Brian Carter once again cursed in his heart the rule that outer sect disciples were not allowed to fly within the mountain gate, and took off running at full speed.

Wendao Hall was located on Niujiao Peak of Wukong Mountain, a peak named for its resemblance to an ox horn.

When Brian Carter rushed into Wendao Hall, quite a few people were already seated inside. He casually found a meditation cushion and plopped down, panting heavily.

At the head sat a young man, about twenty years old, with a face like polished jade and eyes as bright as the stars, radiating an impressive brilliance with every blink. Dressed in a deep blue plain robe, he stood out among the dozens in the room like a crane among chickens.

Ethan Clark, ranked third among the inner sect disciples, was usually responsible for lecturing the outer sect disciples. He was Uncle Master Xinyan’s disciple, and among the inner sect brothers, he was the most skilled in artifact forging. Besides that, he was also quite knowledgeable in miscellaneous studies.

Ding!

On the desk, a jade chime rang out with a clear, lingering sound that rippled through the air. Brian Carter immediately felt his spirits lift, his mind clear and refreshed, and all the fatigue from staying up late last night vanished.

Senior Brother Ethan Clark’s set of Green Ripple Jade Chimes had always been one of the treasures Brian Carter most desired. With a frame of red copper, seven green jade chimes were arranged in a row from largest to smallest. Each chime was covered in countless tiny runes, glowing with a verdant light—truly adorable and delightful.

Each chime had a different effect; the one just struck was the [Great Clear Sound Mantra], which calmed the mind and quickly restored stamina—a truly rare and valuable treasure.

Brian Carter could only look on with envy. This set of Green Ripple Jade Chimes had been painstakingly crafted by Senior Brother Ethan Clark himself; none of the other senior brothers had one.

Senior Brother Ethan Clark was deeply loved by the outer sect disciples. If it were any other senior brother, who would use the [Great Clear Sound Mantra] to help them refresh themselves?

With a wave of his sleeve, Ethan Clark closed the doors of Wendao Hall with a thunderous bang.

Brian Carter’s attention was drawn to the desk in front of his senior brother. Besides the set of Green Ripple Jade Chimes, there were also many odds and ends laid out.

Artifact forging? Brian Carter was instantly delighted. He had been in the Wukong Sword Sect for two years and had never heard Third Senior Brother lecture on artifact forging before.

Every so often, Third Senior Brother would teach some cultivation methods, which was one of the benefits for outer sect disciples. The vast majority of people joined the sect to learn more techniques, so that after leaving the mountain gate, they could find a decent job.

For someone like Brian Carter, with a seventh-level Qi Refining cultivation, there weren’t many jobs available. But if he added his third-level [Minor Cloud and Rain Technique], he could find a good job at various valley farms and herb gardens. The Tianyue Realm was not particularly rich in resources, but thanks to its excellent climate and abundant spiritual energy, there were many valley farms and herb gardens.

Mental cultivation methods increased spiritual power and cultivation, relying on resources and accumulation. Spiritual veins, spirit herbs, and spirit stones could quickly boost cultivation, but without them, one could only rely on slow accumulation over time.

Techniques, on the other hand, were about the application of spiritual power, and depended on instruction and comprehension. Of course, there were geniuses who could comprehend techniques on their own, but for ordinary people, receiving instruction was much more practical.

Some major sects forbade their disciples from learning techniques before reaching Foundation Establishment, as they believed cultivation was the foundation.

But for ordinary cultivators, cultivation was as illusory as flowers in a mirror or the moon in water. Spiritual veins, spirit herbs, spirit stones—none of these were things they could hope for. In comparison, techniques were much more practical. Finding a decent job and earning a good income not only ensured a living, but also meant their descendants wouldn’t have to struggle so much in the future.

“You’ve all been in this sect for quite some time, and I know a bit of the hardships you’ve endured. You must cultivate diligently and not slack off, so that life will be easier for you in the future and your efforts won’t be in vain. As for mental cultivation, I won’t go on about it—there are no shortcuts there. If your year-end performance is outstanding, I will personally teach you advanced mental cultivation methods.

Today, I will teach you two artifact forging methods. One is the Spirit-Shaking Hoe, and the other is the Needle-Silk Extracting Pouch.

The Spirit-Shaking Hoe is an essential tool for tending spiritual fields. It can stir up the spiritual energy within the fields, allowing spirit herbs to better absorb it. The Needle-Silk Extracting Pouch is used to collect the sap of certain spirit herbs. Remember, the sap you collect must be handed in as soon as possible, or the spiritual energy within it will dissipate, and you won’t get a single contribution point.

Listen carefully—I will only explain today’s content once…”

Senior Brother Ethan Clark spoke eloquently, a natural charisma shining through his demeanor, winning everyone’s admiration.

Brian Carter listened with utmost attention. This was his first exposure to artifact forging, and he was afraid to miss even a single word.

By the time Senior Brother Ethan Clark finished his lecture, three hours had passed. Having not eaten since last night and having focused intently for three hours, Brian Carter was so hungry his stomach was sticking to his back. He hurried back to his courtyard and stuffed himself with whatever food he could find.

He hadn’t even had time to wipe his mouth when suddenly a sword light descended from the sky, landing in the courtyard. The protective wards around the courtyard were instantly blasted apart without any resistance.

A cold-faced man appeared before Brian Carter.

Brian Carter forcibly swallowed the curse that was about to leave his mouth, his heart pounding—why had this god of slaughter come here?

Before he could even bow, he heard the other man snort coldly: “You are Brian Carter?”