Chapter 49: On Promotions
Chapter 49: On Promotions
As Chu Ning made his way back to his courtyard from the outer sect, he couldn't help but ponder the news he had heard from Mu Ling.
According to Mu Ling, she had heard from an elder in the sect that the Qingxi Sect would be increasing their efforts in training menial disciples.
Originally, basic skills like talisman-making, pill-refining, and artifact-forging were only taught to inner and outer sect disciples.
But at the end of this season, menial disciples would have the opportunity to learn some fundamental crafting techniques.
However, Mu Ling also mentioned that even for menial disciples, the opportunities were limited, as there were so many of them in the Qingxi Sect.
For example, the menial disciples in the Spirit Plant sector, who cultivated wood-attribute techniques, would naturally be more suited to talisman-making.
But the menial disciples in Ding District hardly had any chance to compete, while those in Bing District would have better opportunities.
"Looks like I still need to find a way to become a Bing District disciple," Chu Ning thought to himself as he carefully considered his options.
In fact, Chu Ning already met the hard requirements to become a Bing District disciple. He had reached the mid-Qi Refining stage and could instantly cast several planting spells.
But meeting these requirements didn't guarantee a promotion to Bing District.
The Qingxi Sect held promotions once a year, and the number of available spots was extremely limited.
Only by surpassing others in the promotion assessment could one secure a spot.
As for the timing of the promotion assessment, Chu Ning knew it was just three months away.
The spirit field he had been assigned to after joining the sect three months ago had previously belonged to a disciple who had been promoted.
"I was thinking of laying low and developing my skills, but now it seems that sometimes, you just have to go for what you want," Chu Ning thought to himself as he entered his courtyard, his expression turning serious.
This time, he wouldn't just be competing against new disciples like Yuan Guang.
He would be competing against all the menial disciples in Ding District, including those who had been in the sect for many years—his senior brothers.
As a new disciple, Chu Ning's decision to participate in the promotion assessment would undoubtedly attract attention, regardless of whether he succeeded or not.
But at that moment, Chu Ning couldn't afford to worry about that.
It wasn't unprecedented for a menial disciple to break through to the fourth layer of Qi Refining in just a few months.
As for the instant casting of spells, he could use the same excuse he had given before.
Once he entered Bing District, he would keep a low profile for a while, and people would eventually forget about him.
This opportunity was not one to be missed, and Chu Ning didn't hesitate for long. He quickly made up his mind to participate in the promotion assessment in three months.
In the following days, Chu Ning continued his routine of tending to his spirit field and cultivating. Nothing out of the ordinary happened.
One evening, as Chu Ning was returning from his spirit field, he was surprised to find the gate of Qi Chongmou's neighboring courtyard standing open.
Chu Ning's heart skipped a beat.
"Could someone be here to investigate Qi Chongmou's disappearance again?" he wondered.
Zhuang Yunde had clearly stated that the sect wouldn't bother too much about the disappearance of a menial disciple.
The Enforcement Hall had already come to investigate ten days ago, so why would they be back again?
As these thoughts ran through his mind, Chu Ning unconsciously slowed his steps.
Just then, he faintly heard voices coming from the courtyard, and it sounded like they were about to leave.
Without hesitation, Chu Ning pushed open the gate and stepped into his own courtyard as if nothing was amiss.
"Please hold, fellow disciple," a voice called out suddenly from behind him, causing Chu Ning to pause with one foot still inside his courtyard.
Turning around, he saw a man and a woman walking out of Qi Chongmou's courtyard.
Chu Ning's initial sensing told him that both their cultivations were stronger than his, having reached the sixth layer of Qi Refining.
"Greetings, Junior Brother," the man said, taking the initiative to introduce himself. "My wife and I are newly assigned by the sect to live here, so we'll be your neighbors from now on."
Chu Ning was slightly taken aback by this introduction.
He hadn't expected the sect to reassign this courtyard to someone else so soon, and that too to a married couple, in just a month after Qi Chongmou's disappearance.
While he had occasionally seen female disciples in the Ding District, this was the first time he had come across a married couple living together.
Just as he was about to introduce himself, the woman spoke up:
"How rude of you, not introducing yourself first. How are we supposed to know who you are?"
The man chuckled good-naturedly, and the woman turned to Chu Ning with a smile.
"I'm Lu Yunfang, and this is my husband, Luo Hongping. We've just returned from our assignment at an external immortal cultivation family and have been assigned to live here."
Chu Ning bowed respectfully and introduced himself, "Greetings, Senior Brother Luo and Senior Sister Lu. I am Chu Ning."
After the introductions, he asked, slightly puzzled, "Senior Sister mentioned that you've returned from an external assignment?"
"Yes, we were usually stationed at an immortal cultivation family..." Lu Yunfang explained, giving Chu Ning a brief overview of their situation.
Apparently, the couple had been managing the spiritual fields of an affiliated immortal cultivation family. The family had numerous spiritual fields, but due to a decline in their numbers and a lack of cultivators with spiritual roots, they were unable to tend to all their fields.
Thus, the sect had sent Luo Hongping and Lu Yunfang to assist them.
In recent years, the family had produced a few more cultivators, and while the couple had wanted to return to the sect, they hadn't found a suitable opportunity until now. With Qi Chongmou's disappearance, they were called back to take care of his vacant spiritual field.
Lu Yunfang smiled as she continued, "We just wanted to introduce ourselves and get to know our new neighbor. Nothing too important."
After their brief chat, Chu Ning didn't prolong the conversation, choosing to politely see them off while maintaining an air of not being overly sociable.
Despite their friendly demeanor, the previous incident with Qi Chongmou had made Chu Ning cautious. He knew that appearances could be deceiving, and one couldn't always trust people who seemed kind.
Chu Ning cooked his meal, preparing a bowl of spirit rice. After savoring the delicious meal and feeling the subtle flow of spiritual energy within him, he began his cultivation routine.
As usual, he started with the Nine-Layered Tempering Body Technique, followed by a session of Green Wood Eternal Spring Art, and finally, the Spirit Refining Technique.
Within his Niwan Palace, his spiritual sense still swirled in a mist-like form without condensing into a liquid, indicating that he was still unable to utilize his spiritual sense for perception.
However, Chu Ning paid it no mind and continued cultivating diligently according to the instructions of the Spirit Refining Technique.
After completing his daily cultivation routine, it was already late into the night. Chu Ning returned to his room and fell asleep.
As a precaution, he took out a few items from his storage bag and placed them within arm's reach on his bedside—an offensive talisman, a defensive talisman, and his mysterious black wooden sword, whose material he still couldn't identify.
Ever since the incident with Qi Chongmou, Chu Ning had become even more vigilant, even within the safety of the sect.
Especially now, with new neighbors moving in next door.
(End of Chapter)
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