Put Away Your Divine Techniques Now!-Chapter 971 - 286: [City of No Return, Four-direction Building, Heju Hall]
Chen Yan stood in place, cupped his hands in salute, and then watched Yun Zhao being led away by Liang into the side building on the left of the Four-direction Building.
He himself summoned a servant and after asking, learned that the Hehuan Sect’s merchant shop was in the right side building—just opposite to the direction Yun Zhao went.
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The Celestial Demon Yin Yang Joyful Sect, being the top Saint Sect in the Domain Realm and the leader among righteous paths, naturally had a thriving presence in business in the City of No Return.
The shop here was named "Heju Hall," where the word "He" was taken from "Hehuan" in "Hehuan Sect," implying that this property belonged to the Hehuan Sect.
Heju Hall, located in the City of No Return, the largest city in the Southern Border, radiated throughout the Southern Border, procuring and collecting various materials, herbs, and minerals produced in the Southern Border.
With Chen Yan’s arrival, being a formal disciple of the sect, he was naturally received personally by the steward here.
The steward of Heju Hall was surnamed Ma, just like Chen Yan, an outer sect formal disciple of the Celestial Demon Yin Yang Joyful Sect.
His qualifications were much older than someone like Chen Yan who had just joined.
He was over ninety years old, but as a cultivator, appeared to be just a middle-aged man of forty, with well-organized speech and behavior, making him very comfortable to converse with.
This person’s cultivation level was at the early stage of the Three Realms; given his age of over ninety, such cultivation in the Celestial Demon Yin Yang Joyful Sect meant he didn’t have much talent in cultivation, but because he did things properly, with keen insight, he was assigned external duties very early, serving as an outer disciple for over seventy years, with more than forty years dispatched externally as stewards for sect properties.
Steward Ma had been in the Southern Border City of No Return for nearly fifteen years, and had become very familiar with Southern Border.
His reception of Chen Yan was quite polite, after all, Chen Yan was not an ordinary staff member; he was genuinely an outer Artifact Refining Hall disciple, and young at that.
A young outer disciple with such substantial cultivation, who might have a better future in the sect compared to himself. Someone like Steward Ma, experienced in the ways of the world, naturally wanted to make an acquaintance.
The servant served fragrant tea and fruits, and Steward Ma also chatted with Chen Yan for a while.
This person was very cautious in conversation, almost leaving nothing uncovered.
After their conversation, Chen Yan learned that Steward Ma was actually a disciple of that Elder Qian at Jing’an Hall—once was.
However, due to limited cultivation talent, he was assigned external duties after several years of cultivation under Elder Qian’s tutelage. Considered a decent future.
Moreover, this person’s family had been in the Hehuan Sect for three generations!
His father and grandfather were both outer disciples, truly direct lineage of the Hehuan Sect!
Especially his grandfather and father, during an event years ago called the "Red Tide"—the battle of Evil invasion, where Hehuan Sect, as the leader of righteous paths and a Saint Sect, gathered disciples to form teams to support the Three Platforms, Eight Passes, and Sixteen Towns.
Steward Ma’s grandfather and father both died on the frontline in that battle.
After hearing this, Chen Yan felt deep respect for Steward Ma!
Such family background!!
This is what is called, having shed blood for the sect, having sacrificed for the sect!
It can be said that although Steward Ma himself didn’t have much cultivation talent, he could be specially allowed to apprentice under Elder Qian, and even when his cultivation stagnated later, he could be appointed outside as a steward—such an esteemed position—thanks to the contributions of his ancestors!
It is clear that the Hehuan Sect is also noble, genuinely treating those who have made significant contributions to the sect well.
Although Chen Yan had joined Hehuan Sect, he had not truly apprenticed yet, meaning he had not received the official sect inheritance of Hehuan Sect.
The rule of Hehuan Sect for joining as an outer disciple begins with free-range—where one can attend public classes.
But one must accumulate merit before actively approaching outer elders to request becoming an inner disciple—it depends on your fate whether you get accepted.
Alternatively, if one demonstrates great talent and gets noticed by an outer elder who offers an olive branch—that is another matter.
In this regard, although Steward Ma and Chen Yan are both outer disciples, Steward Ma’s background is stronger than Chen Yan’s.
He has a master! His master is Elder Qian from Outer Sect Jing’an Hall, not only an elder, a high-level cultivator, but also an elder with real power!
Having a sect means having senior and junior brothers, having one’s own network of connections.
And Chen Yan, currently in Hehuan Sect, has no master inheritance, his connections are limited to those like Nangong Sheng and the Tomb Guardian, Senior Brother Wang, and familiar faces like Zhao Wuji.
Strictly speaking, he is a lone soul.
Steward Ma, upon hearing Chen Yan mention knowing Elder Qian, proactively asked about Elder Qian’s recent situation.
"Knowing my mentor is healthy gives me peace of mind as a disciple.
I only regret my lack of talent, having shown little potential in the path of cultivation despite my mentor’s nurturing.
I regret my own inadequacy, being unable to stay in the sect to serve my mentor closely."
While speaking sincerely, Steward Ma also wiped away two tears.
Chen Yan: "..."
Look at this ability of a steward, this emotional intelligence and demeanor.
After chatting for a bit, when inquiring about Chen Yan, although he had joined the outer sect, he had not apprenticed under any elder yet, but he had made friends with Nangong Sheng from the inner sect. Steward Ma showed no hint of disdain.
After finishing a pot of tea, he laughed and said, "Junior Brother Shanhe, upon arriving in the City of No Return, feel free to stroll around and take a look. If you need anything, just inform people at the shop; I have already instructed them, and they will do their utmost to assist with any request you have.
This is all the property of our own sect; you need not be courteous."
After pausing for a moment, he proactively mentioned with a smile, "It’s just that the City of No Return is currently unsettled, while it’s fine to wander around the North City District, it’s better not to go to the South and East City.
Although both the Ghost Race and Demon Race, our Hehuan Sect fears neither, but there’s no need to invite trouble."
Chen Yan, being sensible, stood up properly, cupped his hands in salute: "Thank you, Senior Brother, for your guidance. Rest assured, I know what I’m doing."
Cultivators mostly don’t pay attention to diet, especially in organizations like noble sects where fasting is common, so things like welcoming banquets, generally aren’t a tradition in the Domain Realm.
This is quite different from the Brotherhood at Snow Cliff Pass.
Steward Ma didn’t arrange a welcoming banquet, and Chen Yan relished the quiet, arranged to stay in a guest room behind Heju Hall that day.
The guest room was quite exquisite, equipped with fine utensils and decor—much more upscale than the simple rooms of the Brotherhood at Snow Cliff Pass.
The room was even provided with some fruits, all spiritual foods, not ordinary.
Moreover, two local lads came to report to Chen Yan, proactively stating they were sent by Steward Ma to serve Elder Zhao—both were locals familiar with the area. 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶
Chen Yan thought for a moment, chose one with an honest and straightforward appearance, and sent the other back: "I don’t need many people around, just leave one to serve me."
The Qi Observation Skill actually revealed that the other one’s fortune was uncertain; such personalities generally tend to be more deceitful.
He kept the one named Niu Bufan, after casually asking a few questions, found Niu Bufan’s answers direct and precise, without boasting or adding unnecessary embellishments, which satisfied Chen Yan, allowing Niu Bufan to return the next morning to find him.
Niu Bufan dutifully agreed and left, while Chen Yan closed the door, meditated with a clear mind, pondering his plans.
He dismissed the other servant, keeping Niu Bufan alone, not just because Niu Bufan was more honest and straightforward.
More importantly, because by using the Celestial Eye to observe Qi, he recognized that Niu Bufan bore Ghost Race blood!
He is a Ghost Race, or possibly a mixed-blood Ghost Race.
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