Middle Finger Peak, halfway up the mountain.

’How extravagant. It’s built entirely from Tier One Jade Stone. I estimate that constructing this Cave Mansion alone must have cost the Bai Family several years of income.’

Using his Inner Sect Disciple Waist Token, Bai Zichen opened the entrance to his exclusive Cave Mansion.

The Array dissipated, revealing a shimmering, misty radiance as if the sun and moon themselves were swaying within.

Inside, more than a dozen pavilions and chambers were carved from jade, and the open spaces between them were filled with Exotic Flowers and Spirit Herbs.

Two towering old cypress trees, their branches thick with leaves, formed a pair of dense, impenetrable canopies.

’A Tier Two Top-Grade Spiritual Vein... Even if all other conditions were the same, my Cultivation speed here would be thirty percent faster than back home...’

Bai Zichen sighed with heartfelt emotion as he sensed the concentration of Spiritual Power in the air.

No wonder servant disciples desperately tried to curry favor with Inner Sect Disciples. Just living in the same Cave Mansion for five years could be enough of an opportunity to raise one’s own Cultivation by a layer.

And for those with a long-term view, if the Inner Sect Disciple they served was promoted to a True Disciple, the servant disciple’s status would be elevated as well.

In the history of the Qingfeng Sect, there were many examples of servant disciples who, after their True Disciple master achieved Foundation Establishment, were directly promoted to Stewards. It was a classic case of rising with the tide.

Thus, for the servant disciples—the most numerous and fiercely competitive group—this was seen as a golden shortcut to success.

’Even this identity waist token has reached the Top-Grade Magical Artifact Level. Besides verifying my identity and recording my contributions, it also contains a Soul-Calming Melody. It will activate on its own if I’m targeted by Soul Catching and Enchanting Spells, keeping my mind clear.’

This Inner Sect Disciple waist token was refined from Red Copper. The front was engraved with the archaic word ’Qingfeng,’ while the back depicted the image of a ferocious heavenly king.

Staring at it for too long induced a nauseating dizziness.

Bai Zichen spent two or three hours exploring his entire Cave Mansion, familiarizing himself with its Array Restrictions.

At the same time, he found the Mud Spirit Puppets that Elder Peng had specifically mentioned in the training chamber.

Two piles of muck lay scattered on the ground. When he injected a trace of Magical Power, they transformed into two humanoid Puppets in just a few breaths.

With a light swing of his Ink Bamboo Sword, the featureless Mud Spirit Puppet with its slurry-like limbs was sliced into several pieces, splattering muddy water everywhere.

But soon, the muck flowed back together, and the two Puppets stood up once more.

Bai Zichen also sensed that he could adjust the strength of these two Mud Spirit Puppets by varying the amount of Magical Power he injected.

At their strongest, they could form two Puppets equivalent to Qi Refining Great Perfection Body Cultivators.

Moreover, they were impervious to damage and could regenerate quickly, consuming only a negligible amount of Magical Power.

’Mud Spirit Puppets at the Qi Refining Great Perfection level even have simple Spiritual Wisdom, allowing them to block, dodge, and perform other actions... It’s like having two perfectly coordinated training partners, and I don’t have to worry about injuring them.’

’If I’m learning new Magic or practicing with my Flying Sword, I can do it all in the training chamber. It’s not only convenient but also helps maintain secrecy.’

Bai Zichen continued to adjust the Magical Power. By the time he had injected nearly half of his own reserves, one of the Mud Spirit Puppets had grown to a height of nearly ten feet.

Its once sticky, mucky body became sharp and angular, and the center of its torso took on an adamantine hue.

It took a step forward, its heavy body crashing down and kicking up a ring of dust. If not for the special material of the training chamber, several of the stone tiles would have shattered from the impact.

Bai Zichen flashed his identity waist token, and the visually stunning Mud Spirit Puppet instantly collapsed as if its spine had been removed, reverting to a pile of muck.

’Five years. This is the trial for Inner Sect Disciples. If you don’t advance, you fall behind...’

Bai Zichen sat on a jade bed, reflecting. He was now an Inner Sect Disciple of the Qingfeng Sect. His Cultivation Resources far surpassed what his family could provide, but the expectations placed upon him were correspondingly higher.

In the Bai Family, he was the most dazzling Foundation Establishment Seed, someone even Bai Ling couldn’t compete with.

But here in the Qingfeng Sect, it could be said that every Inner Sect Disciple had been a favored child of heaven in their own right, admired by all as they grew up.

Each of them possessed their own remarkable strengths.

Considering Elder Pei Dongyong’s introduction and the contents of the Jade Scroll, the Qingfeng Sect’s intention was obvious: to squeeze out every last drop of potential from the Inner Sect Disciples, ensuring that every True Disciple not only possessed outstanding talent but also the passion and fortitude to pursue the Dao.

By giving Inner Sect Disciples a mere five years, they could weed out those who were talented but lazy in their Cultivation, content to slowly advance their Realm.

’And as for becoming the Sect Leader’s personal disciple... there’s been no news, but I doubt I’ll even catch his eye if I don’t become a True Disciple first. Time is tight. I can’t afford to slack off in the days to come.’

Swallowing a Qi Replenishing Pill, Bai Zichen sat cross-legged and began to circulate his energy, starting his first Cultivation session since arriving at the Sect.

...

「The next day.」

Bai Zichen had just finished his morning practice when he felt his Inner Sect Disciple Waist Token vibrate slightly. Someone was outside his Cave Mansion, knocking on the array and requesting to see him.

With a wave of his left hand, a Water Mirror materialized before him. The scene outside his Cave Mansion was projected onto its surface, clear down to the smallest detail. Three people were waiting outside the array.

"You’ve come to visit my Cave Mansion. Is there something I can help you with?"

As Bai Zichen spoke, his voice sounded simultaneously outside the array.

This was one of the clever functions of the Cave Mansion’s array. Although its defensive capabilities were ordinary, it integrated many practical features like Spirit Gathering, the Water Mirror Technique, and Sound Transmission.

"Steward Youu San of the Artifact Refining Hall, here to deliver a Magical Artifact for Junior Brother Bai. I also brought along the two servant disciples assigned to you."

The stout young man in front had a shaved head and wasn’t wearing a Daoist Robe. Instead, he wore a practical set of short clothes, revealing tanned, powerful arms.

"Ah, so it’s Senior Brother Youu. Please wait a moment."

Bai Zichen deactivated the restriction. The white mist around the Cave Mansion dispersed, revealing the main entrance pavilion.

As one of the Sect’s Five Halls, the Artifact Refining Hall clearly held much more weight than the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall.

After presenting a Jade Box and exchanging a few pleasantries, Youu San mentioned he had an Artifact Refining task for the day and rose to take his leave.

Before leaving, however, he deliberately mentioned the servant disciple Peng Jinhua, who was waiting by the door. This made Bai Zichen immediately realize where Youu San’s familiar demeanor came from.

Youu San and Elder Peng, in terms of their disposition and style, were practically cast from the same mold.

’One is an Elder of the Artifact Refining Hall, the other is a Steward of the Artifact Refining Hall. He must be a trusted subordinate of Elder Peng. No wonder he took the initiative to deliver my Magical Artifact so early in the morning...’

After seeing Youu San off, Bai Zichen returned to the reception hall and summoned the two servant disciples inside.

As expected, these two would be following him and serving him for the next five years.

If he managed to become a True Disciple and was satisfied with their service, that period could be even longer.

"I trust the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall has already briefed you on my situation. My requirements for you are simple: do the tasks I assign you, do not reveal anything about what happens inside this Cave Mansion to anyone else, and do not use my name to cause trouble in the Sect. Any questions?"

Bai Zichen stared at the two of them quietly, his gaze lingering longer on Peng Jinhua.

"If you perform well, it’s not out of the question that I might reward you with some Cultivation Resources."

Peng Jinhua looked mature for his age. Though only in his early twenties, he appeared to be in his thirties, perhaps due to his years serving as an Artifact Refining Child.

Judging by his face alone, he looked simple and honest.

As for Su Lie, he matched the description from the list: approaching middle age, with sharp features and graying hair at his temples and tips, looking as if he had weathered many storms.

"Young Master Bai’s requirements... I have committed them to memory and will never violate them."

Su Lie bowed and replied, his attitude deferential.

After receiving the notice from the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall last night, his initial shock had given way to an irrepressible excitement. This was a golden opportunity for him to advance.

Having once built a great fortune from nothing in the mortal world, Su Lie harbored his own ambitions in the Cultivation Realm as well.

Peng Jinhua reacted a beat later. Only after Su Lie had finished speaking did he nod vigorously and repeatedly agree.