Forming a Good Connection

Even the upper ranks of the Cultivation World could not escape the exchange of favors within sects.

After all, cultivation sought immortality, but one was still human.

Add a mountain to the character for "person," and you got one who lived upon the mountain. As long as one was human, one could not escape worldly conventions.

However, this showed that the middle-aged Outer Sect Deacon was far less casual about arranging Zheng Yi's promotion to an Inner Sect Disciple than he had been about recruiting Outer Sect Disciples.

Connections had to be worked, and back doors had to be found.

It could be said that even a demonic force such as the Soul Devouring Sect maintained extremely strict standards and certain requirements when selecting Inner Sect Disciples.

After all, for any sect, Inner Sect Disciples were its future strength. They represented its prospects and inheritance, carrying significance far beyond that of Outer Sect Disciples, and could not be handled so casually.

Zheng Yi did not hesitate. Following the middle-aged Outer Sect Deacon's instructions, he directly dripped blood to claim ownership.

As the blood fell upon the originally snow-white jade token, a trace of crimson seeped into it, lending it a bewitching, sinister air.

Zheng Yi also sensed that after claiming it with blood, this white jade token had formed some mysterious connection with his blood essence and Divine Soul.

Though the connection was exceedingly faint, it could be said that it now bore his imprint and would not easily be tampered with by others.

"All right. This is the map to the sect. Study it carefully, and do not take the wrong direction. The Demon Domain is fraught with dangers; if you choose the wrong path, the consequences will be unthinkable."

"Once you draw near the sect, your Inner Sect Jade Token will also indicate the exact direction."

Having taken Zheng Yi's money, the middle-aged deacon naturally had to dispel his troubles. He reminded Zheng Yi of these matters.

"I am Chen Jiu. Once you arrive at the sect's Internal Affairs Hall, simply report my name. Someone will naturally see that everything else is properly handled for you."

He had taken so much money from Zheng Yi, and under the pretext of greasing connections, had ruthlessly fleeced him for another hefty sum. Naturally, he had to provide service befitting the price.

Otherwise, once Zheng Yi became an Inner Sect Disciple of the Soul Devouring Sect, he would have needlessly made an enemy.

Although Zheng Yi was still weak and posed no threat to him, a cultivator who could casually produce resources to grease the wheels in pursuit of Inner Sect Disciple status surely had some background.

Furthermore, Zheng Yi knew Elder Gongsun. By sentiment, reason, relationship, and face, Chen Jiu had to make things passably smooth.

After all, thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—never mock a poor youth. Such things were hardly unheard of in the Cultivation World.

The middle-aged deacon, Chen Jiu, did not want to miss out on the sweets only to bring a heap of trouble upon himself.

"Thank you, Deacon Chen Jiu."

"This junior will remember it."

"This disciple takes his leave and will head for the Sect Mountain Gate at once!"

Zheng Yi firmly committed Deacon Chen Jiu's words to heart and nodded in acknowledgment.

Without further nonsense, he memorized every key point, put away the map, bade farewell once more to Deacon Chen Jiu of the Blood Mist Abyss City Branch Station, then turned and left the station.

Standing outside the gates, Zheng Yi turned to look at the Soul Devouring Sect's station in Blood Mist Abyss City. Gradually, he relaxed, unable to stop himself from letting out a breath of relief.

"Luckily, I did my homework, and they happened to have changed personnel. This time, it was a fright without danger."

"Still, it turned out well enough. I achieved my goal."

Within the Soul Devouring Sect station, facing Deacon Chen Jiu, a high-level Qi Refining Cultivator at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, Zheng Yi had appeared utterly confident, as though he had accounted for every possibility.

But in truth, Zheng Yi had merely learned the selection rules for promotion to Inner Sect Disciple in advance, while Elder Gongsun had happened to be transferred to the front lines of the battle between the Soul Devouring Sect and the Hundred Beasts Sect.

Without question, this gave Zheng Yi an opportunity to exploit a loophole. He could borrow a tiger's hide to unfurl a great banner, while also taking advantage of a gap in time and information.

Taking advantage of Deacon Chen Jiu's recent arrival, along with the ever-reliable tactic of monetary bribery, he had finally made Chen Jiu relent and obtained the quota in the branch station's hands for selecting an Inner Sect Disciple.

Zheng Yi came from a merchant background and never fought battles he was not certain of winning. Before doing anything, he always planned first and acted afterward, gathering as much information as possible.

Just this time, Zheng Yi had spent a great sum to purchase from Blood Mist Abyss City's information brokers all recent intelligence concerning the Soul Devouring Sect, as well as details regarding the branch stations' selection of Inner Sect Disciples.

After all, according to what he had learned,

among the various cultivation forces of the Demon Domain, Outer Sect Disciples were the least valuable.

Their numbers were often enormous, yet very few truly amounted to anything. Those fortunate enough to advance into the inner sect could already be considered heaven-chosen talents.

Not only was the competition fierce, but in the Demon Domain's conflicts, they were also cannon fodder cultivated by the various sects.

Once an accident occurred, the numerous Outer Sect Disciples became the outermost firewall, ready to be discarded at any time.

The Da Yi Immortal Domain had a vast population, and ordinary mortals grew in dense profusion like weeds.

Even now, not even high-level cultivators had ever managed to determine just how immense this world truly was.

Thus, among all cultivation sects and demonic cultivation forces, there had never been any shortage of beings like Outer Sect Disciples.

In a sect like the Soul Devouring Sect, its disciples were even more of a mixed bag. On one hand, those who cultivated demonic arts were not so bound by rules, and even the sect's upper ranks were no exception.

On the other hand, the Soul Devouring Sect was in dire need of manpower, so it would not hesitate to recruit vast numbers of Outer Sect Disciples willing to join, casting a wide net.

As long as one tenth of those Outer Sect Disciples matured, it would already be an enormous gain.

Moreover, in wars between Demonic Sects, these people could also provide the sect with great quantities of cannon fodder.

There was no need to train them at all. They could simply be sent straight onto the battlefield.

The reason Zheng Yi had bribed Elder Gongsun and stuffed him with so many Spirit Stone resources was not merely to gain the right to freely choose cultivation techniques and magical artifacts. It was also, in truth, a pledge of allegiance.

First, after Elder Gongsun accepted the Spirit Stones, he understood Zheng Yi's meaning. He provided only benefits and conveniences, without assigning Zheng Yi corresponding tasks, much less sending him directly to the front-line battlefield as cannon fodder.

Second, with the connection forged through that pledge of allegiance, Zheng Yi's next step—advancing to become an Inner Sect Disciple of the Soul Devouring Sect—would become much easier.

After all, with someone in court, matters were easier to handle.

The branch stations established by the sect throughout different regions and territories were often the personal domains of deacons and elders, wielding considerable authority.

Although some unexpected changes had occurred this time, because of the battle between the Soul Devouring Sect and the Hundred Beasts Sect over the Spirit Stone Mine, Elder Gongsun, the elder stationed in Blood Mist Abyss City, had been temporarily transferred to hold the front lines.

Zheng Yi's scheme of borrowing the fox's might from the tiger and raising a great banner with borrowed hide still proved effective.

Without Elder Gongsun's face, it would likely not have been so easy for Zheng Yi to make the newly arrived Deacon Chen Jiu relent directly.

Whether one cultivated demons or immortality, whether one walked the White Path or the dark path, Inner Sect Disciples counted as the backbone of any sect.

For one thing, Inner Sect Disciples were required to possess a certain level of aptitude. Only those who had broken through to the Qi Refining Middle Stage could possibly advance further.

Such disciples had already stepped beyond the category of low-level cultivators and possessed some ability to protect themselves. If their bone age was not high, it showed that their aptitude was decent, and the sect would be willing to nurture them.