Chapter 377: The Top Human Sect on Blazing Star, the Firewood Sect!
"Wh-"
"Hahahaha! He said, 'I've been standing outside in line for so long, how come it's still not my turn to be born?!' Hahaha! Tell me, aren't bull-headed people stupid?"
You showed no expression.
"Such stupid bull-headed people, yet our human sects are still their vassals."
All-Knowing's laughter cut off abruptly.
"Uh..."
He had forgotten again that you were human.
Before entering Firewood Town, you told All-Knowing he could leave.
He had originally been forced to follow you, and now that you told him he could go, he actually did not want to leave.
"Senior, you came to our Blazing Star to handle matters, so there must be a lot you don't know. With little me following you, you'll save yourself the trouble of asking around."
You noticed that in Firewood Town and the surrounding area there were very few alien races; it was almost all humans. The occasional alien you saw looked hurried, probably just passing through.
So you did not want an alien trailing you, lest it cause trouble later when you asked your Master for guidance.
All-Knowing finally left with reluctance.
"Senior, I have no fixed residence, I wander everywhere. Next time you try to find me it might not be so easy..."
You folded your hands behind your back and struck an aloof pose.
"Don't worry, my eyes will always be on you."
In All-Knowing's eyes you were clearly only half his height, yet at this moment you seemed to grow much taller.
Big shot is big shot, could he possibly see through the entire planet?
Amazing!
After All-Knowing left, you released Chen Five.
"Follow him."
Chen Five glanced at All-Knowing's departing figure.
"Although I'm also at the Qi Transformation realm, that guy is slightly stronger than me. He'll be easy to lose."
"If you lose him, fine. Then go fight the aliens like crazy. Kill one to break even, kill two to profit by one! Then the next day I'll summon you again."
Chen Five wholeheartedly agreed.
"I am the Sword Wielder for the human world, that is only fitting!"
You walked into Firewood Town and came to the Firewood Sect's gate.
You saw some plainly dressed Firewood Sect disciples coming and going in the sect courtyard.
Some carried hoes, some carried bundles of firewood, some carried buckets of water.
"Must be outer disciples doing chores."
Tomorrow you'll find out: these are all core inner disciples.
You had arrived at a fortunate time; the Firewood Sect was recruiting new disciples.
Tomorrow you'll know: the Firewood Sect actually recruits new disciples every day.
You kept a low profile, went to the end of the line, and queued to be tested for aptitude.
It was different from the flashy Winged God's Gaze test on Fortune Star.
The Firewood Sect used a dingy black stone to test aptitude.
This thing only tested immortal root. Special constitutions, unique souls, luck—none of those could be measured.
"Ninth-grade immortal root?
Good, good!
Child, the path of immortality is unfurling before you!
Quick, go to the back garden and collect a disciple's set of plain clothes, then draw three full vats of water!
This is part of cultivation!"
When a test finally showed someone with an immortal root, the white-bearded old man at the gate in charge of recruitment was ecstatic.
After a while, another result came up.
"What?! An eighth-grade immortal root genius?!
Someone, quickly arrange for an elder to receive them!
Child, you may choose any master in the sect!
See that wheat field to the west of town? From now on it's yours to farm! After autumn harvest, give seventy percent to the sect and the rest is yours!"
The corner of your mouth twitched.
The largest human sect on Blazing Star was shockingly shabby — they had to provide their own food and drink.
If that's the case, maybe other human forces here wouldn't even qualify as cultivation sects, just martial groups?
Very likely.
You began to worry that even if you joined the Firewood Sect you might not learn anything useful, because this sect might not even have a Core Formation realm cultivator!
Finally it was your turn.
The white-bearded old man, whose clothes were covered in patches, kindly said to you, "Child, put your hand on it."
Calling you "child" wasn't wrong; your lifespan was over a thousand years, but your actual age was only a little over sixty—still a child.
"Um, elder, I want to ask, does our Firewood Sect have any Core Formation realm cultivators?"
You used Playing the Pig to Eat the Tiger to adjust your aura to your true level, that is, Qi Transformation, Nine Rotations.
You did not lower your aura further because you did not intend to become a disciple permanently.
You wanted to join this sect to contribute to its development a little, gain some exchange and instruction, and thereby grasp the method to break through.
Besides, it doesn't matter where one cultivates on a second-tier star.
You could sense the white-bearded old man's aura; he was only Qi Transformation, Four Rotations.
The old man nodded with a smile.
"Child, you know quite a bit, even about Core Formation? Yes, yes, our Firewood Sect may not be large, but within the sect the Founding Ancestor and the current Sect Master are both Core Formation!"
Core Formation equaled Founding Ancestor. The prestige of Blazing Star's top human sect sank another notch.
But having a Core Formation cultivator was good; at least they could share some proper experience.
"I am at Qi Transformation, Nine Rotations. I wish to join your sect to help make it greater and stronger, and achieve glory anew! May I?"
The white-bearded old man smiled, then stood up and helped you into the wooden chair he had just been sitting in.
"From now on, you shall be our Firewood Sect's Great Elder."
This old man was indeed the Firewood Sect's Great Elder, and he immediately retired in your favor.
Your arrival caused an uproar throughout the Firewood Sect.
Although the whole sect only numbered about a hundred people.
The Firewood Sect's Founding Ancestor was named Shen Yifeng, with no worldly nickname; sect disciples just called him Founding Ancestor.
When he went out to buy vegetables, the townsfolk called him Old Shen.
Surname Shen? You felt a sudden sense of familiarity.
The current Sect Master of the Firewood Sect was Ma Bang, who did have a martial-world moniker: Ma Three Knives.
When he was young he had been a bandit, skilled with blades, and had done many wicked deeds.
Later he met Shen Yifeng, was severely schooled, then put down the butcher's knife and followed Shen Yifeng devotedly in cultivation.
Shen Yifeng and Ma Bang held a banquet to entertain you. The meal had four dishes and one soup, with hardly any oil.
But you could tell this was the best the Firewood Sect could offer.
"Hahaha! Young friend Chen is willing to join our Firewood Sect; it is indeed our sect's fortune!"
"Chen, so young and already at Qi Transformation, Nine Rotations. In time he will break through to Core Formation. Then our Firewood Sect will have three Core Formation—our vassal status under the Blood Iron Sect will be as solid as iron!"
You couldn't help but laugh and cry; the Founding Ancestor and Sect Master’s greatest wish was, apparently, to remain vassals of the Blood Iron Sect forever.
"Everyone is so enthusiastic, but I'm a stranger saying I want to join you. Aren't you worried I have ulterior motives?"
Shen Yifeng glanced around at the bare rooms of the Firewood Sect.
"Ulterior motives for what?"