Zhou Bapi's Strange Act! He's been living off a woman again!

As we spoke, the Sixteenth Hall was already in sight.

A standard circular building, covering an area of ​​approximately 100 acres.

The stone chambers surrounding the building were much more spacious than those in the examination hall, each room being several dozen square meters, more than enough to be divided into inner and outer rooms.

In the center is a cluster of buildings in the Earth Fire Chamber, with the Spirit Material Hall, Spirit Food Hall, Internal Affairs Hall, and Mission Hall arranged in order.

At the very heart of the place is the residence of the hall master.

The gray-robed disciples moved between the various doorways.

Some of the people had flame patterns embroidered on their robes, which was a sign that they had cultivated the "Hundred Refinements Technique" and were qualified to refine spiritual materials, making them one level higher than ordinary spiritual servants.

Lu Yun's gaze swept across the perimeter, then he suddenly pointed to several blue-brick buildings on the edge and asked, "What are those?"

"The cultivation room contains one spirit crystal per hour, and the concentration of spiritual energy inside is comparable to that of a spirit palace."

Lu Yun's heart stirred, and he activated his spiritual abode.

Once things settle down, I'll definitely go in and try it out.

Yang Feng led him to a stop in front of the main hall.

Two gray-robed disciples stood guard at the gate. As the two approached, they glanced at them sideways, displaying considerable arrogance.

Yang Feng stepped forward and calmly handed over a spirit crystal: "This is a top-ranked disciple from this assessment, here to report for duty. Please inform Hall Master Zhou."

The gray-robed disciple skillfully accepted the spirit crystal. Upon hearing the words "Grade A," the arrogance on his face faded somewhat, and he re-examined Lu Yun with his gaze.

"Grade A? Today is only the first day, and you've already reported for duty?"

Lu Yun revealed the Ascension Seal, without saying anything more.

The gray-robed disciple, unsure of his background, softened his tone: "Please wait a moment, the hall master is inside meeting with Senior Brother Feng Kun."

The palace door was ajar, and an old but gentle voice came from inside.

"Everyone in the immortal hall knows that I have no other hobbies except for pears."

The pears you brought today aren't crisp enough or sweet enough; they're far inferior to the pears Xinghai brought.

Lu Yun and Yang Feng exchanged a glance, secretly marveling at how Zhou Bapi truly lived up to his reputation.

The pear sounds like "gift" in Chinese; if it's not crisp enough and not sweet enough, the gift is too meager.

The palace gates opened.

A gray-robed disciple with flame patterns walked out from inside, his face grim.

His gaze swept over Yang Feng, then lingered on Lu Yun's face for a long time, a scrutinizing look flashing in his eyes, as if he were confirming something.

The temple door opened a crack, and the disciple on duty bowed and went in, but soon returned.

"The hall master wants you to come in."

Lu Yun and Yang Feng exchanged a glance, straightened their clothes, and stepped into the hall.

The interior was simply furnished with a long table, a few chairs, and a plaque with the four characters "Dao Xin Cheng Che" (meaning "a clear mind under the Dao") hanging on the wall. It was spotless, as if it had just been wiped clean.

An elderly man sat in the main seat, with a kind face and a calm demeanor. He was playing with two egg-sized spirit stones in his hands, which were smooth and round and made a soft creaking sound when he turned them.

Judging by his appearance alone, he looks like a kind-faced old grandfather next door.

Lu Yun dared not slack off in the slightest.

We've already seen what Master Zhou's temperament is like.

Privately, he's known as Zhou Bapi, a vampire, a swindler who plucks feathers from every passing goose and squeezes urine from every toad. Everyone knows that the scales in the Immortal Hall are 95-99.

"Disciple Lu Yun greets Hall Master Zhou."

Zhou Zheng nodded, his gaze lingering on Lu Yun's face for a moment, his smile as warm as the March breeze.

"Not bad. On the first day, you were able to produce a mid-grade spiritual material. Among this batch of first-class disciples, you are among the best. It is fate that you were assigned to the sixteenth hall."

He paused, the spirit stone in his hand twirling slower, a look of pain appearing on his face.

"I value talent, so I bestow this Earth Fire Chamber token upon you. I hope you will bring honor to the Sixteen Halls in the grand competition a month from now."

A token was handed out.

Lu Yun was stunned.

Wasn't it said that this Master Zhou was extremely difficult to talk to? Wasn't he known for taking advantage of every passing goose?

He glanced at Yang Feng subconsciously, and Yang Feng's sallow face was also filled with disbelief.

That expression clearly said: Could this person have been possessed?

Cherishing talent? It's more like raking in money.

Lu Yun was filled with doubts, but didn't have time to think about them in detail.

The token has already been handed to me; I can't simply refuse it.

He stepped forward and accepted the gift with both hands. At the same time, he took out a brocade pouch that he had prepared beforehand from his storage bag. Inside, ten spirit stones were neatly arranged, and he respectfully presented it to the brocade pouch.

"I've heard that you enjoy pears, Master. These are some local produce I brought from my hometown. They're just a small token of my appreciation, but I hope you'll accept them."

Zhou Zheng took the brocade pouch, weighed it in his hand, and the pain on his face immediately faded, replaced by a gentle satisfaction.

"You're quite polite. Go to the Inner Affairs Hall to get your stone chamber robe and disciple's uniform; let them pick out the best for you."

He offered a few more words of encouragement, picked up his teacup, and said no more.

Lu Yun, knowing his place, clasped his hands in farewell and took his leave.

The two left the hall, and the door closed behind them.

Inside the hall, the handsome young man at the lower seat finally couldn't help but speak.

"Uncle, he hasn't even given the gift yet, why did you give away the Earth Fire Chamber? It's just a Grade A one, there are only a dozen or twenty in each batch, what's the value of that?"

Zhou Zheng took a sip of tea and said slowly, "Yu'er, you are still too young."

"I, Zhou Zhengneng, have been able to sit in the sixteenth hall for over a decade. Do you know what it's all about?"

Zhao Yu sat up straight: "My nephew doesn't know."

"There are two types of people I don't make things difficult for."

Zhou Zheng held up two fingers. "First, the direct descendants of the Foundation Establishment ancestors of aristocratic families; second, people who have a direct relationship with Foundation Establishment cultivators."

"This man surnamed Lu is naturally not a direct descendant of a noble family, but he carries the elder's token of True Person Yingyue. Would you say that connection is direct enough?"

Zhao Yu gasped.

When Lu Yun's name appeared on the list of the Sixteen Halls, Zhou Zheng had already sent people to investigate thoroughly.

The events on the Dharma Boat, the kneeling of the Wang family members, and the Foundation Establishment Order—all these matters were laid out on the table.

"Uncle is wise."

"I have the elders of the Immortal Academy as my backers. As long as I don't provoke a Foundation Establishment True Person, I can rest easy."

Zhou Zheng proudly twirled the spirit stone, then changed the subject, "However, this year's Earth Fire Chamber has attracted a lot of attention."

Even if you give it to him, he might not be able to keep it. He has a fixed quota to meet every month; let's see how he handles it.

He waved his hand, not wanting to say more: "What brings you here today?"

Zhao Yu quickly handed over the jade slip and said cautiously, "Uncle, it's time to pay the spiritual vein and earth fire fee for our hall this year."

Zhou Zheng took the jade slip, glanced at the number, and the pain in his eyes returned, even more so than when he had given away the token.

Knowing his uncle's temperament well, Zhao Yu immediately handed him another storage bag, announcing the income.

"Last year's tribute from the Earth Fire Chamber totaled five hundred spirit stones. In addition, there have been recent clashes between the Immortal Path and the Holy Path on their borders, causing a surge in demand for spiritual materials. Our stockpiled batch..."

Zhou Zheng's expression softened somewhat.

He opened his storage bag, reached inside with his fingers, and hesitantly pulled out five spirit stones, which he then handed to Zhao Yu.

"Go."

Zhao Yu looked at the five lonely spirit stones in his palm and his lips twitched.

"Uncle... he can't even afford a single Spirit Gathering Pill."

Zhou Zheng sighed, then reluctantly took out five more from his storage bag and added them to the top.

He muttered to himself, "With your low-grade spiritual root, your cultivation is hopeless anyway. Taking Spirit Nourishing Pills would be a waste. Spirit Rice is enough."

.......

Outside the hall, Lu Yun and Yang Feng walked out along the long corridor.

The token lay heavy in his palm. He turned it over, and there were a few words engraved on it: Fire No. 65.

"Brother Yang, didn't you say that underground fire chambers are extremely rare?"

Yang Feng took the token and examined it for a moment. After confirming that it was correct, the doubt on his face was even greater than that on Lu Yun's.

"It is indeed the Earth Fire Token of the Sixteen Halls. Every time new students are recruited, some senior disciples leave. This time, three seats are empty, and seat number sixty-five is one of them."

He pondered for a moment, "Normally, newly enrolled disciples are assigned positions at least a month later. Why are you being given one today? Could it be related to the Grand Competition?"

"A grand competition? What grand competition?"

Lu Yun asked the question aloud, but he actually had a guess in his heart.

Perhaps it was because of Fairy Yingyue that he unknowingly became a kept man again.