Formal Disciple

"Hall Master, we just received word from the External Affairs Disciples: the Zhao Family of Anyu City and the Sanhe Gang of Qinghe County do not intend to pay tribute in medicinal herbs to the Qingyuan Sect this year. They plan to send them to Lingyu Palace instead."

Sikong Yan held the urgent letter sent from the External Affairs Hall and reported the latest intelligence to Gu An.

He was responsible for collecting medicinal herbs, so he had begun arranging for people to investigate the various powers that had offered tribute herbs in previous years and confirm the details of their tributes.

"This is a Year of Calamity, yet forces like Lingyu Palace still want to provoke our Qingyuan Sect. Their thieves' hearts truly refuse to die."

"What other forces under our protection are planning to turncoat?"

After hearing this, Gu An's face turned cold.

As the foremost power in Qingzhou, the Qingyuan Sect held most of its resources in its hands. Naturally, it was coveted by other forces.

Lingyu Palace was merely one of those forces. It would never dare make a move alone; there had to be others joining forces with it.

"For now, we have only received this one piece of information. The remaining intelligence is still on its way."

Sikong Yan shook his head as he spoke.

For forces under their protection to turncoat was undoubtedly a slap in the Qingyuan Sect's face. Naturally, this was no small matter, and not something a single steward like him could handle. Only elders, the Sect Master, and the like could deal with it.

"Once news from the other places comes back, send it all to me. I will personally go to Azure Jade Hall to find the Sect Master and the other elders and discuss this matter."

Gu An took the letter Sikong Yan had brought and left.

In a Year of Calamity, there would certainly be no shortage of disasters.

Rebellions, uprisings, heretical sects spreading their teachings, and such matters would surely be plentiful. At the same time, the various forces would continue fighting endlessly amongst themselves.

Cultivation resources had always been limited. Once calamity arrived, they became even scarcer, so conflict over them would naturally arise easily.

"The Qingzhou Great Drought... I wonder how far this chaos will spread."

After watching Gu An leave, Sikong Yan frowned slightly as well.

Whenever various forces fought one another, disciples, stewards, and managers within the sect might have to personally take part and wipe out the provoking forces.

Just like the Zhao Family of Anyu City and the Sanhe Gang of Qinghe County, which stood at the forefront, the Qingyuan Sect would definitely send people to eradicate them completely.

That was the Qingyuan Sect's way. To kill the chicken and scare the monkeys, its methods were naturally exceedingly ruthless, cutting off betrayal at the root.

The forces behind them naturally would not be let off easily either.

Servant's Courtyard.

After Yang Chan raised the Ox Demon Strength Fist to the first tier, his talent had not improved. This did not surprise him. If it had such a function, the Qingyuan Sect would be filled with countless genius disciples.

However, when he comprehended Jing Power and his Lifespan increased, Yang Chan confirmed one thing: the stronger one became, the longer one's lifespan would certainly be.

Not only could he use the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Technique to increase his Lifespan and talent, but he could also extend his lifespan by raising his cultivation.

After his improvement, Yang Chan performed a set of Ox Demon Strength Fist. Its proficiency had not increased, which was more or less what he had expected.

Although it was still a percentage, improving its proficiency would require more repetitions of cultivation.

He had yet to determine exactly how many times were needed, but it was certainly more than once.

Yang Chan did not continue testing it. Even when he heard people outside in the courtyard still practicing the Ox Demon Strength Fist, he paid them no mind.

Because things were different now.

The next morning, after arriving at the Medicine Hall and Steward Zhao announced the Servant Tasks, Yang Chan did not leave with the others. Instead, he walked up to Steward Zhao.

"Yang Chan, what is it?"

When Zhao Xingyun saw Yang Chan, he asked.

As he spoke, his brows furrowed slightly. He thought Yang Chan had experienced the benefits of the Qi Replenishing Body Nourishing Soup and wanted to ask for more. Such things had happened before.

"Steward Zhao, this disciple has already comprehended Raging Bull Strength and requests to take the Qingyuan Sect's Formal Disciple assessment."

Yang Chan's voice was not loud, yet the Steward Disciples who had not yet left all froze. Then envy appeared in their eyes.

"No... you have comprehended Raging Bull Strength?"

Zhao Xingyun had just been about to refuse when he suddenly realized what Yang Chan had said. His eyes fixed on Yang Chan.

As far as he knew, after the Qingyuan Sect announced the one-month deadline for Steward Disciples, an unknown number of them had died. Yet not a single one had comprehended Jing Power and become a Formal Disciple.

Quite a few had already begun planning to give up.

"Yes. I must thank Hall Master Gu, Steward Sikong, and Steward Zhao for granting me that bowl of Qi Replenishing Body Nourishing Soup. It allowed this disciple to practice the Ox Demon Strength Fist a few more times, and I happened to comprehend Raging Bull Strength."

As Yang Chan spoke, he walked over to a stone mill nearby.

This stone mill was used by Formal Disciples to train their strength. It weighed around Five Stone Weight, and they would lift it to cultivate while supervising the Steward Disciples' tasks.

After the Formal Disciples left, many Steward Disciples had secretly tried it, but none of them could lift it.

Yang Chan walked to the stone mill and circulated his Jing Power.

"Hah!"

He directly lifted the stone mill with both hands, and still appeared to do so with ease.

"Good, good! Since you have comprehended Jing Power, Yang Chan, you no longer need to perform Servant Tasks. Luo Yang, take Yang Chan to the Hall of Medicine Assessment Office for his assessment."

When Zhao Xingyun saw Yang Chan lift the stone mill, all doubt vanished from his eyes. He spoke happily.

This also meant that the casual gesture of Hall Master Gu and Steward Sikong had borne fruit.

His gaze swept over the eager eyes of those Steward Disciples, and he knew that these people would certainly work even harder from now on.

With a living example right before their eyes, they were naturally greatly inspired.

Under the envious gazes of the Steward Disciples, Yang Chan followed Luo Yang, a Formal Disciple, toward the Assessment Office within the Medicine Hall.

"Junior Brother Yang, let me congratulate you first."

As Luo Yang led Yang Chan toward the Assessment Office, he spoke with a smile.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Luo. May I ask what the Formal Disciple assessment tests?"

Seeing the goodwill in Luo Yang's eyes, Yang Chan hurriedly asked.

He knew about the Formal Disciple assessment, but he did not know what it tested.

"Junior Brother Yang, there is no need to worry. The Formal Disciple assessment mainly tests whether you have comprehended Raging Bull Strength. It will also verify matters such as your origins and background."

"Since you were able to become a Steward Disciple, you need not worry about any of that."

"You only need to complete the Jing Power assessment at the Assessment Office."

Luo Yang carefully explained it to Yang Chan. To Formal Disciples, this information was merely common knowledge.

Yang Chan had the potential to become a Formal Disciple, more or less. Luo Yang was naturally willing to use such insignificant information to build goodwill with him.

Perhaps one day, he might need Yang Chan's help.

"I see. Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother Luo."

After hearing this, Yang Chan nodded in understanding.

His background in this world was clean. He had no hidden history, nor was he another faction's Mole, so he naturally did not need to worry about the verification of his origins and background.

As for the Jing Power assessment, that was even less of a problem.

Sure enough, the entire process went very smoothly. Yang Chan merely lifted a stone mill, and after they confirmed that the Jing Power within him was Raging Bull Strength, he became a Formal Disciple of the Qingyuan Sect.