The training grew more intense for Hao Ziyue and Xiao Bai, especially when the disciples from the Forest Leaf Sect decided to join in.
The two not only focused on learning the latest techniques, but also took turns fighting the other 36 Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Li Shen continues to watch their training, focusing on Hao Ziyue and Xiao Bai's progress. The long-standing closeness between them has allowed their chemistry to develop well. They can even fight against five Foundation Establishment Cultivators at once by teaming up.
Ye Fa and Gu Mei finished teaching the disciples. There was good progress from them, the children who were about to begin their cultivation. Ye Fa and Gu Mei applied the most basic teachings to them, physical training.
In the cultivation world, the term "Body Tempering" was not commonly used. They chose to use Spiritual Seed Pills to forcefully open the meridians and activate the dantian, without considering their physical strength.
Li Shen found out about this after Gu Mei suggested it to him. But Li Shen refused. He thought it was better to follow the traditional cultivation method rather than follow the current trends in the cultivation world.
There are advantages to starting with Body Tempering. Cultivators will have strong physical endurance and be resistant to the side effects of pills during cultivation.
Body Tempering also provided agility, endurance, and physical well-being.
Of the 178 new disciples of the Azure Pillar Sect, 30 were at Body Tempering stage 2, 76 were at Body Tempering stage 3, 41 were at Body Tempering stage 4, and 31 were at the peak of Body Tempering.
Li Shen said that all of them would be able to cultivate well next year, as long as they continued to obey the instructions of Elder Ye and Elder Gu.
Ye Fa and Gu Mei flew over to Li Shen. They asked him about the training methods he had used for them.
"I plan to train Xiao Bai and Hao Ziyue's abilities. But their abilities exceed my expectations," Li Shen replied.
"It's only one month until the Huang Valley Trials. I hope the Azure Pillar Sect can send many cultivators there, Li Shen added.
"The rules are limited," Gu Mei said, drawing Li Shen's attention.
"Limited?"
"For sects below the second level, they can only send two people," replied Gu Mei.
"In that case, we can only rely on Bai'er and Ziyue," explained Ye Fa, and Li Shen nodded.
The battle in the sect's front yard ended. Once again, Xiao Bai and Hao Ziyue defeated a group of five cultivators.
Li Shen flew low from the sky above the sect to arrive at the scene. Everyone stood up suddenly, put their hands together and bowed their heads in respect.
"Greetings, Sect Leader," they said in unison.
"You may rest. I've seen many battles today," replied Li Shen.
"Chen Yi," Li Shen called out. Chen Yi stepped forward, still wearing his Forest Leaf Sect uniform.
"Go to the equipment room and get your uniforms. Starting tomorrow, you don't need to fight Bai'er and Ziyue anymore. Just focus on your cultivation," Li Shen ordered. Chen Yi nodded in understanding.
Li Shen's attention shifted to Bai'er and Ziyue, staring at them who had shown significant progress in their cultivation.
Defeating five practitioners of the same level meant that they were ready to take on the Huang Valley Trials.
"Bai'er, Ziyue, you may rest. You can continue your training tomorrow," Li Shen ordered.
"Yes, Sect Master."
They flew away with their magic swords, leaving the front yard of the sect. Ye Fa and Gu Mei descended from the sky. Both of them stood in front of Li Shen.
"Ye Fa, I want you to watch over the new disciples tomorrow. As for you, Gu Mei, focus on that prospective disciple," Li Shen ordered.
"Yes, Sect Master. We understand."
***
Two Weeks Later.
Azure Pillar Sect.
In Li Shen's dantian ocean, he stepped on the shallow water without getting his feet wet. He looked ahead and saw the first blue barrier begin to fill with spirit stones spinning randomly with the barrier as their axis.
"I knew it, there is a correlation between my cultivation enlightenment and the spirit stones," replied Li Shen.
He gathered spiritual energy in his hands, then fired it in the form of a laser directly at the barrier.
Shocking! A backlash happened in the form of an explosion that threw Li Shen's body backwards. He vomited blood because the explosion was able to injure his primordial soul.
Right after the explosion, ancient writing appeared in front of the barrier, floating and glowing bright blue. Li Shen could read what it meant.
[Wisdom and modesty are like the sun at the dawn of time, revealing the path for those who seek answers about the truth of the heavens]
"What does that mean?" asked Li Shen.
Not knowing what it meant, Li Shen decided to return to his consciousness. His attempt to destroy the blue barrier with his power had actually given him another path to enlightenment in the future.
Even so, the power path did not seem to be what the heavens expected of Li Shen. If he continued to forcefully destroy the barrier, he was worried that his primordial soul would be destroyed and his cultivation would decline.
Li Shen's eyes opened. He looked around him; he had been in his cultivation cave for quite some time, about a week. Li Shen stood up, stepped out of the cave, and looked towards the Azure Pillar Sect.
"Modesty is the opposite of luxury? Could it be that the heavens are asking me to be a modest person?" asked Li Shen.
To get the answer to his question, he had to find out the meaning of that sentence by himself. He was familiar with the meaning of modesty. That was because he used to live a modest life when he was forming his dream dao concept.
However, the heavens were asking this of him. This was quite confusing to Li Shen.
Li Shen came out of his cultivation and flew into the sect. Unbeknownst to him, Ye Fa had informed Li Shen about the Huang Valley Trials and the existence of the Nature Baby Fruit.
"Sect Master," Ye Fa greeted Li Shen when she saw him arrive after a week of absence.
"What is it?" asked Li Shen.
"Someone came from the Qing Palace to tell us about the Huang Valley Trials," explained Ye Fa.
"What is it?" asked Li Shen, curious.
"They will allow the Azure Pillar Sect to join the trials if they can fulfill one condition they have set, " said Ye Fa.
Li Shen stopped in his tracks, then turned to look at Ye Fa again, "What?"
"Since the Qing Palace still does not recognize the Azure Pillar Sect, they are requesting that you, as the Sect Leader, show them your abilities," replied Ye Fa softly.
"Show my abilities?"
"A battle of acceptance," explained Ye Fa.
Li Shen smiled slyly, curious about the battle. It seemed that the Qing Palace still regarded the Azure Pillar Sect with contempt.
"Who do I have to fight?" asked Li Shen.
"One of the elders of the Qing Palace," replied Ye Fa.
"I am not surprised."
"They want us to decide when we are ready to fight. I will wait until—"
"No."
"Tell them I'm ready to fight today!"