It was noon, and the scorching sun hung high in the sky.
Yang Chan toiled under the blazing sun, turning over semi-dried medicinal herbs. The intense heat had tanned his skin several shades darker, and despite his simple sun-shielding clothes, he was still drenched in sweat.
Not far from them, inside the Medicine Hall, the Official Disciples were comfortably indoors, supervising and ordering the Servant Disciples around. They had no need to work under the searing sun in the sweltering heat.
As they assigned tasks, they would point and laugh at the Servant Disciples, clearly using their plight as a way to pass the time.
Every one of them had fair skin, a stark contrast to the Servant Disciples' sorry state.
"I will become one of them."
Beside Yang Chan, a young Servant Disciple wiped away his sweat, his eyes burning with anger as he spoke with a determined look.
A few other Servant Disciples nearby heard him and just chuckled without saying anything. It wasn't the first time they had seen this. In fact, most new Servant Disciples were the same, all wearing an expression that said they would one day take their place.
Yang Chan sighed inwardly.
The treatment of Servant Disciples and Official Disciples was worlds apart. Servant Disciples were little more than laborers for the Cyan Yuan Sect, and every year, a batch would be eliminated and replaced with new, younger ones.
Every year, many Servant Disciples died from forcibly practicing the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist, but no one cared. The Cyan Yuan Sect was the most powerful faction in Qing State, and countless people were desperate to join, willing to fight tooth and nail for a spot and the protection it offered. This was the source of the Cyan Yuan Sect's confidence.
Yang Chan himself had only managed to become a Servant Disciple by a stroke of luck, after he found and presented a Centennial Ginseng to the Cyan Yuan Sect.
Only after they had finished turning all the herbs did Yang Chan and the others get a moment to hide in the shade and drink some water. 'This life really is tough,' he thought, finding himself desperately missing his old days of lounging around with the AC blasting, sipping on soda, scrolling through pictures of pretty girls on his phone, and munching on fried chicken.
Fueled by Yang Chan's resentment, his unscrupulous former boss's 'something' probably shrank another five centimeters, if there was anything left of it at all.
"I heard the sun's been too harsh this year. Several rivers and lakes in Qing State have already dried up. I wonder how my village is doing."
Wang Sheng, who had been drying herbs with Yang Chan, looked up at the scorching sun and spoke with worry in his voice.
Like Yang Chan, he had been in the Cyan Yuan Sect for over two years but still hadn't managed to comprehend Power. It was very likely he would be expelled.
"Last time I delivered medicine to the Official Disciples in the Medicine Hall, I overheard them saying that because of the major drought this year, the Sect's Elders are planning to dismiss a batch of Servant Disciples."
"The three-year limit might be moved up."
Another Servant Disciple pulled them closer and whispered mysteriously.
"Dismissing Servant Disciples early? Then what are we going to do...?"
Wang Sheng grew anxious upon hearing this.
Everyone knew this year's drought meant it would be a year of famine. If they were forced to leave the mountain now, their chances of survival were practically zero.
Yang Chan frowned as he listened to their discussion. This kind of thing had happened before. The year he had just entered the Cyan Yuan Sect, Servant Disciples were allowed to stay on the mountain for three and a half years.
But after a year of famine hit, that period was shortened to three years.
The Cyan Yuan Sect was not some charitable Kaisan Hall. While the cost of supporting each Servant Disciple wasn't high, the sheer number of them was a burden. Dismissing some would naturally ease the Sect's load.
The Cyan Yuan Sect recruited these Servant Disciples for two reasons: one, to perform menial tasks, and two, to scout for disciples with decent aptitude to join the Sect proper.
Under normal circumstances, those who could become Elite Disciples within a year had great prospects. Those who took two years were still worth cultivating. But those who only became Official Disciples after three years had very little potential.
Therefore, it was highly likely that the Cyan Yuan Sect would shorten the time limit for Servant Disciples once again.
Hearing this unconfirmed news left the herb-drying group with heavy hearts.
'I have to comprehend Power and become an Official Disciple as soon as possible. Leaving the Cyan Yuan Sect now is a death sentence.'
Yang Chan thought to himself.
Outside the Cyan Yuan Sect, he had no one to rely on. If he left, finding food in this age of famine would be a struggle. Starving to death would be a normal outcome.
His predecessor had personally witnessed people trading children to eat them during a famine, which was why he had been so desperate to stay in the Cyan Yuan Sect.
When the sun's residual heat was no longer scorching, Yang Chan and the others began to pack up the medicinal herbs. By the time Yang Chan returned to his small hut, the sky was already growing dark.
After a full day of hard labor, Yang Chan had eaten a total of four cornbread buns. This was his entire ration for the day, nothing compared to what the Official Disciples received.
When he returned to the courtyard where the Servant Disciples gathered, some people were already practicing the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist. Everyone was striving to comprehend that sliver of Power and change their fate.
Yang Chan was no exception. After completing two sets of the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist in the courtyard, he went back to his room to continue his Cultivation.
The Tai Chi Health Cultivation Skill he was currently practicing was a Static Skill, which made him stand out and seem out of place among the others.
Although some of the Servant Disciples had brought their own martial arts into the sect, almost none of them practiced a Static Skill.
Yang Chan practiced the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Skill in his room. After one complete set, his Qi and Blood returned to their peak state, and he would then practice the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist again.
After practicing the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Skill five times, the proficiency panel finally showed a change: Tai Chi Health Cultivation Skill (Tier One Initial Glimpse 11%). The proficiency had increased by one percent, showing him that there was a path to improving it.
Based on this progress, he estimated he would need to practice the Tai Chi Health Cultivation Skill another 445 times for it to advance again. The future looked promising.
Life as a Servant Disciple was hard, but after three straight days of it, Yang Chan had grown accustomed to it. Then, one morning, the Steward gathered them all, but instead of assigning chores, he announced the Cyan Yuan Sect's new arrangement for Servant Disciples.
The three-year term for Servant Disciples was now reduced to a two-year term. For those who had already been here for over two years, the Cyan Yuan Sect would grant them one more month. If they could comprehend the Wild Ox Force in that time, they could become Official Disciples of the Cyan Yuan Sect. If not, they would be driven off the mountain.
This news was a bolt from the blue for many. Wang Sheng, who had been drying herbs with Yang Chan earlier, had already burst into tears.
In recent days, everyone in the Cyan Yuan Sect had heard about the famine ravaging Qing State. Stories of all kinds of horrific scenes were circulating, so they knew exactly what being expelled from the sect at this time meant.
Yang Chan let out a long sigh, but he wasn't worried. In the past three days, his proficiency in the Ox Demon's Mighty Fist had already reached Beginner 55%. At this rate, he was certain he could comprehend Power within a month and become an Official Disciple.
At the same time, his Potential Points were no longer zero, but 0.3. He was accumulating 0.1 points per day, which was related to the food he ate. Although he couldn't allocate them until he had a full point, it would only take a few more days to save one up.
By then, whether through diligent Cultivation or by allocating points, he would definitely be able to comprehend Power and become an Official Disciple of the Cyan Yuan Sect.