If I Was a Beast of Burden in My Past Life and Still a Beast of Burden After Transmigrating, Wouldn't I Have Transmigrated for Nothing?

The following afternoon.

Inside the main hall of an inn.

Fang Hong quietly ate a meal fit for martial artists.

It had to be said that the territory of the Star River Sect and places outside like Fenshui Town were practically two different worlds.

Outside was the world of ordinary people.

This was the world of martial artists.

Of course, that did not mean there were no ordinary people here.

Rather, everyone's daily lives here revolved around martial artists and martial cultivation.

The work done by ordinary people was all in service of martial artists as well.

For example, the food Fang Hong was currently sampling.

Both the ingredients and flavors were clearly more precious and delicious than ordinary food.

In particular, the nutrients and energy gained after digesting these foods were far greater than those from regular meals.

Naturally, the prices had also soared severalfold accordingly.

As Fang Hong savored the food, he also listened to the conversations at the other tables.

"Have you heard? That night some time ago, when the moonlight blazed and shone directly upon the Star River Sect for several hours—it was caused by Bright Moon Peak's foremost True Disciple advancing to the Heaven Realm."

"Advancing to the Heaven Realm? Wasn't that True Disciple only thirty? He broke through into the Heaven Realm already?!"

"Tsk, it's truly unimaginable. The world of these geniuses is beyond the imagination of ordinary people like us."

"Otherwise, how could they be the foremost True Disciple?"

"But if that's the case, that foremost True Disciple of Blazing Sun Peak probably won't be looking too happy."

"Hehe, I have a friend who's an Inner Disciple of Blazing Sun Peak. I heard that True Disciple threw a tremendous tantrum that very day."

"For a full half month, even now, everyone on Blazing Sun Peak has been on edge, like birds startled by the mere whistle of the wind and cry of cranes. They don't dare smile too broadly outside."

"I heard that True Disciple has been stuck at the peak of the Earth Realm for years, yet Bright Moon Peak's True Disciple still broke through into the Heaven Realm first."

"So just wait and see. The Star River Sect is definitely going to be lively for a while."

"It's not just us watching the show now. Even those within the Star River Sect are watching it."

"Hahaha, it certainly is lively. Drink, drink!"

As Fang Hong listened to the drunk men endlessly gossiping, a thoughtful look flickered through his eyes.

The Earth Realm and Heaven Realm they spoke of were cultivation realms after the Organ Refinement Realm.

Fang Hong had only learned of them from others after arriving here.

After Organ Refinement, one's qi and blood and inner strength fused into one, transforming into inner qi. This was the Earth Realm.

Once inner qi was abundant, a martial artist's strength underwent an enormous leap.

As for the Heaven Realm, inner qi burst forth, dispersing into heaven and earth and resonating with the world.

One's strength would undergo an earth-shattering transformation, completely stepping into the transcendent level—something ordinary people could never imagine.

However, those two realms were still rather distant from Fang Hong at present.

After all, he had only reached Bone Refinement Great Accomplishment and was nearing completion; he had not even reached the Marrow Refinement Realm yet.

There were still three major realms between him and the Earth Realm: Marrow Refinement, Blood Replacement, and Organ Refinement.

Fang Hong had also heard about the matter they were gossiping about over the past two days.

On a certain night some time ago, the moon in the night sky had cast down a vast expanse of moonlight, enveloping a place within the Star River Sect.

The direct moonlight had lasted for several hours before gradually fading away.

According to them, it had been a phenomenon triggered when Bright Moon Peak's foremost True Disciple broke through into the Heaven Realm.

The Star River Sect was an extremely large sect organization.

Based on the fundamental cultivation techniques they practiced, it was divided into three branches: Blazing Sun Peak, Bright Moon Peak, and Myriad Star Peak.

Blazing Sun Peak had always produced the greatest number of sect masters and was the strongest branch.

The current sect master of the Star River Sect was the former peak master of Blazing Sun Peak.

Yet now, Blazing Sun Peak's foremost True Disciple was still stuck at the peak of the Earth Realm.

Bright Moon Peak's foremost True Disciple, on the other hand, had already broken through into the Heaven Realm first.

What did that represent?

The next generation of Bright Moon Peak might surpass Blazing Sun Peak.

When that time came, the position of sect master might very well fall to Bright Moon Peak's True Disciple.

So-called True Disciples were personal disciples of the various peak masters, people upon whom they lavished vast resources for cultivation.

After arriving yesterday and settling into this inn.

Fang Hong had immediately gone out to gather all sorts of information about the Star River Sect.

As expected, the Star River Sect's structure was also a pyramid.

At the very top was a Grand Elder who had not appeared for many years; no one even knew whether he was dead or alive.

Below him was the sect master, followed by the three peak masters, whose status was half a notch below the sect master's.

Below them came the True Disciples of each peak and the inner sect elders.

Then came the Inner Disciples who had entered the various peaks, along with the outer sect elders.

In fact, between Inner Disciples and True Disciples, there was another, somewhat invisible tier.

It consisted of the personal disciples of each peak's elders.

Their status was higher than that of ordinary Inner Disciples without masters, yet they still could not compare to True Disciples.

Whether inner or outer sect, disciples of the Star River Sect would not be assigned masters.

If one wanted to take a master, someone first had to think highly enough of them and be willing to accept them as a disciple.

The final tier of the Star River Sect consisted of its vast number of Outer Disciples.

They held the lowest status and carried out all sorts of tedious, time-consuming tasks.

At this point, Fang Hong could not help but smile wryly.

At first, he had thought that after joining the Star River Sect, his main task would be cultivation.

Only after asking around did he understand that Outer Disciples had to complete all kinds of tedious daily tasks.

For instance, mining, farming, growing medicinal herbs, guarding gates, and so on.

In one word.

Pure, unadulterated beasts of burden!

When he had first learned this, Fang Hong had felt as though his fantasies had shattered.

Damn it, in my past life, I was a code monkey at a major corporation—a beast of burden.

Now that I've transmigrated, I might still end up as a beast of burden.

Then wouldn't this transmigration have been for nothing?

Fortunately, Fang Hong did not stay depressed for long, because it was easy enough to understand.

If you cultivated every day and did absolutely nothing else.

Why would the sect provide you with protection, cultivation techniques, resources, and everything else for free?

What are you thinking?

These sects recruited disciples, not pampered lords!

Once he had thought it through, Fang Hong no longer dwelled on the matter.

A beast of burden it was, then.

With his Golden Finger, that stage of being a beast of burden should not last long.

Below the Outer Disciples, there was also a tier known as Servant Disciples.

But in the eyes of those from the Star River Sect, they barely counted for anything. They were basically slaves of the Star River Sect.

At most, they had been given a little hope and opportunity to rise further.

Besides all that information, Fang Hong had naturally also found out what he cared about most: how to join the Star River Sect.

There were roughly three ways.

The first was that every year or two, the Star River Sect held a large-scale examination to recruit disciples.

The second was becoming the disciple of a Star River Sect member who had taken one in while traveling outside.

The third was for those with backgrounds or connections to enter the sect while carrying things such as tokens.

Fang Hong naturally belonged to the third category.

After learning of this yesterday, he had spent money to have someone deliver a letter to the outer sect elder who had given the Zhou Family the token.

Just earlier, he had received a message from Elder Xu Wenfei.

Xu Wenfei told him to go up the mountain tomorrow morning, and he would have someone guide him into the sect.

Of course, Elder Xu Wenfei was only giving him an opportunity to join the sect.

Whether he could successfully enter still depended on passing the examination.

They would assess his age, natural aptitude, strength, and other factors.

If he failed the examination but still insisted on joining, he could only become a Servant Disciple.

From the message Xu Wenfei had sent through someone, Fang Hong could hear the man's perfunctory attitude and indifference.

Fang Hong did not feel much about it.

He was not some Dragon Prince.

Who the hell are you? Why should an outer sect elder of the Star River Sect give you face?

Being willing to give him an opportunity already meant the man was keeping his promise.

Besides, though it was merely an opportunity, it was already extremely precious.

Countless martial artists outside wanted to join the Star River Sect but could not gain entry.

Mm, this reminded Fang Hong of the major corporation where he had worked in his past life.

If you won't do it, there are plenty of people who will!

Damn it!

There was nothing to be done. Supply exceeded demand; that was simply how things were.

That night, Fang Hong lay on his bed.

He turned his head to look out the window. In the distance lay the direction where the Star River Sect was located.

It was clear to see that in the night sky above the Star River Sect's region.

Countless stars glittered, several times brighter than the night sky over other areas.

At the sight, a sharp glint flashed through Fang Hong's eyes.

He slowly clenched his fist, sensing the terrifying power within his body.

A smile appeared on Fang Hong's lips.

"The gates to further cultivation have opened before me. Tomorrow, I'll be able to join the Star River Sect."

Fang Hong had tremendous confidence in his own strength.

Even if his natural aptitude was ordinary, he was confident he could pass the examination.

At worst, he would become an Outer Disciple.

Thus, carrying that confidence with him, Fang Hong slowly drifted off to sleep...