55: Chapter 55 A Battle That Could Not Be a Deathmatch

They finally stopped before an ice palace labeled "Outer Sect Deacon Hall."

Several deacons and Disciples inside were handling affairs; catching sight of Han Qingxue, they all put down their work, stood up, and bowed, their voices filled with the utmost respect.

"Senior Sister Qingxue!"

"What brings Senior Sister to the Outer Sect Deacon Hall today?"

Han Qingxue's gaze swept over them coldly, her tone distant yet calm.

"These two are newly joined Disciples; handle their Outer Sect registration."

The leading Outer Sect deacon hurried forward, bowing even lower.

"Yes, yes, yes, this subordinate will handle it immediately! Rest assured, Senior Sister Qingxue, everything will be done according to the rules!"

The deacon nimbly fetched two Dark Iron Waist Tokens and handed over two sets of plain Outer Sect Disciple robes.

He carefully registered the names and origins of Ye Yun and Wang Yuyan, then briefly explained the Outer Sect's living arrangements and cultivation rules.

He didn't dare show the slightest negligence throughout the process, his gaze always respectfully fixed on Han Qingxue.

From beginning to end, Han Qingxue stood to the side, her posture as upright as a cold pine.

Her cold eyes held no emotion, as if she were merely performing a trivial task.

Once the registration was complete and Ye Yun and Wang Yuyan had received their tokens and clothing, Han Qingxue finally moved.

She looked up, her cold gaze falling directly on Ye Yun.

That gaze was calm and rippleless, yet it seemed to carry a trace of imperceptible scrutiny; after a brief moment, she looked away.

Without a single word of advice or any extra movement, Han Qingxue's plain white figure turned.

With cold steps, she vanished directly into the snowy corridor outside the hall.

Ye Yun and Wang Yuyan stood side by side, quietly watching Han Qingxue's cold figure turn past a snow-covered pillar.

She completely disappeared into the mist of the palaces deep within the Luoxue Sect.

The Luoxue Sect deacon beside them had a plain expression as he waved his hand toward a spot nearby and gave a cold command.

"Lin Zhou, come here. Take these two new Disciples to their quarters and explain the Sect rules clearly."

As soon as he spoke, a figure walked over quickly.

This was a young man of about twenty, wearing the standard Outer Sect Disciple uniform of the Luoxue Sect, with a light gray Deacon Office emblem embroidered on his cuff.

He was an Outer Sect administrative Disciple specifically assigned to help the deacons with miscellaneous tasks.

His cultivation was firmly stuck at the Early Stage of the Great Martial Master Realm; his face was ordinary, but his eyes lacked any hint of humility.

He merely gave a slight nod to the deacon before turning to look at Ye Yun and Wang Yuyan.

His gaze was flat and emotionless, and he didn't even bother with a basic cupped-fist salute, his tone cold and businesslike.

"Follow me, don't waste time."

He treated them with the complete indifference shown to ordinary new Disciples, without a shred of respect.

Though he was in the Outer Sect, he worked for the deacons year-round and was much more respectable than common Outer Sect Disciples, so he naturally felt no need to be subservient to newcomers who had just joined the Sect.

Ye Yun didn't mind this and took a step forward to speak.

"Senior Brother, Yuyan and I have just arrived. We would like to ask about the Outer Sect Grand Competition, as well as the basic Sect rules and forbidden regulations. Please inform us."

Wang Yuyan also timidly took a step forward, her eyes full of expectation.

Lin Zhou didn't even stop his pace, walking straight ahead and saying indifferently without looking back.

"We'll talk as we walk. I still have to report back to the Deacon Office; I don't have time to linger."

"The Outer Sect Grand Competition is held once every six months. Fights are stopped once the point is made. The top twenty receive Spirit Stones and Martial Skills, and the top three can enter the Inner Sect. That's all."

He spoke extremely fast, perfunctorily dismissing the matter of the Outer Sect Grand Competition without any intention of giving a detailed explanation.

Wang Yuyan followed up in a small voice.

"Then Senior Brother, could you also tell us about daily cultivation, collecting resources, and things we shouldn't do?"

"Morning practice at the Hour of the Dragon, ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones per month, free entry to the first floor of the Scripture Pavilion, Contribution Points are needed for the Spirit Spring and Medicinal Fields, don't trespass into Inner Sect areas, and don't cause trouble."

Lin Zhou's tone became increasingly perfunctory, and his steps were very fast, clearly unwilling to waste words on newcomers.

Ye Yun cut straight to the core and asked again in a deep voice.

"What is the rule that must never be violated? And what are the consequences?"

These words finally made Lin Zhou pause. He turned around, his expression finally becoming a bit more serious, though his tone remained cold and harsh.

"Don't engage in life-and-death fights within the Sect; that is an ironclad rule. Sparring between fellow Disciples stops at the point of contact. If there is an irreconcilable grudge, go to the Life-and-Death Arena on the back mountain and sign a life-and-death waiver. If you dare to fight to the death privately in the Sect's halls, mountain paths, or residences, once discovered, having your cultivation crippled and being expelled from the Sect is considered light punishment. In serious cases, you'll be beaten to death on the spot—no one can save you."

After saying that, he pulled two small booklets with green bamboo covers from his robe and stuffed them into Ye Yun and Wang Yuyan's arms with a casual and perfunctory motion.

"This is the 'luoxue sect disciple code of conduct.' All the rules are in there. Go back and read it yourselves. Don't make a mistake and get me scolded by the deacon."

Ye Yun caught the booklet, his fingertips brushing the bamboo cover, and remarked casually.

"This rule forbidding life-and-death battles within the Sect is quite thorough; it must save many Disciples' lives."

Lin Zhou only gave a sneer, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, and didn't bother to respond as he turned to continue leading the way.

They passed through a winter plum forest and along a bluestone path, and before long, they reached the Luoxue Sect Outer Sect Disciple residential area.

This place was filled with large houses built of green brick, arranged in neat rows. It lacked the luxury of the Inner Sect, leaving only a simple, lived-in atmosphere.

"We're here." Lin Zhou stopped in front of a large house on the east side and pointed his chin toward the door.

"Male Disciple residence, eight to a room. This room is short two people; you stay here."

Then he turned his head toward Wang Yuyan, his tone still flat.

"The female Disciple area is to the west. Follow me."

Ye Yun was about to nod when Wang Yuyan took a quick step forward, looking up at Ye Yun with her small fists clenched tight and a gaze that was exceptionally determined.

"Ye Yun, I will definitely break through to the Great Martial Master Realm as soon as possible! Don't fall behind me!"

The girl's voice was crisp, carrying a stubborn resilience.

Lin Zhou stood by, watching expressionlessly, with a flash of impatience even crossing his eyes.

In his view, such words from a newcomer who had just joined the Sect were nothing but empty, overconfident talk. He didn't take them to heart at all and only urged.

"If you're done talking, let's go. Don't dawdle."

Seeing Wang Yuyan's serious look, Ye Yun only gave a gentle smile with a slight lift of his lips, saying nothing more.

However, a calm and composed certainty was hidden in his eyes.

Lin Zhou didn't care to look at them any longer and led Wang Yuyan away to the west. Wang Yuyan looked back every few steps before quickly disappearing around the corner of the buildings.

Ye Yun turned and reached out to push open the wooden door in front of him.

*Squeak—*

Amidst the dull sound of the wooden hinges, the extremely spacious Outer Sect Disciple residence was fully revealed before him.

This room was five or six times the size of an ordinary house; it was a large dormitory-style building standard to the Luoxue Sect.

Eight wooden beds were neatly arranged on the left and right sides, separated by half-person-high wooden partitions that provided a modicum of private space.

In the center of the room were two worn-out long wooden tables with coarse ceramic tea sets on them, and in the corner stood eight shared wooden lockers with peeling paint.

The bluestone floor was swept clean; though simple, it was orderly.

At this moment, six people were already living in the room. Someone was squatting by their bed wiping an iron sword, someone was lying on the table engrossed in a Cultivation Technique, and another was stuffing their bags into a wooden locker.

Seeing Ye Yun push the door open and enter, all six looked up simultaneously, their gazes filled with the curiosity and scrutiny common when meeting a new Disciple.