Am I the old man who's always by my apprentices' side?

Chapter 78 Mu Feng's Request

Should I buy this blue-quality one...?

Zhang Chengdao hesitated.

Xu Ying is a blue-quality cultivator, and Zhang Chengdao has witnessed the vast difference in cultivation level between him and gold-quality cultivators like Chang Ping'an and Murong Ruyan.

While the principle of "education for all" is certainly noble, he simply cannot afford to support too many people at present. Even the An Che siblings were only taken in as temporary workers after much hesitation, out of pity for their backgrounds. How much less could others?

but……

It's been over a month now, and let alone gold quality, he's only encountered one blue quality one besides Xu Ying!
If you miss this opportunity, you might never encounter a blue-quality one again!

The drop rate in this broken martial arts cultivation world is way too low!

After much deliberation, Zhang Chengdao decided to keep the person.

"See what he's good at, and assign him to a different peak. You'll be in charge of leading and assigning tasks for now..."

Zhang Chengdao gave Xu Ying a few words of advice and then hurriedly went to the Peach Garden, leaving Xu Ying looking at the new disciple in front of him with a dilemma.

This new disciple with blue-quality skills is currently the only outer disciple of the White Stone Immortal Sect. His surname is Jiang and his name is Jiang Xinghe. He is an ordinary wandering martial artist who came to join in the fun at the White Stone Martial Arts Tournament. He has no particular sect or family tradition and has only been practicing martial arts for a year.

Jiang Xinghe learned Xingyi Quan from a martial arts school, and the martial arts he practiced was the common "Dahe Jing" (Great River Classic). However, he never practiced it well and only reached the ninth rank. Therefore, he was not too heartbroken when he decided to abandon martial arts.

When asked what his strengths were, he remained silent for a while before answering, "I don't have any particular strengths, but I did run a security escort business for half a year, so I can endure hardship."

"It's good that you can endure hardship," Xu Ying thought for a moment, then asked, "Can you cut down trees?"

Jiang Xinghe was taken aback: "Cut down trees?"

"Yes, if you know how to cut down trees, you can stay in the bamboo forest first. It's not far from here and very close to the [Book House]..."

Xu Ying explained, "The Study is where the sect holds classes and learns various arts and supernatural powers. There are corresponding internal cultivation classes and scripture study classes every afternoon and evening, so you only need to chop down trees in the morning."

"Disciple understands..."

Although he didn't understand why he had to cut down trees after joining the White Stone Immortal Sect, Jiang Xinghe at least understood what had been arranged for him—this was common practice, as newly initiated disciples or outer disciples who were merely dependent on others were mostly in an "employment relationship."

These disciples had to do chores every day. For example, the outer disciples of the Sword Forging Manor had to do various jobs such as mining and smelting. Their monthly allowance was about one tael of silver—a monthly salary that ordinary people would never dare to dream of.

"The monthly allowance is two taels of silver, plus various kinds of spiritual food... oh, those 'immortal foods' that are rumored outside, which are helpful for cultivation. There are also some pills, for example, after guiding Qi into the body, you can get [Immortal Dew], and you get a portion for each breakthrough..."

Xu Yingzai carefully explained to Jiang Xinghe, so that the other party roughly understood some of the rules of the Baishi Immortal Sect that had been drafted. He settled down in the bamboo garden and was assigned as a "Bamboo Garden Disciple".

……

The second day of the competition proceeded as expected, with the fifth-rank martial artist determining the winner and continuing to stand on the dueling platform with Chang Ping'an.

"It's him again!"

As a "martial artist" who won both matches with a single move, Chang Ping'an left a deep impression on everyone.

"Is that the martial artist from the White Stone Immortal Sect?"

"What martial artist? He's a god! He's an immortal!"
"I heard someone joined the White Stone Immortal Sect yesterday?" "Yes, there was one. I don't know how they calculated it, but that person's cultivation was very poor. They said he was only at the ninth rank, but he was accepted. My cousin, who was at the eighth rank, was rejected!"

"You seem to be an eighth-rank official too, right? Is your cousin referring to yourself?"

……

Meanwhile, on the other dueling platform, Master Mingchen, who was facing Chang Ping'an, was not careless at all. He first relied on his abundant true energy and specially circulated his true energy to wrap himself in a protective aura "turtle shell".

This protective aura surrounding the body can usually withstand several attacks from martial artists of the corresponding rank. Master Mingchen, being a fifth-rank martial artist, possesses such profound true qi that his aura could likely even withstand attacks from fourth-rank martial artists—this is why Master Mingchen participated in the championship competition. If it came down to a contest of true qi, even fourth-rank martial artists would likely have few who could match his. And in general, in such martial arts tournaments, third-rank Venerables would be embarrassed to even step onto the stage; at most, it would be a fourth-rank Venerable…

Therefore, Master Mingchen's win rate is not too low.

Unfortunately, he encountered Chang Ping'an.

Chang Ping'an still held a tree branch that had obviously just been broken off, and stood on the dueling platform with a serious expression.

He knew in his heart that he could definitely defeat Master Mingchen, but he did not relax at all because of this. On the contrary, he became even more focused and waited for Master Mingchen's attack.

Upon seeing this, Master Mingchen smiled and performed a Buddhist salute. He then quickly took a few steps, but instead of engaging the tree branch in Chang Ping'an's hand, he used a Lazy Dragon Crouching Path move to attack Chang Ping'an's lower body.

Master Mingchen possessed profound inner energy, and the qi emanating from his palms turned into the color of raging flames, exuding a fierce aura.

Chang Ping'an reacted extremely quickly, immediately using a tree branch to block the attack, which blocked Master Mingchen's palms.

However, before Master Mingchen could change his move, a dazzling golden light surged from Chang Ping'an's tree branch, not only forcing Master Mingchen to withdraw his fist and palm, but also breaking through the opponent's protective aura in an instant!

Master Mingchen immediately took several steps back, withdrew his attack, performed another Buddhist salute, and sighed, "Truly, heroes emerge from among the young. I am ashamed that my skills are inferior to theirs."

The two exchanged blows in the blink of an eye; those with lower cultivation levels didn't even see it clearly before it was over, causing an uproar in the Sword Wiping Garden.

It's still the same trick!
After Master Mingchen was defeated, it was the turn of a fourth-rank martial artist to step in on the matter.

There were fewer fourth-rank martial artists than fifth-rank martial artists, only eight in total, which made up four teams, and the battle was over in no time.

According to the procedure, after everyone has finished their matches here, the winner will have to come and compete against Chang Ping'an in the afternoon.

As usual, they only rested for half an hour at noon. The first match in the afternoon was between Chang Ping'an and that fourth-rank martial artist.

Soon, immediately after the two exchanged greetings and those few polite words, unsurprisingly, another move was made—

Chang Ping'an used only one move, "Upper Sword Style," and with unstoppable force, he tore a large gash in his opponent's clothes!
If this were a sword, that fourth-rank martial artist would probably be dead by now!

The match ended in an absurd yet predictable manner.

Just as Wan Qizhongqiu was about to announce the final result, someone from a distant tower picked a leaf for leverage, took several steps in mid-air, and flew onto the dueling platform!

Chang Ping'an was taken aback at first, but then he looked closely and found that the person was Mu Feng, who had just visited the White Stone Immortal Sect two days ago!

"Young brother, I've seen you defeat your opponents with a single move every time, and I'm really itching to have a match with you. Would you be willing to have a go with me?"

Mu Feng stroked his beard and said with a smile, "Young brother, don't worry. I will only spar with you once or twice. I will not take up a spot on the Sword Forging Manor's main stage, nor will I share the prize money from the Sword Forging Manor!"

I forgot to thank lhfy1990, the generous donor! They gave so much again, I don't know how to repay them, especially since I don't have any drafts saved up _(:з」∠)_
Thank you so much, boss, for giving me a chance to get a bonus before the product was even released!
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(End of this chapter)