"Master, junior brother Li Xuan has been brought."
On Pine Crag Peak, amidst a bamboo forest, Song Tao bowed towards the bamboo house and called out. The next moment, Peak Master Bi Jiang's figure also emerged from the bamboo house. Li Xuan glanced at Peak Master Bi Jiang with a hint of surprise and then bowed in greeting.
"Good, you're already close to minor accomplishment," Peak Master Bi Jiang said, nodding with satisfaction as he looked at Li Xuan.
Li Xuan chuckled awkwardly. Although this person was his master, it was only their second meeting.
"Within this jade slip are my personal cultivation insights on the Undying and Immortal Scripture. Take it. If there's anything you don't understand, you can ask your senior brother Song Tao, or you can come here and ask me," Peak Master Bi Jiang said with a smile, flicking his hand and tossing a jade slip to Li Xuan.
Li Xuan received it with both hands. However, he didn't examine it directly. After putting it away, he bowed to Peak Master Bi Jiang and said, "May I ask if Master would permit this disciple to cultivate here?"
A flicker of surprise flashed in Peak Master Bi Jiang's eyes, followed by a hearty laugh. "You little fellow, you certainly know how to pick a spot. Very well, since you wish to be here, then be here. Coincidentally, I can also offer you some guidance."
"Thank you, Master," Li Xuan said, overjoyed. He bowed again. Song Tao, standing nearby, looked at Li Xuan with envy. This bamboo forest was their master's secluded cultivation ground. Li Xuan had only just arrived, and he was already allowed to cultivate in such a place.
Of course, Song Tao was only a little envious. As the eldest disciple of Pine Crag Peak, he wouldn't be jealous of Li Xuan.
Furthermore, Song Tao had already learned that their master and five other peak masters had taken Li Xuan as a disciple, so he understood that Li Xuan possessed exceptional talent. It was only natural that he would receive such favor from their master.
Some people were indeed born with extraordinary destinies. Song Tao understood this deeply.
"Song Tao, you can stay here during this period as well. It's time for you to advance your Origin Beginning Realm," Peak Master Bi Jiang said, as if he had seen through Song Tao's thoughts.
"Yes, Master," Song Tao replied, initially stunned, then overjoyed. He quickly bowed.
"Alright, your junior brother is new to Pine Crag Peak. Take him around first. We'll begin cultivation tomorrow," Peak Master Bi Jiang nodded and said.
"Yes," Song Tao nodded and then looked at Li Xuan.
"This disciple takes his leave," Li Xuan said, bowing to Peak Master Bi Jiang.
Soon, Li Xuan followed Song Tao away from the bamboo forest on the mountain peak.
"Junior Brother Li Xuan, thank you." After leaving the bamboo forest, Song Tao suddenly looked at Li Xuan and said.
Li Xuan was taken aback, clearly surprised by Song Tao's gesture.
Song Tao smiled wryly. "This bamboo forest is Master's place of tranquility. No one on the entire Pine Crag Peak dares to come here. Even I only come when Master summons me. More importantly, to receive Master's constant guidance. This is already a great grace."
Li Xuan asked with some confusion, "Senior Brother Song Tao, does Master have many disciples?"
Song Tao shook his head slightly. "Master does not have many direct disciples. Including you, junior brother, there are only four. The other disciples are registered disciples. They only get to see Master during grand ceremonies; at other times, they are taught by the elders of the peak."
Li Xuan was surprised and then recalled what Grand Elder Yang Wenlin had said about the disciple status levels, which eased his mind. The disciples under Peak Master Bi Jiang were likely the core disciples.
"Let's go, I'll take you to meet your other two senior brothers," Song Tao said with a smile.
Li Xuan nodded. As they walked and chatted, Li Xuan gained a general understanding of the disciple hierarchy within the Body Sect. Disciples cultivating on the six peaks, even registered disciples, held the status of elite disciples. Only those who became core disciples could be taken under the tutelage of the peak masters.
As for inner and outer disciples, they were located in the second area of the Body Sect. Outer disciples were even closer to the third area. And through Song Tao's explanation, Li Xuan discovered that the Body Sect had a very strict hierarchical system. In the vast Body Sect, there were only nineteen core disciples. And Li Xuan was the nineteenth.
Of course, apart from Li Xuan, the other eighteen core disciples had almost all reached the peak of the Origin Beginning Realm.
As for elite disciples, the weakest among them were at the peak of the Saint realm. Upon learning this, Li Xuan felt a pang of shame. He never expected to be the core disciple with the lowest strength.
"Junior Brother, you needn't feel discouraged. With your talent, I believe you'll catch up to us soon. After all, you are the only one who has been favored by all six peak masters," Song Tao said with a smile.
Li Xuan smiled. He didn't refute Song Tao's words. As long as he wanted to, it wouldn't be difficult to advance to the Origin Beginning Realm. However, Li Xuan soon realized that when he was on Crane Gathering Peak, he hadn't even met his other two senior brothers. When he returned to Crane Gathering Peak, he would have to proactively visit and apologize.
"Junior Brother, over here." Soon, Li Xuan followed Song Tao to a mountaintop. Li Xuan noticed that Pine Crag Peak, like Crane Gathering Peak, still had one cave dwelling per person. However, the mountaintops on Pine Crag Peak were almost all of similar size, clearly indicating that the disciples here were of similar rank.
"Mo Chen, Dou Tu, do you need me to invite you again?" Song Tao stopped and called out towards two nearby mountain tops.
As Song Tao's voice fell, two figures immediately shot out from their cave dwellings.
"Greetings, Senior Brother Song Tao," the two said in unison, bowing to Song Tao. Their gazes then turned to Li Xuan, a hint of curiosity in their eyes. Clearly, they were aware of Li Xuan's existence, as the news of the six peak masters taking disciples had spread a month ago.
"It seems I don't need to introduce him," Song Tao said with a smile, then looked at Li Xuan. "Junior Brother, this is your Senior Brother Mo Chen, and this is your Senior Brother Dou Tu. Both of them joined the sect only one year after I did."
Li Xuan nodded and bowed, "Greetings, Senior Brother Mo Chen, Senior Brother Dou Tu."
"Little Junior Brother is indeed handsome. By the looks of it, you're not even twenty-five yet," Mo Chen said with a smile.
Li Xuan nodded with a smile. "I've just turned twenty this year."
"Twenty years old? Little Junior Brother, you're too terrifying. To have cultivated your physical body to the Divine Strength Realm at twenty, did you start cultivating from a young age?" Dou Tu said in surprise.
Li Xuan chuckled wryly. "I was fortunate enough to receive guidance from an elder, hence these achievements."
Mo Chen and Dou Tu exchanged glances, then their eyes lit up as they looked at Li Xuan. "Little Junior Brother, how about we spar?"
Li Xuan was momentarily taken aback but then nodded. "Since Senior Brothers have made the request, how can a junior brother refuse?"
Song Tao had intended to dissuade them but seeing Li Xuan's agreement, he could only shake his head helplessly. "In that case, I'll be the referee."