Conflict

Staying away from artifact refining and alchemy didn't mean Li Yunjing wasn't interested in hearing about them.

At that moment, Li Yunjing's ears perked up. He wanted to hear about artifact refining and alchemy.

Even Tang Yuhan was a little surprised by the two menial disciples' questions.

However, as an Inner Disciple, she had relatively more free time and had dabbled in many different fields.

At that moment, there was no problem with answering the two menial disciples' questions and explaining some very basic concepts.

Li Yunjing listened with great interest.

This was an unexpected bonus.

Tang Yuhan had an exceptionally solid grasp of the fundamentals and was extremely learned.

No wonder she'd dared to come and lecture menial and Outer Disciples.

Perhaps those two questions had piqued Tang Yuhan's interest. She went on at length, explaining everything in detail and citing classical sources as she gave a simple overview of artifact refining and alchemy.

This knowledge was far more detailed than the related material in the Divine Firmament Jade Records.

More importantly, it was much easier to understand.

Anyone could grasp it just by listening, though there was a good chance they'd ruin everything as soon as they tried it!

Without talent, understanding the process wouldn't mean you could pull it off.

Li Yunjing, however, had gained a great deal of insight. His heart itched with the urge to try his hand at alchemy and artifact refining.

After listening to Tang Yuhan's lecture, Li Yunjing also felt a little moved.

Clearly, what Inner Disciples learned differed from what menial disciples were allowed to study.

He ought to reach the fourth layer of the Qi Refining Realm as soon as possible, take the examination, and enter the Outer Sect.

At each level, one encountered different kinds of knowledge.

If he kept languishing among the menial disciples, he'd end up wasting his life.

Li Yunjing thought as he studied, managing both without missing a beat.

"I wonder what's going on? Lately, I've been getting smarter and smarter. It's getting easier and easier to grasp things. It's strange!"

Li Yunjing marveled inwardly.

For many days now, the power of the Creation Divine Thunder had been a tremendous help to Li Yunjing.

His aptitude had already reached the level of a high-grade spirit root.

If he took the spirit-root test again, Li Yunjing definitely wouldn't end up in the Menial Hall.

He'd be promoted straight to Inner Disciple!

Unfortunately, Li Yunjing no longer had the chance to be tested.

He still had to keep doing his job as a menial disciple.

Suddenly, the square fell silent.

Li Yunjing looked toward the central platform and realized that Tang Yuhan had stopped speaking.

He checked the time. An hour had already passed, and the lesson was over. Only then did Tang Yuhan fall silent.

She was paid for giving lessons.

The menial disciples didn't have to pay the fee; it came from the sect's benefits.

Menial disciples were given one opportunity to study each month.

The hour-long lecture was over.

Tang Yuhan naturally had no interest in lingering. The Inner Disciple stood up and summoned a flying sword that gleamed like autumn water.

The woman stepped onto the sword and turned into a streak of light, flying toward another peak.

She seemed so uncomfortable that she couldn't bear to stay another second.

"This Inner Disciple sure is a practical person!"

Li Yunjing shook his head slightly. He hadn't expected Tang Yuhan to stop the moment her time was up. She'd really kept to the schedule.

Still, he understood. Tang Yuhan had completed her task, so there was no reason to waste her time for free.

If she kept lecturing, she'd be doing it at a loss.

After the lesson, Li Yunjing and Ma Xingyuan didn't hurry back.

They rarely got a day off, so naturally, they had to make the most of it.

Wouldn't they be fools to go back now?

"Brother Li, we're both broke and have nowhere to go. How about we visit the 'Elegant Fragrance Garden' again and have a proper meal?"

Ma Xingyuan suggested.

Li Yunjing thought it over. They might as well.

There were plenty of nice places in the Divine Firmament Dao Sect.

There was the Scripture Library, the Dharma Lecture Hall, the Artifact Refining Hall, the Alchemy Hall, the Hundred Herbs Hall, the Heavenly Craft Pavilion... There were even internal marketplaces and auction houses.

But the two of them had neither Spirit Stones nor contribution points, so they couldn't afford to spend anything.

For now, their only way to earn resources was to work diligently.

If they didn't mind tending the Piebald Horses, they could ask Hou Boyan to give them an additional temporary job.

Aside from that, they had no other way to make money.

As for going out to take on missions?

The Divine Firmament Dao Sect couldn't afford to lose face like that!

They had to be promoted to Inner Disciples before they could apply for missions outside the sect.

Of course, there was another option: being sent out on assignment.

For instance, a few years ago, the Divine Firmament Dao Sect had discovered a Spirit Stone mine on Shaoyang Mountain, south of the Great Ming Dynasty.

The sect had therefore sent many Outer Disciples to guard the Spirit Stone mine on Shaoyang Mountain.

Menial disciples, on the other hand, had no chance to leave the sect.

Even work of that sort was beyond what menial disciples could handle.

"We'll have to make do!"

Li Yunjing sighed. What a miserable state of affairs. He felt utterly powerless.

At that moment, he yearned even more to become an Outer Disciple.

"Sounds good!"

Ma Xingyuan was delighted. The Elegant Fragrance Garden was a little far away, and getting there meant crossing mountains, but it was worth it.

He hadn't enjoyed a free, delicious meal in ages.

The Menial Hall was so far from Qiongze Peak.

He had to work and cultivate. How could he spend three or four hours every day traveling back and forth between the two places?

Two hours later, it was noon.

Li Yunjing and Ma Xingyuan crossed the mountains and arrived.

Looking at the bustling eatery before them, they couldn't help sighing.

Going to Qiongze Peak really did feel like entering a different world.

The two pushed down their feelings,

then eagerly entered the Elegant Fragrance Garden, collected their food with practiced ease, and began to eat.

This time, they were both ravenous and craving a feast. Each polished off three servings before patting their bulging bellies and letting out a satisfied burp.

Compared to their work feeding horses, this place was practically heaven.

Li Yunjing and Ma Xingyuan were chatting idly when suddenly, a loud crash rang out as tableware shattered.

"Damn it! You're asking for death!"

Li Yunjing turned to look and saw six or seven menial disciples fighting!

"This..."

Li Yunjing and Ma Xingyuan were startled. Someone dared to fight openly in public?

Weren't they afraid of the sect rules?

"Yang Chun! You bastard, you still want to bully us brothers? Listen up, you piece of trash: we're not paying a single coin in protection money to your so-called 'Ten Thousand Laws Society'!"

A gruff voice rang out, followed by a flurry of blows.

"Exactly! Yang Chun, you good-for-nothing! You only throw your weight around in the Menial Hall because of your brother. If you didn't have him, I'd have crushed you ages ago!"

Another cold voice rang out.