Chapter 8: Journeying North
The forest thinned as Wei Lin and Chen Rui walked, the dense canopy giving way to patches of sunlight that dappled the narrow trail ahead. Wei Lin adjusted the strap of his satchel, his mind brimming with questions.
Chen Rui, walking slightly ahead, seemed relaxed despite his wounded shoulder, which he had bandaged with a strip of cloth torn from his tunic. Every now and then, he glanced back at Wei Lin, his sharp eyes assessing the younger man.
"You’ve really never heard of the Verdant Sky Sect?" Chen Rui asked suddenly, breaking the silence.
“Pay attention,” the Talisman said, pulsing gently against Wei Lin’s skin. “He’s about to tell you useful.”
Wei Lin hesitated. “I’ve heard the name mentioned by traveling merchants, but not much beyond that. I’ve never been this far from Tianmu Village before.”
Chen Rui’s lips twitched into a faint smile. "Well, that explains a lot. The Verdant Sky Sect is one of the strongest sects in the region. They’re known for their elemental cultivation techniques and their influence over most of the surrounding villages."
"Elemental cultivation?" Wei Lin echoed, clearly curious.
"Techniques based on the elements—wood, water, that sort of thing," Chen Rui explained. "They’re powerful because they draw directly from the natural world. Disciples of the Verdant Sky Sect are trained to harmonize with their surroundings, making them adaptable and hard to pin down in combat."
Wei Lin nodded slowly, trying to picture what Chen Rui described. "And the other sects? Are they like the Verdant Sky Sect?"
Chen Rui let out a short laugh. "Not quite. Each sect has its own strengths—and its own ambitions. The Verdant Sky Sect’s biggest rival is the Scarlet Blade Pavilion. They specialize in aggressive, martial-focused techniques, usually involving fire and metal qi. They don’t play nice with others."
Wei Lin frowned. "If they’re so dangerous, why hasn’t Verdant Sky Sect dealt with them?"
"Balance," Chen Rui replied simply. "Neither side wants to risk an all-out war. It would cost too many lives and weaken them both, leaving room for someone else to take over."
The concept of sects and rivalries felt overwhelming to Wei Lin, but he listened intently. "And what about you? Are you from one of these sects?"
Chen Rui’s gaze flickered briefly toward the horizon, his expression unreadable. "I’m... unaffiliated, for now. But I come from a family of cultivators, and I’ve been training for years. I plan to pass the Verdant Sky Sect’s recruitment trials and become an inner disciple."
"Why them?" Wei Lin asked.
"They have the best resources and techniques," Chen Rui said matter-of-factly. "If you want to grow stronger, you go where the opportunity is."
Wei Lin thought about that as they walked. He glanced at Chen Rui’s sword, noticing the faintly glowing runes etched into the blade. "You’re strong," Wei Lin said quietly. "Stronger than anyone I’ve ever met."
Chen Rui smirked. "Maybe, but strength is relative. Against the voidbeast back there, you held your own. That counts for something."
Wei Lin looked down at his hands. "I just... reacted. I don’t really know how I did it."
Chen Rui’s gaze softened. "Sometimes instinct is enough. It’s better than freezing up, anyway."
Wei Lin mulled over his words as they continued. The forest began to open up into rolling hills, and Chen Rui gestured toward a rocky outcrop. "We’ll stop here for a while. I need to rest my shoulder, and you probably have more questions."
They settled near the outcrop, the view stretching out over the hills and valleys below. Chen Rui unwrapped his bandage, wincing as he inspected the wound. Wei Lin glanced at Chen Rui’s shoulder, then reached into his satchel and pulled out the broadleaf with the silverfern sap.
"Here," Wei Lin said, holding them out. “Let me help you dress the wound."
Chen Rui raised an eyebrow but didn’t refuse. "Alright, let’s see what you’ve got."
Wei Lin worked in silence, applying the sap carefully to Chen Rui’s shoulder. When he finished, Chen Rui flexed his arm experimentally, his gaze lingering on Wei Lin. “There really is more to you than meets the eye," he said. “You’re an alchemist?”
Wei Lin sat back, feeling a flicker of pride. “Not yet… I don’t think?”
“Hmph, don’t get ahead of yourself, boy,” the Talisman said dryly. “You’ll need a stronger soul and much better qi control before you can call yourself an alchemist.”
Wei Lin suppressed a sigh at the Talisman’s merciless judgment. “So... what happens if you don’t get into the Verdant Sky Sect?”
Chen Rui shrugged. "Then I keep training and try again. Or I find another way. This world isn’t kind to the weak, Wei Lin. If you want to survive, you have to get stronger."
The words hung in the air, and Wei Lin felt their weight. He thought of Tianmu Village, of Grandpa Lu’s sacrifice, and the promise he had made. "How do I get stronger?" he asked quietly.
Chen Rui studied him for a long moment. “You’ve only recently awakened your qi, right?”
Wei Lin nodded. "I think so."
"Then you’re in the initial stage of Qi Gathering. Your focus should be on sensing and refining qi," Chen Rui said. “That’s another reason to join a sect. They’re usually established on top of places that are rich in qi, which aids cultivation. Once you have a solid qi foundation, you can eventually try to breakthrough to Foundation Establishment. Thats when you can begin to learn a sect’s more advanced elemental techniques.”
“He’s not wrong,” the Talisman remarked. “But he’s focusing too much on qi refinement, and neglecting the importance of training the soul. A strong soul is the key to reaching higher stages of cultivation.”
Wei Lin frowned. “How long does it take to reach the next stage?”
Chen Rui chuckled. “Many years… usually decades. Cultivation is not an easy path. Most never progress beyond the qi gathering stage.”
“Boy,” the Talisman said in a serious tone. “If it takes you more than a decade to reach Foundation Establishment, I’ll just self-destruct for having failed in my duty. Stop listening to him for cultivation guidance, it’s a case of the blind leading the blind.”
"That’s enough talk about cultivation stages," the Talisman said, its tone brisk. "Ask him about the recruitment trials—at least that’s something we can prepare for."
Wei Lin glanced at Chen Rui, a new question forming in his mind. "What do you know about the Verdant Sky Sect’s recruitment trials?”
“The trials are… unpredictable,” Chen Rui said. “All I know is that every year, they’re different. You might face combat, but you could also be tested on endurance, how well you work with other cultivators, or your ability to survive under pressure. There’s really no telling what they’ll throw at you.”
Chen Rui studied Wei Lin with a thoughtful expression. “You can come with me to the Verdant Sky Sect if you like. I’ve heard that it’s a relatively simple process to become an outer disciple,” Chen Rui said after a moment. “But becoming an inner disciple is what you want—that’s when you get access to all of the sect’s resources, and you get to study under the sect’s elders themselves.”
Wei Lin nodded. “I’ll go with you. At the very least, it’ll be safer than being out here in the Voidwood by myself.”
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, painting the horizon in shades of orange and gold, he felt the first stirrings of hope. The path ahead was clearer, and though he didn’t know what the future holds, he was ready to take the first step.
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Below is a translation of the chapter into Chinese (via ChatGPT).
以下是通过ChatGPT将本章翻译成中文。
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封天遗志
第八章：北行之途
林间渐渐疏阔，繁密的树冠逐渐稀疏，阳光从枝叶间洒落，斑驳地照亮了前方狭窄的小径。魏林微微调整背包的带子，心中满是疑问与思绪。
辰锐走在前方，虽然肩膀受伤，包扎着一条从衣襟撕下的布条，却依旧步伐轻松，偶尔回眸，锐利的目光在魏林身上打量一番，仿佛在衡量这位年轻人。
“你真没听过翠天宗？” 辰锐突然打破沉默，问道。
“留心些。” 玉符在魏林皮肤下微微脉动，声音轻响，“他即将告诉你有用的东西。”
魏林犹豫了一下，答道：“听商旅提过这个名字，但了解的不多。我从未离开过天木村，未曾见识过如此辽阔的世界。”
辰锐嘴角微翘，带着一丝若有若无的笑意，“那倒是解释了许多。” 他顿了顿，继续道，“翠天宗是这一带最强大的宗门之一。以元素修炼为主，掌控周围大多数村落的势力。”
“元素修炼？” 魏林重复道，显然充满了好奇。
“便是以木、水等自然元素为基础的修炼方法。” 辰锐解释道，“他们之所以强大，是因为他们能直接汲取自然之力。翠天宗的弟子被训练与周围环境和谐相融，使得他们在战斗中如鱼得水，难以捉摸。”
魏林慢慢点了点头，试图将辰锐所说的情形在脑海中勾画出来。“那其他宗门呢？它们和翠天宗相似吗？”
辰锐轻笑一声，“不尽相同。每个宗门都有自己的长处，也有各自的野心。翠天宗最大的对手是血刃阁。血刃阁专注于极为激烈、以武力为主的修炼，通常涉及火与金属性的气息。他们向来不与他人善罢甘休。”
魏林皱了皱眉，“既然血刃阁如此危险，翠天宗为何不出手处理？”
“平衡。” 辰锐简洁地答道，“双方都不想冒着全面开战的风险。那样的话，双方都会损失惨重，削弱实力，最终只会给他人留下机会。”
魏林听得心中微感震撼，修真界的宗门与纷争似乎远比他想象的复杂，但他专心听着。“那你呢？你来自哪个宗门？”
辰锐的目光忽然微微一顿，望向远方，面色难以捉摸，片刻后才答道：“我……暂时没有加入任何宗门。但我来自修真世家，从小便开始修炼，已有数年。我打算通过翠天宗的招募试炼，成为他们的内门弟子。”
“为何是翠天宗？” 魏林好奇地问道。
辰锐语气平淡，“他们的资源与修炼法门最为完善。若想变强，自然要去有机会的地方。”
魏林若有所思，二人继续前行。突然，他目光落在辰锐的剑上，注意到剑身上微微闪烁的符文，似乎散发着奇异的光辉。“你很强。” 魏林低声道，“比我见过的任何人都要强。”
辰锐嘴角扬起一抹得意的笑容，“或许吧，但力量是相对的。面对刚才的虚空兽，你也能自保，这一点值得称道。”
魏林低头看了看自己的双手，沉默片刻，“我只是……下意识地做了些事。说实话，我根本不知道自己是怎么做到的。”
辰锐的眼神柔和了一些，“有时候，直觉就足够了。至少，比起在关键时刻停滞不前，你做得更好。”
魏林沉思片刻，脚步未曾停下。林间渐渐开阔，连绵的山丘逐渐显现，辰锐指向一处岩石突兀的地方，言道：“我们就在此稍作歇息，我需要休整肩伤，而你，或许还有许多问题。”
他们在岩石旁安坐，眼前的景致尽收眼底，山丘和谷地交织成一幅壮丽的画卷。辰锐解开了束缚伤口的布带，痛苦地皱起眉头，审视着自己的伤口。魏林低头看了看辰锐的肩膀，随即从背包里拿出那片大叶草和银蕨树液。
“给你。”魏林轻声道，将草叶和树液递了过去，“让我帮你处理伤口。”
辰锐挑了挑眉，却并未拒绝，语气淡然：“好吧，给我看看你的手段。”
魏林沉默着动手，小心翼翼地将树液涂抹在辰锐的伤口上。当他完成时，辰锐试着活动了一下肩膀，目光不自觉地停留在魏林身上，“果然，与你表面所见大有不同，”他缓缓道，“你是炼药师？”
魏林微微后仰，心中升起一丝骄傲：“还不是……应该说，应该算是吧？”
“哼，别太自得了，孩子。” 玉符冷冷地插话，“在你没有更强的魂力，和更好的气息控制之前，称自己为炼药师，简直是笑话。”
魏林默默压下叹息，暗自感叹玉符的无情批评。“那……如果你没能进入翠天宗呢？”
辰锐耸耸肩，“那就继续修炼，再次尝试，或者另辟蹊径。这个世界对弱者并不仁慈，魏林。如果你想生存下去，就得变得更强。”
这番话沉重地悬在空气中，魏林心中不由一震。他想起天木村，想起爷爷卢的牺牲，和他所作的承诺。“那我该如何变强？”他低声问道。
辰锐凝视了他许久，才缓缓道：“你应该是刚刚觉醒气息吧？”
魏林点了点头：“我想是的。”
“那么你现在正处于凝气期。你的重点应放在感知和炼化气息上。”辰锐解释道，“这也是为何加入宗门的原因之一。宗门通常建立在气息浓郁的地方，能助力修炼。一旦你打下坚实的气息根基，便有可能突破到筑基期。到那时，你便可以开始学习宗门的高阶元素技巧。”
“他说的没错，” 玉符冷静地点评道，“不过他过于偏重气息修炼，忽视了魂力的培养。强大的魂力才是迈向更高修为的关键。”
魏林皱了皱眉，“那要多久才能达到下一个境界？”
辰锐轻笑，“许多年……通常需要几十年。修炼之路，岂是易事？大多数人终其一生，也无法突破到筑基期。”
“孩子，” 玉符语气严肃，“如果你在十年内未能突破到筑基期，我就为失败自爆，不能履行职责。不要再听他关于修炼的指导了，完全是盲人领路。”
“够了，不再说修炼境界的事。” 玉符语气一转，显得更为简洁，“去问问他关于宗门招收试炼的事——那至少是我们能有所准备的。”
魏林看向辰锐，心中突然涌现出一个新问题，“你知道翠天宗的招收试炼是什么样的吗？”
辰锐思索片刻，缓缓道：“试炼……难以预料。我所知的只有，每年的试炼都不尽相同。你可能会面临战斗，也许是耐力测试，或者是与你其他修炼者的配合能力，甚至是在压力下的生存能力。到底会遇到什么，谁也说不清。”
辰锐目光定定地凝视着魏林，似乎在琢磨什么。“你可以跟我一起去翠天宗。我听说成为外门弟子是相对简单的过程，”辰锐停顿了片刻，又道，“但若是你想要成为内门弟子，那才是你真正想要的。只有成为内门弟子，才能接触到宗门的所有资源，并且直接在宗门长老门下修习。”
魏林点了点头，“我会跟你一起去。至少，那里比起独自一人在虚空林中更加安全。”
随着太阳渐渐西下，橙金色的余晖洒在天际，魏林心中涌起一丝希望。前方的道路似乎更为清晰，虽然他依然不知未来如何，但此刻，他已经准备好迈出第一步。
