Chapter 635: The Reborn Lii Guizhen

Black Mountain, Celestial Thunder Cliff.

In the dead of winter, the verdant Bamboo Sea covering the mountain range was blanketed in a thick layer of snow. From time to time, the sharp CRACK of a bamboo stalk snapping under the weight echoed through the hills.

After several consecutive drafts of disciples were sent to the Central Province, the major Spirit Veins of Black Mountain had lost their usual liveliness.

Even the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, normally the busiest place, had become deserted.

“Why is it so cold this year?”

“Didn’t you hear the Lord Steward? The path of a Meridian Cold Tide from the northern ice fields is aimed right at a gap in Black Mountain. A lot of the Spirit Fields have suffered from the frost.”

Two servant disciples were using long poles to knock snow off the bamboo. Manpower was scarce; they were the only two assigned to work in this vast Bamboo Sea.

Besides sending support to the Central Province, the once-in-a-century Meridian Cold Tide had forced the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall to issue a series of mandatory Sect missions to urgently save various Spirit Plants and Spirit Rice.

Disciples also had to be dispatched to the towns surrounding Black Mountain to rescue the millions of mortals living there.

For mortals, a cold tide like this was practically an apocalyptic disaster.

Countless single-story houses had collapsed, trapping people inside. The snow was as deep as a man is tall, making travel nearly impossible.

Without reinforcements, the few Mid-Stage Qi Refining Immortal Masters in each town had no hope of resolving the crisis on their own.

Even the Hall Stewards from the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall had personally taken to the field, forming small teams to provide aid to one town after another.

The True Disciples, who usually enjoyed transcendent status and lived in comfort, had all come out of seclusion, leading their escorts to put out fires everywhere.

As a result, resources all over Black Mountain were stretched even thinner. Even the number of Daoist Children serving the high-and-mighty Elders had been reduced.

“Damn this weather! It’s so cold even a Cultivator’s bones feel chilled. I wonder how my family back home is doing… I’m definitely going to the Artifact Refining Hall later to trade for a warming Magical Artifact. I won’t survive this winter otherwise.”

A clump of snow fell down the neck of the shorter, round-faced servant disciple, making him jump up and frantically shake it off. He then slapped a Fire Element Talisman Paper on the damp spot.

A puff of steam rose as warmth spread throughout his body.

“Even with the allowance from your Clan, you should still be more frugal. There’s an assessment at the start of spring. If you can participate with a Mid-Stage Qi Refining cultivation, you’ll have a good chance of passing.”

A hint of envy flashed in the taller, skinny servant disciple’s eyes, but he concealed it well as he spoke earnestly.

He came from a Mortal City in Black Mountain County. For three generations, no one in his family had any connection to Cultivators.

It wasn’t until his generation that he was found to have a Spiritual Root during the Spirit-Guiding Ceremony.

Four years ago, he was sent to Black Mountain. In the eyes of his relatives, he had entered an Immortal Sect and become a supreme Immortal Master.

But only after entering the Sect and gaining a general understanding of the Cultivation Realm did he discover that the world of Immortals was not as wonderful as he had imagined.

With a Four Spirit Root Talent and no family connections to look out for him, if he didn’t display any special gifts, he would most likely return to his hometown after turning thirty with a Mid-Stage Qi Refining cultivation, becoming one of the Sect’s dispatched Immortal Masters.

Having been fortunate enough to join the Qingfeng Sect, he was naturally unwilling to live a life of mediocrity.

The shorter, chubbier servant disciple was different. Despite being of a similar age and aptitude, he wasn’t worried about his future at all. He would even use precious Contribution Points to exchange for a Magical Artifact that had no value other than providing warmth.

All because he had a good background and a good surname.

The Bai Clan of Hanxiu Peak. They were from the same clan as Ancestor Bai, and along with the Bai Clan of Celestial Thunder Cliff, were both branches of the Ink Bamboo Bai Family.

Originally, the Hanxiu Peak branch was the main family line. Later, clan members who moved to Celestial Thunder Cliff took care of the Spiritual Bamboo for Ancestor Bai. They received endless rewards, and after producing two Foundation Establishment Cultivators, they surpassed the main branch.

But in recent years, the quality of the Spiritual Bamboo they grew had gotten worse and worse. It had been a long time since any Thunder Sound Bamboo had appeared, and the Ancestor hadn’t visited Celestial Thunder Cliff either.

The Bai Clan members on Hanxiu Peak, on the other hand, had produced several outstanding Immortal Seedlings, revitalizing their reputation.

With a great mountain like Ancestor Bai backing them, the Bai Clan would never be at a disadvantage in Black Mountain.

As long as they had a disciple who was outstanding enough, they could always obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill from the Sect at a fair price.

This was a privilege that other Cultivation Families could only dream of.

Bai Bin’s talent was mediocre, so he had to start as a servant disciple, but the storage pouch on his person was filled with plenty of Spirit Stones provided by his clan.

Furthermore, securing a spot as an Outer Sect Disciple for him in a few years would be no problem at all.

Even an ordinary member of the Bai Clan was not on the same starting line as the other servant disciples.

Advancing to become an Inner Sect Disciple might require true skill, but an Outer Sect Disciple was nothing in the eyes of the Sect’s upper echelons. Any Elder had the authority to recommend one.

To ensure the vast number of servant disciples maintained a spirit of hard work and ambition, the Sect selected several dozen of them each year for promotion to Outer Sect Disciples, keeping this path of advancement open.

The Transmission Hall was responsible for this assessment. After seeing Bai Bin’s family origin on his record, those Stewards would give him the green light even if he were a pig.

Of course, Ancestor Bai wouldn’t concern himself with such trivial matters. Among his clan’s descendants, he had only ever shown special care for the two children left behind by his elder brother, Bai Jiu’an.

The Hanxiu Peak Bai Clan later sent a clan member, said to be a grandnephew closely related by blood to the Ancestor. But in the decades since joining the Sect, he had never once met the Ancestor, nor had he received any inquiries from him.

But no one wanted to be the bad guy and fail a Bai Clan disciple. What if an heir of outstanding talent appeared, one who might catch the Ancestor’s interest and be summoned to his side?

“I’m not as diligent as you. I definitely won’t reach the Qi Refining Fourth Layer by next year. I’ll just wait for the year after…”

Bai Bin leaned on his pole and glanced up toward the summit of Celestial Thunder Cliff.

“I wonder how the grand army is doing in the Central Province. The last Sect report was three months ago. I’d love to go to the front lines and witness Master Ma’s magnificent style!”

“You need to be at least at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer to even sign up for the Central Province, so don’t even think about it! Ever since Master Ma fought one against four last year and cut down four Late-Stage Core Formation Tribulation Cultivators, who would dare cause trouble anymore? For all we know, the entire Central Province has already been pacified.”