Chapter 102: Chapter 101: Merit

Besides the Sect’s power structure and organization, what was of most immediate concern to Outer Sect Stewards like Lu Zhao were the rules for acquiring "Merit." The Jade Scroll described them with extreme clarity:

Ordinary tasks: ten must be completed within a year. However, there were no compulsory assignments; Outer Sect Stewards could go to various task-issuing points and select their own. As long as ten were completed, it was sufficient. Of course, no one would stop you if you wished to do more.

Ordinary tasks varied in difficulty, but they were generally not impossible to complete. With some time and effort, most could be finished. Each ordinary task, depending on its difficulty and the time it consumed, would grant one to five "Minor Merits," with a very small number offering more.

As for compulsory tasks, Outer Sect Stewards like Lu Zhao had to complete three a year. These tasks were assigned directly by the Sect and could not be refused. Upon reading this rule, Lu Zhao’s breath seemed to catch for a moment.

However, these tasks typically didn’t involve life-or-death situations. They were mostly time-consuming, laborious duties in harsh conditions, requiring long journeys or long-term postings. Accepting them would inevitably affect one’s cultivation progress. Yet, the Merit rewards were also slightly more generous, with each task granting five to ten "Minor Merits."

The Jade Scroll also explained the uses of Minor Merits. They could be exchanged in the Merit Hall for various items available within the Sect for those in the Qi Cultivation Stage. This included Qi Cultivation Stage magic, various books and secret records on miscellaneous arts, Qi Cultivation Stage Pills, Tier One Spiritual Materials, Talismans, Array Discs, Magical Artifacts, and even Lower Grade Cultivation Techniques of different attributes.

As for the purchasing power of Minor Merits, Lu Zhao did a quick mental calculation. Comparing it to his past experiences in the Marketplace and the rough market prices listed on the partial exchange list in the Jade Scroll, he made a preliminary estimate: one Minor Merit was worth somewhere between seven and twelve Lower Grade Spirit Stones. Furthermore, exchanging items with Minor Merits within the Sect was often slightly cheaper than in the external Marketplace.

Beyond all that, the most important function of Minor Merits was to offset the Spirit Stone cost of the Foundation Establishment Pill! Even more critically, the total amount of Merit a person accumulated determined their position in the queue to receive a Foundation Establishment Pill!

The more Merit one had, the higher up the queue they would be, and the faster they would obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill!

Besides Minor Merits, there were also Great Merits, but the Jade Scroll only mentioned them in passing. It only said that such merits were extremely difficult to obtain, usually requiring the independent completion of exceptionally dangerous tasks or those that made a special, major contribution to the Sect.

Their main function pertained to post-Foundation Establishment Stage matters, such as exchanging for cultivation techniques, cavern residences, and rare Spiritual Materials, and even qualifying for certain core inheritances!

For a Qi Cultivation Disciple, obtaining this type of merit was practically impossible.

’Ten ordinary tasks and three compulsory tasks a year, just to be considered "qualified."’ Lu Zhao murmured to himself, rubbing his faintly throbbing temples.

This task system was a tightly interlocking chain with no gaps. Its purpose was to bind the entire being of every Outer Sect Steward to the gears of the Sect’s vast machine, forcing them to turn ceaselessly.

At the end of the Jade Scroll, the "fixed benefits" for Outer Sect Stewards were mentioned:

This included the Tier One Lower Grade Magic Robe he was wearing, worth about forty Spirit Stones;

A monthly salary of ten Lower Grade Spirit Stones;

And two ordinary Cultivation Pills for the Late-stage Qi Cultivation, which could be collected from the Merit Hall each month to aid one’s training;

There was also the right to reside on this Tier One High-Grade spiritual vein beneath his feet. This was the most tangible hidden benefit!

All in all, the benefits were quite good, but the tasks were also extremely demanding.

In addition to the above, the Jade Scroll also contained an illustrated guide for identifying various dangerous regions and a brief record of the forbidden lands within the Chen Country Cultivation Realm.

And most importantly, one could exchange for all kinds of cultivation insights. Whether it was methods for breaking through bottlenecks in magic practice, solutions for difficult aspects of cultivation techniques, or even epiphanies experienced when breaking through a Grand Realm... it was all-encompassing!

And the core method for obtaining this knowledge and experience remained the same—spending Merit! The word "Merit" felt like a pair of cold tentacles, wrapping around Lu Zhao’s desire for progress.

’A behemoth, rigidly hierarchical, using benefits as bait and rules as a cage.’ Lu Zhao closed his eyes, and the assessment flashed through his mind.

As his gaze swept over the last few lines of information on the Jade Scroll, his pupils contracted slightly.

A three-month period!

All new Outer Sect Stewards were entitled to a three-month "new steward adaptation period." During these three months, they were not required to perform any Sect tasks, nor would any task merits be counted. But this respite would last for only three months!

After three months, the great wheel of "ten ordinary, three compulsory" tasks would start turning with a deafening roar, grinding away at everyone’s time. Failure to complete tasks had consequences. For ordinary tasks, it was usually a fine deducted from one’s Spirit Stone salary.

But repeated failure to complete compulsory tasks would, at best, result in confinement. At worst, one’s cultivation would be crippled, and they would be expelled from the Sect! The punitive articles were detailed in the section on the Precepts Hall, and the methods were strict and ruthless.

’Three months...’ Lu Zhao’s knuckles tapped unconsciously on the edge of the cold stone bed. The information from the Jade Scroll was seared into his mind.

He clearly laid out his plan for these three months:

The first priority—cultivation! He couldn’t waste the Tier One High-Grade spiritual vein beneath his feet. For these three months, most of his focus should be on practicing the Little Cloud Rain Technique, absorbing the Spiritual Qi from the spiritual vein to the greatest extent possible, and striving to break through to the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer as soon as possible.

Besides cultivation, the second core focus was "Puppets"! This was his foundation for survival, and his greatest source of confidence for walking the path of the Cultivation Realm!

Although he had no Merit on hand, if he could exchange for suitable materials in the Merit Hall in the future, many puppets he was currently unable to craft due to a lack of materials could become a reality.

The third item—reconnaissance! He had to make full use of this three-month window to explore the Bixia Sect’s territory on foot. The key was to figure out the specific exchange categories and price fluctuation patterns in the Merit Hall; to learn the locations, operational procedures, and even the hidden rules of the Three Halls and Six Palaces, especially the various task-issuing branches of the General Affairs Hall.

He also had to find a way to determine how much Merit was needed for answers and insights regarding cultivation techniques, especially everything related to the magic and cultivation technique he practiced...

These three points were the fundamental cornerstones for securing his future and planning for Foundation Establishment!

After thinking through all this, Lu Zhao’s gaze slowly swept over the cold stone walls of the chamber, the Lighting Bead on the ceiling...

At this moment, he felt a pressure like a mountain on his shoulders—the thirst for Cultivation Resources, the distant yet essential Foundation Establishment Pill, the bottleneck in his Thousand Layers Technique, and the rare materials needed for new puppets... each one required a sea of Merit and weighed on his heart like lead.

However, in the instant this immense pressure ground against his Heart Spirit like an invisible millstone, an exceptionally sharp light flashed in the depths of Lu Zhao’s eyes.

In the space of a breath, the mountain-like pressure seemed to be conquered by a will that arose from the very depths of his bones. This pressure was no longer an obstacle but had become the driving force pushing him to climb ever higher.

A trace of sharp, resolute determination slowly spread across his refined features, unfurling like an unsheathed blade.

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