Chapter 10

The Great Rat Spirit did not know the name of the mask and could not write down the name of Hu Chan, so he followed the usual practice and wrote "Low-Rank Magic Tool" for anything he could not name. After recording it, he placed the jade tablet on the shelf, and it was as good as set in stone. His expression turned serious, and he said with a forced smile, "Little Junior Brother, congratulations on selecting a treasure. You can leave now!"

Fang Xing turned the mask over in his hands, pretending to be confused, and said, "You're not trying to trick me, right?"

The Great Rat Spirit's face darkened, and he shouted, "Nonsense! You've already chosen a magic tool, and it's been recorded. There's no going back!"

"But... you said earlier that if I'm not satisfied, I can bring it back and exchange it..."

Fang Xing opened his mouth wide, as if he was scared by the few of them.

"Exchange? It's not impossible, but it depends on your performance!"

The Great Rat Spirit sneered, his eyes gleaming with cunning. He sneered continuously.

It wasn't the first time someone had come to exchange. Many disciples who had suffered great losses at their hands would later come to beg, willingly handing over all the good things they had to ask for permission to exchange for a magic tool.

Through this method, they had reaped countless benefits.

They recorded "Low-Rank Magic Tool" on the jade tablet, not only because they truly didn't know the name of the mask but also to prepare for the possibility that Fang Xing might come back to exchange it. If it came to that, they could just give him another low-rank magic tool. If they had written down the name and characteristics of the magic tool, it would be harder to manipulate, as the Daoist sect had its own rules.

"Alright then, I'll take it!"

Fang Xing seemed to have made up his mind, tucked the mask into his chest, and turned to leave.

The Great Rat Spirit and his two junior brothers looked at each other, then burst out laughing.

"Actually chose such a thing, and this kid acts like he got a treasure..."

"Hehe, offended us, and he still expects to get something good? Dream on!"

"Hmph, when he comes back to exchange for another magic tool, I'll skin him alive!"

The fat Daoist, who had been waiting outside, saw Fang Xing come out and hurriedly greeted him, eager to see what magic tool he had chosen.

Fang Xing handed the mask to him. The fat Daoist examined it from all angles, looking puzzled. "What is this thing?"

The mask looked old and had some damage, not at all like a good item.

Fang Xing snatched it back, "You don't know anything. This is definitely a good thing. Let's go, show me where I can practice!"

Seeing his confidence, the fat Daoist didn't say anything more and led the way to the place where the sect had arranged for practice. As they walked, he introduced the various sights of the sect. He held a position in the Miscellaneous Affairs Department and ran errands everywhere, so he knew a lot about the sect. Although he wasn't well-liked, he had many contacts and could easily share various gossip.

"Junior Brother, look, that place is the Clear Sound Valley where the female disciples live. There's a clear pond outside the valley where the sisters often bathe. To prevent perverts from peeking, the elders of the sect have set up a spiritual mist around the pond, which is always sealed. However, the mist isn't always there. If you have the patience to lie in wait on the hill for ten to fifteen days, you'll eventually see it clear. One senior brother once saw the female disciples bathing there and talked about it for half a month..."

"This green cliff is where Elder Songgu lectures. He is a legendary figure in our Qingyun Sect, with profound magical powers but a kind heart. Even we outer sect disciples can receive his smile when we greet him. Elder Songyan gives a lecture here every Chongyang Festival. Sometimes he talks about things to pay attention to in cultivation, and sometimes he explains the principles of magic. Many disciples come to listen, from the inner sect to the outer sect, all vying for a seat..."

"That place is even more impressive. It's where the disciples specializing in alchemy practice, called Qixia Ridge. Because it is always shrouded in alchemical mist, it got its name. The disciples there are not easy to deal with, each with a huge ego. After all, we ordinary disciples will eventually need their help. However, there are many female disciples in Qixia Ridge. Junior Brother, you don't look bad. When you're older, I can introduce you to one. Having such a partner has many benefits..."

The road to the valley where the outer sect disciples lived at the foot of Yunyin Peak was not short, and it took them more than two hours to walk. The fat Daoist's mouth didn't stop talking the whole time. He knew a lot, and his combination of gossip and sect rules kept him talking for over two hours without repeating himself. Fang Xing, eager to understand Qingyun Sect, didn't interrupt him and listened patiently, occasionally responding to keep the conversation going.

The fat Daoist, rarely getting such an opportunity to show off, talked even more enthusiastically, non-stop.

"Junior Brother, look, that's the mountain where the inner sect disciples practice. You mustn't approach it casually..."

"That's where the disciples who violate the sect rules are confined..."

"That's the Food Department. Outer sect disciples need to pay 100 silver taels per month to receive meals there..."

"That's the Enlightenment Pavilion, where all the secret techniques of Qingyun Sect are stored, but only inner sect disciples can enter!"

...

"Here, this is where you will live. My place is not far from yours, so we can visit each other often..."

After talking all the way, they finally arrived at a valley at the foot of the mountain, where several hundred houses were scattered amidst the clouds. The valley was large, so it didn't feel crowded, and the surroundings were pleasant. A clear stream flowed through the valley, and nearby was a large, lush bamboo grove, rustling in the breeze.

It was already late autumn outside, but inside Qingyun Sect, due to the abundant spiritual energy, it still looked like spring and summer.

According to the fat Daoist, this was a valley where outer sect disciples lived, and there were over a dozen similar valleys in Qingyun Sect.

He lived in a neighboring valley, about two to three miles away.

In fact, all outer sect disciples lived in such valleys. Once they broke through to the fourth level of the Lingdong stage, they could advance to inner sect disciples and move to a cave on the mountain with more abundant spiritual energy. If they broke through to the seventh level, they could advance to true disciples and have their own valley or mountain peak with abundant spiritual energy, enjoying the same treatment as the elders.

Together with the fat Daoist, they found the manager of the valley, a young man at the second level of the Lingdong stage, slightly plump, and looking quite shrewd. He was responsible for managing the housing arrangements and the Food Department. He was quite热情, verified Fang Xing's wooden tablet, and arranged a house near the clear spring for him, which was convenient for fetching water. He then asked Fang Xing if he wanted to eat at the Food Department.

"Fang Junior Brother, if you eat at the Food Department, you need to pay 100 silver taels per month..."

The fat Daoist kindly reminded him.

Fang Xing was taken aback. He had no money in his pocket at all.

He patted the fat Daoist's shoulder and said, "Then lend me 100 silver taels. I'll pay you back later!"

The fat Daoist was surprised, "You don't even have 100 silver taels?"

Fang Xing rolled his eyes and said, "Who said I don't have it? I just didn't bring it with me!"

The fat Daoist was helpless. He had brought Fang Xing here and had introduced him as his good friend to the senior brother in charge of the Food Department. Now, with the senior brother watching, he couldn't refuse to lend him 100 silver taels. Reluctantly, he asked the senior brother to note it down and promised to bring the money over in the next few days, as he didn't have that much on him.

The senior brother was quite polite and waved his hand, saying there was no need to note it down, just bring it over when convenient.

However, his gaze towards Fang Xing became somewhat disdainful.

In Daoist cultivation, if one doesn't have outstanding talent, resources are the key. Even a fortune can be easily depleted on the path of cultivation. This kid didn't even have 100 silver taels, so he probably wouldn't amount to much.

Fang Xing then went with the fat Daoist to the house arranged for him, a solitary wooden house that looked quite simple. Although simple, it wasn't shabby. It was made of high-quality pine wood, which repelled insects, and the interior was well-furnished, much better than when he was a Daoist child. It had a bed, table, and chairs, but lacked daily utensils and bedding.

Upon inquiry, he learned that these also cost money, so he had to ask the fat Daoist again.

Since he had already taken out 100 silver taels, he couldn't be stingy about 10 silver taels. The fat Daoist reluctantly agreed.

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