Heaven rewards diligence, but there are always fairies plotting against me.

For a moment, Chu Chang wanted to curse.

What did I do to offend you?

I can't figure it out, I really can't figure it out.

"Ah Chang, what are you standing there for? Go say hello to Senior Brother Song Qing and thank him," Gu Ling Shuang couldn't help but remind Chu Chang when she saw him standing there in a daze.

"Huh? Oh, okay!"

Chu Chang snapped out of his daze, and a grateful smile instantly spread across his face.

Although he didn't know why Song Qing suddenly harbored murderous intent towards him, he had to maintain appearances for the time being.

In the world of martial arts, acting skills are essential. Get your Oscar experience card activated!

Chu Chang walked over, bowed, and said, "Senior Brother Song, my young lady told me that you were actually willing to recommend me to the sect's Enforcement Hall. I am truly flattered and grateful!"

"Haha, it was nothing, don't mention it."

Song Qing turned around, smiling warmly, and even patted Chu Chang on the shoulder affectionately.

If it weren't for the increasingly thick red line of murderous intent above his head, Chu Chang would almost have believed that this guy was a great philanthropist.

However, as Song Qing patted, the force in his hands gradually increased, and his tone suddenly changed: "But, Brother Chang, although I have high hopes for you, the sect's Enforcement Hall isn't a charity. Many benefits in this world require something of equal value in exchange. Don't you agree?"

Chu Chang maintained his honest and simple expression: "Ah? Senior Brother Song, do you mean... I need to prepare some tribute? But I only have a few copper coins on me..."

Song Qing withdrew his hand, smiled meaningfully, and said, "Forget about the copper coins, Senior Brother doesn't need them. I was saying...did you find something good by the stream just now?"

At this point, a glint of greed flashed in Song Qing's eyes, and his tone turned somewhat cold: "Take my advice, senior brother. Some things are too low-level for you to handle. Holding onto them won't bring you good fortune; it'll only make them a hot potato. If you can't handle them, you might as well hand them over. I'll keep them for you, which will save you from a disaster. What do you say?"

"At that time, while you're in the Enforcement Hall, I can guarantee that no one will dare to bully you. From then on, you'll be mine, Song Qing's person!"

A worthless check?

Chu Chang immediately understood!

Damn it!

So it turns out this guy was after his Corrosive Blade!

This familiar routine is just like when I was a child during Chinese New Year, my parents would say to me with kind faces, "The lucky money is too heavy for you to hold. Here, your parents will save it for you and give it to you when you grow up."

As a result, this act of saving resulted in his time travel.

"Trying to take my magical artifact for free? And you'll even keep it safe for me? I don't believe you for a second! You wicked old man!"

Chu Chang mentally complained, but his mind was racing.

This magical artifact is a valuable item; how could I possibly give it away so easily?

Chu Chang feigned a blank expression, his face showing a mixture of confusion and fear: "Ah? Something good? Senior brother, what good thing could I possibly find? I was just practicing the boxing techniques Miss taught me by the stream when I accidentally dropped my washing mallet into the water. I've been trying to retrieve it for ages... Could it be that washing mallet you're talking about, senior brother?"

Song Qing's face stiffened slightly, and his eyes suddenly turned sinister.

Actually, he knew all this because the water fairy had just told him.

I just ask that he doesn't torment him.

Since the water demon herself had no evidence, Song Qing was unsure whether the water demon had lied to him.

"Really not?"

"Really, no!"

Chu Chang shook his head vigorously, his face full of grievance: "Senior brother, if I had really found some treasure, I would have given it to Miss long ago. How could I dare keep it for myself!"

As he spoke, he patted the iron sword at his waist.

This corroded blade still appears to be covered in rust.

The kind that no one would pick up if it fell on the roadside.

Song Qing stared at Chu Chang, and the red line of killing intent above his head suddenly dimmed a little.

Chu Chang's heart skipped a beat. It seemed that this guy didn't have any solid evidence to prove whether he had obtained the strange artifact!

Once the red line of killing intent disappeared, Chu Chang said, "Senior brother, if there's nothing else, I'm going to attend to my young lady. The carriage is about to depart, and we can't afford to be late."

Watching Chu Chang's departing figure, Song Qing frowned and walked towards the water demon in the iron cage.

"A mere water demon! How dare you deceive me!"

Soon, the sounds of the water demon being whipped and its wails came from the iron cage.

The next morning, as dawn broke, a light mist still lingered in the mountains and forests.

Chu Chang finished relieving himself and was walking back with trembling hands.

"Ah Chang, come here."

A clear and pleasant voice rang out, and Lin Ruoxue waved to him from the side.

Chu Chang glanced over and saw that she was holding a sizzling piece of meat in her hand.

"Thank you, Miss Lin!" Chu Chang's eyes lit up, and he quickly accepted the gift with both hands.

"From now on, you should call me Senior Sister," Lin Ruoxue said, tilting her fair and delicate chin slightly.

"Okay, thank you, senior!"

Lin Ruoxue said seriously, "Well, there's something I need to tell you first. Senior Brother Song Qing just came to me and said that although he's willing to recommend you as a trainee disciple in the Enforcement Hall, the sect rules are strict, and the procedures still need to be followed, so you'll need to pass an assessment. Are you capable of doing it?"

Lin Ruoxue knew that Chu Chang's cultivation time was not long.

Although he defeated some guards in the Gu family, it should be noted that guards and sect disciples are completely different things.

Upon hearing this, Chu Chang immediately understood!

Yesterday, Song Qing suspected that he possessed a treacherous weapon, and in order to get something for nothing, he offered to introduce him directly to the Enforcement Hall.

Now that they've discovered he's feigning ignorance and they can't squeeze any more out of him, they've naturally turned their backs on him and are unwilling to waste their own favors and resources.

So he deliberately came up with the excuse of "needing an assessment" in the hopes of making him back down!

However, since it is an open examination, any newly initiated disciple is eligible to apply.

If he succeeds in the assessment, then it's a testament to Chu Chang's true abilities!

Thinking of this, Chu Chang immediately nodded: "Don't worry, Senior Sister, I'm definitely participating in this assessment!"

Last night at the camp, he subtly inquired about it from Lin Ruoxue and Gu Ling Shuang.

The disciples of the Divine Sword Sect's Enforcement Hall enjoy generous benefits!

Not only will they be able to access more advanced cultivation techniques, but even the outer sect deacons will give them some respect when they walk around the sect.

Since he had such a chance to defy fate, why didn't he seize it?

It should be noted that ordinary disciples of the Divine Sword Sect, especially those like him who are without connections and older, generally have to start from the lowest level as menial servants.

Every morning before dawn, I have to get up to fetch water, chop wood, and clean up the droppings of spirit beasts. I'm so tired at night that I feel like a dead dog. I consider working 996 a blessing. Where do I have time to cultivate?

To avoid becoming a miserable, overworked cultivator, he's determined to join the Enforcement Hall!

…………

…………

Two days later, the convoy traveled over mountains and valleys, and finally, they arrived at the gate of the Divine Sword Sect.

"Wow, so this is the Divine Sword Sect?"

Chu Chang stood beside the carriage and couldn't help but gasp.

What you see before you is less like a sect and more like a vast and ancient manor where hidden talents reside!

The mountain gate stands between two towering and precipitous mountain ranges, and a wide sacred path paved entirely with white jade slabs leads straight into the depths of the manor.

The mountains on both sides are steep like unsheathed swords, and a sharp sword aura that stings the skin can be faintly felt in the valley.

On the misty mountainside, magnificent ancient buildings with flying eaves and brackets appear and disappear. Occasionally, one can see disciples of the Divine Sword Sect dressed in white riding their swords, turning into streaks of light across the sky. It is truly an ethereal and extraordinary sight.

Upon entering the sect, Song Qing pulled the prison cart and headed towards the mountain peak to the east of the sect.

Only after walking a distance and confirming that no murderous intent lines had appeared on his body did Chu Chang breathe a sigh of relief.

This Song Qing is a Qi Refining Realm expert. To be honest, if he still harbors murderous intent towards him, he really wouldn't dare to enter this Law Enforcement Hall.

"I've already arranged accommodations for you; you'll be staying right next to me."

Lin Ruoxue appears cold on the surface, but her heart is actually pounding.

After all, the reason she made these arrangements was because she wanted to have sex with Chu Chang that night.