Chapter 65: Huayang Sect

After finishing breakfast, the sky had already brightened up.

Su Jingzhen had originally wanted to practice the “Python Scales Power” under the peach blossom tree.

But before he could even start, a knocking sound came from outside the door.

“Mr. Su, we’re here.”

“Mr. Su, are you there?”

“…”

A burst of children’s laughter accompanied by playful voices also came from outside.

Su Jingzhen had promised the kids during their lesson that he would take them to the Huayang Sect today.

Today, the kids had arrived as promised.

Su Jingzhen opened the door to find over ten people standing outside.

Not only were there the kids who were about to awaken their spiritual roots, but also their parents.

However, after counting, Su Jingzhen realized that a few of them were missing.

Only eight kids were willing to follow him.

Adding Ning Yao, his Enlightenment School was left with only nine students.

The number was truly pitiful.

It seemed that the results were all due to the aftermath of last night’s banquet.

The parents of these eight kids were only at the initial stage of refining their Qi, just like Su Jingzhen, truly at the bottom rung.

Perhaps Chen Chong had looked down on them and left them behind.

After all, these eight kids didn’t have impressive innate talents, and even Su Jingzhen didn’t think highly of them.

But it didn’t matter; quality was more important than quantity.

He still had Ning Yao, his trump card.

“Please come in, everyone. We’ll head to the Huayang Sect together later.”

Su Jingzhen greeted the kids’ parents.

Everyone returned the greeting and followed him into the school.

At the same time, many cultivators from Linjiang City’s streets were hurrying towards the Huayang Sect.

The annual Awakening Ceremony was a grand event in Linjiang City.

Even those who didn’t attend school, like Yan Xia, who had failed to awaken their spiritual roots multiple times, could participate as long as they were willing to pay a certain amount of spirit stones.

In the past, there were those who had awakened their spiritual roots after multiple attempts, proving that it’s never too late to succeed in the cultivation world.

Therefore, every year, many children who had failed to awaken their spiritual roots in the past would participate in the ceremony, hoping to succeed.

On this day, the Huayang Sect would be fully open to the public.

However, to enter, one still had to pay a certain amount of spirit stones.

It was like buying a ticket.

In Linjiang City, no matter what you wanted to do, you couldn’t do without spirit stones.

The main street, which connected Peach Blossom Alley and Cuiliu Alley, stretched from north to south.

Following the main street north, you would eventually reach the gate of the Huayang Sect.

The Linjiang City branch of the Huayang Sect was located in the northern part of the city.

It was situated at the foot of Clear Wind Mountain, occupying a vast area, with some special cultivation grounds even built on the outskirts of the mountain.

Today, many people walked along the main street, all with the same goal in mind: the Huayang Sect.

When Su Jingzhen and his group arrived from the school, the entrance to the Huayang Sect was already slightly crowded.

At this time, Su Jingzhen noticed that, unlike previous years, a considerable number of people wearing black robes and headscarves were heading towards the Huayang Sect.

However, the Huayang Sect didn’t care about their attire.

You could pretend to be mysterious if you wanted, as long as you paid the spirit stones according to the rules.

This was a display of the Huayang Sect’s confidence.

It wasn’t afraid of anyone causing trouble.

At the end of the main street was a 99-step blue stone staircase.

The gate of the Huayang Sect was located at the top of the staircase.

Four white jade pillars, each nine zhang tall, stood on either side.

No matter who you were, you had to line up and pay the spirit stones to enter.

Su Jingzhen looked up at the three large characters “Huayang Sect” on the gate, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

This was his third time coming here.

The previous two times, he had also brought students, and the Enlightenment School’s kids had achieved decent results, so he had been quite proud on those occasions.

But this time, Su Jingzhen’s mindset was vastly different.

He no longer cared about the school, and he didn’t have the same tension as before.

Moreover, with Shuang Jiang by his side, he didn’t need to worry about safety issues.

“One person, ten lower-grade spirit stones,” a Huayang Sect disciple said expressionlessly as Su Jingzhen reached the gate.

Su Jingzhen’s expression froze again.

This was outrageous; the price had really skyrocketed.

In the past two years, the entrance fee was only five lower-grade spirit stones per person.

This year, the price had doubled, which was absurd.

Even the parents of the eight kids behind him looked worried.

These eight kids’ parents were truly at the bottom rung.

They had prepared spirit stones according to the previous standard of five lower-grade spirit stones per person; the sudden price hike had indeed left them stunned.

“Mr. Su, we might not be able to get in.”

“Please help us, Mr. Su. No matter the result, you’re our benefactor.”

“……”

These kids, in Su Jingzhen’s eyes, didn’t have impressive talents, and the chances of them awakening their spiritual roots were low.

But they were their parents’ hopes for this year.

No matter what, they would let the kids go in.

Su Jingzhen smiled and nodded: “They’re my students, so there’s no problem.”

Although Su Jingzhen didn’t lack spirit stones at the moment, he didn’t have a reason to help these people out with the ten lower-grade spirit stones.

Apart from teaching them in school, he didn’t have any other interactions with them.

Su Jingzhen had no doubts that if Chen Chong had also contacted them, these eight students wouldn’t be following him today.

“Thank you, Mr. Su!”

“……”

After helping the kids pay the ten lower-grade spirit stones, their parents could only stand silently at the gate of the Huayang Sect.

They watched as the kids entered, feeling helpless.

…

Meanwhile, in the courtyard next to the school, Luo Yuebai was still dressed in his white moon-colored robes, his hair standing upright, holding a folding fan, looking as handsome as ever.

“The timing is almost right; with the Huayang Sect’s grand event, I must participate.”

Fanning himself, Luo Yuebai walked out of the gate, heading towards the Enlightenment School.

He still wanted to follow Su Jingzhen.

However, when he arrived at the school gate, he found it tightly closed, locked from the outside.

“Daoist Su’s actions are quite swift.”

Luo Yuebai sighed and didn’t bother to care.

He directly headed towards the main street.

After he left, a black-clad figure would occasionally emerge from his courtyard, blend into the dark corners, and disappear.