It was said that among the disciples who had joined the sect five years ago, one had drawn lots and ended up with the job of sweeping the Founder's Shrine.
Among the sect's many internal duties, this was one of the jobs the disciples liked least.
After all, it couldn't compare to becoming a sword-bearing attendant to an elder, where one could often meet the sect's senior forebears.
A single word of guidance could save one from many detours. If one performed well, there might even be a chance of being taken directly under an elder and becoming their disciple.
Nor could it compare to being a fire-tending boy at Treasure Pill Valley, where one could learn all sorts of useful knowledge about alchemy and medicinal properties.
Even working at the Spirit Beast Yard or tending the medicinal fields seemed more promising.
Sweeping the Founder's Shrine wasn't especially strenuous, but it was far too lonely, and there was almost no chance to encounter the sect's senior forebears or any other celestial opportunities.
So the disciples all shunned it.
The disciple who drew the lot had no choice but to accept it, looking utterly crestfallen.
Usually, once the three-month term was over, they would rush to the Miscellaneous Affairs Yard to claim a new duty.
And this custom wasn't limited to the current generation of disciples. The sect had always been this way.
But five years ago, something strange happened.
The disciple assigned to sweep the Founder's Shrine didn't complain or look utterly bereaved. Three months later, he actually volunteered to take the same duty again.
And he kept at it for five years.
Five years, day in and day out.
Without complaint, he was content with his lot.
Even the steward of the Miscellaneous Affairs Yard felt a little guilty. Several times, he had asked whether the young man wanted to switch to a different duty.
But the other party had firmly refused.
He even said with a smile that his aptitude was poor, and any internal duty would be much the same. Switching to another chore might not help his cultivation anyway.
Why not just keep sweeping the Founder's Shrine?
For one thing, he was already familiar with the work.
For another, he was deeply grateful that the Feathering Sect had accepted him as a disciple, yet his cultivation was too weak to serve the sect.
Being able to sweep the shrine of the sect's forebears was still a way to show his devotion.
When his junior nephew had first told him about this, Master Green Feather hadn't paid it much mind.
He had simply thought the boy knew his own limits and understood gratitude, and that he showed a fair amount of filial devotion.
Yet now, having stepped into the Founder's Shrine himself and seen the young man earnestly sweeping the floor and wiping the tables, missing not a speck of dust in any corner,
Master Green Feather saw that he was serious, yet took pleasure in his work.
He couldn't help but nod to himself.
To remain calm and humble, and to know what to pursue and what to relinquish—his state of mind was truly commendable.
Among the young disciples, he was quite outstanding.
A glimmer flashed in his eyes as he used his Heavenly Eye ability to inspect the young man's spiritual root aptitude.
But then he sighed.
The boy had a very poor, mixed spiritual root.
He could cultivate, but his progress was bound to be slow, and his achievements limited.
Even if he worked hard, he might not reach Foundation Establishment in this lifetime.
Otherwise, he would have considered introducing the boy to his own disciple, making him his grand-disciple.
But now, he abandoned that thought.
When he approached, Lin Xiaoyao seemed to notice him only then and was startled.
Once he realized it was the Sect Leader, he hurriedly bowed and saluted, bending deeply. "This disciple pays his respects to Grandmaster Sect Leader."
"No need for formalities."
Facing this junior, whose aptitude was unremarkable but who was diligent and polite, Master Green Feather was quite amiable. He asked, "How many years have you been here?"
"Reporting to Grandmaster Sect Leader, five years and two months."
Lin Xiaoyao checked in every day, rain or shine, so he remembered the passage of time very clearly.
"Five years. That's truly not easy!"
Master Green Feather sighed. "You really don't find it hard?"
"It's not hard."
Lin Xiaoyao's face was full of determination. "Being accepted into the Feathering Sect and being able to do my part for the sect—I'm already very content."
"Mm."
Master Green Feather praised him, but said nothing more. With his discerning eye, he could tell at a glance whether the other party was speaking sincerely.
"I'm going to pay respects to the sect's forebears. You may withdraw."
"Yes!"
Lin Xiaoyao bowed his head in salute, then prepared to bow and take his leave.
But he had barely moved when Master Green Feather's voice came to his ears again. "Wait."
"Does Grandmaster Sect Leader have any other instructions?"
Lin Xiaoyao was a little surprised. He didn't hide his feelings, either; that was the only way to make his reaction seem natural.
"Take this bottle of pills."
With a flick of his sleeve, the other party sent a bottle floating slowly toward him, borne on a streak of spiritual light.
Lin Xiaoyao hurriedly reached out and caught it. He pulled out the stopper, revealing a pill about the size of a broad bean, fragrant enough to fill the air.
"A Marrow Cleansing Pill!"
"Grandmaster Sect Leader, this is..."
Lin Xiaoyao's expression was a mixture of surprise and apprehension.
He portrayed to perfection how a low-level disciple would react upon encountering such a situation.
"This Marrow Cleansing Pill can help Qi Refining cultivators advance their magical power. Your aptitude may be ordinary, but your state of mind is commendable. As long as you work hard, there's still a chance you may one day reach Foundation Establishment. The immortal path is arduous, but once you've embarked on it, you mustn't give up lightly."
Lin Xiaoyao was a little dazed.
Was this a reward for him?
So... had he just encountered a rare celestial opportunity?
Though it wouldn't be of any use to him, he still lowered his head at once, looking both respectful and grateful. "Thank you for your guidance, Grandmaster Sect Leader. This disciple will keep your words firmly in mind."
Then, without standing on ceremony, he happily tucked the bottle of Marrow Cleansing Pills into his robes.
He bowed once more. "This disciple takes his leave."
"Go."
Master Green Feather waved his hand.
He said nothing more.
It wasn't that he had suddenly taken an interest in Lin Xiaoyao, an unremarkable little cultivator, nor had he spotted anything unusual about him.
He simply felt that the young man was steady and level-headed, but his aptitude was lamentably poor. Reaching Foundation Establishment would probably be incredibly difficult.
He also admired how the young man had swept the Founder's Shrine for five years, day in and day out, without shirking the hard work. Though it wasn't a great achievement, he had certainly earned his share of merit. So Master Green Feather decided to give him a hand.
Thus, he gave him a bottle of Marrow Cleansing Pills.
The pill could increase a Qi Refining cultivator's magical power, allowing them to achieve twice the result with half the effort.
He hoped it would help the young man make further progress.
Of course, how things turned out, and whether he could reach Foundation Establishment, would mainly depend on the young man himself.
Master Green Feather had simply been moved in the moment and acted on a whim.
Naturally, he didn't truly take the matter to heart.
After all, even if the boy had some admirable qualities, his aptitude was far too poor. Master Green Feather might give him a hand, but he couldn't offer him too much support.
As the leader of a sect, the most important thing was to be fair in all matters.
Cultivation resources were limited, so they could only be given priority to those disciples with outstanding talent.
It wasn't favoritism, but a matter of making choices.
Only then could the sect avoid decline and continue to advance.
So although he had bestowed a bottle of Marrow Cleansing Pills and offered a few words of encouragement, he soon put the matter out of his mind.
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