Zanxing (Retranslated)

Chapter 21 - Qing’e Flower-Picking Staff (1)

“The ‘Qing’e Flower-Picking Staff” was not an ordinary staff technique. It was compiled by the Qinghua Fairy of the Taiyan Sect. After the Qinghua Fairy finished compiling the “Qing’e Flower-Picking Staff,” she placed this martial art on the first floor of the martial arts academy. For many years, no new disciples had ever discovered this manual, not because the disciples had poor eyesight, but because the Qinghua Fairy said that this martial art was extraordinary, and only those with fate can find it.

And now, this ‘Qing’e Flower-Picking Staff’ had been found by that new junior sister.

“Who is this Yang Zanxing you mentioned?” Xuan Lingzi asked after a moment of contemplation.

“I’ve inquired about it. Junior disciple Yang comes from a small town called Yue in the capital. It is said that she came to participate in the selection competition with her fiancé, but her fiancé did not make it through the selection, while Junior Sister Yang passed the trial.”

“Oh?” Xuan Lingzi was surprised. “What level has she reached in her cultivation now?”

“According to the trial’s elemental energy gate, she is at the Foundation Establishment First Stage.”

“Early Foundation Establishment?” Xuan Lingzi sounded somewhat disappointed. “She’s still quite young.”

If the Lord of Yue City were here, hearing this, he would probably be shocked and astounded. In Yue City, there was only one person who achieved Foundation Establishment before the age of eighteen, and that was Wang Shao, who was considered a genius. However, someone like Zanxing was simply not worth mentioning in the eyes of the Taiyan Sect.

“Sixth Senior Uncle, what do you think…”

“If she can find the ‘Qing’e Flower-Picking Staff,’ there might be something special about her. Let’s wait and see how she performs during the sect assessment.”

“Understood.”

….

Zanxing had no idea that she had caught the attention of Sixth Senior Uncle Xuan Lingzi because of a particular martial technique. After selecting the technique, she went to the common classroom in the teaching hall with her fellow disciple, Tian Fangfang.

The current head of the Taiyan Sect, Shaoyang Zhenren, had a total of seven disciples. Responsible for teaching the common lessons was Shaoyang Zhenren’s senior disciple, Daoist Yueguang.

The name alone sent shivers down her spine.

Daoist Yueguang was already eighty years old this year, dressed in a light brown silk robe. With his white hair and bushy eyebrows, he truly exuded an air of elegance, reminiscent of an immortal. He had a gentle temperament and patiently answered questions from disciples who didn’t understand. However, his speech was extremely slow. Others could say three sentences in the time it took him to say one.

Tian Fangfang sat beside Zanxing and whispered, “Junior Sister, didn’t they say that those who cultivate immortality are skilled in the art of preserving their youth? But when I look at Senior Uncle Yueguang’s face, it doesn’t seem that way.”

Zanxing replied with a stifled chuckle.

Meanwhile, Senior Uncle Yueguang continued to speak slowly, “As mentioned in the ‘Secret Transmission of Qiuzu’s Great Elixir Technique,’ it states that in the practice of returning light and regulating breath, the method is to gather one’s heart from the corners of both eyes to the center between the two eyes, using one’s body and mind to completely focus here. This is what is referred to as ‘gathering the universe into one.’”

Zanxing understood the meaning of each word, but when they were put together, it sounded somewhat cryptic. In the continent of Duzhou, the practice of cultivation was widespread, and many cultivators had started from a young age, learning about these theories. Even those who had self-taught themselves, like Tian Fangfang, could understand it with ease.

However, for a modern person who grew up in a technology-driven society, this was no different from a monkey listening to celestial scriptures.

She had no idea what was being said.

Zanxing felt her head spinning and eagerly awaited the end of the morning class. Tian Fangfang pulled her to her feet and said, “Come on, let’s go eat!”

The living conditions at the Taiyan Sect were good, and the meals were of high quality. New disciples had their own cafeteria with a wide variety of dishes.

Zanxing and Tian Fangfang found an empty table and sat down to eat together. The food was delicious, and Zanxing commented while eating, “I used to think that sect disciples didn’t need to eat.”

In novels, it was often portrayed that cultivators abstained from grains.

“Junior Sister, you don’t understand,” Tian Fangfang said as he took a big bite of a chicken leg. “The food at the Taiyan Sect is anything but ordinary. The fruits, meats, and eggs they use have all been infused with spiritual energy. Even the tea we drink daily is good for tempering the body. You’re on the thin side, so eating a bit more will help with your breakthroughs.”

Zanxing used her chopsticks to pick out some scallions from her bowl. “Isn’t this a waste of resources by the sect? We don’t pay for accommodations or meals, and the Taiyan Sect is providing for so many of us. What if they have to cut back one day?”

“How could that be?” Tian Fangfang looked at her in surprise. “Every year, we go to secret realms and compete with other sects, and the rewards are quite generous. They can easily recruit hundreds more disciples if they want. Besides, this sect is the wealthiest. Why would you worry about this kind of issue?”

Zanxing fell silent and focused on her meal. This was probably the professional fear of a corporate worker!

After finishing lunch, the new disciples no longer had to attend classes.

The common lessons took place in the morning, and after noon, the new disciples could organize their free time as they wished. With the sect assessment approaching and having just chosen their martial techniques at the martial arts academy today, most disciples found a place to practice and study on their own.

Today, during Daoist Yueguang’s class, he had also mentioned that when new disciples practiced on their own, it was best to select places with abundant spiritual energy. On the entire Gufeng Mountain, the most suitable place for new disciples to practice was the “Chu Hong Terrace” behind the dormitory building.

Chu Hong Terrace was located in front of a cascading waterfall behind the dormitory mountain.

Looking down from the mountaintop, amid the interplay of sunlight and clouds, a rainbow bridge spanned the sky above the dense forest, creating a magnificent and beautiful scene. As soon as Zanxing arrived here, she felt her body becoming extraordinarily light, surrounded by surging spiritual energy, which instantly awakened the Xiao Yuan Pearl within her.

“This place is amazing!” Tian Fangfang stretched lazily. “Practicing here is much better than the old shack we used to live in! People in the sect really know how to enjoy life. Just look at this scenery!”

Zanxing couldn’t help but sigh. Leaving aside the peculiarities and logic of this world in the book, just in terms of natural scenery, this journey had been far from wasted.

Just as she was lost in thought, a familiar voice came from behind her, “Hey, are you here to cultivate too?”

Zanxing turned around to see her dormmate, Duan Xiangrao, arm in arm with a young cultivator, looking at her with a mischievous smile.

Tian Fangfang, unaware of the situation, asked Zanxing, “Is this your friend?”

Zanxing replied, “Do you really think she looks like my friend?”

Duan Xiangrao’s gaze fell upon the staff at Zanxing’s side. She was briefly surprised and then broke into a smile. “Junior Sister Yang, did you choose staff techniques?”

New disciples could go to the armory to acquire weapons, and the quality of these weapons was usually basic. If a disciple had the means, they could purchase their own weapons with spirit stones elsewhere and bring them to the mountain. Of course, Zanxing was quite poor, and the iron staff she was using was the standard issue for new disciples in the sect.

“Yes,” Zanxing replied. “Is that a problem?”

“Of course not,” Duan Xiangrao said teasingly. “In fact, it suits you quite well.” She then added playfully, “But I thought you might choose something more elegant, like silk ribbons or something.”

The young cultivator beside her smirked and chimed in, “I think the staff is just right. If you had chosen silk ribbons, wouldn’t it be a case of the ugly duckling trying too hard?”