Jiang She woke up the next day feeling relaxed and well rested. The country bumpkin had fallen asleep last night outside of the pavilion.

"Did this idiot... really fall asleep admiring his badge?" Her master asked dumbstruck. "I've finally found a child who can rival my disciples stupidity."

"Oi, don't compare your super talented disciple to a waste like him."

"Actually his talent isn't so bad. " Her master scoffed. "In fact even comparable to yours. A pity his intelligence isn't nearly as promising as his talent."

"Oi. Get up." Jiang She shook the boy awake carelessly. "It's morning."

"Give me a second... mother." He murmured sleepily, not yet awake.

"This kid is useless." Jiang She exclaimed.

Jiang She decided to leave the kid, after all the saying went let sleeping dogs lie. There was no helping the bumpkin idiot.

She found a graveled path and decided to follow it, it was far better than just wandering around aimlessly.

"Are you sure you're in any position to call the village brat a bumpkin?" Her master asked derisively. "I mean you aren't even from a village. You were living in a shoddy hut in hill with an old man when i found you. Technically you're more bumpkin than anyone else in this sect."

"Master... some words are just better left unsaid."

"Right... sorry disciple." He muttered. 'Wait, why am I even apologizing?"

Jiang She finally reached the end of the path, it led into a large plaza surrounded with pavilions and shops. She could see a good number of other kids just like her.

"You're here. Do you realize everyone here has been waiting for hours?" A dignified looking elder scolded imperiously. "Take a seat with the rest of the outer disciples."

Jiang She nodded curtly and decided to sit next to a another female disciple.

"You are now all outer court disciples of the Divine Saint Sect. I am the head elder of the outer court. You're previous identities, whether the crown prince of a kingdom or a village peasant is forfeit. You all will be expected to give great contributions to the sect-

Jiang She dozed off mid speech, she couldn't help it. The elder talked for hours about the glory of the Divine Saint Sect and all the regulations and rules that came with it.

When all was said and done the disciples were released to go back to their pavilions. They were given outer court robes, two spirit stones and a small flying dagger to signify their entry into the sect.

"Divine Saint Sect sure does treat their disciples nicely." Her master muttered. "Two spirit stones a week for all outer disciples is impressive, for a small back-water like here at least."

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"Are these shiny stones that valuable master?" She asked quizzically.

"They are my young, ignorant disciple."

"I don't think that ignorant part was necessary-

"You can absorb the Qi from the stones to enhance your cultivation. The more pure the Qi is the higher quality the stones are."

"So what quality are these stones?"

"Quite low, not that it matters. Until we get your meridians repaired you're forbidden to use the stones. The Qi will only be wasted." Her master said gravely. "We should focus on improving your external martial arts."

"So you'll finally teach me real skills?"

"Real skills? The Nine Nether Steps is a mid tier earth grade foot technique!"

"Countless would kill for the opportunity to learn." He sneered. "Anyway I'll impart the first three layers of the Nine Serpents Sure Kill Formula. Find a suitable spot for practice, preferably quiet."

"Yes master."

Jiang She managed to find a open clearing in the woods behind her pavilion.

"I shall impart the first technique of the Nine Serpents Sure Kill Formula." He proudly said. "First technique! Dragon Erupts from Earth!"

"First get on your knees and grovel young disciple."

"Wait? What?"

"Do it now!"

"Yes master."

"Now what master?" Jiang She got on her knees and half heartily groveled. "Are you sure this is really-

"Grovel better! You're not acting pathetic enough!"

"Yes master!"

"Oh spare me great master! I have eyes but did not see Mt. Tai!" Jiang She took a deep breath and decided to play along. She even rubbed her palms together to elicit pity. "Forgive this young junior!"

"Good!" He shouted fervently. "Keep on doing that for an hour, now circulate your Qi!"

Jiang She pleaded and groveled on the dirt by herself for an hour while building up the Qi in her body.

"Now strike upwards and release it all at once!"

Jiang She instinctively struck upwards with her dainty hands, releasing the pent up Qi all at once.

"Excellent! I knew you were the perfect inheritor!" Her master roared gleefully. "Now try to pinpoint your Qi all at one point."

"What type of sect was the Nine Nethers Serpent anyway?" Jiang She sighed and dropped to the floor once more. "With such abnormal techniques... I'm afraid that my sect can't be anything but righteous."

"We were the world's greatest assassin sect! Our cunning and guile was known all over the world!"

"Now hurry up and grovel!"

"Yes master."

And so Jiang She practiced the first technique of the Nine Serpents Sure Kill Formula until she could grovel no more, until her meridians creaked under the pressure and her body ached from the spartan training.

As the sun fell she grabbed her belongings and nearly threw herself into her pavilion out of exhaustion. She reviewed her gains that she made, two low-tier spirit stones, a flying dagger at the low-tier mortal grade, and a "powerful" new offensive technique.

"Not bad in a days work." She thought before falling asleep.