Surviving in the Demonic Sect, one begins cultivation by retrieving corpses.

The "first layer of divine wonder" that Pei Xiaoxiao mentioned.

This refers to the state after cultivating to the fifth level of the Fetal Movement Realm, when the internal energy in the dantian is full and complete.

All the acupoints in the body are opened, completing the first cycle of the Small Heavenly Circuit, and then the extraordinary phenomena obtained are cleansed and refined by the innate Qi throughout the body.

This state of fetal movement has different names in different regions.

In the Central Continent, it is called the "Nourishment Realm," while in the Northern Continent it is called the "Bath Cleansing Realm."

Even within a large continent, different lineages have different names.

Although the names are different, their original intention is to cleanse the physical body and purify the mortal body, laying a solid foundation for entering the Qi Refining Realm in the future.

Those with exceptional talent, further nourished by rare and precious herbs and powerful elixirs, can unlock four levels of divine abilities in this realm:

【Golden Skin and Jade Network】

Copper skin and iron bones

Mercury, blood, silver, and marrow

【Water and Fire Fairy Robes】

If one can master just one of them, one has the potential to break through to the Qi Refining Realm.

If one can acquire both divine abilities, there is already a 60% chance of entering the Qi Refining Realm.

Of course, even those with four divine abilities still fail to break through to the Qi Refining stage.

The chosen Qi was of too high quality and too violent and domineering, which the body's dantian could not bear, ultimately leading to failure.

It seems.

The Pengshan Society requires seven levels of fetal movement plus one level of divine ability, which indeed indicates the potential to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

This is a difficult situation.

Pei Xiaoxiao added, "In the lower courtyard of the miscellaneous servants, the most practical and cost-effective way to obtain a grade-level cultivation technique is through the sect."

"If we wait for a master to teach us, not to mention that we have to wait until we enter the outer sect, even if we can actually learn it, the price will be astronomical."

Gu Zhao immediately understood.

To enter the outer sect, one must first possess an entry-level cultivation technique, but within the sect, without entering the outer sect, one cannot receive such instruction.

This is a vicious cycle.

It's like a company only hiring interns with internship experience, but you're there to gain internship experience, which is a double loss.

Seeing Gu Zhao's expression, Pei Xiaoxiao comforted him, "Senior Brother Gu, you don't need to be too discouraged."

"I have another idea that might work."

Gu Zhao looked up: "What method?"

Pei Xiaoxiao smiled slightly: "Recently, many senior brothers and sisters from the outer sect have been establishing new societies in the miscellaneous servants' quarters, intending to accumulate reputation."

"It's a newly established organization with a shallow foundation, so most of the ambitious handymen are unwilling to join, and their requirements are naturally lower."

"I happen to know a senior female student who is currently struggling with this matter. I can help introduce you to her."

Pei Xiaoxiao, however, warned first: "Let me be clear from the start, whether it will work out or not is still uncertain. I'm only responsible for making the introduction."

Gu Zhao found it rather strange; this neighboring junior sister seemed a bit too enthusiastic.

Pei Xiaoxiao paused, then said softly, "In addition, Junior Sister has another request."

Gu Zhao had expected this, but he wondered what kind of trouble this wealthy young woman in a blue dress would cause him.

Pei Xiaoxiao considered for a moment before speaking, "If I remember correctly, Senior Brother has been a disciple for two years now?"

Gu Zhao nodded and answered truthfully, "That's right, two years and six months."

According to the rules of the lower monastery, one must perform hard labor for seven years. After that, one can leave or stay as one pleases, either going down the mountain or pursuing a spiritual path.

In the first five years, many of the menial servants still harbored ambitions, hoping to pass the entrance exam for the outer gate and make a name for themselves.

However, once a disciple has been in the sect for five years and has not yet achieved anything, the outer sect will no longer accept menial disciples.

To put it bluntly, if someone hasn't reached the Qi Refining Realm after five years of cultivation, they're just disposable material for the sect.

Gu Zhao asked curiously, "Junior Sister, why did you suddenly think of asking about this?"

Pei Xiaoxiao got straight to the point, saying, "I want Senior Brother Gu to sublet this courtyard to me."

Subletting!?

Gu Zhao pondered for a moment, recalling that when this small courtyard was originally assigned to the miscellaneous disciples, a seven-year contract was signed in one go, and it was registered and recorded in the lower courtyard.

In other words, within seven years, this house in the tenement courtyard would be considered to belong to Gu Zhao.

This is one of the few rules of the Demonic Sect.

Of course, this contract also contained a harsh truth—if Gu Zhao couldn't afford the Immortal Abode fee, it would be tantamount to selling his life to the Lower Courtyard.

In addition, as long as he pays the legal fees on time within five years.

No one can take this little house away from it in name.

Of course, there are other options, such as subletting.

This is a private matter among the miscellaneous disciples, and the lower temple has never interfered. As long as the monthly Dharma money is deposited into the account on time, everything is fine.

Such things were quite common in the tenement houses, since the living expenses for such houses were not low.

Pei Xiaoxiao continued, "It's like this, not long ago, a younger brother in my family was also preparing to join the Mingyi Sect as a menial disciple."

"As you know, there are too many miscellaneous disciples in the lower academy now, and the accommodations are already overflowing. Newcomers can only squeeze into the large dormitory."

"He's still young, and this is his first time traveling so far from home. His elders are worried about him, so they entrusted me to take good care of him..."

Gu Zhao understood that she wanted him to vacate the east room of the tenement for her younger brother to live in, so that he could find another place to stay.

Pei Xiaoxiao looked somewhat ashamed: "Originally, I went to find my senior brother in the stable, but he has been a disciple for six years and is about to leave the mountain, so the rental period is not long enough."

"That's why I turned to Senior Brother Gu. I hope you won't take offense."

"Senior brother, there's no need to rush. My cousin won't be coming to the Mingyi Sect for another six months."

"Junior sister knows that accommodations in the sect are in short supply right now, and she would never let her senior brother suffer for nothing."

"I'm willing to compensate my senior brother if he sublets the house to me."

Gu Zhao did not refuse outright; he had already been a student for two and a half years.

If we can't get into the outer sect in two and a half years, there's no hope left.

Moreover, Pei Xiaoxiao's younger brother will not be able to come here for another six months.

With the help of the sacrificial cauldron, he has a chance.

Gu Zhao pondered for a moment and said, "Six months isn't a rush, but I still have two years before I reach the five-year mark for entering the sect. Perhaps I still have a chance to enter the inner sect?"

"Then, how should Junior Sister Pei make amends?"

Seeing that Gu Zhao was interested, Pei Xiaoxiao breathed a sigh of relief. "The rent for a four-person tenement was originally two thousand three hundred yuan a month. Now that the price has gone up, it should be two thousand nine hundred."

"I will give you 3,500 coins, plus an extra 1,000 coins as compensation. I can pay half of the remaining four years' rent in one lump sum."

"Also, the matter of introducing people to societies that Senior Brother Gu mentioned earlier should be included in this as well."

These terms are already extremely generous.

Gu Zhao shook his head. "Junior Sister Pei, that's not how it's calculated."

"In terms of the cost of the immortal abode alone, the price you offered is indeed fair, even quite high."

"But does my junior sister think my future is worthless?"

"Six months from now, I still have two years left. If I move out of this tenement, I will have to squeeze into a large dormitory, which is noisy and chaotic day and night, and I will not be able to concentrate on my cultivation at all."

"Once this happens, there is basically no hope of entering the outer sect, and the path to enlightenment will be cut off."

"For us practitioners, the severing of the path is no different from losing our lives."

"Junior Sister Pei, do you think this amount of money is equivalent to a person's spiritual cultivation?"

Pei Xiaoxiao was taken aback, then nodded unconsciously, finding it quite reasonable; she had indeed been unkind just now.

"So, what does Senior Brother mean?"

Gu Zhao smiled slightly and uttered three words.

"You need to pay more!"