Exploring Immortality Cultivation

By August, the weather had already cooled down. Since White Dew had just passed, droplets of water hung everywhere in the morning. Some refined people actually liked to collect these dewdrops to brew tea.

But today, the peak of Xin Mountain was definitely not a good time to collect tea water. The place was packed with people, stirring up quite a bit of dust. If anyone had the misfortune of collecting dew here, they most likely would end up with a tea half-filled with ash.

Today was the day when this year's ten thousand new disciples from the top ten Immortal Institutes were set to head to their respective sects.

Although the Martial Arts Examination had ended in mid-July, and scoring the Ten Thousand Immortals Illusion Realm was a matter of minutes, new disciples still had to go through the Heart Inquiry Pass. It wasn't a small project to conduct a "Heart Inquiry" for ten thousand people individually, and not everyone was like Wang Qi, who had two Carefrees and a Great Grandmaster arrange his Heart Inquiry Pass in advance.

Only after the Heart Inquiry Pass did other cultivators confirm their sect affiliations.

Mao Zimiao got her wish to become an Inner Sect Disciple of the Spirit Beast Mountain in Tianling Ridge. Although from the expression of the cat-eared girl and the twitching of her ears, she thought this was an extraordinary performance, Wang Qi knew that this was the expected result.

After all, who else but someone like Ai Qinglan to tutor her before the exam?

Wu Fan chose Mountain River City, a first-rate sect just below the five supreme ones, and was still quite ahead among his batch of Inner Sect Disciples. It wasn't impossible for him to contest the position of a True Inheritor three years later.

As for Wang Qi's friends, the most astonishing was Wu Shiqin. She became a True Inheritor of the Thunder Pavilion of Guiyi Alliance, receiving a thoroughly secured undergraduate and master's treatment. Su Junyu exclaimed upon learning of the result, "This girl has made great progress."

After all, just a year ago she was the careless one who could turn a Supreme Divine Skill like Heavenly Song into the third-rate mental method of the Thunderstorm Technique.

Most of the other people Wang Qi knew achieved their desired results.

Ai Changyuan, needless to say, was this session's most impressive disciple. He could choose any sect or school. The only thing that surprised people was that he didn't choose the Elemental Power Sect, founded by Yuanli Master, but instead the Light Hall of the Guiyi Alliance.

But to Wang Qi, this seemed quite normal. That kid had ambitions to research the four fundamental forces. The Elemental Power Sect had an edge only in classical mechanics, while for the four fundamental forces, particularly the original spirit aspect, the reliable place was the Light Hall, guarded by the Taiyi Heavenly Venerable.

By the way, it's worth mentioning that the little girl who always followed Ai Changyuan around also entered the Light Hall as an Inner Disciple, making it a perfect duo, cough cough, Wang Qi seriously stated that this was definitely not out of jealousy.

Having a girlfriend to research with, I haven't even dreamt of that, damn it!

Among those also from Xinyue, Liu Shu and Long Shulin respectively became True Inheritors of Liuyun Sect and Inner Disciples of Thunder Pavilion, which was also a decent outcome.

The only slight regret was Bao Xiaoya. Direct recruitment as a True Inheritor of the top five was not available every year; having one every two or three years was already frequent. Since this year produced Wang Qi, she could only join Wanfa Sect as an Inner Sect Disciple.

But the good thing was that the single-minded girl didn't have enough soul power to spare for blaming Wang Qi. Once she learned she couldn't become a True Inheritor of Wanfa Sect immediately, she started considering her promotion in three years.

As for Wang Qi, who had beaten her, not only did she bear no grudge against him, she was very close to him. During the days of the Heart Inquiry Pass, she was the one who visited Wang Qi the most, to the point that Mao Zimiao almost transformed and tore Wang Zhenqi apart.

During this half month, Wang Qi and Bao Xiaoya exchanged many cultivation insights, and both felt that they gained a lot. That's the Bo Family's advantage—if you are an Arithmetician with status or potential, the Bo Family's goodwill towards you is locked at MAX.

These days were probably the most relaxed and satisfying for Wang Qi in Xinyue; no pressure from exams and free to research whatever he wanted or play however he liked.

However, the fun times lasted only half a month, and it was soon time to say goodbye.

Ai Changyuan and Bao Xiaoya's family were both prestigious and wealthy. They didn't care for the Immortal Alliance's free transport to the sects, and they had left early to report the good news at home, so they weren't present here. It's worth mentioning that Bao Xiaoya, who was still in the Qi Cultivation Stage and did not have a personal calculator, insisted on giving her elder brother's Illusion Immortal Record - which was akin to an online ID - to Wang Qi, to facilitate future contact between them.

Receiving it amidst Bao Xiaofeng's almost tangible murderous intent, Wang Qi accepted it with a sense of profound emotion.

Other farewells were much more peaceful.

Mao Zimiao, teary-eyed, clung to Wang Qi, saying, "Xiao Qi, you have to take care of yourself out there, meow."

Wang Qi patted the girl's head, "Ahaha, it's not like I'm going to let you surpass me, you silly cat."

Wu Shiqin couldn't stand it any longer, "Don't always talk about her like that. And—without these five years of study, you're going to be far behind. I will definitely look for you in five years for a rematch."

Wang Qi helplessly waved his hand, "As a researcher, always thinking about fighting, what's the point?"

Wu Shiqin paused for a moment, "Anyway, take care."

"I will, I will!"

Su Junyu patted Wang Qi's shoulder, "Brother, anyhow, this time... I'm sorry."

His duty was to escort this batch of new disciples to Wanfa Sect. He felt somewhat guilty that Wang Qi was deprived of the chance to join the sect for the next five years.

Wang Qi shook his head, "It's okay, Wanfa Sect owes me five years, you don't. Besides, it's the Sect Leader who's not playing fair this time."

Upon consideration, Su Junyu said, "If you have problems, just contact us with a calculator... Although, your Senior Sister Ai and I are almost at the point of preparing for Core Formation, so we won't have much time and you might not be able to reach us."

Unaware that Bao Xiaoya and Bao Xiaofeng had exchanged Illusion Immortal Records with Wang Qi, Su Junyu, Ai Qinglan, and other Foundation Establishment Assistants also left their contact information with him.

But then again, all of them were scientific research personnel, and once they were involved in some significant research project, it was common to be unable to spare a few days.

Wang Qi had no expectations of relying on these friends to compensate for the benefits of studying at the sect for five years. Without any disappointment, he waved his hand and said, "I'll be fine. On your way, then."

After watching his friends board their respective Spirit Boats, Wang Qi leisurely turned around and headed towards another Spirit Boat. Unlike the other boats serving the public affairs of the Immortal Alliance, this one was much older and privately-owned.

The higher-ups of Wanfa Sect, or rather Chen Jingyun, that guy, had arranged for him to work in Wanfa Sect's external affairs department. Starting in external affairs right after graduating from the Immortal Institute, strictly speaking, it was a treatment akin to that of an Outer Disciple. It didn't quite match Wang Qi's identity as a True Inheritor.

But who cares? As long as the discount for Merit exchange and the privilege of accessing information remained, within three years, I'll be the champion of the research world!

However, before boarding the ship, Wang Qi was stopped by an unexpected person.