Chapter 13: The Cultivation World

The night air was cool, the scent of damp earth mingling with the smoke from the crackling campfire. After the ambush earlier in the day, the group had settled into a quiet but watchful calm. The soft flickering of flames cast long shadows on the surrounding trees, their gnarled forms shifting in the dim light.

Wei Lin sat near the fire, his gaze drifting over to Mei Yan and Chen Rui. The battle had left him with many questions—not just about fighting, but about the path ahead. After a long pause, he finally spoke.

"Mei Yan, you're from the Jade Leaf Sect, right? Have you been to the Verdant Sky Sect before? What's it like?"

Mei Yan considered his question for a moment before nodding. "The Verdant Sky Sect isn’t just a place to grow stronger—it’s an institution that has lasted for centuries. Strength isn’t just measured in individual power, but in the legacy a sect builds over generations. Over time, it's established itself as a society with its own structure and rules."

Wei Lin frowned. "Structure? What do you mean?"

Mei Yan's expression was thoughtful as she warmed her hands over the fire. "The sect has a strict hierarchy. At the bottom are the Outer Disciples—those who handle much of the labor and basic functions that keep the sect running. Many never progress beyond this level. Then, there are the Inner Disciples. These are cultivators who pass the recruitment trials and show real potential. They gain access to better resources, direct training from instructors, and advanced techniques. Finally, at the highest level, there are the Core Disciples—handpicked by the elders, trained to be the future leaders and elites of the sect."

Wei Lin nodded slowly, absorbing the information. "So the real competition happens between the Inner Disciples?"

"Exactly," Mei Yan confirmed. "Every year, the sect holds recruitment trials that are open to both Outer Disciples and direct entrants from outside the sect." Mei Yan smiled faintly. "I'll be participating in this year's recruitment trials myself. Passing them means I'll become an Inner Disciple of the main sect, which would give me access to the best cultivation resources and techniques." 

Chen Rui, who had been leaning back against a tree, had a wry expression, though there was a hint of something more serious in his eyes. "And if you fail? You stay an Outer Disciple, stuck doing menial work and hoping for another trial. Not everyone makes it—some leave, some settle, and a few... keep fighting to rise up."

Wei Lin glanced at him. "That sounds... harsh."

Chen Rui shrugged. "That's cultivation. Sects don't train people out of kindness—they invest in those who can bring them strength and prestige. If you can't keep up, you're left behind."

Mei Yan shot Chen Rui a look but didn’t contradict him. "It’s true that strength determines advancement, but it’s not just about raw power. There are many cultivation paths, and the sect values those who bring long-term benefits."

Wei Lin perked up. "Cultivation paths?"

Mei Yan nodded. "Most cultivators start by focusing on basic Qi Gathering and elemental control techniques before choosing a specialization. Your elemental affinity plays a major role in determining what path suits you best. A cultivator with a metal affinity might specialize in swordsmanship or spear techniques, their weapon eventually becoming an extension of themselves. Someone with a rarer mutated wind affinity may focus on speed and evasion techniques. But combat isn't everything."

Chen Rui smirked. "It’s most of it."

Mei Yan simply exhaled, as if used to such remarks. "There are disciplines that are just as important as fighters. Alchemists refine elixirs and pills that help cultivators progress faster. Artificers forge weapons and artifacts that can shape battles. Formation Masters craft defensive barriers and battlefield formations that can turn the tide of a conflict. Beastmasters form bonds with spirit beasts that possess their own cultivation potential. These paths require incredible skill—and dual elemental affinities."

Wei Lin blinked. "Dual affinities? So… does that mean only a handful of cultivators can even attempt these paths?"

"Yes," Mei Yan explained. "For example, alchemy requires fire to refine and wood to nurture the medicinal properties. Artificing requires fire for the forging process and metal for crafting artifacts. Formations require earth for stability and metal for construction. Because these disciplines require a balance of two elements, they are much rarer—and much more valuable."

Chen Rui nodded in agreement. "That’s why true specialists are hard to find. The ones who have the right affinities are highly sought after by sects." He stretched his arms. "But at the end of the day, no matter what path you choose, you need strength. If you can’t defend what you build, you’ll always be at someone else’s mercy."

Wei Lin didn't respond immediately. He looked into the fire, watching the flames shift and dance. Before today, he had only thought about surviving. Now, he was beginning to see how much larger the cultivation world truly was.

A quiet voice stirred in his mind—the Celestial Talisman.

"There is truth in what they say. Power is not defined by combat strength alone. Alchemy, craftsmanship, knowledge—the mastery of each additional path gives you a significant advantage against cultivators of a similar rank."

Wei Lin stared at the flames, his mind turning over the possibilities. The paths Mei Yan described—alchemy, formations, combat—all required a choice. But could he even make that choice when he didn’t know who he truly was?

"What about me? What elemental affinities do I have?" he asked silently, uncertain.

The Talisman was silent for a long moment. "All in good time, boy. You'll know soon enough. Your potential is undeniable—but power does not merely bring opportunity; more often, it brings jealousy and greed. I'll first need to teach you how to hide your talent in plain sight. Better to move unseen in the shadows than to shine too brightly and be snuffed out before you’ve even begun."

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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

第十三章：修真世界

夜色沉静，微凉的夜风裹挟着潮湿的泥土气息，与篝火升腾的烟雾交织缠绕。经历了白日的伏击后，队伍虽已恢复平静，却隐隐透出一丝戒备之意。篝火轻轻跳跃，火光映照在四周的古树上，投下扭曲斑驳的阴影，使林间景象愈显幽邃诡谲。

魏林坐于火堆旁，目光落在梅妍与辰锐身上。今日一战，让他心生诸多疑问，不仅关乎战斗，更关乎前路。他沉吟片刻，终是开口问道：

“梅妍，你来自玉叶宗，是否去过翠天宗？那里究竟是怎样的地方？”

梅妍闻言，静思片刻，方才缓缓点头，道：“翠天宗不仅仅是强者修行之地，更是延续数百载的宗门，代代相传，自有其规制与秩序。真正衡量一个宗门之强盛，并非单靠个体的实力，而在于它能否屹立于世，传承不坠。”

魏林微微皱眉：“秩序？你指的是什么？”

梅妍轻轻伸出手，感受篝火的温度，目光略显沉思：“宗门之中，门规森严，层级分明。最底层是外门弟子，负责宗门的杂务与基础事务，其中大多终其一生难以突破。其上便是内门弟子，他们或是通过考核晋升，或是直接被选拔而入，享有更优渥的修炼资源，得师长亲授功法，方可称之为真正的宗门修士。而最高者，便是核心弟子，由长老亲自挑选，未来极有可能成为宗门支柱，甚至执掌宗门大权。”

魏林缓缓点头，似有所悟：“如此说来，真正的竞争，其实是在内门弟子之间？”

“正是如此。”梅妍轻声道，“每年宗门都会举行考核，不仅是为了外门弟子争取晋升内门的机会，也为外界修士提供入门之道。”她微微一笑，“今年的考核，我亦会参加，若能通过，便能成为翠天宗的内门弟子，享受更精深的修炼资源与功法。”

一旁的辰锐倚靠在树干上，神色淡然，然目光深处却隐隐闪过一丝锋芒：“若失败呢？便只能留在外门，做些琐碎杂务，等来年再试，或是直接离开，或是……终身停滞于此。”

魏林听罢，心头微震：“这未免……过于残酷。”

辰锐轻笑一声，语气淡漠：“修行本就如此。宗门不是慈善之地，他们培养弟子，并非出于善心，而是衡量谁能带来最大的价值。若你无法跟上步伐，便只能被淘汰。”

梅妍看了辰锐一眼，并未反驳：“他所言不假，实力的确是衡量修士地位的重要标准，但修行的道路并非只有斗法争锋一途。宗门看重的，远不止战力。”

魏林听到此处，目光微微一亮：“你是指……修行之道有不同的分支？”

梅妍颔首：“大多数修士，在凝气期皆以聚气、御气、基础术法为主，待修为精进，便会逐渐选择适合自身的道路。此中尤以灵根属性最为关键，决定了修行方向。例如，金属性适合剑修或枪修，兵刃可化身为身躯延伸，演化出杀伐术法。风属性若经变异，可衍生身法之道，使人如鬼魅般迅捷无踪。然而，修行不仅仅是战斗。”

辰锐嗤笑一声，眼中带着几分讥诮：“但战斗才是修行的本质。”

梅妍轻叹一口气，似乎早已习惯他的言论，继续道：“修行之道，远非单一。炼丹师淬炼丹药，使修士进境更快。炼器师锻造神兵，助修士杀敌立威。阵法师布设法阵，可护宗门不破，亦可扭转战局。御兽师则驯养灵兽，使之与自身共修，彼此契合。然这些道途，并非寻常修士可涉足。”

魏林愣了愣：“为何？”

“因这些分支，皆需双灵根。”梅妍缓缓道，“炼丹需火炼药性，木养灵植，故火木双灵根者方可修行。炼器需火铸金骨，唯火金双灵根者方能精进。阵法需土为基，金为引，以稳固阵势，而御兽则讲究身心合一，对灵根要求极为苛刻。”

辰锐轻哼一声：“正因如此，真正精通此道者，凤毛麟角，甚至比纯粹的战修更受宗门重视。”他伸展了一下手臂，语气随意：“但无论选哪条路，有一点不变——若自身不够强，所有的一切都只是空谈。”

魏林未曾言语，他望着篝火，思绪翻涌。

今日之前，他只想着活下去。但现在，他终于意识到，修行世界，远比他想象的庞大。

一道熟悉的声音在他识海中响起，天命符沉吟片刻，缓缓道：

“他们所言不虚。力量不止于战斗，炼丹、锻器、学识，皆是修士应当修习之道。多一条道途，便比同阶修士多一分优势。”

魏林凝视跳动的火焰，心思渐渐沉淀。梅妍所说的炼丹、阵法、战斗，皆需取舍，可他连自己的灵根属性都尚不知晓，又该如何抉择？

他低声在心中问道：“那我呢？我到底是什么灵根？”

天命符一瞬无言，半晌，方才悠悠开口：

“时候未到。你的潜力不容置疑，然力量不止带来机缘，更引人觊觎。在学会隐藏自己之前，莫要暴露天赋。否则……你尚未起步，便将成为猎物。”

魏林心头微震，攥紧了藏在衣襟下的玉坠，眼底光影摇曳，似有一抹异样的神采闪过。