“Hey, little guy, we meet again?”
“It’s the old senior!”
Ling Xiao never expected to run into the old man who guarded the Sealed God Catalogue at the Medicine Hall, along with his dog.
The dog, still lazily sprawled on the table, glanced at Ling Xiao before ignoring him and going back to sleep.
“Hahaha, we really are fated to meet,” Old Yang said, laughing heartily.
Ling Xiao quickly said, “Senior, please help check on Senior Brother Wu’s condition.”
“Heh, most people wouldn’t get me to lift a finger, but since it’s you, I’ll personally diagnose him,” Old Yang replied.
He wasn’t boasting. As the head of the Medicine Hall, Old Yang rarely intervened, even for inner sect disciples, leaving most cases to his subordinate apothecaries. Even the Moonlight Sect’s higher-ups struggled to get him to act.
Though his cultivation wasn’t particularly strong, as a highly skilled alchemist, he was a specially protected figure in the Moonlight Sect. Even the sect leader wouldn’t dare touch him lightly. With too many powerful figures owing him favours, anyone who targeted him would become a pariah.
Yet this formidable figure was giving Ling Xiao face.
It all boiled down to Old Yang valuing Ling Xiao’s comprehension, hoping to take him as a disciple. Otherwise, a mere outer sect disciple like Ling Xiao wouldn’t warrant such attention.
“Hm, it’s not a big issue. Mainly overwork, plus he’s been beaten, which led to this state. I’ll prescribe some medicine, and he’ll be fine,” Old Yang said after examining Wu Xiang. “This kid’s likely been working in the mines. The sect needs vast amounts of iron ore for forging weapons, but that job should’ve been outsourced to mundane world labourers. Why’s an outer sect disciple doing it?”
Ling Xiao glanced at Wu Xiang, who had fallen asleep, anger stirring in his heart.
Someone was clearly targeting Wu Xiang to make him suffer like this.
“Thank you, Senior.”
“No need for formalities. So, have you thought about my request? If you really don’t want to be my disciple, working at the Medicine Hall is fine too. The work assignments for new outer sect disciples should be announced today,” Old Yang said with a smile.
“Alright, Senior, you’ve put it like that. If I still don’t give you face, I’d be a bit too ungrateful,” Ling Xiao said, nodding decisively.
He’d considered it. While Old Yang’s strength might not match Demon Flame Heavenly Venerable, his status far surpassed that of the newly promoted Celestial Realm elder.
Besides, to advance his cultivation quickly, he’d need access to medicinal resources.
Working at the Medicine Hall was an excellent choice.
Plus, looking at Wu Xiang’s situation, Ling Xiao had already offended Heisuo. If he wasn’t careful, he might be assigned to an even harsher job, which would be troublesome.
“Hahaha, fantastic! When the outer sect steward comes to assign tasks, just tell him you’ve already arranged things with me. He won’t dare object,” Old Yang said, laughing loudly.
“Understood. I’ll take Senior Brother Wu and head out now.”
“Mm, make sure he takes his medicine on time. If possible, he should stop doing that kind of work. It’s too gruelling and wastes cultivation time,” Old Yang reminded.
Ling Xiao nodded, collected the medicine, paid with silver, and carried Wu Xiang back.
Since it was just common medicine, silver sufficed.
The Moonlight Sect needed vast amounts of silver and gold to pay mundane workers. They couldn’t have their disciples doing menial tasks—not only were there too few disciples, but it would waste valuable cultivation time.
“Thanks for the trouble, Junior Brother Ling,” Wu Xiang said, having woken up back at the stone hut.
“Trouble? Senior Brother, what’s with the injuries on your body? Were you beaten?” Ling Xiao asked.
Wu Xiang remained silent.
“Senior Brother, just tell me. There’s no one in the outer sect I, Ling Xiao, fear. My current goal is the inner sect!”
Ling Xiao wasn’t being arrogant. Advancing to the Ninth Layer Martial Vein was within reach.
Once there, he’d fear no one below the Mundane Realm.
Half-step masters? He was more interested in facing true Mundane Realm masters!
“Well said!” Second Prince Zhao Zhi walked in from outside, clapping. “The outer sect is just small fry. Our sights should be set on the inner sect, where true geniuses like Ming Tian and Leng Hao gather.”
“Here for work assignments?” Ling Xiao asked.
“Not quite. I’ve already secured my job. I’m just back to pack my things and move to the Artifact Hall,” Zhao Zhi explained. “How about it, Ling Xiao? Join me. You’ve offended Tian, so your assigned job won’t be good.”
“Thanks for the offer, Second Prince, but I’m fine,” Ling Xiao said with a smile.
“No helping it then. But a word of warning: the one who injured Wu Xiang is Yang Cheng, ranked tenth in the outer sect. He’s incredibly strong, even among half-step masters, as his ranking shows. Don’t stick your neck out for someone unrelated—it won’t end well.” With that, Zhao Zhi went to pack.
“Yang Cheng!” Ling Xiao muttered the name to himself.
“Ling Xiao, work assignments are out! Head to the square!” a familiar disciple shouted from outside.
Since defeating Tian, Ling Xiao had become quite popular among the new outer sect disciples, and many wanted to build ties with him.
“Got it!” Ling Xiao replied, arranging for Wu Xiang to rest before heading out.
At the square, most of the new outer sect disciples had gathered, including a few who’d already secured jobs, just there to watch the excitement.
When Ling Xiao arrived, Zhao Zhi tagged along.
“I hear some of the top thirty outer sect disciples will show up today. Not sure how many, but everyone’s eager to see them,” Zhao Zhi said to Ling Xiao, his words carrying a hint of caution.
Yang Cheng was the tenth-ranked outer sect disciple.
“They’re here! Three of them at once!” The new disciples buzzed with excitement. In their eyes, the top thirty were legends—standouts among over a thousand disciples, all half-step masters.
Ling Xiao followed their gazes.
Indeed, three unfamiliar faces had appeared.
“Yang Cheng’s really here, along with Li Anle, ranked twenty-sixth, and even Jin Ming, ranked third,” Zhao Zhi said, clearly well-informed about the Moonlight Sect’s outer sect.
As the Second Prince of the royal family, his intelligence network was impressive.
