166: Outer disciples

Hearing Elder Ma’s words, Lin Yu almost couldn’t hold back and cheered aloud!

“Wonderful! It’s exactly what I wanted. This old man is truly a godsend!”

“Formation Peak is like a minefield with Golden Core and Nascent Soul cultivators! If we go there to clock in every day, some old monster will see through us sooner or later! It’s better not to go! Let’s go back to the External Affairs Hall and continue to lie low!”

Lin Yu’s Soul Power was dancing with joy inside the ring, but the message he conveyed to Su Ming was one of composure and prudence.

“Indeed, Elder Ma’s considerations are thorough. Avoiding the limelight for now is truly the best strategy.”

Su Ming suppressed the turmoil in his heart, his face showing just the right amount of obedience and apprehension.

“Disciple… I obey.”

Elder Ma looked at him, and a hint of imperceptible approval flashed in his cloudy eyes.

Unperturbed by favor or disgrace, knowing when to advance and when to retreat.

He’s a good prospect.

“However, the Sect’s operations cannot function without the maintenance of Formation artifacts.”

Elder Ma’s tone suddenly shifted, causing Su Ming, who had just let out a sigh of relief, to become tense again.

“Those Geniuses on Formation Peak are too arrogant to bother with low-level chores. Most ordinary laborers are dull and not capable of much. Over time, the wear and tear and scrapping of the Sect’s low-level Formation artifacts have become a persistent problem.”

He looked at Su Ming, his gaze burning.

“This old man wishes to establish a 'Formation Inscription Repair Hall' under the External Affairs Hall.”

“It will be solely responsible for the maintenance, optimization, and archiving of low-level Formation artifacts across all peaks of the Sect.”

“Are you willing to lead it?”

Silence.

So quiet that he could hear his own heartbeat.

Su Ming’s brain was working at top speed.

Lead it?

This was no longer a simple errand; this was… authorization!

“Disciple… my Foundation is completely ruined, and my Cultivation is low. I fear I cannot bear such a heavy responsibility.” Su Ming immediately bowed, lowering his posture extremely.

“What this old man wants is not your Cultivation.”

Elder Ma’s voice carried an undeniable authority.

“What this old man wants is your meticulousness, which can dig out a lifeline from old papers!”

“It’s your methodical approach that can organize a pile of messy accounts!”

“And even more, it’s your solidness that can ensure ‘zero defects’ in repaired items!”

Seeing Su Ming still pondering, seemingly weighing the pros and cons, a smile flickered in Elder Ma’s cloudy eyes, and he threw out a bait that no laborer could refuse.

“If you can get this hall running, establish regulations, and train a few capable individuals.”

“And reduce the repair rate of low-level Formation artifacts in the Sect by 30%.”

“Then this old man will make an exception…”

He paused, and each word, like a giant stone, struck Su Ming’s heart.

“And recommend you as an Outer Sect Disciple!”

Boom!

Su Ming’s mind went blank.

Outer Sect Disciple!

These four words were the identity he had longed for since entering the Cloud Hidden Sect!

It was not just a change in status, but a leap from “thing” to “person”!

He suddenly looked up, and for the first time, an uncontrollable yearning appeared in his eyes.

Elder Ma looked at him like this and nodded in satisfaction.

With desire, one is easier to drive.

“Consider this matter for three days.”

“Give this old man your answer in three days.”

After speaking, he closed his eyes and said no more, as if he had once again turned into a withered statue.

Su Ming took a deep breath, suppressing all the tumultuous waves in his heart.

He bowed deeply to Elder Ma, then turned and exited the quiet room… Walking back to Ding Qi Courtyard, Su Ming’s steps were somewhat unsteady.

The moonlight stretched his shadow long.

“Master, Elder Ma’s move is both an opportunity and a greater test.”

His heart had completely calmed down.

“This ‘Formation Inscription Repair Hall’ seems to be independent of Formation Peak and under the jurisdiction of the External Affairs Hall, but in reality, it’s like a probe, reaching into the logistics systems of all peaks.”

“Maintaining Formation artifacts will inevitably involve contact with each peak’s Materials list, damage data, and personnel allocation. The interests involved here are probably a hundred times more complex than those of a Steward Sun.”

Lin Yu’s Soul Power also shed its previous frivolity and became serious.

“That’s right. This old man is setting up a stage for you, but also putting you on a grill.”

“He wants to use your mathematical abilities to rectify the deep-seated problems at the bottom of the Sect. If you do this well, you’ll be a sharp blade in his hand, and your name will definitely be on the Book of Merits (book of merits).”

“But if you mess it up, or offend someone you shouldn’t in the process, you’ll be the first scapegoat thrown out.”

Su Ming nodded, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.

“But we must get the identity of ‘Outer Sect Disciple’.”

“Exactly!” Lin Yu said decisively, “Only by becoming an Outer Sect Disciple will you truly have a ‘talisman,’ and for Master to restore his Soul Power, he also needs more stable resources. We must seize this opportunity!”

“But how do we break this deadlock?” Su Ming frowned, “How can I, alone, leverage such a tangled web of interests?”

“Who said you have to do it alone?”

Lin Yu chuckled, his tone once again carrying that familiar cunning of a modern office worker.

“Disciple, have you forgotten our ‘old profession’?”

Su Ming was startled: “Old profession?”

“Exactly! Management! Processes! Standardization!”

Lin Yu’s Soul Power enthusiastically waved its arms.

“We won’t play their game of Formation talent, nor will we talk about their profound, nonsensical insights! We’ll play science with them!”

“We’ll treat Formation maintenance as… well, as assembly line work!”

“What we need to do is not Cultivate a few Formation Geniuses—that’s Formation Peak’s business. What we need to do is build a reliable ‘repair team’!”

Lin Yu grew more excited as he spoke, various terms tumbling out of his mouth.

“Step one: formulate the ‘Standard Operating Procedures’! Break down the repair of each low-level Formation into a dozen, or even dozens, of steps! Clearly state what to check first, what tools to use second, what Materials to replace third! Let a novice fool follow it and still complete seventy to eighty percent!”

“Step two: compile the ‘Common Fault Atlas’! Photograph and draw all encountered faults, making them into an album! Annotate the cause of the fault, solution, and required Materials next to each! In the future, anyone who encounters a similar problem can just flip through the atlas and find the solution!”

“Cough, step three: introduce the ‘Material Compatibility Taboo Handbook’! List out what Materials will become ineffective when placed together, what runes conflict with what Formation bases! Avoid any more incidents like that hyacinth crystal stone!”

Su Ming listened, dumbfounded.

These unheard-of terms, these incredible ideas, struck like lightning, shattering his ingrained perceptions.

So… Formations could be “repaired” like this?

“Master, is this method… feasible?”

“Feasible? More than feasible!” Lin Yu said triumphantly, “We don’t Cultivate Great Masters; we Cultivate skilled workers! We don’t need creativity; we need execution! Solve the most practical problems with the simplest methods! This is the essence of management!”

“This ‘Formation Inscription Repair Hall’ is our experimental field! If it succeeds, you’ll be the ‘Process Management Great Master’ of the Cloud Hidden Sect, and your position will be as stable as Mount Tai!”

An unprecedented light ignited in Su Ming’s eyes.

He seemed to see a brand new path, completely different from traditional Cultivation, slowly unfolding before him.

Just as he was immersed in this grand blueprint.

“Su Ming! Su Ming!”

Two clear voices, like orioles, approached from afar, breaking the night’s tranquility.

Su Ming looked up and saw two small figures, carrying lanterns, running excitedly towards Ding Qi Courtyard.