Chapter 48: YOU ARE REALLY THE AMBITIOUS

The disciple’s expression changed slightly before he quickly nodded.

"Understood, Brother Hu."

Li Yan watched the exchange from the side and raised an eyebrow, but he did not ask about it because Hu Bai had already made his intentions clear.

The gate disciple turned toward Li Yan again, this time with considerably more respect than before.

"Junior Brother Li, your quarter is on Purple Mountain. I will personally take you there."

Li Yan glanced at Hu Bai. Hu Bai nodded. "Go ahead. I will visit you once I have settled a few matters."

Li Yan accepted the arrangement and followed the disciple through the gate, leaving the examination grounds behind as he officially entered the sect as its newest number-one outer disciple.

Li Yan turned away from Hu Bai and Hu Biyan after their farewell and walked toward the disciple responsible for escorting him to his quarters, and the young man immediately stepped forward when he saw him approaching.

"Junior Brother Li, my name is Chen Yu. I am an inner disciple of the sect, and I have been assigned to escort you to Purple Mountain."

Li Yan nodded as he looked at the young man.

"Thank you for the trouble."

Chen Yu smiled and gestured for him to follow.

"It is no trouble. The elders specifically instructed us to make sure the new disciples become familiar with the sect, so I will show you some of the important places on the way."

Li Yan followed him as they left the examination grounds, and the scenery gradually changed as they entered the main sect area.

The first thing Li Yan noticed was the difference in spiritual energy.

The closer they moved toward the inner sections of the sect, the denser the spiritual energy became, and even the plants growing along the paths appeared healthier than those around the examination grounds.

Chen Yu pointed toward a large building several hundred meters away.

"That is the outer disciple’s mission hall. Once you have settled down, you can go there to accept missions and earn contribution points. The missions range from simple tasks such as gathering spirit herbs to more dangerous assignments outside the sect."

Li Yan looked toward the building before continuing along the path.

A short distance later, Chen Yu pointed toward another large structure.

"That is the Scripture Pavilion. Outer disciples can only enter the lower floors, but you can exchange contribution points for techniques and cultivation manuals available at your level."

Li Yan nodded as he took note of the locations.

They continued through the sect, and Chen Yu pointed out the various cultivation grounds, the trading area where disciples could exchange resources, and the dining hall where outer disciples could obtain meals.

"There are also several places you should remember, but you can explore them yourself after settling down. You will have plenty of time to become familiar with the sect."

Li Yan looked ahead as the road gradually became quieter.

"Are the classes held in the outer sect?"

Chen Yu shook his head. "Some are, but it depends on the department you join. The sect has different instructors for different disciplines, and each department has its own schedule."

He glanced toward Li Yan.

"Classes begin early, so you should not be late. The instructors here are not particularly patient with new disciples who think they can arrive whenever they please."

Li Yan nodded. "I will remember."

Chen Yu continued walking before seemingly remembering something. "Which department did you choose?"

"Pill formation and apothecary."

Chen Yu stopped for a moment and turned around.

"Both?"

Li Yan nodded. "I was interested in both, so I chose them."

Chen Yu stared at him with a strange expression before continuing to walk. "You really are ambitious."

Li Yan did not respond to the comment and instead looked toward the distant mountain.

The trees became denser as they approached Purple Mountain, and the spiritual energy surrounding them had become noticeably richer than what he had felt in the lower sections of the sect.

Chen Yu noticed his gaze and smiled.

"You will understand why the top three rankings receive quarters here once we reach the mountain. The cultivation environment is considerably better than anywhere else available to outer disciples."

Li Yan continued walking beside him as he studied the mountain ahead.

There were already numerous buildings scattered among the trees, and the occasional figure could be seen moving between them.

Chen Yu pointed toward the mountain.

"Those are the residences of the disciples already living on Purple Mountain. Your quarter is higher up, and it is the first residence reserved for this year’s new outer disciples."

Li Yan looked toward the residence Chen Yu had indicated.

The building was not particularly extravagant compared with some of the larger residences nearby, but its location placed it in an area where the spiritual energy was noticeably denser.

Chen Yu continued toward it. "Once you settle in, you can visit the department halls and register for your classes. Since you chose two departments, you should also check whether their schedules overlap before making any arrangements."

Li Yan nodded. That was something he had not considered yet.

He would have to manage both departments without allowing either one to interfere with his cultivation.

Chen Yu stopped in front of the residence and took out a token.

"This is your quarter token. It is registered under the number-one ranking, so no other new outer disciple can claim this residence."

He handed the token to Li Yan.

"Welcome to the sect, Junior Brother Li."

Li Yan accepted the token and pushed open the door to his new residence, and the first thing he noticed was the difference in spiritual energy compared with the lower sections of the sect.

The residence was simple but spacious, with a small courtyard, a cultivation room, and everything an outer disciple would need for daily cultivation.

Chen Yu pointed toward the room on the left.

"That is the cultivation room. You can use it whenever you wish, but remember that classes begin early tomorrow."

Li Yan nodded as he looked around the residence.

"Thank you, Senior Brother Chen."

Chen Yu smiled before turning around.

"I will leave you to settle in. If you need directions, ask another disciple or check your token."

Now that he was finally alone, Li Yan took some time to explore his new courtyard and found it to be better than any of the lower accommodations he had seen during his brief journey through the sect.

It was not particularly large, but the arrangement was comfortable enough for one person, with a small courtyard surrounded by several trees and enough open space for him to move around without feeling confined.

The spiritual Qi was also considerably richer than what he had experienced in the lower sections of the sect, and the quietness of Purple Mountain made the entire place feel separated from the noise and activity below.

Li Yan sat beneath one of the trees and allowed himself to enjoy the peaceful atmosphere for a while, and after spending so much time dealing with the entrance examination, the sudden quietness felt almost unfamiliar.

He could get used to this.