57: Chapter 57: Want to become an apprentice? First, go work as a bricklayer on a construction site.

Jiang Ning had just reached the entrance of the command center when she heard a dull thud behind her—the sound of a forehead hitting the ground.

"I implore the Immortal Master to take me as your disciple!"

The voice was quite full of vigor.

She stopped and turned around, looking a bit surprised at the young man kneeling on the ground.

Hmm? His Dao heart didn't break?

She had thought that a genius like Dongfang Shuo, who was used to everything going his way, would be despondent for quite a while after such a crushing defeat, even if he didn't go crazy. She hadn't expected him to figure it out so quickly and immediately find a new goal.

This psychological resilience was a bit stronger than she had expected.

However, it was only a bit stronger.

"I don't take disciples," Jiang Ning responded curtly, not bothered to say another word.

What a joke.

Taking a disciple? That was the most troublesome thing in the world.

Back when she was in the Qingyun Sect, what she hated most were those inner sect disciples. Each one of them was arrogant but incompetent, failing to cultivate properly while spending all their time plotting how to curry favor with their masters and being jealous of their fellow disciples.

If she took a disciple, she would have to provide food, drink, and training guidance. She'd also have to clean up their messes and provide psychological counseling on the side.

She was currently busy with Infrastructure Construction to earn merit; where would she find the spare time to bring along a burden?

Not a chance.

Dongfang Shuo seemed to have expected her refusal. He didn't get up, instead kowtowing heavily once more.

"Immortal Master, my talent is dull and my sins are heavy; I am indeed unworthy of being your disciple." He lowered his posture to the extreme, his words earnest. "I do not ask to learn your Supreme Dao. I only ask to follow by your side, to lead your horse and hold your stirrups, to serve you tea and water! If I can occasionally hear a few words of your instruction, I will be satisfied!"

These words left Director Zhao Lixin and Chief Engineer Wang Jianguo, who were standing nearby, completely stunned.

Was this still the same Young Master Dongfang who was incredibly arrogant with his nose in the air just a moment ago? This change was too fast.

Zhao Lixin secretly praised him in his heart; this kid could bend and stretch, he was a tough character. He could see it now—Dongfang Shuo had been completely beaten into submission and was determined to cling to the "immortal leg" of the Chief Consultant.

He felt that this might be a good thing for the project.

If they could win over the Dongfang Family, or even the power of the entire Ancient Martial Arts World, then the security of the "Pangu Project" wouldn't just be stepping up a level; it would be far more significant than that.

He leaned in toward Jiang Ning and whispered, "Chief Consultant, look... this Dongfang Shuo is the successor of the Dongfang Family after all. If he sincerely works with us, it would be very useful for uniting other Ancient Martial forces in the future."

Wang Jianguo also leaned over, his perspective more practical: "Chief Consultant, this kid's skills are decent! Those moves just now—he was faster than a monkey. Letting him stay at the site as a security captain or something would definitely be more useful than an ordinary guard!"

Both of them felt that taking in Dongfang Shuo had everything to gain and nothing to lose.

Jiang Ning glanced at them sideways but said nothing.

She was naturally aware of the benefits of taking in Dongfang Shuo.

But what she lacked was never enforcers, but... labor.

Labor that could work, and specifically, labor that could perform special tasks.

Once The Oasis project expanded, many engineering tasks would involve spiritual energy. For example, setting up more precise formations, cultivating spiritual plants, and mining special ores.

Ordinary people like Wang Jianguo couldn't do these jobs; their physical bodies couldn't withstand the impact of spiritual energy.

But trained practitioners like Dongfang Shuo were different.

Their physical foundations were good, and their meridians were tougher than those of ordinary people. With just a little guidance, they could adapt to a spiritual energy environment. They were a prime batch of... special workers.

Thinking of this, Jiang Ning's gaze fell back onto Dongfang Shuo.

The way she looked at him changed instantly. He was no longer a nuisance, but rather a laborer being sized up by a foreman.

Hmm, good build, sturdy enough, should be able to carry things.

His brain is okay too; he knows how to read the situation and is thick-skinned enough. He should be easy to manage later.

I just don't know if he's efficient at work or if he can endure hardship.

Being sized up by her like that made Dongfang Shuo feel uneasy, as if he were being seen through from the inside out. He didn't dare have any stray thoughts and could only bury his head lower, looking like he was completely at her mercy.

Jiang Ning pondered for a moment.

Taking an apprentice was impossible—not in this lifetime.

But hiring a worker was not out of the question.

"You want to stay?" she finally spoke.

Hearing this, Dongfang Shuo's spirits lifted. Sensing a chance, he quickly responded, "Yes! This disciple is willing to serve the Immortal Master with the utmost loyalty!"

"Don't call me Immortal Master." Jiang Ning frowned, disliking the title. "Call me Chief Consultant, or Engineer Jiang."

"Yes! Eng... Engineer Jiang!" Dongfang Shuo hurriedly changed his address. Although he found the title strange, whatever the immortal said was law.

"If you want to stay, fine." Jiang Ning nodded, then laid out her conditions. "However, I don't keep idle people here. I don't care if you were a young master or a genius before; once you're here, you have to work."

"Work?" Dongfang Shuo was stunned.

"Yes, work." Jiang Ning's tone was flat. "This construction site of mine is short-handed. If you want to stay, start with the most basic tasks. Moving bricks, digging soil, carrying rebar—you do whatever you're told to do."

As soon as these words came out, not only Dongfang Shuo, but even Zhao Lixin and the others were dumbfounded.

Letting the dignified Young Master of the Dongfang Family, the number one genius of the Ancient Martial Arts World, go to a construction site to... move bricks?

This was... such a waste of talent, wasn't it?

Zhao Lixin was about to try and persuade her again, but a sharp look from Jiang Ning immediately shut him up.

Dongfang Shuo knelt on the ground, unable to recover his senses for a long time. He had imagined countless possibilities, such as the immortal testing his loyalty or sending him on some life-or-death mission.

But he never would have guessed that the test given to him would be... to be a manual laborer?

If word of this got out, where would his face, and the face of the entire Dongfang Family, be?

In an instant, humiliation, resentment, and hesitation all flooded his mind.

But ultimately, when he looked back into Jiang Ning's calm, unruffled eyes, all the stray thoughts in his mind vanished.

He only remembered the flames produced out of thin air, the divine sword flying through the sky, and his own fragile pride.

Face? Dignity?

In the face of the true Great Dao, what do those things even matter!

Having thought it through, his mind became completely clear.

He kowtowed heavily once more toward Jiang Ning.

This time, the determination in his voice far exceeded before.

"This disciple... is willing!"