Chapter 14: Finally Getting to Sleep in a Bed!

With that, Wang Kun turned and walked out.

The forty-six new disciples hurried after him out of the side hall and back onto the bluestone plaza.

Wang Kun raised his hand and swept his sleeve — three lustrous green lights burst forth from within it.

The moment they left his sleeve, they spun and unfurled in midair, transforming into three tiny green bamboo boats, each no larger than a fingertip.

In the blink of an eye, the fingertip-sized bamboo boats caught the wind and expanded section by section, swelling to six meters in length within just a few breaths.

The green bamboo boats hovered briefly in the air before slowly descending, their hulls trembling faintly as they settled silently onto the ground without making a single sound.

Everyone on the plaza stared in wide-eyed wonder, forgetting even to blink.

Once the boats had landed, Wang Kun stepped aboard one of them and beckoned to the crowd.

"Come on up."

The disciples carefully boarded one by one.

Bai Chen followed the group and took his place on the last bamboo boat.

The moment he steadied himself, he felt a slight dip beneath his feet, and the bamboo boat lifted off, carrying everyone slowly upward and heading toward the back mountain.

He lowered his eyelids and quietly observed his surroundings.

Fine wisps of green radiance condensed along the boat's railings, and the wind seemed to be blocked by an invisible barrier — not even the faintest breeze touched his face. The sensation was remarkably similar to riding on an airplane.

The speed was about that of a bicycle, but it was utterly silent.

Not a sound at all.

The methods of the cultivation world were truly beyond imagination.

In no more than ten minutes, the green bamboo boats glided smoothly to a stop before a cluster of neatly arranged wooden cabins.

Each cabin was a single room. They were spaced apart — not too close, yet with a little breathing room between them.

Looking out across the mountainside, there appeared to be several hundred of them in total.

Wang Kun had everyone disembark, then raised his hand to stow the bamboo boats away before addressing the group.

"This is the Outer Sect Disciples' valley. The wooden cabins behind me are your quarters — one room per person. Each room is fully furnished with a bed, table, chairs, and a meditation cushion. Daily necessities can be exchanged at the Outer Sect market."

He turned and gestured toward the cabin doors.

"Each cabin has a nameplate out front. Go ahead and pick one, then write your name on it."

One room each?

Bai Chen looked at the small wooden cabins ahead, a flicker of surprise crossing his eyes.

He had assumed that with his mixed Spirit Root aptitude, even if he managed to enter the sect, his treatment wouldn't amount to much.

Nine times out of ten, he'd expected to be crammed in with a dozen others, sleeping on a communal bunk.

He hadn't expected a private room at all.

The Hexu Sect truly lived up to its reputation as the foremost righteous sect of the Cangmang Region — generous indeed.

"Now let me go over the rules you need to observe as Outer Sect Disciples. From here on, conduct yourselves properly within the Outer Sect."

Wang Kun cleared his throat and spoke with a grave expression.

"The founding principle of our Hexu Sect is to uphold the will of Heaven, protect the Cangmang Region, suppress demons and evil, and safeguard the people — to be the pillar of the righteous path and keep the peace of this land. Private fighting and harming fellow disciples within the sect is strictly forbidden. Engrave this in your hearts and do not violate it."

The disciples quickly bowed their heads in acknowledgment.

"We humbly receive your guidance!"

"Good."

Wang Kun gave a slight nod and swept his sleeve — forty-six thin booklets flew out and landed precisely before each person.

"These are the sect's foundational Qi-drawing techniques. Study them on your own."

Bai Chen caught his booklet and looked down at it.

On the cover, five seal-script characters read: "Hexu Qi-Drawing Formula."

He flipped it open, glanced inside, then quickly shut it again.

Dense, wall-to-wall text — and they were supposed to study all this on their own with no one to teach them?

What a headache.

As if sensing what was going through the minds of these newly inducted disciples, Wang Kun continued.

"The sect does not leave your cultivation entirely to yourselves. Every five days, a lecture will be held at the Outer Sect Hall of Learning, taught on a rotating basis by sect Elders, free of contribution points.

"However, the topic of each lecture is up to the presiding Elder — it may cover Qi-drawing techniques, the application of Five Element Spirit Roots, sect regulations, or anything else at their discretion.

"If you wish to attend a specific course — such as Artifact Forging, the Sword Dao, or Alchemy — you must register at the Steward's Hall and pay the corresponding contribution points, after which you will be arranged into a class."

Someone couldn't help but speak up: "Steward, but we don't have any contribution points yet."

"That is precisely what I'm about to explain."

Wang Kun nodded and spoke clearly.

"Contribution points are the sect's universal currency. They can be exchanged for cultivation techniques, Pills, and magical artifacts, and can also be used to cover the cost of lectures and meals.

"You can take on sect missions at the Outer Sect Mission Hall — slaying demons, gathering spirit herbs, sorting magical artifacts, and so on all earn contribution points. The higher the difficulty, the more points you receive. Remember to know your limits."

Wang Kun pointed toward the eastern side of the cabin area.

"Over there is the Outer Sect Dining Hall. Meals are served at dawn, noon, and evening. There are no exceptions and no leftovers — keep track of the times and don't miss them. If you do miss a meal, you'll need to spend contribution points to eat."

Seeing the disciples nod, Wang Kun clasped his hands behind his back and spoke in a serious tone.

"Every year on the fifth day of the fifth month is the Outer Sect Grand Examination. The top three finishers receive not only a generous reward of contribution points, but also prizes such as Foundation Establishment Pills and low-grade magical artifacts.

"Your one and only goal in the Outer Sect is to achieve Foundation Establishment. Anyone who succeeds in Foundation Establishment is admitted directly to the Inner Sect without any further examination. Once in the Inner Sect, you may have the opportunity to become a disciple under one of the peak Elders, enjoying the treatment of a Personal Disciple."

At these words, a light instantly ignited in everyone's eyes.

Wang Kun took in their expressions and gave a satisfied nod.

"On the path of cultivation, your Spiritual Root is your innate talent — but your cultivation depends on your character and will."

"Do not grow complacent because your Spiritual Root is strong, nor despair because it is weak. The Outer Sect is your starting point, not your endpoint. Only through diligent cultivation will you prove worthy of the opportunity you seized by standing out from ten thousand others."

He waved his hand, his tone lightening somewhat.

"Those are all the rules. Now go and choose your cabins. If you have questions in the future, you may ask at the Mission Hall or the Steward's Hall."

"Understood, Steward!"

All forty-six disciples bowed in unison.

Wang Kun gave a slight nod, his sleeves swaying gently.

A streak of green light shot from his sleeve, transforming into a flying sword that landed before him.

With a light tap of his toes, Wang Kun's figure settled steadily onto the flying sword and he departed via Sword Flight.

Once Wang Kun had left, the crowd of disciples immediately scattered toward the wooden cabins.

Everyone wanted to claim a room to their liking — there was a palpable sense that the good ones would be taken if you waited even a moment too long.

Bai Chen, however, stayed put. He waited until the crowd had mostly dispersed before leisurely making his way toward the far western corner of the cabin cluster.

That section of cabins backed up against a patch of low bamboo. Fewer people would likely head that way, and even if he had neighbors, there would be fewer of them — perfect for keeping a low profile.

He picked an unclaimed cabin, carved the characters "Bai Chen" onto the nameplate, and pushed the door open.

The interior had no unnecessary decorations.

Against the window stood a single wooden bed, its surface covered with a coarse cloth mattress, a wooden pillow at the head, and a folded quilt alongside a set of disciple robes.

Beside the bed sat a low, unfinished wooden table with a round wooden stool, and on the other side, a grass-woven meditation cushion.

Beyond that, there was nothing else.

Having a room all to himself was already wonderful — what more could he ask for?

Bai Chen bounded over to the bed with excitement, tossed his pack aside, and flopped down onto it without ceremony.

Thud. He landed squarely on the mattress.

Then he rolled back and forth across the bed a couple of times and buried his face happily in the quilt.