Steward Zhao's Generous Gift

After paying respects to the patriarch, reciting the sect rules, registering their names, and completing a series of initiation rites, Ye Zhen and the others received white jade talismans engraved with their names and officially became Outer Disciples of the Qi Yun Sect.

"Alright. From this moment onward, you sixteen have formally entered the gates of our Qi Yun Sect and become Outer Disciples. However, our Qi Yun Sect has over three thousand Outer Disciples and countless members, so Outer Disciples are still not qualified to take a master."

After a pause, Steward Liu, who had been guiding Ye Zhen and the others all along, continued, "The next few matters concern your futures, so remember them well."

"First, the white jade talismans in your hands are proof of your identities. Refined by Master Fushi Fa of the sect, they are exceptionally wondrous. They can record and adjust your Sect Contribution Points, along with other information."

"Second, although you are not qualified to take a master, the sect has still arranged ten Sect Instructors for its many Outer Disciples. Should you have any doubts in your cultivation, you may seek their guidance."

"Third, every newly advanced Outer Disciple may enter the first floor of the Scripture Depository and select one cultivation manual, one movement technique, and one martial skill manual for free. Afterward, should you wish to change your cultivation method or cultivate higher-grade manuals, aside from sect rewards, you will have to exchange Sect Contribution Points for them yourself."

"Fourth, there are Sect Missions. After becoming Outer Disciples, the time you have for cultivation will increase greatly. However, every month, each of you must complete one Sect Mission. At times, the sect may even assign missions to you directly. The Qi Yun Sect has never raised freeloaders!"

Ye Zhen listened intently. Compared to Menial Disciples, the treatment of Outer Disciples was like the difference between heaven and earth. The main duty of Menial Disciples was to complete labor assignments, while the main duty of Outer Disciples was cultivation.

As for completing one Sect Mission a month, that was nothing at all. Back when he had been a Menial Disciple, he had to perform five full hours of hard labor every day.

"Alright, that is all I have to explain to you. Now, you may enter the Scripture Depository and choose your primary cultivation method." Steward Liu pointed toward a lofty pavilion in the distance.

They had long heard countless times of the benefits enjoyed by Outer Disciples, especially the advantages in cultivation methods, which had been the constant topic of conversation among Menial Disciples after meals. Now that Steward Liu had said so, even someone as proud as Feng Haoran could not help quickening his pace and rushing with the crowd toward the Qi Yun Sect's Scripture Depository.

"Brother Ye, together?" Shi Tianjia came over and called out to Ye Zhen, unable to hide his excitement. Ye Zhen quietly shook his head in refusal. Earlier today on the Fish Dragon Path, Shi Tianjia had deliberately pulled Ye Zhen into the battle, creating a two-against-one situation. It had suddenly made Ye Zhen wary of him.

"Ye Zhen, why are you not going to the Scripture Depository to choose cultivation manuals? You should know that the earlier you choose, the earlier you cultivate, and the sooner you gain an advantage." Seeing that Ye Zhen had no intention of going to the Scripture Depository, Steward Liu suddenly asked.

Over the course of the day, Ye Zhen had learned that Steward Liu, with three long strands of beard beneath his chin, was actually the peak steward of East Arrival Peak. It was said that he had once been an Inner Disciple with meritorious service.

In other words, all three thousand Outer Disciples of East Arrival Peak were under Steward Liu's jurisdiction.

"I heard that the Scripture Depository contains countless cultivation methods, enough to dazzle the eye. This disciple wishes to wait until my mind has calmed before making a careful selection." Ye Zhen had originally wanted to say outright that it was because of Steward Zhao's instructions, but he could not tell what Steward Zhao had meant by them, so he could only answer this way.

At those words, Steward Liu's face abruptly darkened. "The thought is good, but do not forget the sect rules that were just read to you—Qi Yun Sect cultivation manuals are forbidden from being privately shared between disciples. Once discovered, your cultivation will be crippled, and you will be expelled from the sect!"

With a heavy, cold snort, Steward Liu left, leaving Ye Zhen standing there with a wry smile. Ye Zhen had not expected Steward Liu to misunderstand him, thinking he wanted to exchange cultivation manuals with other disciples and cut corners.

Ye Zhen did not hurry to see Steward Zhao. Though he was very curious about the purpose behind Steward Zhao's instructions, and even more expectant of Steward Zhao's so-called reward, he instead went first to his lodging on East Arrival Peak.

In comparison, Outer Disciples received far better treatment in daily life than Menial Disciples. Though they did not have private courtyards of their own, each person having a room to themselves was enough to pleasantly surprise Ye Zhen.

Once Ye Zhen put on the distinctive Black Training Suit of an Outer Disciple, a different kind of heroic air could not help but shine through him. Compared with the gray clothes of a Menial Disciple, it was vastly better.

After tidying up a little, Ye Zhen headed straight for Hundred Pine Peak.

"Greetings, Senior Brother!"

"Greetings, Senior Brother!"

Things were fine on East Arrival Peak, where most people walking about were Outer Disciples and there was little distinction in rank. But once he left East Arrival Peak, all the people Ye Zhen encountered on the road to Hundred Pine Peak were Menial Disciples dressed in gray.

The gray-clothed Menial Disciples would immediately grow solemn upon seeing Ye Zhen in black. They promptly stepped aside to the roadside and bowed in greeting.

At the most, Ye Zhen encountered eleven Menial Disciples standing side by side at the roadside to greet him. The feeling immediately made him feel as though he were floating on clouds.

Suddenly, a White-robed Inner Disciple emerged from some forked mountain path. Ye Zhen, still immersed in that buoyant feeling, did not realize he had encountered a White-robed Inner Disciple until he had drawn close.

When he raised his head, Ye Zhen saw the frost-covered face of that White-robed Inner Disciple. An inexplicable aura of might radiated from his entire body, terrifying Ye Zhen to the bone.

"Greetings, Senior Brother!" Startled awake, Ye Zhen hurriedly stepped aside and bowed.

Only then did the White-robed Inner Disciple's expression ease slightly. Leaving behind a cold snort that seemed ready to shatter Ye Zhen's eardrums, he strode away. Only then did the sensation of his hairs standing on end fade from Ye Zhen's body, though cold sweat had already silently soaked through him.

It had been an insignificant little episode, yet it stirred towering waves in Ye Zhen's heart.

He absolutely could not become smug over the small achievement of successfully advancing to Outer Disciple. Above Outer Disciples, there were far too many powerful people.

Outer Disciples were merely ants with slightly higher status and treatment than Menial Disciples. But even stronger ants were still ants.

He had to become strong!

He had to possess formidable strength!

He had to be like Fairy Caiyi, whom he had seen that day—appearing once and making thousands of sect members, even veteran Sect Deacons, come out to greet her with respect.

A tiny sprout had quietly taken root in Ye Zhen's heart!

"Greetings, Senior Brother Ye!"

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Ye, on successfully advancing to Outer Disciple!"

Upon returning to Hundred Pine Peak, the many Menial Disciples there treated Ye Zhen with even greater respect, giving him a distinct feeling of returning home in glory.

At that moment, Ye Zhen secretly decided that once he had settled down and achieved a little success in cultivation, he would certainly return home as soon as possible.

For no other reason than to bring honor to his parents and set their hearts at ease.

"Ye Zhen, how does it feel to become an Outer Disciple?" Seeing Ye Zhen approach amid the flattering words of the many Menial Disciples of Hundred Pine Peak, Steward Zhao, who had been waiting for him, asked with a smile.

Yet Ye Zhen pointed at a terrifying figure flying past overhead and gave a bitter smile. "Still an ant. Just an ant that is a little stronger than before."

Steward Zhao, who had been smiling, suddenly showed a look of surprise. "Not bad! Ye Zhen, you truly are not bad. I thought you would be so excited at becoming an Outer Disciple that you would lose all sense of direction."

Ye Zhen answered with a trace of bitterness. Compared to those who had been directly admitted as Outer Disciples due to outstanding bloodline talent, they were merely the worst batch among Outer Disciples.

Not to mention Ren Xihua, who had been directly admitted into the Qi Yun Sect as an Inner Disciple because of his peerless Sixth Meridian High-grade talent when Ye Zhen had first entered the sect. What did people like Ye Zhen, who had only just squeezed their way from Menial Disciples into Outer Disciples, amount to?

It was said that Ren Xihua had reached the Blood Refining Fourth Level one month after entering the sect, and successfully achieved Essence Condensation and Origin Gathering after half a year. It was also said that if the sect elders had not feared his foundation would be unstable and forcibly held him back for several months, he could have achieved Essence Condensation and Origin Gathering even earlier.

"Ye Zhen, you need not belittle yourself. On the path of martial arts, fearlessness is precious. How far you can go depends entirely on your own fortune."

After a pause, Steward Zhao continued, "When you did not enter the Scripture Pavilion, did Steward Liu reprimand you? Do you know why I instructed you not to enter the Scripture Pavilion to select cultivation manuals?"

"How did you know?" Ye Zhen was startled at first, then shook his head. "I do not."

"Heh. Before you challenged the Fish Dragon Path, this old man promised that if you successfully passed it, I would give you a generous gift. This is actually related to the generous gift I am about to give you!" Steward Zhao said.

A generous gift?

Ye Zhen's heart could not help pounding. Could it be that Steward Zhao was going to give him cultivation manuals?