By dawn the next morning, the village was shrouded in mist.
Xu Ning had prepared early, with Big Stupid Deer carrying pots, pans, half of the Azure Dragon Spear, and a rolled-up mat on its back.
He bid farewell to Little Tiezhu and Little Hehua for the last time.
"Zhou Tiezhu, you'll grow up to be a real man someday!"
"Brother Ning, I promise!"
"Little Hehua, I'm leaving now to wander the world. When I return, I might already be an Immortal who floats high above the clouds~~~"
"Brother Ning!"
Tears filled Little Hehua's eyes in an instant, blurring her vision. "Brother Ning, come back soon, or I'll miss you…"
"Don't worry, wait for me~~~"
Xu Ning donned his bamboo hat and raincoat, leading Big Stupid Deer far away.
Little Hehua quickly ran home, clutched her blanket, and cried until she resembled a little flower cat. She had secretly hoped to marry Brother Ning once she grew up. After all, she had liked him since childhood.
...
Meanwhile, the members of Chaotic Sect were ready to depart.
An elderly deacon, garbed in a long robe, was seated in a carriage. There were also several ox carts carrying seven or eight children gathered from neighboring villages.
"Junior Brother Ning, time to hit the road!"
Senior Brother Zhao Lichen, who was driving one of the carts, called out with a smile.
"Alright, I'm coming!"
Xu Ning turned toward the familiar villagers who had watched him grow up and solemnly clasped his hands in a respectful gesture. "Farewell, folks. I'll be back with Old Lu someday!"
"Ning, go ahead without worry and cultivate well on the mountain. Don't let homesickness trouble you."
"We'll all think of you."
"Go on!"
The villagers' words made Xu Ning's eyes well up with tears, filling him with an unexpected sense of sadness about leaving his homeland.
...
On the official road, the group of youths sat on the ox carts, while Xu Ning walked on foot as he was older.
Dragon Flying Village was nestled in a valley, requiring them to exit the valley before reaching the expansive plains of Shanyang County.
The journey out of the valley continued until night engulfed the land.
"The world beyond really isn't the same as the little mountain hollow back home."
Senior Brother Zhao Lichen, grinning as he drove the cart, addressed the juniors. "Junior brothers and sisters, do you know this world outside is a chaotic realm infested with demons and plagued by evil spirits?"
Picking up the whip, he pointed ahead and chuckled, "On this road, we'll encounter plenty of demons and filthy creatures!"
A chill swept down the backs of the youths, and they suddenly felt a shiver of fear.
Xu Ning lit a torch to bolster his courage, turned, and rubbed Big Stupid Deer's head. Pulling back its ears, he laughed and asked, "Old Lu, scared?"
"Awo!"
Big Stupid Deer leaned closer, rubbing its head lightly against Xu Ning's shoulder, assuring him that with his big brother around, it definitely wasn't afraid.
The journey passed without any appearance of evil spirits.
...
After three days of bumpy ox cart travel, they finally arrived at the Yellow Dragon Mountain Range, where the Chaotic Sect was located.
That night, Xu Ning, along with a group of youths, was assigned to rooms outside the mountain gate to rest. Early the next morning, Zhao Lichen's voice rang out, "Junior brothers and sisters, prepare to enter the mountain gate!"
The group hastily ate a little food and then headed into the mountain gate beneath murky clouds.
Not long after, the youths arrived at a square.
After another spiritual root test, each youth had their arms marked with red or blue ribbons: red representing spirit roots in the Top Three Qualities, and blue for Mid Third Grades.
As for someone like Xu Ning, with a Ninth Grade mixed spiritual root, the sect didn't even bother testing further.
As evening approached, a long-robed Outer Elder walked over to the group of Lower Three Grades youths with a ledger in hand.
"Listen up,"
Martial Uncle Xu, the Outer Elder, said indifferently, "Your aptitudes are not sufficient for the sect to invest significant resources in your cultivation. Essentially, Inner Sect is out of the question. Those who have reached the Qi Refinement realm can choose to become Outer Disciples; those who have not must start as servant disciples."
"Yes, Elder,"
The youths nodded in unison.
"Xu Ning,"
Martial Uncle Xu called out his name, "You qualify to be an Outer Disciple. You can choose to apprentice under an Outer Elder or work for the Spirit Medicine Department or Spirit Field Department as a spirit farmer."
His gaze swept over him, a flash of disdain appearing in his eyes. "At nearly twenty years old, you've only achieved the first layer of the Qi Refinement realm and haven't succeeded in the Body Tempering Technique. It seems your prospects are slim. Go to the Spirit Field Department and be a spirit farmer."
With that, he waved his brush decisively, arrogantly determining Xu Ning's fate without leaving room for choice.
"Uh, Martial Uncle…"
Zhao Lichen frowned slightly, "Perhaps… this junior brother would prefer to apprentice under an elder?"
"Oh?"
Martial Uncle Xu looked impatient. "Xu Ning, do you want to apprentice under an elder or be a spirit farmer?"
Xu Ning didn't hesitate. "Martial Uncle Xu stands higher and sees farther than me. Naturally, your considerations are deeper. I'll follow your advice and become a spirit farmer!"
Zhao Lichen frowned but said nothing further.
Xu Ning offered him an apologetic look, silently noting his gratitude for Zhao Lichen's kind attempt.
"Be on your way."
Martial Uncle Xu tossed an identity jade token to Xu Ning.
Afterward, Zhao Lichen led Xu Ning to collect his supplies and hand over his spirit field.
"Junior Brother, you've made such a foolish decision!"
Zhao Lichen sighed, "Your status as an Outer Disciple is far better than a servant disciple. Had you apprenticed under an Outer Elder, you'd have backing—a much better position than now…"
"Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother Zhao."
Xu Ning responded helplessly, "But with Martial Uncle Xu's attitude, it's better not to challenge him. Otherwise, he could deliberately make things hard for me later; wouldn't that make my life even more miserable?"
"True."
Zhao Lichen nodded in resignation.
Soon after, they arrived at the supply station. Xu Ning's identity jade token was infused with mana and imprinted with his divine soul, officially marking him as an Outer Disciple of the Chaotic Sect.
As for supplies, he received two jade talismans containing the Body Tempering Technique and Rain Transformation Technique, a set of light blue robes for Outer Disciples, ten pounds of spirit rice seeds, and five low-grade spirit stones.
The true beginner's kit!
"Awo~~~"
Nearby, Big Stupid Deer, uneasy with the unfamiliar surroundings, let out a soft cry.
"It's okay."
Xu Ning affectionately hugged its big head, vigorously rubbing it as he smiled, "I'm here for you!"
Zhao Lichen chuckled, finding the junior brother and his spirit beast rather amusing. After all, which cultivator chit-chatted all day with their spirit beast anyway?
...
Chaotic Sect, Outer Mountain.
Spirit Field No. 77, spanning three acres of spirit land, would now be Xu Ning's livelihood. Beside the spirit field stood a small house, inside which a farmer-like figure was gathering his belongings.
The farmer's name was Old Sun, an Outer Disciple of the Chaotic Sect at the sixth layer of the Qi Refinement realm. After a lifetime as a spirit farmer, he had failed to reach the late stage and, with no other choice, decided to leave the mountain and return to his hometown with his savings to live out his final years as a wealthy man surrounded by children and grandchildren.
"Junior Brother Ning!"
Old Sun grinned, revealing his yellowish buck teeth. "This house is yours from now on. Here's a Spiritual Hoe for you; plus, there's a first-tier low-grade Small Cloud Mist Array surrounding the house to provide some concealment. It's all yours."
"Thank you, Senior Brother. May your journey be safe!"
Xu Ning bowed respectfully.
Taking his belongings, Old Sun left, and Xu Ning officially moved into Spirit Field No. 77.
Activating the array, mist immediately rose around the small house, isolating it from the outside world.
It was a slightly damaged primary-grade concealment array. The mist was dense enough for hiding, but its soundproofing ability was gone. As for defensive or isolation functions, they were nonexistent.
...
Xu Ning took a deep breath.
*He began to ponder.*
*His Grass and Tree Holy Spirit talent's fiftyfold plant growth speed was far too astonishing to reveal.*
*Thus, he decided that while he could openly farm the outer fields, he'd cultivate two smaller plots inside his courtyard under the array's cover. The spirit rice activated by the Grass and Tree Holy Spirit would only grow within the mist.*
*Otherwise, if anyone discovered such abnormal cultivation speed, he likely wouldn't live to see another day. Monsters like him would undoubtedly be captured for sect experiments!*
Soon after, with fiery enthusiasm, Xu Ning and Big Stupid Deer began diligent farming. Plowing, diverting water, and nurturing seedlings—they were all second nature, except for the external three-acre land, where his Grass and Tree Holy Spirit ability remained shut off throughout the exhaustive sowing process.
Days passed, until a windless, moonlit night arrived.
Xu Ning, wielding the Spiritual Hoe, and Big Stupid Deer began their clandestine operation, sowing the very first batch of spirit rice activated by the Grass and Tree Holy Spirit—hidden securely beneath the cover of the Small Cloud Mist Array!