Who Let Him Cultivate?!

"You know, this using sunlight for illumination and heating sounds familiar, I've done this before too," Fairy Eternity said with a chuckle as they were on their way back, comfortably stretching herself.

She had been cultivating in her sleep to restore her strength, and now that she was awake, it signified a temporary pause in her cultivation process.

"Fairy had a tough time sleeping, you used solar energy during ancient times as well?"

"I've never heard of solar energy per se, but the method of use is probably similar."

"How did you use it?"

"There was a time when I really enjoyed reading, day and night. Although my eyesight is exceptional and I can see everything clearly even in the dark, it lacked atmosphere."

"So, I summoned a Golden Crow. During the day, I'd have it conserve its energy and not shine, and at night I'd let it light up for me. You know, it was as bright as daylight."

"Sometimes when cooking and the heat wasn't enough, I'd call on a Golden Crow to help fan the flames and heat things up. Of course, I wouldn't let it help for free; I always invited it to stay for the meal."

"...I have a feeling that the way we're talking about using the power of the sun for light and heat isn't quite the same thing."

"Is that so? I think it's quite similar. Look, didn't I store up the sun's power first?"

"Yes."

"And after storing it, isn't it released again?"

"Yes."

Fairy Eternity clapped her hands, "See, it's exactly the same."

Lu Yang patiently explained to Fairy Eternity the difference: "The solar energy I'm talking about can be used for lighting and heating, but it can also heat water, replace horses, and power cars."

"My sun's power can do that too. I could have the Golden Crow boil water or pull me around, flying here and there."

Lu Yang: "..."

After duping the two Masters according to the plan, the members of the Heavenly Court Sect headed home, returning to the Seek Dao Sect.
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Lu Yang was trying hard to explain to Fairy Eternity that solar energy wasn't what she thought it was.

Meng Jingzhou, on the other hand, was studying the cultivation technique that the Yaoyang Sect had respectfully offered, learning how to absorb the sun's power to the greatest extent.

On the cultivation technique manual, a bare-chested man faced the sun with arms wide open, letting sunlight touch every inch of his skin. The images were lively and lifelike, simple and easy to understand.

In the margins, the Yaoyang Sect also noted that one must strip naked, leaving no shred of fabric, especially around the crotch area, as there's no shame in cultivation practices.

The reasoning was sound: Shouldn't the crotch area be cultivated as well?

Beyond that, it listed various positions for sunbathing.

The Yaoyang Sect was considerate; besides the male version of the technique, there was also a female version.

Looking at the two books in his hands, Meng Jingzhou was silent.

The cover of the second book featured a bare-chested woman, and he was considering whether to open it.

No wonder no one learns your sect's techniques. Are these even legit techniques?

The four Protector Heavenly Kings dropped Lu Yang and his companion off at the entrance to the sect and then returned to their respective peaks.

"Do you feel like there are fewer people in our sect?" Lu Yang asked, noting that both on the way there and in the Task Hall, there were fewer disciples than usual.

"Now that you mention it, it does seem like it."

The two went to the Task Hall to report the situation of their mission to Elder Brother Dai.

"Elder Brother Dai, the overall situation regarding the contact with the two sects is as follows... Elder Brother Dai?"

After Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou finished reporting, they realized that Dai Bufan was somewhat distracted, seemingly preoccupied with other thoughts.

Dai Bufan snapped out of his reverie, "Ah, alright, you've done well. The bribes the two sects offered you were obtained through your own skill, so there's no need to turn them over to the sect."

Afterward, Dai Bufan looked troubled as he gazed at the two men, as if he were wrestling an inner conflict, hesitant and indecisive. Finally, with gritted teeth, he made a significant decision, "Your timing is perfect, I have a task here that needs to be completed by you."

"A task?"

Dai Bufan slid a small booklet in front of the two, which recorded the information of several mortals, all of young age.

"These people are...?"

"These are a few candidates for this year's sect recruitment. The plan is to observe their conduct before the recruitment, to see if they are capable of cultivation if they meet the standards of our sect, and if so, invite them to our sect for the entry exam on the second day of the second month next year."

Aside from those disciples at critical cultivation junctures, on other assignments, stationed to maintain the sect's operations, or in the Void Refinement Stage, most disciples of the Seek Dao Sect were dispatched by Dai Bufan to observe the candidates' conduct.

Observing conduct isn't something that can yield results in a day or two; at the shortest, it would take a month, and at the longest, half a year is also possible, so those sent out may not have time to undertake a second observation mission.

It was truly a lack of available hands that compelled Dai Bufan to have Lu Yang and Meng Jingzhou observe the candidates' conduct as well.

This was exactly what he had been agonizing over.

If it weren't for the fact that he was otherwise engaged, he would rather complete the task himself than ask Lu Yang and the other to do it.

Who knows what trouble they might cause.

"So that's it." Lu Yang revealed a confident smile, patting his chest in assurance, "Elder Brother Dai, don't worry. Do you not know us yet? We shall surely complete the task!"

Dai Bufan sighed and, as was customary before departure, reminded the two, "If you find people not on the list who also meet the conditions for our sect's recruitment, you may also recommend them to me."

"No problem."

"Right, do you know what our sect's requirements are for a candidate's conduct?" Dai Bufan was still not entirely at ease.

"Honesty and integrity."

"Steadfast in cultivation."

Dai Bufan nodded, feeling somewhat relieved, "Good to know, you may go."

...

In the carriage, the two looked through the booklet with the information, which listed three mortals, all around fifteen years of age.

"Let's go to Nine Dragons City in Youzhou first, since it's closest to us."

Meng Jingzhou pointed to the mortal on the first page of the booklet.

The mortal on the first page was a young boy named Xie An, discovered by one of their senior brothers while on a mission in Nine Dragons City.

It was a mission to eradicate the red-clothed Fierce Ghosts, who had done much evil. After a comprehensive search, the senior brother finally found the haunt of the red-clothed Fierce Ghost.

Knowing that the senior brother would not dare unleash his full strength in a place crowded with mortals, the ghost concluded that the senior brother cared for the lives of the mortals and tried to use the threat against their lives to bargain for its own escape.

And the person being threatened was Xie An.

In that crucial moment, Xie An displayed an extremely steady psychological quality. Even when threatened by the red-clothed Fierce Ghost, he remained unflustered and managed to enrage the ghost with his words, causing it to reveal a flaw which the senior brother exploited to kill it.

At that time, Xie An was still young, not yet of the age to test for a Spirit Root, and it was unknown how his innate talents were.

"From the looks of it, this boy named Xie An seems to be a suitable seed for cultivation," Lu Yang said with a smile. Remaining unflustered in the face of danger is something that many cultivators are unable to do; only with such psychological fortitude is survival possible.

He and Old Meng possessed such mental resilience.