The sika deer leaped swiftly through the mountains, and a curious Zhang Deming gazed all around.
The surrounding scenery rapidly receded behind them.
Despite its constant hopping and leaping, Zhang Deming didn't feel the slightest jolt. The ride was, on the contrary, exceptionally smooth and comfortable.
At first, the path was lined with nothing but low hills. As they advanced, however, the mountain peaks began to tower over them.
The path they were traveling on eventually became a gorge.
The entire Celestial Spirit Sect was laid out in a semicircle.
Countless mountain peaks descended in elevation from the inner region to the outer, layer by layer, until the very edge became a flat region where commoners lived, with almost no mountains.
Behind the semicircle was a primeval forest: the Hengduan Mountain Range.
It was teeming with Demon Beasts and overrun by venomous insects.
A forbidden area belonging to the Sect lay between the primeval jungle and the Sect's Main Peak, forming a natural barrier.
Therefore, the closer they got to the Inner Sect, the more the surrounding landscape took on the feel of a primeval jungle.
While the signs of human activity didn't diminish, he could clearly feel the surroundings growing more serene and quiet.
When the sika deer arrived before a peculiar high mountain, Zhang Deming guessed they had probably reached their destination.
Because the mountain peak before him was just like its name.
A smaller peak stood encircled by a ring of taller mountains, making the name Little Hui Peak quite fitting.
Of course, this "small" peak was only so in comparison to the surrounding mountains; it was significantly shorter than them.
On its own, however, it was not small at all.
In fact, it was quite massive, seemingly several thousand meters high.
At the foot of the mountain, the Spirit Deer paused for a moment, then immediately leaped up the mountain.
Unlike the Outer Sect areas Zhang Deming had seen in the Miscellaneous Affairs Courtyard, there were no signs of human life at the foot of Little Hui Peak.
But from the mountainside up, countless pavilions and grand buildings abounded, making it feel as though he had instantly returned to the Human World.
As the Spirit Deer slowed its pace, it was clear they were about to arrive. Luh Jingsun spoke, his face devoid of expression, "You've been assigned to the Spirit Medicine Garden—the small garden next to Qingyou Pool.
Because the place is overly serene and secluded, and too far from the nearest dining hall, it's not practical to run back and forth before you've learned the Agility Technique.
So, you can opt out of eating at the dining hall and instead receive a direct subsidy: five catties of Spirit Rice and three catties of Demon Beast Flesh each month.
This is slightly more than the dining hall's rations. It's considered both a subsidy and a form of compensation.
Mm, aside from the public lectures on Little Hui Peak, you can stay there as much as you like.
Of course, you aren't required to attend the lectures either.
However, this is the only chance to learn Magic for free on Little Hui Peak, so I imagine you won't want to miss it.
Three Basic Techniques are popular on Little Hui Peak.
The first Technique, the most fundamental one, is typically assigned based on the job you choose upon entry.
For example, Spirit Farmers are given the Little Cloud Rain Skill, Blacksmiths get the Fire Control Technique, and Array Masters receive Heart Eye Numerology, and so on.
The remaining two are the Agility Technique and the Spiritual Shield, which are taught in the public lectures.
Of course, even though they are all low-grade, Tier One, Secret Level Magic, not every Outer Sect posting provides them for free.
Receiving three Basic Techniques for free is the best treatment an Outer Sect Disciple can get.
In contrast, the worst-off Outer Disciples, just like servants, are only guaranteed a single, basic Technique.
Here is the lecture schedule. There are four sessions per month, covering the mandatory Magic: the Agility Technique and the Spiritual Shield.
The material is taught on a one-month cycle, repeating every month. Once you've mastered it, you don't need to attend anymore.
You've arrived at a good time. This month's lectures just finished. The new cycle should begin at the end of the month.
Other Magic must be purchased with Spirit Stones or Contribution Points.
A word of advice: in the Sect, while one Contribution Point is valued at one Spirit Stone, you can't freely exchange Spirit Stones for Contribution Points. There's a limit on that exchange within a given time frame. You can, however, exchange Contribution Points for Spirit Stones anytime.
You can take your time to figure out the implications of that difference yourself.
As for the medicine garden, because it's a small one, there's no Steward or dining hall.
There were originally four people, but because they made a series of mistakes in the last few days, they were all kicked out.
No new personnel have been assigned yet, so for now, you'll be the one primarily in charge of tending to it.
You have a junior sister and a junior brother assigned to it in name only. As for whether they'll ever show up... don't count on it.
Don't think of it as a chore. You should be burning incense to thank the heavens for being assigned here. Countless people would kill to get into the Qingyou Medicine Garden.
To have such luck the moment you arrive is just... well, your luck is almost too good to be true.
I've seen your file. You're an Intermediate Apprentice with a Dual Technique. Managing the little Qingyou Medicine Garden by yourself shouldn't be too strenuous a task.
That's all I have to tell you. Do you have any other questions?"
By the time Luh Jingsun finished speaking, they had reached their destination and dismounted the Spirit Deer.
The two stood beside a tranquil mountain pool. Its water was crystal clear, and the surroundings were serene.
Beside the pool was a two-mu plot of land for a medicine garden and a single pavilion.
Lifting his gaze, he saw a river channel at the far end of the pool.
Dozens of meters down the channel was another, larger pool. The two pools formed the shape of a gourd, and over the larger one cascaded a rushing waterfall.
The sound of the waterfall, which should have been deafening, was merely a faint murmur by the time it reached them.
The environment was elegant. He couldn't feel a trace of scorching heat; the air was perfectly humid and incredibly fresh.
'This is practically a legendary, Heaven-class vacation villa! No wonder he said it was god-defying luck to be assigned here.'
'Damn it, a place like this seems perfectly suited to a true Cultivator's tastes. It shouldn't be assigned to an Outer Disciple, should it?'
'Did the bigwigs in the Sect have a screw loose?'
Zhang Deming was momentarily stunned by the beautiful surroundings. Looking back, he noticed that Luh Jingsun also wore a look of intense longing.
'Uh, he's a Steward, isn't he? Couldn't he pull some strings to live here himself?'
Although he was puzzled, Zhang Deming didn't voice his question rashly.
Instead, he asked, "Senior Brother Luh, where do I collect my monthly provisions and Spiritual Food stipend?"
Luh Jingsun replied, "You don't need to worry about that. Due to the special nature of this location, everything will be delivered to your door. You just need to make sure you receive the full amount.
If there are any shortages of Spiritual Food, report it directly. As for the regular food rations... if you have a particular craving, you can mention it to the delivery person. As long as it's not too much trouble, they'll accommodate you."
'Huh? Is the gap between an Outer Disciple and a servant really this huge?'
'It feels like the treatment has done a complete one-eighty.'
"What about the two-mu medicine garden and all these herbs?"
"Around tomorrow, a specialist will come to explain their care to you. It's not very complicated; one day should be enough to learn.
Of course, your Identity Card will also be updated with several reference manuals.
If you have any questions after that, you can contact me directly. My contact information has already been added to your Identity Card."
Luh Jingsun patiently answered Zhang Deming's questions, leaving no detail out.
Zhang Deming's expression turned strange. Luh Jingsun paused, then looked at him and said, "If you have a question, just say it."
"Um, Senior Brother Luh, is the gap between servants and Outer Disciples really this big?" Zhang Deming couldn't help but ask.
For the past ten years, because of the incident during his initial entry, he had rarely left Little Qing Mountain to avoid attracting trouble or attention. As a result, he didn't know much about the lives of Outer Disciples.