Claiming Supplies

The Flying Ship sped onward for seven or eight days before finally arriving at Carefree Sect one morning.

Along the way, senior brothers from Carefree Sect had already told this group of newcomers the basic information about the Cultivation World and Carefree Sect, so Xu Chunniang was no longer completely ignorant.

Though she still did not quite understand what cultivating to become an immortal meant, she had learned some common knowledge about the Cultivation World.

Perhaps because of Wei Dawu, an Inner Sect Disciple, Xu Chunniang had enjoyed peace throughout the journey. The little girl who had caused trouble for her earlier entered the cabin on the second day and never came out again.

However, the finely dressed young master who had been following that little girl was not allowed into the cabin. Like everyone else, he remained outside, quickly becoming friendly with the others and taking on the appearance of a leader.

Because Xu Chunniang was ugly, no one else was willing to pay her any attention. Although she had been isolated throughout the journey, she at least gained some peace and quiet.

The Flying Ship paused briefly at the outer sect. After letting the Outer Sect Disciples off, it continued flying toward the inner sect.

Xu Chunniang watched the Flying Ship depart and silently encouraged herself. One day, I'll enter the inner sect too!

The leading senior brother from Carefree Sect brought everyone into a grand hall and said with a smile to someone who looked like a steward, "At last, I've brought this batch of new disciples back safely. Those little brats pestered me with questions all the way here."

The steward swept his gaze over them, a faint smile appearing on his face as well.

"This batch of disciples looks rather good. You must have earned quite a few Contribution Points from this mission, right?"

"It was nothing much. Going there and back took quite a bit of time too."

The leading senior brother smiled helplessly, then turned to the crowd. "This is the steward senior brother responsible for distributing resources during your protection period. For the first three years after entering the sect, you may collect all your supplies from him. If there's anything you don't understand, ask him as well."

After saying that, the leading senior brother left the hall lightly, as though a great burden had been lifted from his shoulders.

The steward senior brother looked over the crowd with a beaming smile.

"My name is Zhang Donglai. I'm keeping all the belongings meant for you new disciples. For the next three years, you'll have plenty of dealings with me. For example, I'll be assigning the dormitories you'll be living in, and I'll also be the one distributing the spirit stones the sect gives out every year."

A quick-witted disciple immediately asked, "May I ask how the dormitories are assigned? What is the difference between them?"

"How are they assigned? Naturally, I have the final say."

Zhang Donglai chuckled. "You should have heard on the way here that cultivation is closely tied to spiritual energy. If you live in a good place with abundant spiritual energy, you'll be able to travel farther down the road of cultivation."

He paused before continuing unhurriedly, "As long as you're willing to pay me six spirit stones, I guarantee I'll choose a good location for you."

Someone immediately sucked in a sharp breath. "Six spirit stones? But we don't even have a single one!"

Someone else reacted quickly. "Did you forget? We may not have any now, but that senior brother said we new disciples have a three-year protection period. During that time, we can receive a sect subsidy of twelve spirit stones every year."

Everyone understood then. So Steward Zhang had set his sights on those spirit stones.

Even after being exposed, Zhang Donglai showed no sign of embarrassment and maintained the same smiling expression.

"That's right. In a moment, I'll distribute your basic supplies and the first year's spirit stone subsidy. As long as you pay six spirit stones, I'll select a good location with abundant spiritual energy for you.

"You should know that you'll be staying in your dormitories for many years. Charging only six spirit stones is already a price paid from my conscience. For disciples who have just entered the sect, six spirit stones are enough for your first year.

"Besides, I won't collect any spirit stones from you for the following two years. Not a single stone will be shorted from your share."

As he spoke, Zhang Donglai handed everyone Storage Bags the size of a palm.

"This is called a Storage Bag. It contains the supplies issued by the sect and your first year's subsidy. Even without cultivating, you can use these lowest-grade Storage Bags. Just hold one close to your forehead, and you can take out the spirit stones."

Everyone tried it according to Zhang Donglai's instructions and indeed managed to take things out from inside.

"This is an immortal's method! It's incredible! We really took things out of such a tiny bag!"

"As long as we work hard, we'll be able to learn the abilities of immortals too!"

Xu Chunniang also followed Zhang Donglai's instructions and held the Storage Bag close to her eyes. Soon, she saw what was inside.

There was a set of clothes, several books, a map, a black plaque, twelve brilliantly gleaming stones, and more...

"Spending six spirit stones to buy a good location doesn't seem so bad."

At last, someone was tempted. He took six brightly glowing stones from his Storage Bag and handed them over.

Zhang Donglai accepted the spirit stones, took out a map, and pointed to a central location. "Go here." Then he pulled out a large bunch of keys from his Storage Bag and removed one for him.

The person looked at the map and saw that it truly seemed to be a good spot. He immediately nodded in satisfaction.

With that person taking the lead, the rest followed suit, paying six spirit stones in protection money and pleading with Steward Zhang to assign them good locations.

Yet some people were unwilling to pay the six spirit stones. After all, they only received twelve a year, and half would be gone in one stroke.

One person gathered his courage and asked, "Senior Brother Zhang, may I choose not to pay the spirit stones?"

The smile vanished from Zhang Donglai's face in an instant, revealing shrewd and harsh features.

"Not pay spirit stones? Heh heh, then I can only assign you the worst dormitories. And don't expect to receive any benefits from me in the future. You should know that the new disciple protection period only lasts three years. After three years, you'll have to hand in Contribution Missions to the sect.

"I'm the one responsible for assigning Contribution Missions to you new disciples. Let me put the ugly words up front: if you don't want to pay the spirit stones, don't blame me when you can't complete your Contribution Missions!"

Zhang Donglai paused and swept his gaze over the disciples. "Of course, if you have the ability, you can go to the Commission Hall and accept missions yourselves. But the missions at the Commission Hall require at least mid Qi Condensation cultivation before you can take them.

"Breaking through to the third level Qi Condensation within three years is already impressive. As for breaking through to mid Qi Condensation... heh heh!"

The person who had asked weighed the pros and cons. Being assigned a poor dormitory was a minor matter, but offending this steward might even affect his future development!

He hesitated for a moment before finally counting out six spirit stones from his Storage Bag and paying them.

So many people had paid already. One more person made no difference.

Seeing this, the others, though somewhat unwilling, also prepared to grit their teeth and pay the spirit stones, treating it as spending money to avert disaster.

Xu Chunniang clutched the Storage Bag she had just received, her brows drawn tightly together.

Back on the Flying Ship, Brother Dawu had told her that something called spirit stones was extremely important in the world of immortals, equivalent to gold and silver in the mortal world.

Spirit stones could not only be used as money in the world of immortals, but also help with cultivation. In short, they had countless benefits.

Though she did not understand exactly how spirit stones were used, judging from the fact that the sect gave each new disciple only thirty-six in total, they had to be extremely valuable.

Xu Chunniang had grown up to the age of eight without ever touching even silver, much less spirit stones, which were far more precious than silver.

She struggled fiercely inside!

If she did not pay the spirit stones, she would offend Steward Zhang. But she truly could not bear to part with six spirit stones. That was half a year's subsidy for a new disciple.

Steward Zhang's gaze landed on Xu Chunniang, and a flash of disgust passed through his eyes. "Hey, everyone else has paid their spirit stones. You're the only one left. Hurry up and hand them over."

Without anyone noticing, everyone had paid the spirit stones, including the finely dressed young master named Qi Haozhi who had been following the little girl in magnificent robes.