The first light of dawn broke through the darkness, and the orange-red sun slowly rose, casting its rays through the window into the quiet room. A thin, dry finger suddenly glowed with a golden light!

  Zuo Mo held his index finger up to his bloodshot eyes.

  The finger looked as if it were wearing a golden ring. Zuo Mo’s expressionless face was filled with a drunken fascination. As the sunlight gradually shifted away from his finger, the golden glow revealed its true form—a faint golden gas swirling around Zuo Mo’s index finger.

  The Gengjin Qi Blade!

  At that moment, the melodious sound of a bell rang out five times in succession, echoing through the mountains.

  The golden light on his finger trembled, and the Gengjin Qi Blade shattered into nothingness.

  Zuo Mo scrambled to his feet in a panic. Damn it! It was already morning. Ignoring his growling stomach, he dashed out like a gust of wind.

  If one were to look down from above Wukong Mountain at this moment, they would see over a hundred figures rushing out of their courtyards, all heading in the same direction.

  Once again, Zuo Mo cursed the rule that forbade outer disciples from flying within the sect. He sprinted as fast as he could.

  The Lecture Hall was located on Ox Horn Peak, named for its resemblance to an ox’s horn.

  When Zuo Mo rushed into the Lecture Hall, many people were already seated. He quickly found a cushion and plopped down, gasping for breath.

  At the front sat a young man in his early twenties, with a face as fair as jade and eyes that shone like stars. Dressed in a deep green robe, he stood out like a crane among chickens in the room full of people.

  Xu Yi, the third-ranked inner disciple, was responsible for teaching the outer disciples. He was a disciple of Uncle Xinyan and was the most skilled alchemist among the inner disciples. Additionally, he was well-versed in various miscellaneous studies.

  Ding!

  The jade chime on the table rang out with a clear, lingering sound that seemed to ripple through the air. Zuo Mo felt his spirits lift, and the fatigue from staying up all night vanished.

  Xu Yi’s set of "Green Ripple Jade Chimes" was one of the magical artifacts Zuo Mo coveted the most. The chimes were mounted on a red copper frame, with seven jade chimes of varying sizes arranged in a row. Each chime was covered in intricate, tiny talismanic characters, and their green glow was both lovely and enchanting.

  Each chime had a different effect. The one that had just rung was the "Tranquil Mind Chime," which calmed the spirit and quickly restored physical energy. It was a rare and valuable artifact.

  Zuo Mo could only look on with envy. This set of Green Ripple Jade Chimes was the result of Xu Yi’s countless hours of effort, and no other disciple had anything like it.

  Xu Yi was beloved by the outer disciples. Any other senior disciple wouldn’t have used such a treasure to help them stay alert.

  With a wave of his sleeve, Xu Yi closed the doors of the Lecture Hall.

  Zuo Mo’s attention was drawn to the table in front of Xu Yi. Besides the set of Green Ripple Jade Chimes, there were many other miscellaneous items laid out.

  Alchemy? Zuo Mo’s heart leapt with joy. In his two years at the Wukong Sword Sect, he had never heard Third Senior Brother talk about alchemy.

  Every so often, Third Senior Brother would teach them some cultivation techniques, which was one of the benefits of being an outer disciple. Most people joined the sect to learn more techniques so they could find decent jobs after leaving the mountain.

  For someone like Zuo Mo, who was at the seventh level of Qi Refinement, there weren’t many job opportunities. But if he added his third-level "Minor Cloud and Rain Technique" to his skills, he could find a good job at various grain farms or herb gardens. The Tianyue Realm wasn’t particularly rich in resources, but due to its favorable climate and abundant spiritual energy, there were many grain farms and herb gardens.

  Cultivation techniques increased spiritual power and focused on resources and accumulation. Spirit veins, medicinal herbs, and spirit stones could rapidly boost one’s cultivation. Without these, one could only rely on slow, gradual accumulation over time.

  Spells, on the other hand, were about the application of spiritual energy and relied on teaching and comprehension. While there were geniuses who could comprehend spells on their own, for most people, it was more realistic to learn from others.

  Some major sects forbade their disciples from learning spells before reaching Foundation Establishment, as they believed that cultivation was the foundation.

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  But for ordinary cultivators, cultivation was like a distant dream. Spirit veins, medicinal herbs, and spirit stones were all beyond their reach. In comparison, spells were more practical. Finding a decent job and earning a good income not only ensured a stable life but also made it easier for their descendants to cultivate in the future.

  "You’ve been in the sect for some time now, and I know how hard it’s been for you. You must cultivate diligently and not slack off. This will make it easier for you to earn a living in the future, so your efforts won’t be in vain. I won’t go on about cultivation techniques—there are no shortcuts there. If you perform well by the end of the year, I’ll teach you advanced techniques.

  Today, I’ll be teaching you how to craft two types of magical artifacts. The first is the 'Spirit Shaking Hoe,' and the second is the 'Needle Thread Suction Sac.'

  The Spirit Shaking Hoe is essential for tending to spirit fields. It can agitate the spiritual energy within the fields, allowing the spirit plants to absorb it more effectively. The Needle Thread Suction Sac is used to extract the sap from certain spirit plants. Remember, the extracted sap must be handed in quickly, or the spiritual energy will dissipate, and you won’t earn any contribution points.

  Pay close attention. I’ll only go over this once..."

  Xu Yi spoke with confidence, his demeanor commanding respect.

  Zuo Mo listened intently. This was his first exposure to alchemy, and he was afraid of missing even a single word.

  By the time Xu Yi finished his lecture, three hours had passed. Having not eaten since the previous night and having spent three hours concentrating, Zuo Mo was starving. He hurried back to his courtyard and wolfed down whatever food he could find.

  Before he could even wipe his mouth, a sword light descended from the sky and landed in the courtyard. The formations around the courtyard offered no resistance and were instantly shattered.

  A cold-faced man appeared before Zuo Mo.

  Zuo Mo swallowed the curse on the tip of his tongue, his heart pounding. Why had this executioner come?

  Before he could even bow, the man snorted, "Are you Zuo Mo?"

  "Zuo Mo greets Senior Brother Luo Li!" Zuo Mo replied respectfully, bowing deeply. Although Luo Li was only the fourth-ranked inner disciple, he was the most accomplished cultivator among the current generation. Cold by nature and obsessed with cultivation, he was exceptionally talented. He was the only disciple in his generation to master the sect’s "Severing Shadows Sword Technique" and was widely regarded as the most likely disciple in the past two hundred years to master the sect’s ultimate skill.

  As famous as his talent and strength was his unpredictable temper. He was in charge of supervising one of the sect’s spirit stone mines, and it was said that any mining slaves who disobeyed were killed with a single strike of his sword.

  Luo Li didn’t bother with small talk. Suddenly appearing behind Zuo Mo, he grabbed him by the collar and flew into the air.

  Though Zuo Mo boasted of being the first outer disciple to own a mount, this was his first experience flying at such high speeds. The world spun around him, and the wind whipped against his face, making it impossible to keep his eyes open.

  When his feet touched the ground, Zuo Mo nearly collapsed.

  "So it’s true. You really do have a zombie face."

  The first words Zuo Mo heard after recovering from his dizziness instantly made him dislike the speaker.

  A green-robed girl was looking at him with interest. She had a sharp chin, slightly protruding cheekbones, and a smile on her face, but her eyes were cold.

  Her gaze made Zuo Mo uncomfortable, but he didn’t dare show any dissatisfaction. He bowed respectfully, "Greetings, Senior Sister Hao Min!"

  Senior Sister Hao Min was a disciple of Uncle Yanle, just like Luo Li. It was said that Luo Li was infatuated with her, and it seemed the rumors were true.

  "I heard you’ve reached the third level of the 'Minor Cloud and Rain Technique'?" Hao Min asked, staring at Zuo Mo.

  "Yes!"

  "Good." Hao Min nodded in satisfaction. "I’ll be away for some time, and during that period, you’ll be in charge of tending to my herb garden."

  Without giving Zuo Mo a chance to respond, she tossed him a jade pendant and said indifferently, "This is the token to enter the herb garden. You’ll need to summon rain once a day. From today until I return, you’ll be responsible for the herb garden."

  Her tone suddenly turned sharp, "I’m not known for my patience, so let me make this clear: if anything goes wrong with the herb garden, you’ll pay for it when I return!"

  Without waiting for Zuo Mo’s reply, she turned to Luo Li, linking her arm with his. Her smile was radiant as she said softly, "Senior Brother, let’s go."

  Luo Li’s expression softened slightly. He glanced at Zuo Mo and snorted coldly before the two of them soared into the sky.

  Zuo Mo stood there, holding the jade pendant, watching them disappear into the horizon.

  When you’re unlucky, even drinking cold water can choke you. He never expected his luck to be this bad.

  The outer disciples all disliked Senior Sister Hao Min. She was cold and unfeeling, and those who worked for her never received any benefits. Her temper was as bad as Luo Li’s, and she was quick to anger, often resorting to violence at the slightest provocation.

  From start to finish, neither of them had asked for his opinion.

  Zuo Mo’s heart was filled with bitterness.

  From the moment he opened his eyes, he had always worked with spirit grains and had never tended to an herb garden. To make matters worse, at his current cultivation level, he could only use the third level of the "Minor Cloud and Rain Technique" once a day.

  Thinking about the rain-summoning agreements he had made with his fellow disciples, he felt a bitter taste in his mouth.

  The Wukong Sword Sect had three herb gardens, and the one Senior Sister Hao Min was in charge of was located in Cold Mist Valley. Clutching the jade pendant, he walked nervously toward Cold Mist Valley.

  Cold Mist Valley was situated between two peaks and was perpetually shrouded in mist. The temperature there was much lower than in other parts of Wukong Mountain, hence its name. As an important location within the sect, outer disciples were not allowed to enter. If Zuo Mo hadn’t reached the third level of the "Minor Cloud and Rain Technique," Hao Min would never have chosen him.

  Along the way, ancient trees twisted and turned, and fragrant grass covered the ground. The air was filled with a refreshing scent, and the place was teeming with life. Small animals like rabbits and squirrels darted about happily. But Zuo Mo had no mood to appreciate the scenery. He was terrified, clutching the jade pendant as he walked cautiously, his legs trembling.

  The entire path was filled with formations, both visible and hidden. Occasionally, the terrifying pressure released by some of the more powerful formations made it hard for him to breathe. At the seventh level of Qi Refinement, if he accidentally triggered any of these formations, he would be reduced to nothing.

  If it weren’t for his naturally expressionless zombie face, his face would have been pale as a sheet, drained of all color.