Chaos Spirit Field

The crane landed in front of the mountain gate. The three characters "Qingniu Zong" were majestic and full of vicissitudes. This time, they had truly arrived. Yang Xiaochan said, "Shanhe, this is Qingniu Zong. Come with me to register at the outer gate. For the time being, go to the Spirit Beast Pavilion to practice and say goodbye to your young wife."

After bidding farewell to Luo Tianshuang, Zhao Shanhe boarded Yang Xiaochan's flying sword and, after traversing numerous hilltops, finally arrived at the Spirit Beast Pavilion. The building was imposing, its history well-worn, and its story rich. A faint stench hung in the air, likely the smell of spirit beast excrement.

As a first-rate sect, the Qingniu Sect held extremely strict standards for its disciples. Generally speaking, individuals like Zhao Shanhe, possessing the Five Elements' spiritual roots, would typically only be assigned to menial tasks. However, nothing is absolute in this world, and exceptions always exist. Immortal sects also value social conventions.

The two arrived at the Spirit Beast Pavilion, and the Spirit Beast Pavilion steward hurried out to greet them. He asked, "Dear Yang, why have you come here in person?"

Yang Xiaochan said softly, "Deacon Liu, this is my nephew Zhao Shanhe. He has five elements spiritual roots. Please measure his spiritual root growth first. Here is the fee."

"Teacher Yang, it's just a small favor. You don't need to spend any money. Testing your spiritual roots doesn't cost that much either."

"Deacon Liu, my nephew is very talented in spirit beasts. Please take good care of him in the Spirit Beast Pavilion."

If it had been another direct disciple, Deacon Liu would have declined. The Spirit Beast Pavilion wasn't a place to collect trash. He really couldn't afford to offend Yang Xiaochan. Besides being a direct disciple, she was also the wife of Dan Hall Vice Master Tan Tai Yulong. It was the first time he'd felt the heat of a mid-grade spirit stone.

"Thank you for the reward, Mr. Yang. Zhao Shanhe, follow me."

Zhao Shanhe stepped into the spirit-testing formation. A white light illuminated him from head to toe, and a voice was heard.

“五行灵根，金属3、木属3、水属3、火属3、土属3。”

After hearing the test results, Deacon Liu didn't know how to praise him enough. He said, "Dear Yang, your nephew's five elements of spiritual roots have all grown at the same rate. This is quite rare."

"The five elements are pretty good on average, but the growth rate is a bit low. Deacon Liu, I leave the mountains and rivers to you. He is very talented in spirit beasts."

"Teacher Yang personally, I will definitely train you well."

"Shanhe, I have to go back. If you need anything, please contact me using the sound transmission talisman."

"Aunt, I can take care of myself."

Yang Xiaochan left. Zhao Shanhe felt a little sad, and Deacon Liu felt even sadder. This was a piece of trash with five spiritual roots, and the spiritual root growth rate was only three. He didn't know how much resources would be invested. He also didn't know whether this old man was easy to serve. He hoped to fool him.

"Zhao Shanhe, all good things must come to an end. As long as you cultivate to the middle stage of Qi Refining and become an inner sect disciple, you will be able to reunite with your direct disciple Yang. I will explain the rules of the outer sect to you."

"Deacon Liu, please speak. Shanhe is all ears."

"Outer disciples take a minor exam once a year. If they don't reach the first level of Qi Refining, they'll be expelled. This has never happened before. Five years are also a major exam. If you don't reach the third level of Qi Refining, you'll be expelled. This has happened once before, and that person also had five spiritual roots. If you can't enter the outer sect within ten years, you may be sent to a remote market or the secular world. The minimum cultivation requirement for inner disciples is the middle stage of Qi Refining, which is the fourth level of Qi Refining. Yang Qinchuan should have told you about this."

"My aunt told me, Deacon Liu, what else is there besides these?"

"A master leads you into the sect, but cultivation is up to you. Outer disciples don't have a master and rely entirely on self-reliance. Whether it's cultivation resources or questions you encounter during your cultivation, contribution points are required."

"Deacon Liu, how do I earn contribution points?"

"There are two ways to gain contribution points. One is to exchange them for cultivation resources, and the other is to complete sect missions. Outer disciples generally choose the second method."

"Deacon Liu, is there any mission in our Spirit Beast Pavilion that would be more suitable for me?"

“Zhao Shanhe, you are Yang’s nephew, so you should not be short of resources.”

"Deacon Liu, isn't it better to have more resources? Does our Spirit Beast Pavilion have any tasks suitable for me to take on?"

"Your cultivation is too low. The most you can do is clean up the excrement of spirit beasts."

Zhao Shanhe suddenly had an idea. He had no shortage of resources. The Qi Refining Pills given by Tan Tai Yulong were enough for him to cultivate to the middle stage of Qi Refining. The feces of the spirit beast seemed to be of some interest.

"Deacon Liu, can you show me the spirit beast?"

"no problem."

Zhao Shanhe followed Deacon Liu to the place where the spirit beasts were kept. Deacon Liu pointed at a group of fat and strong spirit beasts and said, "Shanhe, these are innate spirit beasts. They are used as food and ingredients for alchemy. They are extremely ferocious. They are usually cared for by disciples who have reached the third level of Qi Refining or above the second level of magic."

"Deacon Liu, what level of monster is the tiger?"

"Young tigers are innate demonic beasts, and adult tigers are at least at the foundation-building stage. If you're choosing a mount, a flying spirit beast is best."

"Does our Spirit Beast Pavilion have any foundation-building spirit beasts?"

Deacon Liu said proudly, "Not to mention foundation-building spirit beasts, we even have one at the Nascent Soul level. I'll take you to see foundation-building spirit beasts. Those are the mounts of the sect's guardians and above."

The two arrived at another palace, where the treatment of the spirit beasts was vastly different. Each beast had its own private cave. Deacon Liu was eloquently explaining the origins of the spirit beasts, and he was so lost in thought that he nearly died of fright. He saw Zhao Shanhe suddenly run up to Deputy Hall Master Tan Tai's mount, and the crane, named Qingluan, pecked at it with its sharp beak. The scene was unbearable to watch, and he didn't know how to explain it to Yang Qinchuan.

Qingluan, stop it. Your uncle hasn't brought the red fruits yet, so I can't make you candied haws. You're so naughty, you made me drool all over your face."

When Deacon Liu saw Zhao Shanhe throw the crane saliva on his face to the ground, he felt a pang of pain. That was a good thing, what a waste.

"Shanhe, you know Qingluan."

"Deacon, Qingluan is my uncle's mount. It brought me back. Does our Spirit Beast Pavilion have white sugar and red fruits? I promised to make candied haws for Qingluan."

"I'll give it to you later. Mountain and River Crane Saliva is a good thing. If you come across it again, collect it. One ounce is worth two contribution points."

"Deacon, I understand." Zhao Shanhe certainly knew that crane saliva was a good thing. After all, it was something that glowed with red light.

"Shanhe, today's spirit beast will only see this much. I will arrange a place for you to stay first."

"Deacon, I want to earn contribution points and take on the task of cleaning up the feces of spirit beasts."

"Shanhe, you don't lack cultivation resources, so why do you need contribution points? If you encounter any problems in your cultivation, I can help you solve them."

"Deacon, I'm always working at home, and I get restless when I'm too idle."

"Shanhe, I didn't expect your life to be so hard."

"Children from poor families have to grow up early. I'm used to it."

"What a sensible boy."