Chapter 14: Chapter 12: Scheming After the pleasantries, Xu Banshan said leisurely: "Junior Brother’s discourse today was very insightful, but those last words were somewhat unnecessary." His words seemed casual, but the tone of reproach was very apparent. "How could it be unnecessary if it helps disciples see the path clearly? Please enlighten me, Senior Brother." Qin Yan was not surprised by Senior Brother’s ability to hear his lecture. Enlightenment Hall has no magical restrictions to isolate it from the outside, and it’s not far from the main hall of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. Though Senior Brother Xu is in his twilight years, he is still a Ninth-Layer Foundation Establishment cultivator. It would be natural for him to hear once he focuses his mind over there. Xu Banshan seemed deaf to the defiance in the other’s words and continued to speak slowly: "You also mentioned, Junior Brother, that many disciples lack aptitude and have no external support. If they do not possess profound techniques, how will they earn pills for cultivation or magical artifacts for battle? Disciples without support have the steepest difficulties at the start of their cultivation journey, something Junior Brother knows well. Now, you reveal such mechanisms; what do you think will happen if all disciples emulate them?" He let out a couple of chuckles that did not reach his eyes and sighed: "Enhancing cultivation wouldn’t necessarily be much faster; neither can techniques be studied deeply. Without ascending the Great Realm, relying on cultivation methods merely provides trivial enhancements to the Immortal Vein aptitude. Ultimately, it would be like reaching for neither East nor West, wasting away years." His implication was straightforward: Most do not have the resources to expand their Immortal Vein while utilizing cultivation methods, better to focus on one path rather than being unsatisfactory in both. Cultivation is the foundation of everything; this is an absolute truth. Yet for most disciples, advancing to the Foundation Establishment Stage is exceedingly difficult, even with effort to enhance their cultivation, it remains elusive. In contrast, practicing spells is much more tangible. Even after leaving the sect, they will have a skill to make a decent living. This ensures they can live and save some spirit stones for descendants, making their cultivation less arduous. In the sect, why is it that the mid-stage and Seventh-Layer Qi Refining disciples are the most numerous? Because most disciples gradually understand that achieving Foundation Establishment is a distant luxury, their real goal is to reach late-stage Qi Refining before thirty, which grants another thirty years in the sect. Subsequently, they use those thirty years to amass spirit stones fervently, as the pace slows considerably when becoming a loose cultivator outside the sect. Having descendants who can reach Foundation Establishment and establish a small clan is their ultimate dream. That’s how small clans are born, and it’s how sects grow stronger, step by step. In a way, the successors cultivate on the bones of the forerunners. Qin Yan remained unmoved; he of course understood Senior Brother’s reasoning, and hadn’t intended to change anything. Looking through the swirling smoke at the other side, he said calmly: "I know the method to enhance aptitude by expanding the Immortal Vein is one of the unspoken practices of great clans. I also know many disciples can’t meet the conditions to improve their aptitude this way. But I shared this so that disciples have another choice. How to proceed, they will weigh the pros and cons themselves. My intention is to make sure capable disciples have an easier path ahead." He recalled only hearing about aptitude-increasing methods after reaching Foundation Establishment, then spending ten years to catch up on what he missed. The effects of expanding the Immortal Vein are better at Foundation Establishment, yet many branches miss their best opening time, forcing more time to develop them. Some branches’ development opportunities have been entirely missed; without great chances, they will never emerge. Consequently, the acupoints dependent on these branches will not surface. The quantity of branched development and opened acupoints influences Chao Origin Stage and future cultivation, something he fixates on. To reach higher realms, every bit of enhancement is invaluable. To him, Golden Core Stage is not the end. Qin Yan, with his hand wrapped around a thumb-sized, translucent broken jade within his sleeve, was relying on this exotic treasure for his rise. "Junior Brother seems to have grievances, not solely about this matter?" Qin Yan paused, then slowly said: "Starting three years ago, sect tasks increased gradually, yet the returns for us disciples haven’t risen. The same applies to us Foundation Establishment cultivators. Moreover, the Great Merit needed to purchase the pills for Breaking Realm has increased significantly. I want to ask why this is?" "It’s the ancestor’s consideration." Xu Banshan knew the sect’s policies displeased many, and that Qin Yan was likely delegated by fellow brothers to probe the matter. Qin Yan pressed his lips, chuckling: "Senior Brother, everyone knows it’s the ancestor’s command, but as to why, the ancestor hasn’t clarified it. The fellow disciples want to know what the sect is planning. Is something significant about to happen in the cultivation realm?" The sect’s action seemed like war preparation. War in the cultivation realm is brutally harsh, a single high-tier cultivator’s technique could eradicate an entire small cultivation clan from a mountain. If such signs emerge, everyone must prepare in advance. Inside the sect may be safe, but many have clansmen making a living outside. I, too, wish to know the reason, but the ancestor doesn’t speak, and I don’t dare question further. Xu Banshan shrugged, "Junior Brother, you put me in a tough spot; the ancestor’s command is something I merely follow." Qin Yan’s deep gaze was inscrutable. ... Upon concluding the talk, Ji An bid farewell to Chu River and others, hurrying back. Absent a Talisman Bird, the journey would again take two days. His spirit field hadn’t been sowed; delaying too long would make his spirit grain mature days later than others. While it seemed inconsequential, if everyone’s spirit grains were harvested, wouldn’t those thieving birds target him alone for their shearing! Walking on a winding path, he resolved to buy a Talisman Bird for travel sans excess funds in the future. Being unable to fly wasted too much time. Two days later, Ji An returned to his bamboo tower under the moonlight, dragging his weary body. On the way back, he merited entry into the Life and Death Technique, attempting to refine Xun Spirit, finding that the technique enhanced without needing Zhen Spirit, putting his heart at ease. Taking a brief rest, he prepared a simple meal, then washed his hands and face, set up a Pudun, lit a stick of incense, and began cultivating the method sitting in the courtyard. Threads of nature’s spiritual energy entered his body; the fatigue gradually faded away. An hour later, Ji An withdrew from cultivation, refreshed. His mind directed the Stone Turtle, surging all Spiritual Mechanism! [Master: Ji An] [Dao Rhyme: 0] [Spiritual Mechanism: Kan Spirit 0, Kun Spirit 0, Xun Spirit 0] [Technique: Small Cloud Rain Technique (Mastery 72% → 99%) Thick Earth Technique (Mastery 48% → 71%) Life and Death Technique (Entry 6% → Mastery 8%)]