30: Chapter 30 Reduced to a menial disciple

Xia Shaoxin had never considered what kind of "image" he should present to others.

The people who came to the Chiyan Sect today, whether adults or children, wore clothes resembling those of scholars or wealthy gentlemen; everyone looked like they came from well-off families.

Only Xia Shaoxin wore short, simple clothing.

First he was on the run, then he was traveling; he wore whatever was convenient.

Therefore, the impression he gave others was that of a long-term laborer, a Jianghu wanderer, or someone hired to guard a house.

If he hadn't put his long sword into his Storage Pouch, he would have seemed even more out of place among these people.

Everyone just assumed he was a country bumpkin with no experience who had stumbled here by mistake, heard that one could join a Sect, and rushed over to make up the numbers.

When Xia Shaoxin pulled out a stack of banknotes, with a few even falling out, everyone was astonished.

Even the two Deacons, Deacon Qin Wen and Wang Xinhao, were stunned.

"What do you do?" Wang Xinhao looked him up and down again, suddenly feeling that this young man before him seemed to possess a sinister Killing Intent.

Xia Shaoxin didn't even have to think; he casually made up a lie: "I was separated from my father when I was a child. He later made a lot of money in business and luckily found me. My father has since passed away, and all this money now belongs to me."

Deacon Qin Wen had no time for stories and reached out to take the banknotes.

Since the person was paying to become a Utility Disciple, why ask so many questions?

Seeing this, Wang Xinhao stopped caring as well.

Thus, Xia Shaoxin followed the twenty or so outer Disciples-to-be up the mountain.

The others were all children and walked slowly.

Xia Shaoxin, however, was captivated by the stunning scenery along the way and couldn't walk fast either.

Having only lived in Dawu Mountain since he was young, in his heart, mountains were a kind of The Deadland.

Aside from a nauseating aura, there was nothing good about them.

After leaving Li Family Hollow, he had seen many mountains that were completely different from Dawu Mountain—the air was fresh, all things thrived, and the birds, beasts, insects, and fish were harmless to humans.

When he encountered particularly beautiful scenery, he would linger for half a day.

Walking onto the mountain path of the Chiyan Sect, he finally understood what was meant by a "Sect Immortal Mountain"!

The trees and weeds on both sides were exceptionally lush, and every leaf seemed to be living with abandon.

The clouds in the sky drifted between the mountains, painting large swathes of red blush.

The higher he went, the cooler and clearer it became, and his breathing became smoother.

He thought to himself, "Is this the taste of Spiritual Qi?"

When they reached the middle of the mountain, there was a cluster of low buildings. Wang Xinhao ordered Xia Shaoxin to stop, while the others continued upward.

"Nangong Yi."

A young man with thick eyebrows and large eyes walked out of a courtyard. He trotted over and asked softly, "Deacon Wang, what are your instructions?"

"This person will be in your group from now on. Take him with you, explain the rules clearly, and create a register to submit."

"Yes."

Nangong Yi bowed respectfully, and Deacon Wang had already drifted away.

Then, he turned back and looked Xia Shaoxin up and down.

"Are you here paying money to fill the quota for a Utility Disciple?"

"Yes. May I ask if you are one too?"

Nangong Yi snorted coldly. His face full of exhaustion, he didn't want to talk and walked into the courtyard.

Xia Shaoxin hurriedly followed.

Inside was a large courtyard with no main house; instead, there were four large rooms facing the front.

Utility Disciples came and went, but no one glanced at him.

Arriving at the room on the far side, he followed Nangong Yi inside and was immediately stunned.

Inside was just a large communal bed where eight people were sitting cross-legged with their eyes closed, Cultivating.

Nangong Yi pointed to a spot near the door without saying a word, then sat cross-legged on his own spot and closed his eyes.

Xia Shaoxin didn't dare to make a single sound.

This was the legendary scene of Sect Disciples Cultivating.

He had heard that when Cultivating, they hated being disturbed the most.

With his bottom touching his empty bed, he sat in a half-hanging posture, not even daring to breathe deeply.

After about half an hour, the first person opened his eyes, glanced at Xia Shaoxin, propped his hands on the bed board, and looked up at the roof, seemingly deep in thought.

One after another, the others also finished Cultivating, all of them deep in thought; he didn't know what was wrong with them.

Finally, Nangong Yi also opened his eyes and let out a long sigh: "Deacon Wang calling me earlier interrupted my meditation."

"Sigh, I was disturbed too."

Xia Shaoxin immediately felt that the room was filled with unhappiness.

"I feel like I've gained something. Next month, when I eat the jade bamboo spirit leaf, I might be able to reach the Qi Refining Realm," said a Senior Brother right next to Xia Shaoxin.

As soon as these words were spoken, the faces of several people were instantly filled with joy.

Nangong Yi jumped off the bed, took a piece of paper from a table in the corner of the room, and handed it to Xia Shaoxin.

"Can you read?"

"Yes."

"Write it yourself: name and place of origin. Once you're done, I'll go submit it."

Xia Shaoxin went to the table and casually wrote a name: Xu Su.

This was an elderly man he had met on the road who was very talkative; they had traveled together for three days, and he had revealed his name and family background.

Where should he write as his place of origin?

He suddenly remembered that his grandfather had once mentioned that over a hundred years ago, they had moved to Dawu Mountain from a place called Xiyao Village. Wasn't that his place of origin?

There were only a few words in total. Nangong Yi didn't even look at them and tucked the paper into his sleeve.

"Tomorrow, I'll see the person who engraves the plaques and give it to him. Once you have your plaque, you can move around the Chiyan Sect. Otherwise, a Deacon will slap you right down the mountain."

Xia Shaoxin asked softly: "What do Utility Disciples usually do?"

"I can't be bothered to tell you. Just do the work along with us; whatever we do, you do. Don't you dare say you don't know how, and don't be lazy."

Xia Shaoxin was a mountain dweller; the word "lazy" didn't exist in his vocabulary.

"I saw that you were all practicing a Cultivation Technique just now, right? Can I learn it too?"

Nangong Yi said coldly: "There are dozens of peaks within the Chiyan Sect. In front of the main halls of a dozen of those mountains, there stands a stele. Once you get your plaque, take some time to go to the stele and comprehend it yourself."

Xia Shaoxin laughed: "That's good. The Chiyan Sect is very fair; even Utility Disciples can learn Cultivation Techniques. That one thousand taels was worth it."

As soon as he finished speaking, the whole room burst into laughter.

"You're a Utility Disciple who paid to get in?"

"Good heavens, we've finally met a rich person."

Xia Shaoxin was very surprised and hurriedly asked them, didn't one need to pay money to become a Utility Disciple?

As soon as these words were spoken, everyone's expression turned unpleasant. Xia Shaoxin didn't know what he had said wrong again and was very confused.

Nangong Yi said bitterly: "If an outer Sect Disciple hasn't succeeded in reaching the Qi Refining Realm by the age of eighteen, the Sect will give them three hundred taels of silver to return home. If they don't want the silver, they can stay on as a Utility Disciple without paying; it's considered a benefit for official Disciples."

So Nangong Yi had been demoted from an official outer Sect Disciple; no wonder his face looked so grim.

In the corner, someone said blankly: "I was originally a probationary Disciple. I've already spent several thousand taels by now, and this year is my last hope."

"Oh!" Xia Shaoxin didn't know how to comment.

The room was dead silent.

They had all bankrupted their families to come and Cultivate immortality, yet they couldn't even break through to the Qi Refining Realm and had been reduced to Utility Disciples; it was a long story.

Xia Shaoxin felt that the unpleasant atmosphere in the room was not directed at him.

He changed the subject: "What is this jade bamboo spirit leaf you were talking about just now?"

Upon hearing this, everyone's spirits were lifted.

"The Chiyan Sect grows jade bamboo in its spirit fields. It blooms once every hundred years and is incredibly precious, used by the Elders for Alchemy. Its leaves can help us break through to the Qi Refining Realm."

"We Utility Disciples can receive one leaf every month. Last year, a Utility Disciple successfully made a Breakthrough while consuming a jade bamboo spirit leaf."

"This is the only goal for which we are willing to stay and become Utility Disciples."

Xia Shaoxin's eyes lit up.

So it involved eating some kind of Spiritual Plant; that was interesting.