Seeing that they had started chatting, Chen Jinglan asked again, "Are you planning to participate in the sect's recruitment ceremony two years from now?"
Just as Bai Yichen was thinking about how to respond, Chen Jinglan suddenly remembered something, her face slightly flushed, and she chose not to ask further.
"Unless it's for special reasons, outsiders can only stay in the sect for a maximum of three months," Yun Ruoshui added to explain.
After that, the group began to enjoy their tea while watching the rain.
Seeing an opportunity, Bai Yichen said, "I just heard Chen Daoist mention Yun Daoist's Little Cloud Rain technique. It's impressive indeed."
Upon hearing Bai Yichen's compliment, Chen Jinglan quickly chimed in, "Of course! Sister Yun's Little Cloud Rain technique has already reached the seventh rank in spells. It's quite powerful for someone at the Qi Gathering stage."
However, upon hearing this, Yun Ruoshui let out a bitter laugh and explained, "Sister Jinglan is overpraising me. Brother Chen and Brother Sun have also refined their spells to this level. I'm merely showing off in front of them."
Bai Yichen took note of the information in her words while maintaining his agreement on the surface. "So that's how it is; no wonder I see that rain cloud can move with the ship."
The book he had didn't record these details, and even the magical artifact he had was only mentioned when Master Lingyun introduced the Bewitching Gourd to him.
Thus, Bai Yichen tried to extract more information about the cultivation world's spells from them.
Soon, whether by chance or design, Chen Jingzhuo and the others allowed Chen Jinglan to continue explaining the cultivation of spells.
It turned out that spells were divided into four categories: spells, spiritual techniques, divine abilities, and immortal techniques, each of which was divided into nine ranks. Once a practitioner reached the ninth rank, they could attempt to comprehend the essence of that spell and then complete its sublimation.
The key to transitioning from spells to spiritual techniques was the ability to form magical seals and to imbue spiritual energy within the spells. Therefore, every time one achieved a sublimation, the spell would fundamentally improve compared to the previous rank.
However, apart from gradual progression, some spells were created as spiritual techniques or even divine abilities. The most famous examples were the Seventy-Two Earthly Fiend Spiritual Techniques and the Thirty-Six Heavenly Gang Divine Abilities, many sects having recorded them.
Of course, there were also thresholds for practicing spells; for divine abilities, one would at least need to be a high-level practitioner at the Divine Soul stage to catch a glimpse of the pathway, while immortal techniques were even further away from them.
"For us who are still in the Qi Gathering stage, it is most important to practice spells well to lay a solid foundation for advancing to spiritual techniques. As for divine abilities and immortal techniques, they are far from what we can consider at the moment," Chen Jingzhuo summarized as they finished discussing.
Bai Yichen naturally felt enriched by this knowledge and immediately bowed in thanks, realizing that it was Chen Jingzhuo who had intentionally shared this information with him.
Chen Jingzhuo waved his hand nonchalantly, saying, "It's just some common knowledge. You'll learn it when you meet your elder."
Bai Yichen felt somewhat embarrassed, thinking that perhaps Chen Jingzhuo and the others had misunderstood something.
Suddenly, he noticed distant mountain shadows faintly appearing, with peaks soaring into the clouds, surrounded by white clouds, making it hard to see clearly.
Meanwhile, the light rain outside the ship gradually ceased, and the mist dispersed, as if the time had come.
Bai Yichen recalled his original purpose, realizing that time was short and that the group had already become somewhat familiar with one another.
He then asked, "I heard Brother Chen mention that you are from the Chen family of the Taiyuan Sect. May I ask what that entails?"
Chen Jingzhuo glanced at Bai Yichen, pondering for a moment before replying, "The sect has a legacy that spans nearly ten thousand years. It is inevitable that some elders would choose to pass on their lineage and family heritage."
"Over time, this has indeed formed some clans. There are three major families, ten great houses, thirty-six noble families, and nearly a hundred commoner families within the sect. However, the world is unpredictable, and some clans, even if they are prominent for a time, can still fall from their heights."
As he spoke, Bai Yichen noticed that Sun Zhihao and Yun Ruoshui showed subtle fluctuations in their expressions.
"So apart from the major families and great houses, we noble families and commoners are not much to speak of."
Yun Ruoshui added, "But regardless of the family or clan, once you enter the sect, everyone falls under the sect's jurisdiction and must adhere to its laws and regulations."
"Indeed!" Chen Jingzhuo nodded in agreement.
Bai Yichen pondered for a moment and then inquired about the major families and great houses.
Chen Jingzhuo gave him a strange look but, realizing that this wasn't a secret, went ahead and explained.
At that moment, a beam of green light shone, and the mist before him receded, revealing the majestic mountains of the Taiyuan Sect.
The vastness of the universe entered his sight, with green peaks rising and falling like gigantic waves; clouds and mist swirled around heavy valleys, and steep ridges soared into the sky; peaks that reached toward the heavens were less than a foot apart, and ethereal forms broke through the azure sky.
After that, the group disembarked, and Bai Yichen bid farewell to the four and made his way alone to the guest pavilion outside the Taiyuan Sect.
"What does Brother Chen think of this person's background?" asked Sun Zhihao, who rarely spoke.
Chen Jingzhuo shook his head slightly and said, "It's hard to say. He seems unclear about many common knowledge of the cultivation world, but his demeanor and presence are quite extraordinary."
"Could he be an illegitimate child of those major families or clans?" Chen Jinglan boldly speculated.
The other three couldn't help but smile wryly at her remark.
Yun Ruoshui explained, "If that were the case, he would have been escorted in Cangze City, so why would he need to take a cloud boat?"
At this moment, Bai Yichen had already arrived at the guest pavilion at the foot of Taiyuan Mountain.
The guest pavilion was located in a tranquil area, standing like an immortal object isolated from the world.
As soon as he entered, he noticed the surrounding aura of heaven and earth was considerably richer, with a profound spiritual energy.
Before Bai Yichen could express his thoughts, a disciple in the pavilion approached to inquire about his origin.
After exchanging greetings, Bai Yichen followed the usual protocol, extending his right hand into his sleeve to take out a jade talisman, which was one of the credentials given to him by Master Lingyun for entering the mountain gate.
After handing it to the disciple in the pavilion, Bai Yichen stated that this item was given by the true disciple of the Taiyuan Sect, Master Lingyun.
Upon hearing this, the guest disciple did not dare to delay and quickly summoned a talisman, which he slapped to summon a flying figure who soared toward the Taiyuan Sect.
After half an hour, a flash of white light appeared, revealing a handsome young man, who looked like an immortal, standing before Bai Yichen.
With just a glance, he seemed to have confirmed something and said, "Follow me."
Before Bai Yichen could respond, a beam of white light enveloped the two, flying toward a place deep in the clouds.
When the white light dissipated and Bai Yichen opened his eyes again, he found himself in a great hall.
This hall was not large and lacked intricate carvings or jade structures, yet it exuded an air of antiquity.
"Elder Lǜ, as per Master Lingyun's words in the jade talisman, this child is the descendant left behind by Master Lingfeng in the mortal world."
As the handsome young man spoke, Bai Yichen followed his gaze to see several figures seated on a cloud platform.
However, apart from the solemn and deep-looking old man in the center, the remaining six or seven people were difficult to discern.
Bai Yichen remembered Master Lingyun's words and, after being enveloped in the white light, he focused all his efforts on operating the Sitting and Forgetting Heart Refinement method to gather his thoughts.
At this moment, his heart was like still water, his expression calm, as he stepped forward and spoke.