"Congratulations to Master on accepting a new disciple!" Senior Brother Zheng Shaosi and the others stepped forward in unison, cupping their hands respectfully toward Shui Huanmeng.
"Very good, all of you." Shui Huanmeng smiled. "I shouldn't be stingy then. Each of you can take a portion of Enlightenment Tea home."
With a casual wave of her hand, several packets of tea floated out of her storage pouch and landed neatly in the hands of each disciple.
"Thank you, Master, for the tea!" Chen Jinshu received a packet as well and promptly expressed her gratitude.
"I've spent years studying this Enlightenment Tea. There's been some progress. Consider it a small sample." Having said this, Shui Huanmeng turned toward Chen Jinshu. "This is your formal induction gift."
In her hand appeared a beautifully crafted incense burner engraved with flowers and birds. With just one glance, Chen Jinshu found herself enamored by its elegance.
"Master, what is this?"
"This is the Floral Aviary Incense Burner. When used, the incense it burns clears the mind, helping one enter a meditative state faster—especially helpful when playing the zither. I used it back during my Foundation Establishment years. I no longer need it, so I'm giving it to you."
"Thank you, Master!" Chen Jinshu accepted the incense burner without hesitation. After all, it was a gift from a mentor—one never refuses such a gift from a respected elder.
"You all prepared congratulatory gifts for your junior sister as well, didn't you?" Shui Huanmeng's eyes gleamed with satisfaction as she observed Chen Jinshu's calm and composed demeanor. In fact, Shui Huanmeng had already investigated Chen Jinshu before formally accepting her.
She had learned that Chen Jinshu had spent many years regarded as the "ugly girl" of the Chen family. After a moment of self-realization, she broke off a betrothal and trained hard in the family's spirit fields for over a year, all to qualify for the Xuanming Sect's recruitment.
She was a promising seedling—hardworking and resilient.
More importantly, her temperament was admirable. According to Dai Yuzhu, Chen Jinshu often found rare spiritual items but never kept them for herself, always returning them. With such integrity, what teacher wouldn't be fond of her?
And Chen Jinshu was likely even more tactful than Shui Huanmeng initially assumed. She already possessed mid-grade first-tier alchemy skills, yet she remained reserved, revealing nothing unless necessary—clearly saving it for the right moment to shine.
"Junior Sister, as your senior brother, I'll go first!" Zheng Shaosi stepped forward with a slight bow and pulled out a golden hair ribbon from his storage pouch. It was intricately embroidered and extremely refined.
"This is a spiritual ribbon crafted by my clan. It can be worn in your hair daily but transforms into a protective ribbon when needed."
Chen Jinshu accepted it and tied it onto her bun on the spot. The ribbon immediately formed a small circular device that secured her hair, leaving two elegant streamers trailing behind. She now carried a faint celestial charm.
With her birthmark now faded, Chen Jinshu's beauty was more apparent—though she deliberately concealed it with a spiritual tool, it couldn't be fully hidden. Especially to Shui Huanmeng, who could see her true face with just one glance. The golden ribbon only enhanced her already graceful aura.
"Thank you, Senior Brother. This ribbon suits me well."
"You're too kind," Zheng Shaosi replied warmly.
"Tch, senior brother always gives gifts that charm female cultivators. Wouldn't a handy spiritual tool be more useful?"
The speaker stepped forward. "I'm your Second Senior Brother, Xie Mofeng. You can call me Senior Brother Mofeng."
He held up a white jade bell. "This is a low-grade Tier-2 defensive bell I forged myself. I heard female cultivators like this sort of thing, so I made one. Not sure if you'll like it."
Xie Mofeng had a tall, graceful figure and carried himself with understated elegance. The bell in his hand gleamed with simplicity and power.
"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Chen Jinshu cast a glance at the bell, genuinely impressed. What surprised her even more was that this Second Senior Brother was both an alchemist and a refiner—a dual cultivation path most cultivators wouldn't dare to tread due to how taxing it was. He seemed even younger than Zheng Shaosi, yet his cultivation was just as strong—clearly a prodigy.
"I'm your Third Senior Sister, Bu Yuanxiang. I'm low-profile by nature, which is why Dai Yuzhu took the 'Inner Sect Senior Sister' title instead of me. Otherwise, that title would be mine." Bu Yuanxiang glanced at Dai Yuzhu with a touch of indifference.
"I specialize in incense-making and have inherited most of Master's knowledge. These incense blends help calm the mind and focus the spirit. Since Master gave you an incense burner, these will pair nicely."
"Thank you, Senior Sister!" The moment Chen Jinshu accepted the incense packets, a rich herbal fragrance filled the air, instantly lifting her spirits.
Her curiosity about Shui Huanmeng only deepened. "A master of alchemy, adept in spiritual plants, skilled in incense-making—and even a music cultivator? What a powerhouse."
"I'm your Fourth Senior Brother, Huai Jingyi. I've been in the sect for less time than the others and only reached Foundation Establishment under ten years ago. All I have are some spiritual pills I use for cultivation—please accept them."
Huai Jingyi had a calm, approachable appearance, completely non-aggressive. He gave off the air of someone already spiritually enlightened.
"Don't underestimate your Fourth Senior Brother," Shui Huanmeng whispered to Chen Jinshu. "He's skilled in divination. Frequently stargazes at night and often picks up on hidden omens."
Chen Jinshu's initial underestimation faded immediately. So now, in Elder Shui Huanmeng's hands, she was the one with the weakest cultivation and the least impressive skills?
"Don't be discouraged, Junior Sister! With time, you'll catch up to us."
"I'm your Fifth Senior Brother, Pang Zhuoqun. I specialize in alchemy, though I'm still far behind the others. Here's a low-grade Tier-2 jade pendant for concealing your presence."
"Thank you, Fifth Senior Brother!"
"I'm your Sixth Senior Brother, Wen Yushu. I specialize in spiritual plants. I believe you'll like this gift." From his storage pouch, Wen Yushu retrieved a blooming white lotus with faint rainbow halos shimmering on its petals.
"This is the Clearwater White Lotus. If planted in spiritual fields, it prevents demonic energy from corrupting them. Lately, many fields have suffered from such contamination—I hope yours won't be among them."
Chen Jinshu accepted the potted lotus with slight emotion. It truly came at the perfect time—her three acres of fields in the Green Pine Herb Garden were no longer in danger of demonic taint.
"Why doesn't the sect promote this lotus more widely? Wouldn't more benefit from it?"
"You're joking, Junior Sister. If it were that easy to cultivate, Medicine King Peak wouldn't have so many corrupted fields."
"This lotus takes five years to bear fruit, ten to sprout, and another five to bloom."
"That's a full twenty years—how many fields can wait that long? And it produces only one seed per bloom."
Chen Jinshu finally understood its rarity.
"Thank you, Senior Brother. I've learned something today. I hope you won't mind if I consult you again in the future."
"Haha! You're welcome anytime. As your senior, it's my duty to help!"
"My turn!" Dai Yuzhu puffed up her cheeks, annoyed that the others had already shared their gifts.
"Senior Sister!" Chen Jinshu quickly turned and offered a polite bow.
"I have a zither score I acquired with great effort. I know you're a music cultivator, so I searched for it specifically."
She unfurled the scroll, revealing a striking image of charging cavalry—majestic and stirring, the kind of music that could set the soul ablaze.