Chapter 49: There’s a Secret Realm!

The group followed Shen Xuanli through the sect gates, with all fifteen disciples visibly excited.

Especially when they had just greeted Shen Xuanli, their voices trembled—some even produced bubbly tones from nerves.

The big guy, Li Taihang, squeezed out a “Senior Brother!” in a high-pitched voice, which was quite a struggle for him.

What the group didn’t know was that even if Steward Qin couldn’t come today, there was no need for the chief disciple to personally make the trip.

The only reason Shen Xuanli had come was because of Pei Yin.

After watching the footage from the secret realm trial, Pei Yin became even more eager to take Ye Qingning as his disciple.

Especially after seeing how Ye Qingning saw through Jiang Shaoling’s identity as an inspector and handed the artifact over to him—he found her keen awareness incredibly rare.

Upon returning, he even praised her to Shen Xuanli, saying that the fact Ye Qingning could discern Jiang Shaoling’s identity proved her meticulous thinking and perceptiveness.

Handing over the artifact to Jiang Shaoling? That showed courage and care.

A disciple who was both sharp and brave—who wouldn’t want one like that?

Moreover, Pei Yin had already sensed that Ye Qingning’s spiritual veins had been completely restored, and she had nearly maxed-out dual roots of thunder and fire. With such a promising seedling, if she were properly trained, she could definitely reach the peak of the cultivation world.

By then, with disciples that powerful under his wing, even if they didn’t hold up the entire sect, just hearing that someone was his disciple would be enough to bring him great pride.

That’s why, upon learning that Steward Qin couldn’t come to receive the new disciples, Pei Yin directly sent Shen Xuanli.

Having his own senior disciple welcome his soon-to-be junior disciple—how fitting.

So, if it weren’t for Pei Yin, the group would never have seen Shen Xuanli. After all, in any sect, the identity gap between personal disciples and inner disciples was extremely clear.

Not to mention whether personal disciples acted high and mighty or not, most wouldn’t bother to associate with inner disciples.

And between personal disciples and inner disciples, there were still the elite disciples—also called core disciples.

These core disciples were incredibly talented and powerful, often ranking on the cultivation world’s genius lists—outstanding among their peers.

Though not personal disciples, they were still heavily nurtured by the sect.

Compared to inner disciples, elite disciples had a closer relationship with personal disciples. So Shen Xuanli showing up in place of Steward Qin was a huge honor for this group.

Following Shen Xuanli, the group soon passed through the mountain gate without obstruction.

Upon entering, the first thing they noticed was how much denser the spiritual energy was in the inner sect compared to the outer sect!

At the entrance alone, the spiritual energy nearly condensed into mist. Every breath felt like inhaling clouds and exhaling mist.

As outer sect disciples, they had never experienced such rich spiritual energy and suddenly felt as if they were ascending to immortality.

Ye Qingning, having worked in the spirit plant garden before, was unfazed. That garden was located close to the mountain gate, and the spiritual energy emitted from the plants was on par with the inner sect—perhaps even stronger.

Now that she had become an inner disciple, she no longer needed to serve as a menial disciple in the spirit plant garden. Still, she was a bit nostalgic for those days—and she hadn’t forgotten the debt she still owed.

It was said that inner disciples received far more resources than outer disciples. Even compared to other sects’ inner disciples, those of Penglai Sect enjoyed superior treatment.

In other sects, only personal and core disciples received monthly stipends and pills; inner disciples got nothing.

But in Penglai Sect, although inner disciples didn’t receive spirit stones monthly, they were given a few basic pills every month.

For example: Fasting Pills, Spirit Gathering Pills, and Focus Pills.

These were all essentials for daily life and cultivation.

In addition, they had opportunities to attend lectures given personally by the elders of the sect and were granted access to places like the Pill Pavilion, Artifact Pavilion, Library Pavilion, and Training Hall.

However, if one wished to have their own personal pill refining room or exclusive artifact forging chamber, they had to earn a high enough ranking on the sect’s Pill or Artifact Leaderboards.

The higher the rank, the more luxurious the facilities.

Although newly accepted inner disciples didn’t yet appear on the lists, they could still use the public refining rooms in the Pill and Artifact Pavilions—though they’d need to queue during busy times.

It was only after passing through the mountain gate that they truly entered the inner sect. Towering peaks loomed in the mist, with countless pavilions and palaces between them, all radiant and magnificent.

From time to time, the cries of immortal cranes echoed through the air, lending a sense of divine wonder to the landscape.

Even though in her previous life, the Luoyun Sect had taken Penglai’s place as the number one sect, its scenery paled in comparison.

Even though it had been Ye Qingning herself who oversaw Luoyun’s expansion, pouring in countless spirit stones, she still had to admit—even in decline, Penglai Sect was unmatched.

After all, sect heritage was not something that could be built overnight.

Shen Xuanli remained silent along the way, but the male cultivator accompanying him cheerfully explained the main buildings and points of interest in the inner sect to the group.

“Junior brothers and sisters, we’re now standing on the inner sect plaza. This is where the monthly competitions are held—at the end of each month. Winners receive various rewards.”

“Routine rewards are distributed at the Merit Hall. Pills at the beginning of each month can be picked up at the Internal Affairs Hall. And if the sect issues missions, be sure to report to the Mission Hall as soon as you hear—go late, and they’ll all be taken.”

“Complete a mission, and you’ll earn sect contribution points. These can be exchanged for various resources—pills, techniques, magical tools, spirit herbs, even spirit beasts.”

At the mention of spirit beasts, several disciples’ eyes lit up.

In the cultivation world, not all sects had spirit beast gardens. Only powerful sects had the capability to let disciples exchange contribution points for spirit beasts.

And the ones they raised were all of excellent quality. Buying one of those outside would cost a fortune.

Most inner disciples fought tooth and nail to earn enough points just to qualify for entry into the spirit beast garden.

Li Taihang scratched his head and asked with a sheepish grin, “Uh, Senior Brother… I mean, I just joined the inner sect. If I don’t have any contribution points, where do I buy stuff I need?”

“From the Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, of course.” The man pointed. “From here, it’s just on that peak. That six-story tower over there—that’s it.”

Everyone looked over and saw a towering, majestic building standing atop a mountain, exuding luxury at first glance.

Compared to the outer sect’s Dao Fate Pavilion, it was like a giant next to a child.

“This place looks pricey… I—I’m no noble scion. I don’t have many spirit stones. Isn’t there anywhere else in the sect to shop?”

The male cultivator wasn’t offended by Li Taihang’s frankness—because he wasn’t a personal or core disciple either, but an inner sect menial disciple.

Back then, he hadn’t made it into the inner sect, but by becoming a menial disciple who handled the daily needs of the chief disciple, he was no ordinary servant. Even inner disciples had to greet him respectfully.

But for someone like him, Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion was also beyond reach—so he actually felt a bit of kinship toward the honest and straightforward Li Taihang.

“There’s no other place in the inner sect that sells goods,” he said with a smile, “but the nearby Cloudsea City has a bustling market with just about anything you could want.”

“It’s just that Penglai disciples rarely leave the sect… but seven days from now, the Cloud Mountain Secret Realm near Cloudsea City will open. The inner sect will organize a group of Foundation Establishment disciples to go.”

“If you’re lucky enough to make the list, you’ll pass through Cloudsea City on the way. If there’s anything you need, you can shop then.”