Chapter Thirty-Two: The Jade Token of Discipleship

“I must trouble you, junior sister, to stand guard for me.” With a flick of his wrist, Jiang Yan produced the white porcelain bottle containing the Earth Spirit Pill. He had decided to directly raise Yun Ying’s cultivation to the third level of Qi Refining, thus completing the first stage of the sect’s main quest. Thinking of the formidable challenges that awaited on Mount Hua, Jiang Yan felt a sense of urgency.

There was the distant threat of Tianshan, the nearby Jin Yan Sect, and the ever-present possibility of the demon hunters arriving at any moment. Once the sect advanced to the rankless category, it would be compelled to participate in the annual demon hunt. Yet, if it did not advance, judging by Bai Lun’s attitude, Mount Hua might be erased at any time. More importantly—there was the main quest.

Tang Wan glanced at the spirit pill in Jiang Yan’s hand and replied respectfully, “I obey, senior brother.”

Jiang Yan offered the pill to Yun Ying, his tone as coaxing as a wolf luring Little Red Riding Hood. “Little junior sister, come, take this spirit pill.”

Reluctantly, Yun Ying accepted the pill from her senior brother. She held it gingerly to her lips, tilting her exquisitely carved face up to ask, “Senior brother, is this really edible?”

A barely repressed smile appeared on Jiang Yan’s face. He pinched Yun Ying’s delicate nose. “Be good. Would your senior brother ever harm you if he tells you to eat it?”

Yun Ying’s dark eyes swirled with doubt, but at last, in a tone of great righteousness, she declared, “Well, if I get a stomachache, it’ll be your fault anyway.” With that, she popped the pill into her mouth.

A cool current flowed down her throat, spreading into her chest. Surprised, Yun Ying turned to Jiang Yan. “Senior brother, the pill I just swallowed is gone. It didn’t taste good at all. It smelled sweet, but there wasn’t much flavor when I ate it. Candied hawthorn is still better.”

Tang Wan burst out laughing. Reaching out with her slender fingers, she tapped Yun Ying’s nose lightly. “You little imp, you’re never satisfied. That pill is a rare spirit medicine, coveted by thousands, and you say it’s not as tasty as candied hawthorn.”

“Ha,” Yun Ying took Jiang Yan’s large hand and sniffed it again, still muttering in confusion, “But it doesn’t even smell as good as the rock sugar on candied hawthorn.”

Jiang Yan could only smile helplessly, rubbing Yun Ying’s small head. “Enough, Yun Ying, sit properly, close your eyes, and have a nap. I’ll wake you when breakfast is ready.”

Obediently, Yun Ying sat cross-legged on the mat and closed her eyes. Suddenly, she felt a warmth rising in her belly and opened her eyes again. Seeing her senior brother and senior sister smiling down at her, she had no choice but to close her eyes once more, muttering under her breath, “Usually I’m not allowed to sleep in, but this time I’m going to sleep as much as I want.”

Jiang Yan watched as Yun Ying shut her eyes, and soon a rosy flush appeared on her round, fair cheeks. He knew that the Earth Spirit Pill was now taking effect. Its medicinal power was gentle and not immediately obvious during advancement, making it a top-tier low-grade elixir for Qi Refining novices. Yet Jiang Yan was still somewhat worried; Yun Ying was so young, he feared she might not withstand the pill’s potent power.

After a moment’s hesitation, Jiang Yan placed his hand on Yun Ying’s back, channeling a stream of gentle spiritual energy along her spine, guiding it into her meridians...

...

An hour later, Jiang Yan withdrew his hand and let out a long breath of white mist.

Beside him, Tang Wan’s delicate face lit up with anticipation. “Senior brother sect leader, did it work?”

Jiang Yan nodded. “Yes, Wan, our little junior sister is now a third-level Qi Refining cultivator. From now on, you’ll need to supervise her training.”

A flicker of surprise crossed Tang Wan’s pretty features. The Earth Spirit Pill truly lived up to its reputation as a supreme first-grade elixir—three levels in just one hour! She replied earnestly, “I will make sure to watch over her cultivation.”

Jiang Yan picked up Yun Ying and leapt down from the platform, heading toward the rear hall. As he walked, he said, “Wan, come with me. From tonight, you and junior sister will live in the newly built quarters.”

Joy spread over Tang Wan’s face. New lodgings at last! Seeing Jiang Yan about to disappear beyond the great hall’s rear door, she hurried after him.

With Yun Ying in Jiang Yan’s arms and Tang Wan following behind, the three made their way through a vast garden filled with countless houses, passed through one gate after another, and crossed a long wooden bridge over water. At last, they arrived at an area dense with courtyards.

Tang Wan was full of curiosity. Since when had the sect gained such a beautiful place? Surely it was thanks to the sect leader. The sight of Jiang Yan’s back made her feel even greater reverence.

Jiang Yan led the way to a courtyard whose gate bore a plaque inscribed with three characters: “Residence of Elegant Ease.”

Arriving at the gate, Jiang Yan, still holding Yun Ying, used his shoulder to nudge the door open and entered the courtyard. He said to Tang Wan, “Wan, you and junior sister will live here from now on. This courtyard is protected by the Mountain Guardian Array—without the proper disciple’s identity token, no one can enter…”

As Jiang Yan stepped inside, Tang Wan’s surprised and puzzled voice called out from behind, “Sect leader!”

He turned to see a cloud of mist swirling at the entrance, obscuring Tang Wan’s figure. Immediately, Jiang Yan understood: the Mountain Guardian Array had restored itself and was now active at the gate. Since Tang Wan lacked a sect leader’s ring like his own, she was blocked outside.

A surge of delight rose in Jiang Yan’s heart. He hadn’t expected the array to fully repair itself in just a day and night. He stroked the sect leader’s ring, and the mist at the gate twisted and then dispersed, revealing Tang Wan standing there.

Her face pale, Tang Wan looked at Jiang Yan with lingering fear. “Sect leader, what was in the Mountain Guardian Array to make such terrifying noises?” She had been frightened by the strange roars within the array.

Jiang Yan summoned a disciple’s identity token from the ring and handed it to her. “Wan, the Mountain Guardian Array is designed to block even fifth-level Qi Refining cultivators. What you saw and heard just now were all illusions. This token is your sect identity token. Drip a drop of your blood onto it and wear it on your person—you’ll be able to come and go freely through the array from now on.”

A glimmer of wonder appeared in Tang Wan’s bright eyes—the sect now had its own identity tokens.

She remembered how she had once envied the disciples of Jin Yan Sect, who wore tokens that allowed them to pass freely through their gates, while she herself would be stopped by a hazy light and scolded by their gatekeepers. Now, under the sect leader’s guidance, her own sect had such tokens. Holding it brought her a sense of contentment, like a child with a new toy.

The token was shaped like a small jade pendant, glowing with a translucent green light. Grimacing slightly at the thought of drawing blood, she channeled a flash of green energy to her fingertip, then squeezed out a drop of crimson blood and let it fall onto the token.

A clear chime sounded, and the token flashed with a blood-red glow before returning to its green hue. On close inspection, a single crimson droplet could now be seen at the center.

Tang Wan examined the token. Its front bore two large seal-script characters—her own name, Tang Wan. On the back, the words “Mount Hua” were carved, rough and bold, with a black short sword suspended between them. Against the green jade, the sword stood out starkly.

Holding the token up to the sunlight, she peered inside. From the front, she could see the crimson drop of blood; from the back, the background of the “Mount Hua” characters revealed a majestic mountain shrouded in clouds, with a road winding up its slopes and vanishing into the mist.

“Sect leader, I have my own identity token now—with my name on it!” Tang Wan beamed, spinning joyfully on the spot. Her plain robes fluttered around her as she danced, leaving Jiang Yan momentarily entranced.

Carefully, she hung the token from the ribbon at her waist, then lightly hopped over the threshold into the courtyard, nimbly darted out again, and repeated the process several times before returning to Jiang Yan, laughing.

“Sect leader, now that my token works, do I have to wear it at every moment from now on?”

Looking at Tang Wan’s bright, smiling face, Jiang Yan was reminded that she was, after all, still just a child. In his own world, she would still be a high school student carrying a backpack. Yet here, she was already responsible for so many sect affairs.

Sensing her delight, Jiang Yan knew that if he insisted the token must be worn at all times within the sect, Tang Wan would only be more pleased.

“Yes, Wan. I will soon raise the level of the Mountain Guardian Array. Once it’s upgraded, everyone in the sect will need to wear their identity tokens at all times.” Jiang Yan was determined to complete the main quest for the sect. Once it advanced to the rankless category, the array would cover every building, ensuring no outsider could infiltrate the sect without being detected.