CHAPTER 63: CHAPTER 63: PROMOTION, INNER DISCIPLE_1

"Well, I just made a breakthrough a few days ago. Then I went to the Deacon Hall to find Deacon Ma and complete my status promotion. Now, I am a genuine inner disciple of the Riverside Sect!"

Caressing his Inner Door Token fondly, Cao Ren boasted, "Entering the Inner Door means truly stepping into the core area of the Riverside Sect."

"That truly wasn’t easy. Congratulations, congratulations." Shen Mo smiled and congratulated him.

"Indeed, not easy." Cao Ren nodded, patted Shen Mo’s shoulder, and said, "If we become wealthy and honored, let’s not forget each other."

"We pledged friendship in the Inner Door. Now that I’ve become an inner disciple, I certainly won’t forget you."

"When the time comes, if I have extra cultivation resources, I’ll set some aside for you. You must also work hard on your cultivation and strive to advance to the Inner Door as soon as possible, just like me."

"Yes, on this trip, I also broke through to the Qi Gathering Realm. When we’re done here, I’ll go to the Deacon Hall to get my Identity Token."

Shen Mo’s reaction was mild; he simply nodded and said casually.

"A breakthrough... You’ve broken through to the Qi Gathering Realm?"

Cao Ren’s expression stiffened. His boastful smile froze, replaced by a look of utter disbelief.

"Yes, I had a fortunate opportunity. It’s not worth mentioning."

Seeing Cao Ren’s expression, Shen Mo smiled faintly.

"Impossible... You’re kidding me!"

He had known Shen Mo for many years and had a good understanding of his cultivation Talent. This fellow was stuck at Body Tempering Realm Layer V for several years. Even with help from Inner Door elders and reaching Body Tempering Realm Layer VII by relying on Qi Gathering Pills, he should still be a long way from the Qi Gathering Realm. I’ve only been in seclusion for a few months; how could he have cultivated so quickly?

"Don’t believe me?" Shen Mo raised an eyebrow. With a casual grab, he seized Cao Ren by the collar.

Instantly, Shen Mo lifted Cao Ren’s entire body into the air.

"Believe me now?"

"Quick, let me go!" Cao Ren dangled, limbs flailing. He was terrified and struggled to break free.

"You’ve really reached the Qi Gathering Realm!" Cao Ren stared at Shen Mo as if he’d seen a ghost. "What incredible luck did you stumble into? Did you find a master’s cave mansion and get treasures or something?"

Just moments ago, when Shen Mo had him in his grip, Cao Ren felt his entire body bound, completely unable to resist or break free. That display alone was enough to convince him Shen Mo wasn’t lying. Still, Cao Ren couldn’t fathom how Shen Mo had broken through so quickly. Judging by his aura, he seemed even stronger than Cao Ren himself.

"You’re just too slow."

Shen Mo, aware of Cao Ren’s thoughts, chuckled. "Let’s not dwell on that for now. Since you’ve received your Identity Token, you should be able to establish your own residence, right?"

Establishing a residence meant creating an independent cave mansion. This was a special privilege for inner disciples, allowing them to obtain a plot of land within the Riverside Sect’s Spirit Vein area to serve as their dwelling.

Shen Mo greatly coveted this privilege. After all, the living conditions in an Outer disciple’s courtyard were vastly inferior to an independent cave mansion.

"I’ve already applied to a Deacon, but I still need to draw lots to confirm the location of my cave mansion."

Although there were no clear hierarchical differences between the cave mansions of inner disciples, the various locations within the Spirit Vein area still had their pros and cons. Disciples with top-tier cultivation Talent would automatically be assigned to establish their residences in areas with the most abundant Spiritual Qi and the best scenery. However, ordinary inner disciples with mediocre Talent had to determine their location by drawing lots, a process that could take some time.

Hearing his explanation, Shen Mo nodded.

The two chatted casually for a while longer, and Shen Mo invited Cao Ren to stay and eat some grilled meat with him. Cao Ren even opened the fine wine he had originally intended to share with his father, and the two of them drank merrily together.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, Cao Ren departed. They agreed that once Shen Mo obtained his Inner Door Token, they would go together to draw lots for their cave mansion locations.

"You stay here and behave. I’m going out for a bit."

After seeing Cao Ren off, Shen Mo cleared the table and spoke to the Spirit Storage Rat. The Spirit Storage Rat was quite the lazy creature. Having eaten its fill, it had curled up alone for a nap in the cool shade of the bamboo trees in the courtyard. Hearing Shen Mo’s words, it didn’t reply, merely flicking its tail in acknowledgment.

「Deacon Hall – Outer Disciple Window」

"What brings you here?" Deacon Ma asked from inside the window, without looking up.

"Outer disciple Shen Mo. I recently broke through to the Qi Gathering Realm and wish to request the Deacon verify this for a promotion."

Shen Mo handed over his Identity Token.

"Promotion?" Deacon Ma finally raised his head and glanced at him.

"You..." He clearly remembered Shen Mo and seemed somewhat surprised. "I recall just a few months ago, you came to me to resign from your post as the mountain gate guardian, didn’t you? At that time, your cultivation seemed quite far from the Qi Gathering Realm."

"I had some Adventures recently, which led to rapid progress," Shen Mo admitted with a nod.

"Adventures?" Deacon Ma’s expression turned envious. To improve so much in just a few short months, this Adventure must have been quite significant.

However, he didn’t delay long and quickly led Shen Mo to the promotion assessment area.

"Place your palm on the Spiritual Verification Platform."

"This Spiritual Verification Platform can determine if your cultivation is satisfactory and if your bone age meets the requirements."

The Spiritual Verification Platform was a device specifically prepared by the Riverside Sect for the promotion of Outer disciples. This platform could not only test cultivation but also measure bone age. According to Riverside Sect rules, as long as one’s cultivation level was up to standard and their bone age did not exceed fifty, they were considered qualified to become an inner disciple. If someone reached the Qi Gathering Realm but their bone age was over fifty, it indicated insufficient potential, and the Riverside Sect would not accept such an individual as an inner disciple.

Following Deacon Ma’s instructions, Shen Mo placed his palms on the Spiritual Verification Platform.

BUZZ!

The Spiritual Verification Platform trembled slightly, emitting a golden glow. In the next instant, several small, golden characters materialized within a projected aura of light:

[Measurement Result, Bone Age: 28.]

[Measurement Result, Cultivation: Qi Gathering Realm, Three Dantians fully activated.]

When these two pieces of information were revealed, Deacon Ma, who had been rather nonchalant, suddenly stiffened. "Three Dantians fully activated?"

"Is there something wrong with this Spiritual Verification Platform?" he muttered, frowning, not immediately believing the information.

"Deacon Ma, there shouldn’t be any problem with the Spiritual Verification Platform," Shen Mo spoke up. "When I broke through to the Qi Gathering Realm, I did indeed manage to condense all three major Dantians—upper, middle, and lower."

"What?"

After receiving Shen Mo’s confirmation, even Deacon Ma, who was usually calm and collected, couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath. All three Dantians opened simultaneously! Such a foundation was exceedingly rare! Even within a prominent immortal sect like the Riverside Sect, an upper sect in the Red Flame Country, it was an uncommon sight. Considering Shen Mo’s mediocre performance before, it was difficult to believe he could have condensed such a profound foundation.

After confirming Shen Mo wasn’t joking, an earnest smile spread across Deacon Ma’s face. "Fellow Daoist, your prospects are boundless!"

"Deacon Ma, you flatter me."

"Ah, this is no mere flattery," Deacon Ma said seriously. "To be able to open all three Dantians when breaking through to the Qi Gathering Realm shows an incredibly solid foundation. As long as you don’t perish prematurely, reaching the Spirit Sea Realm in the future is a certainty for you."

"Perhaps, in twenty years or so, I’ll be the one needing your assistance, Fellow Daoist."

Stepping into the Spirit Sea Realm meant one could serve as an Elder in the Riverside Sect. This was an achievement Deacon Ma had striven for his entire life but had never attained.