Three days later.
At the outskirts of Xuandan Mountain Range, Han Yi bid farewell to Zheng Hai, ready to descend the mountain.
"Han Yi, don't be disheartened. After all, Guan has chosen a good position for you."
"The Xuandan Pill Shop is a second-tier brand of the sect outside. By going there, you can also take on pill refining tasks, which is good for your Alchemy Skill."
"If your Alchemy Skill makes a breakthrough, returning to the sect next year will be easy."
Zheng Hai sighed inwardly but forced a calm expression on his face to cheer Han Yi up.
"Rest assured, your words are enough for me."
"I believe I will come back."
Han Yi nodded firmly.
He had no intention of letting Zheng Hai know that he had made a breakthrough in his Alchemy Skill to the stage of 'beginning understanding.'
Although Zheng Hai was considered his first friend in this world.
But some secrets, not telling friends, is the best approach for both parties.
Moreover, one can never see another's heart.
Having worked many years in his past life, Han Yi had heard too many stories of friends becoming enemies.
After saying goodbye to Zheng Hai, Han Yi headed straight down the mountain toward Mengshan City.
Three days earlier.
When he rushed to Vermilion Bird City and met with Guan Di again, Guan Di could only tell him helplessly that the time had passed and, according to the sect's rules, his residence would be reclaimed.
Afterward, Guan Di made arrangements for his work after descending the mountain, within the scope of his capabilities.
In a sect-controlled pill shop in Mengshan City, he would help as a disciple dispatched by the sect.
Guan Di, at the sixth level of Qi Cultivation, was only one step away from becoming an inner sect disciple. Because his clan uncle was an outer sect executive, he was able to manage in the Great Hall as a junior manager.
He too needed to prepare for his breakthrough in the late stage of Qi Cultivation and couldn't help Han Yi and Zheng Hai in every instance. Doing this much was already not easy.
Han Yi expressed his sincere thanks.
…
Daqian Immortal Country, possessed the two provinces—Qian and Shu.
Within Qian Shu's two provinces are thirty-three counties, with twenty in Qianzhou and thirteen in Shu State.
Shu State is rugged with up to nine mountain ranges.
The Xuandan Mountain Range spans across the three counties of Taibai, Nanyang, and Luofeng in Shu State.
As the master of Xuandan Mountain Range, and home to several dozen Masters Golden Core, Xuandan Sect's status within Daqian Immortal Country was second only to the country's 'One Holy, Two Saints, and Three Great Sects.'
"One Holy" of course refers to Daqian Immortal Country, which had Great Powers of the Spirit Transformation stage at its helm.
"Two Saints" refers to the same level of Holy Lands of the Immortal Path, which possess Spirit Transformation stage powers and are not weaker than an Immortal Country.
"Three Great Sects" refers to the three sects with Nascent Soul stage cultivators.
Therefore, as long as you don't provoke these six powerful forces with Nascent Soul stage or higher masters, Xuandan Sect has no worry of destruction.
These pieces of information
Were sorted out by Han Yi from the memories in his mind.
Being under a big tree is a great shade. Although Xuandan Sect was not the biggest tree, it was enough to provide safety for him.
Such a tree, Han Yi certainly did not want to miss.
Only, he had not expected to cause such a misunderstanding upon his arrival.
And since it had already happened, he had no excessive regrets.
Mengshan City is a city in Nanyang County.
In his memories, he was not unfamiliar with this city because he came from Mengshan City, his homeland.
However, he had an unfortunate origin, and although Mengshan City was his homeland, he had no relatives or family there.
In short, he had no attachments to Mengshan City.
Thus, he directly headed for the place arranged by the sect.
As a sect that primarily engages in pill refining, Xuandan Sect has two types of pill shops set up in Daqian Immortal Country: Profound Immortal Pill Shops and Xuandan Pill Shops.
Profound Immortal is first-tier, mainly serving cultivators above the Foundation Establishment realm.
Xuandan is second-tier, mostly serving Qi Cultivation cultivators.
Within the three counties of Taibai, Nanyang, and Luofeng, each city has both a Profound Immortal Pill Shop and a Xuandan Pill Shop.
Besides these three counties, in the two provinces of Qian Shu, the county cities of the other thirty counties also have similar setups.
It can be said
That Xuandan Sect occupies at least one-third of the pill market share in the entire Daqian Immortal Country.
In Mengshan City's Xuandan Pill Shop
Han Yi, wearing a simple gray robe, entered and showed his sect token to the shopkeeper behind the counter.
The shopkeeper looked to be about fifty or so, not overly old. At this age, his pill appraisal skills would be very experienced, yet he would not misjudge due to lack of energy.
"So it's Han, junior brother. Welcome, welcome."
The shopkeeper spoke gently.
"May I ask how to address you, senior apprentice brother?" Han Yi bowed, not neglecting the proprieties.
"I am Guan Sheng, and Guan Di is my own nephew."
"So, it turns out to be Uncle-Master Guan."
Han Yi had a sudden realization and switched his form of address to show a closer relationship.
It seemed that Guan Di had indeed gone to great lengths to arrange for him to be here.
He took the favor to heart.
The shopkeeper waved his hand.
"The hierarchy within the sect should not be muddled; you should still call me senior apprentice brother."
Then, he continued speaking.
"This Xuandan pill shop, I have been the main shopkeeper for years, always present here.
Regarding the pill refining assistants in the shop, including you, there are four of us in total.
Among them, Jiang De and I are long-term residents here, not considered dispatched disciples.
The other two, Xia Qingyi and Xiao Yi, like you, are also disciples dispatched by the sect."
What Guan Sheng referred to as 'sect dispatched disciples' were actually low-ranked disciples who had their external peak residences temporarily repossessed due to insufficient points.
The Xuandan Sect claimed to have one hundred thousand external disciples, among whom, there were not a few who lost their residences due to insufficient points each year.
Most of these people, once they descended the mountain, never had the hope of returning to the sect.
A few, after experiencing some serendipity, either made a breakthrough in their realm or their alchemy skills, were then able to return to the sect.
As soon as Guan Sheng finished speaking, a thin and tall young man in his thirties stepped out.
The thin and tall young man was also wearing the grey robe of the pill shop.
"Just in time, come on, let me introduce him to you, this is Jiang De."
Guan Sheng said to Han Yi, then introduced Han Yi to the young man.
"This is Han Yi, who just descended from the sect today."
The thin and tall youth, Jiang De, gave Han Yi a flash of his eyes and a nod, expressionless, without further words, then brushed past and headed up to the second floor of the pill shop.
A pungent burnt smell invaded the nostrils.
Han Yi thought to himself that he must have just spoiled a pill.
"Don't mind it, Junior Brother Han, Jiang De has always been reserved and silent, even towards me, it's the same on normal days."
Han Yi nodded, indicating his understanding.
Next.
Guan Sheng continued to introduce Han Yi to the layout of the Xuandan Pill Shop, the pills for sale there, and the set prices, among other details.
Finally, Guan Di took out a palm-sized silver disc.
"This is an array disk for a small courtyard in the North City District."
"As per the sect's regulations, dispatched disciples are each allocated one courtyard. If they apply to leave the sect or are fortunate enough to return to the sect, they must turn the courtyard back over to the sect."
"Junior Brother Han should settle in first.
According to the sect's rules, you need to report to the pill shop each quarter. Let's see, the next reporting time... ah, how fortuitous, it's exactly seven days from now.
At that time, there will be some pill refining tasks available for you to choose from.
Remember not to miss the deadline."
"Thank you, Senior Brother Guan."
Han Yi took the array disk.
Following this, Guan Sheng went over some other matters, and then Han Yi turned and left the pill shop.
After he left, the thin and tall young man Jiang De came down from the second floor, his gaze flickering maliciously.
"Guan Lao, could this guy spoil our plans?"
"What we are doing cannot afford even the slightest mistake. If it leaks, it won't just be a problem for you and me; even the families behind us could face total calamity."
"To be safe, should I take him out, just like before? After all, the sect wouldn't specifically investigate the death of a low-ranked, dispatched disciple..."
Jiang De voiced his thoughts in a low tone, a hint of hidden murderous intent flashing in his eyes.
Guan Sheng shook his head, his eyes half-closed, "No rush. Rather than killing him, I have a better idea."
"A better idea?" Jiang De asked, puzzled.
"Don't you think it's more plausible for a disciple, just repossessed from his external peak spirit vein residence and dispatched down the mountain, to attempt to breakthrough in pill refining skills by embezzling spiritual medicines, and then for us to discover him and execute him on the spot, removing a harm for the sect?"
Guan Sheng's voice remained calm with no hint of ripple.
"I myself wouldn't believe that. Would the people from the Law Enforcement Hall believe it?" Jiang De frowned deeply, not understanding.
"Don't concern yourself with this; I have my ways to make them believe." Guan Sheng's tone was still even.
...
Han Yi was unaware of the conversation between Guan Sheng and Jiang De after he had left.
At this moment, after stepping out of the Xuandan Pill Shop, he channeled a thread of mana into the silver disc in his hand, which immediately relayed information back to him, guiding him on his way.
"Interesting, this is another aspect of the Hundred Arts of Cultivation, the application of arrays."