C12 Why Would He Need to Beg?

After receiving his badge and a package, the steward led Woo Zhengyang to the area where the outer disciples lived. The sect was built into the mountains, utilizing the natural landscape. Although he was now an outer disciple, his living quarters were still a stone chamber in the valley. However, unlike communal living, each disciple had their own space.

Six-union Valley was home to the lowest-ranked disciples and was the quietest part of the Profound Heaven Sect's outer grounds. But today, its usual tranquility was disrupted. A crowd of curious outer disciples followed Woo Zhengyang and the steward, startling the valley's residents. They wondered what important figure required such an entourage, yet questioned why someone of high status would choose to live in the valley with the poorest conditions.

"Since there's no stone chamber numbered 9,999, you'll have to settle for the last one," the steward said, pointing to the entrance of the chamber at the deepest part of the valley.

"Number 9,999!"

"Someone actually took the lowest-ranked badge in the entire Profound Heaven Sect!"

"Isn't that badge supposed to be in the chamber connected to the first trial? Did this guy only pass the first level?"

The outer disciples in Six-union Valley realized that the crowd wasn't there to escort someone important but to witness the spectacle of someone holding the lowest-ranked badge, a sight never seen before, especially since there was no chamber numbered 9,999.

"Alright!" Woo Zhengyang paid no attention to the chatter around him and simply responded.

"Like the Miscellaneous Valley, Six-union Valley offers only two meals a day, morning and evening, which you can pick up at the valley entrance. Now that you're part of the outer sect, you can practice basic skills and techniques. It's late today, but tomorrow you can head to the Profound Arts Pavilion to copy them down yourself. If you want to access better skills and techniques, once you've honed your abilities, you can take on tasks at the outer sect hall to earn contributions and exchange them. Hard work pays off, so make the most of it."

"Thank you, sir!" Woo Zhengyang expressed his gratitude with a respectful gesture.

Though he didn't say much, this steward was much friendlier than Zhang Tia.

As the steward left, the outer sect disciples gathered around, openly discussing, laughing, and even mocking.

With a shake of his head and a wry smile, Woo Zhengyang made his way to the stone chamber deep in the valley.

Being the center of attention, Woo Zhengyang felt a twinge of regret for not paying attention to the number on his badge earlier. But on reflection, even if it wasn't the last number, this situation was inevitable. There was only one entrance, and all the badges from that entrance were at the bottom of the ranking. No matter which badge he picked, it would still be the lowest among the outer sect disciples, and he couldn't escape being ridiculed.

As long as the mockery wasn't too excessive, Woo Zhengyang didn't care much. This was a world where strength spoke louder than words, and in the face of true power, all words would pale in comparison. His slight regret was simply because he didn't like being the focus of so much attention.

The stone chamber was quite basic, lacking doors and windows, and even the floor was uneven, showing signs of its original excavation. The stone bed, table, and chairs were all simple. Woo Zhengyang opened the package from the outer hall, tidied up the bed, and sat cross-legged to rest with his eyes closed.

So much had happened in a single day, and Woo Zhengyang still felt like he was in a dream, trying to adjust his thoughts and mindset.

"Dinner's ready!" A loud, energetic shout echoed through the valley.

The recently quiet valley became lively again as outer sect disciples, each carrying a lunchbox, rushed toward the valley entrance. Previously, Woo Zhengyang had been just another face in the crowd at the servant valley. Although his mindset had changed, eating and drinking were still necessities. He got up from the bed and headed toward the valley entrance.

One meat dish, one vegetable dish, a bowl of rice, and a jug of spring water. The meals for outer sect disciples looked similar to those of the servant disciples, but there was a significant difference. The meat in the outer sect disciples' meals came from demonic beasts, specially prepared to be absorbed and transformed into spiritual energy.

After collecting his dinner, Woo Zhengyang walked back to his stone chamber at the far end. He hadn't gone far when three outer sect disciples surrounded him.

"Are you the new guy, number 9,999? The one called Woo Zhengyang?" A burly young man, rough around the edges, stood in front of Woo Zhengyang, speaking in a gruff voice.

Beside him were two others: a skinny, sharp-eyed teenager and another dressed in a fancy outfit, clearly from a wealthy family.

"Who are you?" Woo Zhengyang asked coolly. As soon as the trio approached, he knew what they were after. The bullying among the outer disciples was something he'd heard about in the valley.

"Your senior here is Liu Tieniu, this is Lee Sanshui, and this is our leader from Six-union Valley, Yun Shaoqing. Everyone calls him Young Master Yun," the burly man, Liu Tieniu, introduced them.

"You want my food?" Woo Zhengyang cut to the chase, not interested in wasting words.

"Well, look at you, catching on quick. Since you're so cooperative, we'll let you keep a piece of meat. Hand over the rest," Lee Sanshui, the skinny one, said with a mocking tone.

"Isn't it better to earn your own keep? Why resort to begging?" Woo Zhengyang's voice remained calm, but the surrounding disciples were wide-eyed, some nearly choking in surprise.

"Begging... This kid's got some nerve."

"Oh no, if he doesn't learn to endure now, he might never recover. With Yun's combat skills, entering the Five Elements Valley wouldn't be a problem. This guy is really asking for trouble," some people whispered among themselves. Lee Sanshui and Zhang Tieniu were furious. Outside, they wouldn't dare to speak up, but in Six-union Valley, they had never been humiliated like this.

Yun Shaoqing, however, didn't get angry. He held back the two who wanted to step in, smiled slightly, and said, "Self-reliance is a good thing, but I think you misunderstand its meaning. There are many ways to be self-reliant. Right now, we're using our own strength to take what we deserve."

"Some things aren't easy to take," Woo Zhengyang said, stepping aside to avoid the three of them and head back.

"You punk, trying to lecture us? I'll show you what self-reliance means and what it means to have an unbeatable fist!" Zhang Tieniu roared, swinging his fist toward Woo Zhengyang's back.

This time, Yun Shaoqing didn't stop him. Woo Zhengyang wasn't the first to act recklessly, and for people like him, there's only one solution: crush them with overwhelming force until they're too scared to act up again.

"Oh no, this guy's probably going to be laid up for a few days..."

"Exactly, Liu Tieniu is a tough guy in Six-union Valley. He's knocked down at least eighty to a hundred people with his fists. This guy just activated his Origin Genuine Qi; being laid up for a few days would be getting off easy."

No one was in a hurry to eat anymore. One by one, they stared wide-eyed, waiting to see Woo Zhengyang collapse. However, what unfolded before them was beyond anything they could have imagined...

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