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

"Senior Sister Lin, this is the fifth time already, I... I can't take it anymore."

At night, everything is silent.

From the small hut where Chu Chang lived, came the sound of Chu Chang's exhausted voice.

"Thanks a lot."

Even though Lin Ruoxue was ruthless and cold-hearted, she couldn't help but feel a little apologetic after seeing Chu Chang's strained state.

In order to break through to the third level of the Qi Refining Realm, Lin Ruoxue sought out Chu Chang almost every day.

Not to mention Chu Chang was upset, even Gu Ling Shuang was somewhat resentful.

Fortunately, the results were quite good.

After this, she finally felt the bottleneck!

"Ah Chang, you can go out now, I'm getting promoted."

Chu Chang wanted to curse.

Damn it!

This is his room, okay?

However, he would never dare to say such a thing.

"Senior sister, you go ahead and do your work."

Chu Chang left, because Lin Ruoxue hadn't told him to stay in her room, so Chu Chang didn't dare go over.

Fortunately, at that moment, Gu Ling Shuang waved to him from the neighboring courtyard: "Ah Chang, if you have nowhere to stay, come stay with me. It's been cold lately, be careful not to catch a cold."

My own daughter is the best.

Chu Chang was tackled to the ground as soon as he entered the house!

I really want to rest...

…………

…………

The next morning, in the quiet courtyard, the morning dew still clung to the tips of the bamboo leaves.

"Squeak!"

Lin Ruoxue pushed open the door and came out.

At this moment, her face was radiant, her skin was fair with a warm glow, and her whole body exuded a mysterious and lively true energy fluctuation. Even the hem of her clothes moved without wind, making her look like an immortal.

She got promoted!

"Congratulations, Senior Sister! You've made great strides!"

Gu Ling Shuang, who was already up practicing her sword, brightened up and immediately greeted him with a smile.

"Well, I managed to break through and finally reached the third level of the Qi Refining Realm." Lin Ruoxue raised her chin slightly. Although she tried her best to suppress the smile on her lips, she couldn't hide the pride in her eyes.

Then, she turned her gaze to Chu Chang, who was pretending to sweep the floor, but whose ears were actually perked up higher than a rabbit's.

After all, Chu Chang believed he deserved the most credit for Lin Ruoxue's promotion!

Waiting to ask for a reward.

"Ah Chang, thank you so much for your successful breakthrough this time." Lin Ruoxue walked over generously, took out two brand-new manuals with a faint scent of ink from her sleeve, and handed them over. "Here, these are two cultivation techniques that I specially obtained for you after you entered the sect."

"Wow, thank you so much, senior sister!"

Chu Chang was overjoyed. He immediately threw the broom aside, rubbed his hands vigorously on his clothes, and respectfully accepted the two manuals.

"Keep these two techniques safe." Lin Ruoxue crossed her arms and began to fulfill her duty as a senior sister, explaining them to him.

"The first technique is the renowned cultivation method of our Divine Sword Sect, the 'Sword Nourishing Technique.' Simply put, this technique teaches you how to open up your Qi Palace within your body, transforming your own true essence into a warm bed to nurture a pure sword energy within your dantian. Once you master this method, not only will your cultivation speed greatly increase, but your true essence will also become as sharp and domineering as a sword's edge, possessing extremely strong attack power!"

Chu Chang nodded repeatedly, his eyes shining.

"As for the second technique, you mentioned earlier that you wanted a movement technique manual, this is the 'Seven Star Steps'. This movement technique subtly follows the changing patterns of the Big Dipper in the sky. Once used, your feet tread on the star positions, and your figure moves like a ghost, darting left and right. As long as you practice it enough, within the same realm, basically no one can touch the hem of your clothes. It's perfect for... cough, for saving your life."

Chu Chang held the two secret manuals, extremely excited.

He had already inquired and learned that the Divine Sword Sect had extremely strict rules. Under normal circumstances, a trainee disciple like him, who had just entered the sect and had not yet formally become an apprentice, would absolutely not be qualified to come into contact with a core mental cultivation method like the "Sword Nurturing Technique".

At most, they'll give you a run-of-the-mill "Qi-Inducing Technique" and let you try your luck.

Clearly, Lin Ruoxue must have gone to her master specifically to plead with him to make an exception for her!

Chu Chang couldn't help but sigh in his heart: The ancients were right, all my hard work these past few days has finally paid off!

From initially serving him hand and foot, to silently acting as a human heater with his extremely yang constitution along the way.

Now we've finally gained real cultivation resources!

"Thank you so much, Senior Sister! I will never forget your great kindness!"

Lin Ruoxue smiled, then said seriously, "Well, there's one more thing. I also submitted the application form for the Enforcement Hall's apprentice disciple assessment for you. Go to the Enforcement Hall later to sign and register. The assessment will officially begin in ten days."

At this point, Lin Ruoxue's tone became more serious: "These ten days are crucial. Ling Shuang and I won't disturb you. Focus on mastering these two cultivation techniques, work hard, and strive to pass the assessment in one go!"

After she finished speaking, she turned her head and gave Gu Ling Shuang a meaningful look.

The warning in his eyes couldn't be clearer!

For the next ten days, you are not allowed to disturb Ah Chang's cultivation!

Gu Ling Shuang was speechless.

So you're saying you don't need to eat, but you're stopping me from eating too?

Lin Ruoxue gave a few more instructions, then pulled Gu Ling Shuang away.

She's going to report the good news to her master.

Chu Chang didn't rush to the Hall of Law Enforcement, but instead started reading the two manuals first.

A moment later, the two techniques appeared on the panel.

[Chu Chang]

[Realm: Body Tempering Realm, Level 5]

[Inner Strength Technique: Sword Nourishment: Beginner (0/2000)]

[Technique: Seven Star Steps: Beginner (0/300)]

[Technique: Sun-Gazing Breathing Method (Gains the constitution attribute: Extreme Yang Constitution.)]

[Technique: Mountain Moving Strength (Obtained technique entry: Mountain Moving Hidden Strength.)]

[Technique: Burning Wave Shadow Hand (Perfected) - Acquired Technique Attribute: Killing Intent Red Thread.]

[Inner Strength Technique: Crimson Sun Qi Guiding Technique (Gains the inner strength technique attribute: Olfactory Purification).]

[Spell/Art: None.]

[Skill: Herb Gathering (Gains the skill attribute: Shennong Identifies Herbs.)]

Diligence can compensate for lack of talent: Heaven rewards diligence, and there will surely be results.

"The experience points required to cultivate the Sword Nourishing Technique are so much more than those required for the Seven Star Steps..."

Chu Chang stroked his chin and suddenly understood why things were the way they were.

This is similar to leveling up; the stronger you are, the more experience points you need.

The same applies to cultivation methods.

"No wonder everyone says that the Divine Sword Sect's most powerful technique is the Sword Nurturing Technique. They weren't exaggerating."

Then, he took the Seven Star Step and walked towards the Hall of Law Enforcement.

The Enforcement Hall assessment is in ten days. There's no time to improve my sword-nurturing technique, so I'll focus on practicing the Seven Star Steps first.

In this way, I will be able to handle the assessment ten days later with more ease.

As Chu Chang walked, the Big Dipper constellation appeared in his mind.

He stepped onto the Heavenly Pivot, his body suddenly turned, and he poured the Extreme Yang True Essence into his legs, instantly transforming into a blurry afterimage.

He moved swiftly, sometimes to the left, sometimes to the right, his movements stylish and agile.

Although he almost did a split on the spot because he used too much true energy, he managed to perform the Seven Star Steps, which combined Lingbo Weibu and Moonwalk, quite well thanks to his amazing physical talent.

And so, his figure moved as gracefully as a falling leaf, heading towards the Hall of Law Enforcement.

The road was crowded with people; these disciples, like him, had also run there to register.

Just then, a shout came from behind: "Brother Chu! Brother Chu, wait for me!"

Chu Chang stopped and turned around, only to see a dark-skinned young man with a bright white smile, swinging his long legs and running towards him like a happy husky.

"Hey, Erniu." Chu Chang grinned.

This man is called Zhang Erniu. Chu Changgang met him when he first entered the sect and registered.

A few days ago, Chu Chang went out to gather firewood and wild fruit. He saw this dark-skinned young man rubbing his stomach because he was hungry, so he casually shared some fruit with him.

Erniu was an honest boy since he was a child, which greatly moved them. Before long, the two became very close.

Just the day before yesterday, Erniu caught a few pounds of golden apple snails and brought them to Chu Chang, who then stir-fried them and gave them all to Gu Ling Shuang.

"Erniu, did you step on a gold ingot today? Why are you so happy?" Chu Chang looked at him curiously.

Zhang Erniu said excitedly, "Brother Chu, have you heard? Something big happened in the Enforcement Hall yesterday! Quite a few formal disciples died!"

"..."

Chu Chang's eye twitched violently, and he looked at him with a face full of black lines: "Uh... someone died in the Enforcement Hall, why are you here so happy like it's New Year's? People who don't know better would think you're getting married today."

"Oh dear, Brother Chu, you just don't understand!"

Zhang Erniu slapped his thigh, stamping his feet excitedly: "We originally had three or four hundred people competing for the position of apprentice disciple in the Enforcement Hall, but the quota? They were stingy, only giving us twenty! The competition was even more brutal than a thousand soldiers crossing a single-plank bridge! But! Because of what happened yesterday, the Enforcement Hall is severely understaffed, and the higher-ups made a decision to directly expand the recruitment by thirty more people! Now they're recruiting fifty people in total! These many openings mean that we, the lower-level brothers, have a much better chance of sneaking in and making it!"

After listening, Chu Chang suddenly understood.

Good heavens, it turns out the cultivation world has expanded its civil service recruitment!

However, Chu Chang was not as optimistic as Zhang Erniu.

Wasn't it said that the Enforcement Division was lucrative and had an easy life?

How could so many people die all at once?