Chapter 386: Servant Disciple

As the enormous Kun Ship slowly sailed past, a dazzling sight unfolded before Shen Daoxing’s eyes.

He saw towering Suspended Islands shrouded in ethereal clouds, with massive Flying Boats faintly visible passing through them. He saw an old man with the air of a celestial, his eyes glazed with drink, tilting his head back to down a mouthful of wine as he swayed precariously on a giant, floating gourd. He saw graceful fairies treading on white jade lotuses as they rode the wind upward. He saw disciple after disciple of the Cyan Nether Sword Sect flying between the various Suspended Islands on their Magical Artifacts.

"SCREE~"

At that moment, the Xianhe beneath Shen Daoxing’s feet let out a long, clear cry. It flew over a towering Suspended Island and began to descend.

As the scenery below grew larger, Shen Daoxing found himself descending into an area of houses with green-tiled roofs and white walls. It looked like the disciples’ living quarters for the Cyan Nether Sword Sect.

The Cyan Nether Sword Sect senior brother who had brought them there slowly spoke up. "Alright, we’re here! From today on, you are Servant Disciples of the Inner Mountain. The rules for the Inner Mountain and the Outer Mountain are the same. As long as you complete the sect’s menial tasks, you can use the remaining time to cultivate on your own. Of course, you can also ask the senior disciples for advice on cultivation matters."

With that, the Cyan Nether Sword Sect senior brother waved his hand, gesturing for everyone to get off.

Upon hearing this, the outer sect disciples on the Xianhe all leaped joyfully from its back.

???

’Servant Disciple!’

But Shen Daoxing was frozen in place, stunned.

Because this was completely different from what Wu Cheng had told him yesterday.

Just yesterday, Wu Cheng had said he would bring him into the Inner Mountain, where he could enter an Immortal Island and become an Inner Sect Disciple.

Suddenly, Shen Daoxing walked up to the Cyan Nether Sword Sect disciple. "Excuse me, Senior Brother? I think there’s been a mistake."

The Cyan Nether Sword Sect disciple slowly turned his head. "What’s your name?"

Shen Daoxing bowed respectfully. "Shen Daoxing!"

The Cyan Nether Sword Sect disciple flipped through the small booklet in his hand and nodded with certainty. "That’s right. Your name is on here. Starting today, you’re a Servant Disciple of the Inner Mountain."

"???"

Shen Daoxing was stunned. He wanted to say more. "Wait."

But the Cyan Nether Sword Sect disciple was already urging the Xianhe back into the air. "Mistake? What mistake? Look, people are tripping over themselves for a chance to become a Servant Disciple in the Inner Mountain. I have other business to attend to. I’m leaving."

With that, the Cyan Nether Sword Sect disciple shook Shen Daoxing off the Xianhe’s back, then rode the creature into the distant sky until he disappeared.

Shen Daoxing froze. ’It’s already come to this... How could I not realize it? That man from yesterday, Wu Cheng, he lied to me.’

Just then, another disciple from the Cyan Nether Sword Sect approached the group.

Shen Daoxing turned to look and saw a middle-aged man in his forties. He was dressed in the attire of a Cyan Nether Sword Sect Inner Sect Disciple.

The middle-aged man stepped forward and clapped his hands. Once all eyes were on him, he began to speak slowly.

"My name is Wan Hai, and I’m your supervising senior brother. You can call me Wan. From now on, I will be in charge of all your affairs on the Inner Mountain. I will assign each of you your servant tasks.

"Of course, you won’t be doing these servant tasks for nothing; you can earn Merit Points. If you accumulate enough Merit Points, you can become an Inner Sect Disciple just like me. You can use your remaining time to cultivate on your own. And naturally, you can also ask me about cultivation. While I can’t compare to the true geniuses in the sect, I’m much older and more experienced than all of you. Guiding outer sect disciples like yourselves is no problem at all."

Wan Hai had a kind face and a gentle way of speaking, giving off a cordial and easygoing impression.

After he finished speaking, Wan Hai began to assign everyone their living quarters and servant tasks.

"Yu Shuliang, Room Jia-1. Your task is to clean the west wing of the Internal Affairs Pavilion."

"Qi Yao, Room Jia-2. Your task is to clean the east wing of the Internal Affairs Pavilion."

"Shi Xiangrong, Room Jia-3. Your task is to clean the Law Enforcement Hall."

...

"Shen Daoxing, Room Jia-24. Your task is to clean the training grounds."

When his name was called, Shen Daoxing hesitated for a moment before stepping forward to accept his room plaque. He paused, then asked, "Excuse me, Senior Brother? Do you know an Inner Sect Disciple named Wu Cheng?"

"Wu Cheng?"

Hearing this, Wan Hai looked completely bewildered. He fell silent for a moment, as if trying to recall something, but finally shook his head.

"Junior Brother, we have no one named Wu Cheng in our Cyan Nether Sword Sect. I’ve been in the Sword Sect for over thirty years, and I’ve never heard that name."

’There’s no one named Wu Cheng!’

Shen Daoxing’s heart sank. ’So he really was lying to me. I was too careless.’

After a moment of silence, Shen Daoxing spoke again. "In that case, Senior Brother, do you know anything about Penglai Immortal Island? Do you know the Penglai Island Master, Xu Fu?"

At this, Wan Hai started in alarm and quickly clamped a hand over Shen Daoxing’s mouth. "Are you insane? Mentioning that name here! Don’t you know that name is our Sect Leader’s greatest taboo? Do you have any idea how many disciples died at the hands of the Penglai Lineage traitors back then?"

As he spoke, Wan Hai glanced around frantically, as if terrified someone might have overheard Shen Daoxing.

Seeing no one was around, Wan Hai slowly released his hand, then warned, "Remember this. Never mention this matter or that person within the sect again. It’s our Sect Leader’s greatest taboo. She despises traitors above all else and loathes anyone and anything related to Penglai. Do you understand? You are never to bring this up again!"

Shen Daoxing paused, then asked, "And if a disciple from the Penglai Lineage is discovered, what will the sect do?"

Wan Hai answered without a hint of hesitation. "Execute them on the spot. No mercy!"

Shen Daoxing stared blankly. ’This isn’t joining a sect... this is walking right into the enemy’s camp!’

Seeing Wan Hai’s solemn expression, Shen Daoxing couldn’t help but nod. ’Looks like what Wu Cheng said yesterday wasn’t a complete lie after all.’

’Then again...’ Shen Daoxing thought of his own identity and froze. The Cyan Nether Sword Sect was extremely hostile toward disciples of the Penglai Lineage. He had no choice but to lie low here as a Servant Disciple for the time being.

"Alright, alright. An outer sect disciple like you shouldn’t be worrying about these things. It’s not easy for someone from the Outer Mountain to get a chance to come to the Inner Mountain. Do you know how many disciples fight for this opportunity? Your top priority right now is to earn Merit Points and improve your strength. Hope that one day you can truly enter the Inner Mountain and become an Inner Sect Disciple."

Wan Hai reminded him kindly.

Shen Daoxing cupped his hands and bowed respectfully. "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother."

He turned to look around and saw that the other outer sect disciples had all found their rooms.

This was the Inner Mountain, where the concentration of Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi was over ten times denser than on the Outer Mountain. Unwilling to waste such a golden opportunity, they had all begun to cultivate.

Shen Daoxing took his room plaque and found Room Jia-24. The furnishings inside were simple, consisting of only a table and a bed.