Xu Chunniang stopped channeling spiritual energy into the Windcloud Armor and flipped her hand, taking out the Mother-Child Swift Shadow Shuttle.
There were still several days before the new disciples' assessment ended. She could use this time to improve her proficiency with the Mother-Child Swift Shadow Shuttle.
The Windcloud Armor was a defensive spiritual artifact, with little room for improvement. But the Mother-Child Swift Shadow Shuttle was different. As an offensive spiritual artifact, it required sufficiently high proficiency before she could wield it as effortlessly as an arm or finger.
Over the following days, Xu Chunniang focused single-mindedly on using the Mother-Child Swift Shadow Shuttle. After reaching the Fifth Layer of Qi Condensation, her control over it became increasingly effortless.
A week later, the new disciples' assessment finally ended, and the affairs of the various outer sect halls finally returned to normal.
As a disciple whose protection period had ended, Xu Chunniang would have to pay out of pocket for Grain Abstinence Pills and hand over sect Contribution Points from this year onward.
She had obtained several bottles of Grain Abstinence Pills after her counter-robbery, so she did not need to buy any for the time being.
Contribution Points could only be earned by completing tasks and commissions for the sect; they could not be exchanged for spirit stones.
Conversely, disciples could use Contribution Points to purchase resources. One sect Contribution Point was worth one spirit stone.
The sect did this to make everyone participate in building the sect, thereby giving them a stronger sense of belonging.
When most new disciples' protection periods ended, they were only at the second or third level of Qi Condensation. They generally went to the supervisors at the Affairs Hall to accept tasks, only heading to the Commission Hall for more lucrative commissions once their cultivation had grown higher.
Xu Chunniang had offended Zhang Donglai, a supervisor at the Affairs Hall. Earlier, just to claim that small allotment of spirit stones, she had even threatened him verbally.
With Zhang Donglai's vindictive nature, he was probably waiting for her to come knocking so he could mock her. Why would he give her a task?
Xu Chunniang rose and adjusted her displayed cultivation to the middle stage of the third level of Qi Condensation before heading toward the Commission Hall.
Many cultivators had gathered in the Commission Hall, ranging from the fourth level of Qi Condensation to the Ninth Layer of Qi Condensation.
The moment Xu Chunniang entered, she drew quite a few looks.
However, these people did not pay her much attention. After all, there were plenty of people with insufficient cultivation who came to the Commission Hall hoping to try their luck.
Accepting a commission was easy, but the punishment for failing to complete one was no joke.
Thus, after learning of the penalties for failing commissions, most of these little disciples at the third level of Qi Condensation left in disappointment. Only a few truly had the courage to accept one.
Xu Chunniang looked around for a while and discovered that the Commission Hall was divided into four areas.
The two central areas were where high-level Qi Condensation cultivators accepted commissions, while the two areas at the sides were crowded with mid-level Qi Condensation cultivators.
She stepped toward the area on the far left.
Quite a few people noticed Xu Chunniang's actions, and amused expressions appeared on their faces.
"Heh, another third-level Qi Condensation disciple who doesn't know her own limits has come to accept a commission."
"Once she sees the commission details, she'll probably be scared out of the Commission Hall! The penalties for failing a commission are actually quite severe. A few people before refused to believe it and insisted on accepting one, only to end up owing over a hundred Contribution Points! They still couldn't pay it off after more than ten years."
"This is what happens when you dream of ascending to the heavens in a single step. On the path of cultivation, you still have to recognize reality."
Xu Chunniang ignored the words around her and focused on the contents displayed on the large screen above.
"Mine ore at West Mountain for a period of five years. Five hundred pieces of low-grade ore must be submitted each year. Completion earns thirty Contribution Points; one Contribution Point will be deducted for every ten pieces short."
Xu Chunniang considered it. It did not say what happened to ore beyond five hundred pieces. Since there was no requirement to hand it all over, it should belong to the commission taker.
Only thirty Contribution Points a year, with merely twelve remaining after expenses. If she failed to mine enough ore, some points would even be deducted. This did not seem like a particularly worthwhile commission.
She looked at the second listing.
"Care for demonic beasts at Beast Mountain for a period of five years. Twenty-five Contribution Points per year. If a demonic beast dies due to inadequate care, ten Contribution Points will be deducted for each beast."
This one looked rather easy. She only needed to care for demonic beasts, and it would not take too much time.
But accordingly, it only offered twenty-five Contribution Points per year, pitifully few.
Moreover, if she carelessly caused a demonic beast to die, the punishment would be severe. Ten Contribution Points would be deducted for every beast that died.
Only then did Xu Chunniang understand why those people had said that some had ended up more than a hundred Contribution Points in debt after accepting commissions.
If a commission was not completed properly, not only would one fail to earn Contribution Points, one might even end up owing them.
She continued reading.
"Refine talisman ink for a period of five years. Two hundred portions of Low-grade Talisman Ink must be refined each year. Completion earns thirty Contribution Points. One Contribution Point will be awarded for every additional five portions refined, and deducted for every five portions short."
"Refine medicinal herbs for a period of five years. Five hundred portions of low-grade medicinal herbs must be refined each year. Completion earns thirty Contribution Points. One Contribution Point will be awarded for every additional ten portions refined, and deducted for every ten portions short."
"Breed demonic beasts for a period of five years. At least five demonic beasts must be bred each year. Completion earns forty Contribution Points. The demonic beasts must not be harmed; otherwise, Contribution Points will be deducted according to the extent of the injuries."
"Refine Disciple Tokens for a period of five years. At least 100 tokens must be refined each year. Completion earns one hundred Contribution Points. One Contribution Point will be awarded for every additional token refined, and deducted for every token short."
There was every kind of strange and varied commission imaginable. After looking for a while, Xu Chunniang roughly understood the arrangement.
These commissions lasted five years. Once one accepted a commission, it could not be changed for at least five years.
However, she knew neither how to refine talisman ink nor how to care for demonic beasts, so she could only keep looking for something suitable.
Among the many commissions, Xu Chunniang finally found two that she could accept and that offered a fair number of Contribution Points.
"Cultivate medicinal herbs for a period of five years. At least three hundred low-grade medicinal herbs must be cultivated each year. Completion earns eighty Contribution Points. One Contribution Point will be awarded for every additional five plants, and deducted accordingly for any shortfall."
"Plant spirit rice for a period of five years. At least eight hundred jin of spirit rice must be submitted each year. Completion earns thirty Contribution Points. One Contribution Point will be deducted for every ten jin short."
Xu Chunniang pondered for a moment. The first commission involved cultivating medicinal herbs. As long as she completed the task each year, she would earn eighty Contribution Points. The more she worked, the more she gained; she might even earn more than a hundred spirit stones a year.
The second commission involved planting spirit rice. It offered thirty Contribution Points per year, but any spirit rice yield beyond the required amount would all belong to her!
Although the sect's purchase price for spirit rice was half the market price—two jin of spirit rice were worth only one spirit stone—if she could increase the yield by two hundred jin, she could earn one hundred spirit stones.
Adding the Contribution Points issued by the sect, her annual income could reach one hundred and thirty!
Xu Chunniang's heart stirred. With the Spiritual Rain Technique, Spring Growth Technique, and Earth Moistening Technique in hand, she believed she could absolutely achieve this goal!
As for why she would not sell the spirit rice to the market at a higher price, the sect rules clearly prohibited disciples who planted spirit rice from selling it privately.
Privately selling more than ten jin of spirit rice would result in corresponding punishment.
Xu Chunniang could understand the sect's approach. First, the spirit fields and grounds were provided by the sect, while disciples were only responsible for planting. Second, many resources within the sect were sold to disciples at cost.
For example, Grain Abstinence Pills sold within the sect for one spirit stone per two bottles, yet in Green Mountain Town, they astonishingly sold for three spirit stones per bottle.
And low-grade spells that could be copied at the Merit Pavilion for just five spirit stones were worth dozens of spirit stones in the marketplace.
From this, it was clear that sect disciples enjoyed far more invisible benefits.
Walking over to the Commission Hall's administration desk, Xu Chunniang handed over her Disciple Token. "Please help me register. I'd like to accept the commission to plant spirit rice."
Next, she would enter a phase of completing commissions.
Thanks to Fellow Daoist Hong,,, Jie for the reward, and to Fellow Daoists Happy☆Star, Xin Lian, and linlin655 for their monthly ticket support!
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