The God Slaying Sting is an application method, not a cultivation method. In terms of value, it pales in comparison to the myriad divine abilities of the Lichen Sect, such as the Dan Formula, Vacuum Walking technique, and the secret method of overcoming tribulations. However, in actual combat, how many can match this technique that can penetrate all defenses, rendering protective body Qi and defensive treasures as if they were nothing?

Therefore, on the day of the Treasure Exchange Banquet, when Yu Ci found himself short of Ruyi Money, he had considered capitalizing on this. He believed that the Random Heart Pavilion would be willing to offer a high price, and within the Lichen Sect, there would undoubtedly be many interested in it.

Under these circumstances, Old Master Zhu's decision to place this method on the inaccessible twenty-seventh level was a very cautious choice. Moreover, he could not casually show the original copy in his possession to others - Yu Ci was aware of the importance of this.

Seeing Yu Ci agree readily, Old Master Zhu, squinting his eyes, asked him, "Do you know what impact it will have on you to place it on the twenty-seventh level?"

Of course, Yu Ci claimed ignorance. Old Master Zhu chuckled, picked up his brush, and swiftly wrote a few characters on a narrow jade slab from the table. The ink and brush he used were special. As the brush tip fell, a faint halo flowed out, eventually seeping into the jade slab.

It was unclear what method the old gentleman used, but with a casual shake, the foot-long jade slab shrank to the size of a palm and was handed to Yu Ci. "Take this, it'll save you some trouble in the future."

Without questioning what trouble it would save him from, Yu Ci thanked him and took the jade slab. Upon a quick glance, he only recognized it as cursive script but could not discern the characters. Meng Wei, standing beside him, explained for him:

"Although there are no restrictions on reading the scrolls in the Spirit Sky Pavilion except for the twenty-seventh floor, as an Outer Disciple, the procedures are not very convenient for you. With Old Master Zhu's Token, you'll be treated the same as the Sect's Mountain Gate disciples. And it's not just the Spirit Sky Pavilion. Anywhere in the Sect's Mountain Gate that is open to its disciples, such as the book towers and academies, will treat you the same."

Meng Wei refrained from mentioning some things in this setting. In reality, the Sect's Mountain Gate's direct disciples' discrimination against Outer Disciples is quite prevalent.

Among the four departments of Lichen, the Morality Department and Discipline Department are relatively better. The former emphasizes the application of Karmic Method, the latter prioritizes clear rules and regulations, generally being fair and impartial. However, it's impossible to say they are close. As for the Theory Department and Empirical Department, the situation is different. The Theory Department values righteousness and debating, possessing a scholarly aloofness, and has always looked down on outsiders like Yu Ci. The Empirical Department, needless to say, values strength above all. To stand out there, without convincing achievements in battle, one shouldn't even think about it.

In truth, Meng Wei was currently plagued by a headache.

The Mountain Gate of the Lichen Sect was, at present, in its most liberal period in recent years. Seventy or eighty percent of the sect's Vacuum Walkers and Authentic Cultivators had embarked on their cultivation journeys to the Outer Realm of the Nine Heavens. Only one elder remained to oversee the Mountain Gate of the sect, an elder who had never been one to meddle in affairs. The disciples of the Mountain Gate, bereft of supervision, although not audacious, had become somewhat less cautious than when their elders were present. In recent days, the Discipline Department had been overwhelmed by a surge of disputes, requiring a significant amount of energy to resolve. It was under such circumstances that Yu Ci entered the fray.

To be frank, Meng Wei's perception of Yu Ci was undoubtedly different from others. Before Yu Ci's arrival, Xie Yan, Jie Liang, including Uncle Yu Zhou from the Still Heart Temple, had all implored her to help Yu Ci find his footing within the Mountain Gate of the sect. Even if they hadn't asked, would Meng Wei have forgotten? In the Battle of Nanfrost Lake, she, Yu Ci, and Murong Qingyan had stood together against Nan Songzi. Amidst the fierce battle, it had become unclear who had aided whom, who had saved whom. The bonds forged through such life-and-death trials were indeed the most memorable.

Meng Wei was aware that she was not the only one who had been asked for help. Li You had received the same request. This was a significant move by Elder Xie and his group who, after decades of keeping a low profile, had finally decided to make their voices heard. This involved a less than honorable event from the sect's past, but the fact that Yu Ci's recommender was Master He Qing had left many people dumbfounded.

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

Meng Wei's mind was as clear as a mirror, but she had no interest in participating in the factional infighting within the sect. Her current duty was to fulfill her responsibilities as a senior sister and provide Yu Ci, a promising junior brother, with a relatively fair environment. As such, she turned a blind eye to the rumors spread by Li You, doing what she could to pave the way for Yu Ci.

Of course, she had her own plans. Recommending Yu Ci to Old Master Zhu was the first step.

This step was suggested by Uncle Jie Liang: Old Master Zhu held a unique position within the Mountain Gate of the sect. Although he was not technically a cultivator of the Lichen Sect, he had resided in the Mountain Gate for over seven hundred years, having experienced the previous Four Nine Heavy Tribulations. It was said that he had greatly aided the sect, but his cultivation level was merely that of a Vacuum Walker. Even after growing up within the Mountain Gate, Meng Wei had never fully understood the old man's background. All she knew was that even the most respected elders of the sect treated him with utmost courtesy.

One thing was certain, Old Master Zhu's initial approval of Yu Ci held great significance for his standing within the Sect's Mountain Gate.

Old Master Zhu listened to Meng Wei with a smile, nodding and shaking his head from time to time. Once Meng Wei finished, he pointed at Yu Ci and said, "Young man, don't forget your responsibilities in the pursuit of convenience. You're not the type to immerse yourself in books. No matter how much time you spend on them, you can't surpass these bookworms..."

He casually dismissed the cultivators around him who were engrossed in their books, but Yu Ci was more focused on his advice. In fact, he had already felt this way on Chessboard Peak, "The elder is right, I certainly can't compete with the Senior Brothers of the Theory Department. In the future, when borrowing books, I should primarily focus on the fundamental Merit courses, and also find a few Merit courses that interest me, striving for perfection."

"A promising student indeed."

Old Master Zhu was quite pleased with his ability to learn from one example and apply it broadly. He remembered something and pointed at the Red Veil in Yu Ci's hand, asking, "What are you proficient in? Have you practiced the methods here?"

"I mainly practice swordsmanship and talisman arts, with little exposure to others. As for this, I merely glanced at it and found it too profound, and also..."

Yu Ci shook his head. The two Red Veil methods he held in his hands were both about the condensation of the simplified version of the God Slaying Sting. The one from Yan Chu was a method that involved slaughtering a hundred kinds of living beings and condensing their resentful spirits and ghosts, hence it was called the "Hundred Spirits Transforming Radiance Veil". The one from Nan Songzi took it a step further, using a method that cultivated Heart Demons. It was a sinister and extremely dangerous side path. Yu Ci had a plan, but he would not touch it without thorough preparation.

"Good, there are fewer and fewer young people like you."

Old Master Zhu seemed to like Yu Ci more and more, "Others use the methods on it, but they have to go through a layer. You have a veil in your hand, but it doesn't take much effort to use. You can control it, which speaks volumes about your temperament. Sigh, actually, the value of this method is 70% in the veil. If the weaving method of this veil can be deciphered, it might reveal the true face of the 'God Slaying Sting'... Back in the day, despite its sinister nature, the 'God Slaying Sting' was a unique and powerful magic in the world. Now, its lineage is lost!"

The old gentleman swayed his head, exuding a certain scholarly air of decay, like a Mr. Donghong. Yu Ci couldn't help but laugh, "If the old master wishes to delve deeper, I wouldn't mind lending him this 'Red Veil' in my possession."

"No need, no need."

Old Master Zhu waved his hands dismissively, "This is a solitary copy with no other references. It may be easy to dismantle, but difficult to restore. If ruined, it would be a waste of a heavenly object. It's better to let it be passed down, leaving something for future generations to ponder."

Yu Ci paused, almost blurting out "What if there are reference materials?" but suddenly realized that revealing this now would make it seem like he had been holding back, which might not look good. He swallowed his words. Seeing that there was nothing more to say, he prepared to take his leave. At this moment, Old Master Zhu seemed to remember something suddenly:

"Hold on, your name is Yu Ci?"

Yu Ci was at a loss whether to laugh or cry. It turned out that after such a lengthy conversation, this old gentleman had not remembered his name.

"Yu Ci, I've heard your name before... where was it?"

At this moment, Old Master Zhu was undoubtedly the image of a forgetful old man. Under the helpless gaze of Yu Ci and Meng Wei, he rummaged through his belongings. After a while, he found a record supposedly made last year on a shelf.

"Yu Ci, Yu Ci... Ah, here it is!"

He opened the thick ledger and found a record at the end of the year: "Wanderer Yu Ci, staying at the Still Heart Temple, proposed to be an Outer Disciple, presented the 'Supreme Clarity Stellar Pivot Secret Teaching Talisman Scripture', with one hundred and eight copies printed and distributed to various libraries. This library has five copies, available to all who practice talisman methods... Ah, it really is you!"

Old Master Zhu lifted his head, his squinted eyes widening considerably:

"So, it's you, Yu Ci. Good, good..."

He repeated "good" several times, but his voice grew lower and lower until it was barely audible.

Yu Ci was bewildered and was about to ask when the old gentleman waved his hand, "Since it's you, I need to think about it. You go first, I'll come to find you later."

Both Yu Ci and Meng Wei exchanged glances, not understanding what was going on. Seeing that Old Master Zhu had fallen into deep thought, they didn't want to linger. They bowed and retreated together.

They hadn't taken two steps before hearing Old Master Zhu say, "Prepare yourself during this period. You must attend this year's 'Inclusion Chapter Convention'."

"Eh?"

Yu Ci was completely baffled.

...