Perhaps it was because the work at the Refining Equipment Hall was tough and less glamorous, even with high early gains and later rewards, talents with Class A apertures still preferred to work at places like the Elixir Refining Hall, Spirit Beast Hall, or the Bounty Platform.
Besides Hong Yuan and the blue-robed disciple Zhao Gonghe, no other new disciples with Class A apertures were willing to come to the Refining Equipment Hall.
"Decorum, decorum, why can't they see past it?" Xu Hongde sighed lightly, feeling pity for those talents with Class A apertures who, like Hong Yuan, had risen from being menial disciples.
After waiting for the length of an incense stick to burn, seeing no other disciples with Class A apertures coming forward, Xu Hongde led Hong Yuan and Zhao Gonghe to Elder Lin Daoyan's residence.
Elder Lin Daoyan was the Refining Equipment Hall's head elder and had reached the level of a fifth-tier Martial Artist. Just one step more, and he could ascend his aperture to sainthood and enter the Position of the Supreme Elder.
Following the bluestone steps down, Hong Yuan heard the pounding of iron and saw the bare-chested rough men within the various workshops.
All these men were brawny and muscular, their bodies almost bursting at the seams with strength.
"Hong, I didn't lie to you, did I? Our disciples in the Refining Equipment Hall are all robust and strong. Give it a few months, and even your thin frame will fill out," Xu Hongde said with a smile.
"Yes, that's right," Hong Yuan said with a shy smile.
Zhao Gonghe glanced at Hong Yuan upon hearing this, his lips curving slightly upward.
Hong Yuan's appearance was lean, with a prominent nose, thick eyebrows, and bright, spirited eyes. While he looked impressive at first glance, his frame was somewhat slight.
The Refining Equipment Hall needed strength!
Before long, Xu Hongde brought Hong Yuan to a White Frost Stone House.
Next to the White Frost Stone House were a few willow trees, their branches swaying in the wind, bringing a hint of coolness.
Entering there, Hong Yuan immediately felt a wave of coolness, the warm air completely dissipating.
"You two wait here," Xu Hongde instructed.
With that, Xu Hongde headed straight into the stone house.
After Xu Hongde had left, Hong Yuan raised his head to study the house's structure, hoping to understand Elder Lin Daoyan's likes and dislikes in advance.
One might not have to cater to his preferences, but at least one must not do what he detests.
"Hong Yuan, right?" Zhao Gonghe suddenly initiated a conversation with Hong Yuan.
Hong Yuan shifted his gaze and calmly replied, "I am Hong Yuan. What is it?"
"Heh, nothing," Zhao Gonghe chuckled and quickly brought the conversation to an end.
Hong Yuan knew what Zhao Gonghe meant—his presence was a threat to Zhao Gonghe.
Both had Class A apertures, but Hong Yuan's background was far cleaner than Zhao Gonghe's.
If Elder Lin Daoyan were to choose a disciple, the odds would be much higher for Hong Yuan than for Zhao Gonghe!
Inside the stone house, the middle-aged and robust Elder Lin Daoyan slowly looked through the profile information of Hong Yuan and Zhao Gonghe, occasionally voicing questions to Xu Hongde, who responded swiftly without daring to mix in any personal feelings.
After the time it took for an incense stick to burn.
"So, both of them are potential talents," declared Elder Lin Daoyan with finality.
In the presence of this important figure, Xu Hongde dared not give frivolous answers, only continuously offering appeasing smiles.
"Hongde, go bring the two of them over," Elder Lin Daoyan said with a wave of his hand, his gaze turning toward the door.
It wasn't long before Hong Yuan and Zhao Gonghe were ushered before Elder Lin Daoyan by Xu Hongde.
The White Frost Stone House was even cooler inside, furnished simply with a tea set and a desk.
Hong Yuan quickly glanced at Elder Lin Daoyan then decisively practiced the discipline of eyes on the nose, nose on the heart.
The elder before him, Elder Lin Daoyan, was indeed as the intelligence he had gathered described—strong build, a face full of fleshy muscles, exuding an immense sense of threat.
I just didn't know what to make of the rumors about his straightforward and decisive actions, and his ruthlessness in killing.
Confronted with Elder Lin Daoyan's naked, unadorned scrutinizing gaze, Hong Yuan behaved as if he saw nothing.
On the other side, Zhao Gonghe was not faring any better. His performance was even worse than Hong Yuan's.
Zhao Gonghe was already trembling incessantly under the imposing aura and intimidation of Elder Lin Daoyan.
Finally, Elder Lin Daoyan spoke, his first words startling. "Hong Yuan, Zhao Gonghe," he asked, "are you two willing to become my disciples?"
THUMP!
Xu Hongde couldn't help but lift his head, eyes wide with shock as he looked at Elder Lin Daoyan, and then he quickly lowered his head again.
To skyrocket to a cultivator disciple, and a powerful Elder's disciple at that! This is what a Class A Aperture is, this is what a Class A Aperture is!!! Xu Hongde roared madly inside, his envy of Hong Yuan and Zhao Gonghe's treatment reaching an extreme.
He, with a B-rank Aperture, had entered the Refining Equipment Hall and had slaved away for three whole years before progressing from an official disciple to a cultivator disciple.
And at this moment, just by nodding their heads, Hong Yuan and Zhao Gonghe could skip the hard labor stage. They would directly become cultivator disciples of the Refining Equipment Hall, enjoying all kinds of benefits!
Thinking of such disparate treatment, a bitter taste rose in Xu Hongde's heart.
"Disciple is willing!" Hong Yuan immediately accepted.
"Disciple is willing as well!!" Zhao Gonghe also hurriedly accepted.
"Hmm, very good." Elder Lin Daoyan nodded lightly in satisfaction and turned to Xu Hongde. "Hongde, take Hong Yuan and Zhao Gonghe to get their garments and help them choose their courtyards..."
"Disciple understands," Xu Hongde respectfully replied.
「Dusk.」
「Phoenix Fire Peak, central area of the disciple residences.」
Xu Hongde walked around Hong Yuan's new residence with a face full of envy, occasionally uttering sounds of admiration.
"A bedroom, a living room, a training room, a bathroom..."
"Hong, do you know? The place where I lived for five years while working hard in the Refining Equipment Hall wasn't even as good as yours."
"You must seize this opportunity well and not anger Elder Lin."
Hong Yuan, upon hearing this, didn't say much but quickly poured wine for Xu Hongde.
The more Xu Hongde drank, the more emboldened he became, sharing many secrets of the Refining Equipment Hall with Hong Yuan, especially Elder Lin's likes and dislikes, and interpersonal relationships.
Hong Yuan took Xu Hongde's explanations about Elder Lin's preferences and interpersonal relationships seriously, silently noting the key points in his mind.
Of course, he wouldn't wholly believe what Xu Hongde said, but having a direction was pretty good nonetheless.
Even upon leaving, Hong Yuan could still see the envy in Xu Hongde's eyes.
Gazing at Xu Hongde's departing figure, Hong Yuan murmured to himself, Brother Xu, I used to envy you cultivator disciples even more. Later, I realized that envy alone is useless; one must take action personally. A person must rely on themselves!
「Nightfall.」
Le Congsheng arrived.
He first congratulated Hong Yuan for becoming a cultivator disciple and then had a joyous drink with Hong Yuan.
He told Hong Yuan that he had entered the Enforcement Hall and that his cultivation had reached the realm of a first-rank junior Martial Artist; it wouldn't take long before he could personally slay Chen Dongsheng.
And that Chen Dongsheng, due to his human Aperture not being opened, had been relegated to the Bounty Platform, starting from the bottom as a Sword Guard.