The stars shifted, the moon hid, and the sun appeared.
The melodious sound of bells rang through the Cyan Peak Daoist School, breaking the silence of the night.
Escape Lights streaked across the sky, traversing the various islands, signaling the start of a day of cultivation.
The Great Marsh where the Cyan Peak Daoist School is located is named Nine Rivers Marsh, vast and boundless, almost like the sea.
The islands surrounding Cyan Peak Mountain are innumerable.
Most of these islands lie outside the range of the Grand Array and are inhabited by noble families and ordinary people under the Daoist School.
The truly core islands are not many but are densely scattered, numbering in the dozens.
Among them, the Hidden Flood Dragon Institute manages three islands: Bailu Island, Cyan Light Island, and Golden Yuan Island.
These three islands are divided into three grades based on the concentration of Spiritual Qi, with Bailu Island having the poorest Spiritual Qi, usually used by cultivators below the Qi Refining Fifth Layer, while Cyan Light Island is slightly better, for those above Qi Refining Fifth Layer.
As for Golden Yuan Island, its Spiritual Qi is the richest, usually inhabited by Qi Refining Ninth Layer disciples or noble family disciples with protection from their mentors.
But today, Bailu Island, with the thinnest Spiritual Qi, is bustling with excitement.
Early in the morning, a dozen or so disciples hastened here on various Dharma Artifacts, gathering on a hilltop, startling a flock of egrets.
These disciples had low cultivation levels, mostly around Qi Refining Fourth Layer, their azure Daoist Robes having sleeves adorned with four green leaves.
Yet, their faces bore a hint of carefreeness and wildness as if their nature deeply loved "striving."
"Senior Brother Yang, you actually came today too? Is the Spiritual Qi on your Cyan Light Island not better than this Bailu Island, so you came to join in the excitement?"
In the crowd, a Qi Refining Fourth Layer disciple with a scarred face curiously asked the only Qi Refining Fifth Layer senior brother in the center.
Senior Brother Yang, although tall, was extremely thin as if malnourished, his face somewhat pale, yet his smile carried a touch of wantonness:
"Haha, straightforward words for straightforward people, we're all fellow disciples, why hide anything? The three Cave Mansions on this hilltop originally belonged to the three heroes of the Tang Sect from fifteen years ago. Heh, these three were of one mind, said to possess a Spiritual Awareness Secret Technique and some 'Celestial Silver Water' for Spiritual Sense Pass, both highly valuable. Are you here today not for these two items?"
Seeing Senior Brother Yang so straightforward, all the junior brothers fell silent, until after a while, the scar-faced junior brother wryly smiled and said, "Senior Brother Yang, you've long since broken through Qi Refining Fifth Layer and grasped Spiritual Sense, this 'Celestial Silver Water' is useless to you. Why compete with us junior brothers?"
"Moreover, as a Qi Refining Fifth Layer, residing on Bailu Island seems against etiquette, doesn't it?"
Perhaps emboldened by the many disciples behind him, the scar-faced junior brother dared to question the Qi Refining Fifth Layer senior brother.
Hearing this, Senior Brother Yang merely sneered, "It indeed goes against etiquette, but in terms of the school's regulations, there's no problem. After all, the Daoist School never specified that Qi Refining Fifth Layer cannot reside on Bailu Island."
Hearing this, all the junior brothers silently cursed in their hearts.
This shameless dog couldn't compete with those above Qi Refining Fifth Layer, so he came to snatch resources from us junior disciples. Truly no shame!
But a person without shame is truly invincible.
Seeing Senior Brother Yang so brazen, the junior brothers helplessly said, "Then good luck to you, Senior Brother!"
Only one of the three Cave Mansions contains relics.
And everyone can only choose one, so there are still opportunities for everyone.
However, everyone felt a bit uncertain.
"Could it be that the first person is really Senior Brother Yang?"
The ones gathered here today were mostly humble lineage disciples, with no mentors. They came here after occasionally hearing that the Cave Mansion contained 'Celestial Silver Water,' which could help Qi Refining Fourth Layer break through to Fifth Layer.
But the division of Cave Mansions is decided by the Human Resources Hall.
Although the school stipulates that paying two Spirit Stones allows inheritance of the Cave Mansion, that's in the absence of competition.
If contested, it's based on a first-come, first-served principle.
But the term "first-come, first-served" leaves much room for manipulation.
In the past few days, the Human Resources Hall has refused to process registration for this matter, and everyone was already worried.
Perhaps someone with connections pre-booked one.
So the Human Resources Hall was always waiting for the "first applicant" to appear.
It now seems that this first person is indeed Senior Brother Yang?
...
But Senior Brother Yang was also nervous inside.
Two days ago, he brought twenty Spirit Stones to register but couldn't even enter the door of the Human Resources Hall.
This made him curious and discontented, so he came early today.
"With the three Cave Mansions, even if I'm not first, but if I'm lucky and the first didn't pick the right Cave Mansion, and it was the one I chose, with a set of Secret Technique and a portion of Spirit Water, it's worth forty or more Spirit Stones, not a loss."
He thought to himself.
"Rumble!"
But at this moment, outside Bailu Island, the dense and heavy sound of thunder rumbled, followed by a majestic Celestial Horse, draped in thunder, tall and divine, and with wings on its back, stepping through the air.
On top of the Celestial Horse sat a silver-haired, armor-clad youth, with an extraordinarily handsome demeanor, his eyes seemingly a shade of blue, an extremely unique appearance.
However, his cultivation wasn't high, just Qi Refining Fourth Layer.
And in front of the youth was a silver Dharma Boat, on which Steward Qiu stood, his brows slightly furrowed, somewhat troubled.
"Steward Qiu is here. Who's the youth beside him?"
"Thunder Celestial Horse, silver hair, blue eyes, a person from the Lan Family of Ten Thousand Thunder Island!"
"Is he a noble son of the Lan Family from Ten Thousand Thunder Island?"
"Indeed, and a member of the large clan. Years ago, the Lan Family was one of the Seven Great Families of our Daoist School, although they've declined now. But it's said that some years back, a Lan disciple joined one of the Seven Veins, supposedly reaching the late-stage Foundation Establishment by now."
Amidst the disciples' discussion, they had almost fully deduced the newcomer's identity.
"Could it be that this person is the first person appointed by Steward Qiu?"
Atop the hill, Senior Brother Yang gazed at the silver-haired and blue-eyed youth, feeling unsure inside.
Though the Lan Family had declined, a starved camel is still larger than a horse. If by any chance, the Lan Family hasn't chosen the Secret Technique and Spirit Water, and I end up picking them, wouldn't I be resentful?
"No, no, even though the Lan Family isn't doing well, they still have a Foundation Establishment elder; why would they go to such lengths for a common Spirit Water for a Qi Refining Fourth Layer? After all, Bailu Island's Spiritual Qi isn't even as good as Ten Thousand Thunder Island's!"
"Could it be that there's a profound mystery in the Cave Mansion?"
With his thoughts active, Senior Brother Yang suddenly considered another possibility, his heart pounding.
"If I select this Cave Mansion, wouldn't the fortune within be mine? Even if I can't keep it, trading it with the Lan Family is sure to yield a significant bounty!"
For a moment, Senior Brother Yang's thoughts ran wild.
In the sky, Qiu Mingshan looked at the youth beside him, somewhat conflicted, and couldn't help asking:
"Junior Brother, are you certain there's 'Cyan Crane Spirit Water' in the Cave Mansion?"