"Thank you for your guidance, senior brother! How should I address you?"
Li Yunjing retrieved his identity token and asked with a smile.
"I am Bai Dingzhong, responsible for mountain patrols. When I have a day off, I will treat you to a drink, Junior Brother Li!"
Li Yunjing was very polite, which made Bai Dingzhong quite happy. He immediately offered to treat him.
Li Yunjing had just arrived at the "Scripture Pavilion" and assumed the role of a steward.
It didn’t take much thought to realize that this person must have significant connections. Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to secure such a good position right upon arrival.
Since Li Yunjing seemed to have a powerful background and in addition was easygoing, Bai Dingzhong naturally wanted to make his acquaintance.
"You are too kind! Once I am settled in and familiar with the tasks here, it will be my turn to treat Senior Brother Bai to a drink!"
Li Yunjing responded courteously before continuing up the mountain.
Times had changed. Li Yunjing sighed softly, remembering when he was first assigned to "Qiongze Peak." Back then, Hou Boyan did not consider him important at all.
He essentially treated him like a nobody, ordering him around at will.
Li Yunjing had no respect or recognition.
Now, he was benefiting from some resources of the Yu Family, finding support and enjoying better opportunities.
His new role made the people around him much friendlier.
The Immortal Cultivation Realm is indeed realistic!
Li Yunjing marveled inwardly and reminded himself to stay vigilant; having ascended, he certainly wouldn’t want to fall.
Currently, he relied on the Yu Family and Fu Chao. These were external supports. In the future, he needed to depend on himself to make a name within "Shenxiao Dao Sect."
He would repay the favors owed to others and become someone others could rely on!
"Senior Brother Bai, who is this Li Yunjing? How did he immediately get a steward position on the first floor of the ’Scripture Pavilion’?"
A curious outer disciple asked Bai Dingzhong as he watched Li Yunjing’s departing figure.
"Heh! Probably another young master from a powerful family! It has nothing to do with us. We won’t ever get such lucrative assignments!"
Bai Dingzhong watched Li Yunjing’s silhouette with envy.
Working in the "Scripture Pavilion" allowed one to read books for free. Normally, anyone who wasn’t on duty would have to pay to read there.
Every book required contribution points!
If you had no contribution points, reading was out of the question!
In the "Shenxiao Dao Sect," except for some free cultivation techniques and magic, most were contributed by past sages or acquired from other sects.
These techniques were hard-won and naturally not to be taught to everyone.
Contribution points were the gatekeeper for disciples’ cultivation!
No money, no learning!
The "Shenxiao Dao Sect" did not let its disciples live idly, fully relying on the sect for support.
The sect even had strict rules prohibiting disciples from teaching each other cultivation techniques, with severe penalties for those caught.
Of course, proving such violations wasn’t easy!
But few dared to break the rules, as the "Law Enforcement Hall" was known for its severe punishments.
Most people adhered to the rules, trading contribution points for books to study.
Even mountain patrols like Bai Dingzhong had to pay contribution points to read books.
On the entire "Brocade Peak," only those assigned tasks within the "Scripture Pavilion" could freely read books.
Li Yunjing continued up the mountain path, encountering over a dozen patrols along the way. By the time he reached the summit, he had passed several inner sect disciples on duty.
These disciples did not check him further, seemingly recognizing his purpose after he passed the first checkpoint.
When Li Yunjing stood at the mountain’s peak and looked at the grand palace before him, he realized that the "Scripture Pavilion" was not just one building.
It was an entire complex of palatial buildings.
This palace complex was square in structure.
Three miles ahead of Li Yunjing was the main gate, the "Vermilion Bird Gate."
To the left of the "Vermilion Bird Gate" was the "Cyan Dragon Gate," to the right was the "White Tiger Gate," and to the north was the back gate known as the "Black Tortoise Gate."
"What is your business here, Junior Brother?"
Four inner sect disciples barred Li Yunjing’s path at the "Vermilion Bird Gate."
He had to undergo another round of inspection here.
This showed just how stringent the security of the "Scripture Pavilion" was!
And that was only what Li Yunjing could see. According to his knowledge, the "Scripture Pavilion" was teeming with experts, where even Foundation Establishment cultivators were nothing notable. Any institution in the Central Mountain Range was a veritable dragon’s lair and tiger’s den.
Even Golden Core Realm interlopers would be seeking death trying to sneak in!
"Disciple Li Yunjing, here’s my identity token."
Facing the inner sect disciples’ inspection, Li Yunjing did not hesitate and presented his identity token immediately.
"Hey! Well, Junior Brother Li, you’ve got yourself a plum job!"
The leading inner sect disciple raised an eyebrow and showed a hint of envy after examining the token.
Of course, it was just a hint. As an inner sect disciple himself, he didn’t feel the same as Bai Dingzhong.
"Senior Brother flatters me. By the way, where should I go to receive my tasks?"
Li Yunjing responded politely and asked.
"Follow the corridor for a mile, and you’ll reach the ’Hall of Myriad Volumes.’ Once inside, look for a steward there."
The inner sect disciple directed Li Yunjing.
After thanking him, Li Yunjing entered the gates and followed a corridor toward the east hall, the "Hall of Myriad Volumes."
Along the way, many disciples were coming and going from the "Hall of Myriad Volumes."
Li Yunjing explained his purpose to a disciple at the gate and waited for a quarter of an hour before someone came out to guide him inside.
After walking a mile and passing through two more halls, Li Yunjing arrived at a place called "Hall of Nurturing Talents."
This hall, located in the third section of the "Hall of Myriad Volumes," was only several dozen yards long, with many people busy inside.
"Disciple Li Yunjing, reporting in. May I ask..."
Li Yunjing felt a bit disoriented and approached someone to ask.
"Over there! Steward Wang is in charge of these matters!"
The person seemed quite impatient, not even looking at Li Yunjing, and pointed with a casual gesture before returning to their work.
Li Yunjing responded, glancing over to see the person diligently writing what appeared to be records of rewards and punishments for the "Hall of Nurturing Talents."
Following the directions, Li Yunjing found Steward Wang in a compartment of the "Hall of Nurturing Talents."
Upon seeing this man, Li Yunjing was startled. He had encountered many Foundation Establishment stewards before, but this person exuded an ordinary air, resembling a learned teacher among mortals.
No matter how hard he tried, Li Yunjing couldn’t discern this person’s depth, indicating that Steward Wang’s cultivation had reached a state of returning to simplicity.
This showed complete mastery of Foundation Establishment strength, making him a formidable figure within the Foundation Establishment Realm!