The life of an outer sect disciple candidate was one of stark contrast. They were given a small, bare room in a long, communal building, a set of rough grey disciple robes, and a monthly stipend of three Low-Grade Spirit Stones and one "Qi-Gathering Pill." It was more than Li Yao had ever possessed consistently, but it was a pittance compared to what was needed to advance at the pace he required.
The days were regimented. Mornings were for physical conditioning under the harsh shouts of a Core Formation drillmaster. Afternoons were for lectures on cultivation theory, the history of the Soaring Cloud Sect, and the geography of the surrounding "Azure Bloom Kingdom." Evenings were for personal cultivation.
The sect's foundational technique, the "[Soaring Cloud Art]," was distributed to all new disciples. Li Yao studied it with the System's help.
"Analysis: [Soaring Cloud Art]. A standard Mid-Grade cultivation method. Focuses on broad, rapid energy absorption. Efficiency: 55%. Prone to creating minor instabilities in the meridians if cycled too aggressively. Compatibility with Host's meridian structure: 40%. Not recommended for primary use."
The sect technique was inferior to the System's [Breath of the Primordial Awakening]. But he couldn't reveal that. So, he practiced it in the open, making a show of his "struggles" to master it, while secretly using the [Breath of the Primordial Awakening] in the privacy of his room. To any observer, he was a diligent but mediocre disciple.
His true progress came from his side projects. With his stipend and the small profits from his discreet grey-market sales, he bought materials. He no longer made simple balms. Using the Sect's basic alchemy manual and the System's optimizations, he began producing "Purified Qi-Gathering Pills." His version had an efficacy of 80% compared to the sect's 60%, with far fewer impurities.
He consumed them himself, accelerating his progress towards the Perfection Sub-Realm. He was a snake, quietly growing stronger while hidden in the grass.
A week into his new life, the announcement came. The first mission.
A Senior Disciple addressed them in the main courtyard. "Disciples must learn that resources are not given; they are earned. Your first task is to gather materials from the Whispering Fang Forest. You will be grouped into teams of five. Your target: the 'Silver-Moon Moss' that grows in the Moon-Rock Crevices. Each team must return with at least ten portions. How you accomplish this is your concern. Demonic beasts roam the forest. So do other disciples. The sect encourages... healthy competition."
The groups were assigned arbitrarily. Li Yao's heart sank as the list was read. His team consisted of two nervous-looking boys from merchant families, a quiet, sharp-eyed girl from a hunter clan, and... Wang Jin.
Wang Jin looked over his team with disdain, his gaze finally settling on Li Yao, who had kept his hood down but could no longer hide his face.
A slow, cruel smile spread across Wang Jin's face. The ghost had been given a name and a face.
"Well, well," Wang Jin said, his voice loud enough for the others to hear. "If it isn't the servant. It seems you've been crawling upwards. But remember," he stepped closer, his voice dropping to a menacing whisper, "no matter how high a rat climbs, it's still just a rat. And this time, there's no gutter to run back to."
The trap had been sprung. The "healthy competition" of the sect was about to become a very personal, very dangerous game. The Whispering Fang Forest was not just a resource ground; it was a proving ground, and for Li Yao, it was a battlefield.