Born as an ant, I was summoned to ascend to immortality.

Chapter 38 First Encounter at the Discipline Hall

Before the mountain mist had dissipated, the morning bell had already rung three times.

Xia Minghui woke up with a start from the stone bed; the sky outside the bamboo hut was just beginning to lighten. He rubbed his aching back; the bed for outer disciples was much more uncomfortable than the warm bed at home.

Today is the third day since he started learning. On the first day, Xia Minghui had already entered the initial stage of Qi Refining and completed the first Great Circulation according to the "Snake Swallowing Clouds True Method".

Heeding his sister's advice, he joined Cuiwei Peak, where the sect's spiritual plants were handled, providing more opportunities to demonstrate his abilities and making it easier to obtain cultivation materials.

Ziyun Peak, where Zhou Li resides, has no sect duties and few fellow cultivators. If one wants to earn some cultivation funds, one even has to go to other mountains, so naturally not many people go there.

Pushing open the bamboo door, a chill from the mountains rushed out, and he shivered. It was already autumn, and the weather was getting a bit cool.

Xia Minghui put on the drab disciple's robe, carefully tied his outer disciple badge around his waist, and headed towards the dining hall.

Many servants and disciples were already hurrying along the road. When they saw Xia Minghui, they all stepped aside and bowed to him.

Within the Changtian Sect, disciples of different statuses are ranked in a hierarchical manner, to the point that cultivation resources are allocated according to rank.

For example, the food in the kitchen is such that ordinary servant disciples can only drink thin porridge made from the lowest grade of spirit rice. Only outer disciples like myself have spirit rice to eat. As for inner disciples...

Then a whisper came from behind: "I heard that inner disciples are served by medicine boys to wash and groom themselves in the morning, and even the mouthwash is made from spiritual spring water."

"Shh, don't talk nonsense. Last month, a disciple made irresponsible remarks about the inner sect's treatment and was punished by the steward and sent to the spirit beast garden..."

Xia Minghui grinned. The "manager" they were talking about was an ordinary person who was in charge of the miscellaneous disciples. They had no cultivation qualifications and were not even considered outer disciples. They were often relatives of the disciples in the sect.

Those responsible for managing outer disciples like themselves were sect stewards. The difference between steward and manager—a single word—is worlds apart. Stewards, being outer disciples and cultivators, wielded far more power than any other.

Even though she was very shrewd and resourceful, she still had to obediently follow orders when her senior brother, the steward, was manipulating her spirit stones and herbs. However, above the stewards were the inner disciples of the Discipline Hall who were supervising her, so she didn't dare to act recklessly.

Given that her older sister Xia Mingduo was favored by the second-generation disciple Yan Xiaorong and entered Kunyang Peak, the stewards who knew the situation were very polite to Xia Minghui and arranged lucrative jobs for her, mainly using incantations to separate spiritual rice from spiritual paddy.

After finishing his breakfast, Xia Minghui strode to the ten acres of spirit fields under his charge and instructed, "Today we are harvesting the first batch of spirit rice since autumn began. Everyone be vigilant. If the harvest is insufficient, the amount of Qi Gathering Powder we receive this month will be halved."

The servants' expressions tightened. The Qi Gathering Powder was the most important cultivation resource for all disciples every month. Whether they were outer disciples or servants, it could make their cultivation twice as effective.

"Junior Brother Xia, it's early." The steward in charge of the harvest greeted him. If Zhou Li were here, he would recognize this person as Wang Jian, who had guided him to the mountain gate.

"So it's Senior Brother Wang," Xia Minghui hurriedly stepped forward. "Since I joined the sect, I've received a lot of care from you, Senior Brother. How could I dare to slack off?"

"Junior brother, you flatter me. The steward brought over some slightly damaged spiritual fruits today. Come and have a taste." With that, Wang Jian took out a green fruit and handed it to Xia Minghui.

Xia Minghui carefully took the fruit; the peel was already a little wrinkled. He gently put it in his mouth, and the sweet taste went down his throat, accompanied by a faint trace of spiritual energy flowing into his body.

"Don't laugh at me, senior brother, this is the first time I've ever tasted a spiritual fruit from the cultivation world. It's so delicious! It surpasses countless delicacies in the mortal realm."

"Hahaha!" Wang Jian laughed loudly, "Junior brother, you're truly a man of character! This is nothing! Look at this!"

After saying that, Wang Jian took out a small elixir bottle from his bosom. The jade bottle was opened slightly, and a bright green light flowed out from the mouth of the bottle. A fragrance entered his nostrils, as fresh as green bamboo after the rain.

Xia Minghui's breath hitched, and his pupils suddenly contracted. He saw a pill the size of a longan lying quietly inside the bottle, its entire body a translucent bluish-green color.

"This pill is called the 'Qi Nourishing Pill,' and it is specially used by disciples in the Qi Refining stage. Its medicinal effect is a hundred times that of the Qi Gathering Powder."

Wang Jian showed a pained expression and said, "I spent a great deal of money to get my hands on this pill, and I've been reluctant to use it. Today, since we've hit it off, I'll give it to you so you can broaden your horizons."

"Senior brother, how can this be? You absolutely cannot, you absolutely cannot accept this!" Xia Minghui stammered, his heart filled with excitement.

"Of course you can take it. Junior brother is a smart man. I am taking care of you in this way, and naturally I have some selfish reasons."

Hearing this, Xia Minghui felt reassured. He took the pill bottle and tentatively asked, "Senior brother, is it because of my sister...?"

"No, to be honest, I intend to pay my respects to Junior Brother Zhou Li. Would you be willing to..." Before Wang Jian could finish speaking, a commotion suddenly broke out on the mountain path.

The two followed the sound and saw a grayish-blue figure curled up on the mountain path outside the herb garden. The disheveled hair was blown by the mountain wind, revealing a face full of pain and resentment. Blood was flowing from the seven orifices, and the figure was already lifeless.

"Fan Ru?!" Xia Minghui recognized her at a glance; the deceased was Fan Ru, whom he had met during the big exam.

A cold voice rang out: "Do you recognize this person?"

Xia Minghui was still in shock, staring blankly at Fan Ru. How could someone who was perfectly fine just a few days ago suddenly die?

His body was trembling slightly. Never before had he realized so clearly that spiritual practice could lead to death.

Wang Jian kicked him hard: "Hurry up and answer the questions from the senior disciples in the Discipline Hall!"

Xia Minghui snapped out of his daze and looked at the person who had asked the question. The leader was dressed in a black robe with a three-inch-long black iron ruler hanging from his waist. He was none other than the inner disciple of the Discipline Hall.

Upon seeing that it was someone from the Discipline Hall, the crowd immediately retreated like a receding tide, even their breathing became soft.

Xia Minghui composed himself and said, "Senior Brother Rong Bing, the deceased was named Fan Ru. We met several times during the sect entrance examination."

The man snorted coldly, "This menial disciple only knows the basic breathing techniques. I have discovered that this person secretly learned the techniques from somewhere, and his reckless practice led to his death from a surge of qi and blood. He only has himself to blame."

With that, he snapped his fingers, and Fan Ru's body burst into flames, instantly turning into ashes without leaving a trace.

He then slowly said, "Whether it's a servant secretly peeking at cultivation techniques or an outer disciple privately teaching them techniques, both are serious crimes. Once the Discipline Hall discovers such a case, they will not tolerate it!"

After saying that, he stared at Xia Minghui meaningfully for a long time before turning away.

Wang Jian patted Xia Minghui on the shoulder and asked, "Junior brother, did you offend someone from the Discipline Hall before?"

Xia Minghui was almost in tears: "No, I've never even met him, how could I have offended him? The Discipline Hall is known as the Black-Faced Judge, I wouldn't dare to do that."

Wang Jian glanced at him, his expression suggesting he wanted to say something but hesitated.

"This disciplinary hall can't just arrest people arbitrarily, can it?"

Seeing that Xia Minghui was still somewhat confused, Wang Jian sighed: "Junior brother, this is clearly aimed at the people around you. In a few days, when the sermon is held, you should talk to the people you know well. Do you understand?"

Xia Minghui stood there stunned upon hearing this.

As a young master from the capital, he was already used to such sordid things, but he hadn't realized it before. Now, upon closer reflection, he vaguely felt as if a net was quietly being cast upon him.

Unlike his sister, who was carefully nurtured by the family from a young age, he was just an ordinary, mischievous troublemaker who had no desire to get involved in such matters.

Xia Minghui said bitterly, "Junior brother... doesn't understand."