Miaowa Kingdom's Great Sword Sect

"Great Sword Sect? Never heard of it."

But the words "Miaowa Kingdom" made countless youths present change color, most of them turning pale, their eyes filled with terror.

"Chang'an, what kind of place is the Great Sword Sect?"

Li Han's question exposed his ignorance, but Lin Chang'an had no mind for that now, his face pale and bitter.

"It's not about the Great Sword Sect—the point is Miaowa Kingdom!"

"Miaowa Kingdom?" Li Han looked confused, but seeing the ugly expressions on the youths' faces, he could only guess it was somewhere bad.

Lin Chang'an felt even more aggrieved. He'd thought he was joining a major sect, only to end up this unlucky.

"Miaowa Kingdom lies southwest of Great Jin, wedged between the righteous and demonic paths. It's a lawless land, known as the Dark Hell."

Seeing Li Han's blank stare, Lin Chang'an lowered his voice, keeping a low profile. "Let me put it this way: in Miaowa Kingdom, anything you can imagine—and things you can't—all exist there."

Lin Chang'an nearly choked on his anger, hatred burning in his eyes. In his past life, he hadn't been tricked into going to Mianbei by his companions, yet here in the cultivation world, he'd been duped into this hellhole—by his own uncle and cousin.

"How is this possible! Weren't we in Great Jin!"

A trembling girl spoke up, but the laughing sect cultivators only grew more unrestrained. One of them shouted, "Don't worry, little sister, big brother will take care of you."

"Haha, these fools really thought they were in the Heavenly Sword Sect. Look at their sorry lot."

Amid the unrestrained laughter, the middle-aged steward barked, "Silence!"

The laughter cut off instantly. The middle-aged cultivator swept his cold gaze over everyone, and many disciples trembled in fear, some lowering their heads.

After a moment, the steward sneered. "Laughing now, are you? Have you forgotten these youths' aptitudes and ages? In a few years, they'll be riding over you."

The Great Sword Sect cultivators' faces fell, turning ugly.

"I am Lu Pingyuan, an elder steward of this sect. You may call me Old Lu."

This middle-aged Steward Lu had gray-streaked shoulder-length hair and an imposing brow. He looked at everyone with a faint smile.

"I trust I don't need to explain Miaowa Kingdom's reputation. I hope you won't spoil my good mood today."

Steward Lu glanced around calmly. "Don't think anyone will come to save you. I bought you from Great Jin. As for the Heavenly Sword Sect—take that up with the ones who tricked you."

At the mention of Miaowa Kingdom, the crowd looked as if they'd lost their parents, faces ashen, all joy and excitement gone.

"Old... Old Lu, my family has money. I'm the son of the Bu clan chief from Qingbei Mountain in Great Jin. My father will pay spirit stones to ransom me."

A trembling youth spoke up. Steward Lu's smile widened, and he nodded approvingly. "Good, I like smart people."

"I remember you, Bu Mingbai. Mid-grade Spirit Root, C-grade Aptitude. Pay up, and I'll let you go."

After this youth spoke, the crowd erupted, each tremblingly listing their family's wealth, hoping to be ransomed.

Li Han finally understood where he was, and the realization left him with a face like he'd eaten dog shit.

"Don't overthink it."

Lin Chang'an took a deep breath. In just a short time, he'd accepted reality. They were in a den of thieves with no way out. Suppressing his panic, he sighed and patted Li Han's shoulder.

"Show your talent with everything you've got. Here, you can only pray for yourself."

Thinking of Miaowa Kingdom's reputation, Lin Chang'an smiled bitterly. "Let me put it this way: even a rat from the mortal world would have to leave its fur coat behind here."

Li Han's face turned green. He stared wide-eyed. "No one does anything about it?"

Just then, the brocade-robed youth Qi Feng, pale-faced, shuffled over. Hearing this, he trembled in fear. "Do something? A few years ago, five Foundation Establishment Ancestors came to rescue their juniors. They all disappeared."

Foundation Establishment Ancestors!

Before Li Han and Qi Feng could react, Lin Chang'an took a deep breath, a determined light flashing in his eyes.

Since he hadn't made it into the big sect—cough, the civil service exam—and ended up in this godforsaken place, he had to fight tooth and nail to gain a foothold. Otherwise, they'd squeeze the marrow out of his bones.

"I'm an alchemist! I'm skilled in refining Bigu Pills, Qi Gathering Pills, and other medicines."

Lin Chang'an's shout silenced the scene. Even the Great Sword Sect cultivators turned to look.

An alchemist—one of the four major cultivation arts, and a scarce resource.

Steward Lu saw the white-robed youth step forward and smiled, clapping. "Good, good. A true young hero. I appreciate someone who knows when to adapt."

Under everyone's gaze, Lin Chang'an forced a stiff smile, cursing inwardly. His uncle and cousin had probably already sold him out.

Better to step forward himself than be dragged out, turning disadvantage into advantage.

Taking a deep breath, Lin Chang'an met Steward Lu's eyes and said solemnly, "Old Lu, my uncle's letter said that if I proved my worth, I'd get endless cultivation resources."

"After all these hard years as a rogue cultivator... I don't want to struggle anymore."

To everyone's stunned surprise, Lin Chang'an stepped forward, clasped his fists, puffed out his chest, and declared with firm eyes that he didn't want to struggle anymore—he was willing to join the Great Sword Sect.

"Haha, clever lad. I like you."

Steward Lu laughed heartily, stroking his short beard, and pointed at Lin Chang'an in front of everyone.

"Look at this kid. Learn from him."

Li Han stared wide-eyed. Well, damn. That worked?

Beside him, Qi Feng's lips trembled, forcing a smile uglier than tears. "Brother Chang'an is wise. Cut off any hope of going back. Face reality early, show your worth, and you might live decently."

Li Han narrowed his eyes upon hearing this, sinking into quiet deliberation—should he or shouldn't he?

"I... I can draw talismans..."

"I know animal husbandry; my father raised livestock for the Wang Family his whole life..."

"I know medicine..."

As Lin Chang'an stepped forward, the youths in the crowd snapped to attention and hurriedly began stating their own worth.

Among the young people here, aside from cultivation novices like Li Han, almost everyone understood what kind of place the Miaowa Kingdom was.

Update schedule: For the next few days, tentatively set for 8 PM.