Seeing this situation, Kong Sheng hastily explained, "This Junior Brother just finished his Aptitude test, but because his results were not ideal, he hasn't been sent out yet.
However, he only has a low-grade Aptitude, so my Senior Brother probably won't be interested in him at all.
How about this! Junior Martial Uncle, I'll arrange a more suitable candidate for you, how does that sound?"
Yu He smiled slightly after hearing this, and softly replied, "Junior Martial Uncle, you're too polite! Actually, I think he's quite good; he looks quite quick-witted.
You also understand my Master's personality; he's famously bad-tempered, and when it comes to Alchemy, he has to handle every single thing himself to feel at ease, absolutely not tolerating any mistakes.
As for Aptitude... my Master doesn't seem to place much importance on that."
As soon as she finished speaking, Yu He's gaze once again fell on Ling Feng, and she gently asked, "Junior Brother, are you willing to go to the back mountain to be a Utility Disciple for gathering herbs?
This is a one-time opportunity, so you must think carefully before answering.
Of course, if you're unwilling, I won't make things difficult for you."
Upon hearing this, Ling Feng's face showed an ineffable expression, unsure if it was surprise or joy, "May I ask, Senior Sister, can Utility Disciples Cultivate?"
Yu He chuckled, and replied, "Of course! Utility Disciples can also Cultivate, and the Sect will issue you Cultivation Techniques.
Moreover, the Sect does have promotion channels; as long as you have enough perseverance, you can be promoted to Outer Sect Disciple, or even Inner Sect Disciple, if you pass the Sect trials in the future.
You can rest assured about this; if you are gold, you won't be buried, right?"
"So that's how it is!"
Ling Feng stroked his chin, and after careful thought, he readily agreed. Although his Aptitude was not good, becoming a Utility Disciple would allow him to access Cultivation Techniques, which was undoubtedly an excellent opportunity for him.
Seeing his serious demeanor, Yu He secretly found it amusing. Since he readily agreed, it saved her the trouble of finding a new Utility Disciple. "Then Junior Brother, follow me!"
With that, Yu He turned and bowed to Kong Sheng on the cloud, then walked forward.
Seeing this, Ling Feng cupped his hands and bowed, "Many thanks, Elder, for making this possible."
Kong Sheng waved his hand, revealing a benevolent smile, "Go! Cultivate well, and don't let Yu He's good intentions be in vain."
Ling Feng acknowledged with a sound and quickly followed.
"This child!"
Kong Sheng shook his head with a bitter smile, looking at Ling Feng's departing back, wondering how good his luck was. He just happened to encounter Senior Brother Chen recruiting Utility Disciples, and the timing was just right; too early or too late, this Utility Disciple wouldn't have fallen to him.
Only after the two had walked far away did Kong Sheng wave his sleeve, and the Spirit Measuring Bell standing on the high platform quickly shrank and flew into his sleeve.
Back mountain!
Ling Feng followed closely behind Yu He, struggling to climb the steep mountain.
They blazed a trail, climbing from dusk until the moon hung high, time quietly flowing by. It was already past midnight.
Ling Feng stopped, looking up at the bright moon hanging in the night sky, a wave of homesickness rising in his heart.
He sighed softly, "Alas! I never thought I'd actually miss home a little. I left without saying goodbye; I wonder if Grandpa and little sister are worried?"
As his thoughts drifted, Ling Feng suddenly recalled the strange person he met in Yunzhou City three days ago.
That night, he was alone outside Yunzhou City when he suddenly saw a streak of fire cross the sky, falling straight onto a nearby mountaintop.
Driven by curiosity, he hurriedly chased after it to investigate, discovering it was a jade pendant engraved with mysterious patterns he couldn't understand.
Originally, Ling Feng planned to take this jade pendant to a pawn shop to exchange for some silver after the city gate opened at dawn, to ease his family's financial burden.
However, things took an unexpected turn. Just as he entered the city, he encountered an old man with white hair, wearing a felt hat and a green robe.
This old man not only snatched the jade pendant from his hand but also mercilessly threw him at the foot of Xuantian Sect's mountain.
He was told to take a woman named Yun Shu as his Master and learn the Dao of Cultivation.
Yu He saw him suddenly stop and look up at the bright moon in the sky, seemingly lost in thought, so she asked, "Junior Brother, why have you stopped? Are you too tired from climbing?"
As she spoke, Yu He carefully observed Ling Feng, feeling a bit curious.
Ling Feng's forehead had a slight sheen of sweat, but he showed no signs of exhaustion.
Her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly as she mused, "Most of the paths up this mountain are rugged and steep. Most people would be out of breath and exhausted after walking for a while.
But this man in front of me shows no signs of weariness; instead, he looks energetic. He really doesn't seem like someone with mediocre Aptitude! Could it be that the Spirit Measuring Bell for testing spiritual energy is faulty?"
It should be known that every year when Utility Disciples are recruited for the back mountain, Yu He is responsible for leading them to the Utility Disciples' living quarters in the back mountain.
And these newcomers often get so tired they're panting like oxen by the time they reach halfway up the mountain, and she eventually has to use her Flying Sword to transport them to the back mountain.
Yu He followed Ling Feng's gaze towards the vast, boundless starry sky, and understood. So he was homesick.
She softly said, "Junior Brother, the path of Cultivation is rugged and thorny, and endlessly long. But since you have decided to embark on this path, you must sever the ties of worldly emotions and wholeheartedly pursue the Dao."
Ling Feng snapped out of his contemplation, took a deep breath, and tried to calm the surging homesickness within him. He cupped his hands and bowed to Yu He, indicating he had taken her words to heart, "Thank you for your guidance, Senior Sister. It was Ling Feng's unstable state of mind; please do not blame me."
Yu He smiled slightly, her beautiful eyes shimmering with infinite charm, "I don't think you are a person with weak will; you are just homesick from being away for too long.
But this is also good, it proves that you are not unfeeling or ungrateful.
Oh, right, we are of the same generation, so there's no need to bow to me anymore!
This world of Cultivation has always spoken through strength; the elaborate formalities of the mortal world simply don't work here.
As long as you Cultivate diligently and achieve something, even if you meet the Sect Elders in the future, you won't need to be timid and walk on thin ice."
Upon hearing this, Ling Feng nodded slightly, indicating his understanding, and secretly admonished himself to keep it in mind.
"Even so, necessary courtesies still cannot be omitted. As the saying goes, 'too much courtesy never hurts anyone,' and perhaps one day these courtesies could save my life at a critical moment."
Upon hearing Ling Feng's words, Yu He couldn't help but look at him with a hint of admiration in her eyes.
She found that although this new Junior Brother was dressed in rags, his speech and demeanor were very elegant and proper, revealing a scholarly aura.
The only thing that felt a bit out of place was his attire, which didn't match his identity.
Just as Yu He was pondering, Ling Feng spoke again, "Senior Sister, time is pressing, let's hurry on our way!"
Then, as if remembering something, he asked, "Oh, by the way, how much further is our destination?"
Yu He slowly turned, pointed her hand towards the distance, indicating a towering mountain that pierced the clouds, and replied, "It's not far now, just over that next mountain peak and we'll be there."
Ling Feng looked in the direction Yu He was pointing, and with the aid of the bright moonlight, he could vaguely make out the silhouette of the mountain.
Just a distant glance, and he felt a chill rise from deep within his heart, instantly spreading throughout his body.
He never expected the Holy Land of Cultivation to be so vast; at his current climbing speed, he wondered if he could even reach it before dawn.
Yu He had intended to use her Flying Sword to take Ling Feng to the back mountain, but to her surprise, Ling Feng flatly refused, insisting on climbing the mountain with his own perseverance and determination.
Yu He shook her head with a bitter smile, having no choice but to let him have his way. With a bit of pulling and pushing, they finally arrived at the back mountain.
Looking from afar, there was a row of ten low houses, each with a number from one to ten on its door. The houses faced south, running from east to west, with each house situated ten zhang apart.
Yu He brought Ling Feng to house number ten and said, "This will be your residence from now on."
With that, she reached into her bosom and took out two books: one was the Xuantian Sect's "Sect Rules," and the other was "Cultivation Method Basic Introduction."
Next, she once again pulled out three oddly shaped, stone-like items from her bosom and handed them to Ling Feng.
At the same time, an exquisite small jade bottle appeared before Ling Feng.
"These are called Spirit Stones, equivalent to the currency used in the mortal world. And in this bottle, there are seven incredibly precious Grain Abstinence Pills. Just one pill can sustain you for a full seven days without needing to eat."
After speaking, she smiled slightly, "You should rest well tonight; there will be a task for you to complete first thing tomorrow morning."
With that, Yu He turned and left.
She gracefully stepped onto her Flying Sword, moving with the ethereal grace of a Fairy.
The sword glowed faintly, complementing her figure, like a beautiful painting.
With a few light steps, the Flying Sword slowly ascended, carrying her gradually higher into the sky.
In the blink of an eye, Yu He's figure merged into the dark night, disappearing without a trace.
Ling Feng stood quietly in place, his gaze following Yu He until she completely vanished.
Then, he slowly turned around and walked towards the low house.
Reaching the door, he gently pushed it open, and the two wooden doors let out a 'creak' as they slowly opened.