Chapter Forty-Three: First Steps into the Inner Sect

After lying in bed for several days, Li Sibai could no longer stay still. Though Caiyao kept him company and chatted with him, being confined to his room had begun to wear on his spirits. His wounds healed with surprising speed—though he hadn't allowed anyone to examine him, Li Sibai felt nearly recovered. He longed to get up and move about, but had yet to be granted permission.

Two matters weighed heavily on his mind. First, Mo Yun had not returned since their last meeting, leaving Li Sibai with no one to confide in. He could only speak with Caiyao, but with the distinction between men and women, she could not replace Mo Yun’s companionship. Second, he had heard that Qin Feng had already been accepted as a disciple by Master Yunfeng, the sect leader, and begun his cultivation. Meanwhile, Li Sibai was still confined to bed. Though several friends came to visit, he grew anxious, eager to recover and enter the inner sect, where he could learn new techniques.

During this time, some unfamiliar faces appeared to pay their respects, offering recognition for his recent performance. Even a few outer sect disciples who had previously looked down on him came specifically to make amends and curry favor.

Indeed, as an inner sect disciple, he possessed absolute authority and benefit over those in the outer sect. At present, he had neither the time nor inclination to discern their true motives. Li Sibai treated these matters with indifference, accustomed to solitude and unwilling to forge new ties.

After three more days, unable to bear it any longer, Li Sibai forced himself to rise—regardless of whether he was fully healed. He gathered a few personal belongings and set out for the inner sect to report in.

He walked for half a day before reaching the summit of Jade Void Peak, where a stone path stretched skyward. The distance between the outer and inner sects of the Xuantian Sword Sect was not insignificant; the outer sect lay on the mountainside, while the inner sect was at the peak. For ordinary people, the climb would take a full day; Li Sibai, in fair condition, managed it in half a day. Of course, inner sect disciples who could ride swords would arrive even faster.

Following the stone road upward, he soon reached a fork leading directly to the summit. Guided by stone markers, he wound around several bends to the far side of the mountain, where a vast, flat valley spread out before him. Countless buildings dotted the landscape, arranged like a giant chessboard in black and white.

At the center stood three courtyards: Sky Cloud Pavilion, Earth Cloud Pavilion, and Star Cloud Pavilion. Sky Cloud Pavilion was the largest, occupying the greatest area, with a massive martial arena at its heart, the enormous diagram of the Eight Trigrams visible even from afar. Earth Cloud Pavilion and Star Cloud Pavilion flanked it, composed of clusters of small dwellings. This was the living area for inner sect disciples and elders.

Li Sibai took a deep breath and walked downward. Soon, he arrived at the entrance of Star Cloud Pavilion. An old man sat at the door, appearing utterly ordinary, yet his bearing was vigorous and his face radiant with health.

Li Sibai approached, cupped his hands, bowed, and spoke softly, “Elder, I am Li Sibai, a new disciple entering the inner sect this year. Please instruct me.”

The old man glanced at Li Sibai and smiled. “So you’ve finally arrived. I’ve been waiting for you a long time.”

Li Sibai blushed and replied, “I was injured recently and had to recuperate in bed. Today I feel better, so I hurried here.”

The elder nodded, handing Li Sibai a waist token. “I heard you suffered multiple fractures. Recovering so quickly is impressive. Take this—it’s your inner sect identification token. Keep it safe; you’ll need it often. Remember, the rules of the inner sect: no private brawling—if there’s an issue, settle it in the martial arena. If you cause trouble, beware being expelled from the sect. Do not defy your master; violators will be punished… All right, the main lesson is about to begin. You may attend or rest. For other questions, ask your fellow disciples.”

The elder recited the rules at length. Li Sibai agreed respectfully, took the token, and saw the bold inscription: “Inner Sect—Li Sibai.”

“Thank you for your guidance, Elder!” Li Sibai bowed again and stepped into Star Cloud Pavilion.

The elder watched Li Sibai’s silhouette disappear, thoughtful, and chuckled. “Haha, Li Sibai—must be that boy from the outer sect who spent eight years without breaking through the third level of the Phoenix Initiation Realm. Interesting. The inner sect will be lively now… I wonder who will take this child as a disciple!”

Walking forward at a gentle pace, Li Sibai soon found himself in a spacious classroom, the usual place where disciples studied various techniques, skills, and even scriptures. Though new to the inner sect, he was already familiar with its rules—his experiences had taught him well.

The main lesson was the daily class for all inner sect disciples, covering a wide range of subjects. Different elders taught each session, each with their own strengths and perspectives, and attendance was optional—there were no assessments. Those who attended were typically average among the inner sect. Few would ultimately attain the immortal body; most merely sought to learn techniques for health and longevity, though there were a few outliers.

The classroom was nearly empty, with only a few tree-root stone tables arranged in a circle. At the center stood the elders’ martial platform, crafted from floating rune stones, shimmering with silver light.

Li Sibai casually took a seat at the front and waited for the class to begin. After a while, a group of inner sect disciples streamed in noisily.

“Did you hear? This year, an outer sect candidate who spent eight years without breaking through the third level of the Phoenix Initiation Realm actually made it to the finals and entered the inner sect.”

“Yes, I heard he was ridiculously lucky—got a bye in every round. Must have been blessed with dumb luck.”

“I saw another new guy earlier—Qin Feng, I think. He looked pretty decent. Are you talking about him?”

Laughing and chatting, the group approached and spotted Li Sibai sitting there. The leading disciple also noticed him.

Several glanced at Li Sibai’s plain clothes and frowned slightly before stepping forward.

“Hey, newcomer. You didn’t even change your clothes, and you dare to take a seat up front? Move—it’s not your spot,” one said.

“Oh? There are plenty of seats left, aren’t there?” Li Sibai replied, feigning confusion, but his eyes sparkled with amusement.

He didn’t look at the speaker, instead fixing his gaze straight ahead, refusing to yield.

“Since you’re new, I’ll say it again. These seats are all claimed. Newcomers like you, sit at the back—understand?” the disciple insisted.

“Is your name written here? If not, I’ll sit here!” For once, Li Sibai allowed himself to be stubborn; on another day, he might have let it go—it was only a seat, after all.