20: Chapter 2 The Evil God, the Cunning Servant

"Not only have you failed to Cultivate Sword Qi."

Feng Yifang seemed unwilling to let him off easily and continued, "You haven't even hunted a single demonic beast, let alone obtained a Beast Core."

"...I also haven't obtained the qualification to enter the Sword Washing Valley," Li Linfeng said.

According to the rules, all Sword Sect Disciples, whether they are from the outer Sect, inner Sect, or are servants, can enter the Sword Washing Valley to hunt demonic beasts and Cultivate sword path techniques and combat skills.

The prerequisite is passing the entry assessment.

A righteous Sect like the Sword Sect values its Disciples highly and is unwilling to see them take unnecessary risks.

Therefore, not only entering the Sword Washing Valley, but also different areas within it have different entry requirements.

The outermost layer is the easiest to qualify for.

As long as one completes the process of drawing spiritual energy into the body, masters a set of sword techniques, and can use them proficiently, they may enter.

"I understand. Not only have you failed to Cultivate Sword Qi," Feng Yifang said after listening, "you haven't even stepped through the door of cultivation."

"...I've been a Disciple for less than ten days!" Li Linfeng restrained himself but couldn't hold back, explaining, "I only drew Qi into my body the day before yesterday. Sword techniques are not a problem for me. Starting tomorrow, I can enter the Sword Washing Valley."

He didn't want to explain this much.

If he were a true youth, he could easily give these reasons.

But he wasn't.

It was just that the tone of this evil god was truly unbearable.

Mockery, sighs, a barely perceptible disdain...

Since he began cultivating, no one had ever shown him an attitude of 'I'm very disappointed in your performance'!

"Oh, so after you enter the Sword Washing Valley, will you be able to kill demonic beasts and obtain Beast Cores?" Feng Yifang asked.

"...No," Li Linfeng opened his mouth, but ultimately replied with these two words.

The outer layer of the Sword Washing Valley is filled with ordinary beasts like pheasants, rabbits, deer, and wild boars, most of which haven't evolved into spiritual demons.

Naturally, they haven't condensed Beast Cores either.

"Oh."

"..."

Hearing this 'Oh,' a vein twitched at Li Linfeng's temple.

Beast Core, Beast Core.

Why is this evil god so fixated on Beast Cores?

"...Does the Godlord require Beast Cores?" he asked.

"Yes," Feng Yifang admitted generously, "They happen to be useful for feeding the cat."

"Cat?"

"Didn't I tell you before that this deity keeps a tiger demon?" Feng Yifang frowned. "I even asked you to find a demon race Cultivation Technique. You actually didn't take this deity's words to heart!"

"I was momentarily preoccupied with cultivation and forgot. Please do not take offense, Godlord."

"Oh, so it's a memory problem. Then you should prepare paper and pen. Even a good memory is no match for a bad pen, let alone your terrible memory," Feng Yifang lectured earnestly.

"...Yes," Li Linfeng closed his eyes and replied resignedly.

Other Sword Sect Disciples beside him, seeing his poor complexion, were about to ask with concern when they heard movement outside the hall door.

The outer Sect Elder responsible for imparting techniques had arrived, riding a gust of fierce wind.

Everyone stood up and bowed in greeting.

Afterwards, they followed the Elder to practice the Sword Sect's foundational heart technique and sword forms.

Feng Yifang also listened with great interest.

The key point was, he understood everything upon hearing it.

Moreover, he could remember every single word the Elder said and would never forget it again.

It felt like he could recall it whenever needed.

This sensation was quite marvelous.

"Could this be the experience of being a top student?"

Two hours later, the technique-imparting Elder finished the lesson and left.

By now, it was already noon.

Li Linfeng and the other Disciples hurried to the dining hall for a meal.

"Why aren't they going to eat?" Feng Yifang, perceiving through Li Linfeng's senses that some people remained in the technique hall, couldn't help but ask.

If you're not enthusiastic about eating, there's something wrong with your mindset.

All morning, four hours, they studied foundational theory and practiced sword forms.

They're all growing teenagers, the age where they could eat their fathers poor. Yet, some stayed in the classroom instead of going to the dining hall?

Strange.

"They have Fasting Pills," Li Linfeng replied. "Although these few are Outer Sect Disciples, they are from families under the Sword Sect's influence and have Elders protecting them."

So they eat the Fasting Pills bestowed by their own Elders.

These people here don't have any.

See, how does this evil god compare to their Elders? Quite inferior, isn't he?

Perhaps stimulated by Feng Yifang's mix of disdain and lecturing, Li Linfeng couldn't help but retaliate.

"Oh, this deity doesn't have things like Fasting Pills," Feng Yifang thought to himself, this deity hasn't even heard of them. "Otherwise, shall I give you a bit more merit golden light?"

He had kept half when he gave it last time.

What other people's children have, our child must have too!

Evil God Feng had never been an evil god before, nor had he ever taken a Divine Servant.

So he adopted the perspective of a mentor, an investor.

In his view, to expect output, one must invest some capital.

If he had Fasting Pills, Li Linfeng could save the time spent running to the dining hall and Cultivate in the technique hall.

The technique hall had spirit-gathering Formations, making cultivation twice as effective with half the effort.

Unfortunately, he truly didn't have them.

Then, give a bit more merit golden light?

"...That won't be necessary, Godlord," Li Linfeng took a deep breath.

He thought to himself, indeed, given this evil god's power, low-grade pills like Fasting Pills naturally wouldn't be in his sight.

Just this casual attitude of giving away merit golden light made that clear.

He reminded himself not to let his irreverent thoughts be known by the other party.

Returning to the technique hall.

Li Linfeng didn't start cultivating immediately. Instead, he went to the bookshelf holding the technique manuals and books.

He searched for the martial arts techniques and combat skills that Godlord Feng Yifang required.

"It's the Li Clan that needs them," Feng Yifang reminded him.

Meaning, the techniques you find are for your clansmen to Cultivate. Keep that in mind.

Don't pick techniques that cannot be taught to outsiders, ones that, once practiced, could easily attract trouble and have people come knocking.

Li Linfeng naturally understood his meaning and looked for techniques and combat skills practiced by many cultivators.

"Also, are there any literary path textbooks here?" Feng Yifang asked.

"...Textbooks? You mean literary path books?" Li Linfeng thought to himself, "Godlord, do you intend to enlighten and educate the Li Clan?"

"Smart, Little Li, guessed it right away," Feng Yifang laughed heartily. "Exactly, this deity wants to eliminate illiteracy! My believers must be literate and martial. Otherwise, it would be a disgrace to this deity's reputation. Don't you agree?"

"The Godlord speaks rightly," Li Linfeng responded.

Deep inside, no great waves were stirred.

This evil god was very eccentric.

An eccentric evil god wanting to do anything was not strange.

He was beginning to accept it somewhat.

Soon, Li Linfeng found the few most commonly practiced foundational martial arts techniques and several sets of combat skills from his memory, including those for fists, feet, staffs, clubs, sabers, spears, and so on.

Martial Artists often used spears, staffs, and sabers.

He quickly flipped through them.

Feng Yifang, seeing through his eyes, easily imprinted them in his mind.

There were even a few body tempering medicinal formulas after the techniques, which he also memorized.

Then, Li Linfeng squatted down and pulled out a few elementary primers and children's books from the corner of the bookshelf.

He did the same as before.

These books were flipped through even faster.

They were finished in a moment.

At Feng Yifang's request, he also looked at some classics, histories, philosophies, and collections.

There was common knowledge about Mortals and the cultivation world, from which Feng Yifang benefited greatly.

But he still complained verbally: "Troublesome. Why can't they be directly read?"

The books on the shelf were made from refined beast hide, very sturdy and durable.

Apart from that, they were no different from ordinary books.

"Disciples below the Qi Refining Level Three have not developed Divine Sense," Li Linfeng reminded the Godlord not to say things like 'why don't they eat meat'.

After a pause, he added, "If they encounter illiterate Disciples, Sword Sect Elders directly imprint the foundational knowledge into their minds using divine will, allowing them to instantly comprehend the written language."

"Why doesn't the Godlord do the same?"