20 A Tour

Once again they climbed the never-ending stairs. The disciples glanced at their group in curiosity but kept their distance. The administration hall was a large three stories building. The door was open wide, letting disciples and workers freely enter and leave. A middle-aged-looking man was sitting behind a half-circular desk. Piles of folders and books spread on the table. The man's hair was tied tightly into a bun and he supported a tidy beard. He looked up from his writing and smiled brightly when he saw Xiao Kanque.

"Do you miss your father and finally give him a visit?" The man said.

"Of course not! I'm escorting guests," Xiao Kanque protested, red dusting his cheeks. "And we just met this morning!"

"Ah what's wrong with a father being attached to his son?" The man teased.

"Father! Please show a shred of professionalism. We have visitors here."

"A pleasure to meet you." White and Ruan Yanxi saluted to the elder. Nea clumsily copied their gesture.

The man laughed, returning their gesture. "Nice to meet you. You have met my son, my name is Xiao Yichen. The sect leader has informed me that you will stay here for a while. Although rare it is not unheard of for guests to partake in classes. What is the focus of your cultivation?"

"Sword," Ruan Yanxi said.

"I don't have a specific weapon that I use," Nea said.

"So two of you are following the martial path," Xiao Yichen said. "What about you?"

"That's a hard question," White said, "I do have some knowledge in sealing arts and arrays but I'm interested in trying the martial path."

Xiao Yichen frowned. "It will badly affect your cultivation if you can't focus on one path."

"Don't worry about it." White waved his hand.

"If you insist, I have to inform the instructors about your attendances. My son will give you the timetable when it's ready. For now, you can relax and look around the sect."

They thanked Xiao Yichen and left the administration building.

"There is still enough time to explore before the curfew. Do you wish to see other peaks?" Xiao Kanque asked.

Since they had nothing else to do, they agreed to Xiao Kanque's offer.

"There are 5 peaks in QingYang Sect. Where we are now is the main peak, Qing Xin Peak. It is the most populated peak both because it's the main peak where many elders stayed but also because it's the location of the martial path."

"Youngsters do tend to flock towards exciting and heroic career," White said.

"QingYang Sect is also mainly a martial sect," Xiao Kanque said. "However, this does not mean that other peaks are less important."

They boarded on a spirit tool that would take them to tour around the sect.

"This is the Qi Lu Peak which focuses on alchemy. Most of the sect's spiritual plants are grown here."

They examined the endless green covering the peak from their seat. Countless disciples were tending to the spiritual plants. They moved on to the next peak where several tall buildings were located. Unlike Qi Lu Peak with its lush greenery, this peak looked rather boring.

"Shen Shi Peak is where disciples study the art of array and sealing. Besides the library in Qing Xin Peak, Shen Shi Peak also hosts many books and documents. Disciples usually go here if the small library in their peak cannot meet their needs."

The next peak that they visited was teeming with many beasts. It even had a massive lake where aquatic creatures could be seen swimming inside.

"Lian Lei Peak focuses on beast taming. Although our beast taming skill isn't comparable to sects and schools in the northern region. Qing Yang Sect still has a respectable position to be in the leading position of beast taming in the south."

The last peak hosted many buildings with chimneys where the smoke came out.

"Chi Jiu Peak is where disciples follow the path of artifact refining. There are not many disciples here because of the difficulties to devote to this path."

Xiao Kanque steered the spiritual tool to return to the Qing Xin Peak. "Disciples mostly stay in their peak, however, some also take extra classes in other peaks. Since I'm also following the martial path, I will still be your guide. The class will start early in the morning so please make sure you get enough rest."

Xiao Kanque led them to the canteen. The building was full of disciples eating and joking around with each other. The noise was almost deafening. Xiao Kanque managed to find a table for them.

Xiao Kanque said, "All of the food here is delicious. I personally recommend the spicy dumplings. Ah, we also have cuisines from the north. They are rather bland for my taste but some of my friends really like them." He then gave them another jade tokens. "This is your activity points card. Remember not to lose them or you'll be punished. Each disciple is allocated 3 meals every day. If you want to eat more you have to use activity points."

Besides employees, some disciples also attend the food stalls. Disciples could volunteer to help in the kitchen to gain activity points. Other chores could be done to receive extra points. Nea ordered a bit of everything out of curiosity. Ruan Yanxi only ordered traditional Da Yue cuisine. While White ordered one Da Yue dish and another northern dish.

Just as Xiao Kanque said the food was tasty and filling. White silently enjoyed the first meal great meal he had tasted since his awakening. The food he consumed on their way to the sect was at best edible. They mainly ate bland street food and tasteless travel snacks. Nea ate her meal with gusto while offering appreciative noises. Ruan Yanxi kept his grace as he ate.

After eating the fill, Xiao Kanque said, "I have another place that I want to show you, but you guys must promise that you won't tell the elders."

"Sure! Tell me your secrets!" Nea said.

Xiao Kanque grinned and brought them down the peak. They entered a forest and walked through an unmarked path. Though if one paid attention, there were traces left behind by other travelers.

"This is a secret spot that disciples like to visit at night." Xiao Kanque stopped in front of a plain rocky wall. He whispered something to it and an entrance appeared. "Quick, it will disappear within seconds."

Inside the entrance was a long cavernous hall. Mingzhu were placed on each side of the path. Laughter and chatter could be heard from ahead of them. The tunnel widened into a wide chamber with a clear pool in the middle. Around the pool groups of disciples were hanging out and playing around. Some of them were playing cards. Others were just laying there, dozing off. A couple of them read books while resting their backs on the wall. There were even small stalls where many knickknacks and other non-cultivation-related goods were sold.

Xiao Kanque explained, "This is the disciples' secret hideout. We usually go slack off here. Look, those stalls there. Disciples who returned from hunting sometimes brought back interesting stuff they found in the mundane world. The password to this place is changed weekly. Elders don't know about this place, at least we think so."

"Wow." White blinked. "Everyone here is surprisingly… mundane."

Xiao Kanque tilted his head in askance.

"I know some cultivators and almost all of them were cultivation this cultivation that. They cultivated endlessly without rest. Any moment spent not cultivating was considered a waste by them."

"Ah, those are mainly senior cultivators. The majority of disciples here are casual cultivators. There are a handful of serious ones but they barely reach two digits." Xiao Kanque grinned. "Don't tell the elders but most of us like to slack off."

"What's the point of cultivating a long life if you're just going to spend more of it to cultivate?" Nea asked.

White laughed. "Those geezers would vomit blood if they heard that. Cultivating to live or live to cultivate, huh? In this era of peace, I suppose there's not much need to be all-powerful."

"But there's a war going on," Ruan Yanxi said.

"Mortal war," White said. "It does not reach the cultivation realm… at least not yet."