Chapter 16: Sect Life
The Outer Disciples’ Hall hummed with low murmurs as newly recruited disciples gathered beneath the hall’s polished wooden beams. Engraved pillars stretched toward the ceiling, where qi-infused lanterns cast a soft, ambient glow.
At the front of the hall, a disciple in silver-embroidered robes stepped forward. His presence alone silenced the crowd.
“Welcome to the Verdant Sky Sect.” His sharp gaze swept over the recruits, appraising them with practiced ease. “I am Jiang Feng, a core disciple of the sect.”
He let the silence settle before continuing.
“By passing the registration, you have taken your first step into the world of true cultivation.” His voice was calm but firm. “However, outer discipleship is only the beginning. The true path lies ahead.”
Jiang Feng paced slowly across the dais, his hands clasped behind his back.
“Your goal is the Inner Courtyard. Only as inner disciples will you gain access to the sect’s true resources.” His tone turned sharper. “Those who stagnate—those who falter—will be left behind.”
Wei Lin felt the weight of those words settle over the room.
Jiang Feng raised a hand toward the rear entrance. “Outer disciples are granted access to several key locations. These include the Sparring Arena, where you may refine your combat skills under supervision, and the Azureleaf Pavilion, a library housing foundational techniques and sect records. For cultivation, you may visit the Tranquil Stream Meditation Area to stabilize your qi, or the Herbal Garden, where some disciples assist in cultivating spiritual plants.”
“However,” Jiang Feng’s eyes narrowed slightly, “you are forbidden from entering the Inner Courtyard or restricted areas without permission. Trespassing is punishable by expulsion.”
Wei Lin shifted uneasily. Beside him, Yuan Heng muttered, “So outer disciples are just glorified servants. The real disciples are inside those walls.”
Xiao Ru shot him a glance but said nothing.
“Take your Contribution Tokens.” Jiang Feng gestured, and sect disciples moved through the hall, distributing the small jade artifacts. The moment Wei Lin touched his, a faint ripple of qi resonated against his palm.
“Circulate your qi and bind it to your signature. From this moment, every task you complete, every duel you win, and every commendation you receive will be recorded here as contribution points.”
Wei Lin examined the cool jade in his palm. His name was etched into the surface, glowing faintly with spiritual light. He could feel the presence of a binding restriction, locking the token to his qi signature.
“Contribution points determine your access to sect resources,” Jiang Feng continued. “Library scrolls, training grounds, medicine, herbs—all require points. You may trade points among yourselves, but do not try to add points yourselves. If you attempt to forge or tamper with your token…”
He let the words hang ominously.
“Expulsion is the least of your concerns.”
Jiang Feng turned to face them fully. “Sparring is encouraged, but all duels must take place in the Sparring Arena under supervision. Unauthorized fights will be punished.”
He let his gaze settle over the crowd. “And remember this: the upcoming recruitment trials will determine your future here. You will not only face new recruits but also experienced outer disciples who are stronger, hungrier, and better prepared than you.”
A sect disciple approached Jiang Feng and whispered something. He gave a curt nod before addressing the recruits one last time.
“Your lodgings have been assigned. Disciples, escort them to their dormitories and provide an orientation. Prepare yourselves. The trials begin in seven days.”
With that, Jiang Feng turned and strode from the hall, his robes flowing behind him.
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Outer disciples’ lodgings were divided by their elemental affinities, so Wei Lin soon found himself in front of the Wood Hall dormitory, which stood at the far edge of the Outer Disciples’ quarters, nestled among towering cypress and pine trees. Unlike the stone structures of the inner courtyard, these buildings were simpler—long wooden halls built into the natural landscape, their tiled roofs curved slightly at the edges. The scent of damp earth and fresh pine lingered in the air, mingling with the faint medicinal tang of dried herbs that hung from eaves like protective charms.
The entrance hall was wide and open, lined with wooden pillars. The floorboards creaked softly underfoot as Wei Lin stepped inside.
Inside, rows of doors lined a long corridor, each leading to a shared room for two outer disciples. Candles flickered dimly along the walls, casting shifting shadows against the wooden beams. Though the quarters were modest, they were clean and well-maintained—a sign of discipline, if not luxury. A few disciples moved about, some deep in quiet conversation, others tending to personal tasks.
Taking a deep breath, he traced his fingers over the jade tile engraved with his assigned room number and slid the door open.
The space was small but functional. Two beds sat opposite each other, each with a thin mattress, folded bedding, and a wooden chest for personal belongings. A low table stood between them, upon it a single unlit candle in its holder. The walls were bare except for a small, high-set window that let in a sliver of afternoon light.
Seated on the floor, meticulously folding a letter, was a lean young man with a calm, composed air. His robes were simple, slightly worn at the edges, but neatly kept. He had a kind, unassuming face, his features softened into an easy smile as he glanced up, his hands pausing mid-fold.
“You must be my new roommate. I'm Gu An.” His tone was light, carrying the warmth of sincerity.
Wei Lin nodded. “I’m Wei Lin.”
Gu An grinned and gestured to the empty bed. “That one’s yours. Welcome to Wood Hall.”
Wei Lin set his pack down. “It’s... quieter than I expected.”
Gu An chuckled as he carefully tucked the folded letter into a plain envelope. “The shouting and fighting usually happens in the training grounds.”
Wei Lin glanced at the letter. “That’s… from back home?”
Gu An nodded, his smile tender. “Yeah. My sister’s getting married in two months. I can’t leave the sect, but I’m going to send some money back for her dowry.”
Wei Lin hesitated before asking, “You send money home? Most cultivators don’t think about things like that”
“Of course, I owe them that much. My parents aren’t as healthy as they once were, so they can’t work all day in the fields anymore. They sent me here for a better future, but now there’s no one at home to take care of them in their old age.” Gu An grinned. “And most cultivators don’t have little sisters relying on them.”
Wei Lin found himself thinking of Auntie Hua and Grandpa Lu—the sacrifices they had made for him, just as Gu An’s family had done for him. A flicker of understanding settled in his chest. He could already tell that Gu An was different from the other disciples he had met.
Gu An stretched, rolling his shoulders before leaning back against the wall. “So, have you figured out how things work around here yet?”
Wei Lin shook his head.
“Didn’t think so. It’s a lot to take in at first, but you’ll get the hang of it. The most important thing? Contribution points. You want resources, you earn points. You want to eat better, train better, borrow better manuals? Points.”
“Tasks are posted in the Outer Disciples’ Hall. Some pay better than others, but most of us start with grunt work—herb gathering, manual copying, cleaning up after alchemists.”
Wei Lin raised a brow. “That’s... it?”
Gu An laughed. “You were expecting grand opportunities? Most outer disciples don’t get that luxury. Unless you’re an elder’s favorite or a prodigy, you’ll have to work your way up. Slowly.”
He glanced at the folded letter on the table, his fingers drumming lightly against the wood. “That’s just how things are. I’ve been here a while, and I’ve seen a lot of people come and go. Some climb, some fade away. Some... get stuck in between.”
Wei Lin studied him for a moment. “And you?”
Gu An fell silent for a moment, but there was a quiet determination in his eyes. “I have my own plans. I just have to wait a little longer.”
Wei Lin nodded, feeling a deepening sense of camaraderie with his new roommate. “I think I’ll be bothering you with a lot of questions for the next while.”
Gu An’s grin returned, slightly teasing. “That’s fine. Though at this rate, you’re going to have to cough up some contribution points for all this wisdom.”
Wei Lin smirked. “We’ll see about that.”
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Below is a translation of the chapter into Chinese (via ChatGPT).
以下是通过ChatGPT将本章翻译成中文。
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封天遗志
第十六章：宗门生活
翠天宗外门大殿内，人声低喃，方才入门的弟子们齐聚殿下，仰望着雕刻精美的廊柱。大殿恢弘，梁柱之上镌刻着玄妙符文，顶端悬挂的灵灯微微摇曳，散发出柔和却不失威压的光辉，映照着众人或忐忑、或憧憬的神色。
殿堂最前方，一名身着银纹道袍的弟子缓步上前，仅仅一个眼神，便使嘈杂的议论声戛然而止。
“欢迎加入翠天宗。”
他的目光锐利，如鹰隼俯瞰，扫视着殿内众人，眼中流露出一丝审视之意。
“我乃姜锋，宗门核心弟子。”
空气霎时凝滞，许多新晋弟子不禁屏息。
姜锋静默片刻，待众人心神收束，方才继续开口。
“通过入门考核，你们已踏入真正的修行之路。”他的声音平稳，却带着不容置疑的威严，“然而，外门弟子仅仅是起点，真正的道途尚在前方。”
他负手缓步踱至高台中央，眼神冷冽，语气愈发沉肃。
“你们的目标，是内门。”他的目光掠过殿堂，“唯有成为内门弟子，方能真正接触宗门的修炼资源。停滞不前者，踟蹰退缩者，皆会被远远甩在身后——最终，被遗忘。”
魏林听得心头一沉，四周的气氛也随之紧绷。
姜锋抬手指向大殿后方的一处石门，继续道：“外门弟子可进入数处修行之地。斗武场，可在长老监督下锤炼武技；青叶阁，藏有基础功法与宗门典籍；清流静修地，适合稳定气息，巩固修为；药园，供部分弟子照料灵植，亦可借此研习丹道。”
“然而——”姜锋目光微冷，“内门区域与禁地，外门弟子不得擅入，违者逐出宗门。”
魏林微微皱眉，而一旁的袁衡则低声嘀咕道：“听着像是被圈养的杂役，真正的修士都在那些墙内。”
萧如淡淡瞥了他一眼，并未接话。
此时，姜锋轻抬手，数名身着宗门道袍的弟子穿梭人群，将一块块灵玉铭牌分发至众人手中。
魏林接过灵玉铭牌，指尖触及的刹那，一道微弱的灵力波动回荡掌心。
“以自身气息催动，完成绑定。”
姜锋环视众人，语气不变：“自今日起，所有宗门贡献皆记录于此。每完成一项任务，每赢下一场比试，每获得一次长老认可，皆可积累贡献点。”
魏林垂眸，仔细端详掌中灵玉铭牌。其表面刻有自己的名字，隐隐流转着灵光，透出一丝禁制的波动，显然已锁定其气息。
姜锋继续道：“贡献点决定你们在宗门内的一切。青叶阁的典籍、斗武场的训练、丹药与灵草的供给，皆需以贡献点换取。你们可以私下交易贡献点**，但若有人胆敢伪造或篡改灵玉铭牌……”
他停顿片刻，目光森然。
“逐出宗门，已是最轻的惩罚。”
殿内众人不寒而栗。
姜锋转身望向众弟子，声音平缓，却隐含警示：“比斗乃修行之道，宗门鼓励切磋，但所有比斗必须在斗武场进行，并由宗门监督。擅自私斗，严惩不贷。”
他眸光微凝，缓缓扫过众人，语气愈发低沉：“接下来的入门试炼，将决定你们的未来。你们的对手不仅是新入门者，更有在外门修行已久的资深弟子——他们更强，更狠，也更加渴望晋升。”
此言一出，大殿内一片沉默，不少新弟子神色愈发凝重。
此时，一名弟子上前，在姜锋耳边低语了几句。他微微颔首，复又看向众人，声音平静如水。
“住所已分配，弟子们即刻带领你们前往外门弟子院，稍后会有人为你们讲解宗门规矩。”
他顿了顿，最后看向众人，话语平静，却如惊雷般敲击众人心神。
“七日后，试炼开始。”
言罢，他拂袖而去，袍袖翻飞，背影洒然消失于大殿之外。
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外门弟子院依五行属性而分，魏林自报到后，便被引至木堂，该院落坐落于外门弟子区域的最边缘，依山傍林，四周皆是高耸入云的苍松翠柏。与宗门内院的石质殿宇不同，此处建筑皆为木制，依地势而建，飞檐微翘，错落有致，隐隐透着几分古朴之韵。空气中弥漫着泥土的湿润气息，松涛阵阵，偶有风过，檐下悬挂的药草随风轻晃，散发出淡淡的草药幽香，犹如静谧的修行之地。
穿过宽敞的门廊，魏林步入木堂。殿内四方皆是木柱支撑，地板略有年岁，踏步时发出微微的吱呀声。厅内通幽长廊，左右皆是整齐排列的房门，每间屋舍皆为两人共居，木墙上嵌着烛台，微弱的火光映照着梁柱，投下摇曳的阴影。虽不奢华，但清洁有序，透出一股宗门应有的规矩与秩序。偶有弟子行走于廊间，有人低声交谈，也有人默默整理着随身物品。
魏林深吸一口气，目光落在门旁镶嵌的灵玉铭牌上，确认自己的房间号后，伸手推门而入。
房内格局简约，却一应俱全。两张木床分列两侧，各自配有叠得整整齐齐的褥被，被褥虽不厚实，但胜在干净整洁。床侧摆放着一个木箱，以供弟子存放随身之物，房中唯有一张低矮木案摆在中央，其上置着一盏未点燃的油灯。墙上无多余装饰，唯有一扇窄小的窗，洒下一缕微弱的午后光辉，为房间添上一丝静谧之感。
屋内，另一名弟子正盘膝而坐，神色安然，正专注地折叠着一封书信。他衣着朴素，袖口略显陈旧，然整理得井井有条。闻声抬头，他的眉目温和，嘴角微微扬起一抹笑意，手中动作未停。
“看来你便是我的新室友了，我叫顾安。”他的声音清朗，语调带着几分随和与真诚。
魏林微微颔首，“我是魏林。”
顾安笑意加深，朝对面的空床一指，“那便是你的了，欢迎来到木堂。”
魏林将行囊放下，环顾房内，轻声道：“比我想象中安静。”
顾安轻笑，手指灵巧地将书信折好，放入信封中，随后将其收入怀中。“吵闹打斗的场面，大多都在斗武场里。”
魏林目光微动，落在桌上的信封上，迟疑片刻，随口问道：“是…家信？”
顾安点头，笑意里透着一丝温和的怀念。“嗯，我妹妹两个月后就要成亲了，我无法回去，但至少能寄些银钱回家，为她添一份嫁妆。”
魏林微怔，略微意外地道：“你还寄银钱回家？大多数修士都不会考虑这些俗务。”
顾安眨了眨眼，理所当然道：“那是当然，我欠他们太多了。我父母年纪渐长，身体也不如从前，已无法如往昔般劳作。我是家里唯一的男丁，他们送我入宗门，是为了让我寻得一条更好的路。可若无人照拂，他们晚年如何度过？”他嘴角扬起一抹暖意，“更何况，世上并非所有修士都有一个等着出嫁的妹妹。”
魏林闻言，心中不禁浮现出花姨与陆爷爷的身影，忆起他们多年来的付出与照拂，心中悄然生出一抹感同身受之意。他看着眼前的青年，心中暗道，此人虽非天赋卓绝之辈，却有一颗不同于旁人的赤诚之心。
顾安懒懒地伸展了一下手臂，倚靠在墙边，语气随意地问道：“如何？适应这里的规矩了吗？”
魏林摇头，“还在摸索。”
顾安果然不以为意，笑着道：“不意外，新弟子初来乍到，多半如此。这里的第一要务，便是贡献点。不论是想获得修炼资源、改善膳食，或是借阅更高级的典籍，都离不开贡献点。”
他略微停顿，接着道：“所有任务都会张贴在外门弟子殿，各有不同的报酬。一般而言，新弟子最先能接触到的，大多是些杂役活——采摘灵药、誊写功法、打扫炼丹房之类的。”
魏林皱眉，“就这些？”
顾安见状，忍俊不禁地笑出声，“你以为呢？你是想一踏入宗门，就有长老指点，亦或是进入修炼秘境？那可是内门弟子才有的待遇。大多数外门弟子都没有这样的殊荣，除非你天赋惊人，被长老看重，否则……一切都只能靠自己，一步步爬上去。”
他说到这里，目光微微闪动，指尖轻敲桌面，似乎若有所思地看着那封书信，语气带上几分意味深长：“这些年，我见过许多弟子入门，有人成长，有人被遗忘，也有人……被困在原地，再也无法寸进。”
魏林沉默片刻，随后问道：“那你呢？”
顾安听闻此言，目光微敛，似有千言万语，最终却只是淡然一笑，语气平静中透着一丝坚定：“我自有我的路，只是还需要再等一等。”
魏林看着他，心中不禁生出几分对这位新室友的好奇，同时也升起了一丝惺惺相惜之意。他微微一笑，道：“看来，往后我有不少问题要请教你了。”
顾安闻言，故作沉思地打量着他，嘴角带着几分戏谑：“没问题，不过这传道解惑的恩情，你怕是要用贡献点来偿还了。”
魏林失笑，“这可未必。”
