Chapter 175: Spirit Sect

"Ah..."

Chen Shu sat down on the sofa, suddenly feeling empty inside, and couldn't help but say to the little girl beside him: "Now there are only the two of us."

The little girl nodded silently.

Chen Shu said again: "Without your sister, doesn't the house seem very empty?"

The little girl thought about it this time before nodding again.

"Sigh..."

Chen Shu let out a sigh, took out his Mobile Phone, and just as he opened the Ancient Cultivation Group, he suddenly thought of something and hurriedly took out Qingqing's Mobile Phone, also tapping into the Ancient Cultivation Group.

Eh!?

It actually opened!

Chen Shu felt a bit strange.

After checking carefully, he discovered that Qingqing had changed the facial recognition to him and had also added his fingerprints to the fingerprint scanner; he didn't know when she had done it.

How very thoughtful.

Truly terrifying.

Chen Shu shook his head and began to spam the group.

Qingcai Keke: /yawn

Qingcai Keke: When are your finals? I left too early yesterday and didn't pay attention.

Qingdeng Gufu: 28th.

Qingcai Keke: That late?

Qingdeng Gufu: Amitabha, I have no choice; this poor monk sustained some injuries.

Nainai Zongshuo: You silly vegetable!!!

Qingcai Keke:?

Nainai Zongshuo: Where did you abduct my roommate to? Why did Qingqing suddenly tell me she won't be coming to school for the next month, and Xiaoxiao also told me she won't be returning to live in the Dormitory for the next month?

Qingcai Keke: I locked them up.

Nainai Zongshuo: Who did you lock up?

Qingcai Keke: Qingqing.

Nainai Zongshuo: Then what about Xiaoxiao?

Qingcai Keke: She's acting as my jailer, delivering food to Qingqing and helping me whip Qingqing.

Nainai Zongshuo: /I believe you, you ghost.

Nainai Zongshuo: /I'm so mad.

Qingcai Keke: /yawn

Nainai Zongshuo: Hurry up and tell me where they went!!

Qingcai Keke: /yawn

Nainai Zongshuo: Hurry up!!!

Nainai Zongshuo: I'm very curious!!!

Nainai Zongshuo: /going crazy/going crazy/going crazy

Qingcai Keke: Qingqing returned to Yuanzhou; there are things at home that need to be handled.

Qingcai Keke: Xiaoxiao isn't attending classes either, so there's no need to stay in the Dormitory, plus she still has to help her sister water the flowers, so she's staying here at the small courtyard.

Nainai Zongshuo: Then what does Xiaoxiao eat?

Qingcai Keke: Orders takeout.

Qingcai Keke: Occasionally I come over to cook for her too.

Nainai Zongshuo: /distressed

Nainai Zongshuo: Even the cat was taken away...

Nainai Zongshuo: Doesn't that mean I'll be the only one left in the Dormitory for the next month?

Qingcai Keke: Yes.

Nainai Zongshuo: Ahhh, I won't be able to see Qingqing for a month, I'm going to die /going crazy

Qingcai Keke: /stunned

Nainai Zongshuo: I'm going to miss her to death.

Qingcai Keke: You think I don't?

Nainai Zongshuo: /complex expression

Qingcai Keke: If you're bored, you can also ask Xiaoxiao out for a meal, or tell her to eat at school, preferably at noon. Because if the weather is too hot, some of her sister's potted flowers might need to be watered twice a day, morning and evening; in the morning, it must be done before the temperature rises, and in the evening, after the sun sets but before it gets dark, because one must avoid the high-temperature periods while also observing the soil moisture.

Nainai Zongshuo: So delicate /pout

Ba Kuai Fuji De Meinv: /staring blankly at the above

Ba Kuai Fuji De Meinv: Is this really an Ancient Cultivation Group?

Qingcai Keke: hhh

Qingcai Keke: There's nothing much to talk about anyway; most people are very dull, and those who aren't are just here to watch the drama, so we just chat idly.

Qingcai Keke: Since that's the case, shall we discuss some content that fits an Ancient Cultivation Group?

Qingcai Keke: @All Members

Nainai Zongshuo: What do you mean by content that fits an Ancient Cultivation Group?

Haoran Zhengqi: /eating melon seeds

Zhong Miao Zhimen: /eating melon seeds

Chen Shu did not forget to switch to Qingqing's Mobile Phone.

Zhaoyeqing:?

Only then did he take back his own Mobile Phone.

Qingcai Keke: Grandmother is battling Master Qingdeng Gufu the day after tomorrow. Who do you think has the highest win rate?

A little bit busy.

Nainai Zongshuo: To be fair, I think Grandmother has a higher win rate.

Nainai Zongshuo: After all, the Sword Sect is very capable of fighting, and she is a one-in-a-million peerless genius, plus she is good-looking, there is a beauty bonus.

Qingcai Keke: /expression complicated

Qingdeng Gufu: I am unworthy of being called a Master.

Qingcai Keke: /yawn

Qingcai Keke: Why not start a betting pool? Who are you betting on?

Nainai Zongshuo: I bet on Grandmother Senior Brother!

Zhong Miao Zhimen: Then I bet on Senior Brother Tongdeng.

Ba Kuai Fuji De Meinü: I bet on Grandmother Senior Sister!

Jiu Jiao Luo Huaian Suanle: Qingdeng Gufu.

Zhaoyeqing: Grandmother.

Haoran Zhengqi: Following the pattern, should I bet on Qingdeng Gufu?

Wuming Renshi: I also bet on Grandmother!

Qingcai Keke: What a coincidence, excluding a certain shameless person who bet on themselves, everyone gets three votes. Since that's the case, why don't we have a big gamble?

Qingcai Keke: I'll be the bookie. Each of you sends me a 100-yuan red envelope. Whichever side wins, I'll send 180 back to each person on that side.

Zhong Miao Zhimen: What about the other twenty?

Qingcai Keke: Service fee.

Nainai Zongshuo: /fatherly strike

Qingcai Keke: Just kidding.

Qingcai Keke: Say no to gambling and drugs.

Qingcai Keke: I really want to know one thing.

Nainai Zongshuo: Speak!

Chen Shu found the two photos taken yesterday. The pattern mark on Qingdeng Gufu's body was half-hidden, while it was completely exposed on Zhong Miao Zhimen's body. Before sending them out, he thoughtfully drew a circle on each photo to highlight the key points.

Qingcai Keke: 【Image】

Qingcai Keke: 【Image】

Qingcai Keke: What is this?

Nainai Zongshuo: Beg me and I'll tell you.

Zhong Miao Zhimen: You don't have one?

Chen Shu frowned as he looked at these two messages.

It seems Zhang Suannai also knows about this mark; of course, it cannot be ruled out that she is intentionally being annoying and actually doesn't know.

And Zhong Miao Zhimen believes that she herself should also have this mark.

Chen Shu typed rapidly.

Qingcai Keke: Should I have one?

Zhong Miao Zhimen:...

Zhong Miao Zhimen: @Haoran Zhengqi

Haoran Zhengqi: /eating melon seeds

Chen Shu frowned again.

Qingcai Keke: @Nainai Zongshuo

Qingcai Keke: It sounds like you have one too.

Nainai Zongshuo: Damn, your speaking style is so similar to my roommate's.

Qingcai Keke:?

Nainai Zongshuo: Beg me.

Qingcai Keke: Tell me quickly.

Nainai Zongshuo: Beg me.

Qingcai Keke: Impossible.

Nainai Zongshuo: /waving hands and hands on hips hmph

Qingcai Keke: /look at the idiot

Nainai Zongshuo: Haha, is your heart itching like a cat is scratching it right now? Is it very uncomfortable?

Qingcai Keke: Not at all /smile

Nainai Zongshuo: /stunned

Qingcai Keke: Does Junior Sister have one? @Ba Kuai Fuji De Meinü

Ba Kuai Fuji De Meinü: No.

Ba Kuai Fuji De Meinü: Why do you call me Junior Sister? You are not a Senior Brother at all! ╭(╯^╰)╮

Qingcai Keke: /yawn

Qingcai Keke: @Haoran Zhengqi

Haoran: Have you joined the Spirit Sect?

Qingcai Keke: Not yet, for now.

Haoran: Join it.

Haoran: In this era, there's no harm in it.

Qingcai Keke: So?

Haoran: Once you join, perhaps you will also obtain a mark in the future; you will naturally know what it is for then. Perhaps you won't, then there's no need for you to know what it is. I can only say, there is nothing complex or profound about it; it is just a very simple thing.

Qingcai Keke: /falls into deep thought

Qingcai Keke: You're baiting my curiosity.

Zhang Suannai: Beg me! I'll tell you!

Chen Shu scratched his head.

Qingcai Keke: You beg me.

Zhang Suannai:??? What should I beg you for?

Qingcai Keke: Beg me to beg you.

Qingcai Keke: Because I feel like you're even more impatient than I am.

Zhang Suannai: /complex expression

Qingcai Keke: /pointing a finger

Qingcai Keke: /look at the idiot

Zhang Suannai: /you motherfucker

Immediately following was a round of boring meme-battling.

What was somewhat puzzling was that the nameless person who usually talked a lot hadn't really popped up today; they only said a sentence or two before going silent, whereas in the past, even if they had to force a conversation or make it awkward, they would chat with everyone for half a day until no one paid them any mind.

I don't want to bother with this Zhang Suannai anymore.

How does this idiot have so many images?

Chen Shu threw down his Mobile Phone and fell into deep thought.

The young girl was still beside him watching a documentary, the volume turned very low; she sat with her legs crossed, her expression focused, watching with great interest.

……

April 26th.

Chen Shu arrived at the Project Laboratory sluggishly.

Shaking his head and stretching his body, he felt that he still couldn't muster any interest in anything; he had no energy and was full of resistance toward working and studying, with only expectations for the young ladies in short videos, games, and slacking off.

The teachers and senior fellow students were still busy.

As soon as one teacher saw him, their eyes lit up and they said, "I heard you beat Ji Guanhe at the Martial Arts Arena?"

"Just luck, just luck..."

"A peerless genius!" the teacher praised without reservation, "I'm counting on you the year after next! Bring the championship back for us!"

"I took a shortcut."

Chen Shu walked to the laboratory table listlessly.

Teacher Lan Ming saw this and frowned: "Has that curse of yours not healed yet?"

"Not... yet?"

"Come over here, let me check you."

"Emmm..."

Chen Shu walked over reluctantly.

Teacher Lan Ming grabbed his arm, checked it carefully, and said strangely: "There is no residual power of the curse left in your body anymore..."

"Is, is it possible you checked wrong?"

"No!"

"Is that so?"

Chen Shu twitched the corner of his mouth.

It was truly hard to believe.

Teacher Lan Ming thought for a moment and said again: "Perhaps there are still slight aftereffects; you must try hard to overcome them."

"So that's it!"

Chen Shu widened his eyes; so there were still aftereffects, no wonder I'm still so lazy.

As expected, it was all the curse's fault.

This can't be blamed on me...

Chen Shu thought to himself while dragging his feet to begin the day's work.

At dusk.

Shi Qian called out to Chen Shu and asked him to go eat together.

The two left the laboratory together.

This path outside the laboratory was relatively quiet, close to the edge of the school; only occasionally would one or two students who looked like they had just finished research walk by, or one or two students wearing light clothes and sweating after finishing exercise, and other than that, no one else was seen.

Next to it was the music building, where one could always hear the sound of instruments.

Teacher Shi Qian walked forward slowly and asked:

"Do you have any understanding of the Spirit Sect?"

"I do."

"I thought so." Teacher Shi Qian nodded, "Then I won't say much more; I'll just be direct. Our school and the neighboring Ling'an Academy both have close relationships with the Spirit Sect. Especially in the past, most of the teachers involved in courses like Spells, Runes, cultivation, and Spirit Power came from the Spirit Sect. Even now, many of the senior teachers in the school are also Cultivators of the Spirit Sect. At the same time, every year some Spirit Sect disciples come to study at our school or the neighboring school; if they come to our school, most will study in our academy, like Ji Guanhe. If there are exceptionally outstanding students with exceptionally high Spirit Power Talent who haven't joined other sects, we will also ask for their opinion and recommend them to the Spirit Sect."

"I've heard about it."

"Right, you joined that group."

"That's right."

"Anyway, your talent is excellent, and the Spirit Sect attaches great importance to you; they hope you can join the Spirit Sect. Of course, this is purely up to your own willingness. Think rationally, judge rationally, and don't have any psychological burden because of the Spirit Sect's glory and its relationship with the school. If you refuse, at most they will try to persuade you more, and teachers will keep coming to find you. With your lazy personality, you might find it annoying, but otherwise, there won't be anything else."

"What do you think?" Although Chen Shu already had an answer, he still asked to show respect.

"From my perspective, there are benefits to joining, and basically no downsides. In this day and age, all major sects are regulated by law; it's not like in ancient times where you would need to fight other sects or defend the sect for the sake of the sect, so it's quite stable." Shi Qian paused, "And I am also considered a member of the Spirit Sect, just an outer disciple. I don't rely on the Spirit Sect too much, and correspondingly, my obligations are fewer. Overall, it's still quite worth it."

"Then what would I need to do?"

"For ordinary disciples, the obligations are a bit more. The times are different; joining a sect now requires signing a contract, and the contract has all sorts of terms. For example, after achieving success, a portion of the proceeds from any Spells you develop must be given to the sect, or the sect might ask you to teach at a certain school, and so on. But you are different; your talent is too high, and you naturally possess the initiative. If you join the Spirit Sect, they will most likely cultivate you as the successor to the Sect Master, so there won't be any obligations in the early stages. As for the later stages, how should I put it? If you must have an obligation, it's that if you reach the Ninth Stage, the Spirit Sect might have to be managed by you."

"That sounds very troublesome."

"This is the oldest top-tier sect on our planet, and the status of the Sect Master is higher than that of the kings of most countries in the world. You still think it's troublesome?"

"I have sequelae from a curse."

"Sequelae from the womb?"

"..."

"You don't have to manage it if you don't want to! Like the Buddhist Sect, doesn't the Response-to-Tribulation Bodhisattva not manage affairs? Leave it to others to manage, and just sit in the sect yourself. There are always people who are good at managing, and always people who are willing to manage..."

"That sounds much better all of a sudden."

"That's the logic... If you can reach that realm, won't everything be up to you? And who can predict things two or three hundred years from now? It's too early to say anything now."

"Then what can I gain?"

"The Spirit Sect is, after all, a top-tier sect. In the early stages, it will provide disciples with some education and cultivation resources, all of which are very useful. Just like those Spirit Sect disciples who come to our school, they don't have to take the Great Exam, and they don't have to pay tuition. After laying a good foundation at our school, the Spirit Sect will also take responsibility for further cultivation as appropriate. For you, they will definitely focus on taking care of you and cultivating you to the end. You can easily obtain various ancient and modern Spells, advanced potions, and some Artifacts one after another."

"Sounds good."

"Think about it." Shi Qian said, "If you agree, go to the Spirit Sect next month to hold the ceremony."

"Do I sign a contract?"

"I don't know... Does it matter if you sign it or not? You can't resist the Spirit Sect before you grow up, and the Spirit Sect can't do anything to you after you grow up."

"That's also true."

"You can give me an answer before the end of the month."

"I agree."

"You've decided just like that? So rashly?"

"I've been thinking about it for a long time..." Chen Shu scratched his head, "I even had someone cast a hexagram for me."

"..."

The two had already walked to the restaurant.

In response to His Majesty's call to save food, they only ordered two dishes, one soup, and a bowl of rice, and began to eat.

After finishing, Shi Qian went to pay the bill, came back, and asked: "By the way, you haven't joined any other sects, have you?"

"Of course not."

"Have you joined any political parties?"

"Neither."

"That's good."

"But I have taken conversion certificates from the Buddhist Sect and the Daoist sect."

"Ah?"

"That's just how it is..."

"Eh?" Shi Qian expressed some confusion, "Why did you take those things? And you took two?"

"To sponge off meals and lodging."

"..."

"Does it have an impact?"

"Probably not... I suppose."

Teacher Shi Qian frowned. This was a bit bizarre; it was not only the first time he had encountered it, but even the first time he had heard of it.