Chapter 53: Life 58, Age 60, Martial Grandmaster 5
Boss Hong led me to a larger settlement where the technique hall for nominal disciples was located. The deacon in charge gave me an unfriendly look but allowed me unfettered access to the manuals there.
The main benefit of coming to this hall was that it had techniques for all of the five basic elements. There were only cultivation and martial techniques though, and nothing was above Rank 1 or Peak-Yellow, so it was more limited in some ways, but it did provide me with a wider selection for the future.
Boss Hong said that he didn’t know of any secret reserves of knowledge, but that many of the gang leaders had received techniques from the outer sect library. I wasn’t sure how truthful this was, but I didn’t care too much. A few extra techniques weren’t make or break for me.
He was able to provide some information regarding the factionalism in the sect that was interesting. The divisions were starker on the Martial Peak. Importantly, Elder Hu’s faction, the Tigers, had recruited several promising disciples with powerful blessings in the past decades, far more than the other two factions. The local nobility seemed to have been receiving a lot of stronger, more combat-focused blessings of late.
After reading all the manuals and copying the tidbits of information into my journal, Boss Hong led me to the entrance to First Ring where the outer sect was located.
“Here.” I handed him an extra pill bottle. “Good luck on advancing.”
“Thank you, lord disciple.” Boss Hong gave a final bow.
Again, there was no gate and there were no guards at the opening in the wall that separated the nominal disciples from the outer sect. Everything was handled by formations and the identity jades. It made me curious what would happen if someone lost their jade, but I had no plans to put myself in that situation.
Following Boss Hong’s information, I made my way steadily to the outer disciple technique hall.