[Demonic Sect — Outer Sect]

Ding!

[System Notification: Mission Complete]

Achievement: Host has successfully gained the approval of Mine Overseer Situ Yun and secured status as an Outer Sect Disciple of the Nether Fiend Sect.

Rewards: 2000 Counterattack Points, Cultivation Method «Nine-Turn Golden Core Art», Personal Space expanded to 1,000 cubic meters.

Feature Unlocked: Long-Distance Teleportation.

Qi Yuan accepted the dark robes and identity plaque that marked him as a member of the Nether Fiend Sect. As the familiar mechanical chime echoed in his mind, he barely paused to admire his new gear.

He resisted the urge to immediately inspect the new teleportation feature. Instead, he maintained his masquerade, cupping his hands respectfully toward the overseer standing before him.

“Senior Brother Jiao,” Qi Yuan asked, his voice laced with feigned confusion. “I am now officially a disciple of The Saint Sect. Might I ask where I should go to collect the sect’s foundational cultivation manual? Also… where have I been assigned to live?”

Jiao Guang shot Qi Yuan a sideways glance, his lip curling in a sneer. He let out a sharp, dismissive snort.

“This is The Saint Sect, kid, not a charity hall,” Jiao Guang said, his smile failing to reach his cold eyes. “You just walked through the door. You haven’t contributed a single merit point, yet you want our sacred techniques? Do you think the world revolves around you?”

Jiao Guang leaned back, crossing his arms. “If you want techniques, earn the merit points or pay with Spirit Stones. Nothing is free.”

He waved a hand dismissively. “As for housing, the Outer Sect dormitories are at capacity. Since you’re a last-minute addition, go find a spot to squat on your own. Maybe we’ll talk again when a room opens up.”

Jiao Guang had already sized up this ‘Big Qi’. The kid was clearly a destitute Rogue Cultivator. He looked like a stone that had already been squeezed dry—there wasn’t a drop of oil to be extracted from him.

And his background? Anyone desperate enough to join Blood Refining Peak as an Outer Sect Disciple clearly had no powerful backers.

Blood Refining Peak was notorious. It was a den of tigers and wolves, a graveyard for newcomers. The disciples here were ruthless, their demonic natures unchecked. If this kid survived a month, it would be a miracle.

If Qi Yuan had been sensible enough to slide a pouch of Spirit Stones across the table, Jiao Guang might have shown some mercy and assigned him a relatively safe hovel.

But now? Heh. Forget housing. I won’t even give you the manual.

Qi Yuan stood there, blinking in genuine surprise.

Damn. The benefits package at the Demonic Sect is trash.

No starter manual? No assigned dorm? Even when he was a lowly servant at Falling Cloud Valley, the administration had at least given him a roof over his head.

I knew it. The Righteous Sects are the way to go. These Demonic Cultivators are just cheapskates.

“Is that so?” Qi Yuan masked his disdain with a polite nod. “Thank you for the guidance, Senior Brother Jiao. I’ll go find a place to settle down myself. Farewell.”

He grabbed his meager belongings and turned to leave.

Jiao Guang watched his retreating back, frowning slightly before his expression twisted into a mocking grin.

Hmph. Pauper.

No money and no social skills. Just wait for your death!

After exiting the Outer Sect Internal Affairs Hall, Qi Yuan took a stroll around Blood Refining Peak.

Aside from the oppressive density of Yin energy in the air, the infrastructure wasn’t all that different from a standard cultivation sect.

The atmosphere, however, was distinct. Every disciple he passed seemed to be in a frantic hurry. No one stopped to chat. If two disciples crossed paths, they would instinctively veer away from each other, eyes darting defensively as if expecting a sudden ambush.

It was tense.

Remembering his homelessness, Qi Yuan spotted a passing disciple and stepped into his path.

“Fellow disciple, a moment, please.”

The Demonic Cultivator recoiled as if burned, retreating several steps. He stared at Qi Yuan, his hand hovering near his weapon. “Who are you? What do you want?”

Qi Yuan put on his most harmless, amicable smile. “I’m Big Qi. I just joined The Saint Sect’s Outer Sect today. I wanted to ask if there are any vacant residences nearby?”

“A newcomer?”

The cultivator blinked, his guard dropping slightly as confusion took over. He looked at Qi Yuan like he was an idiot.

“There are vacant residences everywhere,” the disciple said, his expression turning odd. “Just find an empty house and move in. That’s how it works here.”

Before Qi Yuan could ask for clarification, the man side-stepped him and sprinted away, disappearing into the gloom without looking back.

Qi Yuan stood rooted to the spot, baffled. Then, the realization hit him.

“So that bastard surnamed Jiao was lying through his teeth. There isn’t a housing shortage at all.”

It made sense. He hadn’t paid the bribe, so the corrupt middle manager had decided to haze him.

Qi Yuan’s eyes narrowed into dangerous slits.

“That Jiao guy really isn’t a good thing,” he muttered under his breath. “The next time I see him, I’m going to have to teach him a profound lesson on the principles of integrity and honesty.”

He sighed, shifting his focus. “I don’t know what kind of brain-dead mission the System is going to throw at me next. For now, it’s best not to disturb that demoness Ji Chan’er. I’ll lay low in the Outer Sect and observe the situation.”

“Besides, this is just the Outer Sect of Blood Refining Peak. There shouldn’t be anyone here capable of threatening me. The Inner Sect might be a different story…”

After a moment of contemplation, he resumed his search for a crib.

It didn’t take long. Within minutes, Qi Yuan’s eyes landed on a hidden gem—a secluded, elegant little courtyard nestled away from the main path.

There were no defensive arrays active outside, and the gate was unlocked. It was clearly unoccupied.

Stepping inside, he found the courtyard pristine. The stone paths were swept, and the plants were trimmed. Someone—likely a specialized servant—was maintaining this place regularly.

Best of all, it was isolated. There was a significant buffer zone between this courtyard and the nearest neighbor. It offered the kind of privacy Qi Yuan desperately needed for his operations.

Perfect.

He pushed the door to the main house open. The bed was bare, stripped of bedding, confirming that no one was currently living here.

Qi Yuan ran a hand over the exquisitely carved furniture, nodding in satisfaction.

I take it back. I misunderstood the Demonic Sect.

They aren’t cheap; they’re just selective! Look at this luxury. This standard of living rivals the Inner Sect disciples of the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary.

What was even more impressive was that a place like this was sitting empty.

Maybe the other Outer Sect disciples think this is too shabby? Tsk, tsk. Their standards are too high.

Too lazy to overanalyze his good fortune, Qi Yuan immediately got to work.

He whipped out a wooden plank, scribbled a sign, and hung it on the front gate:

【THIS COURTYARD HAS AN OWNER. DO NOT DISTURB.】

Then, with a casual wave of his hand, he deployed a simple Foundation Building level restriction array over the entrance.

Dusting off his hands, he strolled back into the master bedroom, ready to test out the System’s new teleportation function.

Not long after Qi Yuan closed the door.

A passing disciple froze, his eyes bulging as he stared at the new sign on the gate.

“Holy crap… Someone moved into the Jia-ranked Cave Dwelling!”

“Are you insane?” Another disciple hissed, rushing over to look. His face went pale. “Quick! Go report to Senior Brother Chi! Someone has seized the Jia-ranked dwelling!”

“So my eyes weren’t playing tricks on me,” a third whispered, trembling. “Who has the guts to be this arrogant? Is it Senior Brother Wu coming out of seclusion?”

Panic spread like wildfire.

Every disciple who passed by stared at the quiet courtyard as if it were a gaping maw to the abyss. They skirted around it, giving the walls a wide berth, their pace accelerating until they were practically sprinting away.

It was as if the hounds of hell were nipping at their heels.