A place like that was not only highly sought-after, but it was also never short on staff. Without solid connections, how could anyone possibly get in?
And before, it had always been fully staffed.
But just a few days before Zhang Deming arrived, the master of Qingyou Pool suddenly kicked out all the Outer Disciples responsible for its upkeep.
The reason given: they were all slacking off, and as a group, they were all unqualified.
This matter wasn't exactly small, but it wasn't a huge deal either.
What excited the other Outer Disciples even more was that there were now positions to fight for.
Immediately after, in a turn of events that made the jaws of countless Little Hui Peak Outer Disciples drop, they didn't get a single chance to compete.
The Steward had simply grabbed a newly promoted disciple from outside to fill the spots. That person was Zhang Deming himself. To outsiders, his luck was so good it was enough to make many people green with envy.
However, as the winds of public opinion shifted over the past few days, people gradually began to feel that this wasn't a matter of luck at all.
Figuring this out, Zhang Deming's mood grew even heavier.
'Because someone who knows how to manipulate public opinion like that is no fool!'
'What a pain in the ass!'
'How did I randomly offend such a bunch of high and mighty saints?'
'Poor little me!'
He shook his head, deciding not to dwell on these matters. He would just have to deal with problems as they came.
After about half an hour of travel, Zhang Deming finally arrived at Little Hui Peak Plaza.
This place, located on a gentle slope halfway up Little Hui Peak, was a plaza that couldn't be compared to the small grounds of Little Qing Mountain, which held only a few hundred people.
Among the more than 20,000 disciples of Little Hui Peak, at least 10,000 hadn't learned the Agility Technique.
And that was considered a good ratio, since the vast majority of disciples chose the Agility Technique as their second Technique.
The Spiritual Shield Class in half a month would be even more crowded. As a third Technique, most Outer Disciples had not learned it.
Because mastering the three Basic Techniques, reaching Advanced Apprentice Cultivation, and being under fifty years old...
...these were the most basic requirements for applying for the Inner Sect review.
Right now, it was time for the open class to begin. On the massive plaza, people emerged from various paths from time to time.
They sparsely crossed the plaza, heading towards the Dharma Transmission Hall situated not far from it.
The Dharma Transmission Hall, besides its huge main hall on the plaza, was surrounded by countless side halls.
The main hall was only used when the Peak Master or some other major figure—at least a high-level Tai Chi Stage expert—suddenly felt inspired to hold a lecture.
The monthly open classes were all held in the side halls. Of course, there were specific side halls dedicated to these open classes.
They had their own special name: the Basic Dharma Transmission Halls.
From Basic Dharma Transmission Hall Number One to Number Thirty.
Each side hall was quite large, capable of holding a thousand people at once.
The aforementioned fight for seats was because the instructors in the first few halls were all experienced senior brothers, or even master-uncles—Peak Apprentices or even Tai Chi Cultivators who had been teaching for who knows how many years.
Not only were they experienced, but the proportion of students who achieved enlightenment in their classes was also much higher. Their results spoke for themselves.
Therefore, in order to snag a seat in one of the first few halls, many people arrived very early.
When Zhang Deming arrived, it wasn't late, but it definitely wasn't early either.
Forget about Halls Number One or Two; the first five halls were already completely full.
The Dharma Transmission Hall only had a thousand seats. Each time it opened, an Array at the entrance would automatically scan Identity Cards to keep count. Once it was full, you couldn't even think about sneaking in to stand and listen.
Listening while standing? That wasn't a thing.
As the start time neared, his hall had a total of twenty-one people. More than ten were Outer Disciples from Little Hui Peak, and the rest were servants, some of whom had come from surrounding areas.
The open classes could be attended by anyone who could make it, regardless of where they came from or whether they were a servant or an Outer Disciple.
When the time came, the hall's Array activated, and an instructor was assigned.
A few minutes later, a middle-aged senior brother, a Peak Apprentice, walked into Hall Number Ten, where Zhang Deming was seated.
He had clearly taught this open class countless times. He was extremely well-practiced, and after a glance at the students below, he began to speak directly:
"I'll skip the pleasantries. Everyone is here to learn a Technique, so I'll get straight to the point.
Today, we will be covering the first open class of the month: the Technique, Agility Technique.
As part of the universal Technique series, the Agility Technique is the most fundamental and complete Technique. It is well worth learning and continuing to specialize in.
This is because it has a complete advancement system.
Agility Technique, to Swift Skill, to Feather Fall Skill, to Flying Technique.
Therefore, it can be continuously refined as a Moving Technique, one of the three mandatory Combat Techniques.
This is also why the Sect chose it as the first Moving Technique for all Outer Disciples to practice.
When it comes to casting the Agility Technique, there are two entry paths you can take. They are: Wind and Body.
Starting with the Spirit Wind path is the way of the Mage's Techniques.
Starting with the Spirit Body path is the way of Close Combat Techniques, the way of skill.
Although there isn't much difference in the early stages, significant distinctions will gradually appear as you specialize.
So from the very beginning, you need to be clear about what you need and which path you will follow in the future..."
As a top-ranking, experienced senior brother, his teaching ability was not only strong, but he also often went beyond just lecturing, providing enlightenment on how to choose a cultivation path.
But Zhang Deming wasn't really listening to the senior brother's lecture. It wasn't that the lecture was bad, but that he didn't need it.
His purpose for coming here wasn't to attend the class at all.
His purpose was to copy the Technique from the desk.
Every desk had a fixed Light Screen, and the textbook displayed on it right now was the content of the Agility Technique.
Here, you could copy it by hand for free. It was something of a tradition.
If he went to the Scripture Pavilion, he would need to exchange Contribution for an Entry Order.
Some might wonder, since the open class teaches this Technique, why not print out the Agility Technique and Spiritual Shield and hand them out to new disciples, just like the Little Cloud Rain Skill?
That way, when the class started, students would have at least read the textbook thoroughly and pondered it for a long time. Wouldn't that make it easier to learn?
At the very least, they wouldn't have to waste the first few classes copying and familiarizing themselves with the textbook, right?
Things were not that simple.
Because this involved historical precedents, work issues for the Dharma Transmission Hall, inter-departmental power struggles, and many other Sect-related problems.
Simply put, by not distributing the manuals for these two Techniques, the time each person spent auditing the class would be extended, and by at least one or two months.
After all, the first few classes were mostly spent familiarizing oneself with the textbook.
This, in turn, would create a demand for many more Dharma Transmission instructor positions.
It would expand the influence of the Dharma Transmission Hall within the Sect and increase the familiarity between the Hall and the numerous disciples.
Coupled with historical precedent, this was how the learning process had been formed.
Therefore, what seemed like simply handing out one more introductory booklet would actually affect the Dharma Transmission Hall, one of the most powerful departments in the Sect.
As the Celestial Spirit Sect, a sect with a long history and hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of members...
...internal power struggles made many seemingly simple things incredibly complex.