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

"Jiang Shi, my younger brother went to look for you, but he hasn't returned yet. Do you know where he is?"

Liu Zhiming spoke up, saying that today was originally the day Liu Jie was supposed to collect the annual fee and then Liu Zhiming was supposed to hand it over to Manager Lin.

Liu Jie was in charge of collecting the annual fee, which was then handed over to Manager Lin by Liu Zhiming. However, today, no matter how long they waited, Liu Jie never showed up.

He went to the C and D hospitals to inquire and learned that Liu Jie had gone to find Jiang Shi after collecting the annual fee.

That's why Liu Zhiming brought his men to find Jiang Shi.

"I just saw Senior Brother Liu Jie. He came to collect the annual fee from me. After I paid the fee, he left." Jiang Shi shook his head after saying that and continued, "I don't know where he went in the end."

Liu Zhiming lowered his head in thought. He did not doubt Jiang Shi's words. No one would have thought that Jiang Shi, a disciple who had only been a disciple for ten months, could kill Liu Jie, who was at the second level of Qi Refining.

"If anyone sees Liu Jie, tell him to come to Jia Yuan to find me."

Liu Zhiming called out to the disciples of the Ding Academy around him, then turned and left.

"Jiang Shi..." Chen Tao was a little scared. Of course he knew that Jiang Shi was lying.

"No need for further words," Jiang Shi said only before leaving.

Liu Jie's disappearance could not be kept secret any longer. He and Chen Tao were not close, and Chen Tao might not be able to keep it a secret for him.

Not to mention, the truth will eventually come out; this matter was bound to be exposed sooner or later.

There's no use worrying about these things now.

Jiang Shi returned to the woodshed, ate a meal, and then seized the time to cultivate.

In the path of cultivation, one either progresses or regresses.

Although Jiang Shi had perfected the "Wood Spirit Technique" and reached the second level of the Qi Refining stage, it would be extremely difficult for him to cultivate to the Foundation Establishment stage.

His only thought now is to break through to the fourth level of Qi Refining and then enter the outer sect of Qingyun Sect.

At that time, you will have the opportunity to choose a better cultivation method.

Nothing happened that night, and the next morning, just as dawn broke.

Jiang Shi arrived at Courtyard A early in the morning, in the courtyard of Steward Lin.

"Who are you?" Two handyman disciples came to greet them.

Senior servants in the Jia courtyard were essentially the same as steward Lin's slaves.

The advantage is that over time, you can get guidance from Manager Lin and there's also money to be made.

"My two senior brothers, I am Jiang Shi, here to greet the steward," Jiang Shi said, bowing.

"So you are Jiang Shi." This handyman disciple had heard of Jiang Shi before.

Among their miscellaneous disciples was a man surnamed Li, who had brought Jiang Shi into the sect. He had clearly benefited from this, as his cultivation had recently increased significantly, and he had already reached the Great Perfection of the third level of the Qi Refining stage. It would probably be long before he broke through to the next level.

Entering the outer gate is just around the corner.

It can be said that Jiang Shi is quite well-known among the senior handymen.

If it weren't for the rules, one of their senior servants would have arrested Jiang Shi and interrogated him for secrets.

"Manager Lin has to practice his morning exercises and won't be out for a while. Come in and have a cup of tea while you wait."

Another senior handyman was very enthusiastic and greeted Jiang Shi as he entered the room.

Jiang Shi naturally preferred sitting down to drink tea rather than standing.

Jiang Shi sipped his tea while carefully responding to the subtle questions posed by the two senior servants.

The senior servant wanted to know what Jiang Shi had given him to get the job.

What exactly is this treasure? Are there any more?

"The unexpected treasure has been handed over to Manager Lin."

Jiang Shi kept repeating this sentence to dismiss the two senior servants.

Just as the two senior servants and Jiang Shi were getting a little impatient.

When~

A clanging sound rang out, and the senior servants instantly fell silent, not daring to utter a word.

"Bring Jiang Shi in."

Manager Lin's voice came in, as if it were right next to everyone's ears.

"Yes, sir," the senior servant said respectfully, bowing deeply.

Jiang Shi followed their example and dared not slack off in the slightest.

This ability to transmit sound across distance is quite remarkable; only those at the seventh level of Qi Refining and above, with strong spiritual sense, can perform it.

Jiang Shi followed the senior servant into the inner room.

As soon as he entered, a pleasant fragrance wafted over, which made Jiang Shi feel much more alert.

The fatigue from cultivating until midnight last night gradually dissipated, and Jiang Shi felt refreshed all over.

The two senior servants were also secretly breathing deeply, trying to inhale more of the fragrance.

"You may all leave," Steward Lin said in a deep voice, sitting on the prayer mat.

"Yes!" The two senior servants dared not say another word and quickly withdrew.

"Please sit down."

There was a prayer mat opposite Manager Lin. Jiang Shi first bowed to thank him, and then sat down cross-legged.

As soon as I sat down, a warm feeling emanated from the futon beneath me.

Jiang Shi felt the Wood Spirit Technique within his body begin to cultivate automatically, and the surrounding spiritual energy rapidly gathered towards him.

If you cultivate here for a day, the effect is more than ten times that of cultivating outside.

Jiang Shi suppressed the urge to cultivate here and spoke to Steward Lin:

"Sir, may I ask what important matter brings you here today?"

Manager Lin greatly admired Jiang Shi for resisting temptation and maintaining his original intention.

"Do you know why this courtyard exists? What is its purpose?" Steward Lin asked.

"This disciple does not know."

Jiang Shi thought to himself, "Isn't this just for you to collect money?"

But he dared not say that.

Manager Lin smiled upon hearing this.

"The Qingyun Sect has dozens of courtyards, and each courtyard manager is a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator who is unable to break through the Foundation Establishment stage."

"These cultivators have nowhere to advance, and nowhere to retreat."

"This tenement is a place for these cultivators who have nowhere else to live, a place to amass wealth and retire."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Shi's doubts deepened, wondering why Steward Lin was telling him all this.

Manager Lin continued:

"Any disciple with a background and talent would have been accepted into the sect long ago. Even if you menial disciples are fortunate enough to join the Qingyun Sect in the future, it will be of no use to you."

"It's impossible for him to break through the seventh level of Qi Refining in his lifetime."

"In the end, he can only grow old and die in despair."

Manager Lin's words were realistic, but Jiang Shi disagreed.

He is born with the destiny of "Heaven rewards diligence," meaning that as long as he works hard, he will surely achieve great things in the future.

Qingyun Sect was merely a stepping stone for him.

Jiang Shi is single-mindedly pursuing the Dao; how could he be discouraged by a few words from others?

Seeing that Jiang Shi remained unmoved, Steward Lin's smile widened.

"Now I can give you a chance. You can become my disciple, and with my help, entering the outer sect will be a piece of cake," Steward Lin said.

Jiang Shi was startled upon hearing this.

A gifted young boy is chosen as someone's apprentice?

He couldn't believe it at all.

In his past life, he had read a fantasy novel where the protagonist's first master took in a disciple with the sole purpose of possessing his body.

This steward is greedy and ruthless; could he be that kind of person too?

The more he thought about it, the more something seemed off.

But they dared not directly refuse, fearing that Manager Lin would kill them on the spot.

"Manager Lin, I am only a five-elemental root, and my aptitude is truly dull and unfit for great use. I fear that becoming your disciple would tarnish your reputation," Jiang Shi said cautiously.

"You're quite cautious, kid. But you're mistaken; having five spiritual roots isn't necessarily a bad aptitude."