In His Previous Life, It Was Called Consumption Upgrading; Here, It Was Called Inner Sect Benefits
[Han Changqing sized you up, and several Deacon in the hall followed suit.]
[Before, nobody paid any attention to you.]
[But after they heard Han Changqing call out your name, they immediately remembered it.]
[Any Qi Refining disciple who is called by name individually by the Sect Master in the Main Hall, regardless of their cultivation level, is no longer an ordinary Outer Sect Disciple.]
[Among these people, the one who reacted the most strongly was an old acquaintance, Liu Cheng, the Deacon the External Affairs Hall.]
[His expression remained unchanged, but a glint of light flickered in his eyes.]
[The junior disciple who entered the sect with the Ascension Token back then is now qualified to sit on equal footing with him.]
[You observe everyone's reactions.]
[The changes throughout the entire hall were all observed by Han Changqing.]
[You are now Foundation Establishment cultivator, and your cultivation level has surpassed that of all the Deacons present.]
[Although you didn't deliberately look at Han Changqing, you still sensed Han Changqing gaze.]
After a moment, Han Changqing spoke calmly.
"Lu Ping, you haven't been a student for long."
Elder Qi recommended me many times, saying, "Your talent in alchemy is extraordinary, you are diligent, and you are friendly to your fellow disciples."
Upon hearing this, you immediately bowed towards Qi Cangshu and said,
"It's all thanks to the Sect Master's cultivation and the elders' guidance."
[The Flattery has taken effect.]
[Workwear Thugs, in effect.]
[The Workplace People-Pleaser, effective.]
Qi Cangshu nodded with satisfaction after listening.
[Han Changqing looked at you and nodded in satisfaction.]
"Not arrogant or impatient, truly promising for her age, very good."
He raised his hand and waved, and a cyan token landed in front of you.
The token is inscribed with "Alchemy Hall" on the front and "Deacon" on the back.
[Han Changqing continued speaking.]
"From this day forward, Lu Ping is promoted to inner disciple and appointed as Deacon of the Alchemy Hall."
[You catch the token; it feels slightly cool to the touch.]
[You have successfully risen from being exploited to becoming a frontline exploiter.]
[You noticed the surprise on everyone's faces, and within those surprised gazes lay a clear hint of hostility.]
[You look up, your gaze sweeping across the room, and you see Zhao Li standing at the back of the Alchemy Hall's queue.]
[Looking at his slightly distorted face, you immediately understood what was going on.]
From this moment on, you and he are on equal footing.
[What's more troublesome is that you were personally pushed up here by Qi Cangshu.]
[Zhao Li had toiled for many years in the internal affairs office of the Alchemy Hall, using countless underhanded methods to finally secure his position as steward.]
[You've only been a member for a short time, yet you've already received the same token.]
[This clearly means they put a pair of chopsticks next to his rice bowl.]
[The meeting concluded, Han Changqing left first. The elders didn't bother to stay and see you either, and all departed.]
In the eyes of the Foundation Establishment elders, a newly Deacon of the Alchemy Hall was not worth stopping to befriend.
However, the Deacon in each hall are completely different.
[The Mining Hall Deacon was the first to approach.]
"Congratulations, Deacon Lu."
"In the future, if any disciples in the Mining Hall are injured, we will have to rely more on your Alchemy Hall."
You politely cup your hands in greeting.
"You're too kind Steward Wang."
"The Mining Hall is the foundation of our sect; I will naturally help if I can."
[Flattery, Workwear Thugs, and Workplace People-Pleaser all work.]
The Mining Hall Deacon listened with great interest.
[He was just there to make a formality, but he didn't expect you to be so young and capable, and so humble. He immediately remembered your name.]
[The Deacon from the Law Enforcement Hall beside him nodded with a smile.]
"Deacon Lu is a promising young man."
[You responded calmly as well, and the effects of the Trait stacked.]
[What was originally an ordinary exchange of pleasantries can somehow leave you with an excellent impression on the other person.]
[Liu Cheng arrived last.]
"Deacon Lu, when you first entered the sect with the Ascension Token, I knew you were destined for greatness."
[Look at this familiar face.]
[In the last simulation, the two Spirit-Urging Pills in the Ascension Hall were handed to me by him.]
You bow your head and clasp your hands in greeting.
"Lu Ping remembers the kindness of Deacon Liu who introduced me to the door that day."
[Liu Cheng smiled upon hearing this.]
He felt he was different from others; there was a bond between you two!
Liu Cheng laughed heartily.
"No problem, no problem, Junior Brother Lu, from now on we're on the same side."
"Some of the new disciples in the External Affairs Hall have excellent potential. If the Alchemy Hall is short-staffed, I can reserve one for you."
[Liu Cheng's words already carried a somewhat unrelated meaning.]
[The External Affairs Hall oversees the source of knowledge; the Alchemy Hall manages the distribution of Pills.]
[Once both sides are checked, there are many things you can do.]
[Pop-up options.]
[A: Glossing over the details, maintaining only a superficial relationship.]
[B: Righteously and sternly reported Liu Cheng for forming cliques and engaging in corrupt practices.]
[C: Grabbing Liu Cheng's hands tightly and kneading them vigorously, his eyes gleaming with lust: "Good! Senior brother really understands me! Come to my cave abode at midnight tonight, the door won't be closed, the lamp will be half-lit, and I've secretly hidden a 'peerless treasure' for you to see. I guarantee you'll be ecstatic, unable to close your legs... ah, I mean, unable to close your mouth!"]
Little C!! You've gone crazy again!!
Lu Ping has just taken office, so it's best to play it safe for now.
Do they really think Qi Cangshu is just for show? Liu Cheng isn't a good person either.
Lu Ping chose A.
[You chose A.]
You smiled.
"The affairs of the External Affairs Hall are numerous, and it is already a great favor that Deacon Liu is willing to take care of the Alchemy Hall."
"However, the allocation of disciples will Elder Qi's arrangements."
[The Passing the Buck is now in effect.]
[You've directly steered this conversation towards Qi Cangshu.]
[Liu Cheng's smile froze, and after a moment he spoke,]
"I'd heard from Outer Sect Disciples that Junior Brother Lu was extremely reliable in his actions. Today, I've truly experienced it for myself."
[The Workplace People-Pleaser, effective.]
Liu Cheng didn't think you were making excuses.
[Zhao Li, who had been standing at the back, listened to these words and finally stepped forward.]
"Deacon Lu, the Inner Sect cave abode have been arranged. Come with me to take over."
[You follow Zhao Li to the backyard of the Internal Affairs Office.]
[Zhao Li took out a copper key, a formation tablet, and a cave abode ledger.]
"Deacon Lu, according to the rules, you'll be assigned to the Cave Abode No. 7, Earth of the Inner Sect, class B."
"Earthfire Vent the cave abode, there is a fire pit, a Spirit Gathering Formation, and three layers of protective Restrictions."
"Monthly rent is thirty Low-Grade Spirit Stones."
[Your hand, reaching for the array plaque, froze in mid-air, and your expression immediately darkened.]
"The Deacon's cave abode requires a monthly rent?"
Seeing your reaction, Zhao Li finally felt a sense of satisfaction, his tone tinged with mockery.
"Deacon Lu, what are you saying! The sect has already given you the status of Deacon; do you intend to occupy the sect's cave abode for nothing?"
"Not only is the monthly rent thirty Spirit Stones, but the Formation Technique maintenance fee is also extra."
"If the use of the Earthfire exceeds two hours per day, additional charges will apply based on the number of hours used."
[If you do the math, the Deacon's monthly salary is fifty coins. After deducting the cost of the cave abode, the Formation Technique, and the Earthfire, it's not even enough for Foundation Establishment cultivator's daily basic cultivation.]
[Oh, they don't know you're Foundation Establishment cultivator...]
You fell silent. No, you were numb.
[The so-called promotion is merely gaining the qualification to purchase more expensive resources.]
[You're all too familiar with this routine.]
[In the past it was called consumption upgrade, here it's called Inner Sect treatment.]
[Options pop up.]
[A: I reluctantly agreed and obediently checked in.]
[B: Slammed the keys and ledgers on the table, sneered, "I quit! Let whoever wants to do it, do it!"]
[C: Raising his hand, he "clicked" locked the three layers of Restrictions on the cave abode, loosened his belt, and approached Zhao Li with a sinister grin: "Tsk tsk tsk, Senior Brother Zhao, I'm really short on cash. Since we're in this cave abode, the Earthfire is raging, even if you shout your lungs out, Elder Qi won't hear you. How about Senior Brother pays me some Spirit Stones with his own body, and lends me some to tide me over?"]