Chapter 3, Miscellaneous Servants of the Immortal Gate

Lü Xinyao could not help but glance at Fang Yuan, and in her indifferent gaze, a hint of subtle mockery suddenly appeared

I simply hate it so much that I want to draw a little figure to poke your mouth every day

Suddenly, there was a commotion all around, and everyone's gaze became captivating.

It is unlikely that talent has been overlooked

However ... ...

The master of the Immortal's Hall let out a sigh and did not speak

Do menial work

The celestial envoy was taken aback upon hearing this, and smiled, saying: "I was worried that you might succumb to despair after such a setback, falling into a state of despondency. It seems I was overthinking; at such a young age, it is indeed rare to possess such a mindset. However, you may be disappointed, as after this cohort, the Celestial Hall will no longer accept disciples. Moreover, given your age, by the time you complete your training, the prime period for cultivation will have passed."

Fang Yuan's mood became extremely complicated at that moment, even filled with a kind of anger that made him want to leave in a huff

In the shortest possible time, he seriously considered various possibilities for the future

Brother Zhu, please do not get angry

Mr. Zhu from Xiantang was somewhat enraged at that moment, slamming his wine glass heavily onto the table, and was about to get up and leave

I have heard that you were originally at the top of the Jiazi list, yet due to a single remark from me, you lost your qualification to be listed. Do you harbor any resentment in your heart

Outside the hall, Fang Yuan recalled the mysterious feeling that the teachings of "Dao Yuan Zhen Jie" had brought him not long ago. He slowly got up, intending to leave this unwelcome place. At that moment, a voice sounded from behind: "Are you Fang Yuan?"

The celestial envoy of the Qingyang Sect let out a low sigh and said, "We were once fellow disciples in the pursuit of the Dao, and I understand your feelings. However, this is not a matter of our sect being unfeeling; rather, this child is truly unsuitable for re-entering the celestial sect. As you teach the young disciples in the Immortal Hall, you should understand that allowing these children to study pharmacology, divination, artifacts, calligraphy, and other disciplines from a young age is all to prepare them for their future cultivation..."

But he took a deep breath, suppressing the turmoil within.

To enter the immortal gate and serve as a menial worker, this is simply another form of extremity

Amidst so many gazes, the celestial envoy of Qingyang Sect pondered for a while, yet still shook his head heavily

What?

As soon as Fang Yuan was mentioned, the atmosphere at the table became somewhat subtle

The younger generation is indeed!

You ... ...

Otherwise, with Lu Xinyao's talents and potential, how could the city lord have developed the intention to take Fang Yuan as a son-in-law

The Qingyang Sect's immortal envoy, however, said no more. He raised his cup and took a sip, noticing that Mr. Zhu still appeared indignant, his anger not yet dissipated. After pondering for a moment, he smiled and said: "Enough, Junior Brother Zhu, we have been friends for a hundred years; how can we let official matters disrupt our harmony? Since you hold this young man in such high regard, I, beyond my duties, would not mind giving him a chance, provided he is willing!"

There are already too many promising talents in the sect

Fortunately, I did not invest significant effort in the study of the Dao Yuan Zhen Jie subject

The celestial envoy of the Qingyang Sect regarded Fang Yuan, smiled slightly, and asked softly

Fang Yuan responded politely and did not lose his manners

However, Master Zhu of the Immortal Hall could no longer hold back and suddenly said, "Brother Qiao, you have come for official business, and I should not say these things, but I truly cannot help it. That child Fang Yuan has grown up under my watch; his talent is indeed remarkable. This time, he has rightfully secured the top position on the Jiazi list. Now, just because of a word from the Immortal Gate, are we to ruin this child's bright future?"

Hmph, with the foundation of the Qingyang Sect, how could it possibly hinder his cultivation if properly nurtured

The celestial envoy suddenly changed the subject and said with a smile: "I do not truly wish to stifle a talented individual, so I will make an exception and give you an opportunity. Becoming a disciple of the Qingyang Sect is out of the question, but serving as a miscellaneous worker in the celestial sect is also a path to cultivation. Moreover, those who excel may have the chance to be admitted into the inner sect through special consideration. I can take you to the celestial sect to serve as a miscellaneous worker; I wonder if you would be willing to accept this offer"

The celestial envoy of the Qingyang Sect nodded thoughtfully, saying little more.

It turns out he is just a child skilled at rote memorization

Mr. Zhu from Xiantang said indignantly

The lord of the city, Lü Zhu'an, sighed softly and said, "The celestial envoy is not wrong. This nephew Fang Yuan Fang Shi is someone I have watched grow up; he is indeed a good child. He is somewhat dull in nature, but his memory is quite good. I have heard that before the major examination, he not only memorized the Dao Yuan Zhen Jie thoroughly but also mastered all the annotations and classics related to it. This kind of diligent effort is not something an ordinary person can compare to. However, aside from the Dao Yuan Zhen Jie, he is completely ignorant of other medical theories, divination, tools, martial arts, and so on. If we consider the Dao Yuan Zhen Jie, he would naturally be at the top of the list, but if we exclude it, he would be inferior even to an ordinary person"

The celestial envoy of the Qingyang Sect remained unmoved, merely stating: "You are aware that the recruitment of disciples by the celestial sects is no longer the same as it used to be. In the past three hundred years, the number of disciples admitted every three years has exceeded three times that of the previous ten years. However, the resources for cultivation are limited. It is impossible for these disciples to grow without sufficient resources. The celestial sects no longer have much energy to invest in those who are deemed unworthy. To speak frankly, perhaps this upcoming major examination will be the last one in three hundred years..."

You ... ...

Upon the utterance of these words, the people present were immediately taken aback, their gazes filled with astonishment as they turned to look at the celestial envoy

Generally speaking, when these children reach the age of fifteen or sixteen, their foundational training is nearly complete, and their physical bodies have already taken shape. At this time, selecting those with exceptional talents to enter the immortal sect for cultivation is indeed the most opportune moment. Otherwise, if cultivation begins too early, when their bodies have not yet fully developed, forcibly practicing Qi may not be beneficial and could instead harm their essence. Conversely, if cultivation starts too late, once their bodies have taken shape, their talents will have already been significantly diminished. Just a few years' difference can lead to a future achievement that may be reduced by at least half.

The celestial envoy of Qingyang Sect was momentarily taken aback, and following his gaze, she looked outside, where she saw Fang Yuan sitting by the pond in the outer hall

Then the celestial envoy of the Qingyang Sect, Brother Qiao, was slightly taken aback: "What does Junior Brother Zhu mean?"

The Lord of Taiyue City, Lü Zhuan'an, and General Qi visibly relaxed, a hint of playful amusement curling at the corners of their mouths

There are naturally not many who are qualified to sit at the main table in this inner hall, but they include the city lord, General Qi, the Daoist master of the Immortal Hall, Qiao Yunting, as well as the city lord's daughter, Lü Xinyao, who can still ascend to the Jiazi list even after the cancellation of the Dao Yuan Zhen Jie subject, the son of General Qi, Qi Xiaofeng, and a few other young prodigies from Taiyue City. All of them are top talents in Taiyue City

At this moment, the usually taciturn Daoist of the Immortal Hall suddenly let out a low sigh

Turning around, Fang Yuan was taken aback to see a middle-aged man in a purple robe standing behind him with his hands clasped behind his back. He was none other than the celestial envoy from the Qingyang Sect. The city lord, General Qi, and others were also by his side, their expressions complex as they looked at him. Lu Xinyao and other young prodigies from the Jiazi List followed closely behind, each wearing expressions of confusion and concern.

All eyes were fixed on the celestial envoy of the Qingyang Sect, with even breaths held in anticipation

He seemed to have just remembered this person. After a moment, he gently spoke: "I heard that this year in Taiyue City, a prodigy has emerged in the Dao Yuan Zhen Jie, who can be regarded as the first person in three hundred years. He was originally the top of the Jiazi list, but is it really him?"

When he confirmed that this was indeed the last path laid out before him, he raised his head and replied earnestly:

Hmm?

At this moment, upon hearing the words of the celestial envoy, they all felt a sense of unease in their hearts

Fang Yuan thought to himself, yet spoke lightly on the surface: "It is useless to blame heaven and others; the younger generation has no time for resentment, I only wish to start anew!"

The city lord's daughter, Lu Xinyao, glanced at the celestial envoy, then lowered her eyes, sitting quietly without uttering a word

It is important to note that within the Immortal Sect, there exists a strict hierarchy. Above the ordinary disciples, there are the inner disciples, who are the cream of the crop, selected from among many. Among the inner disciples, a true disciple is born only once every three years. Each true disciple receives focused cultivation from the sect, becoming a figure of great prominence, admired by thousands, and enjoying a century of honor, regardless of their cultivation level.

As for the youth you mentioned, I have already reviewed his case file. The Dao Yuan Zhen Jie is indeed profound, and even I have not encountered anyone who can completely memorize the thirty-six publicly available scriptures of the Dao Yuan Zhen Jie without a single error. However, this child is average in other aspects of cultivation. Now that the Dao Yuan Zhen Jie has been proven to be false and the Grand Master has passed away, no one pays attention to this area anymore. If we were to take this child into our sect, he would essentially be a blank slate. Before he can begin his cultivation, he would need to relearn various foundational theories. How long do you think it would take him to master them? Three years? Five years? By that time, would he still be suitable for cultivation?

Master Zhu said: "This child truly possesses remarkable talent; why can we not make an exception and accept him into the fold?"

Isn't it an insult for someone who should be a true disciple of the immortal sect, ranked first in the Jiazi list, to be made to do menial tasks?

Mr. Zhu was greatly angered, and after a moment, he spoke in a deep voice: "Do you not realize that this one thought could lead to missing out on a promising talent!"

As the words were spoken, a sudden silence enveloped the inner hall

The cancellation of the Dao Yuan Zhen Jie course is truly unavoidable; however, there were originally not many individuals specializing in the Dao Yuan Zhen Jie course, so it will not lead to the loss of talent. At this moment, within the inner hall of the City Lord's residence, the celestial envoy of the Qingyang Sect gently raised his cup and sighed.

Indeed, they did not put in much effort before, and it was truly because that subject was too difficult

The younger generation is willing!

Fang Yuan was momentarily taken aback upon hearing this, and his expression slightly changed

Although this is a compromise for them, it has unexpectedly brought them great fortune in the present

The celestial envoy of the Qingyang Sect, upon hearing this, could only let out a bitter laugh: "But where does the celestial gate have so much energy to cultivate him?"