Lin Yan returned to the sect two days before the Sect Grand Competition.
As soon as she got back, she went to pay her respects to her master and report the progress she had made on this trip.
"Very good, it seems you've gained a lot from this outing." The Yun Xi Sword, facing her most senior disciple, was not as stern as she was with others, but rather gentle.
This was the child she had raised, and the last bloodline of her old friend.
"Yes, after going out, I feel I still have many shortcomings. So, after the Sect Grand Competition, I plan to go into seclusion for a while."
"Very grounded. However, with your current strength, the Sect Grand Competition is a foregone conclusion. Then focus on organizing what you've gained from your travels and break through as soon as possible."
Xian Yun Xi Jian, Xu Lan, was very concerned about her disciple's cultivation progress. Her disciple was very steady and not someone who rushed things. Since she said she wanted to go into seclusion for deep cultivation, it meant she had truly reached a point where she could break through.
"I understand, Master," Lin Yan nodded.
Although the original owner had lost her parents, her master's affection completely compensated for this lack.
"This trip must have cost quite a bit. I still have some spirit stones here, take them." Xu Lan handed over a storage bag.
"No need, Master. The tasks I took on provided some reward, which is enough." Lin Yan did not accept, as she knew her master's pockets were not very deep.
After leaving her master's residence, she went to submit her tasks, received some spirit stones, and returned to her small courtyard.
The Sect Grand Competition indeed held no suspense. When Lin Yan's strength was revealed, it was the highest among everyone. However, it did not stop the junior disciples who wanted to spar with her.
"Senior Disciple Sister, although I am no match for you, I still wish to spar a few moves and understand my shortcomings. Senior Disciple Sister, please guide me!"
The junior disciple who challenged her was very polite, but his sword moves were anything but.
Lin Yan possessed the original owner's memories, so she was familiar with her opponent's sword techniques. While sparring, she could even discern the junior disciple's weaknesses in his sword moves.
Lin Yan was not in a hurry to defeat the junior disciple. Instead, she used the same sword techniques as him, subtly guiding him.
After she flicked away the junior disciple's sword with one strike, the disciple bowed to Lin Yan, "I concede defeat, Senior Disciple Sister. Thank you for your guidance!"
"When you return, shift your sword stance an inch higher, and make the third move a breath faster."
"Thank you, Senior Disciple Sister!" The junior disciple became even more excited.
He jumped off the sparring platform, but soon more junior disciples, both male and female, wanted to spar with Lin Yan.
Lin Yan did not refuse, sparring with them one by one and pointing out their shortcomings.
In this Sect Grand Competition, Lin Yan also became more familiar with these basic sword techniques. Even without deliberate cultivation, her strength was slowly moving towards the Half-step Golden Core realm.
After the Sect Grand Competition, Lin Yan reported to the sect and began her seclusion.
Although Lin Yan was in seclusion, the disciples' admiration for her did not cease.
"Senior Disciple Sister truly lives up to her reputation. Your previous guidance was like a divine enlightenment."
"Exactly. That particular point had troubled me for days, and Senior Disciple Sister's guidance made me understand it immediately."
"I wonder what realm Senior Disciple Sister's strength will reach after she emerges from seclusion. Senior Disciple Sister's last seclusion was probably to break through to Foundation Establishment, right?"
"I think this time it might be a breakthrough to Golden Core."
"Then Senior Disciple Sister would be the youngest Golden Core cultivator, wouldn't she? Even in those major sects, she would be the youngest!" The disciple's eyes showed a hint of longing.
"Senior Disciple Sister is truly amazing!"
"Yes, Senior Disciple Sister is truly amazing. By the way, Senior Disciple Sister cannot participate in the upcoming entry test. She usually presides over it. Now all the tasks are piled up, and Elder Wang is tearing his hair out."
"With Senior Disciple Sister, it would have been much easier. Senior Disciple Sister truly has it tough!"
...
While everyone was discussing Senior Disciple Sister Lin Yan, she was setting up a formation. After studying it for some time, she set up a small spirit gathering formation.
As soon as this spirit gathering formation was put in place, the spiritual energy in the room immediately became dense. Lin Yan adjusted it a few times, becoming more familiar with the spirit gathering formation, and then dismantled it and set it up again.
This time, her formation speed was a bit faster. Throughout the day, she familiarized herself with the operation of this spirit gathering formation and even improved it, allowing her to set it up more quickly.
Lin Yan sat in the center of the spirit gathering formation. Spiritual energy swirled around her, then entered her meridians through her acupoints, and then circulated throughout her body following the cultivation method.
It became faster and faster, and the spiritual energy in her meridians increased. Finally, it gathered in her lower dantian and slowly compressed.
Outside the Ling Xiao Sword Sect, many young boys and girls were climbing the steps leading to the sect's main gate, step by step.
These steps were reinforced with gravity. Once the formation was activated, the gravity doubled, making it difficult to even lift a leg. However, this could not stop these young boys and girls from seeking immortality.
"There seem to be fewer people this year than in previous years," a disciple observed the staircase below the mountain. He was being polite; the number of people was less than half of previous years.
"It's not like several other sects have also chosen to recruit this year, so there are many fewer people here."
"Learning swordsmanship is still too arduous, and there's no money. Both bitter and poor. If it weren't for the stronger combat power at the same level, even fewer people would probably come," another person guarding the stairs sighed.
"If only the Southeast Region's Grand Competition were this year. Senior Disciple Sister would lead us to victory, and surely more people would sign up." He said this with regret.
"It's alright. Let's cultivate diligently and improve our strength. By next year's Southeast Region sect competition, we might be able to go together! Don't you want to witness Senior Disciple Sister's heroic posture?"
"Yes, yes, there's still a year left. We must work hard. If Senior Disciple Sister truly breaks through to the Golden Core stage after emerging from seclusion, will she also start teaching classes?"
"That's possible! The guidance Senior Disciple Sister gave to the senior disciples during the Grand Competition was so amazing. When she truly starts teaching, I will definitely attend."
"I will go too!"
Although the others did not speak, they also decided to go and listen. This was Senior Disciple Sister's class, and they absolutely could not miss it!
"Huh, look quickly, that young man is quite good!" a disciple said, distracted while chatting, looking at the young boys and girls climbing the mountain.
"Which one, which one?" All the disciples guarding here were drawn by his gaze.
Following the direction the disciple pointed, they all saw the young man climbing diligently.
The clothes the young man wore were not extravagant, just a simple cloth shirt, not particularly outstanding among these young people. However, once your gaze fell upon him, it was difficult to shift it away.
The young man's face held an expression of resolute determination. These disciples could see that he had not cultivated before, but the young man walked step by step with exceptional steadiness. That kind of unwavering progress was particularly suited for swordsmanship.
"Truly excellent!" a middle-aged voice came from behind.
The disciples snapped back to attention and found a man with a beautiful beard standing behind them.
"Greetings, Elder Zhou!" The disciples bowed together.
"You are dismissed. I'm just here to take a look. You still have your duties. Focus on your duties and do not let the new disciples participating in the entry assessment get hurt."
Elder Zhou waved his hand, and all the disciples felt something lifting them up, and they stood up with the flow of power.
"Thank you, Elder Zhou!" After thanking him, the disciples continued to focus their attention on the young boys and girls.
Elder Zhou, as he had said, took a look and then left.
He also saw that the number of applicants this year was small, but this was unavoidable, as two major sects were also recruiting this year.
Seeing the small number of applicants, he decided to ask the Sect Leader later if they should relax the restrictions. Otherwise, he feared they wouldn't be able to recruit many people this year.
However, recruiting those with poor talent would likely be a waste of sect resources. He wondered if the Sect Leader would agree.
Thinking this, he felt it was a vicious cycle. Sigh! He sighed inwardly and prepared to go find other elders to chat with, to see if they had any solutions.