A Chaotic World

Lu Tianzi did not mind the fact that he was required to build up on his knowledge base before he could be accepted into the Heaven Constellations Inscription Tower.

After all, that was also his initial plan.

But who knew that he would end up having to work as an assistant for the other party as well?

Forget it, who asked him to be this poor?

If this could provide him access to precious resources required to practise the art of inscriptions, then he had no choice but to do just that.

"All right then," Lu Tianzi's voice had dropped by quite a few decibels as he agreed.

At this moment, unbeknownst to Lu Tianzi, the other two people in the room were in complete disbelief!

Becoming the inscription assistant of an established inscription master meant that one would be able to peer into some of the secrets and methodologies applied by the inscription master. This was a position that countless aspiring inscription masters would die for!

Yet despite being offered this position, Lu Tianzi was actually showing such obvious reluctance on his face.

Was arrogance written into his blood?

Or was he just that damn clueless about the current situation?

Inscription Master Nanbai coughed awkwardly to dispel the tense atmosphere in the air. Following which, he threw a badge over towards Lu Tianzi.

Lu Tianzi grabbed it instinctively and examined the small badge.

The silver badge was half the size of his palm, and had the words 'Nanbai' engraved on it in an exquisite manner. When Lu Tianzi focused on it, he could sense a faint trace of Slaughter Essence energy trapped within the silver badge. This trace of energy actually bore similar traits to Inscription Master Nanbai.

"Now that you are considered my inscription assistant, this badge would allow you to prove your identity if necessary. With it in hand, you should be able to get things done within the Heaven Constellations Inscription Tower without any trouble," Inscription Master Nanbai explained.

"I see," Lu Tianzi stowed the badge away. "May I know what I have to do next as your inscription assistant?"

"Return at noon tomorrow, I will tell you what to do then," Inscription Master Nanbai answered.

With Nanqing Haowen present, Inscription Master Nanbai naturally would not speak much in case he accidentally revealed any of his trade secrets. Although Nanqing Haowen was not an inscription master, it was still better to be safe than sorry.

"We will take our leave then," Nanqing Haowen and Lu Tianzi clasped their fists towards the elder before leaving.

Right after they stepped out of the tower, Nanqing Haowen found himself no longer able to hold in his amazement. He immediately turned to Lu Tianzi and grabbed the latter by the shoulders, "Brother Nanlu, be honest with me. Are you really a complete beginner when it comes to the art of inscription?"

"It's true," Lu Tianzi answered truthfully. "It is only because of the detailed jade slips in the open library that I am able to gain some basic knowledge on the subject."

"Hahaha! Basic knowledge? That is far from being basic!" Nanqing Haowen laughed while patting Lu Tianzi on the shoulders. "I guess we both benefited from this trip then! I got my free Darkwater Grape, while Brother Nanlu got to learn about your talent in inscriptions!"

"I still have to thank Brother Nanqing for bringing me along to broaden my horizons," Lu Tianzi smiled.

"Nonsense! If anything, I am the one who gained the most out of this!" Nanqing Haowen hurriedly shook his head. "Come! With this extra wealth that I now possess thanks to your help, let me treat you to some premium quality food!"

Nanqing Haowen made good on his word, bringing Lu Tianzi to one of the most expensive restaurants in the Eastern region of Bluenight City – the Eastern Star Restaurant.

The Eastern Star Restaurant only used the meat of powerful wild beasts as their ingredients, providing their customers with energy charged meals that revitalised both mind and body. However, this also meant that the meals there were incredibly expensive, all measured in terms of low ranked beast cores rather than in gold and silver.

Only martial artists and extremely wealthy mortals were able to afford meals at the restaurant, making it one of the most prestigious restaurants in the Eastern region of Bluenight City.

Lu Tianzi and Nanqing Haowen chalked up a bill of five low ranked beast cores, causing Lu Tianzi to feel his heart bleed.

Even though he was not the one who forked out the beast cores in the end, these were still precious resources that could have been used for cultivation!

One had to remember that even after the entire day at the Beast Hunt, Lu Tianzi had only managed to acquire three low ranked beast cores!

He really should have known better and just request that Nanqing Haowen give him the excess beast cores instead of splurging on food…

It was already evening by the time they were done with the sumptuous meal, and the duo finally returned to the sect grounds.

Not wanting to bother Lu Tianzi any further, Nanqing Haowen left him to rest for the night.

After all, everyone needed some time to themselves.

That was all the more true for martial artists, who needed to spend a lot of time consolidating their cultivations as well as pondering upon their techniques. It was not rare for martial artists to even seclude themselves in meditation for days or weeks on end.

Lu Tianzi and Nanqing Haowen were no different.

While they did not choose to enter secluded meditation, they still needed to spend time each day making sure that they consolidated their cultivations in preparation to break through to the next realm.

When the next morning arrived, Nanqing Haowen once again arrived at Lu Tianzi's doorstep with a big smile on his face.

"I bring good news, Brother Nanlu," Nanqing Haowen grinned. "The elders have already agreed to hold a separate selection test for you. I don't know how that Nanlan Qianxue did it, but she even managed to convince them to grant you the benefits of an Outer Sect member in the meantime!"

"Benefits of an Outer Sect member?" Lu Tianzi was surprised.

This meant that he would be free to access the training facilities and skill manuals available in the Outer Sect Grounds. Depending on the sect's position, he might even be able to receive the beast cores that were regularly distributed to Outer Sect members!

Were the elders that damn confident that he would pass the selection test?

"Congratulations," Nanqing Haowen said. "Shall we head over to the Pagoda of Knowledge then?"

The day before, Nanqing Haowen had brought Lu Tianzi around to explore the Outer Sect Grounds. Even though he was not yet allowed to utilise the facilities, Nanqing Haowen still wanted him to gain a general understanding on what the Nine Suns Sect had to offer.

Due to that, Lu Tianzi was now familiar with the Pagoda of Knowledge as well.

That was where all manuals available to Outer Sect members were stored. This included a wide range of cultivation and combat techniques, as well as many others that focused on auxiliary and support skills.

Outer Sect members were allowed to borrow one of each type at a time. If there was someone else who wanted to borrow the same manual, then each person was not allowed to hold onto a single manual for more than five days.

Now that Lu Tianzi had gained the right to enjoy the benefits of the Nine Suns Sect, Nanqing Haowen had guessed that he would be most interested in the techniques available in the Nine Suns Sect.

After all, martial artists would always be drawn to powerful techniques.

Things like training facilities were just aids to help martial artists progress at a faster rate, but cultivation and combat techniques were what formed the very basis of martial arts.

Nanqing Haowen did not guess wrong. Lu Tianzi was indeed interested in checking out the Pagoda of Knowledge.

Lu Tianzi and Nanqing Haowen immediately left for the Pagoda of Knowledge. But while they were on the way there, Lu Tianzi started to feel that something was amiss.

The day before, every Outer Sect member whom they came across would greet Nanqing Haowen while looking at Lu Tianzi with curious eyes.

Today, while they would still greet Nanqing Haowen, the way they looked at Lu Tianzi seemed to be completely different.

If he had to describe it, it was almost as though the Outer Sect members were looking at him as though he was an enemy!

"Did something happen that I am unaware of?" Lu Tianzi asked Nanqing Haowen with a voice conveyance.

"This... I am not sure what happened either," Nanqing Haowen answered awkwardly.

The Outer Sect members did not bother concealing their gaze towards Lu Tianzi at all.

Since Lu Tianzi was able to sense that something was wrong, Nanqing Haowen was naturally able to as well. But even so, Nanqing Haowen had no idea what caused the sudden change in attitude among the Outer Sect members.

Right at this moment, a group of Outer Sect members decided to approach them.

"Senior apprentice brother," the group greeted Nanqing Haowen politely.

"Mm," Nanqing Haowen nodded in acknowledgement.

He was an Inner Sect member just like Nanlan Qianxue, and that naturally made him the senior apprentice brother of the Outer Sect members.

"And this is…?" the Outer Sect member in the lead asked while taking a curious glance at Lu Tianzi.

"Oh, this is Nanlu Tianzi. He will be taking the selection test to enter the sect in a few days' time, and will be our fellow sect member in the future," Nanqing Haowen introduced.

"So you are Brother Nanlu," the Outer Sect member smiled as he greeted Lu Tianzi. "My name is Nancheng Wei."

"Greetings, Brother Nancheng," Lu Tianzi returned the greeting out of courtesy.

Nancheng Wei looked like he was in his late twenties, and had a cultivation level at the Peak Essence Building realm. Just from that alone, it could be seen that his talent was quite decent, but not exceptional.

"I am unable to sense Brother Nanlu's cultivation realm, but seeing that senior apprentice brother Nanqing is so confident that you will be able to pass the selection test, I suppose you must have already entered the Essence Condensation realm?" Nancheng Wei asked.

"It is embarrassing to say, but I am only at the Advanced Essence Building realm," Lu Tianzi corrected him.

He might have indeed reached the Essence Condensation realm in the Spiritual Essence system, but that was definitely not what he would let others know.

"Oh? Surely Brother Nanlu is being overly humble," Nancheng Wei seemed surprised by Lu Tianzi's words.

"It is true, Brother Nanlu really does possess a cultivation level at the Advanced Essence Building realm," Nanqing Haowen laughed. "I can vouch for that myself."

Who knew that at this moment, the look in Nancheng Wei's eyes would suddenly change, becoming similar to the other Outer Sect members whom they came across earlier – a look of enmity.

"When I heard that senior apprentice sister Nanlan Qianxue brought a random unaffiliated martial artist back from the recent Beast Hunt, even going to the extent of recommending him to the elders and obtaining a bunch of special treatment, I thought that the person would definitely be some impressive hot shot," Nancheng Wei regarded Lu Tianzi with a cold gaze. "To think that it is just a young brat who even has a lower cultivation realm than me. What a disappointment!"

Lu Tianzi and Nanqing Haowen immediately frowned.

At this point, how could they not understand that Nancheng Wei had specially come over to stir trouble?

"Nancheng Wei, is this how you treat your fellow sect members?" Nanqing Haowen berated.

"Senior apprentice brother, with all due respect, I understand that this brat has yet to clear the selection test. In that case, how can he be considered as a fellow sect member?" Nancheng Wei was not intending to back down so easily.

"Even if that is the case, he can still be considered a guest of mine!" Nanqing Haowen was losing his patience fast.

"It's all right, Brother Nanqing. I will handle this," Lu Tianzi stepped forward. "Even if you are unhappy about the situation, I doubt that you are here only to say all that. Tell me, what exactly do you want from me?"

"How would I dare to demand anything from the person specially recommended by senior apprentice sister Nanlan Qianxue?" Nancheng Wei snorted. "But it just so happened that the Iron Soldiers Combat Array is located not far from here. If you want everyone to be convinced, then how about you go ahead and prove yourself to us? If you are able to beat my score in the Iron Soldiers Combat Array, then I will have nothing to say about you receiving all these special treatments. But if you are unable to beat my score, then know your place and obediently follow the rules just like the rest of us!"