuang couldn’t hold it in any longer.
“???”
Impossible, absolutely impossible.
He, Meng Zi, needed her to give him tips for speeding up his cultivation? That was a ridiculous idea!
If his Junior Brother Xiao Bai heard about it, he would be so disappointed.
But after Meng Zi completed a small circulation, he opened his eyes, sneered, and glared at Lin Shuang.
He saw her take a book from the mustard seed bag, faintly inscribed with the words “Fastest Cultivation.”
Then, she flipped through it, tore out a piece of paper, and shot it toward the space between him and Huang Fuyuan.
Just as he was about to shout in anger, he saw the elegant writing on it.
[“The Fastest Cultivation of the Foolish Bird Flies First”]
Who is the foolish bird?
Meng Zi stared wide-eyed but was astonished after reading the next line of text.
“Is there a way to make the dantian burst with double or even triple the speed, improving its potential?”
“Yes, the method is summarized as follows:
1. When you find yourself in a fat-burning exercise, your heart rate is high, and your internal spiritual energy circulates faster with your blood, this is the time for accelerated cultivation.”
Meng Zi was taken aback.
What is fat burning?
Heart rate?
But the more he read, the more bewildered he became.
“2. If you encounter a situation where you cannot burn fat, you can take a hot water herbal bath. High temperatures can accelerate the circulation of spiritual energy.”
Meng Zi: “???”
“3. Take pills.”
“4. If the above conditions are not available, use the Number One Line Rail Transit Method.”
Meng Zi: “???”
“The Number One Line Rail Transit Method: Divide spiritual energy into multiple streams. The first stream departs, and after 120 breaths, the second stream departs, and another 120 breaths later, the third stream departs… In this way, multiple ‘subways’ of the small circulation can run simultaneously in the body! Pay attention to the intervals, don’t let spiritual energy collide! In this way, you can cultivate at a speed multiple times faster.”
“Junior sister, have you learned it? Starting tomorrow, there will be random spot checks.”
Meng Zi: “…”
Who is the junior sister?
Huang Fuyuan looked at the ink and fell into thought. Especially the last line, “Junior sister, have you learned it?” The ink seemed a bit faded, and there were creases on the paper as if it had been crumpled.
– So this is the reason you changed from a girl to a boy, ran into the inner door, and refused to say anything? This junior sister is you.
– Xiao Bai, you… didn’t learn it?
—Huang Fuyuan
Between the 2500th level of the mountain path in Zhenchuan, Bai Yu held the communication stone, looking at the familiar but blurry piece of paper in the image, his white feathers trembling.
“Bai junior sister, have you learned it? Tomorrow, your Senior sister will test you to see how fast your cultivation speed is.”
“Junior sister, how much of the Dantian Acceleration chapter have you mastered?”
The dead memories were attacking him again!
Bai Yu was at a loss.
At this point, he couldn’t hide it anymore. He had to come clean.
Yes, Lord…
“Junior Brother Xiao Bai, what’s wrong? Why do you look so pale? We just finished the 2500th level. Shall we go directly to the 2999th level?”
“I’m a terrible student…”
“What?”
The foolish bird flies first.
The young master of the Demon tribe, who escaped into the inner door, grew up overnight and became a man.
From then on, he changed his name to Bai Yu.
“I can’t learn it, no matter how hard I try to learn the Rail Transit Cultivation Method… I don’t deserve to stay in the outer door…”
“???”
In the Outer Sect Management Office, in front of the projection stone.
Zhao Keran also looked up, gazing at the paper with the fuzzy but barely visible title “The foolish bird flies first.”
Her round face was full of admiration and reverence, and she couldn’t contain it.
She looked towards Lin Shuang, who had already laid down and was smiling as she fell asleep in the trial cave.
“So that’s it.”
Zhao Keran’s eyes shimmered with gratitude and awe.
“So, Senior Sister had already given me the answers to the Inner Sect assessments.”
Senior Brother Xu Rui: “…”
Senior Brother Zhou Xuanwu: “…”
“How to quickly break through – Study the first 1,234 pages of the Rail Transit Cultivation Method!”
“???!!!”
“!”
“Senior Brother, can we set off for work in Zhenchuan now? I can’t afford to be much slower than Senior Sister.”
Note: Please note that the original Chinese text mentions a play on words with “The Fastest Cultivation of the Foolish Bird Flies First.” The term “foolish bird” is used here metaphorically and doesn’t refer to an actual bird. It implies someone who starts learning or cultivating before others, even if they are initially slow learners.
The author has something to say:
“Head Zhao’s Notes 21”: “Over the years, Senior Sister has been revising the Fastest Learning Manuscript. The one that Senior Sister received back then and the one I got later on are not the latest versions.”
– Zhou Xuanwu’s annotation: Too many words. Old version, four words are enough.
– Zhao Keran: …
