21: Give up, party

Technique... Lu Xian's Formation attainments were still at the stage of engraving basic Formation patterns.

“Only knows Formation patterns, unranked, five points. Total score 135, next!”

Lu Xian's expression remained calm, showing neither disappointment nor joy.

The four of them left the square and chatted in the open space on the outskirts.

“We're quite destined; Brother Han and Fairy Wang both scored 135, while Brother Shen and I both scored 134.”

Du Qinghong smiled, “Based on past experience, a score of one hundred and thirty can get you into the top three hundred, so it's a sure thing. Let's go for a drink later!”

Lu Xian was silent for a moment and asked, “What are the daily tasks for a Cangye Sect Miscellaneous Laborer?”

“As for Miscellaneous Laborers, I happen to know a thing or two.”

Shen Nan took over the conversation: “I heard my grandfather mention it; it's nothing more than chores—tending spirit fields, cleaning the training grounds, patrolling, feeding Spirit Beasts, running errands to move things, watching the fires in the furnace room... mostly repetitive and tedious tasks. It depends on where you're assigned; if you end up somewhere busy, I'm afraid you won't have much time to Cultivate all day!”

Wang Man added:

“Exactly, and the Cangye Sect is extremely strict with miscellaneous laborers; the slightest slip-up results in beatings and scoldings. However, the benefit is that the chance of promotion to an Outer Sect Disciple is not small, and there are many Opportunities. If you are favored by an Elder or Deacon, Foundation Establishment is within reach.”

“Then regarding Cultivation Technique Legacies, what special privileges do Miscellaneous Laborers have?” Lu Xian asked again.

Du Qinghong explained: “There aren't many privileges. In fact, Miscellaneous Laborers aren't even officially registered, so the Immortal Dynasty doesn't pay them much attention. Within the Sect, at most, they are granted permission to consult Yellow Rank Top Grade Cultivation Techniques.”

After hearing this, Lu Xian understood.

Being a Miscellaneous Laborer was not as comfortable as his current situation; at least he didn't have to be bound by others.

Of course, the most critical point was that he couldn't move his small courtyard.

If he entered the Sect, he would have to start from scratch again with an uncertain future, wasting time in vain.

It would be better to wait until he resolved this issue later before making plans.

In fact, he had already thought of a building in his heart that could handle his current pain point.

That was the 【teleportation room】!

By placing a teleportation array indoors and then upgrading it a couple of levels, perhaps a special effect could be triggered.

For example, increasing the teleportation range, reducing consumption... at that time, one could travel freely between the two locations.

However, right now his formations had not even reached the entry level, and even the lowest-tier teleportation array required first-tier Top Grade; it would take time to prepare.

Seeing Lu Xian's thoughtful look, the others didn't disturb him.

They each looked excited, quietly waiting for the results.

The responsibility of revitalizing the Family rested on their shoulders!

Once they entered the Cangye Sect and gradually became Outer Sect Disciples, they could start a new page in their family genealogy!

The entire testing process lasted until the afternoon.

As the sun sank in the west, the vast majority of people left after finishing their tests, leaving only a scattered group of fewer than five hundred people waiting.

Those who stayed all felt they had hope, but unfortunately, only three hundred were being recruited.

“I announce that this session's Recruitment Grand Ceremony has ended. The list of Disciples is as follows. Registration will take place shortly, and you may accompany me to the Sect's base tomorrow!”

Xie Xuansong tossed down a crystal.

The crystal hung twenty zhang above the center of the square, projecting the list in all directions, clearly visible.

Inner Sect: Fang Wenling, Wei Zhou, Tang Yaoning, Kong Yexing.

Outer Sect: Li Chuwei, Qin Xiaoli, Zhuo Xingyu... Miscellaneous: Qian Laishun, Zhao Musheng... There were only four people in the Inner Sect, all with scores above 300. Clearly, like Lu Xian, they had special bonus points, meaning at least one of their Aptitude, cultivation, or technique was extraordinary.

Judging by their surnames, they were all direct descendants of the top Foundation Establishment Families in Qingyun County.

There were ninety-six Outer Sect members, including both Family descendants and Loose Cultivators.

There were two hundred Miscellaneous Laborers, mostly Loose Cultivators.

The further down the list, the more people were tied with the same score!

Lu Xian found his name at the very end of the list.

300th Place: Lu Xian.

“I rarely ranked last in my previous life, but this is a first in the cultivation world. There are too many old-timers ahead; those in their forties or fifties have decent cultivation, and though their talent is average, they have a specialized skill... it's normal.”

Lu Xian complained inwardly, but he also knew that five points for technique was equivalent to being severely unbalanced in his subjects.

What the Cangye Sect wanted, in the end, were top-tier 'beasts of burden' Miscellaneous Laborers with all-around development in morality, intelligence, physical fitness, and labor!

The ones before and after him were Wang Man and Shen Nan.

Lu Xian turned his head, about to speak, but saw Shen Nan staring fixedly at the crystal as if he wanted to glare his own name out of thin air, without saying a word.

The confidence he once had on his face had vanished, replaced only by boundless silence.

Why... why didn't I study hard and Cultivate diligently!

Grandfather taught me many times, so why did I complain of tiredness after only engraving a few formation patterns? I should have... Shen Nan thought, his eyes reddening as tears silently fell.

Du Qinghong wanted to offer a few words of comfort but didn't know where to start; he himself didn't mind.

Having been away from home for so many years, he had experienced things far more bitter than this. Back when he first came out, he didn't have half a spirit fragment on him, was a beggar on the streets, and was even beaten.

Silence was what shrouded the Qingyun City square under the twilight.

Shen Nan was in agony, not knowing how to go back and face his grandfather at home, who had spent so much and placed such great hope in him.

Years of painstaking effort had come to nothing in a single day.

Suddenly, he saw someone walking toward him and patting his shoulder.

“Don't cry. How can a person of the Dao shed tears so easily? If your Dao Heart is unstable, how can you climb the high peaks?”

A slightly comforting voice sounded.

Hearing this, Shen Nan cried even harder.

“It's just being one rank short. I didn't plan on entering the Sect this year anyway; you can just take this spot as the next in line.” Lu Xian added.

This youth's nature wasn't bad, so he didn't mind doing him a favor.

In the future, if he needed to find any special upgrade Materials, it would be another path open to him.

Like that 'Basic Explanation of Formations' from that day.

If there were an 'Intermediate Explanation of the Dao of Formations' later, wouldn't he be able to get it for free!

“Wuwu... Huh?!” Shen Nan suddenly stopped crying and said incredulously, “What, did, you, say?”

Lu Xian was puzzled: “Is it not allowed for me to voluntarily give up the spot? Does the Cangye Sect forcibly drag people into the Sect?”

“It... it should be possible? I remember there was once someone in the top three hundred who died of over-excitement, and the spot was passed down to the next person.”

Du Qinghong recalled some information he had collected out of boredom.

“Let's leave it at that; I don't want the spot anyway.”

The four of them came to the Cangye Sect recruitment office.

Lu Xian simply explained his thoughts, casually using the excuse of having a hidden injury that made him fear he wouldn't be able to handle the duties of a Miscellaneous Laborer.

The disciple in charge of registration looked troubled:

“Your situation is very rare and difficult to handle.”

As he spoke, he blinked.

Shen Nan finally grasped the true essence of worldly wisdom at this moment.

He had to pay more!

He hurriedly took out thirty Spirit Stones and stuffed them into the disciple's hand: “Senior Brother, a small token of my appreciation, please accept it!”

The disciple weighed them, picked up his pen, crossed Lu Xian's name off the register, and noted: Failed to arrive at the specified time, recorded as missing, rank passed down.

Then, he added Shen Nan's name and put on a smile: “After Junior Brother enters the Sect, although there is a difference between miscellaneous and Outer Sect, you can still come visit me more often...”

Lu Xian watched the flash of realization in Shen Nan's eyes.

Well, another pure youth is going to blend into the masses... he sighed in his heart.

After coming out, Shen Nan took the initiative to walk up to Lu Xian with great respect: “Big Brother Han, if not for your kindness today, my wish would have been hard to fulfill. Please, you must accept these!”

He took out 126 Spirit Stones, several formation Materials, and even a first-tier Low Grade Formation Plate.

Lu Xian hesitated slightly before putting them into his Storage Pouch.

He would never refuse something gotten for free.

“How about we have a small gathering to celebrate for Fairy Wang and Brother Shen!” Du Qinghong suggested.

Wang Man looked away from Lu Xian, her heart wondering about something as she said softly: “Okay! After today's parting, who knows when we'll meet again? Tonight, we won't return until we're drunk!”

“Mm!” Shen Nan nodded heavily.

The group of four walked toward a tavern in the city... High in the sky, the Golden Core Immortal Master Xie Xuansong's Divine Sense swept over this scene with interest.

During the day, he had noticed that this kid surnamed Lu was a standout among his peers in both Heart-Nature and cultivation.

His talent was even more peculiar, with the Five Elements being equal.

Moreover, he also noticed that Little Lu had tempered his Physical Body, and it wasn't weak, comparable to the strength of the sixth level of Qi Refining!

Taken as a whole.

He was no worse than those Outer Sect Disciples, though of course he couldn't compare to the Inner Sect.

Those four spots were actually already predetermined; their cultivation was already at the Late Stage of Qi Refining, and the fastest one was already preparing for Foundation Establishment.

“Haha... brotherly friendship is quite interesting. But once they enter the Sect, the hierarchy will become clear; I wonder how long it can be maintained?” Xie Xuansong pondered.

As a Golden Core who had lived for hundreds of years, he knew better than anyone how the environment changes people.

But he didn't look further into it; it was already rare for a Qi Refining junior to draw a moment of his thought, and it wasn't worth any more of his attention.