Page 18

Qin Shu sighed silently in her heart. Even if she truly became a disciple of Elder Lingxu, it wasn't certain that he would give them something as precious as the Body Purification Elixir.

Of course, though this was a low-probability event, there was still a sliver of possibility.

Besides, even if they couldn't get the Body Purification Elixir, just becoming a disciple of Elder Lingxu would mean she wouldn't be left to fend for herself. Eight years later, even if Qin Mian ascended into prominence by achieving Dao through Martial Arts, the sect wouldn't casually expel her with a master backing her.

Thinking about this possibility, Qin Shu suddenly felt her blood boil.

"Go for it! Turn the bicycle into a motorcycle! Do your best and leave the rest to fate!"

Seeing Qin Shu's face glowing with excitement, Hexin knew she was just as stirred up as herself.

As expected, Qin Shu leaned in closer and asked, "How does he select a personal disciple? It can't just be based on aptitude and cultivation, right?"

If that were the case, it wouldn't be necessary to say it was an open selection across the entire sect. He could just pick from the top disciples directly.

"If you were asking someone else, they might not know, but I've found out some details," Hexin replied confidently.

Qin Shu displayed an eager expression, and Hexin cleared her throat before explaining the disciple selection process in detail.

Elder Lingxu was an eighth-grade alchemist, renowned across the entire cultivation world. The primary reason for taking on disciples was to pass on his knowledge. Therefore, the assessment focused on one's understanding of the properties of spiritual herbs in the cultivation world and their ability to handle unexpected situations arising from combining different herbs.

There was also a hard requirement regarding aptitude—candidates must possess both Fire Spiritual Roots and Wood Spiritual Roots. As for cultivation level, that wasn't as critical. A low cultivation level now could always improve over time.

After hearing the explanation, Qin Shu quickly understood.

If she hadn't misinterpreted, Elder Lingxu was looking for someone with a good foundation who could start alchemy right away.

For someone like her, who had just finished high school, rote memorization was her specialty. Confidence surged within her.

"When will the selection take place? How much time do we have to prepare?" she asked.

"Three months," Hexin replied.

The time was tight but sufficient!

After picking up their benefits from the mission hall and repaying the four spirit stones she owed Hexin, Qin Shu immediately dragged her toward the library.

Having reached the first level of Qi Refining, they were now eligible to borrow books from the sect library, and the library of the Alchemy Sect was brimming with books about spiritual herbs.

At first, Hexin didn't understand where they were headed, but when she realized Qin Shu's direction, she was completely astonished. "You—you're going to the library? We can't even get in yet!"

When Qin Shu didn't stop walking, a wild thought popped into Hexin's mind. She widened her eyes and asked in a dramatic tone, "Don't tell me—you've already reached the first level of Qi Refining?"

Qin Shu finally let go of Hexin's hand, adjusted her sleeves, and nodded modestly. "Yes."

Hexin, stunned yet again, couldn't help but dig deeper. "How did you do it? Advancing this quickly? Even those so-called geniuses aren't this fast!"

Qin Shu shrugged nonchalantly. "Sister, no need to put up airs between us. Chi Yu reached the second level of Qi Refining in just eight days. I didn't sleep or rest for an entire month, and this is as far as I got. Honestly, my speed is like a turtle crawling."

Speaking of Chi Yu, Hexin fell silent. Some people were simply born to be out of reach.

In a few years, they might not even be able to see Chi Yu's back anymore.

"Let's go. Time to head in and pick out some reference materials," Qin Shu said.

Hexin, however, looked awkward and hesitated before replying, "I haven't reached the first level of Qi Refining yet. I can't go in."

Hearing this, Qin Shu decided to reciprocate Hexin's earlier favor. "No worries. I'll go in and pick a book for you."

Hexin immediately bowed gratefully. "Your kindness goes beyond words. I won't hold back!"

Qin Shu didn't need her thanks and strode confidently toward the library.

As she passed through the gate, a faint blue light scanned her body. In the next moment, she crossed the threshold smoothly, encountering no obstacles at all.

The entire process was seamless.

Hexin watched Qin Shu disappear into the library and suddenly felt a pang of melancholy.

Her aptitude was slightly better than Qin Shu's, yet Qin Shu had reached the first level of Qi Refining in just thirty-eight days. She was clearly pushing herself to the limit.

Qin Shu's relentless cultivation had become the talk of Xuantian Sect. Many others had been forced to follow her example, though how much effort they truly put in was known only to themselves.

Take Hexin, for instance. Although she practiced day and night, she still spent two hours a day browsing jade scrolls.

She really needed to work harder. Otherwise, if the library barred her today, the inner sect might bar her tomorrow.

Unaware of the pressure she had inadvertently placed on Hexin, Qin Shu entered the library and headed straight for the section on herbs. She eventually chose two books: A Practical Record of Cultivation World Herbs and The Comprehensive Guide to Cultivation World Herbs.

However, when she asked to borrow both books, the senior sister in charge informed her that each disciple could only borrow one book at a time.

After some thought, Qin Shu settled on A Practical Record of Cultivation World Herbs. The main reason was that the book included illustrations, which made it easier to match the names of herbs to their actual appearances.

With the borrowed jade slip in hand, Qin Shu left the library. Upon seeing Hexin, she immediately explained, "Sister, let's go buy some paper and brushes. Since I can only borrow one book at a time, I'll copy it for you."

Hexin laughed. "Alright! But I'll pay for the paper and brushes."

"Don't worry, I won't fight you over it. I'm broke!" Qin Shu replied.

In the sect, everything had to be exchanged at the mission hall. Both agreed that regular paper would suffice for copying, and a single low-grade spirit stone could buy a large stack of it.

Just as Hexin proudly declared she would buy two sets, Qin Shu asked, "Senior Sister Shuying, can gold and silver be used to exchange for paper?"

In the cultivation world, gold and silver were as worthless as dirt.

Qin Shu asked casually but was surprised when Shuying answered affirmatively.

"Many disciples enter the mortal world for training and require gold and silver. It can be exchanged, but you won't get much paper for it," Shuying explained.

Qin Shu retrieved two gold ingots from her storage pouch and handed them to Shuying. "Senior Sister, how much will this get us?"

Shuying handed her two stacks of paper and a wolf-hair brush. Encouraged, Qin Shu took out a jade pendant she had brought from the mortal world.

"Senior Sister, can this be exchanged for some contribution points?"

Shuying cast a spell on the jade pendant to examine it and then asked, "Junior Sister, this pendant contains only a faint trace of spiritual energy, but it's still a spiritual artifact. Are you sure you want to part with it?"