I studied abroad in modern times

Zheng Fa felt like he had entered an unhappy arranged marriage.

He and the fat senior brother looked at each other in silence.

"What's your name, senior brother?" Zheng Fa took the initiative to break the silence.

"Han Qi." The fat senior brother also adjusted his expression, exhaled, stood up, and said to Zheng Fa: "I'll take you to get the life card."

Zheng Fa followed him out.

Yesterday's journey was tiring, and he only had a glimpse of Jiushan Sect, and he didn't have time to observe carefully. Today, after looking around, he felt a little confused:

He lives at the entrance of the valley, which is also the most prosperous place in Jiushan Sect. From the dock, there has been a constant flow of people.

The west side of the valley entrance seems to be a residential area, and Zheng Fa lives here. He lives in a small courtyard, which is considered a high-end building in this area.

Half of the buildings in this residential area are bungalows that can see the back door from the front door at a glance.

The distance between the houses is very small, and the architectural styles are also different, making the entire residential area look crowded and messy.

The east side of the valley entrance is probably the market, where six rows of similar small houses are arranged neatly.

The sounds of hawking, talking, and arguing bargaining came from the market.

Zheng Fa felt a little familiar when he looked at it, and familiarity means that this place does not look like a fairy gate, but has too much worldly air.

What he couldn't understand was why all these buildings were piled up at the valley entrance - looking from the valley entrance into the valley, the building density in the valley was much lower, and it even looked sparsely populated.

As if seeing his doubts, Han Qi laughed and said, "Junior brother, you probably don't know that outer disciples like me and those ordinary followers can only live at the valley entrance, and most of the houses can only be built by ourselves."

Zheng Fa understood it - oh, the village in the city.

"Only inner disciples who have built their foundation can live in the valley, here..." He pointed to the dozens of small courtyards closest to the valley entrance and said, "Those are the residences of inner disciples."

... High-end residential area.

"As for the true disciples or elders in the Jindan period, such as Senior Sister Zhang, they can live at the foot of the mountain."

...Villa area.

"As for the Yuanying Zhenren, they can live on the mountain."

...Mountaintop garden.

"But what's the point of this division?" Zheng Fa still couldn't understand it. After all, apart from face, there was not much difference.

"Spiritual veins." Han Qi's tone was a little cold: "The closer to the inner side of our Jiushan Sect's formation, the richer the spiritual energy. We, the lower-level disciples, don't even have the qualifications to breathe more spiritual energy."

"..." Zheng Fa really understood why Senior Sister Zhang said that the lower-level disciples were resentful.

...

Seemingly realizing that the dissatisfaction in his two sentences just now was a bit explicit, Han Qi didn't say much, but took Zheng Fa to the valley: "Today we will go to the General Affairs Hall to receive your life card, and then go to the Sutra Pavilion to choose a practice for you."

"Yes."

Zheng Fa was grateful in his heart, mainly to Senior Sister Zhang - it was really convenient to have a senior brother leading the way.

When they passed the valley entrance, Zheng Fa found something different.

There are a dozen small buildings standing behind the valley entrance, some of which have signs hanging on them, obviously they are shops.

Compared with the small houses in the market, these small buildings are extremely superior in both scale and location.

"Brother? This is..."

"That is Wan Fu Pavilion, which is opened by our Jiushan Sect and specializes in selling talismans. That is Jiu Zhuan Pavilion, which is opened by Qingmu Sect and specializes in selling elixirs. That is Bai Bao Lou, which is opened by Chongyue Sect and specializes in selling magic tools..."

After Han Qi's introduction, Zheng Fa understood a little bit - the market is probably full of self-employed people, but these ten small buildings are all well-known chains of Baixian League. Each store basically represents a sect, and the things inside are all high-end boutiques.

What puzzled Zheng Fa was that this place was actually very deserted.

"Brother Han, since the things here are good, why is there no business?"

Han Qi glanced at him and smiled: "You know that spiritual energy is declining, right?"

"I know."

"In the past ten thousand years, the price of spiritual ink has increased, the price of spiritual grain has increased, the price of spiritual tools has increased, the price of spiritual talismans has increased... As long as it is something with spiritual energy, it is getting more and more expensive."

"Everyone can't afford it?" Zheng Fa understood.

"But, there is one thing that has been reduced in price..."

Han Qi pointed to a shop in the corner of the square with a strange look on his face. The business there is the best among the ten or so shops, and people come in and out from time to time.

"People."

"Ah?"

"That's Xunfang Pavilion, opened by the Su Nu Sect... Well, I heard that the appearance and style of the fairies in it have improved a lot recently."

"..."

"Not to mention anything else, I heard that ten thousand years ago, you could get spiritual stones for guiding new disciples... Now this living general affairs hall only gives gold."

Hearing this, Zheng Fa once again deepened his understanding of the current situation of the immortal gate-prices have risen and wages have fallen. In short, two words, pills.

…

The General Affairs Hall is at the foot of a mountain near the valley entrance.

This is a main hall with two side halls.

“Master Fang, who is in charge of the fate cards, is arrogant and has some background. He never pays much attention to others. Junior brother, don’t be reckless. Just follow me.”

Zheng Fa knew that he meant well and nodded gently.

Han Qi took Zheng Fa into the side hall on the right. There was a middle-aged man with three long beards sitting on a cushion, cross-legged with his eyes closed, meditating and practicing. He was fishing openly.

Han Qi’s attitude was very humble. He didn’t call this person, but pulled Zheng Fa and stood in the hall quietly waiting.

It was not until nearly half an hour later that the middle-aged man gently opened his eyes. Seeing the two people, he did not seem to be surprised, but just said coldly: "New disciple?"

"Yes, please ask Uncle Fang to register this junior brother's life card."

"What's his name?" The middle-aged man glanced at Zheng Fa and asked casually.

"Zheng Fa."

"...Zheng Fa?" The middle-aged man was stunned, his legs jumped up from the cushion, and jumped directly to the ground: "Zheng Fa brought back by Junior Brother Zhang?"

"...Yes."

"Hey, isn't this neglectful!" The middle-aged man patted Zheng Fa's shoulder, looking very enthusiastic; "Junior Brother Zhang told me a long time ago that he was waiting for you...Why didn't you call me earlier?"

Zheng Fa slowly turned his head and looked at Han Qi beside him.

The middle-aged man also looked at Han Qi following his gaze.

Han Qi opened his mouth and finally squeezed out a sentence from his throat: "...blame me!"

...

"Junior Brother Zheng, Junior Brother Zhang has explained to me that since you just entered the sect, you are considered an outer disciple, and your monthly allowance for the first ten years is one spirit stone - this cannot be changed."

"Ten years?"

"After ten years, if you can't build a foundation and become an inner disciple, then you will have no spirit stones..." The middle-aged man paused and said, "With Junior Brother Zhang's appreciation for you, it won't be like this."

Han Qi's face darkened.

"But Junior Brother Zhang said that you are the best in talisman magic, so I asked you to give you an extra 100 talisman papers and two spiritual inks every month - this is also limited, and it will be gone after half a year."

Me, the best in 10,000 years!

Come to receive a scholarship!

That's it?

Zheng Fa glanced at Han Qi on the side, and there were three words written on this man's face: a lot of money!