(Toothpick? Don't you see all these muscles we have all over our body?)
Those born with the surname "Chen" wished they could correct what the expert from Blood Refining Grotto said. But again... What kind of status they had, except for being a slightly large family in this Crimson River Town?
For this faction alone, the town-level settlements serving them numbered over twenty. There are even three cities affiliated with Blood Refining Grotto alone, providing more than a thousand potential candidates for them to choose from.
The people from Chen Family can't do anything, even if the expert decides to renegade his decision later. After all, he was here today to give some face to Elder Jian, who hails from the Tiangang Sword Pavilion.
If it was normal for an individual to hug firmly at the thigh of someone powerful. Then it was acceptable for a small faction like Blood Refining Grotto to worship the Tiangang Sword Pavilion like it was their ancestor.
Someone might ask if they're devoid of pride for displaying such a weak standing. But to these experts from tiny factions, it was accepted differently.
"What was pride? Can they be eaten?"
This would be what they'll ask if they were being looked down on by others. After all, losing a glimmer of pride in exchange for resources enough to produce a few Golden Core Layer cultivators worth more than a hundred times in return.
They would be smiling if all the super forces like Tiangang Sword Pavilion came to ask for a slice of their pride like it was sweet cakes.
"Just imagine... How much is the resources could be?"
"Disciple. Come over here with your attendant." Elder Jian didn't reply to what the expert said. Instead, he calmly called Chen Zigang and Chen Tu out.
The two politely made their way to Elder Jian and waited for his next instruction.
"Elder Zhang. This little attendant is the candidate I am introducing to the Blood Refining Grotto. I hope you'll take care of him after I bring his young master back to the Tiangang Sword Pavilion." Elder Jian said and pointed his palm at Chen Tu.
Child. Pay your respect to the senior from Blood Refining Grotto, Elder Zhang." he added.
"This junior Chen Tu greets Elder Zhang." Chen Tu quickly cupped his hands together like he was taught by Chen Zigang. Apparently, it works because the politeness he has shown caught the eyes of this elder.
"Not bad, not bad." Elder Zhang nodded at Chen Tu, seemingly impressed by Elder Jian's eyesight. But only Chen Tu personally knows what would happen afterward.
The two elders continued exchanging pointers with one another before it was later. Using the sun setting as a reason, the two elders bid farewell before leaving Chen Manor to their respective factions.
Chen Tian Peng was slightly dissatisfied with the lack of respect shown by Elder Zhang from the Blood Refining Grotto. Still, he couldn't be said to suffer a loss because his youngest son was already accepted into the Tiangang Sword Pavilion.
The departure of the two elders signified the end of this part of the story with the Chen Family. For regular families like them, an incident like today was nothing but the arrival of a small fortune. Their daily life still continues as usual, without a major change.
Meanwhile, things were different for Chen Tu.
Elder Zhang immediately renegades his promise to Elder Jian. Of course, he wouldn't make it too obvious to be spotted from plain view. His facial expression changed quicker than a billowing wind to heavy rain.
"Boy, I don't care what your name is, but be grateful that I didn't decide to leave you somewhere else and return to my Blood Refining Grotto alone. Although I did promise Elder Jian to take care of you, he didn't mention how and on what treatment."
"I will bring you back to the Blood Refining Grotto, but you won't be my direct disciple. Your talent is too poor, and even accepting you as an outer disciple is a shame to our faction." said Elder Zhang. His words were sharper than a knife and deadlier than an arrow.
But surprisingly, Chen Tu remained quiet even after Elder Zhang finished what he had to say. For the first time, he felt that this brat has what it takes to succeed. But merely a strong mindset is useless if he lacks the talent to turn firmness into strength.
With nothing else to say, Elder Zhang brought Chen Tu back to the Blood Refining Grotto.
From the exterior, it was a picturesque cave located on one side of a mountain. The inner part of this grotto was filled with buildings of different heights, with the tallest reaching nine levels and the shortest with only one level height.
On the side of the hill, the word "Blood Refining Grotto" is carved out on a towering pillar.
Unfortunately, Chen Tu was illiterate. Even if someone is reading the word out to him, he won't understand.
He was abandoned by the elder after leaving him at the registration office for outer disciples. Although one of the elders brought Chen Tu in here, no instruction was given to the registration staff.
Hence, Chen Tu was treated as a nobody with no backing. The fact that he's illiterate permitted the staff to secretly take away something from the disciple pack. For example, a sword and a self-sustaining kit like shovels, seeds, and food.
Chen Tu was also sent to the worst accommodation building to stay there. It can be said that only the most problematic bunch of people would be sent here. But Chen Tu's case is because he has no backing and is illiterate.
His first day outside of Chen Manor turned out to be terrible as Chen Tu not only had to sleep without a blanket, he didn't even have anything to eat that night.
In comparison, Chen Zigang had it much better. Upon leaving Chen Manor, the elder withdrew his flying artifact from a mysterious jade slip and took Chen Zigang to soar like a bird back to the Tiangang Sword Pavilion.
Morning.This was Chen Tu's first day here in this Blood Refining Grotto as its outer disciple.Although he was already here the previous afternoon, it couldn't be accounted for because the registration alone took almost the entire afternoon. It was already evening when he was guided to the disciple's accommodation building.Because he missed the chow time last night, Chen Tu woke up starving. After ensuring where the disciple's canteen was, he made his trip to the building in a hurry.Chen Tu was the first to wait outside the canteen. The waiting lasted for a while until the door to the canteen was opened by those on duty.He immediately went to where the cooks were waiting.It was quite a long meal distribution counter with several options. There are plenty of choices, from steamed buns to congee, sweet cakes, flatbreads, and crepes. But surprisingly, everything here is made from rice, wheat flour, and eggs.There's barely any seasoning added to the food, making them taste bland. Ev
Chen Tu lay flatly on the bed to start reflecting on what had happened earlier. Being alone inside this ten by ten feet room provided to each individual allows him to think quietly.(You're too passive...)The word Chen Zigang said came into Chen Tu's mind.(If there's an opportunity where you're accepted into a faction, make sure you behave like I do. Do not simply give in to other's threats and place all the concern on yourself first. It won't be too late to consider other matters after you do what I said...)This was what Chen Zigang told him back when they went to their secret hideout. Based on the word's content, he greatly highlighted his concern over Chen Tu, worrying that he'll suffer from unjust from all sides.To ensure he wouldn't go empty-handed, Chen Zigang even packed a few belongings for Chen Tu in case his worry developed. And inside the item he prepared for Chen Tu, there's something he secretly pocketed from the treasure chest brought back by Chen Tian Lang.Inside t
His schedule was about the same as yesterday. But not before filling his stomach to the brim to compensate for skipping his dinner last night. After he had his fill, Chen Tu made his way to the Mission Hall in a hurry.After all, this was his second day here in this Blood Refining Grotto. Thanks to the practice where all transactions require Contribution Token to proceed, how can Chen Tu stay idle without looking for things to do?Not doing anything was the luxury of well-to-do disciples, and not him. Unlike them, he had neither a good background nor a supporter standing tall behind him.Chen Tu would likely be drowned by the disciple's spit if his thought was known by the others.Because he was illiterate, it greatly hindered Chen Tu's process in picking a work to do. He had no choice but to go for something nobody would go for. Reaching his hand out on one of the papers, Chen Tu asked people to read the work on his behalf.It turned out that the assignment paper he had gotten was a
"Tu, as in rabbit?" the elder curiously asked."Yes, elder. It was as you said." Qin Lei nodded in response. His attitude towards the elder is full of reverence and respect. After all, all his achievement today in cultivation was thanks to the elder's care.Without the elder interest in him, it was questionable if he could get into the top 1000 disciples. Of course, his attitude and effort were likable to start with. Or else, it would be pointless even if his Qin Family tried their best to obtain this elder's guidance."After completing his task, give him an additional token as a reward. While you're at it, ask if he's happy to return again tomorrow." the elder said. It seems that the elder has quite a positive opinion of Chen Tu.While an additional token given out wasn't much in the eyes of an elder, to a disciple like Chen Tu and Qin Lei, it was a lot!Nobody would complain about having too many tokens."Disciple understands." Qin Lei nodded at the elder. After saying what he had t
Although this was his first time cultivating using the Sun and Moon Condensation Art, the unfamiliarity of Chen Tu didn't seem to hinder the process.The Spiritual Energy in his surrounding seemed to be descending toward Chen Tun in an organized manner. The movement also seems to carry a fragment of profoundness that other Spiritual Gathering Art couldn't produce.The Spiritual Energy that came at Chen Tu in a spiraling fashion lasted for a while until he felt bloated from absorbing them.One has to know that only a top-grade Spiritual Gathering Art could speed up the absorption process. This Sun and Moon Condensation Art is apparently one of the top-grade art mentioned.Perhaps in this entire Blood Refining Grotto, only this Sun and Moon Condensation Art could supply enough Spiritual Energy in a single cycle.Chen Tu immediately stops at the end of that cycle. But to his surprise, two energies appear inside his underdeveloped core. They're similar, each carrying a part of the sun's a
The current Qin Lei looks different from the one Chen Tu met this morning at the Spiritual Garden. Right now, he's wearing a set of tailor-made clothing with exquisite decoration around his collar sleeve and skirt. It also comes with another long robe with a loose belt from both ends.This set of clothing made Qin Lei's aura looks more refined as he appeared like a young prince from some royal family.Of course, part of Qin Lei's appealing characteristics comes from his strong cultivation level and his young and tender age of sixteen."Where are you heading to, junior Chen?" Qin Lei asked. He didn't just see Chen Tu but had already monitored him for a while. After all, his room was across from Chen Tu's but on a different building's end."Replying to senior brother, this junior is trying to familiarize himself with the Outer Grotto." Chen Tu replied to the question politely. In his reply, it carries a hint of formality and friendliness.Chen Tu secretly hoped his reply would be adequa
An unaccountable number of disciples greeted Qin Lei whenever they walked past. This shows Chen Tu how well respected Qin Lei was as a member of the top hundred disciples. To the rest, his position inside this Outer Grotto is a hundred people above and ten thousand below.It also shows Chen Tu how important background and individual cultivation strength were.The two moved from one display shelf to another. But it was discouraging for Chen Tu due to his lacking of reading and writing. He couldn't even understand a word written on the paper, let alone its usage.Even if a treasure was placed in his hand, Chen Tu would have no idea how to use it or understand how precious or special the item was.Nothing ended up catching his eye. There are a few things that have its name mentioned by Qin Lei while walking past, but they're useless to Chen Tu for now.In the end, only Qin Lei bought something from the first floor.The bill turned out to be a hundred Contribution Tokens. There's also a c
"Take this just as a reminder from me... Make sure you don't waste too much money on those things they're selling on this floor. I understand that you might be curious about them, but most of them are useless later on." said Qin Lei as his hand pointed at a few stalls and their attractive banners.The goods they sell, such as ten-year-old White Ginseng and Ganoderma, apparently are fakes made from Radish and Mutated Black Fungus."Also, unless you know what you're buying, do not simply trust everything you're told. If things look too good to be true, then it's likely a fake or low-quality goods." Qin Lei added before feeling that all these pieces of advice were enough for today.Anything more than this will make Qin Lei look overly concerned, which wouldn't be good for their recently built friendship."This junior understands. Thank you, senior brother." Chen Tu nodded and watched as Qin Lei left the building. After he ensured Qin Lei was gone, he immediately made his way to one of th