Chapter 21: Chapter 21: Another Inner Sect Disciple

[Dust-removal Talisman · Skill Level +1]

"This...?"

Jiang Xu paused for a moment, then opened his panel.

[Name]: Jiang Xu

[Lifespan]: 19/96 years

[Realm]: Qi Cultivation Third Layer: 3/100

[Cultivation Technique]: Cangmu Skill (Skilled): 142/200

[Skills]:

Talisman Dao: Dust-removal Talisman (Beginner): 1/100

Magic: Spirit Rain Technique (Skilled): 79/200; Small Cotton Needle Technique (Mastery): 400/400; Light Body Spell (Mastery): 0/400; Concealing Breath Spell (Skilled): 200/200; Golden Light Spell (Beginner): 0/100; Spiritual Eye Technique (Beginner): 0/100; Healing Technique (Beginner): 0/100; Giant Strength Technique (Beginner): 0/100

Martial Dao: Vajra Indestructible Divine Skill (Skilled): 87/200; Wind and Thunder Swordsmanship (Beginner): 30/100

[Limit-Breaking Points]: 0.488

’So I can increase my Skill Level even without successfully creating a Talisman.’

But having to draw the Talisman a hundred times in a row to reach the Skilled Level still made Jiang Xu cringe.

After all, a dozen sheets of Talisman Paper cost one Spirit Stone, which meant one Spirit Stone could only increase his Skill Level by twelve points.

Furthermore, one bottle of Talismanic Ink was only enough for three dozen sheets of Talisman Paper, and that also had to be bought with Spirit Stones.

All told, grinding one type of Talisman up to the Skilled Level would cost nearly twelve Spirit Stones in total.

’Spirit Stones again... That said, if failures can increase Skill Level, then a success should grant even more, right? In that case, I wouldn’t need twelve Spirit Stones. Though I’ll still need them no matter what.’

Jiang Xu’s face was etched with worry.

The harvest season for Spirit Rice had already passed. Where was he supposed to find Spirit Stones now?

’Wait, I think I forgot something.’

It was then that Jiang Xu remembered. There were still four or five days left before the end of the five-year period, which was also the time when many Servant Disciples would be promoted to Outer Disciples.

He needed to get promoted as soon as possible, too.

’I’ll go to the General Affairs Hall tomorrow to register and enter the Outer Sect.’

That way, he would get twenty Spirit Stones!

’No matter what I do, I can’t get by without Spirit Stones. Plus, my Cultivation needs the help of Elixirs. I just wonder how much faster my cultivation speed will become if I can advance my Cangmu Skill.’

After two weeks of cultivation, Jiang Xu’s Cultivation progress had only increased by two points. At this rate, it would take him at least two years to reach the Qi Cultivation Fourth Layer.

Moreover, advancing from the third to the fourth layer of the Qi Cultivation Stage was essentially a promotion from the Qi Cultivation Early Stage to the Qi Cultivation Middle Stage. This was a major watershed, and the bottleneck period would be extremely long.

It wasn’t uncommon for people to be stuck for several years.

At times like these, one had to use Elixirs that could facilitate a Realm Breakthrough.

And every single one of those Elixirs was absurdly expensive.

"Everything requires Spirit Stones!"

...

The General Affairs Hall was one of the most magnificent and spectacular buildings in the Profound Origin Sect.

The hall’s exterior was solemn and majestic, standing over twenty zhang tall. It was built from black Profound Iron Stone and topped with a layer of blue glazed tiles.

Inside the General Affairs Hall, the space was wide and bright. Scrolls depicting the Sect’s history hung on the walls, showcasing its glory and splendor.

Most matters within the Sect, big or small, were handled through the General Affairs Hall.

The General Affairs Hall managed the promotions of Sect Disciples, the issuance of sect missions, the arrangement of disciples’ residences, the planning of major events like the sect competition, the administration of the trade market, and so on and so forth.

Here, one could often see various Elders and disciples flying about on different kinds of Magical Artifacts and Spirit Beasts.

Some stood on Flying Swords, streaking across the sky like a rainbow; others rode Spirit Beasts, such as eagles or cranes, soaring through the clouds.

As for Jiang Xu, he had controlled his speed, running over at a pace equivalent to the Beginner Level of the Light Body Spell.

’Magical Artifacts are so much better! My Light Body Spell is just as fast as they are, but I don’t dare to show it. That would be far too conspicuous.’

Arriving at the General Affairs Hall, he found it had many sections inside. Jiang Xu followed the signs toward the area that managed the Outer Sect.

...

"Haha, the ’genius’ from the Inner Sect has fallen to the Outer Sect?"

"Keep your voice down! He was once an Inner Sect disciple, after all!"

The other youth’s voice was clearly not quiet either.

"Heh, what does his past as an Inner Sect disciple have to do with anything now? I’d say he’s worse than those servants."

"Hahaha, yeah! I also heard he ended up like this because he took a mission to exterminate pests for the servants. It’s hilarious!"

"Most of those worthless servants have Five Spirit Roots. They might not even reach the Qi Cultivation Middle Stage in their entire lives. And he actually bothered with them? Serves him right!"

...

Jiang Xu was waiting in line when he suddenly overheard a burst of discussion nearby.

It seemed that not long ago, the Inner Sect disciple whose Qi Sea had been shattered had processed his transfer back to the Outer Sect here. That’s why some Outer Disciples started mocking him after he left.

After hearing this, Jiang Xu couldn’t help but feel a little wistful.

’A dragon stranded in shallow waters gets toyed with by shrimp; a tiger that has fallen to the plains gets bullied by dogs. With his Dual Spirit Roots talent, he would have become a True Disciple sooner or later—an existence these Outer Disciples could only look up to their entire lives. But now...’

Although he felt for the man, Jiang Xu didn’t want to get involved in others’ business. He just pretended not to hear and continued waiting for his turn.

CRACK—!

"AHH!!!"

The shadow of a whip flashed, followed by several agonizing screams as a few figures were sent flying.

Jiang Xu jumped in fright. With a subtle shift of his feet, he instantly blended into the crowd of disciples before turning to look at where the incident had occurred.

A young woman holding a whip stood there. Her face was as exquisite as a painting but exceptionally cold. Her pitch-black eyes emitted a chilling glint that made it hard to meet her gaze, and her entire being radiated a frigid aura, like a sharp sword that could be unsheathed at any moment.

Using his newly-learned Spiritual Eye Technique, Jiang Xu saw that her Cultivation was at the Qi Cultivation Sixth Layer. Yet she only looked to be eighteen or nineteen years old.

This...

’Could this young woman be an Inner Sect Disciple as well?’

As Jiang Xu was pondering this, the young woman’s aura flared, and she barked out coldly:

"Even if Zong Ziqi has already left Celestial Sword Peak, he was still once an Inner Sect disciple of Celestial Sword Peak! How dare trash like you, who only know how to badmouth others behind their backs, humiliate him!"

Before her voice had even faded, the Outer Sect Steward who had been processing various procedures at the front desk was already jogging over to the young woman. Sweat dripped down his forehead, but he paid it no mind as he respectfully said to her:

"Senior Sister Yan, what brings you here in person?"

The young woman known as Senior Sister Yan didn’t even spare the steward a glance.

"What is the crime for an Outer Disciple who humiliates an Inner Sect Disciple?"

The steward hastily replied:

"Profound Origin Sect, Regulation Twenty-Three: Subordinates are forbidden from offending superiors, stirring up trouble, and showing disrespect to their elders. Violators will be sent to the Law Enforcement Hall. For minor offenses, the punishment is whipping. For major offenses, their Cultivation will be crippled, and they will be expelled from the Sect."

Hearing this, the few Outer Disciples lying on the ground were terrified. They forced themselves to crawl over and began to kowtow to the young woman, their pleas for mercy endless.

DONG DONG DONG—!

The sound of their heads striking the Profound Iron Stone made even Jiang Xu’s heart shudder.