Volume One, Chapter 14: Senior Sister Jiang

“South Bank, North Bank?” Ji Die was hearing for the first time that the Seven Mysteries Sect was divided between a South and North Bank, and he looked at Wu Han in surprise.

Wu Han hadn’t expected Ji Die’s focus to be on this of all things, and all the words he’d prepared to say were swallowed back.

So I’ve said all this, and you’re not at all worried that Senior Sister Jiang will come to punish you?

Wu Han silently grumbled, then said, “Senior Brother Ji, you haven’t been here long, so it’s understandable you don’t know. The Seven Mysteries Sect is split into South and North Banks. The South Bank is the outer sect, that’s where we are now, and it’s divided into Beast Peak and Medicine Peak. We’re currently at Beast Peak. The North Bank is where the inner disciples and sect elders cultivate in seclusion, and the spiritual energy is much richer.”

Wu Han patiently explained the sect’s structure, his small eyes full of longing when he mentioned the North Bank.

“Beast Peak and Medicine Peak…” Ji Die’s eyes flickered. He guessed that the venomous woman and the young man who had brought him here were likely disciples of the North Bank.

After all, the horse-faced man had been as deferential as a grandson before Song Jia.

“How does one become a North Bank disciple?” Ji Die asked.

“One way is to break through to the late stage of Qi Refinement—you can then directly enter the North Bank. Otherwise, you must win first place in the annual South Bank competition to be promoted!” Wu Han had been in the sect for years and explained in detail, speaking as if reciting a cherished list.

Ji Die also learned that every three years, the South Bank held a grand competition open to all its disciples. The winner not only gained promotion to the North Bank, but also received a Foundation Nurturing Pill that could boost one’s cultivation!

And the next competition was just over a month away.

“With your cultivation speed, Senior Brother Ji, you’ll surely reach the North Bank sooner or later,” Wu Han flattered him smoothly.

In the beast stables, the highest cultivation present was only third level Qi Refinement. Ji Die had defeated the peak third-level black serpent; likely, no one there could match him. It was never wrong to build good relations with such a person.

Given the talent Ji Die had just shown, he might truly make it to the North Bank one day.

Ji Die smiled, not particularly longing for the North Bank. He had his bronze cauldron, after all, and didn’t presently need any pills or the like.

“But Senior Brother Ji, even though you’re gifted, you’d best remain cautious.” Wu Han’s tone shifted.

“Senior Sister Jiang is a favorite to enter the North Bank this year. You injured her spirit beast. Even if you had your reasons, she might still take it out on you…”

He spoke tactfully, secretly warning Ji Die.

“Thank you.” Whatever the motivation, Ji Die remembered this kindness.

He had already considered this when he acted. If Senior Sister Jiang did come to question him, he was confident he could calm her anger.

“You’re too polite, Senior Brother Ji. It’d be best to stay away from the beast stables for a while…”

“I understand.” Ji Die cupped his hands in thanks, but had no intention of hiding. One can run for a while, but not forever. As long as he remained in the sect, eventually he’d have to face her. That was not his wish.

“In the end, all trouble stems from lack of strength. If I were as powerful as that venomous woman, would that steward dare to make things difficult for me?” Ji Die’s gaze grew firm. Through all this, he had come to understand the importance of strength.

After Wu Han left, Ji Die returned to his room, took out the “Tai Xuan Manual” from his storage pouch, and began to study it.

He recalled that after breaking through to the fourth level of Qi Refinement, it recorded a minor spell that could be learned. Now that he had reached the fourth level, it was time to add another technique to his arsenal.

“Object Manipulation…” Ji Die murmured, quickly finding the third page of the booklet, which described a minor spell by that name.

The spell was not meant for direct attack, but was more of a support spell, usable by anyone above the fourth level of Qi Refinement. The method was simple: channel spiritual energy outward to control objects at a distance. Highly practical, useful in both combat and intimidation.

Ji Die took a fruit to experiment, following the manual’s instructions to channel his spiritual power and lift it. After two or three tries, the fruit finally wobbled into the air—only to fall to the ground a heartbeat later as his energy failed.

Undeterred, Ji Die kept practicing.

“He’s not as foolish as I thought.” In a loft elsewhere, the horse-faced man listened as a subordinate disciple from the beast stables reported on Ji Die’s conduct after he left, and sneered.

If that peasant had sought revenge on He Song then and there, he could have charged him with attacking a fellow disciple. Who’d have thought this peasant would restrain himself.

“Go, inform Senior Sister Jiang about the black serpent,” the horse-faced man said, closing his eyes. He bore Ji Die no personal grudge, but the fool had dared offend Senior Sister Song.

“What should I say?” the disciple asked.

“Just say a newcomer injured her spirit beast. That’s enough.”

Ji Die knew nothing of this. At that moment in his room, any outsider would have been startled to see a fruit hovering before him, flying erratically as if it had grown wings.

But a closer look would have revealed the ridiculous truth—the fruit’s flight path was so crooked it resembled a drunkard’s stagger.

Ji Die was, of course, the one controlling it. He could now keep light objects airborne for longer, if still a bit clumsily.

There was nothing for it but to practice more.

Soon, his spiritual energy was depleted, and the fruit crashed to the ground.

He consumed a spirit-raising fruit from his storage pouch to restore his energy, then continued to practice. Whenever his energy ran out, he would replenish it and resume, and after several cycles, he began to sense his cultivation had grown more solid.

Though his level had not increased, his foundation was now firmer, and his strength improved.

Ji Die understood in a flash: he’d been so focused on advancing his cultivation by consuming spirit-raising fruit, it was like building a tower with no foundation. In the short term it might seem fine, but when the tower reached a certain height, collapse was inevitable.

Now, by repeatedly exhausting and replenishing his spiritual energy, his cultivation was tempered and made more stable.

A lucky mistake!

“That was close,” Ji Die thought, feeling a trace of fear. He had only just begun his path and had no master to guide him, so he was crossing the river by feeling for stones—a wrong step, and he would have taken a fatal detour.

Realizing this, Ji Die dared not rashly consume more spirit-raising fruits for quick advancement. Instead, he devoted himself to practicing the Object Manipulation spell, using it to temper his cultivation.

He had no idea that, even now, the beast stables had welcomed a visitor.

“Greetings, Senior Sister Jiang…”