"Qi Refining 3rd Layer is quite decent among menial disciples, but that applies only to those who haven't been in the immortal sect very long. Those who have spent decades sweeping the grounds... still cannot be underestimated."
Jiang Chen let out a long breath, knowing he could not afford to become arrogant and complacent just yet.
Everything was only just beginning.
Let alone the formal disciples of the Xianyun Sword Sect.
Among the menial disciples alone, there were still quite a few who ranked above him; although they were merely veterans of decades of menial labor, they were not to be taken lightly.
The Xianyun Sword Sect was, after all, the Xianyun Sword Sect.
If a menial disciple wished to be promoted to a formal disciple, they required the cultivation base of Foundation Establishment, so it was hardly rare for formidable figures to exist among the menial ranks.
Some individuals were even just a single step away from Foundation Establishment.
Jiang Chen fell silent for a moment, muttering to himself, "I still need to work harder."
He would keep laying low, lying low until he grew strong enough!
What did it mean to be a king among menial disciples?
Being the king of rats?
"Still, the effect of this Sword Heart Clear and Bright is truly astonishing; my talent in the Sword Dao can be called terrifying."
"But this is merely the beginning. As I continue to check in hereafter, even more unexpected treasures and cultivation techniques will surely emerge. What I need is time."
Thinking of this, Jiang Chen felt a secret surge of anticipation while preparing to go and complete his new menial task.
He only needed time—more time to check in and acquire resources to elevate his strength.
...
Jiang Chen stepped out of his dilapidated thatched cottage, just about to take out his menial token to see where he was assigned to clean today.
The Xianyun Sword Sect was vast, and its sect rules were numerous.
As a menial disciple of low status, apart from a small number of areas, he was forbidden from entering many places unless he held a corresponding menial task.
Right at that moment.
Three figures walking toward him made his eyes narrow slightly, and he stopped the motion of retrieving his token.
All three were also menial disciples, though their time since joining the sect was much longer.
"Brother Wang, did you see that new guy? I've already asked around. He's a fresh menial disciple who just collected his monthly stipend yesterday. His pockets must be pretty well-lined."
At that moment, one of them said to the leader.
Hearing this, the man addressed as Brother Wang broke into a wicked grin. "Hahaha, a brand-new menial disciple, eh? As his senior, I must teach him the rules around here."
The so-called "rules" were very simple: shaking down these new disciples for whatever they had. Well, anything of value was to be left behind!
Almost every new menial disciple without any background had to go through this process.
As for someone with formidable strength popping up? That practically never happened—are you kidding, how could anyone with even a shred of talent be assigned to the position of a menial?
Just then, quite a few menial disciples who had been around for a while noticed the trio.
"That bastard Wang Yuan is going around bullying newcomers again. Dammit, when I first arrived last year, my very first monthly stipend was snatched away by this son of a bitch. What an absolute beast."
"Hey, hey, keep your voice down. Wang Yuan isn't someone we can afford to provoke right now either. Better safe than sorry, getting targeted by him is a huge pain."
"Alas, another newcomer is about to suffer..."
"..."
These menial disciples had evidently just prepared to head out to work as well, but upon seeing Wang Yuan and his two companions, they knew what these fellows were up to.
Although many menial disciples who had suffered the same fate felt a burning sense of injustice and silently cursed the trio in their hearts, that was as far as it went. Without sufficient strength, who would dare to run amok like that?
The fellow targeted by Wang Yuan was none other than Jiang Chen, who had just finished his cultivation and was preparing to resume his tasks.
"These guys might make a move."
Jiang Chen noticed their gazes and thought to himself.
He had already secretly used his divine sense to scout them out.
They were merely a bunch at the Qi Refining 1st Layer, with only their leader—the one who looked like the ringleader—possessing the standard of the Qi Refining 2nd Layer. To him, they were nothing more than a bunch of trash fish and shrimp.
Though his plan was to avoid too many conflicts and contradictions for the time being.
Still—if these fellows didn't know what was good for them, Jiang Chen wouldn't mind cleaning them up.
Even though the 3rd Layer was only one minor realm higher than the 2nd Layer, achieving an overwhelming, crushing defeat would still be a very easy matter.
Sure enough, the moment this thought crossed Jiang Chen's mind, the three menial disciples ahead walked right over.
The leader among them stared right at Jiang Chen's token and sneered coldly, "Your name is Jiang Chen, right?"
After a brief pause, he said slowly, "Hand over the monthly stipend you just got, and I can let you leave safely. If not..."
"Hmph hmph, capital punishment can be avoided, but there are plenty of ways in this world to make you wish you were dead. You'd better hand it over honestly."
"Hurry, get away from here, don't get noticed by him."
"Yeah, who knows, he might end up dealing with us together."
"..."
Many menial disciples who were just about to set out on their tasks saw this scene and instantly retreated, casting gazes of "pray for your own good" toward Jiang Chen.
Hearing this, Jiang Chen looked at the man and said indifferently, "What can I do for you?"
He looked as though he couldn't even be bothered to spare an extra word.
At the same time, Jiang Chen instantly probed the man once more.
Qi Refining 2nd Layer peak?
Setting aside the fact that his cultivation was unstable and slightly floaty, even if it were rock-solid and possessed formidable combat power, so what?
He could crush him with a single move. It was just that Jiang Chen still intended to remain steady for now—whenever he could avoid fighting, he would rather talk it out as much as possible; if it became unavoidable, he would keep it within a range that wouldn't expose his true capabilities too much.
The strength of menial disciples at the 2nd or 3rd Layer of Qi Refining was still insufficient to draw the attention of any genuine powerhouses.
The onlookers who witnessed this were all startled, clearly never expecting this.
No way.
Could this newcomer really not tell what Wang Yuan and his two thugs were aiming for?
Big brother, they're here to rob you of your resources...
Seeing Jiang Chen's cold and aloof attitude, the menial disciple frowned, then suddenly sneered, "Hahaha, nothing much, just looking to borrow some cultivation resources from you."
"Namely—those monthly stipends you just collected. Hand them over right now, and from now on, when you work here as a menial, just drop my name—Wang Yuan, and nobody will dare touch you!"
"But if you don't know what's good for you..."
As he spoke, Wang Yuan closed in on Jiang Chen, while his two underlings also sidled up close, firmly blocking all his paths of escape.
In the eyes of Wang Yuan and his two thugs, Jiang Chen was already entirely within their grasp!
Since Jiang Chen had just entered the sect, if he knew what was good for him, he would naturally hand over his stipend honestly; otherwise... he would simply lose his stipend and get a thorough beating into the bargain.
They had done this sort of thing plenty of times, and naturally assumed Jiang Chen would be just like the previous newcomer menial disciples—after a bit of intimidation, he would honestly fork it over.
Instead, Jiang Chen frowned and said indifferently, "Scram. Good dogs don't block the path."
As soon as these words left his mouth, the surrounding people were even more dumbfounded.
"Good, good, very good..."
The menial disciple could no longer suppress the anger blazing in his heart. A newly arrived little menial dared to show such utter disregard for him?
If this kept up, wouldn't he lose his grip over the other menial disciples in the future?
For these veteran menials, the resources distributed by the sect were naturally far from enough. Since that was the case, the only thing they could do was to shake down and plunder the new menial disciples; only by doing so could they expand their own resources, increase their cultivation progress, and thereby gain more say in matters.
Ever since his strength had reached the Qi Refining 2nd Layer, it had been countless years since he was treated this way by any newcomer menial.
Jiang Chen was his very first target, and he hadn't expected to run into a thorny bastard right off the bat.
Wang Yuan instantly decided to make an example of him and let the other new menial disciples know—what the consequences were of going against him.
"Get him!!"
"Just leave him breathing, let him know the proper rules he's supposed to follow the moment he arrives in the sect, and make him kneel while he obeys!"
The menial disciple shrieked at the top of his lungs, his eyes filled with vicious cruelty.
The surrounding menial disciples saw this and let out sighs before scattering, not even bothering to watch any further.
Most of the people here were veteran menial disciples, so they naturally knew just how ruthless these fellows who dared to exploit newcomers could be.
As long as nobody was killed, absolutely nobody would care.
In the eyes of the sect's higher-ups, menial disciples were no different from ants, and who would bother asking questions about ants fighting?
Without even looking, they already knew how miserable Jiang Chen's fate would turn out to be.
Yet that veteran menial disciple never expected that before his words had even faded, the two people who had just lunged toward Jiang Chen would directly fly backward.
Boom!
They crashed heavily onto the ground.
As for Jiang Chen, he acted as if nothing had happened at all, continuing forward without pausing for even a second.
At this sight, the menial disciple's expression turned as dark as water. He could no longer sit still, and directly flashed forward, arriving right in front of Jiang Chen, staring at him with a murderous gaze: "You injured my subordinates. Your stipend for the next three months will serve as compensation."
At the same time, he felt a sliver of astonishment.
The strength Jiang Chen had just displayed was clearly the Qi Refining 1st Layer, and his mastery at the 1st Layer was quite extraordinary; otherwise, he couldn't have suppressed his two subordinates like that.
Yet... in front of him, someone at the 2nd Layer, it was still far too weak!
The next moment, knowing this stubborn mule would inevitably refuse, he didn't bother with threats and opted for the simplest method—beating him until he became compliant.
Immediately following that, he lunged forward in a fierce charge.
However, Jiang Chen casually threw a single punch, and Wang Yuan was sent flying through the air, crashing onto the ground and vomiting a mouthful of blood.
"You... you aren't at the Qi Refining 1st Layer, you are..."
Before Wang Yuan could finish speaking, Jiang Chen's disdainful voice reached his ears: "Just a bunch of trash fish and shrimp, yet you dare pretend to go out robbing resources."
Jiang Chen stepped forward, ransacking Wang Yuan and his two underlings for their resources, and nodded with modest satisfaction: "Not bad. Come find me next time you want to deliver resources."
Overcome by blinding rage, Wang Yuan glared fixedly at Jiang Chen, so furious he couldn't utter a single word. Finally, a fresh mouthful of blood spewed from his lips, and he passed out cold.