The path of Immortal Dao is a road of no return, a path forward driven by a firm Dao heart, slaying illusions to seek the true self.
The Immortal Dao is not a mundane, carefree path of polishing mana and slowly enduring the years.
From the moment Li Yunjing entered the Immortal Sect, his pursuit of eternal life had begun.
The numerous calamities along this path also started to manifest upon him.
Human calamities, demonic calamities, heart calamities... each one of these trials awaits him.
Only by overcoming them does the hope for immortality arise.
People like Yang Chun are the first challenge after entering the Immortal Sect.
The Shenxiao Dao Sect turns a blind eye to conflicts among servant disciples and outer disciples, as long as it doesn't involve life or death and is a minor matter.
This is also a form of honing for the disciples; if someone is useless and can't withstand it, they will be eliminated.
Those who are outstanding and gain experience in such an environment eventually enter the Inner Sect and may indeed travel further on the Immortal path.
Such disciples, when brought out to compete with other sects, clans, and loose cultivators, will have a significant advantage.
Otherwise, if they become greenhouse flowers, they will merely be lambs raised for slaughter.
This is not the original intention of the Shenxiao Dao Sect.
Disciples of the Shenxiao Dao Sect are known for their strong capabilities in dueling, and this method of training is one of the reasons for their success.
Li Yunjing's face remained calm as he asked, "Brother Yang, what is this Laws Association about? Can we just join it?"
Li Yunjing was not in a hurry to turn against him; he wanted to gather information about the Laws Association first.
Going in blind, knowing nothing, Li Yunjing naturally wouldn't act recklessly.
"Hehe! Kid, you're not being honest! You still want to probe my knowledge?"
Yang Chun sneered softly and said, "Let me tell you, the 'Laws Association' is formed by some big figures among the sect's true disciples, spread throughout the Inner Sect, Outer Sect, and Miscellaneous Hall."
These words took Li Yunjing and Ma Xingyuan by surprise.
They hadn't expected that this small group collecting protection fees would be formed by true disciples.
Which true disciple would be so shameless?
Even exploiting these struggling individuals?
Li Yunjing and Ma Xingyuan's faces turned grim.
True disciples were definitely not opponents they, as new entrants, could contend with!
And if they dared form such a faction, they were certainly not like someone like Fu Chao, a clan master who entered by leaping ranks due to talent.
Such true disciples, their cultivation was likely already in the Foundation Establishment realm.
Thinking of this, Li Yunjing clenched his teeth in anger.
How absurd!
Foundation Establishment true disciples, and they still think of exploiting servant disciples like them!
How hateful!
"Hehe! Don't look so downcast!"
"I tell you, joining the 'Laws Association' is a privilege for you!"
"Among the thirty thousand servant disciples, joining the 'Laws Association' includes six to seven hundred people. You can inquire yourselves and see if this is true!"
"Joining the 'Laws Association' will reduce a lot of bullying for you in the future!"
Yang Chun didn't hold back, directly informing Li Yunjing and Ma Xingyuan about some aspects of the 'Laws Association'.
The more Li Yunjing and Ma Xingyuan listened, the more their faces darkened.
Such a powerful faction, how could they resist?
Do they really have to pay protection fees?
Who would willingly hand over their hard-earned labor to others?
"Um, Brother Yang, for new disciples like us, how many contribution points can we earn in a month?"
Ma Xingyuan asked softly, somewhat intimidated.
"Hehe! If you do some light work, four to five contribution points a month would be about right. If you work like mad, earning ten or so points a month is also possible."
Yang Chun's voice was filled with derision.
His rat-like sinister appearance became even more detestable.
"Brother Yang, wouldn't that mean taking more than half our income?"
Ma Xingyuan said bitterly.
He hadn't expected to encounter such troubles after joining the Immortal Sect.
"Brother Yang, can we negotiate to give a bit less?"
The plump man continued to ask.
"Hehe! Of course, we can!"
Yang Chun coldly smiled.
"What? Really? Then can we give one contribution point a month?"
The plump man originally intended just to bargain pitifully, but his eyes lit up when he found it really was possible.
His plump face was filled with smiles.
"Of course, we can! As long as you have a tough body and can take a beating once a day, I can give you a discount, letting you pay one contribution point."
Yang Chun lowered his voice and sneered.
"Uh…"
Ma Xingyuan's brilliant smile instantly froze, followed by a bitter expression as he lowered his head.
As a loose cultivator, how could he contend against a team?
This loss was inevitable.
"Alright then! Brother Yang, we agree to join the 'Laws Association' and are willing to contribute points."
Li Yunjing agreed with a smile.
Nothing on him showed any sign of displeasure.
But inwardly, Li Yunjing sneered. What things would be like in a month remained to be seen.
Take one step at a time.
If within this month, he found external support or encountered some opportunity, naturally, he wouldn't need to pretend to be friendly with Yang Chun.
"Hmm! Li Yunjing, right? You are quite sensible. Work hard! It's not impossible for you to advance to the Outer Sect in the future."
With two newcomers subdued, Yang Chun smiled slightly, hands behind his back, and headed towards other newcomers with a few subordinates in tow.
In the Miscellaneous Hall, those without any backing would all be exploited by them.
Watching Yang Chun and his men leave, a cold glint flashed through Li Yunjing's eyes.
"Brother Ma, let's part here for now! Let's go back and cultivate. After such distressing events, I have no interest in talking."
After a long while, Li Yunjing said calmly.
"Let's part! Let's part! Tasks will be assigned the day after tomorrow, hopefully, we can work together."
Ma Xingyuan lowered his head, lacking energy as he spoke.
After this ordeal, Li Yunjing and Ma Xingyuan felt no enthusiasm. After agreeing to support each other in the future, they returned to their respective residences.
Li Yunjing, upon returning, didn't dwell on the little incident with Yang Chun.
At this moment, it's pointless to think about it. It's better to seize the time, using the remaining day and a half to diligently cultivate.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, Li Yunjing slowly cleared his mind, entering a state of clarity.
Using the Qi Cultivation Technique from the Shenxiao Jade Scroll, he began to regulate his breath, drawing in streams of primordial energy through his mouth and nose, which then flowed into his throat and finally into his lungs.
The primordial energy of the world, inhaled and exhaled in the lungs, was purified and spread throughout his body, bubbling within each organ.
Impurities, transformed by the lungs' operations, were expelled as a breath of turbid air.