Chapter 16: I’ll Provide for You
The Ask‑Dao Peak, main hall.
After a night of busy work, Li Chunsong flew back and reported to the Dao Gate’s senior members.
“Chu Huaixu’s training method has a problem—it’s very sinister!”
“It looks like it’s based on artifact‑refining technique, modified for dual internal and external cultivation.”
“I suspect the originator of this method is a grandmaster of artifact refinement—his understanding of this path must be at the pinnacle!”
Hearing his words, everyone in the hall frowned.
Sect Master Xiang Yan asked, “So did you investigate where this method came from?”
Li Chunsong nodded. “I checked the library archive and records.”
“Any issues?” asked Enforcement Elder Lu Pan.
“This method was submitted by the junior uncle a few years ago,” Li Chunsong spread his hands.
In Dao Gate, members who obtained new methods or spells outside could submit them for sect review and archiving.
The sect had its own review standard, would grade them, and give rewards accordingly.
Of course, the archive submission could also be rejected.
But that story‑telling gentleman was a special person.
Would anyone dare block something he brought? Would the review dare reject it?
Xiang Yan’s brow furrowed tight, as if his bald head was sprouting hair:
“The junior uncle specifically brought back a Qi‑Opening‑Stage method?”
Li Chunsong shook his head and said, “No. I checked and there were two other spells, and a set of superior artifact‑refining techniques included.”
“This ‘Sword‑Refining Art’ was just packaged in with the rest.”
“Therefore, I suspect during his last roaming journey, by coincidence, the junior uncle obtained relics from some artifact‑refining grandmaster.”
Everyone nodded slightly at his words—it made much more sense.
Li Chunsong continued with his speculation: “Of course, it’s also possible the junior uncle killed some artifact‑refining grandmaster.”
Once he said that, everyone felt even more reasonable.
It was all so coincidental: the methods the junior uncle submitted years ago were learned by this kid he picked for the mountain.
After Xiang Yan pondered for a moment, he spoke: “Then remove this ‘Sword‑Refining Art’ from the method library later.”
It’s too sinister, and also kind of useless—its flaws are obvious.
It’s not fitting for proper Dao Gate disciples at all.
Li Chunsong suddenly laughed.
“Sixth junior brother, why are you laughing?” Xiang Yan asked in wonder.
“Sect Master doesn’t know—just now I probed with spirit‑sight, that boy has already awakened, and he wrote four characters in his method‑insight notebook.”
Nangong Yue immediately asked, “Which characters?”
Li Chunsong couldn’t hold back his laughter and burst out: “Peerless Divine Art! Haha, hahahaha!”
In an instant, the hall filled with joyful energy—many of the Dao Gate seniors couldn’t help but crack smiles, except the grand elder.
“Hmph! The young man chosen by junior uncle seems to have a dark heart.” Enforcement Elder Lu Pan snorted coldly.
“Uh.” Li Chunsong immediately reined in his laughter, realizing he misspoke.
This type of person wasn’t liked by the senior‑brother!
Sure enough, Grand Elder Lu Pan spoke again: “If it’s a peerless divine art, then let the outer‑sect stewards supervise him well and make sure he practices diligently!”
…
…
Medicine Mountain, bamboo hut.
Daylight gradually rose.
He had been studying the Heart‑Sword for a long time, but discovered nothing.
“That’s normal—for Qi‑Opening‑Stage it’s just laying the foundation for future cultivation. Strictly speaking, I don’t even count as a cultivator yet.”
Chu Huaixu rubbed his belly—he was already ravenous.
Cultivators in Xuanhuang Realm did not practice complete fasting.
Everyone had to eat—without exception.
Compared with ordinary people, cultivators enjoyed greater power but were not much different otherwise.
Their lifespans weren’t significantly longer either.
In the cultivation world, living to a hundred was considered a blessing, not a curse.
The Medicine Mountain had a canteen. Disciples paid monthly and could eat there freely.
Of course, if you wanted to buy ingredients and cook yourself, that was fine too.
The outer‑sect of the Dao Gate didn’t feel like a sect academy—it was more like a small town formed by low‑level cultivators, self‑contained.
There were ordinary canteens, upscale restaurants, a tailor’s shop, a spirit‑potion store, and a weapon pavilion…
So living here cost money in every aspect.
Starting next month, Chu Huaixu would also need to pay rent for his bamboo hut.
If he had the ability to trade and wanted to open a shop, he would need a “permit” from Dao Gate, a “business license,” and pay taxes.
Or he could work as an apprentice in someone else’s shop—slaving away.
Besides, Dao Gate itself also offered some job positions for disciples.
A prime job on Medicine Mountain was tending spirit‑medicinal herbs.
As for Outer Steward Niu Yuanshan, he belonged to official management—proper leadership cadre with real authority.
But the Inner Sect was vastly different from the Outer Sect.
There it was more like a full‑blown sect.
The disciples’ main purpose there was cultivation—becoming stronger!
Chu Huaixu had no worries about money for now.
Not forgetting, he had a one‑hundred‑liang silver note.
That money would last him a while.
Chu Huaixu held the outer‑sect map and headed to the official‑run canteen.
Along the way, some diligent people had already set up stalls to make money.
“Fellow senior and junior brothers, why not take a look at my newly developed Fasting Pill?”
The ravenous Chu Huaixu was drawn by the voice.
There was no such thing as a Fasting Stage in the Xuanhuang Realm, but there were Fasting Pills—eat one and you wouldn’t need to eat again.
The man hawking his goods kept promoting, “Junior brother, look at my newly developed white flour Fasting Pill—white and soft, well-risen, and fluffy in texture.”
Chu Huaixu asked with a speechless face, “Senior brother, the principle of Fasting Pills is that one pill keeps you from getting hungry, not that you eat until you’re full and don’t get hungry.”
This damn thing, the size of a fist—isn’t it just a steamed bun?!
“Not at all, junior brother, this is my white flour Fasting Pill. One of these equals five same-sized white steamed buns!”
“And you need to go to the restroom after eating buns, right?”
“But my white flour Fasting Pill doesn’t require that.”
“Just tell me—isn’t it perfect for closed-door cultivation?” the disciple said proudly.
Chu Huaixu: “……”
With curiosity, he wandered as he walked.
When playing 《Borrowed Sword》, the outer sect of Spring and Autumn Mountain looked just like this—a self-contained area, Chu Huaixu was very familiar with it; he even ran a store.
But this was his first time in Dao Gate.
“Spring and Autumn Mountain is notorious for perverts, so it’s a bit more chaotic.”
“Dao Gate is much better in this regard.”
“But still, the prices are exactly the same as Spring and Autumn Mountain!” he muttered in frustration.
It had been said since ancient times, cultivation required: Wealth, Method, Companion, and Ground.
Cultivation really burned through money.
His one hundred taels of silver could sustain a comfortable life for quite a while outside.
But in the Dao Gate’s outer sect? That was hard to say.
When Chu Huaixu arrived at the canteen entrance, he encountered a familiar face.
He saw Han Shuangjiang, veiled, stepping out from inside with a displeased expression.
“Everything here is so expensive. Overall, the sect’s canteen is the cheapest, but you have to prepay a monthly meal fee.” She was broke.
She had grown up in a brothel and later joined the Joyous Sect.
After Joyous Sect was destroyed, she lived a displaced life.
After meeting that storyteller, she made her way to the Wumeng Mountains, spending nearly all her funds.
Han Shuangjiang now had only 103 copper coins on her.
Given the terrifying prices in the outer sect, that meager amount wouldn’t even cover three meals for a single day!
This meant she had to find a job today.
The daily life of a registered disciple was basically working by day and cultivating by night.
Such a difficult life was beckoning to this ice-cold beauty.
At this moment, Han Shuangjiang looked ahead, and her gaze naturally fell on Chu Huaixu.
Morning light spilled over half his body. In the bustling crowd, standing on the high steps looking down, it was hard not to notice him.
No helping it—he was the finest of Furnaces.
However, Han Shuangjiang only intended to nod in greeting as they passed.
After brief interaction, she felt this Furnace wasn’t particularly easy to talk to.
He’d retorted her several times already.
But unexpectedly, the man bathed in golden morning light took the initiative to smile and greet her.
“Morning. Eaten yet?” Chu Huaixu asked, beginning to size her up.
Just seeing her heavy-hearted look earlier, he already guessed the answer and felt things were beginning to go his way.
This cold, aloof 【World Protagonist】...
—So you’re actually broke!
…