Time flew by, and before I knew it, over ten days had already passed.
The Biyou Sect's annual Golden Autumn Festival was in full swing. All the academies had registered at the sect's stewards' hall, and by then, the registration process had concluded. The stewards were leading a large group of outer disciples in setting up the competition arena and viewing area, while the disciples who had signed up for the Golden Autumn Festival were training even more diligently, striving to achieve fame at the event.
For a moment, the Biyou Sect was bustling with activity.
For outer disciples, the Golden Autumn Festival was undoubtedly a golden opportunity to distinguish themselves. An outstanding performance at the festival would undoubtedly attract the attention of inner sect elites and even the sect's highest echelons. This would naturally bring numerous benefits. Who knows, perhaps even a master would take notice and summon them for personal instruction? Naturally, rising to fame would be just around the corner.
However, Ming Qi didn't have so many ulterior motives in mind; he was focused on contemplation and understanding. He believed that there were no shortcuts to cultivation; one must proceed step by step, steadily and with a firm resolve, only then could one achieve long-term success.
Over the past ten days, his diligent contemplation and practice had finally yielded encouraging results.
Today, with only fifteen days until the Golden Autumn Festival, Ming Qi had finally successfully entered the ninth level of the Acquired Realm, the Gathering of Essence.
While it's called the Ninth Level of the Gathering of Essence, it actually only encompasses the rudiments of understanding the transformation of the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, a significant step away from true Gathering of Essence. While the Ninth Level of the Gathering of Essence is only one step away from the Innate Realm, the profound depths of this realm are likely incomparable to all the insights gained from the eighth level of the Acquired Realm combined. This is precisely the difficulty of entering the Innate Realm.
Typically, at this time, some wealthy cultivators would choose to travel, hoping to try their luck and chance, hoping to obtain some legacy from a predecessor or to spend a fortune to buy a rare and in-demand elixir that increases the success rate of the Innate stage. This would increase their chances of advancement.
It's important to understand that the hurdle of advancing from the acquired to the Innate stage isn't something that can be easily overcome. If one person out of a hundred successfully makes it on their first attempt, they're considered exceptionally fortunate.
Putting one's hopes solely on external forces would only make the chances of success even slimmer.
The transition from the acquired to the Innate stage tests not only strength, but also one's character and understanding, as well as their understanding of the path of cultivation.
Ming Qi's wealth, needless to say, is a pauper. If it weren't for the few mid-grade Yuan Crystals he earned from completing a sect mission, he'd be living on the edge of subsistence. As for clinging to powerful figures, at the moment, he hasn't seen any significant ones offered to him.
Ming Qi was a practical man, so after reaching the Ninth Level of the Acquired Realm, he immediately set his sights on earning Yuan Jing.
In the Biyou Sect's Outer Trial Pavilion, Ming Qi quietly searched for suitable targets.
Due to preparations for the Golden Autumn Festival, the Trial Pavilion was noticeably sparser, but that was a good thing, as it gave Ming Qi a wider range of options.
However, this journey seemed similar to the last one. After all, these were missions for outer disciples, and the difficulty and rewards were quite low, some even looked like scams.
After a long glance, Ming Qi shook his head helplessly, ultimately losing all desire to take action.
These things were too simple!
Simplicity simply didn't pique Ming Qi's interest.
"Haha, young man, don't think too highly of yourself. Be down-to-earth."
Perhaps because Ming Qi had been wandering around for too long, the old man dozing off at the door couldn't help but speak unsteadily.
High?
Ming Qi didn't argue, knowing the old man must have seen the world. He calmly approached the old man's desk and asked affably, "Do you have any lucrative assignments? Recommend me a few."
"Lucky pay?" the old man said nonchalantly, not even raising an eyelid. "Yes, there are, but are you lucky enough to earn them?"
"Yes, of course."
As Ming Qi spoke, he casually pulled a small stool from the side and sat down. He tapped the table twice and said, "Show me everything you've hidden."
After Ming Qi said this, the old man finally lifted his eyelids and took a closer look at Ming Qi.
"I didn't expect you'd actually get into this business."
The old man seemed to suddenly become interested, and with a burst of excitement, he pulled a small notebook from his wide sleeve and shoved it in front of Ming Qi.
"Since you understand, let's cut to the chase. Split the profits fifty-fifty."
Holy crap!
Ming Qi cursed inwardly. Even at this age, he was still so ruthless. He really wasn't afraid of a good end.
"Fifty-fifty split? You're too cruel, old man."
Although Ming Qi understood the tricks of middlemen, he naturally wouldn't be easily deceived. The fifty-fifty split the old man meant, of course, that the reward after the mission was completed would be split 50-50 between the two of them. For someone who simply hid high-profit, low-risk missions and then took kickbacks, this was truly greedy and shameless. Yet, the old man seemed quite confident when he said it.
"Twenty-eight." Ming Qi bargained directly.
"Fifty-five." The old man, as if he had swallowed a lump of iron, didn't give in at all.
"Three-seven." Ming Qi reluctantly eased up.
"Fifty-five." The old man still held his tongue.
"Then, four-six." Ming Qi was completely speechless.
"You four, I six. Haha, okay." The old man smiled at Ming Qi.
"Holy crap! I'll take six, you take four!" Ming Qi almost slammed his fist on the table.
"Fifty-fifty." The old man pressed a finger against the small notebook, unhurried.
Bang!
Ming Qi was completely furious. He slammed the table and stood up.
"Fuck you, fifty-fifty! I'm quitting!"
Although he knew this old man was secretly doing some shady things to make extra money, he had no idea he had any moral compunction. He was completely monopolistic. It was truly unbearable.
After slamming the table, Ming Qi walked over to the room with the sign, grabbed a handful of tasks from the wall, and dumped them all on the old man's desk.
The old man, though yelled at by Ming Qi, remained calm. He slowly put the small notebook away and said to Ming Qi with a smile, "According to the rules, you can only accept one task at a time. You took too many."
"..."
Rules? You still have rules in your head, old man?
Ming Qi could see that the old man was deliberately trying to piss him off, so there was no need to get angry. Instead, he played it cool and slowly put all the signs back up one by one.
This actually amused the old man.
"Hey, is this still 50/50?"
After hanging up the signs, Ming Qi picked one from the middle and dropped it on the table in front of the old man.
"Oh? You want 50/50, then 50/50."
"..."
Ming Qi realized he had truly been tricked by the old man. As the saying goes, an old man who's still alive is a thief, and this old man was a real thief.
"50/50, bullshit! Hurry up, record it! I'm about to throw up."
Ming Qi realized he was feeling really down. If it weren't for the faction's missions being registered, he would have grabbed the sign and left long ago.
Finally, the old man stopped arguing about the 50-50 issue. He slowly recorded the task and sent the corresponding information to Ming Qi.
Finally finished, Ming Qi impatiently turned to leave when he felt a sudden gust of wind from the sky. He looked up and saw a man and a sword flying towards him.
Sword-wielding Elder Prince Xu!
Ming Qi was stunned for a moment as he saw Prince Xu fly to the front of the Trial Pavilion. With a wave of his hand, his sword transformed into a stream of light and retracted, then lightly landed on the ground.
"Tianqi Academy disciple Ming Qi greets Sword-wielding Elder."
Ming Qi had been in the Biyou Sect for some time and was already familiar with Sword-wielding Elder Prince Xu's reputation. Now that they happened to meet, he couldn't afford to lose manners and quickly and respectfully saluted.
"Tianqi Academy?"
Prince Xu's face flickered with surprise when he heard Ming Qi mention the name. He clearly hadn't expected this young man, who had once inspired the sword spirit, to be sent there.
As a high-ranking official in the Biyou Sect, he was naturally well aware of Tianqi Academy's current situation. Being assigned to Tianqi Academy would be tantamount to being abandoned by the sect.
After a moment's silence, Prince Xu uttered two words with a displeased expression: "Nonsense!"
Ming Qi didn't understand Prince Xu's words, but the old man's expression shifted slightly. Finally, he leaned forward and asked, "Sword-wielding Elder, do you know this kid?"
Prince Xu looked at Ming Qi expressionlessly and said, "He understands the sword spirit."
"Ah! Haha, finally someone who understands the way of the sword?"
The old man was stunned, but he couldn't let his feelings show. After all, he had just been teasing him. While others might not understand Prince Xu's words, how could he, a veteran of the Biyou Sect, not understand?
Prince Xu has devoted his life to the art of swordsmanship, his mastery of the sword having long since reached perfection. He is the crucial guarantee for the Biyou Sect's continued dominance in the vastly influential Xilan Province. In the eyes of Biyou Sect's disciples, the Sword Elder is the sect's pillar of support. With the Sword God in their stead, the Biyou Sect can maintain its position without being overthrown.
However, while Prince Xu is proficient in the art of swordsmanship, he is not a god. He will eventually die of old age, so he must find someone to inherit his swordsmanship.
And the one that Prince Xu has chosen, Ron, must be a prodigy with exceptional swordsmanship talent.
"I didn't expect that during my time in seclusion, well, I've neglected it."
Prince Xu was clearly displeased by this matter.
With a wave of his sleeve, he glanced at Ming Qi and said, "Come with me to see the Sect Master."
Sect Master!
Ming Qi, the leader of the Biyou Sect, hadn't expected things to change so quickly, but he instantly guessed what Prince Xu was planning.
"Sword Elder, in half a month, I will be representing Tianqi Academy at the Golden Autumn Festival. Can this matter wait until after the festival?"
Prince Xu was slightly taken aback. As far as he could remember, few had dared to disobey his wishes, but this young man's directness surprised him.
Prince Xu's understanding was as clear as a mirror. Since Ming Qi could explain it so clearly, he must have fully understood the cause and effect.
"Well, after the Golden Autumn Festival, come find me at the Sword Pond."
With that, Prince Xu said no more, urging his flying sword to depart.
Watching Prince Xu leave, Ming Qi didn't leave immediately. Instead, he turned around and pulled up a small stool to sit in front of the old man.
"How about we talk about that Erba again?"
Yes, he was thinking about her again.
The old man pinched his beard, seemingly struggling for a moment before saying, "Let's split it 19. You split 9, I split 1."