"The Nine Tools Sect of the Eastern Xuan Realm"
In June, the scorching sun dispersed the clouds that filled the sky, leaving nothing but the dry chirping of insects within the jungle.
Despite the extreme weather, a strange figure appeared, slowly advancing upon the sweltering, sun-baked stone steps of the back mountain.
Looking closer, the figure was none other than a youthful boy of around fourteen or fifteen. Dressed in a short-sleeved shirt, his face still retained a boyish innocence between his eyebrows and eyes.
However, at this moment, his face was flushed red and beads of sweat hung from his cheeks, drops falling to the ground and evaporating almost instantly due to the high temperature in the air.
The cause of all this was shockingly because the boy was carrying a bronze cauldron half his own height, steadily climbing the mountainous path.
Barefoot on blistering stones, the young boy lifted the cauldron!
His slender and seemingly frail back, in comparison to the enormous bronze cauldron, created a stark contrast that made the scene truly awe-inspiring.
The boy's name was Zhong Li, a humble minor disciple of the Nine Tools Sect. Three years ago, he had joined the sect to participate in the disciple examination, failing twice already.
The Nine Tools Sect only held its disciple examination once a year, but as long as one met the conditions, even if they failed once, they could still wait for the next year's examination to start.
Those who passed the first round of selection yet failed to become official disciples could enter the sect as minor disciples, exchanging labor for modest cultivation resources.
Zhong Li's job was to transport medicinal cauldrons!
After an unknown stretch of time, Zhong Li finally reached the end of the stone steps and stepped into the backyard courtyard, gently setting down the giant cauldron from his shoulder.
This was the Miscellaneous Affairs Courtyard located outside the mountain gate of the Nine Tools Sect, a place dedicated to housing minor disciples who served the sect by doing menial tasks. Located just outside the sect's main peak, it was a place only minor disciples would enter.
At this point in the courtyard, there were a few other minor disciples. Upon seeing Zhong Li emerging from the mountain path, most of them showed slightly odd expressions in their eyes.
The bronze cauldron was said to weigh almost a thousand catties. Among all the registered disciples, only Zhongli could lift it. Yet, ironically, his cultivation was the lowest among all the disciples.
Just as Zhongli set the medicinal cauldron down, a lanky youth not far away suddenly stood up, revealing a smirk of mockery on his face. "Zhongli, you've been moving this cauldron for a year. You're becoming rather adept at it. Were you a born to be a menial laborer?"
Hearing this, Zhongli couldn't help but frown, shifting his glance toward the speaker.
The lanky youth was named Zhao Yu, also a menial disciple, who failed in last year's disciple assessment. However, he had reached the third level of basic cultivation.
There were differences among the menial disciples as well. Zhao Yu was one of the few menial disciples with the best prospects of passing the disciple assessment. In contrast, Zhongli only had level-one basic cultivation and was nearly deemed incompatible with the sect's disciples. Naturally, he was often dismissed and belittled.
"Lifting the cauldron is also a form of cultivation. I see no harm in it," Zhongli responded indifferently to Zhao Yu's provocation.
"Lifting the cauldron is cultivation? Hahaha... so you've cultivated until now, and you're still a level-one cultivator?" Zhao Yu laughed uproariously, his tone filled with disdain. "The crystals wasted on you would be put to better use feeding a dog."
Zhao Yu's blatant baiting caused Zhongli to frown. Each year, the number of menial disciples who could graduate to full discipleship was strictly limited, so rivalries among them were common. Such derogatory comments were nothing unusual.
"Zhao Yu, you're going too far with your words," A youth in black suddenly intervened, eyeing the two with a casual look.
This newcomer was handsome, with a jade-sheathed sword hanging from his waist. He wore a black robe adorned with stars and glimmering swords, radiating a self-assured air.
"Elder Brother Ling Feng! Why are you here?" Upon seeing the youth in black, Zhao Yu's face lit up with a flattery smile as he rushed to greet him.
As his words trailed off, Zhao Yu's gaze fell on the exquisite black robe the newcomer was wearing. Immediately he let out a cry of surprise as if uncovering a big secret.
"That's the Star Sword Robe only the inner court disciples can wear! Congratulations, Elder Brother Ling Feng, on becoming an inner court disciple!"
"Inner court disciple?!" Hearing Zhao Yu's exclamation, the other menial disciples also perked up, their envious eyes focusing on "Elder Brother Ling Feng."
In the Nine Artifacts Sect, official disciples were divided into outer and inner court disciples. Only by becoming an inner court disciple could one truly be considered a pillar of the sect.
Elder Brother Ling Feng's Star Robe, impervious to both swords and knives, acted as the emblem of an Inner Sect Disciple.
"Only two years since joining the sect, and he's already become an Inner Sect Disciple! Elder Brother Ling Feng is undeniably a genius among prodigies."
"Becoming an Inner Sect Disciple means Elder Brother Ling Feng is on the verge of Innate Achievement!"
With Zhao Yu leading them, some disciples were flattering Ling Feng unabashedly, their words dripping with fawning adulation.
Zhong Li's gaze fell upon Elder Brother Ling Feng. The former, who'd remained cool under Zhao Yu's provocation, was currently seething with uncontrollable anger!
This Elder Brother Ling Feng's full name was Zhong Ling Feng, hailing from the same Zhong family as Zhong Li.
Zhong Ling Feng's father was merely the housekeeper of the Zhong household. He was awarded the surname Zhong for his extraordinary merit, but a few years later, the housekeeper revealed his ambition, quickly took control of the Zhong family, and self-proclaimed as the Patriarch.
Zhong Li, originally the Young Master, was soon treated like a house servant.
You must know, Zhong Li was once hailed as a genius, reaching the Elemental Level at eight years old. Had he not given the opportunity to join the Nine Artifacts Sect to his sister, he would've been a disciple already.
But since the upheaval in the Zhong family, he lost his qualification to cultivate, was assigned various menial tasks, and not just cultivation, even surviving day to day became extremely difficult.
Zhong Ling Feng, the son of a housekeeper, took Zhong Li's place and received all the Zhong family resources. He was sent to the Nine Artifacts Sect!
For Zhong Li, who was now a Servant Disciple, the former naturally ridiculed him in every possible way. If it weren't for the fear of stirring up troubles, even Zhong Li's life might be at stake.
Just to change his own fate, had Zhong Li come to the Nine Artifacts Sect to take part in the assessment, hoping to become a sect disciple.
Regrettably, he had fallen hugely behind in cultivation time. Currently without any resources to aid him, he failed the Nine Artifacts Sect's disciple assessment two years in a row.
Meanwhile, Zhong Ling Feng had become a vigorous Inner Sect Disciple of the Nine Artifacts Sect. Their fates had taken drastically different turns unnoticed. Dismissing the flattering disciples with a wave, Zhong Ling Feng turned to Zhong Li with a smirk. "My dear brother, it's been awhile. You are still a Servant Disciple, isn't that an embarrassment to the Zhong family?"
Upon hearing these words, Zhong Li's face involuntarily changed. Originaly, his family had specifically asked him and Zhong Lingfeng to become sworn brothers, but never expected to raise an ungrateful beast in the end.
Now the other party intentionally used this title, the meaning of mockery could not be more clear.
"You, an outsider wearing the Zhong family name, are also qualified to speak about me?" Zhong Li replied with an icy demeanor.
"How dare you! How do you talk to Lingfeng Senior Brother?"
"A waste at the Elementary Cultivation level who dares to say Lingfeng Senior Brother is not qualified, it's absolutely ridiculous!"
"He is simply a disgrace to us miscellaneous disciples!"
Upon hearing Zhong Li's words, Zhao Yu, and others led by him, started to yell as if their tails were stepped on, all vying to display their attitude in front of Zhong Lingfeng.
Seeing the expressions of these people, the only response in Zhong Li's eyes is coldness. It's not strange that these people want to suck up to Zhong Lingfeng, given the drastic difference between an inner disciple and a miscellaneous disciple.
"Zhong Li, do you know why I was able to become an inner disciple?" Unexpectedly, Zhong Lingfeng wasn’t angry at Zhong Li’s attitude, but asked in a calm manner.
Zhong Li frowned, not understanding the meaning of his question, only to hear Zhong Lingfeng continue: "This is all thanks to your genius little sister who dared to provoke the chief disciple of Tiānyī, and now that she has been locked up in the secret realm, I got the chance to take her place!"
"What?" Upon hearing the news, Zhong Li, who originally maintained a cold demeanor, couldn't help tensing up inwardly.
After the turbulence in the Zhong family, the only family member left for Zhong Li was his little sister, Zhong Ling.
Initially, Zhong Ling was intelligent and Zhong Li willingly gave all the cultivation resources to her, enabling her to pass the examination first and become a disciple of Jiǔqì Sect.
Not long after Zhong Ling left the Zhong family, there was a major change in the family, and the person who should have entered Jiǔqì Sect changed from Zhong Li to Zhong Lingfeng.
Becoming a miscellaneous disciple, carrying the giant kilo cauldron and climbing up the mountain road every day, facing daily mockery - all these, Zhong Li could endure.
But Zhong Ling was his only living relative now, a person Zhong Li just couldn't bear to see come to harm in any way!
“Zhong Lingfeng! If anything happens to Zhong Ling, I will make you pay!“, Zhong Li roared, anger flashing in his eyes.
Hearing this, Zhong Lingfeng let out a loud laugh, his aura bursting forth. The full extent of his strength, that of a Seventh Level Spirit Cultivator, became apparent. He then slowly said to Zhong Li, "You will make me pay? I've joined the top-ranked Tianyi Peak of the Nine Peaks, and your brilliant sister is now a prisoner. What can you, a mere First Level Spirit Cultivator, do about it?“
As he finished speaking, it seemed that Zhong Lingfeng suddenly remembered something. Smiling, he continued, "In half a month, it will be the initiation day for disciples. With your strength, you surely can’t pass the assessment.”
"So what?“ Zhong Li gritted his teeth and retorted.
Heh, heh! I have a Marrow-Cleansing Pill here. If you agree to become my servant, I will give it to you. How about it?“ As he spoke, Zhong Lingfeng opened a pill box in his hand to reveal a green pill. He looked at Zhong Li with a smile, though there was a clear chill in his eyes.
Even though the Zhong Family was not what it used to be, the humiliation of having been a servant of the Zhong Family still burned in his heart.
Making the former young master of the Zhong Family his servant no doubt gave Zhong Lingfeng a real thrill.
"A Marrow-Cleansing Pill?!"
The pill's fragrance permeated the air, causing many manual laborer-level disciples to perk up, their eyes suddenly ignited with desire.
"The Marrow-Cleansing Pill purifies impurities in the body and has miraculous effects for those below the Sixth Level of Spirit Cultivation!“
"They say that one Marrow-Cleansing Pill can even let a pig break through to the Third Level of Spirit Cultivation!“
"A three-rank pill, even if we worked for ten years at these servant tasks, we wouldn't be able to afford one!“
"It’s no wonder he's an inner disciple, to be able to produce such a treasure!“
Faced with a Marrow-Cleansing Pill that many manual labor disciples lusted after, Zhong Li’s gaze did not show the slightest wavering, “No matter what you offer me…" he said firmly.
"I cultivate to stand at greater heights, not to bow my head in servitude to people!"
"The backbone of a warrior can only be broken... it must never bend!"
Seemingly having anticipated Zhongli's reaction, the corner of Zhong Lingfeng's mouth revealed a hint of playful smile. With a snap, he withdrew the pill box, and once again spoke, "You're already at the age of fifteen, if by chance your assessments fail in half a month, you won't even qualify to be a low-ranked disciple. By then, you will realize that you don't even have the privilege to serve me."
As his words fell, Zhong Lingfeng prepared to leave directly. However, just after taking a few steps, he suddenly halted, turned his head and added another remark.
"After you will be expelled from the Jiuxi Sect, I will take 'good care' of your precious little sister, hahaha..."
