"You are a sword cultivator, skilled in the Mu Ran Sword technique. Your methods of killing are abundant, so what you need is a defensive spiritual tool, preferably an artifact rather than a spell. Practicing spells would distract you from mastering your swordsmanship. It would be best if the artifact could protect your primordial spirit..."
Qin Ran once again reminded Li Shiyin before she went to receive the assessment rewards with the sect leader, Gu Yueming.
Li Shiyin looked at her master with wide eyes, and she thought:
If Long Qiqi were going to receive the rewards, the master would definitely say, "As an alchemist, you lack protective measures, so you need an artifact that can safeguard yourself."
If it were Chasing the Wind, the master would surely say, "Your combat power is high, your physical body is strong, and your soul is formidable, so you need a defensive spiritual tool to enhance your advantages."
If the master were going to receive the rewards...
Regardless of the situation, the master would definitely choose something that could help them escape and preserve their life.
She didn't agree with the master's suggestion, but she had no intention of refuting or going against it. Instead, she jokingly remarked, "Why don't I get a sword technique or a powerful artifact? A sword cultivator always forges ahead, which would make me more aggressive."
The master earnestly explained, "There's no need for that. You have the War Spirit Art combined with the Guide the Starlight Technique, along with the third realm of sword qi. Your offensive abilities are already high enough."
She asked again, "What if I don't have a defensive spiritual tool or spell?"
As expected, the master replied, "Then choose escape techniques, body techniques, flying spiritual tools, and the like."
So, she felt like laughing.
The master quickly detected her mischievous thoughts, became annoyed, and reached out to pinch her nose.
Dao Jian Sect was situated above a spiritual vein of ore, so they had no shortage of spirit stones. However, they lacked things like pills and spiritual tools.
Thus, the usual rewards for the assessment were spirit stones. The disciples ranked fifty to twenty would receive additional talismans, pills, and similar items. Those ranked twenty to ten would receive further cultivation techniques, spells, and the like. And the top ten disciples would receive an extra spiritual tool as a reward.
Li Shiyin ranked first and could obtain a top-grade spiritual treasure.
As the sect leader, Gu Yueming watched the cold and elegant young girl walking towards him, and he couldn't help but recall three years ago when she became his disciple. She had stubbornly insisted on learning alchemy, regardless of his persuasion...
When they locked eyes now, both of them felt slightly awkward.
At that time, Gu Yueming had already assumed that Li Shiyin was a failure. He thought of her as a companion for Qin Ran, whether as a wife or a disciple, depending on his own abilities. But unexpectedly, after three years, Li Shiyin achieved first place in the assessment and dealt him a heavy blow.
At that time, Li Shiyin had been determined to learn alchemy and had the idea of "the river flows east for thirty years, the river flows west for thirty years." She was determined to concoct the most powerful pill to show that old man and give him a good slap. But in the end, she ended up practicing the sword and slapped herself instead.
Gu Yueming cleared his throat and turned to walk towards the Treasure Pavilion, saying, "Follow me."
He walked ahead and asked Li Shiyin behind him, "Is your cultivation going smoothly?"
"Yes," Li Shiyin replied.
"How is your progress in alchemy?"
"It's going well."
"What realm are you at now?"
"Foundation establishment."
As they walked, the two of them engaged in an awkward exchange of questions and answers until they entered the Treasure Pavilion. Gu Yueming asked Li Shiyin, "What kind of magic tool do you want?"
"My master said it's best to have a defensive-type magic tool."
Thinking of Qin Ran's cautious and meticulous style, Gu Yueming chuckled and said, "That suits his character well."
He led Li Shiyin to the section with defensive magic tools and said, "There are three superior defensive treasures here. Choose one!"
Li Shiyin looked ahead and saw a table with three items arranged from left to right. On the left was a stand with a bracelet, in the middle was a box, and on the right was a piece of armor.
The bracelet was green and not very attractive, so Li Shiyin immediately ruled it out. She went forward to open the box and found a beautiful ornament that could be worn around the waist.
She wanted that ornament but suddenly remembered something. She looked at her own waist where her master had carved a chubby wooden sword for her... There was no space to hang it.
"I'll take this armor," she said to the sect leader.
"So quick in your decision?" Gu Yueming was taken aback and said, "You don't even know the effects of these three treasures... In fact, this bracelet is the best. It can withstand the spells of Nascent Soul stage cultivators..."
"I'll go with this one," Li Shiyin shook her head.
"Very well then!" Gu Yueming said, never knowing what his female disciple was thinking when choosing a magic tool.
They entered and exited quickly, appearing in no time.
"So fast?" Qin Ran frowned and asked Li Shiyin, "What did you choose?"
Li Shiyin showed him the armor.
"What special effects does the armor have?" Qin Ran asked again.
Li Shiyin widened her eyes and shook her head, "I don't know."
"?" Qin Ran was astonished. "Why did you choose it if you don't know?"
"Because the other two didn't look good."
Qin Ran was almost infuriated.
Li Shiyin was the first to undergo the assessment, so she was the first to receive a magic tool. After she received hers, the others followed suit.
It took them over half an hour to receive the magic tools, and then the sect leader led them towards the back mountain of the main peak.
At this point, family members were allowed to follow, but others could no longer join.
Qin Ran walked with Li Shiyin towards the back mountain and whispered beside her, "The Dao Sect is probably a kind of enlightenment about cultivation. It is the essence or abstract representation of the laws of this world, or the exhibition of insights into cultivation by high-level cultivators. In short, the insights of the Dao may not necessarily be suitable for you. You need to be especially careful, not fully accepting everything, and learn to discern what kind of insights are useful and what kind are harmful.
"Remember, these Dao insights will definitely make you eager to break through in your cultivation. But you must not form your Core yet. Your foundation is not solid enough. You absolutely cannot form your Core, do you understand?"
Li Shiyin listened to Qin Ran's nagging and nodded repeatedly.
"After entering, you must also pay special attention to others. Never let your guard down, especially against the disciples of Qi Peak..."
Upon hearing Qin Ran's words, Li Shiyin couldn't help but glance to the side, and indeed, the face of He Daoguang, the head of Qi Peak, turned black.
"Don't worry, Junior Martial Uncle. We will protect Junior Martial Sister," Lu Junxing turned around and smiled at Qin Ran. "Not only will we take good care of Li Shiyin, but we will also prevent any chaos within the Dao Sect."
"I trust your assurance, Junior Martial Nephew..." Qin Ran smiled at Lu Junxing and then lowered his voice, speaking to Li Shiyin. "It's not just Qi Peak, but everyone else should also be cautious. After all, people's hearts can be unpredictable..."
As cultivators, even though they spoke in hushed tones, their words were still clearly audible. Lu Junxing could only hold back his laughter and continue walking forward.
The Dao Sect was nothing more than a door, a rather ordinary stone door standing alone at the edge of a cliff. From this side, one could see the other side, but there was nothing else except the moss on the door.
However, there was a distance of ten zhang separating them, and the relatives were blocked off. Only disciples who were allowed to knock on the door were permitted to enter.
"Remember Master's words and prioritize safety above all else," Qin Ran reminded Li Shiyin one last time.
Li Shiyin reassured him with a gesture, then took the lead and approached the door. Following the instructions of the Sect Leader Gu Yueming, she respectfully bowed and paid her respects in front of the Dao Sect, then walked towards the door.
The stone door appeared plain and unremarkable, but as Li Shiyin walked forward, it suddenly disappeared into thin air, leaving no trace behind, as if it had never existed.
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