23 The Clan Leader’s Sacrifice

"Without the Purple Yang Jade, you will pass away in 30 years, Big Brother," Lu Tianyi said.

"If I pass away in meditation, then so be it. It's no big deal." Speaking of death, Lu Tianming's expression was calm, it was as if he was talking about a very ordinary small matter. "Try asking the world, who doesn't die? Even a Nascent Soul stage grandmaster will turn to dust in a few thousand years. Cultivators aren't afraid of death. They are afraid that their death would be worthless and sullen. Dying for the prosperity of the clan seems pretty good."

"To me, living another 200 years longer or not... it's the same."

"For me to obtain two pieces of Purple Yang Jade just to another 200 years, and sacrifice the future of the Lu Clan, I can't do that."

"Big Brother, you..." Lu Tianyi's voice trailed off. Sometimes, he wished that his big brother was a little more selfish.

However, it was precisely because of his big brother's selflessness that he became the clan leader.

Lu Tianming continued, "Xuanji, what do you think?"

"Clan Leader, Great Elder, I think so too," Lu Xuanji said, "There are some things that we can decide, but there are some things that we can not decide. For example, the future of a Heavenly Spiritual Root is not something that we can decide. Why don't we wait until ten years later and let her make her own choice, whether to stay in the clan or join the Dan Yang Sect?"

"We don't have the power to make a choice for a Heavenly Spirit Root cultivator. Ten years later, she will grow up, and she will have the power to make a choice."

Lu Tianming nodded and said, "That's right. I was selfish. Forcefully keeping a Heavenly Spirit Root in the clan is not necessarily a good thing. After all, when it comes to resources and other things, our Lu Clan is inferior to the Dan Yang Sect. Staying in the Lu Clan is in itself a hindrance to her."

"She's already 13 years old. I can still afford to wait for ten years."

"Thank you for your understanding, Clan Leader." Lu Xuanji said.

"However, you have to hurry up. If Er Ya joins the Lu Clan, she will also become your Dao Companion," the Clan Leader warned. "In these five years, the two of you can cultivate a relationship. In this way, whether she joins the Dan Yang Sect or stays in the Lu Clan, it will be beneficial to you."

"In the world of cultivation, connections are very important," The Clan Leader advised.

Lu Xuanji listened and nodded repeatedly.

...

Not long after, Lu Xuanji left and began to act as a teacher, teaching 32 little fellows.

The youngest was only 6 years old, and the oldest was already 13 years old.

First, he fed them Marrow Cleansing Pills to cleanse their bodies and improve their aptitude. Then, he sent them a set of fist techniques from the mortal world to help them train their bodies. Next, he taught them some knowledge about meridians, acupoints, and so on. He also imparted cultivation knowledge and the basic knowledge of pill refinement.

He did not seek the children to be proficient, but they needed to know the basic knowledge.

After familiarizing themselves with these, the children were taught to meditate, guide the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth into their bodies. They were guided to refine the first wisp of spiritual energy, enter their acupoints, travel through their meridians, settle down in their Dantian, and turn it into True Qi.

As long as they completed the refinement of the first wisp of spiritual energy, they would be considered to have entered the primary stage of Qi Refinement.

During the process of refining the first wisp of spiritual energy, the level of the Spiritual Root was revealed.

Without a Spiritual Root, they would not be able to complete this process. Only with a Spiritual Root could one complete the first step.

Five Spiritual Roots needed six months, or even longer, to refine the first wisp of spirit Qi. Four Spiritual Roots needed two months, while Three Spiritual Roots only needed one month.

As for Two Spiritual Roots and the Heavenly Spiritual Root, Lu Xuanji did not know either.

Back then, he spent ten days to refine the first wisp of spirit Qi.

However, when it came to Er Ya, in just one day, she refined the first wisp of spirit Qi.

Then, in just two years, she stepped into the first level of the Qi Refinement stage.

By the time she graduated in three years, she was already at the peak of the middle stage of Qi Refinement.

Er Ya was given a name, Ye Feixue.

Over the years, his mother often came to visit Lu Xuanji, and also to bond with Ye Feixue. She spoke some intimate words, gave some clothes, gave some snacks, and so on. She already regarded Ye Feixue as her daughter-in-law.

Ye Feixue looked at him with a blush and tenderness.

In the eyes of the clan cultivators, they both had Three Spiritual Roots and were a natural pair.

...

After three years of school, Ye Feixue also stayed at Mount Ziyang.

She was of the fire attribute and was suitable for refining weapons. She often flipped through some books and began to refine some 'Gadgets'.

Most of the time, she mainly cultivated in seclusion on the mountain, and her cave abode was close to Lu Xuanji.

He would help Lu Xuanji take care of the spirit field, and they would talk to each other about some of their cultivation experiences.

Time passed, and in the blink of an eye, ten years had passed.

In the cave abode, Lu Xuanji opened his eyes, and the aura all over his body changed. After a long time, his aura had converged and he was already at the seventh level of the Qi Refinement stage.

At this time, he was 36 years old.

"I'm already at the seventh level of Qi Refinement. According to the rules of the clan, I can also go out and carry out some missions," Lu Xuanji thought.

Just as he walked out of the cave abode, he met a woman. She had a beautiful face, long black hair, a graceful figure, and wore a white dress. Her every frown and smile had an indescribable charm. It was Ye Feixue.

In the past, Er Ya's face was yellow and muscular, like a little bean.

Now, she was slim and graceful, indescribably beautiful.

"Brother, you've come out of seclusion."

"I've come out. I've gained a lot from this seclusion. I'm already at the seventh level of the Qi Refinement stage," Lu Xuanji said. "According to the rules of the clan, when you reach the seventh level of the Qi Refinement stage, you have to go to other places to carry out some missions."

"Brother, I want to go too." Ye Feixue said. "I'm already at the fifth level of the Qi Refinement stage. I won't become a burden to you."

Looking at the high-spirited woman, Lu Xuanji smiled bitterly in his heart.

In the same batch of students, ten years had passed. Many of the Five Spiritual Roots were still at the first level of the Qi Refinement stage, and a few of the Four Spiritual Roots had stepped into the second level, keeping pace with the Three Spiritual Roots cultivators. However, Ye Feixue had stepped into the fifth level of Qi Refinement.

She had advanced one level every two or three years on average. According to this speed, she might catch up to him very quickly, or even surpass him.

The ancient books had once described the terrifying growth speed of the Heavenly Spiritual Roots. However, when he truly faced it, there was only faint astonishment and fear.

The fellow Daoists of the Heavenly Spiritual Root were truly blessed. However, the enemies of the Heavenly Spiritual Root were simply a nightmare.

"Fei Xue, you're already 23 years old, and you're already a big girl. There are some things that you didn't want to talk about in the past, but now I want to talk to you about them," Lu Xuanji said. "Ten years ago, the Clan Leader and the Great Elder were faced with a choice. Should they send you to the Dan Yang Sect or stay in the Lu Clan?"

"Now that you're an adult, it's time for you to make a choice."