Chapter 130

“Hahaha!”

Wang Chen had just finished speaking when, before the middle-aged cultivator could answer, a burst of laughter suddenly erupted nearby.

The laughter was filled with a mocking tone.

The two of them simultaneously turned toward the direction of the laughter.

They saw, standing about ten paces away, a white-robed cultivator with a playful and smiling face.

“Manager Gu, sorry about that.”

Seeing the middle-aged cultivator staring at him with displeasure, the white-robed cultivator laughed and said, “I just find our new junior brother here quite amusing, couldn’t help myself.”

“Go on, off with you!”

The middle-aged cultivator frowned and waved his hand dismissively, “Don’t cause trouble if there’s nothing going on, wait until I’ve finished here if you have something!”

“Alrighty then~”

The white-robed cultivator left with a grin, looking entirely unconcerned.

“Ignore that guy.”

Manager Gu spoke seriously to Wang Chen, “Do you truly intend to become a Spiritual Plant Farmer?”

Naturally, there were farmers within the Inner Sect, responsible for managing the rice paddies, vegetable fields, medicinal herb fields, and orchards, among other things.

But those were all professional Spiritual Plant Farmers, and very few Inner Sect Disciples were willing to take up such work.

Especially new disciples.

They had struggled so hard and paid such a high price to squeeze into the Inner Sect; they certainly didn’t come here to do the hard, tiring work in the fields!

The disciples of Sunset Peak fell mainly into two categories.

One type included the offsprings of Immortal Cultivator Great Clans, usually not exceptionally talented but relying on their family power to vie for a better future, using Sunset Peak as a stepping stone to advance themselves.

The other type consisted of Outer Sect Disciples with outstanding talent but not quite at the genius level.

They knew precisely what they wanted and were more hardworking and dedicated than the privileged clan progenies.

Hoping to become True Disciples one day.

Or at the very least, secure a position in the sect.

Neither type of disciple would ever engage in farming.

Even if they lacked resources for cultivation and didn’t want to engage in combat, they could take up part-time work in pills, talismans, artifacts, or arrays.

Not only would they acquire skills, but they could also earn some Spirit Stones.

Therefore, Manager Gu couldn’t understand Wang Chen’s choice and reminded him kindly, “As a Spiritual Plant Farmer, you can only live at the foot of the mountain; conditions there aren’t as good as on the mountaintop, have you thought this through?”

Although Sunset Peak ranked at the bottom among the Cloud Sun Nine Peaks, the mountaintop was still equipped with large defensive and spirit gathering arrays.

The higher the location, the more superior the cultivation environment!

Everyone aimed to live higher up, whereas becoming a Spiritual Plant Farmer would mean Wang Chen could only live at the mountain’s base.

“Yes.”

Wang Chen had already learned all about these circumstances from Senior Brother Cao.

Therefore, his answer was resolute, “I have considered it very thoroughly!”

What did it matter if the environment at the base of the mountain was slightly worse than on the mountaintop?

The important thing was that Wang Chen could avoid the whirlpools within the Inner Sect and stay away from others’ gossip and controversy.

That perfectly aligned with his need for low-profile development!

“Well, alright then.”

It’s said that good intentions can’t persuade the willfully blind.

Since Wang Chen himself wasn’t concerned about his future prospects, Manager Gu felt no need to insist, “I’ll make the arrangements for you.”

“Thank you, Senior Brother.”

Wang Chen discreetly passed over a Storage Bag, “Please go to the trouble, Senior Brother.”

Manager Gu was taken aback.

He truly hadn’t expected the clueless-seeming Wang Chen to be so “clued-in,” and found it a bit strange.

However, when Manager Gu subconsciously opened the Storage Bag,

and saw the items stored inside,

he immediately revealed an incredibly sincere smile, “Junior Brother, just wait a moment; I’ll be right back!”

When Manager Gu left, he also took Wang Chen’s Identity Plaque with him.

In just the time it took to brew a pot of tea, he returned.

Handing back the Jade Token to Wang Chen, “Junior Brother, I’ve done my best.”

Wang Chen understood, “Thank you so much, Senior Brother!”

The moment Wang Chen took the Identity Plaque, he noticed the additional information included in it.

Wang Chen also believed that the other party had done their best.

Although it was their first encounter,

Manager Gu had left a good impression on him, appearing to be a very responsible Inner Sect senior brother.

If Manager Gu were the greedy sort, he would never have offered that Storage Bag!

Upon leaving the great hall of Sunset Peak, Wang Chen didn’t stay long in the bustling arena and instead headed straight down the mountain.

Wang Chen was eager to take possession of a manor that now belonged to him.

Indeed, Manager Gu had actually allocated an entire Spiritual Plantation Manor to him!

Wang Chen could hardly wait to see his new home.

On his way down the mountain, he opened the welcome gift bag for newcomers.

The capacity of this Storage Bag was quite small; inside it contained an Inner Sect standard-issue Robe, a bottle of Nurturing Origin Pills, three Flying Flame Talismans, five Messenger Cranes, and a thick copy of the “Inner Sect Handbook.”

Sunset Peak really lived up to its reputation as the weakest among the Nine Peaks; even the welcome gift bag was so shabby!

Wang Chen didn’t mind, though.

He had already known about the situation of Sunset Peak before joining the Inner Sect.

Whether he had these things or not was immaterial.

What mattered most was that his cultivation environment had greatly improved by joining the Inner Sect.

He also now had the privilege to enter the Scripture Pavilion of the inner hall to exchange for Cultivation Techniques!

Ignoring the Robe, Pills, and Talismans, Wang Chen took out the “Inner Sect Handbook” and read it while walking.

The rules of the Inner Sect overlapped a lot with those of the Outer Sect but also had several differences.

For example, private fights were strictly forbidden; if one wished to settle personal grievances, they could take it to the Lecture Platform to determine who was stronger.

On the 3rd, 6th, and 9th of each month, Elders from the Purple Mansion would take turns lecturing in the arena, and all disciples could listen for free.

Inner Sect Disciples must complete sect tasks accumulating at least a thousand Merit Points each year.

Otherwise, they would be stripped of their Inner Sect status.

Furthermore, once the sect launched a war against others, all disciples were subject to conscription.

Wang Chen paid very close attention to these rules and regulations.

He memorized them firmly in his heart,

so as not to accidentally violate the sect’s regulations.

As he was engrossed in reading, suddenly a lucky cloud descended on the steps in front of him.

It happened to block Wang Chen’s path!

“Junior Brother, don’t you find it tiring to walk up and down the mountain?”

A young girl in a goose-yellow Robe put away the lucky cloud and said to Wang Chen with a smile, “I have a Flying Artifact that I just swapped out; how about I sell it to you for cheap?”

Wang Chen was momentarily stunned.

The girl was at the prime of youth, around sixteen or seventeen years old, with skin whiter than snow, stunningly beautiful, and a pair of black, spirited eyes which were exceptionally lively. Her smiling appearance was quite adorable.

However, Wang Chen had heard her voice when he had been going up the mountain earlier.

She had called him a blockhead at the time!

Having come back to his senses, Wang Chen replied, “Thank you, no Spirit Stones, no need.”

The matter of his own household was something he knew all too well,

He neither had an exceptional family background nor was he a prodigy, and he was a complete stranger to her.

So why would a pretty Junior Sister take a second glance at him?

A cheap Magic Artifact?

She was trying to make him the sucker!

Wang Chen quickly bypassed her and hurried down the mountain at a faster pace.

“What kind of person is this…”

The young girl stomped her feet in anger behind him, “My good intentions taken for the heart of a donkey!”

She had been reprimanded by her own Senior Sister because she had mocked Wang Chen calling him a blockhead earlier.

She recognized her mistake,

and when she saw Wang Chen descending the mountain just then, she thought of expressing her apology in this manner.

However, not only did Wang Chen not appreciate the gesture, he even ran away fast, treating her like a bandit.

How could she not be annoyed!

———-

The third update delivered.