Looking at the youth who seemed to exude an aura of determination to go against the world, Ning paused for a moment. He had a rather strong impression of the youth.

  Of course, that impression originated from the original 'Ji Ning'.

  From his memories, Ning recalled Xiao Fan, who belonged to the same group as him and had caused quite a stir during the spiritual root assessment ceremony.

  Yet, it wasn't Xiao Fan's exceptional talent that captivated everyone's attention; rather, it was his lack thereof.

  Hailing from a family of cultivators, Xiao Fan possessed only a low-grade spiritual root. In contrast, his cousin, who underwent the same test, displayed high-grade spiritual roots. Throughout the ceremony, Xiao Fan became the subject of mockery, both from onlookers and even his own cousin.

  Even the original 'Ji Ning' couldn't escape the irrational contempt he held towards Xiao Fan at the time.

  And now, as Ning observed the fallen youth, he witnessed the absence of pity or concern from the crowd. Instead, degrading murmurs filled the air: "So arrogant," "He needs a reality check," "How can a dragon father give birth to such a pig of a son?"

  All those classic xianxia insults...

  Immersed in the unfolding scene, Ning couldn't help but experience a sense of déjà vu. It was as if the cultivation novels he had devoured in his previous life were coming to life before his very eyes.

  "Is this guy a protagonist?" Ning mumbled inwardly.

  A young man with seemingly no talent, despised and loathed by others, yet destined to encounter fortuitous events and embark on a journey of slaying gods and demons while surrounded by a bevy of beautiful women, this was the standard template for a protagonist.

  "Moreover, this guy's surname is Xiao... does he have a grandpa with him too?" Ning's eyes narrowed, intrigued by the possibility.

  Of course, this single incident alone wasn't sufficient evidence to confirm Xiao Fan's status as a protagonist. However, amidst the commotion, something crucial seemed to have slipped the minds of everyone present.

  Xiao Fan had emerged from seclusion.

  This fact carried profound implications. After all, Ning himself, possessing a mid-grade spiritual root, had only reached the first stage of Qi Condensation the day before. Yet here stood Xiao Fan, with his low-grade spiritual root, achieving a similar level of cultivation speed.

  This indicated that Xiao Fan possessed a secret, something beyond mere talent, allowing him to cultivate at such an extraordinary pace.

  Moreover, the crowd's irrational anger towards Xiao Fan was exacerbated by his unwavering attitude, as if they expected him to admit he was trash or something.

  Ning had mixed feelings as he watched the scene unfold, where everyone seemed to be deliberately provoking the protagonist. Such a situation made him experience a subtle emotion.

  However, Ning had no inclination to intervene. He didn't possess a 'hero' complex, and he was fully aware of his own circumstances. Unlike the protagonist before him, he was weak and lacked support.

  Any attempt to assist Xiao Fan would likely only exacerbate the situation. Thus, Ning chose to distance himself from the scene, walking away slowly.

  No one paid him any attention, as if he were transparent, a fact that suited him just fine.

  "If I hadn't transmigrated, would 'I' have acted similarly? If that's the case, then it's truly terrifying," Ning mused, casting a glance back at the ongoing events.

  ...

  With such thoughts, Ning quickly walked towards the General Affairs Hall. It was a large building, built in a style reminiscent of the eastern Chinese architecture dramas.

  There seemed to be a small waitlist, as other people were also waiting to get entry.

  With not much to do, Ning glance at a large calligraphy scroll hung on the wall. The bold strokes seemed alive, each brush mark carrying a force that resonated in his chest. Without meaning to, Ning found his gaze locked upon the characters.

  The longer he stared, the more the black ink seemed to ripple. His vision blurred. A throb pulsed behind his temples.

  "-Careful."

  Ning jerked, tearing his gaze away. He rubbed his forehead and blinked rapidly.

  Three figures approached, robes of fresh green marking them as fellow initiates. The tallest, calm-eyed and composed, inclined his head slightly.

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  "That scroll is infused with the sect's qi," he explained. "Those without sufficient cultivation shouldn't gaze at it directly."

  Ning let out a soft laugh, rubbing his temple. "So it wasn't just me, then. Good to know that just staring at the wall wasn't making me dizzy."

  Ning'd never expected wall décor to attack him. He needs to be more careful.

  His answer made the corner of one of the two boys' mouths twitch into a grin, while even the aloof girl's eyes flickered with the hint of amusement.

  Then, they introduced themselves. The tall youth cupped his hands politely. "Wei Zhusang, of the Wei family."

  The second, broad-shouldered and smiling easily, followed. "Zhang Feng, Zhang family."

  The last was a girl, her bearing sharper than the other two, her eyes cool and precise. "Lang Rulang, Lang family."

  Relying on those memories, Ning mirrored the gesture with practiced smoothness. "Ning. Ji Ning."

  Their eyes lit up at the name. Recognition. Ning's eyes narrrowed.

  "So you're the one with the five-element aptitude," Zhang Feng said, laughter in his voice. "I'd been wondering who it was."

  Wei Zhusang nodded. "At the test, I thought the elder must have been mistaken. Five elements is rare, more so than the high grade spiritual root."

  Lang Rulang's voice cut in, cool but blunt. "A pity yours is only mid-grade."

  "Rulang! That's rude," Wei said sharply, frowning at her.

  Ning lifted a hand lightly, his smile easy. "It's fine. She didn't mean harm. Besides, jade is still jade, even if it isn't gold."

  That disarmed the moment. Even Rulang's eyes softened a fraction, though she only gave the faintest huff.

  Zhang Feng broke the silence with a hearty laugh. "Well said, Brother Ning! Then we're all the same here, new disciples, peripheral rank."

  Ning tilted his head, voice mild, almost curious. "Since you all come from cultivation families… perhaps you could enlighten me. What does that actually mean for us?"

  Wei Zhusang folded his arms, his tone calm but precise. "The sect gives peripheral disciples work assignments. Menial, sometimes random, but necessary for the running of the grounds. If we prove ourselves, we can rise to outer sect status."

  "And to do that," Lang Rulang added, "we need to reach the fourth stage of Qi Condensation. That's the threshold."

  Ning raised a brow. "That sounds… steep."

  Zhang Feng grinned. "For those with low-grade roots, it is steep. Some will never see the fourth stage. But with mid-grade roots, it's different." He patted his chest proudly. "All three of us possess mid-grade spiritual roots. The Wei and Lang families wouldn't let their juniors leave home without at least that much."

  "You don't need to worry too much, since you also have the same spiritual root as us." Lang Rulang spoke coolly.

  'It seems while five element attribute is rare, it's not something that would raise envy. After all, they all have similar roots, and have even greater origin than me.' Ning's thought turned quickly, listening to the softer tone of his new 'fellow daoists'.

  Their conversation turned more casual as they waited. They spoke of sect life, of how some peripheral disciples were assigned to kitchens, stables, or menial guard duties. "The sect doesn't care where you start," Wei Zhusang said, "only where you reach."

  Finally, a disciple inside called a name. One by one, the three were summoned into the hall, their figures swallowed by the doorway.

  When Ning's turn came last, he stepped forward in caution, not wanting to get inexplicably attacked again.

  Inside, an elder sat behind a desk, his presence quiet but oppressive. The elder's eyes swept over Ning, then the jade slip recording his aptitude.

  "Mid-grade, five elements." The elder nodded faintly. "Good foundation. You will begin in spiritual farming. You take this jade slip and go to sector 3, near the Fushan river."

  Ning bowed. "Yes, Elder."

  As he straightened, his thoughts drifted.

  So much for sword flights and demon hunts. I've transmigrated into a xianxia world… only to start as a glorified gardener. Oh well, at least there will be hoes.

  ...

  A/N: Obviously, not that kind of hoes...