A moment later.
"You're quite interesting, kid." Pang Dahai had already put away the two pieces of ore.
Yu Xiaodie stood by, terrified. Seeing that he was not only not angry, but even looked very happy, she really couldn't figure out what Senior Brother was thinking.
Having seen enough sincerity, Pang Dahai spoke up directly, "Cultivation is a lifelong affair, so it is best for a cultivator in the early stages of their cultivation to determine the direction of their cultivation based on their own element sign or talent. Of course, the talent I'm talking about is not the cultivation talent you just tested, but the compatibility with a certain faction."
"Faction?" Lu Ye grasped the crucial point sharply, somewhat confused—wasn't he supposed to advise on choosing a sect? Why mention factions?
"Yes, faction!" Pang Dahai nodded. "The Nine Provinces cultivation world once had many peculiar factions, but not many have been preserved to this day. There are mainly six major factions: physique cultivators who specialize in their bodily cultivation, combat cultivators who focus on close combat, magic cultivators who study magic and spells, healing cultivators who heal the world, Netherworld cultivators who communicate with spirits, and extrinsic cultivators who excel at alchemy, talisman drawing, array setup, and artifact crafting. Of course, there are also other minor factions that have survived, though they are not common. You'll know about them if you ever come across them in the future."
"It can be said that these six major factions encompass 99 percent of the cultivators in the Nine Provinces cultivation world and determine the directions of the cultivators' cultivation. If the right direction is chosen, the future cultivation will naturally be much more effective. For instance, someone born with divine strength and a robust physique would naturally choose the path of a physique cultivator. Similarly, someone with an exceptional innate talent in magic and spells would naturally take the path of a magic cultivator. And some who dislike fighting might go into alchemy or healing, both are suitable choices. So, choosing a faction is very important, otherwise, someone who wishes to practice sword control and joins Hundred Flowers Valley would find no one to teach them."
Pang Dahai went on about it ceaselessly, and both Lu Ye and Yu Xiaodie nodded repeatedly. These pieces of information were new even to Yu Xiaodie.
"According to Senior Brother, different sects focus on different factions?" Lu Ye vaguely understood his meaning now.
"Did I say that?" Pang Dahai was surprised.
"Senior Brother just said that people from Hundred Flowers Valley don't teach swordsmanship."
"You are indeed astute." Pang Dahai looked at Lu Ye approvingly, not expecting him to deduce some things just from his own words, "Generally speaking, it's not possible for a sect to have only one faction. There are at least two or three, and as many as four to five, or even more. For instance, the ten major 1st grade sects basically have all factions, although there are exceptions. The Beixuan Sword Sect, for instance, has only one combat cultivation faction, and it's the most extreme of its kind." Mentioning the Beixuan Sword Sect, Pang Dahai's face twitched involuntarily as if recalling some unpleasant memory.
He paused, then continued, "Although a sect is comprised of several factions, there's always a different emphasis. This is more evident in the lower-grade sects because they do not have enough energy and resources to allow all factions to progress equally. Take Burning Moon Mountain, which joined us this time; their focus is mainly on the magic cultivators and alchemy cultivators among the extrinsic cultivators. The elixir pills refined by the alchemy cultivators of Burning Moon Mountain are highly reputable throughout Bingzhou. People with a fire element sign undoubtedly have a great advantage if they wish to join Burning Moon Mountain, because fire element spirit force is needed during alchemy and artifact refining."
While uttering the last sentence, he glanced at Lu Ye, the implication was very clear.
Lu Ye suddenly realized, "Is this what Senior Brother mentioned earlier about determining factions based on one's own element sign?"
"Exactly," Pang Dahai nodded. "Gold represents Sharpness and can follow the paths of combat, magic, or physique cultivation. Wood signifies vitality and can choose physique, healing, magic, alchemy, or array cultivation. The water element is gentle and inclusive, suitable for all factions. The fire element is fierce, suitable for all factions except healing and Netherworld cultivation. The earth element is robust, most suitable for becoming a physique cultivator. So, what path you decide to follow in the future should not only depend on your interests but also your element sign, as in the cultivation world, as in the mundane world, 'men fear entering the wrong profession.'"
"Now that everyone has been tested, you will soon be given some items that are key to your stay. Make sure to choose carefully, and decide which sect you want to join, it's best to identify which factions that sect focuses on and whether those factions conflict with your element sign."
"Understood." Lu Ye nodded seriously, bowing with a clenched fist, "Thank you, Senior Brother."
Although Pang Dahai seemed somewhat greedy, taking his two pieces of ore, the information he shared was truly precious and not commonly heard, enough to outweigh the value of those two ores.
Pang Dahai waved his hand, "It's all basic knowledge; it's just that you have less contact with the outside world, so you don't know."
"I still have to ask Senior Brother, my attributes are mainly fire with secondary gold; which sect would be better for me this time?"
"Well, you..." Pang Dahai looked him up and down, then chuckled, "I feel like whatever you choose, you won't have a chance."
Lu Ye's face instantly darkened like the bottom of a pot, "Then why did Senior Brother bother telling me so much?"
Pang Dahai could not suppress his laughter, "I heard about a guy with Yiye talent, so I came to see something rare! Did you know, I haven't encountered a Yiye talent in so many years... Hahaha!"
His whole body shook with laughter, and Lu Ye had a mind to rush up and beat him to death!
He didn't know which bastard had leaked his talent, as it turned out, bad news really does travel a thousand miles.
Just when Lu Ye could hardly take it anymore, Pang Dahai suddenly stopped laughing, lowered his voice, and said to Lu Ye, "If I were you, I'd set my expectations as low as possible and not let my heart waver. Only then... you might get what you wish for!"
After saying this, he turned his head toward Yu Xiaodie and asked with a smile, "Little girl, is there anything you'd like Senior Brother to advise on?"
Yu Xiaodie was eager, quickly asking, "Which sect does Senior Brother think I should join?"
"Do you like fighting and killing?" asked Pang Dahai.
Yu Xiaodie shook her head vigorously like a rattle-drum; what girl likes fighting and killing?
"Then go to Hundred Flowers Valley," Pang Dahai said. "Most of the cultivators in the Hundred Flowers Valley are healing cultivators, so you don't have to fight on the battlefield, and even if you are captured, you won't be treated too harshly."
"Hundred Flowers Valley..." Yu Xiaodie mused, then bowed and said, "Thank you, Senior Brother."
Her primary element sign was wood, which was well-suited to the Hundred Flowers Valley. Clearly, Pang Dahai knew this when he gave his advice.
Pang Dahai left, leaving Lu Ye standing there in a foul mood.
Yu Xiaodie wanted to comfort him but didn't know how to start, so she simply changed the subject, "Senior Brother, there's something I don't understand."
"What is it?"
"Just now, when you offered Senior Brother Pang four ore stones, he didn't take them, but when you took two stones instead, why did he want them?"
Lu Ye casually explained, "In his eyes, those four stones were all his, and he didn't appreciate what he owned. One only realizes the value of something after losing it."
Yu Xiaodie sank into thought upon hearing this, finding the idea quite profound.
Of course, this was also because the two ore stones Lu Ye took were of low value. The real value lay in the remaining two stones.