“That’s not the case. It wasn’t like this before. It relied on talent and strength. One could join after passing the assessment.”
“But later, people started pulling strings and taking back doors. Gradually, it required immortal stones, and connections were still needed.”
“Basically, those who can join the Sword Sect, especially people who directly enter the Sword Guard through assessment, all went to great lengths to find connections. They were pre-arranged.”
“I see, fellow Daoist. You probably just arrived in the Fifth Heaven not long ago, so you have no connections. Don’t waste your effort.”
The man said.
“I indeed just arrived in the Fifth Heaven not long ago. It looks like I need to find connections.”
Chen Ping pretended to be a bit disappointed and said.
“Fellow Daoist, don’t be too disappointed. Since you have come to Sword Saint City, even if you cannot join the Sword Sect, participating in the assessment and sparring with others can still let you learn something.”
The man patted Chen Ping’s shoulder and said.
“Mm!” Chen Ping nodded. “Fellow Daoist, may I know your honourable name?”
“I’m called Fang Xiang. And you?” Fang Xiang asked.
“Oh, I’m called Chen… Chen Dali!”
Chen Ping almost slipped up.
“Just hearing your name, your strength cannot be that high!” Fang Xiang said with a laugh!
At that moment, a middle-aged man dressed in coarse cloth short shirt walked over. The man was not tall, with a pair of eyes squinted together.
“Two fellow Daoists, I just heard you talking for a while. Do you want to join the Sword Sect?”
The short shirt man asked.
Fang Xiang nodded. “Yes, but we have no recommender, so we cannot join at all.”
“I can help you find a recommender. You just need to spend some immortal stones to find one.”
The short shirt man said in a low voice.
“How many immortal stones?” Fang Xiang became interested right away upon hearing that.
The short shirt man looked around, then beckoned. “Follow me. This is not a place to talk!”
Fang Xiang and Chen Ping followed the short shirt man into a house by the street!
The short shirt man led Chen Ping and Fang Xiang into the room. The room was dimly lit, filled with an old musty smell.
He closed the door, turned around, a mysterious smile on his face, and lowered his voice. “Finding a recommender is hard to say if it is difficult or easy, but anyway, you need to spend some immortal stones to grease the wheels. Not too much, not too little, exactly thirty thousand immortal stones.”
Chen Ping understood right away upon hearing the short shirt man’s words. Was not this just a scalper?
Fang Xiang’s face turned pale white instantly upon hearing that, like an eggplant hit by frost. The whole person wilted.
He sighed helplessly. “Thirty thousand immortal stones… Where do I have that much? I can scrape together just over ten thousand. This gap is too big.”
With that, he sat dejectedly to the side, eyes full of loss and helplessness.
Chen Ping felt some pity in his heart seeing Fang Xiang like that. He gently patted Fang Xiang’s shoulder, then looked at the short shirt man with a firm tone. “I’ll cover Fang Xiang’s immortal stones.”
Fang Xiang suddenly lifted his head, eyes full of surprise and gratitude. His lips moved, but he said nothing. He just stared at Chen Ping with those eyes full of thanks.
The short shirt man’s eyes lit up. The curve of his mouth rose more. He hurriedly nodded. “Alright, straightforward! Then let’s go handle it now.”
With that, he led Chen Ping and Fang Xiang out of the room, winding around to a secluded small courtyard.
Walking into the small courtyard, one saw a disciple dressed in Sword Sect attire sitting swaggeringly on a stone bench, legs crossed, with an arrogant look.
The short shirt man, full of smiles, went up, bowing and nodding. “Sir, these two fellow Daoists want to join the Sword Sect. Immortal stones are prepared. Please take good care of them.”
That Sword Sect disciple glanced obliquely at Chen Ping and Fang Xiang, slowly stood up, hands crossed over his chest, and said arrogantly. “Whether you can join the Sword Sect depends on my word. I have noted your information. Tomorrow is the assessment day. Whether you pass depends on your tribute.”
