Chapter 3: Chapter 2: Outer Disciple, Spirit Field No. 77! (Please Bookmark!)
The early morning of the next day found the village shrouded in a misty haze.
Xu Ning had prepared early, with Big Stupid Deer carrying pots, pans, ladles, and that half of the Azure Dragon Spear, everything rolled into a bundle.
He bid farewell to Little Tiezhu and Little Hehua last.
“Zhou Tiezhu, you must grow up to be a real man!”
“Brother Ning Daoran, definitely!”
“Little Hehua, I’m leaving now to venture out. When I return, maybe I’ll be an Immortal, walking tall above the ground~~~”
“Brother Ning!”
Tears immediately misted Little Hehua’s eyes. “Brother Ning, come back soon, or I’ll miss you…”
“Don’t worry, just wait for me, awoo~~~”
Clad in a straw raincoat and hat, Ning Daoran took Big Stupid Deer and departed into the distance.
Little Hehua rushed back home, hugged her quilt, and cried like a little flower cat; she had actually hoped to marry Brother Ning when she grew up, who made her fall for him since she was little.
Outside, the people from Chaotic Sect were already prepared.
The Deacon, an old man in a long robe, sat in the carriage, while several ox carts carried about seven or eight children gathered from the village.
“Junior Brother Ning, it’s time to hit the road!”
The ox cart driver, Senior Brother Zhao Lichen, called out with a smile.
“Alright, here I come!”
Ning Daoran turned to look at the neighbors who had watched him grow up and solemnly clasped his fist: “Fellow villagers, goodbye for now, Old Lu and I will come back!”
“Ning, don’t worry and just go. Cultivate well in the mountains and don’t miss home too much.”
“We will all be thinking of you.”
“Go on!”
With everyone saying that, even Ning Daoran’s eyes reddened, feeling an unexpected sense of sadness at leaving his hometown.
On the official road, a group of youngsters rode in ox carts, while Ning Daoran, being older, walked on his own.
Dragon Flying Village was located in a valley; they first had to leave the valley, and then they could enter the vast plains of Shanyang County.
The journey out of the valley continued until nightfall draped the land in darkness.
“The outside world, ah, it’s not quite like the valley.”
Driver Zhao Lichen, Senior Brother, smiled, showing his teeth: “Junior Brothers and Sisters, do you know that outside lies a world fraught with demons and evil spirits?”
He picked up the whip and pointed ahead, continuing with a laugh: “On this road, there are all sorts of monsters and filthy things!”
A chill ran down the young ones’ backs, and suddenly everyone felt a coldness creeping up their spine.
Ning Daoran lit a torch to embolden himself, turned around to rub Big Stupid Deer’s head, lifted its ears, and asked with a smile, “Old Lu, are you scared?”
“Arh!”
Big Stupid Deer quickly moved closer, gently rubbing its head against Ning Daoran’s shoulder as if to say, with big brother here, I am definitely not afraid.
Along the way, they didn’t actually encounter any evil spirits.
After three days of bumpy ox cart travel, they finally reached the Yellow Dragon Mountain Range, where Chaotic Sect was located.
That night, Ning Daoran and a group of youngsters were arranged to rest in rooms outside the Mountain Gate. Early the next morning, Zhao Lichen’s voice came through: “Junior Brothers and Sisters, prepare to enter the Mountain Gate!”
Everyone hastily ate a bit, then entered the Mountain Gate under the foggy weather.
Soon after, the youngsters arrived at a plaza.
After a second measuring of Spiritual Roots, the young arms were tied with red and blue ribbons – the red ribbons indicated Top Three Qualities of Spirit Roots, while the blue stood for Mid Third Grades.
For those like Ning Daoran with a Ninth Grade Mixed Spirit Root, the Sect barely bothered with the assessment.
It wasn’t until evening that an Outer Elder wearing a dark blue robe, holding a register, approached the group with Lower Three Grades Spirit Roots.
“Listen well.”
The Outer Elder Xu Ning said indifferently: “Your talents have not reached the level that would compel the Sect to invest heavily in your cultivation; basically, forget about the Inner Sect. Those who have entered the Qi Refinement Realm can choose to become Outer Disciples, the rest start as servant disciples.”
“Yes, Elder.”
All the youngsters nodded together.
“Ning Daoran.”
Xu Ning read out a name, “Your qualifications are sufficient to become an Outer Disciple. You can choose to pay respects to an Outer Elder as your master, or you can choose to go to the Spirit Medicine Department or Spirit Field Department to become a spirit farmer.”
His gaze swept by, and the disdain in his eyes flashed momentarily, “Approaching 20 years of age and just at the first layer of the Qi Refinement Realm, with the Body Tempering Technique incomplete, it seems you don’t have much chance. Just go to the Spirit Field Department and be a spirit farmer.”
Saying this, he made a sweeping gesture with his brush, deciding Ning Daoran’s fate by himself, without leaving any choice.
“Cough cough, Martial Uncle…”
Beside him, Zhao Lichen frowned slightly, “Perhaps… this Junior Brother would like to choose a master?”
“Oh?”
Xu Ning’s face showed impatience, “Ning Daoran, do you wish to pay respects to a master, or become a spirit farmer?”
Ning Daoran answered without hesitation, “Martial Uncle Xu stands higher and sees further than I, and naturally considers issues more deeply than I do. I’ll follow the Martial Uncle’s advice and become a spirit farmer!”
Zhao Lichen furrowed his brows and said no more.
Ning Daoran sent an apologetic expression, grateful in his heart for Zhao Lichen’s intention to fight on his behalf.
“Go on then.”
Xu Ning took out an identity jade token and tossed it to Ning Daoran.
Next, Zhao Lichen led Ning Daoran to collect supplies and take over the spirit field.
“Junior Brother, you really are too confused!”
Zhao Lichen sighed, “Your status is at least that of an Outer Disciple, much better than those servant disciples. If you paid respects to an Outer Elder as your master, you would have a backing. That’s always better than your current situation…”
“Thank you for your advice, Senior Brother Zhao.”
Ning Daoran responded somewhat helplessly, “But with Martial Uncle Xu’s attitude, I couldn’t really go against his wishes, could I? Otherwise, if he made life difficult for me later, wouldn’t that be even more uncomfortable…”
“That’s true.”
Zhao Lichen nodded, resigned.
Not long after, they arrived at the supply pick-up location. Ning Daoran infused a stream of mana into the identity jade token, branding it with his divine soul, and from then on, became an Outer Disciple of the Chaotic Sect.
As for supplies: two jade talismans copying the Body Tempering Technique and the Rain Transformation Technique, a set of light blue robes of an Outer Disciple, ten jins of spirit rice seeds, and additionally, five low-grade spirit stones.
A true new starter pack!
“Oww~~~”
Off to the side, the Big Stupid Deer found the unfamiliar environment rather unsettling, letting out a soft call.
“It’s alright.”
Ning Daoran affectionately embraced its large head, rubbing it vigorously, and smiled, “I’m here with you!”
Zhao Lichen offered a faint smile, finding this Junior Brother and his spiritual beast rather interesting. Where in the world would you find cultivators chatting casually with their spiritual beasts on a journey?
Chaotic Sect, Outer Mountain.
Spirit field number 77, measuring three mu of spirit land, this would be where Ning Daoran made his living from now on. Next to the spirit land stood a cabin, where an old farmer-looking figure was in the midst of moving out.
This old farmer was called Old Sun, an Outer Disciple of the Chaotic Sect at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining. After a lifetime as a spirit farmer, he never reached the Late Stage of Qi Refinement.
Resigned to his fate, Old Sun decided to leave the mountain, taking his savings from over the years to return to his hometown and become a wealthy landlord, to enjoy his remaining days surrounded by his children and grandchildren.
“Junior Brother Ning!”
Old Sun, showing his yellow teeth, said, “This cabin is yours from now on. Also, here is a Spiritual Hoe. Moreover, there is a First-tier Lower Grade Small Cloud Mist Array surrounding this cabin, which can provide a bit of concealment. I’m leaving all these for you.”
“Thank you, Senior Brother. May you have a smooth journey!”
Ning Daoran paid his respects respectfully.
Old Sun, with his belongings, departed. Ning Daoran settled into spirit field number 77.
Activating the Array, clouds and mist instantly wrapped around the cabin, isolating everything.
This was a somewhat damaged Primary Isolation and Concealment Array. Its concealing effect was decent, with thick clouds and mist, but it had lost its soundproofing ability. As for defensive and isolating capabilities, there’s even less need to mention; they were nonexistent.
Ning Daoran took a deep breath.
He began to ponder.
His fiftyfold plant growth speed as a Grass and Tree Holy Spirit was too terrifying to let others know.
Therefore, he decided to openly cultivate the land outside the cabin while simultaneously carving out two more plots inside the yard. In the future, he would only cultivate the spirit rice from the Plant Holy Spirit Seed under the concealment of the Small Cloud Mist Array.
Otherwise, if someone discovered how quickly he could cultivate, he feared he wouldn’t live to see the next day. Such a monstrosity would be captured and studied by the sect!
Quickly, Ning Daoran and the Big Stupid Deer began their passionate labor, tilling the land, watering, and nurturing seedlings—all very familiar tasks. However, throughout planting the three mu of land outside, he kept his talent as a Grass and Tree Holy Spirit inactive.
And so, several days passed.
On a dark and stormy night, Ning Daoran, carrying a Spiritual Hoe, quietly began planting the first batch of spirit rice from the Grass and Tree Holy Spirit under the concealment of the Small Cloud Mist Array together with the Big Stupid Deer!