"The white dots mark the vacant locations. Just pick any of those Cave Mansions."

After leaving the Transmission Hall, Elder Peng invited Bai Zichen to accompany him to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall. He offered to help him collect his Inner Sect Disciple benefits and save him the time he might waste getting lost as a newcomer.

After a moment’s thought, Bai Zichen gladly accepted.

’Although I’m not sure why Elder Peng is subtly showing me favor, I don’t know a soul here in the Qingfeng Sect. When someone extends an olive branch, there’s no reason to refuse it so quickly.’

He boarded Elder Peng’s Bright Void Ship. The clouds swirled past, and in the blink of an eye, they arrived at the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.

Thanks to the Elder’s presence, the Hall Steward personally came out to receive them and enthusiastically began explaining the benefits of being an Inner Sect Disciple to Bai Zichen.

"The Spiritual Qi Concentration in these Cave Mansions is similar, and their facilities are all standardized by the Sect, so there’s not much difference..." Elder Peng explained to Bai Zichen, before turning to ask the Hall Steward directly, "I remember there were two newly constructed Cave Mansions equipped with Mud Spirit Puppets. Are any of them vacant?"

The Inner Sect Disciples’ Cave Mansions were located among the Five Finger Peak, and the sand table before them faithfully depicted the mountain range. Over twenty points of light flickered on its surface. Most were red dots, representing residences already occupied by Inner Sect Disciples, while the remaining white dots were available for selection.

The Hall Steward’s expression faltered. He spoke with some difficulty, "There is one vacant, but the Sect’s minor competition is in three months... Elder Ma instructed me to hold on to one, as he has plans for it then..."

"Hmph! So in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall, only his, Ma Ming’s, words matter, and what I, Peng Chong, say carries no weight anymore..."

Peng Chong glared, the oppressive spiritual pressure of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator erupting from him.

"Of course not... I’ll process the paperwork for this Junior Brother Bai right away."

The Hall Steward’s face went pale. Lacking the courage to directly refuse a Foundation Establishment Elder, he could only nod bitterly.

"The Mud Spirit Puppets were something Ancestor Ge obtained from a Secret Realm. They’re Tier One Puppets, but their refining method is completely different from the puppets currently popular in the Cultivation Realm. Of course, Ancestor Ge had no use for such trinkets, so the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall installed a couple in the training rooms of the newly built Cave Mansions. As for their specific wonders, you’ll find out once you move into your Cave Mansion, Nephew Bai."

"Thank you, Junior Martial Uncle Peng."

’For a Foundation Establishment Elder to reserve a Cave Mansion months in advance... whether it’s actually useful to me or not, I now owe Elder Peng a favor for this,’ Bai Zichen thought.

The sand table, it turned out, was also a Magical Artifact. After a series of manipulations, the Hall Steward sent a Magic Formula into Bai Zichen’s Inner Sect Disciple Waist Token, and one of the white dots among the peaks on the table swiftly turned red.

"Junior Brother Bai, the rights to this Cave Mansion have now been assigned to you. Your Identity Token also has the authority to control the Cave Mansion’s Array."

The slightly pudgy Hall Steward knew he had failed to carry out Elder Ma Ming’s instructions, so he had to, at the very least, take care of the situation at hand.

’To become an Inner Sect Disciple at this time without going through the Sect’s competition, and to be personally escorted by an Elder... his background must be extraordinary.’

"You can also select two servant disciples to handle miscellaneous tasks for you, so you can focus on your Cultivation. This is a privilege only True Disciples and Inner Sect Disciples enjoy. Even we Stewards aren’t qualified to command servant disciples for long-term tasks."

"This list contains all the available servant disciples. Their names, ages, appearances, origins, and skills are all recorded in detail... Junior Brother Bai, would you like me to recommend two for you?"

"Once these servant disciples are chosen, they can’t be replaced for five years. If you pick lazy and useless ones, you’ll just be creating more trouble for yourself."

Just as Bai Zichen was about to cup his hands in thanks and take the list to make his own careful selection, Peng Chong placed a hand on his arm, stopping him.

Elder Peng’s voice suddenly echoed in Bai Zichen’s mind via Sound Transmission. "Nephew Bai, I have a candidate in mind. Care to hear me out?"

"I have a descendant from the Mortal World who only has Five Spiritual Roots. Arranging for him to become a servant disciple was the most I could do... Nephew Bai, you have a great chance of becoming a True Disciple. If that descendant of mine could follow you, it would be a tremendous opportunity for him. Would you do me this favor and give him one of the spots?"

’So this is what he was waiting for!’

Bai Zichen didn’t hesitate for long, sending his smiling reply via Sound Transmission: "A recommendation from Junior Martial Uncle Peng is bound to be reliable. I trust that this Junior Brother Peng is an intelligent person who will be of great help to me in the future."

’Whether it’s truly as Peng Chong says, or if he has ulterior motives for placing someone by my side, only time will tell.’

’In any case, it’s just one servant disciple. As long as I keep an eye on him, he can’t cause any real trouble.’

"Steward Xin, I’ll choose this Junior Brother, Peng Jinhua... As for the other spot, I’ll trouble you to recommend someone."

Peng Jinhua, twenty-four years old, Five Spiritual Roots, Qi Refining Second Layer, six years of experience as an Artifact Refining Child, able to identify Tier One Artifact Refining Materials, possesses some Fire Control Ability.

Seeing Bai Zichen flip through several pages of the list before pointing to this perfectly ordinary servant’s name, Elder Peng released his arm, a satisfied look on his face.

The chubby steward was slightly taken aback but said nothing more, flipping through the list to continue his recommendations.

"Hmm... Junior Brother, how about these? They’re all under twenty, and they’re obedient and eager to please."

Anyone who could attain the position of Steward in the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall was naturally a master of reading people and adapting to the situation.

Bai Zichen followed the chubby steward’s finger and saw a series of profiles for young women, all around sixteen years old, complete with small, full-body portraits.

Some were petite and cute, others had graceful figures, and some were outright seductive...

Each had her own unique charm, but all of them were exceptionally beautiful.

"Ahem... Senior Brother, I think I’d rather choose a servant disciple who is capable and proficient in practical matters."

For a moment, Bai Zichen was tempted, but then he recalled the chubby steward’s earlier words and understood the man’s implication.

Seeing that Bai Zichen was unmoved, the chubby steward had no choice but to change tactics and recommend a different batch of servant disciples. "Very well, then. How about this one, this one, or these few here? Take a look."

Bai Zichen looked again and, sure enough, this selection was much more proper.

After careful consideration, he pointed to the portrait of a servant disciple who looked weathered by hardship, finalizing his second choice.

Su Lie, forty-three years old, Four Spirit Root Talent, Qi Refining Fourth Layer. He was once the owner of a trading firm in the Mortal World, having started from nothing to build a massive fortune.

Later, he was targeted by a powerful figure who coveted his wealth and had him "slaughtered like a fat sheep." As his family was being destroyed, he was saved by a wandering Elder Daoist, who discovered that he possessed a Spiritual Root.

The wandering Elder Daoist then took Su Lie as his disciple and diligently taught him all he knew.

After his master passed away, Su Lie took revenge on the enemy who had destroyed his family. He then became a low-level Loose Cultivator and managed to join the Qingfeng Sect as a servant disciple the last time its Mountain Gate opened.

"Alright. These two servant disciples will report to your Cave Mansion tomorrow, Junior Brother Bai. As for their expenses, the Sect provides a contribution subsidy, so you don’t need to worry about it."

The chubby steward circled the names of Su Lie and Peng Jinhua with his brush, and their portraits on the list immediately dimmed.

"Also, every Inner Sect Disciple can claim one Top-Grade Magical Artifact, though the selection is limited to Standard Magical Artifacts. You might as well choose one now, Junior Brother Bai. I’ll have someone from the Artifact Refining Hall deliver it to your door later."

"That would be great!"

Bai Zichen readily agreed, thinking that becoming an Inner Sect Disciple of the Qingfeng Sect had been absolutely the right decision.