Chapter 65: Astral Courtyard
“The Astral Courtyard is located in the extreme west of Wangxing Court, facing the abyss. It is one of the four courtyards with a renown reputation in Wangxing Court.”
Shao Guang led Ji Yuenian into Wangxing Court, and there seemed to be some sighs interspersed between his words.
Ji Yuenian followed behind Shao Guang, and said softly, “Dare I ask Senior Brother Shao, what's so special about this Astral Courtyard?”
“There is a very precious small forbidden formation in the Astral Courtyard. At night, it can absorb the energy from stars and moonlight and transform it into the Qi of heaven and earth. If you can cultivate in it all the time, you can save a lot of primeval stones cultivating in the long run.”
While the two were talking, several disciples approached them and bowed respectfully towards Shao Guang, “This disciple has seen the court master.”
Shao Guang waved his hand and said, “No need to be polite.”
Those disciples passed by Ji Yuenian by mistake, and they kept looking back at Ji Yuenian and talked about him and his presence alongside the court master.
Ji Yuenian's appearance had long since spread throughout the Luoxia Mountains through light curtains. Almost all the disciples of the present in the Luoxia Mountains’ Outer Sect disciples–which was more than 100,000–and the hundreds of thousands of handymen disciples knew about him. Therefore, it was difficult for these disciples to talk to him directly.
[ED: Light curtains—according to Zen, is the WhatsApp or Facebook of the cultivation world. Lol.]
Xingyuan Peak was different from Eclipse Peak. It could even be said that the hundreds of peaks in the Luoxia Mountains were not as special as Eclipse Peak. Not only was there no real peak master in Eclipse Peak, but even the structure within the disciples was not well set up. The disciples within it were all left to fend for themselves.
There was no so-called court master in the three courts of the Eclipse Peak.
As the sixth-largest mountain among hundreds of mountain peaks, Xingyuan Peak was well-regulated, and the court master had a very high prestige. Except for the Xingyuan Xuandian, the main hall of the peak, disciples in the peak must obey the three court masters’ orders.
“In essence, the magic of Astral Courtyard doesn't stop there.” Shao Guang took Ji Yuenian to the extreme west of Wangxing. He pointed to a loft with cornices. It was built near the abyss. He said softly, “In addition to this precious forbidden formation, at night, from the courtyard, you can see the sea of stars and the black abyss below. Being able to live in this courtyard is a symbol of status.”
Ji Yueniaodded and said, “Thank you, Brother Shao.”
“No need to be polite,” Shao Guang stopped and took out a black jade token shining with starlight. “The Astral Courtyard is different from the other courtyards. This is the token that opens the courtyard. There is only one of this token, please keep it safe with you.”
“I see.” Ji Yuenian took the cold black jade token, looked at the bright starlight radiating from it, and was stunned for a moment.
Shao Guang nodded and said, “Junior Brother Ji, there are many affairs in the court that needs my attention. I’ll take my leave first. Don't forget to go to the Wangxing portal tomorrow. I will issue you and others your disciple tokens.”
After watching Shao Guang leave, he held the token and walked towards the Astral Courtyard.
This courtyard was about twenty meters in area and was extremely spacious. Outside the courtyard was a spiritual field planted with low-level elixir, and inside the courtyard was a three-story marvelous attic with carved beams and jade, which appeared magnificent.
On the plaque at the main entrance of the attic was engraved with the word “Xingxing”, with vigorous strokes. It was obviously written by a well-trained individual, and it had a strong and incomparable mysterious air to it.
Urging the jade token in his hand, the invisible transparent shield outside the Astral Court slowly dissipated, and a portal slowly opened from the front of the courtyard.
“This place is quiet and remote, and is blessed with a forbidden array. It is really a unique place to cultivate.”
After Ji Yuenian entered the courtyard, he closed the transparent protective shield again, and was extremely satisfied.
There were many halls in the attic. The first floor was divided into Cultivation Hall, Refinement Hall, Meditation Hall, Botany Hall as usual. The second floor was a semi-open place to watch the sea of stars above, and in the center was placed the forbidden array.
The third floor was the most mysterious. It required the disciple token of the peak bound to the black jade token to enter, and Ji Yuenian couldn't enter it for the time being.
As soon as he stepped into the attic, the token of the Outer Sect disciple within the storage seal trembled again. Brilliant streams of light converged. New information was being imprinted on it.
Sitting on the star-gazing couch in the attic on the second floor, Ji Yuenian took out the token of the outer sect disciple and noticed that the basic information contained in it had changed.
The previous words “Luoxia Mountain, Eclipse Moon Peak, Ji Yuenian” had now become “Luoxia Mountain, Xingyuan Peak, Ji Yuenian”. There were as many as ten pieces of information that he had never seen before!
“The entrance examination has ended. The top 100 disciples are ranked in order, Ji Yuenian, Yu Yan, Chu Xingyun...”
The first piece of information was the dissemination of the names and appearances of the top 100 disciples in the entrance examination. If one concentrated on one name, the appearance of that particular disciple would be revealed, which was truly miraculous piece of mechanism.
“Ji Yuenian, Luoxia Mountains. His affiliation has been changed from Eclipse Moon Peak to Xingyuan Peak.”
This piece of information was a notice sent by Shanwu Palace regarding the change. Only Yuenian could view it. Once he entered any courtyard with the token of the Outer Sect Disciple, such information would be transmitted through the communication circle that between hundreds of peaks within the mountain range.
“Xingyuan Peak, Wangxing Court. Ji Yuenian is the General Discipline of the corresponding Peak and Court. He is ranked only below the three court masters, and has the right to interrogate, question, and capture ordinary discipline.”
The second piece of information was an internal circular from Xingyuan Peak, and all disciples in Xingyuan Peak would be intimated with similar means.
It was just that Ji Yuenian’s Inner token had yet to be issued, so the position of a General Disciple held no authority meanwhile.
The rest was information regarding some sect laws, foreign sects and the like. Ji Yuenian did not take a close look at it, so he put away the Outer Sect token, and turned to take out the storage bags from his Divine Palace Acupoint.
These storage bags were extremely precious, and even Ji Yueniaever imagined that the reward for walking three hundred stone steps would be so amazing.
With but a slight thought, numerous storage bags appeared on the desk in front.
Ji Yuenian first took the three storage bags, which contained the regular rewards and additional rewards for the disciples who entered the sect.
Opening it slowly, the rich vitality of heaven and earth inundated the hall. Fifteen primeval stones were neatly placed in the three storage bags, and there were five primeval stones and one primeval stone in each storage bag. With five 'Qi Gathering Pills' in the bottle, Ji Yuenian took out the primeval stone and the medicinal pills and put them on the side of the table for the time being.
Another ten somewhat similar storage bags were brought out.
These were double rewards for the fifth ranker of the assessment ranking, and they were also the special rewards for the first ranker in the overall ranking.
Ji Yuenian first opened the two most inferior storage bags, which contained the rewards for ranking within 5,000 to 2,000.