"What...is your clan?" Xiao Rong suddenly asked.
"Reporting to Master, I am of the Barbarian Race," Zhang Rongfang replied truthfully.
"Ancestry is?"
"Ancestry is a Confucian household."
Xiao Rong's face immediately showed regret.
"In that case...you go back first, everything as usual. After I secretly verify the truth, I will come to summon you."
"Understood."
Zhang Rongfang's expression did not change as he bowed and retreated.
The Barbarian Race is fourth-class, Confucian households in the Great Spirit's ten-level division are just slightly better than beggars.
The combination of these, no wonder Xiao Rong reacted in such a manner.
Originally, Zhang Rongfang was not of this world, and thus felt no true connection to these identities.
But just now, Xiao Rong clearly showed interest in accepting him as a disciple, but when he heard of Zhang's origin, he immediately fell silent.
This was the first time Zhang Rongfang truly felt the strict hierarchy within the Great Spirit.
Clearly, even though he was of Dao records, the origins of being Barbarian and Confucian would affect his future development.
Exactly what kind of impact, Zhang Rongfang did not know, but seeing Xiao Rong's expression, he knew it wouldn't be simple.
Leaving the Daoist field, Zhang Rongfang's mind kept flashing back to Xiao Rong's regretful visage a moment ago.
If Xiao Rong had accepted him as a disciple, he would surely have immediately joined the ranks of practicing disciples.
At that time, not only would he be exempt from chores, but would also have ample time to cultivate both literature and martial arts, with significantly improved diet and treatment, and future opportunities to be granted a Dao title, becoming a Master.
Most importantly, at that time, he could accumulate attribute points more quickly, enhancing himself.
So far, his attribute panel only had life and skills, two options.
What exactly counted as a skill? Zhang Rongfang tried many things, but none worked.
And just now, he was so close to success, but unfortunately...success or failure separated by a sliver.
Sighing inwardly, Zhang Rongfang returned to his own room alone.
Qinghe Palace's treatment was quite respectable; each disciple had a separate room, though it's simple and narrow, just enough for a bed and a stool.
But it's better than a group crammed together for sleep.
After notifying and reporting, Zhang Rongfang carried on as usual, daily routine, morning bell, evening drum, morning and evening coursework, other times doing odd jobs.
Until the time for practicing disciple assessment passed, approaching June.
Xiao Rong finally had a response.
May 14th.
Early morning, mist engulfed, resembling smoke swirling around the entire Qinghe Palace.
Zhang Rongfang was about to go to the washroom to start work.
"Zhang Rongfang, Master Mingguang summons you! Go to the teacher's room in the back mountain." Suddenly on the halfway, a chore disciple came forward and called.
Nearby chore disciples, upon hearing, immediately turned their gazes.
"Understood." Zhang Rongfang's expression remained unchanged, his mind slightly relieved.
He followed that chore disciple, one after the other, hastily moving towards the direction of the back mountain.
From afar within the palace, came the chanting of other Daoists, and in Shangde Garden, the chatter of noble guests.
"Today a Master is hosting a scripture session, many esteemed guests have come, ensure you watch over those with the Yellow Ruyi Token, do not offend them," the chore disciple ahead whispered a reminder.
Zhang Rongfang understood and expressed thanks.
Clearly, the reminder was not arbitrary, no one randomly shows kindness to a completely unfamiliar chore disciple.
Therefore, most likely good news from Master Xiao Rong's side.
He recognized the person, this chore disciple is different from others, it is said he donates many belongings to Master Xiao Rong annually, thereby earning the opportunity to serve closely.
The reminder earlier clearly showed goodwill, Zhang Rongfang noted it in his mind.
"May I ask your name, Senior Brother?"
"No need for formality, my surname is Sun, name is Yuanfeng. No courtesy name," the chore disciple replied with a laugh.
"Ah, Brother Feng..." Zhang Rongfang paused, feeling something amiss. "Thank you, Senior Brother Feng, for the guidance, Mr. Zhang noted it."
"No problem." Sun Yuanfeng waved his hand.
Soon, the two traversed through alleys, across corridors, fields, and disciple squares, at the very back of Qinghe Palace, arriving at a cluster of pavilions encircled by red walls.
Red walls and gray tiles, three-story towers, each staggered beautifully.
Sun Yuanfeng led Zhang Rongfang all the way inside, quickly arriving in front of one of the towers.
Xiao Rong, well-proportioned, stood on the second-floor balcony of the tower, wearing a light yellow outfit, with a gray-white cloak, seemingly just finished practicing martial arts.
Qinghe Palace is part of the Great Spirit's Great Dao Teaching, venerates the Three Pristine Ones, within the sect disciples practice, mainly divided into literature and martial, literary cultivation mostly, martial less.
Zhang Rongfang in the Dao field saw just those practicing martial arts.
Now he followed Sun Yuanfeng, arriving below the tower, waiting at the entrance.
"Come in first," Xiao Rong said calmly. His gaze skimmed over Zhang Rongfang.
"Yes."
Zhang Rongfang bowed and entered the ground floor of the tower, standing in the lobby, waiting.
After a while, Xiao Rong came down from the second floor, with a warm wet towel, wiped his cheeks and palms, then handed it to the servant disciple nearby.
He waved his hand, signaling the surrounding disciples to leave.
After the others left, only Sun Yuanfeng and Zhang Rongfang remained, and then he coughed.
"Zhang Rongfang."
"Disciple is here!" Zhang Rongfang quickly responded.
"Are you willing to become my disciple? Join my sect?" Xiao Rong asked directly without any explanation.
This unexpected question left Zhang Rongfang and Sun Yuanfeng slightly stunned.
Fortunately, Zhang Rongfang reacted quickly and immediately kneeled down to bow.
"Disciple Zhang Rongfang, greets Master!"
This apprenticeship was not true transmission; in the Great Dao Teaching, apprenticeship is divided into two types, one being ordinary mentorship.
Also known as minor master.
Apprenticing as a minor master means being an ordinary disciple of this master, only in name, with no major cultivation provided. It involves having the necessary Dao registration and occupational treatment.
Then there is another type, called major master apprenticeship, which is the true core transmission, involving conferring of a Dao title and giving a red envelope as gifts.
After apprenticing under a major master, the relationship between master and disciple is like father and son, with even inheritance rights corresponding to the discipleship. The disciple also has several obligations to the master.
Zhang Rongfang only learned here that it is not like the dramas from the previous life, where anyone entering the Dao Sect could randomly receive a Dao title.
From ordinary mentorship to major master, a disciple needs to pass several tests.
Zhang Rongfang felt relieved at this moment, knowing he had finally taken the right first step.
Though it was just minor apprenticeship.
But as long as he escapes the life of a laborious miscellaneous servant disciple, accumulating attribute points, he can surely step by step advance to higher levels.
Thump, thump, thump.
With Zhang Rongfang's kneeling and kowtowing, under Xiao Rong's smile, he finally formally progressed from being a discardable miscellaneous servant disciple to becoming an official cultivation disciple.
Sun Yuanfeng at the side showed a hint of envy in his eyes, not knowing what luck Zhang Rongfang had to be directly named by Master Xiao Rong as a disciple.
Even himself, sending so much money from home every year, and serving wholeheartedly before Xiao Rong, after four years, still hasn't been accepted as a disciple by Master Xiao Rong.
In the Great Dao Teaching, a master accepting disciples has to allocate a portion of their treatment resources for disciple cultivation.
Therefore, masters are generally very cautious in accepting disciples, resulting in the number of disciples in many Dao Palaces and Dao Temples remaining constant over the years.
Hence, Sun Yuanfeng speculated internally, there must be a reason Zhang Rongfang caught Master Xiao Rong's eye, compelling him to overlook Rongfang's background and take him in.
Zhang Rongfang was born in the fourth-tier Barbarian Race, his parents are of the Confucian household, and his appearance isn't outstanding, showing no apparent talent.
Anyone with a discerning eye can immediately guess, Zhang Rongfang must have made some significant recent impression for Xiao Rong to notice him.
After kowtowing, Xiao Rong checked Zhang Rongfang.
"From now on, follow Xiaoying closely, she's ill-tempered, you must watch over her and remind her often."
"Yes." Zhang Rongfang promptly replied. As a disciple, he's not in a position to choose his tasks.
From these words, it was evident Xiao Rong accepted him for his daughter's sake.
"Additionally, in my Qinghe Palace, Literary Cultivators practice the Void Observation Skill, Martial Cultivators practice the Rejuvenation Purification Talisman Manual. Since you're low in Qi and Blood, start with the Void Observation Skill to nourish yourself first." Xiao Rong instructed.
"Yes."
Zhang Rongfang lowering his head, finally flashed a hint of joy on his face.
He always suspected that his skill column on the attribute section might perhaps refer to authentic Daoist cultivation techniques.
"May I ask Master, if martial arts are well-practiced, can one scale walls and run across rooftops? Strike with enough force to split a mountain?" He couldn't help asking respectfully.
"Haha..." Xiao Rong chuckled, "Body Techniques at their pinnacle can indeed let you scale walls and run across rooftops, but humans have limits. Martial arts merely allow us to better utilize our strength through creativity.
Of course, some martial arts enhance our own conditioning, but human limits exist and no matter how much one trains, they can at most reach a certain point."
Looking at Zhang Rongfang before him, for a moment Xiao Rong seemed to recall something nostalgic, eyes dazed.
"Martial arts can enable you, under the same physical conditions, to fight five opponents, taking turns you might even fight ten, but that's the limit. Also, remember, unarmed generally cannot match armed combatants, armed ones generally can't defeat those in full armor and weaponry."
"Furthermore, if facing elite soldiers, even being highly skilled, five is the limit."
He paused before continuing.
"Moreover, Literary Cultivation's Void Observation Skill is for self-cultivation and nature preservation; unless you pass the Martial Cultivator disciple's test, solely practicing Void Observation Skill merely enhances physical health and longevity, with no other significant benefits."
Zhang Rongfang was immediately stunned.
"But I clearly heard before that some Hall Masters succeeded in transforming Core into Nascent Soul...."
"Oh, that was Senior Brother Zhang from Wealth Hall. Senior Brother Zhang is proficient in Dao techniques and indeed condensed Nascent Soul, but he's not a Martial Cultivator; after condensing Nascent Soul, he got so overjoyed he accidentally stumbled and hit his forehead hard on stone steps."
Xiao Rong sighed, "Great Spirit above, he later called for a senior sister from the Alchemy Chamber to treat him, fortunately, it wasn't anything serious."
"...." Zhang Rongfang couldn't describe his feelings at all.
"It's nothing remarkable; in our Taiqing Palace, many have condensed Inner Core, counting around twenty, mostly Literary Cultivators."
Martial Cultivators don't have the leisure time for this; they are all off toughening muscles and honing strength. So if not exceptionally talented, do not choose dual cultivation of literature and martial arts. Remember, remember."
Xiao Rong seriously advised.
"Then Master...what advantages does condensing Inner Core offer?" Zhang Rongfang unwillingly asked once more.
"Without illness or calamity, you can live beyond ninety." Xiao Rong smiled.
"This is the Longevity Skill."
After saying this, he appeared somewhat wistful.
"Discussing Literary Cultivation Dao methods, our Dao Sect once had the Four Seasons Daoist, who cultivated to Nascent Soul and then to Refining God stage.
It was rumored they touched the Returning to Void realm after Refining God. Unfortunately, captured by the then County Magistrate, scrutinized for fast-track Longevity methods, later unable to bear the torture, met tragic end by collision with the cell wall."
"...." Zhang Rongfang was speechless.