Chapter Six: The Tenth of the Outer Sect

“Junior brother, are you truly intent on accepting a yellow-rank mission?” Zhao Rencai squinted his beady, mung-bean eyes and scrutinized Shen Qingyun from head to toe. It had to be said: his azure Daoist robe was indeed a striking sight in the Mission Hall.

“Judging by your appearance, junior brother, if I’m not mistaken, you must be a newly joined disciple?” Zhao Rencai remarked, the flesh on his face twitching as he spoke.

“That’s right. I officially joined Azurecloud Sect just the day before yesterday,” Shen Qingyun replied.

“You joined just the day before yesterday?!” Zhao Rencai’s voice shot up several notches, staring at Shen Qingyun in disbelief. “You’ve just entered Azurecloud and you already plan to complete a yellow-rank mission? Are you tired of living?”

Feigning ignorance, Shen Qingyun asked, “Is it that new disciples aren’t allowed to take on missions?”

“That’s not it.” Zhao Rencai shook his head slightly. The crux of the matter was that no one expected a brand-new disciple to attempt a yellow-rank mission.

“Then why won’t you let me accept the mission?” Shen Qingyun tilted his head.

Zhao Rencai licked his lips and tried to persuade him earnestly, “Junior brother, are you aware that failing a mission results in punishment? And that’s the lightest consequence—losing your life on a mission is the real price to pay!”

“Besides, isn’t the pair of spirit stones issued to outer disciples by the sect enough for your needs?”

Sensing that Zhao Rencai’s concern was genuine, Shen Qingyun couldn’t help but feel a touch of goodwill toward him. With a gentle smile, he replied, “Senior brother, it’s just gathering a few medicinal herbs. How could there be any danger?”

Zhao Rencai sighed, his voice faint. “There wasn’t in the past, but things have changed now.”

Shen Qingyun raised his brows slightly and said softly, “I’d like to hear more.”

After glancing around and confirming that no one was nearby, Zhao Rencai lowered his voice. “Ordinarily, Withered Mountain wasn’t dangerous. But someone recently discovered an ancient ruin in the neighboring Roc Mountain—filled with spirit stones and treasures.”

“That sparked a frenzy among various sects and clans to scour the place. Even though it’s mostly been cleared out by now, many rare tomes were destroyed in the scramble…” Zhao Rencai shook his head as he spoke, as if lamenting the loss of those treasures.

“Even so, the sects and clans haven’t relaxed their search. The initial sweep was hasty, so there are always overlooked places—some still inaccessible even now.”

“So, each sect and clan has sent disciples to search every inch. Some new discoveries have reignited the treasure hunt!”

Shen Qingyun’s heart sank, a dull ache throbbing within him. Some ruin—nonsense! That was his own storage place!

After a thousand years of neglect, thieves really had come.

He forced himself to endure the heartache. “But what does the matter at Roc Mountain have to do with Withered Mountain?” he asked.

“That’s the problem. To ensure their search for treasure went smoothly, the sects and clans drove all the demon beasts from Roc Mountain over into Withered Mountain!”

Shen Qingyun: “…”

Just let me find out who did it.

“Senior brother, even so, I must still go.” Shen Qingyun’s expression was impassive.

Seeing his resolve, Zhao Rencai stopped trying to dissuade him. He quickly processed the documentation Shen Qingyun would need to leave the sect for the mission, and as he handed it over, he urged, “Junior brother, if you encounter demon beasts, just avoid them. It doesn’t matter if you can’t complete the mission—the sect won’t blame a newcomer. Staying alive is what’s most important!”

Shen Qingyun nodded absentmindedly. His own home had been ransacked, and there was nothing he could do about it.

He tucked away the mission slip and the travel pass, then turned to leave with his mind in turmoil. The spirit stones he’d stored for cultivation and the martial techniques and divine arts he’d prepared—all gone.

Still, he needed to see for himself. The rest was just trifles.

“I only hope those two items haven’t been taken…” Shen Qingyun lowered his head, silently praying.

“Hey!”

Lost in thought, Shen Qingyun suddenly heard someone calling him. He looked up to see four men and three women in azure-and-white Daoist robes standing before him.

A trace of puzzlement flickered through Shen Qingyun’s eyes. “Do you need something?”

Zhou Weiqing was slightly taken aback that Shen Qingyun would ask him instead, then sneered, “A new disciple like you should be holed up in your quarters searching for your first trace of spiritual sense. What are you doing at the Mission Hall?”

“Or is it that you’ve realized your own incompetence, can’t sense a thing, and have come here to take on menial tasks and become a servant disciple?”

Shen Qingyun frowned. He couldn’t understand why this man would approach and speak to him this way. He hadn’t provoked him, had he?

Noticing that the other disciples in azure-and-white robes behind Zhou Weiqing were all sneering or smirking at him, Shen Qingyun frowned deeper. “Could you let me by?” he asked.

Apparently not expecting such a response, Zhou Weiqing let out a scornful laugh. “You want us to move aside?”

“Newcomer, you clearly don’t know your place yet!”

“Step aside. I don’t want any trouble,” Shen Qingyun’s voice grew cold.

“This year’s new disciples are really arrogant.” Zhou Weiqing’s gaze turned icy, and he sneered, “Well then, I have plenty of time. Let me teach you what it means to respect your seniors! Otherwise, people will say that Azurecloud disciples have no manners!”

As he spoke, a vortex of spiritual power suddenly swirled into being around Zhou Weiqing, making his robe snap and billow.

“This is a spiritual power vortex—a mark of reaching the fifth level of Qi Cultivation!” Zhou Weiqing sneered, clearly trying to make a point.

Seeing that Shen Qingyun showed no reaction to his display, Zhou Weiqing paused, then mocked, “Ah, I almost forgot—new disciples wouldn’t know any of this. You probably can’t even tell what spiritual power feels like, can you?”

Shen Qingyun’s face was expressionless, his heart calm as still water. Yet from this vortex, he discerned Zhou Weiqing’s cultivation: seventh stage of Qi Cultivation.

Even if his spiritual energy was unstable, seventh stage was still far beyond what Shen Qingyun could currently contend with.

“Well, if it isn’t Senior Brother Zhou!” Suddenly, a familiar voice called out behind Shen Qingyun. A rotund figure, round as a ball, appeared at his side.

Zhao Rencai nudged Shen Qingyun and admonished, “Quick, pay your respects to Senior Brother Zhou. He’s ranked tenth among the outer disciples!”

His words were a not-so-subtle reminder to Shen Qingyun.

Still, Shen Qingyun remained unmoved. “And if he is?”

“You—!” Zhao Rencai shot him a resentful glare, then fawned toward Zhou Weiqing, “Please don’t take offense at a new disciple, Senior Brother Zhou. He only joined Azurecloud the day before yesterday—he doesn’t know any better!”

“Now that’s what I call proper manners, Fatty Zhao,” Zhou Weiqing said, patting Zhao Rencai’s chubby cheek. But his kindly smile turned vicious in a flash as he slapped him hard across the face.

With a crisp smack, Zhao Rencai spun around twice before collapsing to the ground.

“But your fat face disgusts me. Remember to stay away from me in the future!”

Zhao Rencai scrambled to his feet, nodding repeatedly. “Yes, yes, I’ll do as Senior Brother Zhou says…”

Zhou Weiqing then fixed a hostile gaze on Shen Qingyun. “Thanks to Fatty Zhao’s plea, I’ll let you off today! Next time you see me, take a detour!”

With that, he led the remaining disciples—three men and three women—toward the black reception counter. As they passed Shen Qingyun, he clearly caught the scorn and pity in their eyes.

Shen Qingyun ignored all of it, turning instead to Zhao Rencai, whose cheek was swollen high. “Senior brother, are you alright?”

Zhao Rencai glared hatefully after Zhou Weiqing, but at Shen Qingyun’s question, the malice in his gaze quickly faded. He shook his head. “I’m fine.”

Yet Shen Qingyun had clearly seen the lingering trace of venom in Zhao Rencai’s eyes.

“So Senior Brother Zhao harbors a grudge against that man as well…” Shen Qingyun mused.

“Junior brother, forgive me for nagging, but your behavior today really wasn’t wise.” Zhao Rencai pressed his fat hand to his swollen cheek, channeling spiritual power to reduce the swelling, and continued earnestly, “Azurecloud Sect isn’t as simple as it appears. Not everyone is easy to get along with.”

“Those who like to form cliques are usually weak, but the world is mostly made up of the weak.”

“You can be friendly with us—that’s fine. But when you run into people like Zhou Weiqing, you need to bow your head. Suffer less, and vent your frustrations on your cultivation!”

Shen Qingyun nodded slightly and asked, “Doesn’t the sect intervene when things like this happen?”

“Intervene in what?” Zhao Rencai shot him a glance. “We’re not inner disciples, and we haven’t proven our value. Why would they bother?”

He patted Shen Qingyun’s shoulder. “Remember, junior brother—bow your head when you must. Staying alive is what matters! The humiliation you suffer now, you’ll return it one day.”