Chapter 10: Penniless

The big rat spirit and his two junior brothers exchanged glances and suddenly burst into loud laughter

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

Fang Xing seemed to have made up his mind, stuffing the mask into his embrace before turning and leaving.

Since one hundred taels of silver have already been taken out, it is only natural not to be stingy over these ten taels of silver, and the fat priest reluctantly accepted it.

That is the place where the disciples who violated the rules are confined

The plump Taoist, who had been waiting outside, hurriedly approached when Fang Xing came out, eager to see what magical instrument he had chosen

The plump man rarely had such an opportunity to show off, and he became even more delighted, speaking incessantly

In fact, all outer disciples reside in such valleys. Once they break through to the fourth level of spiritual movement, they can be promoted to inner disciples and move to caves on the mountain where the spiritual energy is more abundant. If they break through to the seventh level, they can be promoted to true disciples, and within the Qingyun Sect, they will possess a valley or peak rich in spiritual energy, enjoying the same treatment as the elders.

Hehe, having offended our senior brothers, does this fellow still think he can have a good outcome? That's just a dream!

"Junior brother, look over there, that is the mountain peak where the inner disciples cultivate. You must not dare to approach casually..."

In the path of Daoist cultivation, if one lacks extraordinary talent, what one relies on is resources; even a fortune of ten thousand taels can easily be exhausted along this journey of cultivation. However, this young man before me does not even have one hundred taels of silver, and it seems he has little prospect for the future

The big rat spirit did not know the name of this mask, and since he could not write down Hu Chan's name, he followed the usual practice of labeling anything whose name could not be identified as "low-grade magical artifact." After completing the record, he placed the jade tablet on the shelf, which made it official. His expression darkened, and with a forced smile, he said: "Congratulations, junior brother, on selecting the treasure. You may leave now"

That place is truly remarkable; it is where the disciples specializing in alchemy practice, known as Qixia Ridge. It is named so because it is shrouded in alchemical mist year-round, which never dissipates. The disciples there are not to be trifled with, each one possessing an astonishing demeanor, as we ordinary disciples will inevitably seek their assistance sooner or later. However, there are many women among the disciples of Qixia Ridge. Junior brother, you are not unattractive; when you are a bit older, I will introduce you to one. Having such a partner brings numerous benefits...

Well then, it's settled!

Together with the stout man, they descended and found the steward of this valley, who was a sprightly young man in his twenties, slightly plump, and appeared somewhat shrewd. He was specifically responsible for managing the housing arrangements and overseeing the kitchen. He was quite cordial; after verifying Fang Xing's wooden token, he arranged for him a room close to the clear spring for easy access to water, and inquired whether Fang Xing would like to dine at the kitchen.

Then... you just said that if you are not satisfied, you can return it and exchange it...

However, his gaze towards the *illustrated* book subtly became somewhat disdainful.

At this time, the outside world has already entered deep autumn, while within the Qingyun Sect, due to the abundance of spiritual energy, it still presents a scene reminiscent of spring and summer

Fang Xing handed the mask to him, and the stout man held it in his hands, turning it over and over, suspiciously asking, "What is this thing?"

The large rat spirit's expression darkened as he said: "Nonsense, you have already chosen the magical artifact, it has been recorded, and there is no turning back!"

They inscribed the ambiguous name "Low-level Magical Artifact" on the jade talisman, not only because they genuinely did not know the reason behind the mask's name, but also in preparation for when Fang Xing might come looking for them, with the intention of taking advantage of him.

There is the Wudao Pavilion, where the secret collection of spells of the Qingyun Sect is stored, but only inner disciples are allowed to enter

Through this method, they are unaware of how many benefits they have gained

Fang Xing flipped the mask back and forth, pretending to be naive as he said, "You wouldn't be deceiving me, would you?"

According to the Fat Daoist, this is a valley inhabited by disciples of an external sect, and there are more than a dozen similar valleys in the Qingyun Sect

... ...

The stout man was taken aback: "You don't even have one hundred taels of silver?"

There is the Meal Administration, where outer disciples wish to receive their rations, and they must pay one hundred taels of silver each month

This is the place where you will live in the future, and my residence is not far from yours, so we can visit each other often

After a long journey, I finally saw a valley at the foot of the mountain, where several hundred houses were scattered amidst the white clouds. The valley was quite spacious, so it did not appear crowded, and even seemed rather generous. The surrounding environment was also pleasant, with a clear stream flowing down from the mountain through the valley, and nearby was a large expanse of lush and delightful bamboo forest, rustling gently in the breeze.

Upon inquiring, I learned that this also requires payment, so I had no choice but to approach the plump man again

The great rat spirit sneered coldly, its eyes gleaming with a sharp light, continuing to laugh derisively.

The road to the valley where the outer disciples reside at the foot of Yunyin Peak is not short; it took them more than two hours to walk there. The plump man did not stop talking the entire time. However, he indeed had a wealth of knowledge. With a mix of gossip and the regulations of the Daoist sect, he spoke for over two hours without repeating himself. Fang Xing, in order to quickly understand the Qingyun Sect, did not interrupt him, patiently listening and occasionally responding in agreement.

Bian Dali slapped the Fat Daoist on the shoulder and said, "Then lend me one hundred taels of silver first, and I will pay you back another day"

Changing is not out of the question, it just depends on your performance at that time

He lives in a neighboring valley, approximately two to three miles from here

The plump man, seeing that he was full of confidence, said no more and led the way ahead, heading towards the training ground assigned by the sect. As they walked, he introduced Fang Xing to the sights of the sect. He held a position in the miscellaneous affairs office and ran errands everywhere, so he was quite familiar with various places in the sect. Although he was not often well-regarded, he had frequent interactions with many people, and thus various bits of insider information came easily to him.

This place, Qingya, is where Elder Songgu delivers his teachings. He is a legendary figure in our Qingyun Sect, possessing profound magical powers yet treating others with kindness. Even we, the outer disciples, receive a smile in response when we pay our respects to him. Every year during the Double Ninth Festival, Elder Songyan gives a lecture here. Sometimes he discusses important matters to pay attention to in cultivation, and other times he explains the principles of spells. The number of disciples who come to listen is countless, ranging from true disciples to outer disciples, all eager for a seat yet unable to obtain one

Fang Xing was taken aback, realizing that his pockets were empty; where would he find any money

I can't believe he actually chose such a thing, this kid acts as if he has found some treasure...

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

It is not that no one has come to exchange; there are many disciples who have suffered great losses at their hands. Afterward, they came to seek them out, pleading in every possible way, willingly offering all their valuable possessions in hopes of being allowed to exchange for a magical artifact.

Junior brother, look over there, that place is the Qingyin Valley where the female disciples reside. Outside the valley, there is a clear pond where the junior sisters often bathe. To prevent any unscrupulous individuals from peeping, the elders of the sect have set up a barrier of spiritual mist around the pond, which remains sealed year-round. However, this spiritual mist is not always present; as long as you have perseverance and lie on that mountain peak for ten days or half a month, there will surely be a time when the mist clears. There was once a senior brother who saw the female disciples bathing there and returned to talk about it for a full half month.

Fang Xing then went with the Fat Daoist to the house that had been arranged for him. It was a solitary wooden cabin, appearing quite simple. However, despite its simplicity, it was not shabby; it was made of high-quality pine wood, capable of keeping mosquitoes at bay. Moreover, the interior was well-furnished, at least much better than when he was a novice. The bed frame, table, and chairs were all present, but there were no utensils or bedding for daily use.

The plump man felt helpless; he had brought the person himself. When introducing him to the senior brother in charge of the kitchen, he had boasted that this was his good friend. Now, the person was right there watching, and he couldn't possibly refuse to lend even one hundred taels of silver. With no other choice, he had to let the senior brother in charge of the kitchen note it down first, promising to bring the money over in the next couple of days, as he did not have that much on him at the moment

The senior brother was quite courteous, simply waving his hand and saying there was no need to remember it, just bring it over when there is time

In any case, what is recorded is just a low-grade magical artifact; at worst, we can exchange it for another low-grade magical artifact later. However, if the names and characteristics of the magical treasures are clearly stated, it would not be so easy to handle, as the Daoist sect also has its own rules.

Fang Xing snatched it back and said: "You don't understand anything, this is definitely a good item. Let's go, take me to see the place where you cultivate!"

The kind reminder from the plump man

Hmph, when he turns around and wants to exchange for another magical artifact, let's see if I won't strip him of his skin!

"Junior Brother Fang, when using the food service in the kitchen, it is necessary to pay one hundred taels of silver each month"

This mask appears somewhat old, with some damage on it, and it certainly does not look like a good item