Chapter 3: Joining the Sect

At last, it was Lin Yang’s turn. He was a little nervous; this was his first time in a cultivation world, after all.

He stepped up to the stele and placed his hand on it. Gold and green light rose to the third level, then stopped.

【Third-Grade Metal and Wood Spirit Roots!】

Quite a few of his classmates were surprised.

“Our illustrious class representative only got third grade?”

“He scored first in the province on the college entrance exam, and he comes top of the entire department every time! I thought he’d have at least a fifth- or sixth-grade spirit root.”

“What good is being outstanding on Blue Star? This is a cultivation world. Cultivation talent is what counts here.”

“Exactly. Looks like athletes have the advantage in this world after all.”

Only Wang Biao and Zhao Hai came over to speak to him.

“Class rep, we’re both third-grade. We’ll have to look out for each other!”

Zhao Hai was Lin Yang’s roommate, and the two got along well. He had also awakened a third-grade root, enough to qualify for the outer sect.

“Looks like we’ll get to be roommates again,” Zhao Hai said.

“Guess I can’t shake you off.”

Lin Yang wasn’t particularly disappointed. A third-grade spirit root was enough to get him into the Qingyuan Sword Sect. He’d be perfectly happy once he had that precious spirit stone.

After all, his shop was practically a cheat. As soon as he joined a sect and got his first spirit stone, he could snap up all five newcomer packs!

Fang Qingyao ran back from the Beast Taming Hall. One look at his result and she grabbed his arm.

“Perfect! We can go to the Beast Taming Garden together. You’re so smart, I’m sure the two of us can make something of ourselves.”

Bai Lingsu examined Lin Yang’s spirit roots. “Third-grade metal and wood roots meet the outer sect’s requirements, and the wood attribute is suited to growing spirit herbs. If you’re willing, you may join Qingyao in the Beast Taming Hall. You won’t receive special training, but you can work in the Beast Taming Garden.”

“I’m willing, Elder.”

Lin Yang was about to accept the offer when Huang Bin stepped forward.

“Elder Bai, this classmate of mine used to be the most capable person in our class! Wouldn’t having him feed spirit beasts in the garden be a terrible waste of his talents?”

Fang Qingyao frowned. She knew Huang Bin too well; there was no way he was being kind.

“What business is it of yours where Lin Yang goes?”

“Yaoyao, I’m just looking out for an old classmate’s future.” Huang Bin turned to Qian Youlu, the outer sect elder. “Deacon Qian, which hall in the Qingyuan Sword Sect would best showcase a truly exceptional talent for combat?”

Qian Youlu hadn’t been sent to oversee the newcomers’ assignments because he was a fool. Huang Bin had just been accepted by the sect master as a core disciple. Anyone who did him a favor now could expect benefits later. Qian Youlu immediately understood what he wanted.

“Ahem. If you’re looking for a place to hone one’s combat skills, naturally that would be the Demon Beast Suppression Hall. It is responsible for clearing out demonic beasts within the Qingyuan Sword Sect’s territory, and its disciples often fight beyond the mountains. Every disciple who survives and grows there becomes one of the sect’s elite!”

It sounded wonderful, but the expressions of the Qingyuan Sword Sect disciples nearby turned strange.

The hall’s disciples were indeed strong. The problem was that a lot of them died! Fighting demonic beasts every day meant putting their lives on the line. How could it not be dangerous?

Lin Yang hadn’t even reached the first level of Qi Refining. Assigning him there as soon as he joined was practically sending him to his death!

Huang Bin smiled in satisfaction. “Lin Yang, you were always so outstanding. I don’t think an ordinary post would do you justice. Only the Demon Beast Suppression Hall can make proper use of a talent like you.”

Their classmates weren’t stupid. They all heard the malice in his words. They had only just arrived in this unfamiliar world and didn’t even know how to cultivate. Yet over an old grudge born of jealousy, Huang Bin wanted to throw Lin Yang into the most dangerous hall.

That was vicious!

Wang Biao was the first to lose his temper. “Huang Bin, what the hell is wrong with you? Lin Yang never did anything to you, and the moment you get a little status, you send him into a den of demonic beasts. What kind of person does that?”

Huang Bin’s smile vanished. “Who the hell are you to speak to me like that?”

“Am I wrong?” Wang Biao pointed at him. “Don’t think awakening a seventh-grade spirit root makes you an immortal. We were sitting in the same classroom just a little while ago. Who are you trying to impress?”

“You’re fucking asking for it!”

Huang Bin swung his hand. Smack!

Before Wang Biao could react, the slap knocked him to the ground. He had awakened the Green-Haired Turtle Bloodline, but he hadn’t learned how to use it. Huang Bin, on the other hand, had absorbed a great deal of spiritual energy from the world when his seventh-grade sword tree spirit root awakened. His strength attribute had risen from eight to twenty-six. Though he hadn’t formally entered the Qi Refining realm, he was already more than three times as strong as an ordinary person.

A pale golden light flashed around Wang Biao, blocking most of the force. Even so, the blow sent him rolling twice across the ground.

“Wang Biao!”

Lin Yang rushed over and helped him up. The Fishing Platform could prevent fatal attacks. Huang Bin’s slap hadn’t threatened Wang Biao’s life, but it had knocked him down in front of all their classmates.

Wang Biao covered his face and tried to charge back at him. Lin Yang stopped him.

“Don’t. You can’t beat him right now.”

“No! I have to fight him!”

“Easy. I’ll settle the score for that slap for you.” Lin Yang looked at Huang Bin. “It won’t be long before I make you pay it back yourself.”

Huang Bin didn’t take him seriously. “You think you can surpass a seventh-grade super-genius like me with a third-grade spirit root? Dream on!”

The other classmates thought Huang Bin had gone too far, but none dared speak up. He didn’t just have a seventh-grade spirit root; he was also the core disciple the Supreme Sect Master had just accepted. They had only just joined the Qingyuan Sword Sect. Who would dare offend Huang Bin for Lin Yang’s sake?

Fang Qingyao was furious and wanted to rush at him too, but Lin Yang held her back.

“There’s no hurry.”

“If we don’t beat him up here, we might never get another chance,” she said.

“I’ll make him pay for that slap.”

Lin Yang glanced at his shop balance. Still zero.

“Trust me.”

Fang Qingyao didn’t understand, but she knew Lin Yang never acted without confidence. For now, she could only hold back.

Qian Youlu pretended to consider the matter for a while. “Lin Yang’s third-grade metal and wood spirit roots are indeed suitable for swordsmanship and wood-element spells that restrain enemies. The Demon Beast Suppression Hall happens to be short of recruits, so I’ll assign you to its outer patrol team. From now on, you will patrol the sect’s outskirts and assist in clearing out demonic beasts.”

Bai Lingsu frowned slightly. She had only been willing to take Lin Yang as a favor to Fang Qingyao, arranging an ordinary outer sect post for him. Now that Qian Youlu had invoked the sect’s staffing needs, she couldn’t very well fall out with the General Affairs Hall over a third-grade spirit root. Huang Bin was the Supreme Sect Master’s disciple, after all.

Fang Qingyao refused to accept it. “Then I’m not joining the Beast Taming Hall! I’ll go to the Demon Beast Suppression Hall with Lin Yang!”

“No!” Bai Lingsu immediately objected. “You have the Voice of All Things. You’re best suited to training as a beast tamer. The Demon Beast Suppression Hall fights demonic beasts every day; it isn’t right for you at all.”

Lin Yang patted Fang Qingyao’s arm. “Go to the Beast Taming Hall and wait for me. I’ll go to the Demon Beast Suppression Hall. Listen to me.”

She could only agree.

Qian Youlu produced a black identity token and tossed it to Lin Yang. “From now on, you are an outer disciple of the Qingyuan Sword Sect. Once we return to the sect, someone will take you to the Demon Beast Suppression Hall.”

Lin Yang caught the token. A clear notification finally rang out.

【Congratulations! Player Lin Yang has successfully joined the Qingyuan Sword Sect!】

【Main Quest 1 complete!】

【Reward: one low-grade spirit stone!】

【Shop balance: 1】

It was here!