Bamboo Mound

Holding the Azure Cloud Step Jade Token, Ning Chang went straight downstairs. He wasn't particularly interested in the documents on the fourth floor; according to Elder Xie, they were just history books and account books.

As for the "crooked methods" on the fifth floor, although he was curious about their principles, he was currently too weak to make any rash contact with them and would be suspected of having ulterior motives.

After leaving the Sutra Repository, Ning Chang handed the jade token to Elder Xie.

After seeing the words on the jade tablet, Elder Xie laughed and said, "I didn't expect you to choose this, kid. This was created by the sect leader and is the fastest footwork in the Scripture Pavilion!"

"You've been inside for more than half an hour now, so I suppose you've decided to choose this one. Your cultivation level is too low right now, so you can't use the transfer jade slip. Just read this book slowly."

Elder Xie flipped his hand and pulled out a book about an inch thick, handing it to Ning Chang.

Seeing the cultivation manual, which was only as thick as a Chinese textbook, Ning Chang's heart, which had been in his throat, instantly calmed down. When Elder Xie told him to take his time reading it, he had thought it was a thick book the size of a dictionary.

"This footwork cannot be mastered overnight, so remember not to neglect your cultivation because of it!" Elder Xie earnestly advised.

Ning Chang accepted the "Azure Cloud Steps" book, only to find it was just the size of a palm. This left Ning Chang speechless, but he still thanked the elder.

"Disciple knows."

"Alright, let's go. When you reach the Spirit Fusion Realm, don't forget to come back and choose a cultivation technique from me." Elder Xie waved his hand, signaling Ning Chang to leave.

After putting "Qingyun Steps" into his spatial bag, Ning Chang looked around and found Xiao Li waiting under the podium not far away, so he walked towards him.

When Xiao Li saw Ning Chang approaching, he quickly went to greet him.

Once they were together, Ning Chang instructed, "You can take me around to different places."

Xiao Li responded and continued leading the way.

He led Ning Chang in a counter-clockwise direction along the square, so that they would be heading up the mountain after completing a full circle.

Along the way, the disciples bowed to Ning Chang, and Ning Chang nodded in response to each of them.

Looking at the disciples' uniform cloth robes, blue and white, which were roughly the same as his own, but with nothing on their chests.

Another style of cloth garment features swirling cloud patterns embroidered on the chest.

Xiao Li explained that those without embroidery patterns on their chests were outer disciples, while those with cloud patterns were inner disciples.

As Ning and Chang arrived at the area where the inner disciples lived, an inner disciple came out and greeted Ning Chang. He bowed and then prepared to leave.

Ning Chang quickly stopped him and asked, "Junior brother, what realm are you at now?"

The disciple hadn't expected Ning Chang to suddenly stop him. He hesitated for a moment, then replied:

"I am now at the ninth level of Spirit Fusion, and I am only one step away from solidifying my Spirit Platform."

"Is someone like you considered high or low within the inner sect?" Ning Chang asked again.

The disciple recognized the fire-patterned Daoist robe on Ning Chang's body and knew that he was a disciple of a certain Grand Elder. Naturally, he dared not be negligent and answered seriously:

"I am considered to be of intermediate level. As for us inner disciples, unless we are favored by the elders and taken in as personal disciples, we will leave the sect to train on our own after reaching the fifth level of the Spirit Platform. A very small number of us will stay in the sect."

He then laughed self-deprecatingly, "It's said that I left the sect to travel and train on my own, but it's just a nominal position now. Very few people come back."

"Why?" Ning Chang asked, puzzled.

The disciple's eyes dimmed: "Judging from your cultivation level of only the fifth stage of the Spirit Gathering Realm, you must be a disciple recruited this year, right?"

Ning Chang nodded.

"It seems that you are unaware, senior brother. The sect leader of Qingyun Sect is at the peak of the Fetal Heart Realm, and the elders are generally at the early stage of the Fetal Heart Realm."

He sighed and said, "For those at the Spirit Platform Realm, the cultivation resources distributed by the sect are barely enough to make a living. The most useful thing is these few layers of spirit-gathering formations."

Even at the Spirit Platform Realm, lifespan is only two hundred years. Rather than wasting time within the sect, it's better to leave and seek one's own opportunities.

Ning Chang nodded thoughtfully. So that's how it is. No wonder inner disciples go out to travel when they reach the fifth level of the Spirit Platform Realm.

He thought of his master, who seemed to be an elder, and one of the strongest among them.

"If I become an elder's personal disciple, can I stay in the sect indefinitely?" Ning Chang continued to ask.

The disciple shook his head. "Not entirely. For example, some highly talented disciples will also go out to gain experience and broaden their horizons."

Most of those who stayed behind received guidance from the elders and additional resources, which significantly accelerated their cultivation.

However, even so, very few people can remain in the fetal heartbeat stage.

He nodded and waved for the disciple to leave.

He turned to look at Xiao Li, who was not far away, and said, "Let's keep going."

Xiao Li was also aware of this, and whenever he saw Ning talking to someone, he would keep his distance.

He responded and led Ning Chang to other places.

As Ning Chang walked, he pondered the words of the inner disciple he had just heard.

It seems that even becoming an elder's personal disciple doesn't guarantee staying in the sect forever.

"It's still just a beginner's village after all." The fact that he had to face the issue of changing maps so early made him feel a little worried.

Just as he was pondering, a series of greetings pulled him back to reality. He looked up and saw that the two of them had already arrived in front of a grand hall.

He looked up at the plaque above the main hall entrance that read "Resource Hall," waved his hand, and told everyone not to worry about him.

Seeing that Ning Chang had come to his senses, Xiao Li continued, "This is the Resource Hall, which includes the quest log, the exchange hall, and so on..."

Disciples within the sect can earn contribution points by completing tasks, and then use these contribution points to exchange for items needed for daily cultivation.

For example, elixirs, materials, weapons, spatial bags, spirit stones...

Upon entering the hall, one is immediately struck by the bustling crowd, a stark contrast to the spaciousness Ning Chang had imagined.

Xiao Li's voice continued: "The task boards are on both sides of the Resource Hall, and the front desk for task posting and completion settlement is in front. As for resource exchange, it's on the second floor."

After saying that, he took a step back, waiting for Ning Chang to ask another question.

Ning Chang first looked around and saw that the task boards on both sides, which almost occupied the entire two walls, were crowded with disciples choosing tasks.

Even so, the hall was not as noisy as I had imagined, and everyone was orderly.

Seeing that there was no empty space to step in front of the task bar, Ning Chang gave up his plan to go forward and observe, and turned to ask Xiao Li:

How are the tasks divided here?

Xiao Li stepped forward and answered, "The missions are divided into five levels, generally arranged according to the degree of danger. Level one is basically a gathering and purchasing mission, and some slightly risky locations may rise to level two; hunting and capturing are at least level two, and the higher the target's cultivation level, the higher the mission level; there are also some special missions, which are usually between level two and level four; among them, after completing a level one mission, in addition to the personal reward of the mission issuer, the sect will give an extra one contribution point, level two is three points, level three is ten points, level four is twenty points, and level five is fifty points."