Cultivation is just so scientific!

Chapter 313: Chapter 203: Cave Mansion

The most important part of the apprenticeship ceremony was paying respects to the ancestral masters, and after Li Shiming had performed the grand salute to the ancestral tablets, he did the same to Elder Su, thus concluding the core of the apprenticeship ritual.

Next came the congratulations from various uncles and senior cultivators, as Elder Su collected one storage bag after another.

Li Shiming did not know what the gifts were, but he imagined that the presents from his Golden Core uncles and seniors would not be trivial.

The final item on the agenda was evaluating the cultivation of each brother and sister in the hall. One by one, they showcased their accomplishments, and they were either praised or criticized accordingly.

Xu Chuan told Li Shiming that this was a customary event, and its purpose was specifically for the Golden Core disciples.

Golden Core disciples who performed well would receive gifts from the Golden Core Elder, which was very important to them.

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Li Shiming also witnessed the strength of the Golden Core disciples, each of whom, being taken as disciples by a Golden Core, had extraordinary talents.

The apprenticeship ceremony helped him understand his own standing.

Without the assistance of IBMz15, he would be far behind these top geniuses in many areas.

After all the guests had left, only Elder Su and his disciples remained in the hall.

“Shiming, I have arranged a cave dwelling for you. This is your Identity Jade Disc, which also serves as a control talisman for the cave. I will take you there now!” Elder Su handed over the prepared Identity Jade Disc with a smile to Li Shiming.

“Thank you, Master!” Li Shiming received the Identity Jade Disc. He was currently staying in his master’s guest cave dwelling and of course, could not stay long.

Elder Su, with Li Shiming in tow, flew out of Heavenly Eye Peak, followed by Elder Sister Ye Jingxian and three other senior brothers.

The Shushan Sect occupied the Shushan Mountain Range, which consisted of nearly a thousand peaks, both large and small.

The group paused before a modest mountain peak, with Li Shiming surveying it. This peak was planted with a large number of Spirit Plants.

From the base to the summit, a hundred acres of spirit fields were carved out, additionally adorned with more than ten spirit fruit trees bearing unripe Spirit Fruits.

At one side of the peak, there was a cliff with a stream of water cascading down to form a mini waterfall.

Below the waterfall was a deep pond, brimming with Spiritual Energy.

“This is Sword Holding Peak, a sub-peak of Heavenly Eye Peak which I was managing. Now it’s yours!” Elder Su said, pointing at the mountain before them.

“Master, are you saying that the cave dwelling is an entire mountain?” Li Shiming asked unbelievably, staring at the spiritually vibrant mountain.

“It’s just a mountain. The spirit vein here branches from Heavenly Eye Peak. Once you’ve achieved Golden Core, you will be able to have a small part of the mountain range as your private property within the sect!” Elder Su waved his hand dismissively, feigning annoyance at what he considered Li Shiming’s innocence.

Xu Chuan, witnessing Li Shiming’s gaping astonishment, chuckled and took out a Jade Talisman, activating it to capture Li Shiming’s expression.

He remembered how his senior brothers and sister had teased him similarly when he had entered. Now with a junior brother present, he naturally wanted to continue this fine tradition.

“The Mountain Protection Array of Sword Holding Peak is somewhat ordinary, but since it’s within the sect and not far from Heavenly Eye Peak, no one would dare to forcefully break through the array. Plus, you are a High-level Array Master; you can also strengthen the array here yourself,” Elder Su explained, landing with Li Shiming on the mountain’s summit.

“Sword Holding Peak has 100 acres of Low Grade Spirit Field, 20 acres of Mid-grade Spirit Field, one acre of Top-grade Spirit Field, and fifteen Second Grade Spirit Fruit Trees. From now on, all of these are yours. These resources are the capital for your cultivation; you can issue tasks for Spirit Plant farmers to manage them, or arrange for your retainers to do so,” Elder Su explained with a smile.

Li Shiming gasped in awe. The 100 acres of Low Grade Spirit Field were manageable, but the 20 acres of Mid-grade Spirit Field, used for cultivating Second Grade Spirit Medicines necessary for early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators, were impressive. The Top-grade Spirit Field was particularly formidable, suitable for cultivating top tier Second Grade Spiritual Medicine.

It was clear that the 100 acres of Low Grade Spirit Field alone could provide him with tens of thousands of Spirit Stones in annual income. The Mid-grade Spirit Field’s output would support his current cultivation needs, and the produce of the Top-grade Spirit Field would contribute to his future cultivation reserves.

“This is your cave dwelling!” Elder Su was in high spirits today; previously, when he took in Xu Chuan, it was Elder Sister Ye Jingxian who had done all this work.

Li Shiming’s presence today had indeed flattered him, seeing the shocked envious expressions of his old friends lifted his mood tremendously.

The cave dwelling was located at the summit, carved inside a large rock.

Stepping into the cave dwelling, the space opened up considerably, a clear indication of a spatial formation’s influence.

The hall alone was a massive 500 square meters, a result of space being expanded tenfold.

“You will have friends over in the future, and a small space won’t do. I had Master Hu, the Array Master, expand this area for you!” Elder Su explained with a laugh.

And what occasionally transpired in his words was his affection for Li Shiming.

“Master, my cave dwelling doesn’t have this spatial formation, and it’s quite small!” Xu Chuan gently reminded from the side.

“You focus on your cultivation. Your junior brother has been in closed-door cultivation since arriving two months ago, without ever slacking off!” Elder Su retorted, glaring.

Xu Chuan shrank his neck, not daring to say another word.

“You will handle the furnishings inside the cave dwelling. Here are gifts from your uncles and seniors. Later, you should check them and store them in the cave’s storeroom. You’re no longer a Loose Cultivator; you need to learn management starting with a mountain peak, which is an essential part of your learning content!” Elder Su finally reminded.