Chapter 587: A Prodigy
Chapter 587: A Prodigy
After this, Elder Shen began to discuss other matters.
The application form, which had been entered into the records but left "pending" and effectively "nullified", was returned.
The disciple handed the application form back to Mo Hua.
"The matter of joining the sect will require further discussion..."
"How long will the discussion take?" Mo Hua asked.
The disciple replied politely, with a hint of detachment, "It's not for us disciples to question the elders' discussions. I don't know either. Let's just leave it to fate..."
Mo Hua had a pretty good idea of what was going on.
Take me in or don't, make up your minds.
Now that I have the application form, they're still hesitating and pushing it off for further discussion.
It was probably their way of politely refusing...
He didn't think that he, a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator, was worth the time and effort of a fifth-grade sect like Qian Dao Zong, deliberating for ten days or half a month.
Most likely, they would just let it drag on indefinitely.
Mo Hua shook his head.
He never imagined that after traveling all this way, he wouldn't even get past the gates of Qian Dao Zong...
He glanced at the threshold of the sect's mountain gate and sighed inwardly:
"The threshold of Qian Dao Zong is indeed high..."
Mo Hua kept the application form.
Although it was useless now, it was still something his master had given him, so he might as well keep it as a memento.
"Birds of a feather flock together."
Indeed, this sect, with its grand and luxurious style and high standards, only accepting "prodigies", was not a good fit for him...
With such a vast territory in Qian Xue Zhou, he could always find another sect!
"If they don't welcome me here, there will be other places that will!" Mo Hua's spirits lifted, and the little disappointment he felt vanished. He straightened his back and walked away from Qian Dao Zong's mountain gate with his head held high and his spirit high.
However, as he was descending the mountain, he happened to pass by another monk wearing the elder's robe of Qian Dao Zong. The elder had semi-white hair and eyebrows, and his eyes were firm and righteous.
One was going up the mountain, and the other was coming down.
They passed each other without paying any attention.
This elder with the firm and righteous gaze had four golden stripes on his robe.
He walked straight into the mountain gate with an air of dignity.
Along the way, the disciples all bowed and greeted him, to which he slightly nodded in response. It wasn't until he entered the discussion hall of Qian Dao Zong that he frowned.
Elder Shen looked up at him and said indifferently, "Elder Zheng, you're late."
Elder Zheng sat down without paying attention to the others and coldly humphed, "It doesn't matter if I'm early or late."
The atmosphere became a bit stiff.
Elder Shen smiled and didn't seem to mind. He just said:
"Let's continue the discussion... With the recent influx of new disciples joining the sect, there are many things to attend to. We should handle them as soon as possible and not delay, so we can finish the discussion early and everyone can relax..."
Everyone echoed in agreement.
So the atmosphere returned to normal.
Various matters were brought up one by one, including the enrollment of new disciples, improvements to the sect's systems, teaching methods and rewards and punishments, and the treatment of elders...
The elders discussed and gave their opinions, then looked to Elder Shen for his reaction, and finally reached a consensus.
Only Elder Zheng remained silent most of the time, and when he did speak, his words were sharp, creating a tense atmosphere.
But with only one person on his side, he couldn't change much.
For most of the outcomes, he could only grudgingly "agree".
However, half an hour later, when one particular matter was brought up, Elder Zheng took a firm stance and even showed anger.
"Only those with top-grade spirit roots are allowed to enroll?"
Elder Zheng slammed the table in anger and shouted, "What nonsense are you spouting?!"
Elder Shen's face twitched, but he suppressed his anger and said indifferently,
"Elder Zheng, as a teacher, you should not use foul language and lose your manners..."
Elder Zheng cursed, "Hypocrite! What manners? You've already lost all face, why should I bother with manners?"
Elder Shen was slightly angry, "Elder Zheng!"
He took a deep breath and said, "Only those with top-grade spirit roots are allowed to enroll. This is the unanimous decision of all the elders..."
Elder Zheng coldly smiled, "Unanimity? Isn't it just following your lead?"
Upon hearing this, the faces of the elders present turned ugly.
Elder Shen said coldly, "Are you suggesting that I, Shen, am monopolizing the discussion?"
"It's not you, Shen, it's your Shen family!" Elder Zheng sneered and said bluntly, "What are you? Just a Feathered Immortal. Why should others give you face?"
"They're giving face to your Shen family standing behind you!"
"Your Shen family is a behemoth, a millennia-old aristocratic family with deep roots! You're just a human 'sound-transmitting talisman' for your Shen family..."
Elder Shen was furious, "How dare you!"
The other elders were also shocked.
Elder Zheng coldly smiled but remained silent.
Elder Shen said coldly, "Elder Zheng, you're spouting nonsense. You're not only slandering me but also the Shen family!"
"Whether it's slander or not, you know in your heart. What's the point of me saying more about the culture of Qian Dao Zong?"
Elder Zheng coldly smiled again, "I heard that even great cultivators at the Cave Void realm who want to join Qian Dao Zong have to bow down and offer you, Elder Shen, a cup of wine?"
Elder Shen still denied it, "Nonsense!"
Elder Zheng continued to expose him, "Over the years, how many spots have you secretly withheld, and who did you give those spots to?"
"Did you give them to the Shen family?"
"Or did you sell them at a high price to aristocratic families close to the Shen family?"
"Do you want Qian Dao Zong to change its name to the Shen family sect?!"
...
This remark was extremely serious, and the faces of the elders present changed drastically.
Elder Shen, on the other hand, remained calm and waved his hand at everyone, "Everyone, please disperse for now. We'll discuss this matter later. As for Elder Zheng... he has some problems with his cultivation, which has affected his consciousness sea, causing him to speak nonsense from time to time. Please bear with him..."
The elders were relieved and quickly bowed and dispersed.
In the empty hall, only Elders Zheng and Shen remained.
Elder Shen's face was expressionless as he said indifferently, "My Qian Dao Zong has developed from a small sect to what it is today because of our sect's Taoist traditions and the many talented and extraordinary disciples.
"As the pinnacle sect, Qian Dao Zong naturally seeks disciples with pinnacle aptitudes."
"Only prodigies with top-grade spirit roots are worthy of our sect."
"I don't understand what's wrong with this decision, for Elder Zheng to lose his composure and utter such 'blasphemous' words?"
Elder Zheng let out a cold laugh and asked in return, "Among the ancestors of Qian Dao Zong, how many had top-grade spirit roots?"
"There were those with upper-middle, lower-middle, and even lower-grade spirit roots..."
"So, are you saying that our ancestors of Qian Dao Zong weren't qualified to be disciples of our own sect?"
Elder Shen frowned, "You're twisting the facts to suit your argument!"
He paced back and forth in anger before speaking again, "Times have changed, and the Dao has evolved. Nowadays, cultivators with upper-grade spirit roots are everywhere. Why can't we..."
Elder Zheng interrupted with a sharp question, "Who are these cultivators you speak of?"
Elder Shen paused.
Elder Zheng's gaze sharpened, "Cultivators with upper-grade spirit roots are everywhere in the noble families and clans, not among the cultivators of the world!"
Elder Zheng emphasized each word, "Not among the cultivators of the world!"
"You've forgotten your roots!"
Elder Shen's eyes flickered, and he remained silent.
Elder Zheng's voice trembled with emotion, and he slowly continued, "Did our ancestors of Qian Dao Zong toil to build this sect for its own greatness?"
"Yes!"
"But after achieving greatness, what then?"
"Is it so that we can seek fame and fortune, and become arrogant in our accomplishments?"
"No!"
"It is so that we can establish our sect, spread the Dao, and make the path of cultivation accessible to all. This is the meaning of 'Qian Dao'!"
Elder Zheng's voice quivered, "The foundation of our Qian Dao Zong is to 'establish a sect and spread the Dao'..."
"To whom do we spread the Dao? To the cultivators of the world!"
"Only by spreading the Dao throughout the world can Qian Dao Zong have a foundation and a future. Otherwise, if we only seek our own growth and personal gain, no matter how rich and powerful our sect becomes, it will be nothing but a castle in the air!"
Elder Shen remained unmoved, and he replied nonchalantly, "Elder Zheng, what you're saying doesn't contradict my actions..."
Elder Zheng looked at him, his eyes filled with disappointment.
Elder Shen said, "Ultimately, our Qian Dao Zong can only teach a portion of cultivators. It's impossible for us to truly spread the Dao to all cultivators in the world..."
"In that case, we can only start by teaching the prodigies and then expand from there, seeking the benefit of the world."
"Those with top-grade spirit roots are indeed prodigies..."
Elder Zheng's eyes narrowed, "What is a prodigy?"
Elder Shen paused once more.
Elder Zheng scoffed, "Are those with top-grade spirit roots truly prodigies? That's preposterous!"
"Only those with talent and a heart for the world deserve to be called prodigies!"
"What is our Qian Dao Zong nurturing?"
"Cold and self-absorbed geniuses who only seek their own gain?"
"Do they have a heart for the world? Do they even know what the world is? Do they understand the lives of the cultivators in this world?"
"Their gazes are only skyward, and they only care about themselves. Would they ever pay attention to the dust at their feet?"
Elder Shen frowned, "This has nothing to do with spirit roots..."
Elder Zheng nodded, "Yes, originally it had nothing to do with spirit roots, but..."
He pointed at Elder Shen, "Don't you know what the noble families are doing?"
Elder Shen's face twitched, and his expression turned slightly sinister.
Elder Zheng continued, "What a convenient concept, this inheritance of spirit roots..."
"Noble families intermarry, ensuring their offspring have better spirit roots with each generation."
"Those at the bottom of society are just struggling to survive. How can they even think about spirit roots?"
"In a few hundred or a thousand years, the disciples of noble families will all have upper-grade or even top-grade spirit roots."
"Cultivators from humble backgrounds will only have middle or lower-grade spirit roots."
"What a scheme..."
Elder Zheng's voice carried a bone-chilling coldness, "Then, our sects will use the spirit root requirement as a filter, and all those who enter will be from noble families, with upper-grade spirit roots!"
"Those cultivators from humble beginnings, born into poverty, won't be qualified to enroll. They won't be worthy of receiving our sect's legacy!"
"In this world where people seek longevity through cultivation, they will only be destined to toil for a hundred years, like beasts of burden!"
Elder Shen flew into a rage, "Nonsense!"
His eyes narrowed, and he said coldly, "Elder Zheng, are you implying that those from noble families are all self-serving and incapable of caring for the world?"
"As I recall, Elder Zheng, you yourself are from a noble family, are you not?"
Elder Zheng replied, "Human nature is separate from one's position..."
"There are indeed those from noble families who have a heart for the world, and there are also those from humble beginnings who are opportunistic;"
"But this goodness or evil in human nature has nothing to do with the cold reality of social strata. While there may be some variables, the fundamental truth remains unchanged."
"Those from noble families will naturally protect the interests of their own kind;"
"Only those from humble beginnings, who have experienced hardship and witnessed the struggles of fellow cultivators, may consider protecting the interests of the world, the unaffiliated cultivators with no power or influence."
"Our esteemed Qian Dao Zong, which gathers the world's cultivation legacies, is now serving the interests of noble families and clans, monopolizing the knowledge of cultivation. This goes against the very foundation of our sect and shames the teachings of our ancestors!"
Elder Shen remained unmoved and changed the subject, "Elder Zheng, you're exaggerating. The fact that Qian Dao Zong has grown to its current state shows that our method of spreading the Dao is effective..."
"Effective method of spreading the Dao?" Elder Zheng's face twisted with anger, "What are we teaching now, our sect, no, the entire Qian Xue Zhou?
"What debate and what swords? It has all degenerated into a means of profiteering and showboating!"
"The noble families create a ruckus, falsifying achievements and exaggerating their abilities to boost their own prestige..."
"...and the sect even fans the flames, attributing the accomplishments of the entire sect to a single individual!"
"If this continues, the disciples we teach will all become selfish and arrogant, with no regard for others!"
"They may have high cultivation, but they lack the heart for the Dao!"
"And the other middle and small noble families' cultivators will become their lackeys, becoming the powerful families' pawns!"
"Is this what it means to effectively spread the Dao?"
"Are these the kind of disciples our Qian Dao Zong produces?"
"These disciples are selfish and greedy, their cultivation may be high, but their desires are heavier. They occupy high positions and scheme for their own gain, for the benefit of their own clan. They suck the blood of cultivators across the realm, if this continues, what will become of the Nine Continents of the Cultivation World and its countless beings?"
Elder Shen's expression shifted, and he said in a mocking tone, "Elder Zheng, you're going too far. Look at how prosperous Qianzhou is, despite all that you've said about the sect."
Elder Zheng's eyes were like swords, "Qianzhou is prosperous, but only for the noble families."
"You fail to see that the entire Nine Continents are in tatters..."
"Qian Dao Zong is abetting the tyranny, aiding the noble families in their monopoly, allowing them to trample over the masses and seize benefits for themselves. This is an injustice of the Great Dao..."
Elder Shen's expression remained indifferent, as if he hadn't heard a word.
Elder Zheng's anger could no longer be contained, and after a moment, he calmly said:
"The way of Heaven seeks to take from excess and supplement the deficient..."
"...when humanity acts unjustly, Heaven will forcefully bring about calamity..."
Elder Shen felt a chill run through his body, up to the top of his head, and he couldn't help but tremble and shout, his eyes wide in horror: "How dare you!"
"You..."
He pointed at Elder Zheng, his finger trembling, and said angrily: "How audacious!"
"Ignorant!"
"Absurd!"
"Your words are punishable!"
Elder Zheng's expression remained unchanged.
Elder Shen calmed his anger and shock, looking coldly at Elder Zheng, "Elder Zheng, watch your words. If you continue to speak such heresy, I'm not sure Qian Dao Zong will be able to tolerate a radical elder like you..."
Elder Zheng coldly snorted, his expression righteous and unmoved.
...
Outside Qian Dao Zong.
Mo Hua began his plan to seek education elsewhere.
Since Qian Dao Zong wouldn't accept him, he had no choice but to find a way to join another sect.
Mo Hua specially bought a clearer map of the region.
Qian Xue Zhou was quite vast, with many sects, and outside these sects were numerous small and large Immortal Cities that relied on the sects for their prosperity.
These Immortal Cities, adjacent to the sects, thrived due to their proximity.
The cities were well-equipped, providing cultivators with facilities for trading artifacts, dining, and lodging, and some cultivators even chose to reside there.
These Immortal Cities resembled the Secular City outside Wuxing Sect, but they were more regulated and prohibited extensive construction to avoid conflicts of interest that might disturb the sects' tranquility.
When traveling to the various sects, one would inevitably pass through these Immortal Cities outside the sects.
Within these cities, there were also large horse-drawn carriages that traveled along fixed routes, passing through the outer Immortal Cities of the various sects.
Although the fare was a bit expensive, it was still within Mo Hua's budget.
Mo Hua began to carefully plan his itinerary.
After finalizing his plan, he began to systematically submit his application, including his place of origin and background, to each of the "Four Great Sects," excluding Qian Dao Zong.
Although the chances were slim, he believed that it was worth trying.
He started with the best sects first, intending to work his way down.
It was like hoping for a blind cat to stumble upon a dead mouse.
However, his applications were unanimously rejected.
This was within Mo Hua's expectations.
He felt slightly disappointed but quickly shifted his focus to the "Eight Great Gates" below the Four Great Sects.
The Eight Great Gates were indeed numerous, a total of eight.
Moreover, they were quite spread out, and it was impossible to cover them all in a single trip, so Mo Hua could only choose a few to submit his applications as a trial.
As expected, they were all rejected.
Without exception, the reason given was "incompatible spirit root"...
The Four Great Sects and the Eight Great Gates required at least an upper-grade spirit root.
Among them, the Four Great Sects had already started to require "upper-middle grade" or higher spirit roots.
"It's probably only a matter of a few years before they require nothing less than 'top-grade' spirit roots..."
Mo Hua grumbled to himself.
The Eight Great Gates were slightly more lenient, but they still required at least a middle-grade spirit root, which was still out of Mo Hua's reach.
"If the Eight Great Gates won't work, then I'll try the Twelve Streams..."
Mo Hua thought to himself.
Among the Twelve Streams, there should be a few sects that specialized in the study of formations.
With his proficiency in formations, he believed he might have a chance.
However, to his surprise, he was still rejected...
"Young master, your spirit root... is still a bit lacking..."
A teaching instructor from the Wan Zhen Sect, in charge of admissions, spoke to Mo Hua with regret.
He felt quite sorry about the situation.
Mo Hua had just answered several questions about formations fluently, and his insights had left the instructor amazed.
He then asked Mo Hua to draw a few formations.
The pure and refined formation patterns, the confident layout, the calm and unhurried brushstrokes, and the subtle aura of a master that emanated from his drawings—all of these made the instructor suspect that he had misjudged Mo Hua's abilities.
This level of mastery was something only a Formation Master Elder within the sect could possess.
Yet, Mo Hua looked young and innocent, appearing to be only fifteen or sixteen years old.
The instructor found it unbelievable but also felt a deep sense of regret.
"Our Wan Zhen Sect requires at least an upper-grade spirit root for admission. However, if one is a first-rate Formation Master, we can relax the condition to a middle-upper grade spirit root..."
"But..."
The instructor sighed.
"The higher your cultivation, the stronger your spiritual sense becomes, and this, in turn, determines the quality of the formations you can master."
"Otherwise, even if you're exceptionally talented in formations, if your cultivation is only at the Foundation Establishment stage, you'll be limited to second-rate formations. You'll never be able to learn formations above the second-rate in your lifetime..."
"However, the influence of one's spirit root on their ability with formations isn't that significant..."
"The reason why the requirements have become stricter and stricter is mainly because of the four great sects." The instructor pointed upward, continuing, "They are the trendsetters. The eight great gates below them, as well as the twelve streams and even the hundred schools of Qian Xue Zhou, have no choice but to follow suit."
"After all, if their competitors' disciples all possess superior spirit roots, while their own sect has a mix of upper and lower grades, it becomes a matter of saving face..."
"Moreover, there is an abundance of cultivators nowadays, especially those with upper-grade spirit roots. They are in no short supply..."
"So, the bar has been raised higher and higher..."
The instructor shook his head, feeling helpless.
He genuinely wanted to accept Mo Hua as his disciple, but he had no say in the matter. His position was too lowly to make such decisions.
He didn't dare to consult the elders either. On previous occasions, when he had encountered disciples with exceptional talent in formations but slightly inferior spirit roots, he had inquired with the elders, only to be rejected each time.
The elders had said, "Our Wan Zhen Sect is a formation sect. A two-legged toad is hard to come by, but a two-legged formation master is not a rare sight."
"Rules are rules. Having one or two more or less second-rate formation masters won't make much of a difference. It's not worth breaking the rules for this."
Mo Hua sighed. He could only accept reality and once again lower his expectations, turning to the "Hundred Schools of Qian Xue Zhou" for acceptance.
Most of the Hundred Schools in Qian Xue Zhou required "upper-grade" spirit roots for admission, but some had special requirements. For example, they might relax the conditions for those with special talents in pill refining, artifact forging, talisman inscribing, or formation drawing.
These schools were more realistic and knew their place, so they weren't as strict as the more prestigious sects.
Indeed, among the Hundred Schools of Qian Xue Zhou, there were some that were willing to accept Mo Hua.
They were willing to lower their admission standards to accept a "middle-lower grade" spirit root.
However, Mo Hua couldn't join them.
Because...
It was too expensive...
The initiation fee of these schools, known as "lingshi sums," was actually several times higher than that of the more prestigious sects, including the Four Great Sects, the Eight Great Gates, and the Twelve Streams!
While they had lowered the requirements for spirit roots, they hadn't lowered the financial requirements.
Mo Hua couldn't afford the initiation fee, so he still couldn't join.
The more inferior the sect, the more exorbitant the fees! Mo Hua deeply sighed, feeling helpless.
It seemed that Qian Xue Zhou was not as it appeared on the surface.
It was also completely different from what he had imagined.
This place didn't seem to be purely dedicated to academic pursuits...
"What should I do now?"
Mo Hua pondered his options but couldn't come up with a good solution. Finally, he decided to find a place to settle down temporarily and figure things out from there.
If all else failed, he could start by studying formations himself, striving to become a second-rate formation master. Then, he could earn spirit stones by drawing formations in the various immortal cities of Qian Xue Zhou, and perhaps he would stumble upon other opportunities along the way...
...
A few days later, Wen Renwan also learned about Mo Hua's situation.
She had been busy taking care of Yu'er, asking the pill masters of the Wen Ren family to examine the child for any hidden injuries, latent ailments, or demonic influences.
Shangguan Yi also invited people to divine Yu'er's fortune, checking for any signs of impending doom.
After several days, it was confirmed that Yu'er was safe and sound.
Relieved, Wen Renwan naturally thought of Mo Hua.
Although Mo Hua had said that he didn't expect any repayment, Wen Renwan still felt a sense of gratitude. She secretly arranged for people to protect Mo Hua and keep an eye on what he was up to.
When she heard that Qian Dao Zong had not accepted Mo Hua, she became furious. "How dare they reject Yu'er's savior?!
Upon learning that Mo Hua's applications to various sects had been unanimously rejected, she grew even angrier. "Blind fools!"
"How can they refuse such a good child like Mo Hua?!"
Shangguan Yi, standing by her side, found this reaction a bit amusing.
What did any of this have to do with whether or not Mo Hua was a good child who had saved Yu'er? The sects were looking at talent, bloodlines, and family backgrounds.
This was nothing but irrational anger...
However, Shangguan Yi dared not voice these thoughts. If he did, he would be sleeping in the study for the next few months...
So, he simply nodded and said, "Yes, yes..."
Shangguan Yi understood his wife's temperament. She was loyal and righteous, usually intelligent, but when it came to those she cared about, she tended to be a bit biased and protective.
Once upon a time, he had been the one she cared about the most, but ever since their son was born, he had been relegated to the sidelines...
Shangguan Yi felt helpless.
(End of Chapter)
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