Starting My Cultivation With Time Management

Kunlun Mountain Range, Golden Ridge Cave Abode.

Senior Brother Qiu Changtian, the senior apprentice brother, seemed to be in a very good mood lately.

Even the usually cold and arrogant Guan Zhan spoke a few more words of encouragement for cultivation when they met at the cave abode’s entrance this morning, an unprecedented move for Qiu Changtian.

Chen Zhen and Zhong Tianhuai, these two buddies who are always together, whispered to each other while he was delivering a lecture.

Instead of scolding them as usual, he just smiled, which made the two junior brothers’ hairs stand on end.

“Could it be that the senior apprentice brother has fallen into a romantic snare?” Chen Zhen speculated in private.

“It’s hard to say,” Zhong Tianhuai spoke with a suggestive tone, “Aren’t there rumors that the senior apprentice brother likes the second senior sister?”

“A romantic snare?” Guan Zhan said coldly from the side, “The senior apprentice brother is one with Daoist Heart Clarity, how could there be any talk of romantic snares?”

The two of them felt embarrassed upon hearing this.

However, the rumors of an “intimately close” relationship between Qiu Changtian and Xu Yinglian have indeed been spreading widely among the Kunlun disciples of this generation.

After all, to most Kunlun disciples, the image of Qiu Changtian is just too perfect.

Handsome, talented, good-tempered, strong, and high in status, hardly any flaw can be picked on him.

It is said that although he is the Chief Disciple, he would often go out for experience-gathering adventures, assisting other Kunlun disciples with sect tasks.

When asked why he helped, he would simply say “We all hail from Kunlun and should help each other righteously,” which deeply moved everyone.

It’s just too damn noble and shining.

With such a high reputation, perhaps only Xu Yinglian could barely compete with him among this generation of disciples.

The Phoenix Immortal too was very beautiful, with exceptional talent and temperament, not lacking in strength, and hailing from a great cultivator family, the Xu Family of Southern Heaven, which possessed a dauntingly deep background.

Yet, she still fell short compared to Senior Brother Qiu.

But if one were to say who in Kunlun could match the senior apprentice brother, it would probably be Xu Yinglian.

And as for whom Xu Yinglian would take a fancy to, it would also logically be the senior apprentice brother.

Isn’t that just settled then?

According to the taste for gossip among the Kunlun masses, Qiu Changtian and Xu Yinglian make a natural and absolutely perfect couple.

There are even rumors that the two had secretly engaged in a marriage pact to become Daoist companions… though there has never been evidence to confirm it.

Thinking of this, Chen Zhen and Zhong Tianhuai’s gazes leisurely shifted towards Xu Yinglian.

The latter had just finished contemplating and stood up, saying lightly:

“It’s not me.”

Huh, we didn’t say it was you, why are you taking it personally?

The two exchanged glances, sensing something odd, then reached out to grab Jian Qingnan, who was about to leave with Xu Yinglian, and inquired with suggestive expressions:

“Junior Sister, look at how unusually cheerful the senior apprentice brother has been lately, did something happen, huh? With your second senior sister, you know?”

“With Sister Ying Lian? I don’t know anything about that,”

Jian Qingnan was initially a bit confused but then caught on and said:

“I’m not one to speak ill of others behind their backs, you shouldn’t ask me, ask the senior apprentice brother.”

“I’m just worried it might be awkward for the senior apprentice brother and your second senior sister,” Chen Zhen said anxiously, “such people caught in a romantic snare are often confused and in a state of ‘neither too close nor too distant’.”

“Maybe they do have feelings for each other, but if we directly ask and point it out, that would be terrible, wouldn’t it?”

“Heh, how come you know so much?” Jian Qingnan stared at him and scoffed coldly.

After a moment, she rested her chin on her hand and said:

“There may be no sign of intimacy between them, as far as I can see.”

“But they often play music together at the entrance of the cave abode, the flute and zither in harmony; they seem to have some tacit understanding,”

“A duet for zither and xiao flute?” Zhong Tianhuai and Chen Zhen were taken aback.

This matter of playing music surely exceeded their comprehension.

“What piece will be played? Phoenix Seeking Phoenix?”

“What? You want to participate too?” Qiu Changtian’s voice came from behind them.

The two were so frightened they became panic-stricken and turning around, they stammered,

“Great, Senior Brother, we were just…”

“Normally, pay less attention to these romantic entanglements and focus more on improving yourselves and glorifying the sect,” Qiu Changtian said sternly, with a serious tone, “If you finish your cultivation and have nothing to do, then follow me for external experiences!”

“Ah, this!” The two hastily made up an excuse and beat a hasty retreat.

Who would be joking, who would want to go out for external experiences!

What could you possibly gain from going out, spirit stones?

Let alone that everyone is a second-generation immortal, even without the support of their families, have they ever lacked spirit stones for cultivation just for being the “Direct Disciples of the Sect Leader”?

Chen Zhen and Zhong Tianhuai fled in disarray, and Qiu Changtian then turned his gaze to the others.

“I still have to practice my Sword Control Technique,” Guan Zhan said succinctly, quickly taking his leave.

“I also have a scripture scroll that I need to read,” Yan Zhitui said, rising with a smile.

“I…” Jian Qingnan was somewhat reluctant to leave Ying Lian, but ultimately she honestly said, “Senior Brother Qiu, the outside experiences available to us Qi Refining Rank disciples are only low-rank missions.”

“And the rewards for these low-rank missions are merely some spirit stones, which are of little use to us all.”

“Qingnan, your perspective is short-sighted,” Qiu Changtian said gravely, “you shouldn’t always focus on the rewards!”

“The so-called experiences are about cleansing oneself in the mortal world and tempering one’s Daoist heart. On one hand, it broadens one’s horizons and knowledge, while on the other hand, it provides support to fellow disciples and builds a network of connections—why not do it?”

“This…” Jian Qingnan couldn’t refute these profound truths, of course, she also couldn’t be persuaded, so she stuttered, “Senior Brother is absolutely right, but I still have assignments to do, next time for sure, definitely next time.”

She hastily ran away.

Qiu Changtian sighed and felt a pang of reflection:

The morals of the world are declining; the hearts of the people are not what they used to be.

Are the young disciples of today all so calculating? Why can’t they have a higher level of intellectual and emotional awareness…

The Kunlun Mirror suddenly interjected unexpectedly:

“If it weren’t for the desire to leverage those outer disciples who worship you to boost the Synchronization Value of your Invincible Character Setting, would you be so eager to go out for external experiences?”

“Of course!” Qiu Changtian said righteously, “Don’t forget, Senior Sister An from Shushan still needs spirit stones!”

Kunlun Mirror: ………

“Junior Sister Xu, would you be willing to accompany me this time?” Qiu Changtian extended the invitation to Xu Yinglian.

“What exactly is the point of going out for these experiences?” Xu Yinglian asked lightly, putting down the scripture scroll in her hand.

“That’s something for Junior Sister to comprehend on her own,” Qiu Changtian said with a smile, “If Junior Sister feels she doesn’t grasp the deeper meaning, she can choose to not go.”

“Hehe.” Xu Yinglian immediately let out a cold laugh, “Is this supposed to be reverse psychology, Senior Brother? It truly is a clumsy tactic.”

“Reverse psychology?” Qiu Changtian’s face showed a hint of disappointment as he sighed, “Junior Sister, you haven’t even figured out why I want to take you along, yet you hastily judge me for provoking you. Don’t you think such guesses are like castles in the air, completely unconvincing?”

“If your comprehension is merely at this level, then I would indeed prefer you to stay here…”

With a loud “smack,” Xu Yinglian slammed the scripture scroll down on the table, interrupting Qiu Changtian’s pitying words.

“Senior Brother Qiu.” Xu Yinglian maintained her icy polite smile and said, word by word, “I heard that Senior Brother recently practiced a Thunder Method? Junior Sister is quite eager to witness it firsthand, would that be convenient?”

“I was just about to use this opportunity to demonstrate it for Junior Sister,” Qiu Changtian said warmly, seeing that she agreed.

The two exchanged no more words, merely sharing a smile.

With a knowing look and a meeting of the minds, everything was understood without having to speak a word.