Chapter 20: Outer Disciples.
Chapter 20
"Master, what is it that you have summoned me to do?"
After Bu Xingjin gently rang the bell, only half an incense stick of time passed before a maid in green clothes came lightly to the gate of the courtyard.
Because he had opened the gate in advance, the maid in green went straight in when she saw him standing in the courtyard. Bu Xingjin greeted her with a polite smile.
Although in her eyes Bu Xingjin was just a grass spirit and his cultivation level was only Qi training, but since the Peak Master arranged for him to live in the guest residence instead of the Baicao Garden, she had to treat him according to the standards of hospitality, including the way she addressed him.
"Well……"
The words that Bu Xingjin was about to say were interrupted by the green-clothed maid saying the word "immortal".
"I have just started my cultivation journey and cannot be called an Immortal. I am afraid your cultivation level is higher than mine!"
This is Bu Xingjin's reasonable speculation. Although he is currently unable to accurately judge the level of other people's cultivation, he can already use his intuition to sense who is stronger and who is relatively weaker.
"Master, you're joking. No matter what your cultivation level is, since you've settled here, you're a Master to us."
The maid in green kept smiling, but her tone was very firm, and her meaning was very clear: she would not change the way she addressed her.
Okay.
Anyway, there shouldn't be many opportunities to meet. After finding Zhao Siwen this time and asking him where he usually stays, there probably won't be anything that will bother them again.
After a brief thought, Bu Xingjin did not insist on his own opinion, but acquiesced to the title of the green-clothed maid. He gently called the green-clothed maid over and clearly explained his intentions.
"Do you have any spells that can connect me to others? Something I can learn. I need to find Zhao Siwen, but I don't know how to contact him or ask where he is."
After asking, Bu Xingjin felt a bit rash, asking for advice on magic right out of the blue, not knowing if it was truly precious. However, it was mainly because the people from Fuhua Peak he met were so friendly that he lost his composure without realizing it.
"There's no need for magic..."
"Unfortunately, there is currently no communication spell that an immortal can comprehend. However, if you simply wish to locate Zhao Siwen, I am willing to guide you to his residence. If nothing unexpected happens, he should be there."
Bu Xingjin's clear voice and the gentle voice of the maid in green echoed almost simultaneously. He immediately nodded happily and responded, "That's great! Please take me to find Zhao Siwen."
The maid in green brought Bu Xingjin and the small tree that Bu Xingjin did not forget to hold, and came to Zhao Siwen's residence together.
"Master, this is it."
Bu Xingjin looked up and saw a small, beautiful palace standing tall in the mountains. The palace was five bays wide and three bays deep. While it couldn't compare to the grand hall of the master of Fuhua Peak, it was unique, exquisite, and breathtaking.
Like an indescribable treasure, Bu Xingjin, who had never had an interest in architecture, was drawn to owning one. Unaware of the exquisite beauty within, he yearned to explore its exquisite structure and experience its indescribable charm.
Bu Xingjin stared intently, approached cautiously, and almost bumped his nose when he got too close. Only then did he come to his senses and knocked on the door.
"Who is it? Come in?"
From the depths of the palace, Zhao Siwen's voice rang out, clear and melodious, like the sound of nature. At that moment, the palace gate slowly opened without wind, as if under the influence of a magical spell.
Bu Xingjin turned around, his gaze lingering on the maid in green waiting beside him, and said softly, "Thank you for your help."
"You are too polite, Immortal. I will take my leave first." After saying that, the maid in green bowed slightly and left quietly.
Bu Xing stepped lightly over the threshold of the palace and entered the hall.
At the first moment, Bu Xingjin looked around the hall with admiration, but the simple decoration inside disappointed him.
In stark contrast to the magnificent exterior, the interior was remarkably simple and shabby. Within the vast hall stood a dozen crimson pillars, each so large that a man could hug it. Their cracks and mottled patterns spoke of the vicissitudes of history. The floor was paved with light gray stone bricks speckled with black, appearing dingy and untidy. Aside from a wooden bed in the corner, an empty antique display case, and a gray futon, there was no other decoration.
This feeling is really hard to describe.
As appealing as it looks from the outside, it can be quite disappointing once you step inside. It's like eating a delicious meal with great anticipation, only to find it tastes so bad you want to spit it out.
"Bu Xingjin, why are you here? I was just about to look for you."
Zhao Siwen, dressed in light blue clothes, appeared from somewhere.
Bu Xingjin looked at him uncomfortably, even forgetting the purpose of his trip. "Why is your place only beautiful on the outside? Why don't you decorate the inside?"
However, his words left no trace in the air, as if they were gently wiped away by an invisible hand, failing to reach that cold heart.
"Why so many complicated decorations? I think it's beautiful enough like this." Zhao Siwen looked at Bu Xingjin with a puzzled look. He thought it was good like this, simple and beautiful.
"Have you noticed that there is a slight difference between the inside and the outside?" Bu Xingjin said the word "a little" against his will. He was too embarrassed to say directly that there was a world of difference.
"Yeah." Zhao Siwen suddenly became excited as if he had found a soulmate. "I said before that I wanted to make the outside completely gray, and then add some black embellishments on the exterior walls, but Senior Sister disagreed."
"How cool would that be!"
What's your aesthetic?
Bu Xingjin was speechless.
Forget it, we can’t communicate because of different aesthetic views, so let’s just ask how to build the foundation!
"I came to you to ask you a question."
Bu Xingjin changed the subject.
"What's the problem?"
"I've already reached the peak of Qi training, but I still can't establish my foundation. What's going on?"
Hearing this, Zhao Siwen looked at Bu Xingjin in disbelief. It had only been a few days, and when they first met, he had just started practicing Qi, but now he was about to break through to the foundation-building stage.
"Not everyone can achieve foundation building. Many people only achieve great success in Qi training throughout their entire lives, and are always one step away from building a foundation."
"There is almost no other way except to practice diligently and persistently."
"Unless you only wish to stop at the Foundation Establishment stage, you can take the Foundation Establishment Breakthrough Pill, which can help you achieve a successful breakthrough. However, if you use the Breakthrough Pill to advance to the Foundation Establishment stage, you will not be able to advance any further."
Zhao Siwen told Bu Xingjin everything he knew without reservation.
I see.
After listening to it, Bu Xingjin suddenly understood.
He thought there was something wrong with his practice?
Since that’s the case, I have no choice but to go back and practice harder.
"I see. Thank you."
Bu Xingjin looked at Zhao Siwen with a very serious expression.
"This isn't some secret knowledge, you don't have to."
Zhao Siwen scratched his head embarrassedly. He really liked Bu Xingjin. He was looking forward to it before they even met, and he liked him even more after their first meeting.
The two were silent for a moment, and Zhao Siwen suddenly clapped his hands, which scared Bu Xingjin.
"Oh, I almost forgot about the important matter."
"I met my master yesterday. He has already arranged everything for you to go to the Yanshui Secret Realm. You will enter as an outer disciple of the Amaterasu Sect."
"So you must obtain the status of an outer disciple of the Amaterasu sect before setting off."
Sects have their own rules and regulations. It's unlikely that Bu Xingjin will be admitted to the Amaterasu Sect within a few days, unless the Fuhua Peak Master accepts him as a direct disciple. Accepting a disciple is no small matter, and they don't have a master-disciple relationship. After much deliberation, the Fuhua Peak Master came up with a plan: allow outer disciples to apply, and then allow Bu Xingjin to become an outer disciple.
The assessment for outer disciples was much simpler than that for inner disciples. They only had to climb 10,000 steps and come down within two hours.
Become an outer disciple?
Bu Xingjin was stunned when he heard this. He had never thought of staying in Amaterasu Sect for a long time, especially since Xiaoshu's injuries had not recovered yet. He didn't know if there were any natural treasures in the Yanshui Secret Realm that could heal Xiaoshu's injuries and strengthen his body.
"After becoming an outer disciple, can I go out freely?"
Zhao Siwen immediately noticed Bu Xingjin's misunderstanding and explained, "The outer disciples of the Amaterasu Sect are different from those of other sects. They don't need to do trivial tasks within the sect, such as tending to spiritual fields, and enjoy freedom of movement. However, every year they must complete at least two tasks assigned by the sect, or they will lose their outer disciple status."
After Zhao Siwen's detailed explanation, Bu Xingjin felt relieved. If it was really as Zhao Siwen described, then it would undoubtedly be perfect.
"OK."
Bu Xingjin agreed.
"Then there's no time to lose. I'll take you to the place where the outer disciples' assessment is being held. It just so happens that the sect has opened the outer disciples' assessment these days."
…
Bu Xingjin followed Zhao Siwen to the assessment site for outer disciples - Yingxin Peak, which is also the mountain to which all outer disciples of Amaterasu Sect belong after passing the assessment.
Among the surrounding towering mountains, this peak wasn't particularly prominent; its height and size weren't impressive. On the broad platform at the base of the peak, a few people stood sparsely. They seemed to be those who had failed the assessment but were unwilling to give up.
Bu Xingjin glanced at them and was determined to pass this assessment.
Few seek to join the Amaterasu sect's outer sect, and even fewer seek to learn from a master within it. After all, for those pursuing the path of cultivation, apprenticeship is a necessary step towards success. However, the Amaterasu sect's outer sect doesn't teach such knowledge. Within the outer sect, you won't even have access to a master's guidance, and you might not even be provided with shelter. The only reward is a meager reward for completing tasks.
Initially, numerous mortals new to Qi cultivation flocked to the outer sect, seeking only the meager rewards for completing quests. However, once they joined, they discovered that completing quests required a higher level of cultivation, and to improve their cultivation, they had to complete quests first to receive the rewards. Thus, they were trapped in an inescapable vicious cycle.
As time went by, the appeal of the Amaterasu sect's outer sect gradually weakened. Later, only those who failed to enter the inner sect would participate in the outer sect examination with the idea of joining the outer sect first and using it as a foundation to seek inner sect qualifications.
Zhao Siwen and Bu Xingjin arrived together at the location of the outer sect manager in charge of the assessment. He sat behind an exquisite wooden table, but the table was empty, making it seem exceptionally quiet.
"Manager Lin, I have a good friend who wants to join the outer sect. I'm bringing him here to take the test."
Lin Wang, the outer sect manager who had noticed the two of them long ago, immediately stood up from his chair, nodded respectfully, and smiled flatteringly, "I'll register him and arrange for him to take the test right away."
He had no choice but to act this way, as the visitor was a direct disciple of the Master of Fuhua Peak. Although both were currently at the Foundation Establishment stage, their future paths were completely different. He could only become the Master of Yingxin Peak, and that would depend on how far he could advance in his cultivation. The other person, however, could become the Master of Tianzhao Sect.
After simply registering Bu Xingjin's name, cultivation level and other basic information, Lin Wang personally brought Bu Xingjin to the assessment site.
——The ten thousand steps built around the Yingxin Peak appear before your eyes like a coiled dragon on a coiled dragon pillar.
"I will light a stick of incense that will burn for exactly two hours. Before the incense burns out, you must climb ten thousand steps to the summit, retrieve the token from the gray-robed man at the top, and return it to me. Only if you complete all of this while the incense is still burning will you be considered to have passed this assessment."
Looking at the long and endless stairs, Bu Xingjin couldn't help but feel an urge to escape from reality after listening to the assessment standards.
Two hours, or four hours, to climb 10,000 steps, one step up and one step down. Is this truly a task humanly possible? Who designed this extreme test of human strength?
Looking at the small tree in his hand, Bu Xingjin resisted the urge to turn around and leave.
Just to repay the little tree for saving my life, I will fight to the death!
The moment Bu Xingjin stepped onto the steps, Lin Wang lit a half-meter-tall incense stick. He barked at Bu Xingjin's back, "You must give me the token before the incense burns out."
After hearing Lin Wang's story, Bu Xingjin gave a bitter smile, took a deep breath, and began to climb. He carried not only the palm-sized tree but also a small flowerpot and a little soil. However, in his current state, these things felt like nothing to him, like grasping a feather. Therefore, he firmly refused Zhao Siwen's request to temporarily care for the tree and insisted on taking it with him.
"Xiaoshu, I've suffered a lot to get to the Yanshui Secret Realm. There must be some rare treasures in there that can heal your injuries!"
Although Bu Xingjin didn't get a response, he wasn't worried. Instead, he looked at the fan-shaped staircase in front of him, which was narrow on the left and wide on the right. At this moment, he was thinking carefully about how to step onto this unique staircase.
Without hesitation, Bu Xingjin chose to climb the inside. As everyone knows, the inside is shorter than the outside. However, this wasn't the only reason. Another important factor was that by choosing the inside, he could climb steadily, each step as smooth as climbing stairs. In contrast, choosing the outside required him to take a step and a half, climbing each step and taking half a step before continuing.
After all, with a cultivation base close to the foundation-building stage, coupled with the unique tempering system, Bu Xingjin's physical endurance far exceeded that of an ordinary person. As he climbed the first three thousand steps, he seemed to be at ease and without any pressure.
As Bu Xingjin reached the middle three thousand steps, he began to feel a slight ache in his legs. Initially, he ignored this slight discomfort, but as the number of steps increased, his steps grew heavier, like lead pressing down on his soles, making each step seem exceedingly difficult. Despite this, he persevered tenaciously, attempting to overcome all odds with unyielding willpower during this long climb.
Then came the 4,000 steps behind. Bu Xingjin's speed slowed down significantly, his eyes were dazed, his brain was blank, and he was struggling only by willpower.
In climbing the last few steps, Bu Xingjin used all his strength, skillfully using his hands and feet, making the process almost consume half the time it would have taken him to climb the previous 3,000 steps. After arduous efforts, he finally succeeded in reaching the summit.
“The peak is majestic and magnificent, but not grand. It only has a circular platform the size of a helicopter landing pad. This is where the main hall of the Amaterasu Sect’s only peak master is located at the bottom of the peak.
A young man in gray was sitting cross-legged on it.
As Bu Xingjin slowly climbed up, he glanced at her, but didn't respond, gently closing his eyes. His expression remained motionless, as if he were staring at a lifeless stone.
Bu Xingjin lay exhausted on the ground, his rapid breathing echoing in the air. He was only a few meters away from the gray-clothed man. After a short rest, he unhesitatingly pushed his legs forward and struggled to reach the gray-clothed man.
"A token?"
It's not that he is rude or impolite, he just doesn't have the energy to say another word.
The man in gray took out a jade token and threw it into Bu Xingjin's hand as if he was used to it.
Bu Xingjin held the jade token in his hand, gazing at the endless steps stretching into the abyss. Suddenly, he turned around and asked, "Does the assessment require us to keep going all the way?"
"No." The gray-clothed man said these two words calmly, and then said, "Someone tried to jump down."
Although the gray-clothed man did not reveal the man's fate, Bu Xingjin keenly realized that at the top of that towering mountain, even if a foundation-building cultivator jumped down, he would hardly escape the fate of either death or disability.
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