Su Yuan slightly slowed his pace.

Zhang Wei followed with a grin.

The two returned to the group together.

After standing still, Zhang Wei immediately started showing off the Earth-grade cultivation technique he had selected to nearby disciples, drawing envious glances from many lower-grade spiritual root disciples around him. Zhang Wei wore an expression of smug satisfaction.

The observant Su Yuan noticed several disciples eyeing Zhang Wei with unfriendly expressions.

However, most disciples were already meditating on their techniques, cultivating with intense focus.

Su Yuan didn't join them in studying techniques yet—he was still accumulating time for his "Work Hard, Rest Hard" system perk. Would studying techniques count as cultivation too?

He made casual conversation with Zhang Wei instead.

"Zhang Wei, you should be careful. The seventh disciple to your left seems to really dislike you!" Su Yuan whispered in warning.

Zhang Wei immediately wanted to turn and look.

Su Yuan stopped him: "Don't look directly—you'll alert them."

Zhang Wei pretended to casually glance in that direction, then scoffed quietly: "Oh, it's just that playboy from the Zhou family. We came from the same immortal city. Didn't realize his talent was better than mine. Hmph! He probably didn't get an Earth-grade technique and is jealous! That little punk dares provoke me? I'll beat him into submission!"

"Also, the third in the fifth row, seventh, fifteenth, ninth in sixth row, and twenty-fifth all seem to have issues with you," Su Yuan continued.

Zhang Wei's expression immediately stiffened, his smugness fading as he muttered, "Is it really that serious?"

Su Yuan reminded him: "Haven't you noticed most disciples who received techniques are already meditating on them? Even the top-grade spiritual root disciples in the front row are working hard. You're at the very end of the sixth row—where's your sense of urgency?"

Hearing this, Zhang Wei took a proper look around and realized Su Yuan was right—most disciples were silently studying their techniques. Despite the seemingly noisy crowd, very few were actually talking!

"With such good talent and still working so hard...how are us lower-grade spiritual root disciples supposed to compete?" Zhang Wei's face darkened.

He immediately closed his eyes to study his technique.

Not long after, he opened his eyes in confusion to see Su Yuan still looking around casually without any intention of studying his technique.

"Why aren't you studying your technique?" Zhang Wei asked.

Su Yuan shrugged: "I've accepted my fate. With poor talent and no background, hard work won't change anything—I'll never make it into the outer sect anyway. A little more cultivation time won't matter. But you're different—you're aiming for the outer sect. Shouldn't you be working harder?"

Zhang Wei: "..."

The logic made sense, but something felt off, though he couldn't pinpoint what.

After several rounds, the Valley Master finally emerged from the Scripture Pavilion.

With a wave of his hand, hundreds of streaks of light flew into the disciples' hands.

Su Yuan found himself holding a jade token inscribed with "299."

The Valley Master announced: "These are your disciple tokens and keys to your assigned residences. You may rest today. Your rooms already contain necessary items—disciple robes, valley maps, today's resources, and the Immortal Seed Valley cultivation manual."

"Starting tomorrow, senior disciples will give lectures on various techniques in the Lecture Hall. Schedules will be posted—attendance is optional. In ten days, there will be your first cultivation assessment. I hope you're prepared!"

After these words, the elder swept his gaze across the crowd before soaring away on a beam of white light, his departure so effortlessly graceful it made Su Yuan's eyes gleam with envy.

The crowd immediately erupted into noisy chatter.

Seeing Zhang Wei engaged in conversation with several people—likely about their earlier deal—Su Yuan shook his head, bid Zhang Wei farewell, and headed straight for his residence.

Halfway there, five figures blocked his path.

"Friend, I'm Zhou Wuyou. My family deals in medicinal pills, and we have many senior connections within the sect. Understand? Join me, and you'll never lack pills or spirit stones!" declared a slightly plump youth arrogantly.

Su Yuan offered an apologetic expression: "Sorry, I've already made arrangements with someone else."

"Zhang Wei?" The youth sneered, "That reckless idiot? What use is following him? When trouble comes, he won't be able to protect you!"

Su Yuan frowned—that sounded like a threat.

"My apologies," Su Yuan said, lowering his eyes.

Zhou Wuyou's plump face flashed with irritation as the four behind him glared angrily.

"Reconsider?" Zhou Wuyou said expressionlessly.

Su Yuan shook his head.

Zhou Wuyou gave Su Yuan a long look before turning away. His four followers snorted coldly before following.

Su Yuan watched their retreating backs speechlessly, thinking: "Forming factions already? On our first day? Surely the sect elders are watching. Why don't they intervene?"

Shaking his head, Su Yuan continued onward unhindered, soon finding his assigned house—a standalone dwelling with a small courtyard, complete with cultivation chamber, bedroom, latrine, bathing area, and kitchen. The facilities pleased him greatly.

After a refreshing bath and change of clothes, Su Yuan collapsed into bed, exhausted from the day's events.

Other disciples weren't so quick to sleep.

Zhang Wei had collected cultivation resources from various disciples—thirteen fragmentary spirit stones in total. While meager, these would significantly boost early-stage cultivation, improving progress by thirty to forty percent!

Zhang Wei returned to his residence gleefully and immediately plunged into cultivation practice with his new technique.

Morning arrived without incident.

Su Yuan woke refreshed. After washing up, he examined the fasting pill in his hand thoughtfully.

While organizing the sect-provided items, he'd discovered these pills—one could sustain a disciple for a whole day without eating. Apparently, they were part of daily cultivation resources!

Curious about the taste, he popped one into his mouth and chewed. A bitter explosion flooded his mouth, making him gulp water frantically, though the aftertaste lingered stubbornly.

"That's insane! What kind of horrific flavor is this?"

Su Yuan checked the valley map for dining hall locations but found none.

Knock! Knock!

"Su Yuan, you up?"

Su Yuan raised an eyebrow—Zhang Wei's voice.

"Coming!"

He opened the door to find a smug-looking Zhang Wei entering, his twitching eyebrows comically expressive.

"What's got you so happy this early?" Su Yuan asked.

Zhang Wei's grin widened: "After one night's cultivation, I've generated fifteen strands of spiritual energy! How many did you manage?"

Su Yuan replied: "Well...how many do you think I got?"

Zhang Wei guessed: "Three strands after three cycles?"

Su Yuan nodded: "Impressive guess!"

Zhang Wei patted his shoulder: "Don't feel bad! With my better talent, superior technique, more resources, and harder work, it's natural I progress four to five times faster!"

"You're really comforting," Su Yuan said dryly.

"Haha! I'm definitely making outer sect this time!" Zhang Wei grinned widely before leaving with an exaggerated swagger, calling over his shoulder: "Back to cultivating!"

Su Yuan immediately entered his cultivation chamber.

He checked his system panel:

[[Name]: Su Yuan

[Region]: Green Vine Continent

[Level]: Unknown (1/100)

[Realm]: Qi Refining Stage - First Layer (0/100)

[Trait 1]: Work Hard, Rest Hard: You excel at balancing work and rest. The longer you rest, the better your cultivation results. Current rest time: 8.7 hours

"Let's test this trait's effects."

Su Yuan sat cross-legged, holding a fragmentary spirit stone.

Closing his eyes, he began formally comprehending the Burning Wood Spirit Tempering Technique!

As he parsed the technique's contents character by character, white light flashed across the system panel—his accumulated rest time reset to zero.

Simultaneously, Su Yuan's mind became extraordinarily clear. The previously obscure and difficult technique contents were rapidly understood and mastered.

The first layer's cultivation process became crystal clear:

Qi Refining's first layer required constructing three spiritual nodes using spiritual energy. Typically, the first node needed one hundred strands, the second two hundred, and the third three to four hundred.

However, the Burning Wood Spirit Tempering Technique offered a specialized method—cultivating wood, fire, and metal attribute energies separately. During node construction, wood energy served as fuel to burn fire energy for impact, while metal energy reinforced the nodes. This method could reduce energy consumption by twenty percent, with further reductions possible through mastery!

Moments of enlightenment flashed through Su Yuan's mind—in this short time, he'd achieved basic understanding of the technique.

With clarity achieved, Su Yuan officially activated the technique, adjusting his breathing to guide his initial strand of wood energy through meridian circulation!

Ambient spiritual energy entered his body through breath and pores, joining the meridian flow.

Initially clumsy, Su Yuan quickly adapted. His energy flow smoothed out remarkably, overcoming obstacles with seemingly divine assistance.

When the circulation cycle completed, his dantian—which originally held one incomplete wood energy strand—now contained three complete strands: wood, fire, and metal attributes.

This surprised Su Yuan.

According to Zhang Wei, one cycle typically produced just one strand—yet Su Yuan had generated three simultaneously!

Focusing again, Su Yuan initiated a second cycle, this time channeling all three strands through his meridians.

The three energies spiraled together yet remained distinct, forming a triangular drill at the front with a three-colored rope-like formation behind, providing powerful momentum.

Ambient energy and the spirit stone's energy flooded into Su Yuan's body at accelerated rates.

His refined circulation converted this energy into personal spiritual energy with astonishing efficiency.

Unbeknownst to him, Su Yuan's circulation had already surpassed beginner levels—any experienced observer would have been shocked.

When this cycle ended, the returning energy had multiplied to twelve strands!

Su Yuan was stunned.

He pressed on with a third cycle, attempting to channel more energy but finding three strands remained the limit. Undeterred, he maintained steady circulation.

As the cycle neared completion, sudden mental fatigue set in—his energy control grew sluggish. The trait's effects had ended.

Fortunately, timing was perfect. After two final breaths, he guided the energy back to his dantian.

Nine additional strands joined the others, bringing his total to twenty-one strands—surpassing Zhang Wei's all-night cultivation results.