Chapter 98: Indicators

“Elders of the various halls have already determined your place. You will be apprenticed under our master. I am your third senior sister, Yun Yishu.”

After Yun Senior Sister finished her introduction, she turned around, descended from the rock, and took out a jade slip from her storage ring, crushing it.

“Boom!”

At the instant the jade slip shattered, the spiritual qi within a hundred li suddenly let out a sharp roar. A vast, boundless power, like the Great Sun rising, instantly surged in all directions.

Before this force, Chen Beiwu’s heart gave a heavy thump. It was as if he could hear his bones crackling and his flesh trembling violently.

In the next moment, the power unleashed by the jade slip began distorting space, gradually condensing into a two-zhang-tall phantom.

“Greetings, Master.” Yun Senior Sister bowed slightly.

“What business do you have with me?”

As soon as the phantom spoke, the spiritual qi within ten zhang withered at a speed visible to the naked eye. Even the rocky ground beneath Chen Beiwu’s feet cracked into spiderweb-like fissures under the invisible pressure.

“Senior Sister recently discovered a genius for the sect.” Yun Yisi reported.

“Oh? That girl has always been free-spirited. To think she would actually concern herself with my legacy.”

With the majestic voice resounding, Chen Beiwu’s body stiffened. He could clearly feel a sharp gaze examining him.

“Seventeen years old, Ninth Level of Qi Refining, Water-attribute pseudo-Heavenly Root, Wood-attribute Earth-Grade Root… What is your name?”

Hearing a trace of gentleness in that voice, Chen Beiwu felt his body lighten. He respectfully bowed. “This junior, Chen Zi’ang, greets Master.”

“Rise.”

At those words, Chen Beiwu lifted his head and saw a middle-aged man with white hair, clad in a Daoist robe.

“I am currently stationed outside, guarding and patrolling the Earth Proliferation Territory and its twin realms. My return date is uncertain. Are you willing to enter my tutelage?” Master Zhu asked with interest.

“Disciple Chen Zi’ang, greets Master.”

Without hesitation, Chen Beiwu knelt down, performing the respectful salute according to Southern Wastes etiquette.

“Very good. Rise. My name is Zhu Shaoyuan, Hall Master of the Judicial Hall. From this day forth, you will be my fourth disciple.” Master Zhu nodded slightly, turning his gaze toward Yun Yishu.

“Until I return to the sect, Zi’ang will be entrusted to you.”

With those words, Master Zhu’s divine sense incarnation dissolved into a streak of golden light and vanished.

Witnessing this scene, Yun Yishu’s expression remained unsurprised.

It had already been ten years since she last saw her master.

Though Junior Brother Chen Zi’ang’s entry concerned the matter of inheritance, it was not enough for their master to return to the sect personally, let alone give guidance in person.

“This is my Transmitting Jade Slip. If Junior Brother Chen encounters problems in cultivation and requires clarification, you may ask me.” As she spoke, Yun Yishu retrieved a jade slip from her storage ring.

“Furthermore, the sect does not raise idlers. Disciples of the Mirror Moon Sect are required to take on sect tasks each year and obtain a certain quota of contribution indicators.”

“Inner disciples fare slightly better than outer disciples. Their contribution quota is counted by ten years, not annually. As long as they accumulate ten thousand contribution points within ten years, it is enough.”

“Since you have just entered and not yet reached Foundation Establishment, your contribution indicator for these ten years should be one thousand points.”

Hearing this, Chen Beiwu asked in puzzlement, “Senior Sister Yun, what happens if one cannot complete the contribution indicators?”

“At worst, demotion. At best, punishment.” Yun Yishu explained, “If one fails the ten-year assessment, sequence disciples are demoted to inner disciples, while inner disciples are demoted to outer disciples.”

“If a disciple fails three consecutive sect assessments, the Judicial Hall will intervene for a strict investigation. In severe cases, their cultivation may even be abolished, and they will be expelled from the sect.”

“Of course, disciples are not merely working for the sect without compensation. Contribution points from tasks can be exchanged in the Profound Secrets Hall for cultivation methods, pills, artifacts, talismans, formations, spirit companions, and other resources.”

Chen Beiwu nodded, deciding that later he would head to the Mission Hall to see if there were any tasks suitable for himself, so he could cultivate in seclusion with peace of mind.

“May I ask, Senior Sister, how many contribution points are required to exchange for the sect’s Foundation Establishment Pill?” he asked curiously.

“There are three grades of Foundation Establishment Pills in the Profound Secrets Hall. The lower-grade Foundation Establishment Pill increases breakthrough chances by thirty percent and requires 8,000 contribution points.

The middle-grade Foundation Establishment Pill increases breakthrough chances by forty percent and requires 10,000 contribution points.

The upper-grade Foundation Establishment Pill increases breakthrough chances by fifty percent and requires 15,000 contribution points.”

“Each disciple only has three opportunities in their lifetime to exchange for Foundation Establishment Pills.”

At this point, Yun Yishu looked at Chen Beiwu. “Junior Brother Chen possesses a Heavenly Root. Even without a Foundation Establishment Pill, you still have an eighty percent chance to break through.”

“Senior Sister, can spirit beasts consume Foundation Establishment Pills?” Chen Beiwu asked tentatively.

“Of course they can. But the medicinal effect of Foundation Establishment Pills is greatly reduced for spirit beasts. They are inferior to certain specialized spirit herbs.” Yun Yishu shook her head.

“So that’s how it is.” A look of realization flickered in Chen Beiwu’s eyes.

His goal was superior Foundation Establishment, even flawless Foundation Establishment. Thus, Foundation Establishment Pills were of no use to him.

The reason he asked was simply for his parents at home, as well as his ever-loyal Iron Egg.

“Ordinary tasks do not yield many contribution points. If Junior Brother wishes to earn more, it would be best to join one of the sect’s craft halls.”

Yun Yishu’s voice was cold as she reminded him, “Our master is a renowned Fourth-Tier Artifact Refiner in the Earth Proliferation Territory. If you have interest in the art of refining, you may enter the Artifact Refining Hall to study.”

Before leaving, Chen Beiwu could not help but ask, “May I be so bold to ask—Senior Sister, do you also study refining?”

“No. I am utterly ignorant of artifact refining. What I am more skilled at is formations.” Yun Yishu tilted her head, glancing at Chen Beiwu.

“Thank you, Senior Sister, for your guidance.” Chen Beiwu cupped his hands in gratitude.

……

That afternoon.

Within the Inner Sect, at the Mission Hall.

As soon as Chen Beiwu stepped into the great hall, he overheard Foundation Establishment cultivators conversing with the staff as they checked task lists and settled contribution points.

‘Who knows if there might be a slightly easier task to pick?’

With that thought, Chen Beiwu began searching the mission wall in the center of the hall.

“Capture Spirit Fish in Clear Cloud Sea. Requirements: early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, proficient in water-type movement techniques, able to dive forty zhang deep within one breath. One Jade-Bone Fish captured earns five hundred contribution points. No limit on quantity.”

“Opening a fishery on Tianshu Island. Requirements: earth-attribute root cultivator, early-stage Foundation Establishment, skilled in spirit vein surveying, mountain-moving and sea-digging techniques. Project duration: one month. Completion earns one thousand contribution points.”

“Set up a Second-Tier Formation [Spirit-Arousing Nurture Array] for the fishery. Requirements: Second-Tier mid-grade formation master, preferably one specializing in spirit beast breeding formations from the Formation Hall. Completion earns three thousand contribution points.”

“……”

Looking at these bizarre task requirements, Chen Beiwu could not help but imagine Foundation Establishment cultivators laboriously moving mountains and digging seas.

He shook his head, extinguishing the stray thoughts in his mind, and turned his gaze toward the end of the mission wall—where a bounty task appeared relatively simple yet offered a generous reward.

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