Zhang Deming nodded and said, "I haven't gotten the hang of the Agility Technique yet anyway, so I'll just muddle through for now.
Heh, it's pretty funny when you think about it. The senior brother teaching up there is just going through the motions, and a whole bunch of us listening down here are just killing time.
What is this? A tradition? Or is this how we all contribute value to the Sect?"
Xue Su heard this, glanced around, and said, "Even if you haven't learned it, you still have to show up. Otherwise, you'll look like a total slacker in front of the other disciples.
Even if you don't understand, you have to keep muddling through. It's a pretty normal thing in the Outer Sect.
Otherwise, how could there be over ten thousand people from our peak here every time?
And this is still a good turnout. Next week, they'll start teaching the Spiritual Shield. It's the third Basic Magical Technique for the Apprentice Stage, and the vast majority of the twenty-thousand-plus Outer Disciples on Little Hui Peak haven't learned it.
The crowd will be even bigger then. Add in all the people from other places who come to sit in on the class, and all thirty Dharma Transmission Halls will fill up if you're not careful."
Xue Su had a look of someone who was completely used to this, while Zhang Deming's expression flickered upon hearing his words.
Looking at Xue Su, he asked, "Senior Brother Xue, do you have a transcribed copy of the Spiritual Shield?
Hm, I don't need one filled with insights and notes. Just a basic copy will do.
I want to take a look at it in advance and familiarize myself with the Technique."
Hearing this, Xue Su smiled and rummaged through the bag he carried, pulling out a transcribed copy. From the looks of it, he either always carried it with him, or the guy had prepared it in advance.
Holding the copy, he said, "This was also left behind by some senior brothers from before. I suppose it's one of the few things I've managed to acquire over the last five years."
Zhang Deming's face lit up with joy. He took the copy and flipped through it for a moment.
Watching Zhang Deming seriously perusing the copy, Xue Su asked, "Junior Brother, are you planning to learn the Spiritual Shield first, or are you thinking we could study it together?"
He had obviously and selectively ruled out the possibility that Zhang Deming had already mastered the Agility Technique.
'Mastering a skill in a single day? Not even a super genius with a hundred-point Immortal Root would be that ridiculous.'
Zhang Deming looked up and said, "I'm just taking a look first. If I get frustrated with figuring out the Agility Technique, I can familiarize myself with this one instead."
Hearing this, Xue Su nodded in understanding.
"By the way, Senior Brother Xue, do you know where I can get things like Techniques and Cultivation Techniques?
I just arrived at Little Hui Peak, so I'm not familiar with anything," Zhang Deming asked.
Xue Su's brow furrowed slightly. "Junior Brother Zhang, you've only just joined Little Hui Peak. Your priority right now should be to comprehend the three Basic Magical Techniques as quickly as possible."
Zhang Deming smiled and replied, "Of course, I understand that. I just want to take a look and learn about other Techniques. Who knows, I might gain some insight by analogy."
Xue Su shook his head upon hearing this.
However, he still took out his Identity Card, activated a Light Screen, and then signaled for Zhang Deming to take out his own Identity Card.
When Zhang Deming also activated his Identity Card, Xue Su waved a hand at his own Light Screen.
He grabbed a map from it and tossed it into the Light Screen in front of Zhang Deming.
Then he said, "Alright, this is an unofficial map. It includes the Outer Disciples' flea market.
It also has information on some regular Technique insight-sharing sessions that aren't too private, as well as some specific business spots.
This is good stuff. I don't normally give it to just anyone."
Upon hearing this, Zhang Deming said with a delighted expression, "Well, thank you very much, Senior Brother."
Xue Su smiled. "You're welcome. If, in the future, I have a request..."
"Don't worry, Senior Brother Xue. I will remember the kindness of your assistance."
Zhang Deming spoke before the other could finish. They were both sensible people; there was obviously no such thing as unprompted kindness.
The fact that the other man had waited for him since early morning made his intentions to get closer and win him over perfectly clear.
"Junior Brother Zhang is truly a sensible person." 'It wasn't a waste to deliberately befriend him. With that promise, I can rest a lot easier.'
The two of them chatted idly for a long while, dragging things out and muddling through the rest of the day.
After this experience, Zhang Deming felt that the next time he attended a lecture, it would be better to go to the main hall at the front. The people teaching and attending in the back were all just a bunch of slackers.
...
Lu Ze from the Close Combat Department, who had a conflict with Zhang Deming, had been keeping an eye on him. He had previously missed an opportunity because of the intervention of the Dharma Transmission senior brother, Dang Jin.
One day, Zhang Xiu ran excitedly into Lu Ze's training room. "Senior Brother, we've got a lead! That guy finally couldn't stay cooped up anymore.
He's been coming and going around Qingyou Pool these past few days."
Lu Ze, who was practicing with a staff, paused his movements slightly. "Oh? Where did he go?"
Zhang Xiu said, "The flea market stalls. It seems he's asking about Secret Level Mid Grade Tier Two Cultivation Techniques.
Why don't we find a chance and beat him up again?"
Lu Ze looked up at the simpleton in front of him and said, "Beat him up again? Can you even win?"
Zhang Xiu heard this and said awkwardly, "But Senior Brother, didn't you say it doesn't matter if we can win or not? If we win, we beat him until he's forced to withdraw.
If we can't win, we use the Law Enforcement Team and accuse him of slaughtering a fellow disciple.
Don't worry, Senior Brother. I'm prepared this time. I won't embarrass you."
Lu Ze shook his head. "No, we can't use that trick. We've already used that method once; it probably won't have much effect on him.
After all, based on our last encounter, this person is no fool."
Hearing this, Zhang Xiu asked, "Then what should we do? Senior Brother Zhou has been in the Inner Sect for several days. I heard the matter in the back mountains still isn't resolved, so the Elder who came back to handle things probably won't stay long.
If this business with an Outer Disciple isn't settled by the time Senior Brother Zhou returns, I'm afraid we'll be blamed..."
"Let me think. I'll mull it over.
By the way, did you investigate the matter I told you to look into again?" Lu Ze remembered something and asked.
Zhang Xiu replied, "I did. We didn't find any issues. It's confirmed he's just an Ordinary Disciple who languished on the fringes of the Miscellaneous Affairs Department for ten years.
This whole incident was probably just pure luck. After all, even though no one has seen that master at Qingyou Pool in years, everyone knows about their eccentric temper.
This time, they probably just had a sudden whim."
Lu Ze frowned slightly and glared at Zhang Xiu. Zhang Xiu immediately lowered his head and said no more, and Lu Ze fell into deep thought.
...
In the following days, Zhang Deming used the map to find the so-called flea market.
The Little Hui Peak flea market was a bustling street of stalls. In the early years, it was likely a place where Outer Disciples spontaneously gathered.
But due to the growth of Little Hui Peak, there were now over twenty thousand Outer Disciples.
This place had slowly evolved into a marketplace. It had also been brought under the Sect's management and now had main streets with many proper shops.
But because of its history, the area was still filled with a large number of stalls, and many of the markets were also made up of all sorts of them.
Because of this, everywhere except for the few main streets seemed a bit chaotic.
Zhang Deming slowly familiarized himself with the area while starting to ask around and gather information about Cultivation Techniques.
After several days of exploring, Zhang Deming gradually figured out how things worked.
As a stall-filled bazaar that had developed from what was once a flea market, you could say that they sold everything here.
However, because the vast majority of people were Outer Disciples, there were very few servants.