Becoming a leader of the immortal path begins with sowing the seeds of inner demons.

Amidst the incredulous gazes of the disciples beside the counter, Lu Ming inscribed the cultivation technique onto a blank jade tablet and handed it over.

The Golden Core disciple scanned the area briefly with his divine sense, his expression becoming somewhat uncontrollable as he subconsciously looked at Chen Mo.

If it weren't for the fact that his senior brother's character was highly regarded in the Jade Flower Sect, he would have suspected that Lu Ming might be the illegitimate son of some elder in the sect, using his name to collect merit points by registering on this cultivation technique.

Is this kind of cultivation method really something that a Foundation Establishment disciple can comprehend?

"Senior brother?" Lu Ming waved his hand in front of the stunned disciple. "Is there a problem?"

The Golden Core disciple snapped out of his daze, swallowed hard, and said, "No, no problem."

It is indeed a superior cultivation method that can lead directly to the Nascent Soul stage.

According to the sect's rules, do you want to switch to a cultivation technique of the same quality?

Or should I exchange it for 10,000 merit points?

As Lu Ming was pondering, Chen Mo said first, "Let's exchange them all for GPA points."

The Golden Core disciple was taken aback. He looked at Lu Ming, and when Lu Ming nodded in confirmation, he took out a jade token, pressed it on Lu Ming's identity jade token, and handed it back to Lu Ming with both hands.

Lu Ming took it and saw that in addition to the identity information and the evaluation of the first class, there was another line of small characters on the jade tablet.

[Merit Points: 10,000]

"Thank you for your trouble." Chen Mo seemed unwilling to stay here for long. He gave Lu Ming a look, and the two appeared at the foot of a mountain.

Lu Ming looked up and found that the shape of the mountain was very strange, like the order slips that the county magistrate threw out in the yamen in his memory, stuck upside down in the ground.

Unlike other mountains, the mountain is not lush and green, but covered with houses like a honeycomb from low to high.

The entire mountain was enveloped in streams of light flying out from the houses, making it look exceptionally busy, yet orderly.

Chen Mo breathed a sigh of relief without showing any emotion, and said to Lu Ming, who was staring intently, "With your talent, there's no need to exchange for any cultivation techniques. You might as well exchange for some handy magic weapons and pills."

You can also exchange some spirit stones for expenses when you go out to train in the future.

Or wait for merchants from other states to come and buy some rare and precious herbs that Chenzhou doesn't have... In short, don't waste money.

Lu Ming snapped out of his reverie and asked curiously, "How many spirit stones are these worth?"

"Twenty thousand low-grade spirit stones."

Lu Ming suddenly felt the jade pendant become much heavier.

From a poor, wandering cultivator who dressed as a woman to freeload for two spirit stones, to a wealthy direct descendant of a sect overnight, he was a little overwhelmed by this change and felt that his token was not safe anywhere.

"Don't worry, no one but you can use this identity jade token." Seeing Lu Ming fumbling around looking for a place to hide the jade token, Chen Mo kindly reminded him, "You don't need to bother with this."

These merit points can be obtained by completing tasks within the sect; it's just a minor method.

Spiritual practice is fundamental; do not neglect the essential for the trivial.

As Chen Mo spoke, he led the way up the mountain and continued, "After today, you will definitely become famous in the Jade Flower Sect, but you must remember to guard against arrogance and impetuosity, and never be complacent or look down on other fellow disciples."

Oh, right, I haven't sent you the Jade Flower Sect's rules of conduct yet. I'll give you a copy later. Take a good look at them and be sure to follow them...

Looking at the incessantly talking Chen Mo, Lu Ming felt puzzled.

The current senior disciple is a completely different person from the one who explains the techniques.

Why wasn't he this meticulous when he taught me?

Lu Ming couldn't understand it.

"...and there's also the year-end performance review."

The assessment consists of two parts, one of which is academic performance.

One part is the merit points you earn.

Given your current situation, you are undoubtedly the top candidate in the Qi Refining stage.

According to the sect's rules, the top-ranked person will receive a cave dwelling with its own spiritual vein. I'll arrange that for you later.

A gift?!

Lu Ming suddenly felt that he had started the Foundation Establishment stage too early.

"...What are you thinking about?" Chen Mo seemed to see through Lu Ming's thoughts, shook his head and chuckled, "The sect's assessment rewards are only for the top ten disciples who have reached the Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment stage."

Each batch of disciples has only one chance at each level, and the preparation time for the assessment is one year.

However, if you can break through to the Golden Core stage within two years, the sect will exceptionally reward you with the opportunity to establish your own peak.

As they spoke, the two had already arrived at the door of the house at the foot of the mountain.

Gazing at the imposing yet exquisite house, Lu Ming suddenly had an idea. He looked up and asked, "Senior brother, you know so much about this, you wouldn't have... back then..."

Chen Mo nodded lightly, put his hands behind his back, looked at Zhilu Peak, and said calmly, "This is my reward from back then."

Lu Ming was deeply moved and immediately memorized Chen Mo's nonchalant manner, preparing to speak in the same way when he had junior brothers and sisters in the future.

He stood silently with his hands behind his back, looked up and asked, "Senior brother, how long did it take you back then?"

Lu Ming asked this question partly out of a competitive spirit.

Now that I have the opportunity to cultivate immortality, I should naturally do something that will make me famous throughout the land.

Breaking the record set by the senior disciple in the Nascent Soul stage is a great start.

"It wasn't fast." Chen Mo said with some nostalgia, "It took three days to refine Qi and ten days to build a foundation, but it took a full three months to achieve the Golden Core."

He is far from being as good as his master.

"..." Lu Ming resumed his normal standing posture, his competitive spirit vanished.

Two years is fine; let whoever wants to break the record do so.

If they were to force the Golden Core process for three months, at least one of them, Feng Zai or him, would go insane.

Chen Mo also withdrew his gaze and said as he walked into the house, "These things should have been discussed with you by Seventh Junior Brother."

However, your situation is special, and your entry is fast, so only I can speak for you.

This is the first time I'm telling this to someone, so I hope you won't find me long-winded.

"Senior brother, you flatter me." Lu Ming smiled obediently like a junior brother. "I will need your guidance in the future."

"If there's anything you don't understand, just come and ask me." For some reason, although Chen Mo's expression didn't change, he clearly looked much happier.

The two walked down a short corridor, pushed open the door, and were greeted by a spacious hall.

Deep inside the mountain, it was as bright as day, and there was a huge sundial on the wall.

The hall was filled with tables and chairs, and the stacks of documents on the tables blocked the view of the monks sitting at the back.

Between the tables and desks, countless white birds and beasts moved back and forth silently, their movements accompanied by flowing light. Upon closer inspection, they were all origami paper and flying swords the size of brushes, imbued with magic.

After Lu Ming entered the hall, no one looked up.

All he could hear was the swishing of pens across paper, frustrated sighs, and the occasional screeching of chairs and tables scraping against the floor.

Apart from that, there was no other noise.

It looked exactly like the place where he used to work.

Lu Ming looked on blankly and turned to ask, "Senior brother, are they... working?"

Chen Mo nodded. "In the entire Yujiang Prefecture, any incident involving cultivators will be sent here."

Besides this place, the cultivators in the government offices outside are also disciples of the Zhilu Peak.

Junior brother, you…

Chen Mo suddenly frowned, reached out and caught the stream of light flying from the corridor, probed into his consciousness and said, "Junior brother, wait here for me to return."

I'll be right back.

Having said that, he vanished in a flash.

Seeing this, Lu Ming could only silently find an empty seat and sit down. For a whole hour, no one paid any attention to him.

It wasn't until the shadow on the sundial reached noon that the entire hall seemed to come alive, erupting into a cacophony of voices.

"Finally, I can get a good night's sleep tonight!"

"You've already reached the Golden Core stage, what are you sleeping for? Hurry up and help me out! Those bastards selling fake cultivation techniques have resurfaced. When will the sect finally expel them from Yuhua Prefecture?!"

"What's that compared to what I've received? I have several complaints about the Hehuan Sect, saying that the prices are too high and the products don't match the description."

What are these people thinking?

"Alright, what's the use of complaining? Those who need to be arrested should be arrested, and those who need to be educated should be educated. It's good enough that you weren't asked to mediate family conflicts."

I'll have to re-register and then kick my partner away. My partner will then come to us to settle the matter and compensate me for the losses. It's not as troublesome as your situation.

"I've been... um?!"

The bearded cultivator who was speaking last suddenly noticed Lu Ming sitting in the corner, blinked in disbelief, and when he spoke again, his voice had changed.

"A newcomer?!"

The entire hall fell silent for a moment, then a series of sounds erupted like a volcanic eruption.

"Where's the newcomer? This time, no one is allowed to steal her from me!"

"Get lost! You said that last time, so it's my turn now!"

"Where's the newbie? Where's the newbie?! Come to me, I'll give you a hundred merit points!"

"Despicable! You'd resort to such a low tactic... I'll offer two hundred!"

Surrounded by countless Golden Core and Foundation Establishment cultivators with gleaming green eyes, Lu Ming's smile froze, and he dared not utter a single word.

Senior Brother, where have you brought me?!

at the same time.

At the back of the mountain, Liu Mingyuan, who was leading a group of newly initiated disciples in class, said solemnly, "Remember, there are many places where you can earn merit points in the future, so never go to Zhilu Peak."

"Never go before you reach the Golden Core stage, even if you're beaten to death."

"Senior brother, is it because they gave a very low number of merit points?" Xu Ran asked curiously.

"No, it's very high," Liu Mingyuan said with lingering fear. "But you will definitely regret it."

"The Peak of Discipline... will destroy your aspirations for spiritual practice."