Chapter 18: Giving It a Try

Feng Luo said nothing more and left the Academy.

Zhao Ji moved closer to Shen Qingyi with a gossipy look.

“Hey, Xiao Qingyi, that was an Outer Sect Disciple of the Zedi Sect just now. Judging by his, uh, cultivation level, he seemed pretty good. Do you two know each other?”

Shen Qingyi raised an eyebrow and looked at Zhao Ji.

“Brother Zhao is curious?”

Zhao Ji nodded hard.

“Not really that familiar. We’ve just met a few times, exchanged a few words. But… he helped me once, back in the past.”

Hearing this, Zhao Ji shook his head a little and frowned.

Something about her words felt a bit off?

But then he thought of something and leaned in close to Shen Qingyi’s ear, looking excited.

“Hey, Xiao Qingyi, if… if Elder Qi isn’t willing to take you, you could maybe ask that guy…”

“Zhao Ji.”

Elder Qi’s low voice came from behind the two of them. Zhao Ji jumped and immediately fell silent.

Both of them turned around.

“Elder Qi.”

Elder Qi looked at Zhao Ji, who quickly lowered his head, looking a bit guilty.

Elder Qi then turned his gaze to Shen Qingyi.

“You want to go along to the Lingdao Sect’s test?”

Elder Qi’s voice was flat and without any feeling, making it impossible for Shen Qingyi to guess what he was thinking. But she still followed her heart.

She lifted her eyes to meet Elder Qi’s gaze.

“Qingyi wants to give it a try. I ask Elder Qi to take me along.”

Elder Qi watched Shen Qingyi for a moment before speaking.

“You do have some courage.”

During this time, the girl’s hard work was obvious to anyone who looked, and it was clear there was something driving her. But she hadn’t tried to hide it.

After seeing her goal, he didn’t dwell on it or hesitate too much. Taking one person along was a trip, taking two was also a trip.

Besides, the safety for this trip to the Lingdao Sect wasn’t his responsibility.

There were managers from the Academy, an Elder from the Zedi Sect, and guards from the Cultivation Alliance of the North Binding Realm for protection. Safety was pretty much assured.

If he wanted to take someone who didn’t get a spot in advance, on account of his face, it would just mean paying a few extra Spirit Stones.

From what he’d seen, the girl’s behavior and character were quite good.

If she succeeded, it would be a good thing, and he’d be owed a favor. If she failed, for him, it was just a matter of a few Spirit Stones.

“It’s not impossible for you to go. But, let me make this clear first: getting chosen as a disciple of the Lingdao Sect is not something just anyone can do. I don’t know why you didn’t enter the Zedi Sect, why you’re almost past ten years old and haven’t started cultivating yet, or successfully performed Drawing Qi into the Body.”

“Even though the Lingdao Sect doesn’t pick disciples only based on Spiritual Root talent, in today’s Cultivation World, Spiritual Root talent is a big part of it for most people. Do you understand?”

Shen Qingyi certainly knew this.

All things change through Samsara. In the beginning of ancient times, everything had spirit, and living beings were pretty much born with the ability to cultivate.

Back then, there were no limits like Spiritual Roots. All races flourished. In the old Cultivation World, all kinds of cultivation systems were common. Those who became immortals, those who became Sacred Ones, they were everywhere.

Later, the Cultivation World passed through countless ages, seas changed into fields, stars shifted, and in the middle of it all, there were countless huge wars.

In today’s Cultivation World, many ancient races have vanished without a trace. Even though there are still quite a few races left, the ones that remain in the biggest numbers are probably the human race and the Demon Race.

And over the long river of time, the human race slowly split into several systems.

On a big level, there were cultivators who practiced the Dao methods, called Dao Cultivators by the world. There were cultivators who practiced devil arts, called Devil Cultivators…

On a more detailed level, Dao Cultivators also had many types. Those who focused on Spiritual Power were Spirit Cultivators. Those who focused on Body Tempering were Body Cultivators…

And in today’s Cultivation World, Spirit Cultivators were the main and most respected path, with martial arts as a secondary support.