C15 Roc Essence Sect

In this world, one must cultivate inner strength to be recognized as a warrior.

Newly minted warriors with fresh inner strength are considered to be at the Acquired Stage. Their inner strength can only bolster their physical prowess or enhance the potency of their martial techniques.

Upon transcending the Acquired Peak and entering the Innate Stage, warriors gain the ability to project their inner strength outward against foes and master martial arts reserved for Innate Warriors.

Beyond this lies the Supreme Realm. Practitioners within the Acquired, Innate, and Supreme Realms focus on honing their inner strength. Compared to the average person, they are virtually unbeatable. Yet, they remain bound to their mortal coils, unable to evade the inevitabilities of life and death.

Above the Supreme Realm is the Transcendent Realm.

True to its name, it transcends the mortal coil. While ordinary folk, including those below the Supreme Realm, might live just past a century, Transcendent Warriors enjoy significantly extended lifespans, with their longevity increasing alongside their cultivation levels.

Transcendent Warriors are further categorized into three stages: Will Refining, Void Discerning, and Heavenly Man. To the commoner, these Transcendent Warriors are akin to deities, untouchable in their might.

Many, including those beneath the Supreme Realm, may never encounter a Transcendent Warrior in their lifetimes—they simply inhabit different worlds.

Legend has it that within the Roc Essence Sect, there are three individuals at the Void Discerning Stage, secluded year-round, unseen by the average disciple. And the peerless sages of the Heavenly Man Stage are likely to be found only within the ranks of elite sects like the Heaven Obeying Pavilion.

The Roc Essence Sect spans a vast hundred miles, with its disciples dispersed across various sectors. A menial worker like Chiang Jin is relegated to the periphery.

Such menial disciples lack the privilege to learn the Sect's martial arts. Their role is to tend to the daily needs of the official disciples, performing laborious and mundane tasks.

Upon his arrival, Chiang Jin was swiftly escorted by a fellow menial disciple to their lodgings. The official disciples, meanwhile, settled in to acquaint themselves with the Sect's environment, preparing for the mentor selection ceremony three days hence, where their true cultivation journey would begin.

In the time it took an incense stick to burn, Chiang Jin was led to the servants' quarters, known as the miscellaneous room, where all the menial workers of the Roc Essence Sect were managed by a single steward, Du Ning.

Du Ning himself was once an official disciple, but somehow ended up overseeing the servants. Though he could delegate trivial tasks to his underlings, any significant orders from the Sect's deacons and elders had to be arranged by Du Ning, leaving him scant time for his own cultivation.

Assuming the role of steward in the miscellaneous room effectively severed his path to mastery. The leader of the servants was still a servant, after all. Despite the perks of his position, it paled in comparison to the prestige of an official disciple. Even the most ordinary disciple stood leagues above a menial worker.

Du Ning harbored a stifled sense of underappreciation, exerting his authority over the other servants as an outlet for his frustration.

Upon entering the miscellaneous room, Chiang Jin immediately noticed the young man seated at the head, his demeanor exuding arrogance. The others stood to the sides, reminiscent of a courtroom from a past life.

"New here, are you? You're Chiang Jin, correct?"

Du Ning's gaze remained fixed on a fine short sword he was toying with, not bothering to look up.

The sword's handle was sleek, adorned with a thumb-sized black gem at the guard, and its silver-white blade gleamed with a sharpness beyond the ordinary.

This prized possession, a spiritual weapon, was acquired by Du Ning through years of skimming the fat. It was his treasure, never leaving his side.

Weapons in this world are graded, and spiritual weapons sit at the pinnacle above common arms. Crafting such a weapon demands exceptional materials and skill, making them a rarity.

Within the Roc Essence Sect, only a select few wield spiritual weapons, mostly of lower quality. Du Ning's short sword, however, was a rare high-grade spiritual weapon, typically reserved for elders and deacons.

"Hmm." Chiang Jin, preoccupied with thoughts of shedding his menial status and acquiring the martial arts he desired, responded to Du Ning's inquiry with a nonchalant grunt.

Du Ning was taken aback by such a dismissive reply, his surprise quickly giving way to anger.

For years, every servant had cowered before Du Ning, showing utmost deference. Those who dared to act above their station in his presence always met with grim fates.

Stowing his short sword, Du Ning rose and approached Chiang Jin with measured steps.

"Since you're new, I'll start you off easy. You're in charge of fetching water and chopping wood. The Sect's hot water supply is now your responsibility."

Normally, the chore of chopping wood and boiling water was shared among ten people. Du Ning's intent was clear—he was determined to put Chiang Jin in his place.

Chiang Jin shot Du Yu a quick glance, only to be met with a challenging stare in return. Du Yu was itching for Chiang Jin to defy him, giving him the "right" to teach Chiang Jin a lesson.

But to Du Yu's astonishment, Chiang Jin simply turned and walked away, seemingly oblivious to Du Yu's words. Only when he reached the door did he respond nonchalantly, "Understood."

Du Yu scoffed and muttered to himself, "Enjoy your little victory while it lasts. Soon you'll be begging at my feet."

Chiang Jin was well aware that Du Yu was deliberately making his life difficult. Yet, being in the Roc Essence Sect, he couldn't afford to escalate the situation. He doubted his ability to best Du Yu, especially considering the formidable strength of the attendants in the hall.

It was no surprise, really; the Roc Essence Sect's attendants were far superior to the disciples from the martial arts schools in Liucheng.

As for patience, Chiang Jin had had his fill of that during his decade-plus in Liucheng.

First things first, Chiang Jin dropped off his belongings at his quarters before heading out to explore the Roc Essence Sect and get his bearings.

The task Du Yu had assigned him was the furthest thing from his mind. If he didn't do it, Du Yu would surely find someone else to take care of it. After all, any fallout would land squarely on Du Yu's shoulders. He wasn't foolish enough to court trouble just to spite Chiang Jin.

By midday, Chiang Jin had covered all the areas accessible to a servant. He hunted some game in a nearby forest and, after a satisfying meal, he found a scenic spot to lay down under a tree for a good night's sleep.

The following morning, Chiang Jin grabbed a couple of wooden buckets and went through the motions of fetching water, half-expecting some sort of harassment. But, surprisingly, yesterday's laziness seemed to have gone unnoticed.

Du Yu had probably never imagined Chiang Jin would so blatantly disregard his orders.

This suited Chiang Jin just fine—he relished the quiet.

Lost in thought, he was abruptly interrupted when someone approached and kicked over his water bucket, then aimed another kick at him.

Chiang Jin sidestepped the attack and, regaining his composure, eyed the newcomer warily. A face he didn't recognize. Could this be one of Du Yu's cronies, sent to settle scores?