Lin Yan entered seclusion for half a month, refining her flying sword anew.
However, the new flying sword still required integration with her cultivation. Thus, Zi Che Shao Hao took her away from the clan to seek a place for trial.
This time, they did not bring any guards, traveling only by carriage.
This trial ground was related to sword cultivation, a tip from an elder of the Zi Che clan.
Zi Che Shao Hao intended to accompany Lin Yan, as she was unfamiliar with the Central Continent, and he was uneasy about her traveling alone there.
In the Southeast Region, a new round of disciple recruitment ceremonies had begun. In addition to recruiting at the sect gates, the Ling Xiao Sword Sect also dispatched numerous disciples to some remote villages to test the spiritual roots of the children there.
Wasn't Yang Cong one such hidden gem? If not for the senior disciple sister bringing him back, he would likely have remained a mortal his entire life.
With Yang Cong as a precedent, they placed even greater importance on these small villages.
Yang Cong had also taken on a mission this time. The child of yesteryear had now grown into a young man. He no longer had to worry about his height and had already succeeded in building his foundation.
He was out with an uncle-master. They chose a mortal kingdom, where there were almost no traces of cultivators. Such small countries were numerous in the Southeast Region.
"Cong'er, let's go down," he said, spotting human habitation below.
"Yes, Uncle-Master."
His uncle-master was already a Golden Core stage cultivator. Yang Cong accompanied him mainly to broaden his horizons.
The village below was not heavily populated. Some children ran around, while older youths and adults worked in the fields together.
This scene reminded Yang Cong of his childhood, though he was not among the children playing outside, but rather one who watched them enviously from indoors.
"What's wrong, Cong'er?"
"I was thinking about my childhood," Yang Cong replied after his uncle-master spoke, snapping back to reality.
"This is our purpose here: to find more children with spiritual roots like yours, who couldn't access cultivation, and allow them to cultivate like you and forge their own paths."
Hearing his uncle-master's words, Yang Cong thought of his own master. His master had taken him away just like that. Now, could he also become a guide for these children, just like his master?
These discovered disciples with spiritual roots would be brought back to the sect uniformly, undergo an entrance test, and then choose their own paths.
The Ling Xiao Sword Sect was no longer solely a sect for sword cultivators. Here, one could learn anything they wished.
Even if one did not wish to remain in the sect, they could apply to leave and join other sects.
The Ling Xiao Sword Sect had developed very well in recent years. While a few years was a short period, it was also quite long.
After Zi Che Shao Hao and Lin Yan departed, the Zi Che clan also sent people to the Southeast Region to investigate Lin Yan's whereabouts.
Once the people were dispatched, they also began preparing the betrothal gifts and the proposal party.
The Zi Che clan was vast, with nearly ten thousand people comprising both direct and collateral lineages. Apart from the direct lineage, the collateral branches were divided into many branches.
Zi Che Shao Hao's elders gathered together to draft the proposal delegation. For the marriage of the young master of the Zi Che clan, even his parents had no say in the choice of the bride.
After traveling with Cheng Ying for half a year, Wan Qi Rui finally felt the breakthrough opportunity for forming his Golden Core. Thus, they immediately returned to the sect.
After Wan Qi Rui entered seclusion, Cheng Ying went to find her father. She needed to ask Wan Qi Rui for some protective magical artifacts, as the heavenly tribulation was terrifying, and she did not want the man she fancied to be reduced to a charred cinder.
This was also one of the reasons Cheng Ying had not yet formed her Golden Core. Otherwise, with such a powerful father, how could she possibly be unable to form her Golden Core?
She consumed spiritual pills and elixirs as if they were meals. Even with a five-element spiritual root, one could be propelled to the Golden Core stage.
"Alright, I will get them for you later. But Ying'er, you still need to cultivate diligently and strive to form your Golden Core soon." He had only this one daughter and wished for her to live longer.
"I know, I know!" Cheng Ying replied perfunctorily to her father.
Having "scraped" a good many treasures from Elder Cheng, she prepared to give them to Wan Qi Rui.
However, she did not expect to see another person outside Wan Qi Rui's courtyard.
"Who are you?" Cheng Ying looked at the girl, whose appearance could only be described as delicate, a hint of danger flashing in her eyes.
"Greetings, Senior Disciple Sister Cheng. My name is Lian Xiu. I heard that Senior Disciple Brother Wan Qi has returned, so I came to see him." Lian Xiu kept her head lowered when facing Cheng Ying, seeming ashamed or perhaps guilty.
"Your Senior Disciple Brother Wan Qi is currently in seclusion, attempting to form his Golden Core, and has no time to entertain guests. You should wait until after he has overcome his Golden Core tribulation before coming again." She had a rough idea of Lian Xiu's situation but did not take this woman seriously at all.
Putting aside her appearance, considering her status, in what way could she possibly compare to her?
"Senior Disciple Sister Cheng is right." Lian Xiu forced a smile. "Then I will wait until Senior Disciple Brother Wan Qi has overcome his Golden Core tribulation to congratulate him."
Afterward, she left the vicinity of Wan Qi Rui's courtyard under Cheng Ying's impatient gaze. Once she was gone, Cheng Ying transmitted a message to Wan Qi Rui and directly sent the items she had "scraped" from her father inside.
Although she did not particularly enjoy cultivation, she understood it well. Wan Qi Rui was at a critical juncture and absolutely could not be disturbed.
She was quite sensible, wasn't she! After sending the items, Cheng Ying praised herself in her heart, then transmitted a message to Wan Qi Rui, urging him to focus on his seclusion, and then left.
Upon receiving the items sent by Cheng Ying, Wan Qi Rui felt a surge of gratitude. He had witnessed the Golden Core heavenly tribulation before. Although his accumulation during the Foundation Establishment stage was good, he was not entirely confident about the tribulation.
The magical artifacts sent by Cheng Ying now came at a crucial time. Although Cheng Ying was somewhat spoiled and willful, she was genuinely good to him. In this world, only she truly cared for him with all her heart.
Thus, Wan Qi Rui truly took Cheng Ying to heart for the first time, genuinely deciding to spend his life with her.
However, her cultivation was still too low. He should let Cheng Ying cultivate more, so they could go further together.
If her cultivation remained stagnant, she would only be able to accompany him for less than a hundred years. This was unacceptable to Wan Qi Rui, not only because he had begun to value Cheng Ying but also because of Elder Cheng, whom she represented.
He wouldn't think about it anymore. After he formed his Golden Core, he would have Cheng Ying cultivate with him. He would personally guide her, and he was certain he could help her form her Golden Core as well.