Half a month later, word had spread throughout the sect about how Bai Xiaochun had completely crushed Du Lingfei in the sect's small competition. The incident caused quite a stir among the disciples.
As a result, whenever Bai Xiaochun went out, outer sect disciples would smile and greet him. This made Bai Xiaochun feel like he was finally a celebrity, and he began to really enjoy going out. Every time he met someone, he would eagerly strike up a conversation, waiting for them to ask his name so he could answer with barely suppressed pride.
This leisurely life made Bai Xiaochun very happy. He had also refined the pill given by Du Lingfei three times before taking it, which allowed his cultivation to successfully break through the peak of the fifth level of Qi Condensation and enter the sixth level.
His mastery of the Technique of Weight Manipulation had also deepened through continuous practice. In fact, he had already begun researching the second realm of the Violet Qi Cauldron Control Art—Making the Light Seem Heavy.
It seemed simple on the surface, but in reality, Bai Xiaochun had tried for a long time and still hadn't managed to grasp the essence of it.
One day, as he was sitting cross-legged in his courtyard practicing Making the Light Seem Heavy, he suddenly felt a slight disturbance. He put away his wooden sword and looked toward the courtyard gate. Before long, someone knocked.
"Is Senior Brother Bai here?" a voice called from outside. Bai Xiaochun found the voice familiar and was a little surprised—visitors were rare at his courtyard. Lifting his right hand, he pointed toward the gate, and with a creak, it opened on its own, revealing a thin young man outside.
The young man wore the robe of an outer sect disciple. As the door opened, his expression turned solemn, and he bowed deeply toward the courtyard.
"Xu Baocai greets Senior Brother Bai."
"It's you?" Bai Xiaochun blinked. The man outside was none other than Xu Baocai, with whom he'd clashed back in the fire kitchen. Xu Baocai had now reached the third level of Qi Condensation and become an outer sect disciple.
"What? Now that you're an outer sect disciple, you still hold a grudge and want to fight again?" Bai Xiaochun gave him a quick glance and instantly saw through his cultivation. Feeling reassured, he put on a stern look.
Xu Baocai quickly shook his head, a wry smile on his face, and bowed once again.
"I was immature back then. Please don't mock me, Senior Brother Bai. I'm here today to apologize and resolve our past conflict." Xu Baocai spoke sincerely—he truly wished to put the past behind them. Now that they were both outer sect disciples, he no longer cared as much about old grudges.
Most importantly, Bai Xiaochun had gained some fame on Fragrant Cloud Mountain, and since Xu Baocai had chosen to join that same mountain as an outer sect disciple, he didn't want unnecessary trouble. That's why he had come.
Bai Xiaochun blinked, recalling their time in the fire kitchen. Xu Baocai now felt more like an old acquaintance, so he got up and invited him into the courtyard. The two of them sat together and reminisced.
"Speaking of which, I never understood why you wrote so many blood-red 'kill' characters back then. Even after figuring it out later, I still have to ask—didn't it hurt writing with blood like that?" Bai Xiaochun couldn't help asking, never forgetting that ominous challenge letter.
Xu Baocai's face turned red with embarrassment. Thinking back on it now, even he found it ridiculous and quickly changed the subject.
"Senior Brother Bai, you should be careful of those in the Discipline Hall. I heard that Chen Fei and the others you pushed up the mountain back then still hold a grudge against you."
"Chen Fei?" Bai Xiaochun immediately became alert, picturing the burly, bear-like man from the Discipline Hall in his mind.
"What's his cultivation now?" Bai Xiaochun asked seriously.
"I heard he's at the peak of Qi Condensation level four," Xu Baocai quickly replied. He was sharing this to show sincerity and help clear the air.
When Bai Xiaochun heard that Chen Fei was only at the fourth level, he relaxed, once again putting on an easygoing air.
Xu Baocai didn't say much more but chatted with Bai Xiaochun about sect affairs. Bai Xiaochun gradually realized that Xu Baocai knew more than he did—he seemed to have a grasp of everything on the South Bank of the Spirit Stream Sect, even secret matters. He especially had a flair for gossip, recounting juicy stories as though he had witnessed them firsthand.
"Senior Brother Bai, in our Spirit Stream Sect, there are five great beauties. Each one is a peerless beauty. For us cultivators, getting even one of them would make life complete."
Bai Xiaochun was intrigued and urged Xu Baocai to go on.
Seeing how interested he was—and enjoying the storytelling—Xu Baocai became even more animated.
"These five beauties are equally matched in looks, but their statuses differ. Ranked first is Master Aunt Xu Meixiang of Violet Cauldron Peak—she's incredibly alluring… Oh, and she happens to be Fatty Zhang's master."
"What?!" Bai Xiaochun was stunned. He remembered Zhang Fatty often complaining about his master, calling her an old witch. Especially when Bai Xiaochun recalled how Zhang had lost weight because that old witch disliked fat disciples.
Thinking of this, Bai Xiaochun couldn't help having some odd associations. He quickly cleared his throat and stopped himself—such thoughts were too dangerous.
"There are also two beauties on Fragrant Cloud Mountain—Senior Sister Zhou Xinqi and Senior Sister Du Lingfei," Xu Baocai continued, smoothly transitioning into talk of the sect's prodigies.
"Senior Brother Bai, you should know that the South Bank has three prodigies. One is Zhou Xinqi from Fragrant Cloud Mountain, another is Lü Tianlei of Violet Cauldron Peak, and the last is Shangguan Tianyou from Green Crest Mountain. These three are truly exceptional!" Xu Baocai's eyes shone with admiration.
"They're still outer sect disciples though, just like me," Bai Xiaochun muttered with a pout. He didn't know much about Shangguan Tianyou or Lü Tianlei, but he was familiar with Zhou Xinqi—after all, she had given him the jade pendant in his pocket.
Xu Baocai coughed, secretly scoffing, but didn't dare say anything negative. He forced a smile.
"Senior Brother Bai, the rules require that all disciples start from the outer sect, even geniuses. But these three are unquestionably the top of their respective peaks, and even inner sect disciples are wary of them. Once they reach the necessary cultivation level, they'll not only become inner sect disciples but likely candidates for legacy disciples. For them, the inner sect is just a stepping stone!"
Bai Xiaochun still didn't seem fully convinced.
"Zhou Xinqi possesses the Wood-Spirit Root and is expected to inherit the mantle of Peak Lord Li and become our sect's next great alchemist. Lü Tianlei, on the other hand, was born poor and frail, but he has an incredibly rare Lightning Spirit Root and trains in lightning techniques on Violet Cauldron Peak. Even the sect leader has praised him!"
"Ah…" Bai Xiaochun was stunned. He now had some understanding of the cultivation world, and hearing "Lightning Spirit Root" made him a little envious. Such a root allowed for incredible spell power and smoother breakthroughs.
"As for Shangguan Tianyou, he's truly remarkable. He possesses a Sword Spirit Body, and some even say he's the reincarnation of a sword cultivation expert. Because of a great karmic debt owed by the heavens, he was blessed from birth. At three years old, he found an ancient broken sword; at seven, a baby Scarlet Cloud Beast fell from the sky and became his companion; and at thirteen, a divine golden light enveloped him. That's why he's called Tianyou—'Heaven's Blessing.' His appearance shocked even the sect's grand elders," Xu Baocai concluded with pride, finally seeing the awe he expected in Bai Xiaochun's eyes.
"Heaven's blessing? Reincarnated expert? Three years old? This guy's luck is unreal!" Bai Xiaochun sucked in a cold breath, eyes wide, vowing then and there to never cross someone even Heaven felt guilty toward.
"These three are guaranteed to reach Foundation Establishment. Senior Brother Bai, we all say that becoming an outer sect disciple is like a fish leaping over the dragon gate. But in truth, breaking through Qi Condensation to reach Foundation Establishment—that's the real leap. From that moment on, your very life essence changes. Your lifespan increases by a full one hundred years," Xu Baocai said, then sighed.
While he was still sighing, Bai Xiaochun's eyes lit up like never before. His body even trembled. He grabbed Xu Baocai's arm tightly.
"Did you just say... Foundation Establishment adds one hundred years of lifespan?!"
Xu Baocai was startled. Seeing Bai Xiaochun's bloodshot eyes, he nodded in fear.
Bai Xiaochun's breathing immediately turned rapid. He began pacing madly through the courtyard, waving his hands in the air as if grasping at something. His eyes gleamed like a madman's, muttering to himself and occasionally bursting into eerie laughter.
Xu Baocai was now thoroughly spooked and quickly stood up to take his leave. Bai Xiaochun paid him no attention, lost in his obsession.
Taking a deep breath, Xu Baocai found Bai Xiaochun increasingly frightening and hurried away.
An incense stick's time later, Bai Xiaochun—with his hair disheveled—suddenly stopped in the courtyard, took a deep breath, and looked to the sky.
"One hundred years!! I must reach Foundation Establishment!!"