Outer Disciples

Greenwood Sect's Training Hall.

A massive Spirit Boat appeared there.

Before long, Zhao Huaian and the others arrived at Greenwood Sect's Training Hall and boarded the Spirit Boat.

Once everyone had gathered, the air around them began to tremble.

Zhao Huaian looked down.

A milky-white light enveloped the Spirit Boat, which then shot rapidly into the sky.

In the blink of an eye, thick clouds surrounded every sight around them.

"At last, I'm about to set foot on the so-called path of immortality!"

Looking at the distant clouds and the vast sea of them, Zhao Huaian clenched his fists, unable to hide his excitement.

The youths around him were no different. They curiously surveyed everything, their faces flushed with excitement.

The Spirit Boat flew swiftly, darting through the sea of clouds.

As time passed, a flash of white light appeared. The Spirit Boat descended rapidly and came to a steady stop beside a vast island.

Lei Yangwen and the other recruiters each led dozens of people off the Spirit Boat.

Among them were Zhao Huaian and Liu Bohu, who had given Lei Yangwen gifts and earned places exempting them from the examination. They naturally followed behind him.

As for the eight people with Dual Spiritual Roots, as soon as they disembarked, several high-ranking cultivators took them away.

According to Lei Yangwen, these people were considered prodigies in Greenwood Sect. Once they went with the others, they would surely become disciples of an Inner Sect elder.

Everyone was terribly envious, and some couldn't help lamenting that they themselves lacked the aptitude of Dual Spiritual Roots.

If they had possessed it, they could have soared to the heavens the moment they entered Greenwood Sect.

"Everyone, this is Greenwood Sect's Outer Sect. I'll take you to the Residential Area where Outer Disciples live. As for the Cultivation Art you'll need, the sect will naturally send someone to deliver it to your residence."

"Also, after receiving your Cultivation Art, you'll have a year to cultivate in peace. You'll receive a stipend of two Low-grade Spirit Stones each month."

"After that first year, Greenwood Sect doesn't support idlers. No matter what cultivation level you've reached, you'll be required to carry out a mission every month."

"Of course, if you want to go into seclusion and cultivate, you can complete all your missions for the next few months in advance, or submit the corresponding number of Spirit Stones."

"..."

As he led everyone toward the Residential Area, Lei Yangwen carefully explained Greenwood Sect's rules.

Everyone listened closely, not daring to miss a word.

Before long, after explaining the rules along the way, Lei Yangwen brought them to the Residential Area.

The Residential Area was built across an enormous mountain.

At the foot of the mountain stood row after row of neatly arranged bungalows, each seemingly quite small.

Farther up, the Spiritual Energy and surroundings were much better. Independent courtyards were scattered among the trees, giving the place an elegant appearance.

"Everyone, these bungalows at the foot of the mountain are your Residential Area. New disciples all live here."

After bringing them there, Lei Yangwen pointed at the neat rows of bungalows at the foot of the mountain and smiled.

"Of course, if you have Spirit Stones, you can move higher up. The higher you go in this Residential Area, the denser the Spiritual Energy, which will naturally help you cultivate faster."

"You can choose any unoccupied room now. Once you've settled in, someone from the sect will come to deliver your Cultivation Art and this month's supplies. When you hear them call, remember to come out and collect them."

With that, Lei Yangwen stopped paying them any attention. He mounted a Flying Sword and departed in style.

The remaining people exchanged glances.

But they only looked at one another for a moment.

Soon after Lei Yangwen disappeared, some clever people hurried toward unoccupied bungalows.

They clearly wanted to claim rooms with better surroundings before anyone else.

Zhao Huaian was no slower. Before long, he picked out a bungalow that suited him.

"Brother Zhao, we'll be neighbors from now on. If anything comes up while we're in Greenwood Sect, we should look out for each other."

Just as Zhao Huaian was about to enter, Liu Bohu's voice sounded nearby.

He turned to look and saw Liu Bohu standing beside the neighboring bungalow, grinning from ear to ear.

The person who had claimed that bungalow earlier was now bruised and battered, walking off in another direction with an aggrieved expression.

"That's only right. Once we get our Cultivation Arts, we should devote ourselves to cultivation and try to move somewhere with denser Spiritual Energy."

Zhao Huaian smiled and nodded.

Liu Bohu had Three Spiritual Roots and was usually well-informed. It would be worthwhile to befriend him.

"Hahaha, of course. Let's encourage each other, Brother Zhao..."

Liu Bohu laughed heartily.

After exchanging a few pleasantries, they each entered their rooms.

The room was small and utterly bare.

There was a bed, a table, and a stove.

Looking at the cramped, shabby room, Zhao Huaian shook his head and plopped down on the bed.

This humble room may be crude, but my virtue will make it fragrant.

He wasn't particularly picky about where he lived. As long as he could absorb Spiritual Energy and cultivate with his Cultivation Art, that was enough.

Of course, once he had Spirit Stones, Zhao Huaian would move higher up.

It wasn't because he wanted better lodgings. The Spiritual Energy was denser higher up, which would help him cultivate faster.

Sitting on the bed, he adjusted himself for a moment and suppressed his anticipation and excitement. Zhao Huaian took out a medical book and a wooden dummy covered in acupoints, then began studying with complete concentration.

Learning was like rowing upstream: if you didn't advance, you fell behind.

Greenwood Sect hadn't issued its cultivation techniques yet, so Zhao Huaian could only use this time to study Medical Skill.

Besides, he wanted to see what effects Medical Skill at the perfected level would bring.

The sun sank in the west. In the glow of the setting sun, the unmelted snow on the ground looked dazzlingly beautiful.

Zhao Huaian was immersed in his study of Medical Skill.

"Everyone who just joined the sect, come out and collect this month's supplies and your introductory Cultivation Art."

Just then, a deep voice sounded from outside the room.

"Coming!"

At the sound, Zhao Huaian came out of his concentration. He quickly put away the medical book, removed the Silver Needles from the wooden dummy, and stepped outside, full of anticipation.

He had been longing for this for more than a year. Now he had finally joined an immortal sect, and the moment he received his Cultivation Art had finally arrived.

As he thought this, a happy smile appeared on Zhao Huaian's face.

He pushed open the door. A large crowd had already gathered outside, lined up in neat rows.

"Brother Zhao, over here!"

Just as Zhao Huaian was about to join the back of the line, a cheerful voice called from the front.

It was Liu Bohu speaking. He waved Zhao Huaian over, inviting him to join the line ahead of him.

The people behind him looked somewhat displeased, but seemed wary of something and said nothing.

Seeing this, Zhao Huaian smiled and walked over without hesitation.

There were at least a hundred people ahead of him. If he obediently waited in line, he would waste a great deal of time.

Now that Liu Bohu was helping him cut in, he could save quite a bit of time and use it to practice his Cultivation Art a few more times and study Medical Skill some more.

As for whether cutting in line was unfair to the people behind him...

Zhao Huaian merely smiled.

If this had been his previous life, in a world with a complete legal system, he certainly wouldn't have done this.

But what kind of world was this?

The strong ruled; the weak were ants.

There were no laws or rules here. Only strength mattered. Only powerful cultivation was the true path.