Immortality and cultivation: Heaven rewards diligence, and success is inevitable.

"Now that you have broken through to the fourth level of Qi Refining, you can enter the outer sect."

"However, the vast majority of these hundreds of outer disciples are scions of aristocratic families."

"You must remember to keep a low profile and avoid causing trouble, otherwise, if you encounter danger, I will not be able to protect you as I am not in the outer sect."

The forest ranger gave him earnest advice.

"Yes, Master. This disciple will keep it firmly in mind." Jiang Shi nodded and said earnestly.

Jiang Shi was almost killed by those scions of powerful families at the main gate of the outer sect that day.

If Senior Brother Chen hadn't arrived in time, Jiang Shi would probably have died on the spot.

Be careful at the outer gate and don't stick your head out.

"I need to report your entry into the outer sect to the outer sect first, and then wait for the outer sect disciples to come and take you up the mountain."

"I have two mid-grade Yellow-level techniques here, 'Flowing Water Finger' and 'Entangling Wood Finger.' You can practice them for the next few days. It will give you more means of self-defense once you enter the outer sect."

As he spoke, Steward Lin took out two stone slips from his storage bag, tapped them lightly, and the stone slips floated in front of Jiang Shi.

Jiang Shi accepted the offer, and then Steward Lin dismissed him.

He returned to his courtyard and went into his room.

He placed the stone tablet on his forehead and began to learn two techniques.

[Learned the Yellow-Rank Mid-Grade techniques "Flowing Water Finger" and "Entangling Wood Finger".]

【Flowing Finger Techniques: Beginner (0/500)】

【"Entangling the Finger": Introduction (0/500)】

With the destiny that "Heaven rewards diligence, and success is inevitable," Jiang Shi quickly mastered the basics of the two finger techniques.

Upon entering the courtyard, Jiang Shi activated the power of the "Water Spirit Technique".

He extended his little finger and flicked it out as lightly as flowing water, sending a blue ripple forward.

However, since Jiang Shi is a beginner, this finger technique is not yet very powerful.

[Proficiency +1]

Just like felling trees, each release increases proficiency by one point.

Then Jiang Shi activated the power of the "Wood Spirit Technique". A green light flashed at the tip of his index finger, and he emitted vine-like strands of azure spiritual energy.

Both techniques have their own unique applications.

If one were to cultivate it to perfection, its power would increase immeasurably.

These past few days, Jiang Shi has been diligently practicing "Flowing Water Finger" and "Entangling Wood Finger" in this courtyard.

A week later, Jiang Shi pointed a finger in the courtyard and emitted two blue ripples, which were much more powerful than before.

"Junior Brother Jiang, you've mastered the 'Flowing Water Finger' technique quite well; you've already achieved a minor level of proficiency, haven't you?"

Jiang Shi looked up at the sound and saw Li Ze standing at the gate of the courtyard.

"Senior Brother Li, it's been a long time. How have you been?"

Jiang Shi had not seen Li Ze since that outer sect gathering.

"That day, I ate the spiritual fruit given to me by Senior Sister Lin and luckily broke through to the fourth level of Qi Refining. Now, I have joined the outer sect." Li Ze paused for a moment, still smiling, but it looked like he was forcing it.

Jiang Shi noticed it.

"Senior Brother Li, what's the outer sect like?" Jiang Shi asked.

"Hey, Junior Brother Jiang, you don't know, we disciples who started out as menial servants are treated like cattle and horses in the outer sect."

"Those scions of wealthy families didn't treat us like human beings at all."

Li Ze's smile had vanished, replaced by a look of deep sorrow.

"I originally thought that once I broke through to the fourth level of Qi Refining and entered the outer sect of Qingyun Sect, I could ascend to the heavens in one step."

"I never imagined that I was like a frog in a well. In the outer sect, if I wanted to obtain resources, I had to do tasks in the Contribution Hall and earn contribution points in order to exchange for resources."

"The tasks assigned to us were all difficult and had low contribution points."

"You can't complete many tasks in a month. If you don't complete the tasks, you don't get contribution points, and therefore you don't get resources."

"With my three spiritual roots, there's simply no way I could break through to the seventh level of Qi Refining."

Most of the menial disciples, after entering the outer sect, fall into despair, just like Li Ze.

These people have virtually no chance of breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage. Most of them eventually join the ranks of aristocratic families in order to cultivate, becoming servants or retainers.

A few people banded together for mutual support and shared progress, and they also had a desire to seek the truth.

Another group of people broke through to the Great Perfection of the Qi Refining stage, and by consuming contribution points, they could build a courtyard at the foot of the mountain and become a local tyrant.

You can say you want to leave the sect and become a rogue cultivator, or join another sect.

I'm sorry, but this is an act of treason. At best, it will result in the abolition of one's cultivation foundation; at worst, it will result in direct execution.

Once you enter the outer sect, you cannot leave.

"Senior Brother Li, don't be discouraged. Senior Sister Lin and the others are also working hard in their cultivation," Jiang Shi said, trying to comfort Li Ze.

"You're right." Hearing Lin Shijie's voice, Li Ze's gloom dissipated, and he smiled again.

"Let's go, I'll take you into the outer sect. I didn't expect you to cultivate so fast, catching up with me in such a short time." Li Ze then realized that Jiang Shi's speed in breaking through to the fourth level of Qi Refining was indeed too fast.

However, he assumed that Jiang Shi must have hidden some spiritual herbs at the time, and that eating the herbs was what allowed him to cultivate so quickly.

"Thanks to my master's guidance, I'm afraid I would have had a hard time making this breakthrough without him." Jiang Shi's words were half true and half false.

The two did not talk for long before Jiang Shi left with Li Ze.

Standing at the entrance of the courtyard.

The forest ranger was already standing there waiting.

"Master." Jiang Shi walked up to Steward Lin and bowed deeply.

Li Ze also bowed down along with Jiang Shi.

"Let's go, it's too late and the Qingyun Mountain road isn't safe. Let's leave early."

"Yes, Master."

The two got up and walked towards the outer door. Manager Lin watched Jiang Shi's back in silence.

Upon reaching the outer gate, this time Li Ze led the way, and the two bypassed the main gate and went to the side gate.

"Jiang Shi!" A familiar voice rang out from the side door.

Jiang Shi looked in the direction of the sound and saw Chen Tao standing there carrying firewood.

He stared at Jiang Shi in disbelief.

"Senior Brother Chen." Jiang Shi first asked Li Ze to wait a moment, then walked up to Chen Tao.

"Senior Brother Jiang, you've broken through." Only then did Chen Tao sense Jiang Shi's burgeoning magical power. He dared not call him by his name anymore and instead addressed Jiang Shi as Senior Brother.

"I managed to break through by sheer luck a few days ago."

Thanks to Jiang Shi's help in cutting down trees, Chen Tao has saved a lot of time and has now broken through to the second level of Qi Refining.

"Work hard at your training. If you ever need any help in the future, feel free to come to me."

Jiang Shi didn't know what to say to Chen Tao, so he could only say something polite before turning and leaving.

Chen Tao stared blankly as Jiang Shi and Li Ze entered through the outer gate.

After a long while, he remembered that he hadn't delivered the firewood on his shoulder yet, so he stopped thinking about it and hurriedly went outside to deliver it.

Although Jiang Shi only said it as a polite remark, he would indeed help Chen Tao if he needed any assistance in the future, especially if it was a small matter.

In the early days of his career, Chen Tao helped Jiang Shi several times.

"Let's go get our ID cards first," Li Ze reminded Jiang Shi.

Without an identification tag, if you're caught and killed outside the gate, there's nowhere to seek justice.

The identification tag must be worn on the waist.