Qingyun Sect

Three days later, early morning.

Outside Qingshi Town, a massive bronze carriage sat by the main road.

The carriage was not pulled by horses, but by three exotic beasts covered in green scales with single horns on their heads, each possessing the strength of the seventh or eighth stage of Body Tempering.

"These are Green-Scaled Beasts. They can travel three thousand li a day and are used by the Qingyun Sect specifically to transport disciples."

Elder Xu said indifferently, stepping onto the carriage first.

The ten new disciples followed one after another.

Lin Ye was the last to board, finding a corner to sit in.

"Depart."

Elder Xu sat at the very front, closing his eyes to rest.

The driver cracked his whip, and the three Green-Scaled Beasts let out a neigh, their hooves kicking up wind as they pulled the carriage away at a gallop.

The speed was astonishing, turning the scenery outside the window into streaks of light.

Inside the carriage, the youths were both excited and nervous.

Zhou Ming leaned toward Lin Ye and whispered, "Lin Ye, do you think we'll be bullied once we reach the Qingyun Sect?"

Lin Ye glanced at him: "I don't know."

"I heard that competition in large sects is fierce, and it's common for senior disciples to bully new ones." Zhou Ming said, worried: "We should stick together and look out for each other."

Lin Ye nodded but said nothing.

He understood Zhou Ming's intentions, but Lin Ye had no interest.

His goal was cultivation techniques and becoming stronger.

The carriage galloped for an entire day, stopping only once at a post station to swap the Green-Scaled Beasts.

By dusk, the carriage finally slowed down.

"We have arrived."

Elder Xu opened his eyes.

The youths poked their heads out to look, all of them left dumbstruck.

In the distance, a towering mountain pierced the clouds, with mist swirling around its waist. Pavilions and towers were faintly visible at the summit, bathed in radiant light as cranes circled above.

At the mountain gate, a massive stone tablet a hundred feet tall stood upright, inscribed with three ancient characters:

Qingyun Sect.

"Is this the Qingyun Sect?"

One youth muttered.

Elder Xu said calmly: "This is only the outer sect. The inner sect is on higher mountains, and the Qingyun Peak, where core disciples and elders reside, is above the sea of clouds."

The youths gasped in unison.

Lin Ye was also shocked.

The various scenes of immortal sects he had seen in novels in his past life were now presented before his eyes in reality; the impact was beyond words.

The carriage drove through the mountain gate and sped up the winding mountain road.

Along the way, they could see many disciples dressed in green robes practicing, sparring, with sword energy crisscrossing and fist winds whistling; even the weakest among them were at the fifth or sixth stage of Body Tempering.

"These are all outer sect disciples."

Elder Xu introduced: "The Qingyun Sect has over three thousand outer sect disciples. There is a grand competition every three years, and the top one hundred can enter the inner sect. From today on, you ten are outer sect disciples."

The carriage stopped at a massive plaza.

Hundreds of youths were gathered on the plaza, all new disciples recruited from various regions.

Elder Xu stepped off the carriage and said to a middle-aged deacon: "Deacon Li, this batch of disciples is handed over to you."

"Yes, Elder Xu."

Deacon Li responded respectfully. After Elder Xu left, he turned to look at Lin Ye and the others, his expression hardening.

"My name is Li Yan, and I am an outer sect deacon responsible for managing you new disciples."

Li Yan's voice was cold: "I will only say the rules of the Qingyun Sect once, so listen carefully."

"First, outer sect disciples must complete sect missions every month to earn contribution points. Contribution points can be exchanged for cultivation techniques, pills, and weapons."

"Second, outer sect disciples can receive basic resources every month: three Body Tempering Pills and ten contribution points."

"Third, private fighting is prohibited within the sect, but there is a Martial Arena where personal grievances can be settled."

"Fourth, there is a minor competition every three months and a grand competition every year. Those who rank high receive extra rewards, while those who rank low will have their resources deducted."

"Do you all understand?"

"Understood!" The youths replied in unison.

Li Yan nodded and waved his hand, "Collect your things, then head to your living quarters. Starting tomorrow, go to the Chuangong Hall on your own to select a cultivation technique. If you have any questions, ask the senior disciples."

Immediately, senior disciples stepped forward to distribute a parcel to each new disciple.

Inside the parcel were two sets of cyan outer sect disciple robes, an identity token, three Body Tempering Pills, and a small booklet.

"Qingyun Sect Outer Sect Rules."

Lin Ye opened the booklet and quickly scanned through it.

It contained detailed records of the various rules of the outer sect, as well as methods for earning contribution points and a redemption list.

"Cultivation techniques..."

Lin Ye's gaze fell upon the redemption list.

Mortal-grade low-tier technique, 100 contribution points.

Mortal-grade mid-tier, 300 contribution points.

Mortal-grade high-tier, 1000 contribution points.

Spirit-grade low-tier, 5000 contribution points.

Higher-level ones were not on the list, clearly beyond the reach of outer sect disciples.

"I currently have ten contribution points; that's not even a fraction of what's needed for a Mortal-grade low-tier technique."

Lin Ye shook his head and put the booklet away.

"Follow me."

A senior disciple called out, leading the new disciples toward the living quarters.

The outer sect disciples' living quarters consisted of a stretch of connected houses. The rooms were quite simple, but they were better than the wooden shack Lin Ye had in Qingshi Town.

Lin Ye was assigned to "Ding District, Number 73," a small room less than ten square meters in size.

"Make do with it for now."

The senior disciple who led the way laughed, "Once you have more contribution points, you can exchange for better living quarters. The detached courtyards in the Jia District, those are truly comfortable."

Lin Ye thanked him, and after the senior disciple left, he closed the door and sat on the bed.

He took out his identity token.

The token was black, with the characters "Qingyun" engraved on the front, and his name and number on the back: Ding 73.

"Let's try the Body Tempering Pill first."

Lin Ye poured out one Body Tempering Pill.

As the pill entered his stomach, it immediately transformed into a warm current, surging toward his limbs and bones.

Lin Ye hurriedly circulated the breathing method of the Basic Fist Manual to guide the medicinal power to temper his body.

Half an hour later, the medicinal power was exhausted.

Lin Ye opened his eyes, felt the slight increase in his blood and energy, and nodded slightly.

"One Body Tempering Pill is worth three days of my hard cultivation. Three pills mean nine days."

"I must obtain a cultivation technique as soon as possible, then use my points to deduce it."

Lin Ye made up his mind and lay down to rest.

The next morning.

Lin Ye changed into his cyan disciple robes and headed to the Chuangong Hall.

The Chuangong Hall was a three-story pavilion covering a vast area, with disciples constantly entering and exiting.

Lin Ye walked into the first-floor hall and saw that the four walls were lined with bookshelves, each holding various cultivation manuals.

However, these manuals were only copies, containing only introductions without specific content.

To learn them, one had to exchange contribution points.

"Qingmu Art, Mortal-grade low-tier technique, wood-attribute technique. After cultivation, one can condense Qingmu True Qi, which has significant healing effects. Redemption requires 100 contribution points."

"Liehuo Technique, Mortal-grade low-tier technique, fire-attribute technique. After cultivation, one can condense Liehuo True Qi, which has domineering attack power. Redemption requires 100 contribution points."

"Panshi Strength, Mortal-grade mid-tier technique, earth-attribute technique. After cultivation, one can condense Panshi True Qi, which has formidable defense. Redemption requires 300 contribution points."

He only had ten contribution points now and couldn't exchange for anything.

The Chuangong Hall had a rule: new disciples could choose one Mortal-grade low-tier technique for free as their introductory technique.

"I must choose the one with the greatest potential."

There were over twenty types of Mortal-grade low-tier techniques, each with different attributes and focuses.

Finally, his gaze fell upon a thin booklet in the corner.

"Basic Body Forging Art, Mortal-grade low-tier technique, no attribute, neutral and peaceful. It can solidify one's foundation, but cultivation is slow and its power is mediocre."

This is the one.

Lin Ye took the introduction booklet for the Basic Body Forging Art and walked to the counter.

A white-haired old man sat behind the counter, dozing off.

"Senior, this disciple wishes to collect the Basic Body Forging Art," Lin Ye said respectfully.

The old man opened his eyes, glanced at Lin Ye, and said lazily, "A new disciple?"

"Yes."

"Identity token."

Lin Ye handed over his token.

The old man took it, swiped it across a jade tablet, then pulled a thin booklet from under the counter and tossed it to Lin Ye.

"Basic Body Forging Art, take it. You must return it within a month. Copying or leaking it is forbidden; violators will have their cultivation crippled and be expelled from the sect."

"Yes, thank you, Senior."

Lin Ye took the manual, tucked it away carefully, and turned to leave.

He did not return to his living quarters but went straight to the back mountain of the outer sect.

There was a practice field specifically cleared in the back mountain, where many disciples were training.

Lin Ye found a quiet corner, sat cross-legged, and opened the Basic Body Forging Art.

The manual was only ten pages long and simple in content, consisting of a breathing technique and nine movements corresponding to the nine levels of Body Tempering.

"Let's try practicing it first."

Lin Ye began to cultivate according to the instructions in the manual.

An hour later, he opened his eyes and frowned slightly.

This Basic Body Forging Art was indeed steady and balanced, but the cultivation speed was slower than the basic fist manual he had optimized with points.

"Let's try using points to deduce it."

[Deducing Basic Body Forging Art (Mortal Grade, Low Tier) requires 50 Martial Arts Points]

Confirm deduction?

"Yes."

A phantom image appeared and began to practice the Basic Body Forging Art.

[Deduction complete]

[Basic Body Forging Art (Mortal Grade, Low Tier) optimized; cultivation speed increased by 50%, Body Tempering effect increased by 30%]

[An additional tenth movement has been deduced, capable of breaking through the limit of the ninth level of Body Tempering and entering the "tenth level of Body Tempering"]

Lin Ye opened his eyes abruptly, his eyes filled with shock.

The tenth level of Body Tempering?

In this world, the Body Tempering realm only had nine levels; after the ninth level, one entered the True Qi realm.

"The ninth level of Body Tempering isn't the limit?"

Lin Ye's heart pounded wildly. If the tenth level of Body Tempering truly existed, his foundation would far exceed those of the same rank, and he would be even stronger when he eventually broke through to the True Qi realm.

"Let's try it."

Lin Ye suppressed his excitement and began to cultivate again according to the deduced manual.

Each of the nine optimized movements was more precise, capable of mobilizing more blood and qi.

The cultivation speed had indeed increased by a significant margin.

"At this rate, I can break through to the fourth level of Body Tempering in three months at most."

A look of joy flashed in Lin Ye's eyes.

"I cannot expose this."

The matter of the tenth level of Body Tempering must absolutely not be known to others.

"I must take it slow, practice step by step, and only attempt to break through to the tenth level of Body Tempering once I have enough strength to protect myself."

Lin Ye made up his mind, put away the manual, and stood up to leave the practice field.

Just as he left, a figure emerged from behind a tree.

It was Zhou Ming.

Zhou Ming watched Lin Ye's back, his eyes flickering.

Meanwhile, Lin Ye had already returned to his small cabin.

Closing the door, he opened the Basic Body Forging Art once more.

"I will practice to the ninth level of Body Tempering first, then attempt the tenth level."

"Before that, I must find a way to earn contribution points and exchange them for more manuals."