Chapter 24: Outer Sect Disciples

The years in the mountains pass with dignity.
Another deep winter arrives, heavy snow falling in silence, the sea of clouds cascading like a waterfall.

Amid the wind and snow, a young girl in a gray robe, holding a teal oil-paper umbrella, steps into the Registry Hall. She folds her umbrella, scattering a pile of white snow onto the floor.

The cold is biting, and inside the Registry Hall are only two disciples on duty. One sits with closed eyes, immersed in cultivation; the other, drowsy with boredom, straightens up as someone enters. Noticing her gray servant's robe, he forces himself alert and barks impatiently, "Which peak are you from? What business brings you to the Registry Hall?"

The newcomer is Jiang Min. She produces her identity token and hands it over, saying, "Senior Brother, I am a servant disciple of Flowing Cloud Peak, named Jiang Min. I have come to register, having just broken through to the fourth level of Qi Refinement."

Nearly two years had passed since the last Azure Cloud Gathering.

Since she began cultivating in Spirit Gathering Valley, even with the aid of a spirit pill, it had taken her almost two years to break through, refining her main Wood spiritual power into Fire and reaching the fourth level of Qi Refinement.

Jiang Min had calculated that, without the peach branch, without Spirit Gathering Valley, and without the spirit pill, it would have taken her more than ten years just to reach the third level, even with tireless day and night cultivation.

Fortunately, now that she'd reached the fourth level, she could finally begin learning how to suppress and refine the peach branch, no longer tormented by its backlash and constant pain. If she were lucky enough to obtain a demon core a thousand times better than the demon embryo she possessed, her cultivation speed would soar.

"Fourth level of Qi Refinement?!"

The disciple on duty jumped to his feet in shock.

The other, who had been cultivating, also opened his eyes at the news. Producing a bronze mirror with a flip of his hand, he strode over to Jiang Min and said, "Place your hand on this and channel your spiritual power into it."

Jiang Min did as instructed, guiding a thread of crimson spiritual power from her dantian into the mirror. The surface rippled, then revealed a line of text.

"Fourth Level Qi Refinement."

The disciple holding the mirror first looked surprised, then quickly put the mirror away, cupping his hands with a smile. "Congratulations, Junior Sister."

The other disciple, who had been dismissive at first, now replaced his indifference with a warm smile. "Congratulations, Junior Sister! It's been ages since someone with five spiritual roots became an outer sect disciple."

Both immediately busied themselves, one updating her registration and the records, the other heading to the storeroom to fetch the cultivation resources for outer disciples.

Once the registration was done, the first disciple solemnly handed Jiang Min her new outer sect identity jade token.

The other returned with two sets of blue robes and a pouch. "Junior Sister, here are the outer sect robes and your annual cultivation resources: fifty lower-grade spirit stones and five Foundation Pills. Your situation is unique, so your resource collection date differs from the others. Remember to come on this day each year."

Jiang Min accepted them with both hands, smiling. "Thank you for your trouble, Senior Brothers."

Fifty lower-grade spirit stones—more than twice what a servant disciple received.

Moreover, the benefits of being an outer sect disciple extended well beyond cultivation resources.

The disciple on duty continued enthusiastically, "Outer disciples are different from servants. You can pay spirit stones to attend various courses at the Teaching Hall—such as talisman crafting or array formation. You can also pay spirit stones for martial arts instruction at the Martial Hall—swordsmanship, boxing, and so on. The Scripture Pavilion offers spellcraft lessons, and elders there guide you in casting spells."

"If you need pills or artifacts, you can purchase them at the Pill Hall or Artifact Hall. The selection is limited, but the prices are lower than in the sect market."

Jiang Min's smile faltered.

She had caught only one recurring word: spirit stones. Everything required spirit stones!

She had a sinking feeling that her fifty spirit stones would soon be gone.

"In addition," the disciple said, "outer disciples face a trial every three years. Failing three in a row results in expulsion from the sect, but passing earns you a reward: a chance to choose a Daoist art from the Scripture Pavilion."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Min inquired, "Senior Brother, could you elaborate on the nature of these trials?"

"Of course," the disciple replied. "Each trial is more or less the same—generally, you are tasked with hunting down magical beasts in various locations. Meet the quota and you pass. You're fortunate, Junior Sister—the last trial just ended, so you have three years to prepare."

"Thank you for explaining, Senior Brother. I have another question: if I wish to earn money, what should I do?"

She asked her most pressing concern.

The disciple laughed heartily. "That's easy! We outer disciples have three main ways to earn spirit stones."

"First, you can go to the Chivalry Hall and accept missions entrusted by others—finding rare medicinal herbs, or hunting specific magical beasts. The reward depends on the client."

"Second, you can learn a craft—such as talisman drawing, artifact forging, or array formation—and make a living that way."

"Lastly, if you prefer less hassle, you can serve on duty at any of the halls, like me and Brother Cen here, registering disciples and distributing resources. The pay isn't high, but it's stable and certainly better than being a servant."

Jiang Min, grateful for this honest advice, quickly thanked him again, her smile sincere. "Thank you, Senior Brother, for your guidance. I'm deeply grateful. These sweet fruits aren't worth much, but perhaps they can soothe your throats."

She took out the spirit fruits she had prepared from her storage pouch, placing them in delicate crystal boxes, handing one to each disciple.

The two disciples hesitated only a moment before accepting. Seeing the fresh, seasonal spirit fruits inside, their smiles grew warmer.

"Junior Sister, you’re too kind. If you ever need anything, come find me here at the Registry Hall."

"Thank you, Junior Sister. If you have any questions about sect affairs, feel free to ask me."

After some polite conversation, Jiang Min took her leave, intending to take her new identity token and seek out the steward at Flowing Cloud Peak's library to complete her transfer.

She had just turned around when someone entered the hall. A tall, burly man, his right sleeve empty—someone Jiang Min recognized: Luo Lei.

Luo Lei saw her as well. At first, he was stunned, then his face twisted with hatred. He demanded angrily, "Why are you here?"

The loss of his arm at Jiang Min's hands was a source of bitter pain—his body crippled, his twin meteor hammers forever lost. His hatred for her was bone-deep, and the sight of her filled him with rage.

"What business is it of yours?" Jiang Min glanced at him with indifference and made to leave.

"Wait." Luo Lei blocked her path with his left arm, his voice cold. "I have business with you. Don’t go."

Jiang Min stopped, gave him a look, but said nothing, a shadow of coldness flickering in her eyes.

But Luo Lei merely stepped past her, approaching the on-duty disciples, and produced a jade token, which he handed respectfully to the disciple still updating Jiang Min's records. "Senior Brother, I am here on behalf of Inner Sect Disciple Jiang Ziyi. This is her identity token."

"Oh?" At the mention of an inner disciple, the on-duty disciple immediately set down his brush and accepted the token with both hands. After verifying its authenticity, he asked carefully, "Does Senior Jiang have an important matter?"

"Senior Jiang was recently promoted to the inner sect and lacks a personal attendant. I've come to help her select and transfer someone."

"Does Senior Jiang have anyone in mind?"

"But of course." Luo Lei's lips curled in a cold, satisfied smile as he pointed to Jiang Min. "Her—Jiang Min, servant disciple of Flowing Cloud Peak."