Chapter 25

"Are you looking for me for something?"

"I know a senior sister from the Sword Pavilion. If you need a sword, we can go and choose one. The spirit stones can be paid later."

Hu Jing said, looking at Wang Meng with a strange expression. She couldn't quite describe the feeling, but Wang Meng seemed a bit different, more composed, with a deeper gaze, seemingly more mature compared to his previously carefree personality.

Wang Meng smiled, "No need, I already have a sword. It works fine for now."

Wang Meng took out his broken blade.

"Will this do?"

"It's enough for cultivation."

At this moment, Hu Jing's messenger, a small spirit fox, ran over. Hu Jing nodded, "My master is calling me, so I'll go first."

Wang Meng nodded. In his previous life, he had abandoned everything he could for cultivation, and in this life, he cherished everything before him. The result of meeting might be separation, but at least before that, he wanted to help the two of them a bit more.

Teaching someone to fish is better than giving them a fish. Wang Meng wanted to impart survival skills, which were much safer and more valuable than a cultivation technique or some magical weapon.

... Suddenly, Wang Meng realized he was a penniless man, with only one spirit stone and a broken blade.

He had never been this poor before.

"Looks like I need to work."

Wang Meng swayed as he came to the Thunderlight Pavilion, where almost everything was available. Disciples could take on tasks, do part-time jobs, and increase their contributions here.

A round-faced little girl came out, "Senior Brother, what do you need?"

Wang Meng smiled, "My task this year is to plant spirit fields, so I came to get some seeds."

"Sure, Senior Brother, please show me your holy token."

Wang Meng took it out. Every formal disciple had one, which recorded their contributions to the Holy Hall. When buying things in the Holy Hall, one could use either spirit stones or contributions.

The little girl swiped the holy token on a crystal-clear jade tablet and smiled, "Senior Brother, it seems you're doing your first task. Every new disciple starts with ten contribution points, but this time, the spirit grain seeds will use up all ten. Are you sure?"

"I'm new, just call me Wang Meng."

The round-faced little girl giggled, "I'm Xiao Tian. Here, we call guests Senior Brothers and Senior Sisters. I'm also a part-timer."

"Hehe, I see. Just give me the spirit grain seeds, then."

"Sure, Senior Brother Wang." The little girl swiped the holy token, returned it to Wang Meng, and then took a small bag of spirit grain from the back warehouse.

"Senior Brother, when you harvest, you can come to me, and I'll give you a better price."

The little girl smiled sweetly.

"No problem." Wang Meng wasn't too concerned.

"Right, Senior Brother Wang, wait a moment." The little girl rushed in again and took out a talisman. "Senior Brother Wang, this... is a Wind-Cloud Talisman I made myself. It might not be very good, but I hope it can be of some use."

She pushed it into Wang Meng's hand, her big black eyes blinking. Wang Meng smiled, "I won't refuse it. As you can see, I have nothing now. When I become successful in the future, I'll definitely treat you to a big meal."

The little girl bit her lip, "Senior Brother Wang, you must keep your word."

Wang Meng nodded, feeling a sense of warmth. No wonder they say that cultivation in the Holy Hall is a happy thing. If it were in the Evil Cultivation or Demon Cultivation, he wouldn't even encounter such a thing.

A touch of the Wind-Cloud Talisman revealed it was poorly made, but the sentiment was there, and refusing it would hurt her feelings.

Wang Meng, with his broken blade, swayed as he walked toward his spirit field. Cultivating the land, tsk tsk, it was indeed a novel experience.

At this time, the city was abuzz with the news of the destruction of the Sword Tomb. It was as if the Thunderlight Hall's ancestral tomb had been disturbed, but it was the old ancestor himself who had dug it up. Everyone could only grit their teeth and swallow their anger.

Many disciples, especially sword cultivators, came to the Thunderlight Hall for the Sword Tomb, hoping to explore the sword array before the age of thirty. If they obtained a treasure sword, their future cultivation would be much easier. Who would have thought it would end up like this?

With the Sword Tomb gone, some disciples were considering changing halls.

While the Holy Hall did not encourage changing halls, it was not prohibited.

"Aunt, I'm going to the Dao Light Hall!" Zhao Guang was indeed furious. As a member of the Zhao family and with such strength, he already felt humiliated in this wretched place. Now, with the Sword Tomb gone, his plan to explore it within two years was in vain. Why stay here any longer?

Zhao Ya was also helpless. She knew Zhao Guang's thoughts, but as an elder of the Thunderlight Hall, if Zhao Guang left, the Thunderlight Hall would truly be in decline.

"Are you really going to leave? Actually, Xu Huang has been quite good to you," Zhao Ya said.

"Aunt, Elder Xu and I don't get along. We come from different backgrounds, and frankly, we don't get along well. I think you've seen that. Moreover, the Thunderlight Hall's level is too low, which will hinder my cultivation. Now that the Sword Tomb is gone, the Dao Light Hall is the only choice. Even if I don't propose it, the family will."

Zhao Guang had no real attachment to this wretched place.

Zhao Ya sighed and waved for Zhao Guang to leave. She had worked hard to bring Zhao Guang here to boost the Thunderlight Hall's prestige. If not for Zhao Guang, the Thunderlight Hall's younger generation would have no one to show for it. But it still didn't work out, and she didn't know how to explain it to the Thunder Ancestor.

In the Holy Hall's grand competition two years later, the Thunderlight Hall would likely end up at the bottom, and the elders would not fare well either.

As Zhao Guang came out, he met Hu Jing. This wretched place had nothing to keep him, except for Hu Jing, who was truly a beauty with good talent. An ordinary person like her, given some benefits, would surely follow him obediently.

Thinking of this, his heart warmed.

"Junior Sister Hu, you came just in time. I have something to tell you," Zhao Guang smiled, putting on the air of a senior brother.

Hu Jing stopped, "Senior Brother, what do you need?"

"Cough, cough, it's not convenient here. Let's go somewhere else to talk."

Hu Jing smiled, "There's nothing that can't be said in front of others. Just say it directly. My master is waiting for me."

Hu Jing's smile made her even more beautiful. Though not from a cultivation family, she had a captivating charm that grew with her cultivation, like a budding orchid, fragrant and lasting.

"Junior Sister Hu must have heard about the destruction of the Sword Tomb, right?"

"I've heard. It seems the Thunder Ancestor did it on purpose, probably hoping we would rise from the ashes and not build our glory on past achievements."

"What rise from the ashes? The Thunderlight Hall's level is too low. If not for the Zhao family owing a favor to Thunder, my aunt wouldn't have come here. Now that the Sword Tomb is gone, it won't be long before the excellent disciples leave. My aunt might leave too. Come with me to the Dao Light Hall. It's where the best of the Holy Hall's younger generation gather, and a high-level place will help you grow better."

Zhao Guang spoke confidently, full of arrogance.