Awakening of the Ancient: Rise of the Fallen

"Anyway, was that all that happened today or something else too?" He asked the servant. 

"That was all. I was going to return the herbs that I got for you. After selling them, just as I turned to walk back, I hit the young miss. That's when it all started. I was beaten, but I survived. I didn't expect that more people would come to beat me up, though," the servant let out with a wry smile on his face.

"That's what happens when you don't have strength. You need to be careful when you leave. It's a world of the strong. Weak people like you would be wiped in an instant if you offend them. The only way to survive is to have strength or to have a stronger person to depend on," Xu Ming let out as he educated his servant on how to be careful.

"Master, can I tell you something?" The servant suddenly asked.

"Yeah, what?" Xu Ming asked curiously.

"I feel like you have changed, and I like this change. You are more confident now, and you take a stand. I always knew that you were strong, you just didn't have enough confidence, but now that you have it, I feel like you can really survive in the trials after all. But you need to train more. You need to be careful and not take the trials lightly,"

"Previously, I felt as if you had given up on your life since you knew that you were about to die in the trials after all, but I can see a new light in your eyes. You can do it, and I have full faith in your master. I have a feeling that you can and will become the Crown Prince!" 

The servant started talking. From his expressions, it was clear that he was a little emotional.

"Yeah, I hope to survive, so I had to change a little," Xu Ming smiled as he used the convenient excuse that he had received.

"Anyway, How about we go for a walk? I have tested your memory on general topics, but today, I want to test your outdoor knowledge," Xu Ming said as he glanced towards the door. Even though he knew the basics of the sect, he still needed to see and understand this place better, and today was an excellent opportunity.

"Uhm, today?" The servant asked with a wry smile on his face.

"Yeah, are you worried about those people? Don't worry. I won't let anyone harm you. You already got your punishment, and after that, they were in the wrong for breaking into my courtyard and attacking me. Any argument they make won't stand before any Elder," Xu Ming said.

"Alright," The servant agreed as he nodded his head.

They left the courtyard and started walking away from it.

"Your father, It is decent considering all things, but I don't think it is as good as the Eldest Prince. The king dotes on him the most, so I assume that he is the favorite son. Also, you have spent your last nine years in the sect and haven't gone to meet your father even once, and he didn't call you to meet him either. It makes me believe that there might be some problems, but I can only assume that it is decent and not great," the servant let out.

"What you describe sounds awful. Why do you say that it's a decent relationship then?" Xu Ming inquired with a curious look on his face.

"Because you still get money and resources from the Royal Palace. They bring it directly to the sect. I would believe that your relationship should be decent for them to still care to send you resources," The servant replied.

"Can't it be because they don't want me to bring shame to them in the trial by showing up with trash Cultivation? You know the idiom that a pig is always fed well before slaughter. Can't I be the pig?" Xu Ming inquired as he chuckled. He believed that the King honestly didn't care for him after listening to his words.

It was a good thing for Xu Ming, though. Since he hadn't met the king in the last seven years, Xu Ming could succeed in fooling him if there ever came a time to meet the king.

"This..." The servant was stunned as he heard the words. "I never thought about it that way."

"It's fine; there are many small things that are easily ignored," Xu Ming muttered.

"What's that building?" Xu Ming inquired as he pointed towards a building in the front.

"That's the skill library. It's a place where you can buy skills with credits. You can come back any time to read the skills you brought in the library if you ever needed," Xu Ming replied.

'Nice, so It is a combination of a skill hall and a skill vault where Cultivators can deposit their skill books to read in the future. If that's the case, I can see the skills of Li Mu as well. I can not only see them, but learn them to make my stay here easier. After learning his skills, I would be able to fight freely while keeping my real identity safe,' Xu Ming thought. 

"Right answer," Xu Ming nodded his head.

"Now, tell me how one can access the skills they had learned after going inside?" Xu Ming asked.

"A disciple can show their badge to the Library Helpers or the Elder, and tell them that they want to see their previous skills. All the skill books that the disciple had received before will be brought to them," The servant said.

"Nice," Xu Ming muttered.

'Tomorrow, I can learn the skills of Li Mu,' Xu Ming decided. 

He continued walking ahead and soon reached another big building that looked just as big as the skill library.

"What is this place?" Xu Ming inquired.

"This is the betting arena," The servant replied.

"What's a Betting Arena?" Xu Ming inquired.

'This is the first time I hear about this,' he thought.