After Xuanheng finished speaking, he waved his large sleeve.

Three streams of light came to a halt, suspended before Su Ming.

"This is the True Disciple token. Your soul imprint has already been recorded on it. Holding this token, except for a few forbidden areas of the sect, you may go to any peak."

"This is the Formation Peak True Disciple ceremonial robe. Inscribed inside is the 'Starry Sky Body Protection Formation,' capable of withstanding three full-force strikes from a late Foundation Establishment cultivator."

"And this is the 'Matrix Nurturing Jade'."

Xuanheng pointed at the final ornament, which resembled mutton-fat white jade. "Wearing it constantly can warm and nourish your divine sense, enhancing your sensitivity to the flow of formation lines. Although your 'Like Water Art' is exquisite, divine sense is the foundation of setting up formations. It must not be neglected."

Su Ming received them with both hands, his heart stirring slightly.

Each of these three items was tailor-made for survival and growth. It seemed this Master of his had indeed conducted a detailed "background check" on him.

"Thank you, Master, for bestowing these treasures." Su Ming bowed once more.

"Alright, the formalities are over. It's time for you, my disciples, to get to know each other better." A faint smile appeared on Xuanheng's face as he looked at the other three. "Don't hold back now. Where are your meeting gifts?"

Luo Feng was the most enthusiastic. Scratching his head, he pulled out a thick cyan jade slip from his robes and handed it over. "Junior Brother, you know your Third Senior Brother is poor. All my assets are sunk into formation plate materials. I don't have any fancy treasures. These are some of my notes and insights from studying formations over the years... well, mainly post-mortems of failed cases. Take them for reference, to avoid some detours in the future."

Su Ming's eyes lit up.

In the eyes of others, this might not be as valuable as a magical implement, but in his eyes, this was a "good thing" worth more than a thousand pieces of gold!

"Now *this* is a real treasure." Lin Yu also praised. "Success cannot be replicated, but the reasons for failure are often similar. With this thing, you can save a huge amount of material costs from trial and error."

Su Ming solemnly accepted it. "Thank you, Third Senior Brother. This is precisely what your junior brother urgently needs."

Next was Eldest Senior Sister Ling Shuang.

She didn't reach for a storage pouch. Instead, she directly brought her fingers together like a sword and lightly pointed at the void.

*Hum!*

The temperature in the hall plummeted. A condensed, almost tangible ice-blue sword energy drifted from her fingertip. Instead of dissipating, it folded and compressed layer by layer in the air, finally transforming into a prismatic ice crystal that hovered before Su Ming.

Inside the ice crystal, it seemed as if a blizzard was sealed.

"Frostheart Sword Seal."

Ling Shuang was brief. "It seals a wisp of my origin sword energy. Crush it in a moment of crisis. Anything below Golden Core can be slain."

Su Ming's pupils contracted sharply.

*Anything below Golden Core can be slain!*

"Tsk tsk... This Eldest Senior Sister is someone you can rely on. When there's trouble, she really steps up." Lin Yu clicked his tongue in admiration. "The value of this thing is probably higher than a top-grade magical implement. It seems although she's cold, she's quite protective of her own people."

Su Ming carefully wrapped the "Sword Seal" with his spiritual energy and stored it in the deepest part of his storage pouch. He cupped his hands and said, "Senior Sister's deep affection, this junior brother will definitely use it with utmost care."

Finally, it was Second Senior Brother Qin Yi's turn.

Qin Yi gave a mischievous chuckle. He reached into the storage pouch at his waist, which looked like a leather pouch, and rummaged for a long time before finally pulling out... an egg?

It was a black egg the size of a watermelon. The surface of the eggshell was covered in irregular dark golden patterns. It felt cool to the touch, yet was extremely heavy in the hand, as if holding a piece of Mystic Iron.

"Catch, Junior Brother!"

Qin Yi directly shoved the egg into Su Ming's arms. "This is something your senior brother dug out from a strange ruin a few years back. I've incubated it for years with no movement. It won't cook no matter how you roast it, but its vitality is absolutely vigorous! All the spirit beasts I raise, even that temperamental Blazing Fire Lion, give this egg a wide berth. It's definitely no ordinary breed!"

Su Ming hugged the heavy black egg, his expression somewhat stiff.

*Won't cook... Second Senior Brother, you actually tried roasting it to eat?*

"Don't listen to his nonsense." Lin Yu's voice suddenly turned serious. "Disciple, this egg... is not right. My divine sense actually can't penetrate it? The patterns on this eggshell aren't natural. They look more like an extremely ancient biological sealing technique. Take it! This might be a huge bargain."

Upon hearing this, Su Ming immediately stowed the black egg away, a sincere smile appearing on his face. "Thank you, Second Senior Brother. This junior brother will definitely 'incubate' it properly when I return."

Qin Yi blinked, seeming to relax a bit. "Good, good. That little ancestor occupies the best spiritual vein spot at my place without doing any work. Giving it to you is just right."

Seeing the disciples had finished their exchanges, Xuanheng Zhenren gave a light cough, and the great hall returned to solemn silence.

"Today, besides the master acceptance, there are two other important matters."

Xuanheng's gaze swept over the four, his expression turning solemn. "In three days, Soul Return Valley will open for the 'Passing of the Flame Memorial'. The recent northern border conflict has caused heavy losses for the sect, with countless heroic souls returning home. All of you must attend, dressed in plain mourning clothes. No absence is permitted."

The four responded in unison. Su Ming lowered his head. The image of Zhao Tiji's battle robe soaked through with blood surfaced in his mind, and his heart grew heavy.

"The second matter."

Xuanheng looked at Su Ming, his tone softening slightly, carrying a deliberate nonchalance. "Seven days after the Passing of the Flame Memorial, it will be the 'True Disciple Heart-Questioning Formation' at Illusory Wave Sea."

Hearing these words, Su Ming felt the look Luo Feng shot his way was tinged with a trace of sympathy.

"Su Ming, this is a mandatory process for promotion to True Disciple within the sect, a mere formality." Xuanheng said lightly. "Although the Heart-Questioning Formation is presided over by the Enforcement Peak Master, its essence is to verify one's true identity and prevent external demonic intrusion. Your temperament is resilient, and you have just rendered great service. Simply maintain your usual composure. There is no need for excessive worry."

Su Ming inwardly smiled bitterly.

*Usual composure? I have to hide my biggest secret under the nose of that Enforcement Peak Master, who's known as the 'human lie detector'.*

"Master is trying to ease your pressure," Lin Yu said. "But if he knew of my existence, I doubt he'd remain 'usual'."

Su Ming respectfully acknowledged, not a ripple showing on his face.

"Alright."

Xuanheng waved his sleeve, and the waterfall of spiritual energy began to flow again. "Ling Shuang, Qin Yi, Luo Feng, you may withdraw. Su Ming, you stay."

The three exchanged glances, bowed once more, and took their leave.

Before leaving, Luo Feng even winked at Su Ming, mouthing the words: "Good luck to you."

Once the hall doors closed again, only the master and disciple remained within the vast Star Pivot Hall.

Light and shadow flowed, and the illusory starry images seemed to press down a little lower.

The aura of authority on Xuanheng Zhenren's face receded somewhat. Looking at Su Ming, who still knelt on the cushion, he suddenly sighed. In that instant, he seemed less like a mighty figure in charge of a peak and more like a somewhat weary elder.

"Rise. There are no outsiders here."

Xuanheng pointed to a nearby cushion. "Sit closer."

Su Ming complied, rising and sitting down beside Xuanheng, his posture still respectful.

"The 'True Meaning of Basic Rune Deconstruction' I gave you, have you finished reading it?" Xuanheng suddenly asked.

Su Ming was taken aback for a moment before replying, "Master, I have finished it. The parts about rune disassembly and reconstruction have greatly benefited this disciple. However, the latter section describing 'Void Formation Lines', this disciple's cultivation is still shallow, so my understanding remains superficial."

"Superficial understanding is correct."

Xuanheng looked up at the star chart overhead. "That part was originally intended for Golden Core cultivators. The fact that you can understand the first half shows your path hasn't gone astray."