Chapter 11: Clad in White Robes!
“Today, Lu Qingyang, a disciple of the Sixth Menial Court, has achieved success in his cultivation. This is hereby proclaimed.”
“From this day forth, Lu Qingyang is promoted to the Outer Gate, becoming the eight hundred and twenty-second Outer Gate disciple of our Chaotian Sect. He is granted one set of first-rank Outer Gate robes and one Outer Gate courtyard. By order of the Sect.”
Within the Chaotian Sect’s Menial Bureau, a middle-aged cultivator dressed in azure robes announced in a loud voice.
Though there were not many disciples within the somewhat dilapidated building of the Menial Bureau.
This Vice Bureau Chief still read the proclamation with tremendous presence, his voice resonant.
Once the formalities were complete, he even smiled amiably at Lu Qingyang.
“Little Martial-Nephew Lu, I recall it has been no more than two and a half years since you entered the sect.”
“To be promoted to the Outer Gate in such a short time, you are the first among your batch. Congratulations.”
“Thank you for the praise, Vice Bureau Chief.”
Facing this Vice Bureau Chief of the Menial Bureau, Lu Qingyang did not dare be presumptuous, and responded with utmost respect.
After all, the other party was a dignified Foundation Establishment True Person.
In terms of seniority, Lu Qingyang ought to address him as Martial-Uncle!
Thus, after performing a neither servile nor overbearing bow, Lu Qingyang stepped forward and received his identity jade token from the other’s hands.
Along with it, a brand-new set of Outer Gate robes.
“Little Martial-Nephew Lu, do you have any plans now that you have entered the Outer Gate?”
“You should know that Outer Gate disciples do not need to labor every day, but each year they must accept at least a few Outer Gate missions.”
“Unless you can enter one of the Bureaus on duty, then you won’t need to toil back and forth.”
“If you don’t wish to travel out year after year, then I happen to have a post here that would let you remain within the sect permanently.”
Facing the Vice Bureau Chief’s exceedingly obvious recruitment intent, Lu Qingyang naturally understood his meaning.
He did not hesitate, directly and politely refusing.
“Thank you for your generosity, Martial-Uncle, but I already have my heart set elsewhere, so I’m afraid I must disappoint your good intentions.”
Hearing Lu Qingyang’s words, the Vice Bureau Chief was also taken aback.
For someone of Lu Yang’s caliber, a dragon among men, he naturally did not wish to let him go.
But he was well aware of the Menial Bureau’s situation. Retaining a disciple like Lu Qingyang was undoubtedly extremely difficult. Among the Chaotian Sect’s Three Peaks and Nine Bureaus, aside from the most mysterious Sect Master Bureau.
The most destitute was the Menial Bureau.
Most of the Menial Bureau’s cultivators had been recruited from the older stewards of the Menial Court.
Anyone who rose to the Outer Gate within the prescribed years would rarely choose to serve in the Menial Bureau.
There was no other reason — only poverty.
A dignified Bureau managing thousands of menial workers, yet the contribution points it earned each year were pitifully few.
Far less abundant than the Spirit Artifact Bureau, the Spirit Pill Bureau, the Spirit Beast Bureau, or the Spell Art Bureau.
Naturally, it could not attract many disciples.
Furthermore, the Menial Bureau lacked the Law Enforcement Bureau’s and War Execution Bureau’s ability to temper oneself and practice the way of slaughter. It had almost no advantages at all.
Those who entered the Menial Bureau almost all came with the mindset of retirement.
But speaking of retirement, the most comfortable was none other than the Spirit Field Bureau.
In the Spirit Field Bureau, one not only received generous contribution points each year, but also obtained one’s own Spirit Field. It was simply a case of one investment yielding ten thousand profits!
Lu Qingyang would never give up such preferential treatment. He had not even accepted the first-rank Dharma Armor offered by the Law Enforcement Bureau.
How could he possibly come to the Menial Bureau…
“Ah~”
The Vice Bureau Chief of the Menial Bureau let out a long sigh.
Though the Menial Bureau was somewhat shabby, as one of its presiding Bureau Chiefs, he naturally did not wish to let it decline.
So he strove with all his might.
“Little Martial-Nephew Lu, I know your aspirations do not lie here, but if you are willing to come to my Menial Bureau…”
“I can decide right now — once you reach the ninth layer of Qi Refining, I will mobilize the entire Bureau’s strength to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill for you!”
“And once you achieve the position of True Person, a Vice Bureau Chief seat will certainly be yours!”
The Vice Bureau Chief looked at Lu Qingyang with a face full of sincerity.
Hearing this, Lu Qingyang was inwardly startled, his expression somewhat strange.
Foundation Establishment Pill? He actually offered such a price!
Lu Qingyang had not expected the other party to offer such a tempting condition.
The position of Vice Bureau Chief of the Menial Bureau aside.
That Foundation Establishment Pill was the necessary pill for a ninth-layer Qi Refining cultivator to advance to Foundation Establishment.
One had to know that in the Chaotian Sect, this pill could not be exchanged with contribution points or spirit stones.
The only way to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill was at the once-in-a-decade Peak Selection Gathering.
That is, only when one was promoted to Inner Gate disciple did one have a chance to obtain it.
In the Chaotian Sect, there were Three Peaks and Nine Bureaus. The Three Peaks were the three great mountains that oversaw the Nine Bureaus.
Only when an Outer Gate disciple’s cultivation reached the ninth layer of Qi Refining, and only after seizing a Foundation Establishment Pill at the Peak Selection Gathering, could they rise to the Inner Gate and join one of the Three Peaks.
From that moment on, they could be considered a pillar of the Chaotian Sect!
“How about it, Little Martial-Nephew Lu? Interested?”
Seeing that Lu Qingyang had no reaction, the Vice Bureau Chief asked somewhat anxiously.
“This…”
Lu Qingyang pondered briefly.
But still, with some apology, he cupped his fists.
“Thank you for your kindness, Vice Bureau Chief, but this junior already has his heart set elsewhere. It is difficult to change.”
Hearing Lu Qingyang’s words, the Vice Bureau Chief immediately froze, a flicker of disappointment passing through the depths of his eyes.
In all honesty, Lu Qingyang was tempted, but the Spirit Field Bureau was better for him.
First, because he had promised Zhang Luanfeng and could not arbitrarily break the agreement.
If he went back on his word, it might ruin his friendship with the other and needlessly create an enemy.
Second, in Lu Qingyang’s view.
The Foundation Establishment Pill was far less appealing than the Spirit Field Bureau’s Spirit Field.
With his foundation and methods, seizing a Foundation Establishment Pill in the future would not be difficult.
But if he had a Spirit Field, the effort he would spend advancing from mid-stage Qi Refining to late-stage Qi Refining would be greatly reduced.
For Lu Qingyang, this was naturally for the best.
Besides, Lu Qingyang felt that the treatment he would receive at the Spirit Field Bureau was not necessarily worse than at the Menial Bureau…
“Since that is the case, then Little Martial-Nephew Lu, let us keep in touch.”
Seeing Lu Qingyang’s insistence, the Vice Bureau Chief did not force it.
Only, as he was leaving, he could not help but offer one last reminder.
“Little Martial-Nephew Lu, if you find things unpleasant at the Spirit Field Bureau, you can come find me at any time!”
Hearing the other’s words, Lu Qingyang felt a warmth in his heart.
He immediately nodded respectfully. “Thank you for your kindness, Vice Bureau Chief!”
With that, Lu Qingyang stepped down from the building.
And as he walked, he raised a hand and sent a surge of spiritual power onto himself, switching out of that gray long robe.
By the time he walked out of the Menial Bureau, the clothes on his body had become a white Dharma robe!
Rumor has it that the white robes of Chaotian Sect’s Outer Gate disciples are first-rank Cloud Brocade Robes, worth several hundred contribution points, exclusively provided to Outer Gate disciples.
Now it seemed the rumors were true. These clothes were absolutely worth the price.
Lu Qingyang thought to himself.
Wearing this Dharma robe, not only was it suitable in both cold and warmth, it also emanated a trace of spiritual qi, adding to him a sense of immortal elegance.
At this moment, his entire person appeared even more transcendent.
This robe also had a first-rank formation, the Lightness Skill, carved into it.
When traveling on the road, it could even mobilize one’s own aura, doubling one’s speed. Extremely useful!
Fumbling with it as he went, Lu Qingyang walked out of the Menial Bureau.
But the moment his right foot stepped out of the Menial Bureau, a familiar voice reached his ears.
“Senior Brother Lu! It’s you!”
Yang Yu looked at Lu Qingyang in his white robe, his eyes immediately widening as round as saucers, his face filled with utter disbelief.
“Senior Brother Lu, you… what you’re wearing… you…”
Yang Yu was somewhat tongue-tied, even stumbling over his words.
As if he could not quite believe his own eyes…