Born as an ant, I was summoned to ascend to immortality.

Chapter 35 Lotus Seeds

After passing through the sword corridor, the path winds and turns, leading to a naturally formed crevice in the rock.

The crevice was about ten feet wide, with an arched section in the middle just wide enough for one person to pass through. As Zhou Li passed through the crevice, a surge of spiritual energy rushed towards him, revealing a hidden world inside.

The entire cave is a huge natural cave, with countless colorful stalagmites hanging down from the cave ceiling, surrounded by wisps of misty smoke.

The melodious tinkling sound of water droplets falling from the stalagmite could be faintly heard, gathering in the center of the cave to form a spiritual pool several feet in diameter.

There is an extremely narrow crevice in the cave ceiling. A beam of sunlight shines through the crevice, forming a very thin beam that shines into the spirit pool, reflecting streaks of rainbow colors.

Looking at this magnificent scene, Zhou Li exclaimed, "It truly is a celestial abode."

Further inside was a stone chamber, furnished simply with only a bed, a straw mat, a table, and a chair.

I slept without any dreams.

The next morning, Zhou Li awoke to the sounds of birdsong and insect chirping.

He groggily opened his eyes and saw a pretty face with tears streaming down her face pressed against Zhou Li's cheek, less than three inches away.

The girl, dressed in a lotus-colored Taoist robe, knelt beside the stone bed, wiping away tears as she said, "You were fine yesterday, but today you're not moving at all. I'll dig a hole and bury you here, so you can rest in peace."

The breath gently brushed against Zhou Li's face, but the words spoken sent chills down Zhou Li's spine.

He immediately scrambled to his feet: "Who are you? Why are you burying me?"

Seeing that Zhou Li was awake, the girl seemed very happy: "Junior Brother! I am your Senior Sister Qingqing, call out to me quickly."

Seeing that Zhou Li was still standing there, she reached out and shook his arm again: "Call me Senior Sister!"

Zhou Li remembered her; they had met a few times before. So he cleared his throat: "Uh, Senior Sister Qingqing..."

"Okay, okay, hehehe." Qingqing immediately beamed with joy, but then seemed to remember something and started digging another hole.

Following her gaze, next to a small pit, lay a blue-tailed spirit fish with its white belly turned up.

Zhou Li breathed a sigh of relief; it turned out she had buried this spirit fish.

"Senior sister, there's no need to be sad," Zhou Li said gently. "It's normal for spirit fish to reach the end of their lifespan."

Qingqing whispered, "At this time last year, it still had a companion, and that one was much fatter. But one day when I came, it was all alone. That fat one... I don't know which wild snake snatched it away, not even leaving a trace."

Zhou Li was taken aback upon hearing this. Could it be the same one that his senior brother and he had eaten...?

His throat tightened, and he dared not ask any more questions. He quickly looked away and noticed a brand-new linen Taoist robe at the foot of the bed, with a sheathed sword beside it. Next to the sword was a bowl of spirit rice, steaming hot, which Qingqing must have brought.

After washing his face briefly in the mountain spring, Zhou Li tasted a small mouthful of spirit rice. The spirit rice was soft and sticky, and when he chewed it, it seemed as if a faint spiritual energy flowed between his teeth.

There was also a lotus seed inside. After swallowing it, one could feel saliva flowing from the bottom of the tongue and a sweet fragrance rising in the throat. Such deliciousness made Zhou Li, who was already starving, very hungry.

Having eaten and drunk his fill, Zhou Li knew there was still one important matter to attend to, so he asked, "Master once said that I should go and pay my respects today, but I don't know...?"

"Oh no, oh no!" Qingqing cried out, slapping her forehead hard. "I forgot! Quick... quick, come with me to Qingshi Cliff to see Master."

Qingqing led Zhou Li through the mountains, chatting with him about this and that along the way.

Qingqing told Zhou Li that the Changtian Sect had one pavilion, two venues, three gardens, and four halls:

The first pavilion is the Sutra Treasure Pavilion, which contains thousands of books and countless magical treasures, which can be exchanged according to one's own contributions.

The two arenas are the preaching arena and the martial arts arena. If a master gives a sermon or there is a duel among the disciples, the sect will send a message. However, the message function of the disciple's token is only effective within the sect's magic array.

The three gardens are the Spirit Medicine Garden, the Spirit Material Garden, and the Spirit Beast Garden, all guarded by sect elders and managed by outer sect stewards and miscellaneous stewards.

The four halls include the Hall of Sect Virtue, the Hall of Discipline, the Hall of Alchemy, and the Hall of Weapon Refining. They are responsible for issuing various sect tasks, maintaining sect laws and regulations, and cooperating with the sect in the refining of pills and weapons.

Qingqing also said that the Changtian Sect's cultivation sites include three grotto heavens, six blessed lands, and twelve main peaks.

The sect leader, Master Liandu, whose cultivation had reached the Void Realm, was in seclusion in the Lingxiao Cave Heaven, seeking a glimmer of immortality.

Elder Yan Qing, who wields the sword, advanced to the Nascent Soul stage a hundred years ago and is currently cultivating in the Jade Purity Cave.

The last place is Yaochi Grotto, the residence of Fairy Tongsang, whose disciples are mostly women.

Among the twelve peaks, Ziyun Peak is different from the others. It is a single mountain, 1,500 zhang high, and every day, servant disciples would come up the mountain to deliver food and supplies.

Ordinary outer disciples are not allowed to live on the main peak; they are usually placed in the outer courtyards of the Changtian Sect, while only inner disciples are allowed to live there.

Besides Master Ning Yue, there is another senior uncle who also lives on Ziyun Peak, but he is away from home all year round and it is difficult to see him on ordinary days.

Before long, the two arrived at Qing Shi Cliff.

Zhou Li looked up and saw a huge blue stone sitting between the cliffs. Ning Yue had actually used the blue stone as the material to dig out a dwelling on the spot.

Hearing that someone had arrived, Ning Yue came out of the stone chamber.

Upon seeing his master, Zhou Li stepped forward and knelt down, saying, "Disciple Zhou Li greets Master."

Ning Yue accepted Zhou Li's greeting, her gaze lingering on him for a moment before glancing at Qingqing: "What did you feed your junior brother?"

Qingqing shook her head vigorously: "Uh, no, no, I didn't eat anything."

"Hmm?" Ning Yue's voice rose at the end.

Qingqing immediately cowered and stammered, "It's...it's a golden-veined lotus seed..."

"Where did it come from?"

"I picked it up from the lotus pond by Uncle Wen." Qingqing lowered her head even further. "I thought the golden lotus seed was too bitter, so I ate all the other lotus seeds and secretly put that one golden one into my junior brother's spiritual rice."

Ning Yue shook her head: "Even a flying insect can't get into Senior Brother Wen's pond of jade lotuses. It's quite an achievement that you were able to pick up the lotus seeds."

"But we can't let this opportunity go to waste," Ning Yue said, looking at Zhou Li. "Disciple, do you feel your body filled with pure energy and your blood surging?"

"Reporting to Master, I didn't feel it at first, but after walking this long mountain path, the feeling has become increasingly obvious. But what's so special about these lotus seeds?"

Ning Yue said, "The golden lotus seed contains not only spiritual energy, but also a wisp of acquired pure energy. This energy can cleanse the marrow and rejuvenate the meridians, which is a rare opportunity for cultivators."

She changed the subject: "But since your 'entrance barrier' hasn't been broken, you're not fortunate enough to enjoy it."

Zhou Li leaned forward slightly: "Disciple senses from Master's words that there is a way to remedy this situation?"

Ning Yue looked at him and suddenly asked, "Are you afraid of pain?"

The question came abruptly, and Zhou Li paused for a moment before shaking his head: "I'm not afraid."

Although the sensations of this human body can be perceived by the main body through the Soul Jade, after experiencing the suffering of being tempered by heavenly lightning, pain has long been commonplace for him.

"That's good then." Ning Yue nodded and said seriously, "Disciple, calm your mind and focus your energy. I will help you cross the first threshold of cultivation."