Chapter 10: Blood Refining Grotto

(Toothpick? Don't you see all these muscles we have all over our body?)

Those born with the surname "Chen" wished they could correct what the expert from Blood Refining Grotto said. But again... What kind of status they had, except for being a slightly large family in this Crimson River Town?

For this faction alone, the town-level settlements serving them numbered over twenty. There are even three cities affiliated with Blood Refining Grotto alone, providing more than a thousand potential candidates for them to choose from.

The people from Chen Family can't do anything, even if the expert decides to renegade his decision later. After all, he was here today to give some face to Elder Jian, who hails from the Tiangang Sword Pavilion.

If it was normal for an individual to hug firmly at the thigh of someone powerful. Then it was acceptable for a small faction like Blood Refining Grotto to worship the Tiangang Sword Pavilion like it was their ancestor.

Someone might ask if they're devoid of pride for displaying such a weak standing. But to these experts from tiny factions, it was accepted differently.

"What was pride? Can they be eaten?"

This would be what they'll ask if they were being looked down on by others. After all, losing a glimmer of pride in exchange for resources enough to produce a few Golden Core Layer cultivators worth more than a hundred times in return.

They would be smiling if all the super forces like Tiangang Sword Pavilion came to ask for a slice of their pride like it was sweet cakes.

"Just imagine... How much is the resources could be?"

"Disciple. Come over here with your attendant." Elder Jian didn't reply to what the expert said. Instead, he calmly called Chen Zigang and Chen Tu out.

The two politely made their way to Elder Jian and waited for his next instruction.

"Elder Zhang. This little attendant is the candidate I am introducing to the Blood Refining Grotto. I hope you'll take care of him after I bring his young master back to the Tiangang Sword Pavilion." Elder Jian said and pointed his palm at Chen Tu.

Child. Pay your respect to the senior from Blood Refining Grotto, Elder Zhang." he added.

"This junior Chen Tu greets Elder Zhang." Chen Tu quickly cupped his hands together like he was taught by Chen Zigang. Apparently, it works because the politeness he has shown caught the eyes of this elder.

"Not bad, not bad." Elder Zhang nodded at Chen Tu, seemingly impressed by Elder Jian's eyesight. But only Chen Tu personally knows what would happen afterward.

The two elders continued exchanging pointers with one another before it was later. Using the sun setting as a reason, the two elders bid farewell before leaving Chen Manor to their respective factions.

Chen Tian Peng was slightly dissatisfied with the lack of respect shown by Elder Zhang from the Blood Refining Grotto. Still, he couldn't be said to suffer a loss because his youngest son was already accepted into the Tiangang Sword Pavilion.

The departure of the two elders signified the end of this part of the story with the Chen Family. For regular families like them, an incident like today was nothing but the arrival of a small fortune. Their daily life still continues as usual, without a major change.

Meanwhile, things were different for Chen Tu.

Elder Zhang immediately renegades his promise to Elder Jian. Of course, he wouldn't make it too obvious to be spotted from plain view. His facial expression changed quicker than a billowing wind to heavy rain.

"Boy, I don't care what your name is, but be grateful that I didn't decide to leave you somewhere else and return to my Blood Refining Grotto alone. Although I did promise Elder Jian to take care of you, he didn't mention how and on what treatment."

"I will bring you back to the Blood Refining Grotto, but you won't be my direct disciple. Your talent is too poor, and even accepting you as an outer disciple is a shame to our faction." said Elder Zhang. His words were sharper than a knife and deadlier than an arrow.

But surprisingly, Chen Tu remained quiet even after Elder Zhang finished what he had to say. For the first time, he felt that this brat has what it takes to succeed. But merely a strong mindset is useless if he lacks the talent to turn firmness into strength.

With nothing else to say, Elder Zhang brought Chen Tu back to the Blood Refining Grotto.

From the exterior, it was a picturesque cave located on one side of a mountain. The inner part of this grotto was filled with buildings of different heights, with the tallest reaching nine levels and the shortest with only one level height.

On the side of the hill, the word "Blood Refining Grotto" is carved out on a towering pillar.

Unfortunately, Chen Tu was illiterate. Even if someone is reading the word out to him, he won't understand.

He was abandoned by the elder after leaving him at the registration office for outer disciples. Although one of the elders brought Chen Tu in here, no instruction was given to the registration staff.

Hence, Chen Tu was treated as a nobody with no backing. The fact that he's illiterate permitted the staff to secretly take away something from the disciple pack. For example, a sword and a self-sustaining kit like shovels, seeds, and food.

Chen Tu was also sent to the worst accommodation building to stay there. It can be said that only the most problematic bunch of people would be sent here. But Chen Tu's case is because he has no backing and is illiterate.

His first day outside of Chen Manor turned out to be terrible as Chen Tu not only had to sleep without a blanket, he didn't even have anything to eat that night.

In comparison, Chen Zigang had it much better. Upon leaving Chen Manor, the elder withdrew his flying artifact from a mysterious jade slip and took Chen Zigang to soar like a bird back to the Tiangang Sword Pavilion.