Do people have to leave the Sect if they can’t afford the fees?

"The cultivation fees are very high," He Chenfeng said seriously. "Ordinary people can’t afford them, but since they’re unwilling to leave, most stay behind to work for the Sect."

"For example, taking positions in certain places or managing the Sect’s shops."

"And once you enter the Inner Sect, you don’t have to worry about that anymore?" Jiang Man asked.

He Chenfeng didn’t answer.

’It seems things aren’t as great as I thought.’

"I was going to tell you about cultivation before you registered, but you seem to have a certain degree of understanding. What do you know so far?" He Chenfeng asked.

Jiang Man told him the truth: he only knew about Main and Minor cultivation paths.

"Since you understand that, I’ll tell you about the realms," He Chenfeng said.

Jiang Man then learned that Qi Refining was divided into nine layers, while Foundation Establishment had five.

They were: Entry Level, Early Stage, Mid-stage, Late Stage, and Foundation Establishment Perfection.

Right now, Jiang Man was at the Entry Level of Foundation Establishment, which wasn’t considered a substantial realm.

Next came absorbing Spiritual Qi, but it was different from the Qi Refining Realm.

The five stages of Foundation Establishment corresponded to metal, wood, water, fire, and earth, respectively.

The Spiritual Qi for each of these stages was slightly different.

So, the cultivation speed would be much slower than before.

Along the way, He Chenfeng explained a great deal, especially regarding the necessary Elixirs.

Different realms required different Elixirs.

The cost was significantly higher than in the Qi Refining Realm.

Secondly, Foundation Establishment also required one to temper their Physical Body and practice Visualization Divine Tempering.

This was similar to Qi Refining.

Beyond that, the biggest difference was the Main Cultivation Method.

Once one started cultivating, the body was like a container.

Sword Cultivators could store Sword Intent, Magic Cultivators could store Magical Power, and Body Cultivators could store their vital energy.

Some people stored their power for as long as nine years; when they unleashed it, even someone at Foundation Establishment Perfection would have to give them a wide berth.

He Chenfeng looked at Jiang Man and said seriously, "So, you can’t casually provoke or fight other Foundation Establishment cultivators, because you never know how much they’ve stored up."

"Especially don’t provoke wealthy people, because they can accumulate it faster."

As He Chenfeng continued his explanation, he led Jiang Man to the administrative office. After a brief registration, Jiang Man chose his living quarters.

Spiritual Source reduced by nine thousand six hundred.

One month’s deposit, three months’ rent.

Jiang Man nearly lost it right then and there.

He was now left with 3,400 Spiritual Source. After adding the amount he was due to receive, he’d have 5,400.

He was almost too poor to afford food.

After that, He Chenfeng showed Jiang Man around some more before preparing to leave.

Jiang Man was curious why the other party was helping him so meticulously.

"Because you’re strong," He Chenfeng said with a smile.

Jiang Man was stunned for a moment.

It was the first time he had heard someone use that reason.

Usually, he was the one saying it to others.

After saying this, He Chenfeng turned to leave.

Before he left, however, he told Jiang Man that the rankings for new Foundation Establishment cultivators would begin in three months.

"The rankings are in three months?" Jiang Man felt it was a bit of a pity.

’They should start the rankings as soon as we get in.’

’But I guess we have to wait until we’ve chosen a Main Cultivation Method and received our Cultivation Skill for any real changes to show.’

He Chenfeng had also mentioned the matter of Cultivation Skills. He said that tomorrow, September 1st, instruction would officially begin. That’s when they could choose their Main Cultivation Method and receive a basic Cultivation Skill.

Afterward, Jiang Man arrived at a small courtyard on the edge of a cliff. The place was overgrown with weeds, and the Spiritual Qi was incredibly dense.

"Worthy of a place that costs 2,400 a month. Old Huang is in for a treat."

After confirming his residence with his iron identity token, Jiang Man headed toward Red Water Peak.

On the way, he took the opportunity to read the letter Xiaopang had written:

Brother Jiang, my dad is messing with me. He’s gone too far! We agreed I’d go to the Sect alone, but he assigned someone to come with me.

He said she’s to guide me on how to open a shop, and can also guide my cultivation on the side.

If it was an ordinary guard, it would be fine, but he actually sent Luo Xuan.

How is it appropriate for a woman to go with me? Plus, she’s too prim and proper, and powerful too.

I wouldn’t dare get on her bad side, and having her "guide" me is just going to be miserable.

Our two families are cooperating, and he’s actually sacrificing me. Couldn’t he have found a way to send her to the Sect separately?

My dad also said she has the right to supervise me.

I thought I’d finally escaped my family’s control, but now I realize my dad never intended for me to be independent.

.

Reading this, Jiang Man squeezed the letter, creasing the once-smooth paper.

He felt that Xiaopang was showing off to him. 𝙛𝓻𝒆𝒆𝒘𝙚𝓫𝙣𝙤𝒗𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

He could almost picture that round face of his, smiling as he said, "Brother Jiang, look at me, with a beauty by my side. My life is so hard."

Damned rich kids.

Jiang Man felt he had to help Xiaopang escape this sea of suffering.

Then he continued reading:

By the way, Cheng Yu is like me; she entered the Sect through a shop connection. I heard Fang Yong got her in with just a single letter to the Sect.

Young Master Fang is really amazing. But I still don’t know where she is.

But my dad said that being able to get a shop proves you’re capable.

Also, that ox, I’m helping to raise it for now.

.

The rest was just some ordinary daily life stuff about his cultivation.

Anyway, he was stuck in his cultivation and had even stopped pulling all-nighters.

He also mentioned he’d saved up some Elixirs that Jiang Man could borrow.

Putting away the envelope, Jiang Man followed the Chishui River upstream.

The Chishui River was clear but tinged with crimson. Legend had it that an Immortal Fruit grew on Red Water Peak, its color bleeding into the river that flowed past.

After a long while, Jiang Man finally arrived at the foot of Red Water Peak.

People were still registering here, coming and going. It was no less crowded than Cloud Mist Peak.

Afterward, Jiang Man saw a wide, bustling street. Following the address, he came to the far end of the street.

Sure enough, he saw some familiar figures.

The Old Yellow Ox standing to one side eating grass, Song Qing feeding it, and Chang Qiweng waiting nearby.

They were all outside the shop. A slender man with a smile on his face was standing at the shop’s entrance, saying something to Xiaopang.

On the other side, a woman was also talking to Luo Xuan.

He hadn’t seen them for half a month, but they hadn’t changed much. Xiaopang’s dark circles were even gone.

’He’s gotten lazy.’

’I have to get him to start cultivating again.’

As he approached, everyone turned their gazes toward him.

Xiaopang waved happily, "Brother Jiang."

When Jiang Man walked over, Xiaopang said to the man beside him, "Second Brother, this is the Brother Jiang I told you about. Number one in the Yunqian Bureau."

Then Xiaopang introduced his second brother.

Gao Rong, ranked second in his family, a disciple of the Foundation Establishment Courtyard.

At this, Gao Rong looked at Jiang Man and said with a smile, "I often hear Xiaogao mention you. You are indeed a fine-looking talent."

"Which peak are you from?"

Jiang Man looked at him and replied, "Cloud Mist Peak."

"Cloud Mist Peak? The night view there is the most beautiful; it’s quite enviable," Gao Rong smiled. "I happen to know some of the teaching uncles over there."

"In three months, if your ranking can get into the top five of your courtyard, I can put in a good word with them for you."

"They can look out for you a bit."

"And help you reach Foundation Establishment sooner."

Saying this, he came up to Jiang Man, patted his shoulder lightly, and said, "Work hard. Foundation Establishment is a bit difficult for someone of your background, but there’s still a chance. If you have any difficulties, you can find Xiaogao. Xiaogao can find me."

"Xiaogao is unruly, so you need to look out for him."

"Also, you should change into a new set of clothes. Dressed like that, you’re bound to attract stares."

"Xiaogao represents us. If others see the people around him looking shabby, they might think we’re mistreating them."

After that, he prepared to leave.

The woman who was talking to Luo Xuan didn’t even glance at Jiang Man and left with Gao Rong.

It seemed people like him were beneath their notice.

Jiang Man looked back at the two of them, feeling he had been looked down upon.

’Having just reached Foundation Establishment, it’s certainly troublesome that my aura isn’t apparent.’

’I’ll just have to see if I get a chance to run into them during the rankings.’

"Which peak are they from?" Jiang Man asked Xiaopang, quite curious.

Xiaopang’s face was flushed red. He felt his second brother had gone too far.

He had such a holier-than-thou attitude.

And he even had to butt in about what to wear.

Although he was angry, he couldn’t say anything.

Seeing Jiang Man’s calm expression, he breathed a sigh of relief. "My second brother is from South Pan Peak. He’s been in the Sect for eight years. He just doesn’t know how to talk nicely."

"The other one is Luo Xuan’s older cousin. She’s been in the Sect for five years."

Jiang Man nodded, thinking for a moment.

’My ranking probably won’t put me up against anyone from South Pan Peak.’

’The gap is too wide.’

’After all, the rankings start small and expand.’

’For example, there’s the courtyard ranking, the same-peak-same-year ranking, the same-peak ranking, the Seven Peaks same-year ranking, and the Seven Peaks Foundation Establishment ranking.’

’Then I’ll just have to let them see the overall Seven Peaks Foundation Establishment rankings.’

Jiang Man stopped thinking about this and looked at Song Qing. "How come Song Qing is here too?"

Once the pair left, Song Qing and Chang Qiweng came over.

"I never expected the young master to be right beside me. When I found out, I was stunned," Song Qing said with emotion. "I never thought the people around me were one more amazing than the next."

"Just keep calling me Xiaopang," Xiaopang said.

Song Qing shook his head. "That definitely won’t do. As a guard, I must do a guard’s duty."

He paused, then whispered, "But in the end, I became Luo Xuan’s guard."

"Aren’t you my guard? How did you become her guard?" Xiaopang whispered.

Song Qing shook his head. "It’s hard to explain in detail."

At this moment, Chang Qiweng was listening from the side, but...

He saw Jiang Man’s gaze fixed on him.

Like a predator staring at its prey.

"..."

He had an ominous premonition.