Fanx Ya first took out a card the size of a playing card and said, "This is your identification. From now on, you are an Outer Disciple of the Celestial Spirit Sect.
With this, you can receive quite a bit of information, including your future assignment location.
Furthermore, this device can also be used in place of Spirit Stones. All your Sect Contribution Points are recorded on here.
It's very simple to operate. I'll show you a couple of things, and you'll get the hang of it.
This device has become popular in recent years. They say it's something new that the Array Masters came up with in collaboration with the Artifact Refiners, inspired by the Outer Realm.
Because it's so convenient, the Sect completed a total overhaul a few years ago.
It consumes a tiny amount of Spiritual Power, but with your Intermediate Apprentice cultivation, you can use it continuously for more than half a day."
Watching as Fanx Ya held the card, channeled Spiritual Power into it, and brought up a small Light Curtain to demonstrate, Zhang Deming was a little dumbfounded.
His mind was reeling. 'What the hell?'
'Isn't this just a damn smartphone with limited features?'
'Right now, it just has information logs and a limited number of text messages?'
'What the actual...?'
'So why does this world still have such an ancient aesthetic?'
Fanx Ya demonstrated a few more functions and said, "Alright, it's very simple. You can figure out the rest on your own. I won't go into detail."
Then, she gently pushed the remaining bundle in front of Zhang Deming and said:
"Here are two sets of Disciple robes. What you're wearing now are a servant's clothes. After your promotion, you shouldn't wear them anymore if you don't want to be mistaken for one.
These two sets are different from ordinary servant attire. They have a weak self-cleaning effect, so they'll be enough for you.
Alright, take them. The formalities are now complete."
Zhang Deming asked, stunned, "That's it?"
Fanx Ya nodded. "That's it. What else were you expecting?"
"Aren't you going to issue a portable pouch or something?" Zhang Deming asked.
Fanx Ya froze for a second, then looked at him with an incredulous expression. "You expect the Sect to give you a storage bag?"
Seeing Fanx Ya's exaggerated expression, Zhang Deming was momentarily unsure of what he'd said wrong. 'Aren't storage bags standard issue for Cultivators?'
'I didn't ask for a big one, or a Storage Ring, for that matter.'
"Ha! I've seen plenty of new disciples with big dreams, but you're the first one I've met who dares to dream *that* big.
Do me a favor. Go find out how much the lowest-grade storage bag costs, and then come back and think about it.
You want a storage bag? *I* want one! Even the Inner Sect senior brothers want one! Plenty of the Sect Elders still want one!
Who doesn't want a Spatial Artifact?
It's the ultimate artifact, a trinity of support, combat, and daily life convenience.
Alright, you can go if there's nothing else. Stop your daydreaming here."
Fanx Ya waved her hand dismissively, shooing him away.
As Zhang Deming walked out, he pondered, 'So even a one-cubic-meter storage bag is that precious in the Hongmeng Realm?'
'Damn my assumptions! I really thought everyone had one!'
Carrying his new things, Zhang Deming ambled back to Little Qing Mountain. By the time he arrived, it was already noon.
He ate, cultivated, practiced Casting, and continued his routine until evening.
Zhang Deming fiddled with the ID-card-slash-phone until he understood all its functions. By nightfall, he still hadn't received the so-called assignment notification.
Zhang Deming wasn't too concerned. After all, it was a huge sect, and not a very efficient one at that. He had ten days to wait.
After dinner, Zhang Deming hurried back to his room to cultivate.
Now at the Intermediate Apprentice level of cultivation, his Spiritual Power was much more abundant. While his recovery rate had increased, it still took a longer time to fully replenish.
It wasn't until late at night that Zhang Deming's Spiritual Power was fully restored, and he lay down and fell asleep.
...
CRACK...
In the dead of night, after an unknown amount of sleep, Zhang Deming was jolted awake by a sudden noise.
He gathered Spiritual Power in his eyes, and the pitch-black surroundings slowly came into focus.
Night vision. This was one of the minor tricks one could do with Spiritual Power. It wasn't a proper Technique and had negligible consumption.
As the darkness receded, Zhang Deming saw what was in his room and froze.
'Is that...?'
'A Mouse Demon?'
In the corner of the room was a rat the size of a weasel. Zhang Deming was taken aback. Through his spirit-enhanced eyes, he could see a faint Spiritual Light flickering around the rat's body.
It was very faint, but it was definitely there. This was no ordinary rat.
At that moment, the weasel-sized Mouse Demon was furiously gnawing on the small lockbox Zhang Deming kept in the corner—his personal safe.
Because its contents were rather important, Zhang Deming had spent a good amount of Silver Coins to have the box custom-made.
It wasn't large, but it was exceptionally sturdy.
When Zhang Deming woke up, the box hadn't been completely chewed through, but a good portion of its outer layer was already gone.
'Damn it!'
Seeing this, Zhang Deming felt a surge of anger. He had heard how detestable Mouse Demons were.
However, he hadn't seen one in his ten years here.
He had no sooner acquired some Spirit Rice than one showed up at his door. How could he not be furious?
Lying in bed, he didn't even bother to get up, his hands simply flashed through a series of seals.
A Vine shot up from the floor, catching the Mouse Demon completely off guard and wrapping tightly around it.
"SQUEAK SQUEAK..."
The Mouse Demon, which had been engrossed in gnawing on the box, went stiff. A moment later, it reacted with incredible speed.
It began to struggle frantically, but the Vine from his Growth Technique was far too strong for it to break free from easily.
When its struggles proved fruitless, the Mouse Demon paused for an instant. A black light flashed from its mouth as it bit down hard on the green Vine.
The Vine, formed from Spiritual Power, was instantly severed. Now free, the demon scrambled away blindly without a second thought.
It smashed headfirst through the wooden wall in front of it and burst into the next room.
"Who's there?"
The voice of Zong En from next door rang out, followed immediately by a cacophony of chaos.
Zhang Deming had only just jumped to his feet after ensnaring the Mouse Demon when it broke free.
Before he could channel more Spiritual Power to make the severed Vine regrow, the Mouse Demon had already bolted.
Zhang Deming immediately followed it through the huge hole smashed in the wall.
He entered the adjacent room. Zong En's door had been smashed open, and Zong En himself was already up. As for the fleet-footed Mouse Demon, it was long gone.
Not only that, but the momentary commotion had caused lights to turn on in all the connected rooms of the row house.
By the time Zhang Deming and Zong En got outside, many people were already up and checking on the situation.
"Brother Ming, what was all that noise just now?" Lü Guo came forward and asked.
"It was a Mouse Demon. I had it caught, but I didn't expect the thing to be so cunning. It bit through my Vine and escaped," Zhang Deming replied.
Hearing this, Zong En frowned slightly. "What's going on these past few days? We've had Outer Sect senior brothers on patrol, and Steward Feng has also been conducting periodic Reconnaissance.
So why are all these little Demon Beasts still popping up one after another?
Did they slip past the patrols, or did they sneak in after they were over?"
Hearing this, everyone frowned.
The rice ripens twice a year, and it was already rare for a single Demon Beast to appear. This time, two Demon Beasts had shown up, and it wasn't even the last two days before the Spirit Rice was fully mature. Something was clearly not right.
"Who's on watch tonight?" Zhang Deming was more concerned about the Spirit Rice in the fields.