Selecting Commissions

Xu Chunniang stopped channeling Spiritual Qi into the Windcloud Armor and took out the Mother-Child Swift Shadow Shuttle with a flip of her hand.

The new disciple assessment wouldn't end for several more days. She could use this time to improve her proficiency with the Mother-Child Swift Shadow Shuttle.

The Windcloud Armor was a defensive Spiritual Artifact, leaving little room for improvement. However, the Mother-Child Swift Shadow Shuttle was different. As an offensive Spiritual Artifact, it required a high level of proficiency to be controlled with ease.

For the next period, Xu Chunniang focused entirely on using the Mother-Child Swift Shadow Shuttle. After reaching the fifth level of Qi Condensation, her control over it became even more effortless.

A week later, the new disciple assessment finally concluded, and the outer sect's various halls gradually returned to normal operations.

As a disciple whose protection period had ended, Xu Chunniang would have to purchase her own Grain Abstinence Pills and pay her sect Contribution Points starting this year.

She had obtained several bottles of Grain Abstinence Pills from her previous robbery, so she didn't need to buy any for now.

Contribution Points could only be earned by completing tasks and commissions within the sect; they could not be exchanged for Spirit Stones.

Conversely, disciples could use Contribution Points to purchase resources. One sect Contribution Point was equivalent to one Spirit Stone.

The sect's intention behind this system was to encourage everyone to participate in the sect's development, thereby fostering a stronger sense of belonging.

Most new disciples, upon the end of their protection period, were only at the second or third level of Qi Condensation. They would typically take on tasks from the stewards in the Affairs Hall until their cultivation improved, after which they would move on to the Commission Hall for more lucrative commissions.

Xu Chunniang had offended Zhang Donglai, a steward in the Affairs Hall. She had even threatened him verbally before to secure her meager share of Spirit Stones.

Given Zhang Donglai's vindictive nature, he was likely waiting for her to walk right into his trap so he could mock her. How could he possibly assign her any tasks?

Xu Chunniang stood up, adjusted her displayed cultivation to the middle stage of the third level of Qi Condensation, and headed towards the Commission Hall.

The Commission Hall was bustling with many cultivators, ranging from the fourth to the ninth level of Qi Condensation.

As soon as Xu Chunniang entered, she garnered quite a few glances.

However, people didn't pay her excessive attention. After all, there were many cultivators with insufficient cultivation who came to the Commission Hall to try their luck.

It was easy to accept a commission, but the penalties for failing to complete one were no joke.

Consequently, most of these junior disciples at the third level of Qi Condensation would leave dejectedly after learning about the penalties for failed commissions. Only a minority dared to accept them.

After observing for a while, Xu Chunniang noticed that the Commission Hall was divided into four areas.

The two central areas were for cultivators at higher levels of Qi Condensation to accept commissions, while the two side areas gathered many cultivators at the middle levels.

She stepped towards the leftmost area.

Xu Chunniang's actions were observed by many, who wore expressions of amusement.

"Heh, another third-level Qi Condensation cultivator overestimating themselves and coming to accept commissions."

"She'll probably be scared out of the Commission Hall once she sees the commission details! After all, the penalties for failing to complete a commission are quite severe. A few people who didn't believe it insisted on taking them, and ended up owing hundreds of Contribution Points! They couldn't pay it off for over a decade."

"This is the consequence of wanting to reach the heavens in a single step. This path of cultivation requires one to face reality."

Xu Chunniang paid no mind to the surrounding chatter and focused intently on the content displayed on the large screen at the front.

"Go to West Mountain to mine ore, for a term of five years. You must submit five hundred pieces of low-grade ore annually. Completing this will earn thirty Contribution Points. For every ten pieces short, one Contribution Point will be deducted."

Xu Chunniang pondered. The notice didn't mention how exceeding the five hundred pieces would be handled. Since there was no mandatory submission for excess ore, it was likely that any surplus would belong to the commission recipient.

Earning only thirty Contribution Points per year, with only twelve points remaining after expenses, and potentially losing points if the ore yield was insufficient, this commission didn't seem very profitable.

She then looked at the second item.

"Go to Beast Mountain to care for demonic beasts, for a term of five years. Twenty-five Contribution Points annually. If a demonic beast dies due to inadequate care, ten Contribution Points will be deducted per beast."

This one seemed relatively easy, only requiring the care of demonic beasts and not demanding too much time.

However, the annual reward of twenty-five Contribution Points was pitifully low.

Furthermore, the penalty for accidentally causing a demonic beast's death was severe, with ten Contribution Points deducted for each one.

Only then did Xu Chunniang understand why those people had mentioned that some individuals ended up in debt after accepting commissions.

If a commission wasn't completed well, not only would one fail to earn Contribution Points, but they might even incur debt.

She continued to read.

"Refine Talisman Ink, for a term of five years. You must refine two hundred portions of low-grade Talisman Ink annually. Completing this will earn thirty Contribution Points. For every additional five portions refined, one Contribution Point will be awarded; conversely, points will be deducted."

"Process herbs, for a term of five years. You must process five hundred portions of low-grade herbs annually. Completing this will earn thirty Contribution Points. For every additional ten portions processed, one Contribution Point will be awarded; conversely, points will be deducted."

"Breed demonic beasts, for a term of five years. You must breed at least five demonic beasts annually. Completing this will earn forty Contribution Points. Damaging the demonic beasts is prohibited; otherwise, Contribution Points will be deducted based on the severity of the damage."

"Craft Disciple Tokens, for a term of five years. You must craft at least 100 tokens annually. Completing this will earn one hundred Contribution Points. For every additional token crafted, one Contribution Point will be awarded; conversely, points will be deducted."

There were all sorts of commissions, covering a wide range of tasks. After looking for a while, Xu Chunniang had a general understanding.

These commissions were for a term of five years. Once a commission was accepted, it could not be changed for at least five years.

However, since she didn't know how to refine Talisman Ink or care for demonic beasts, she had to keep looking for suitable options.

Among the numerous commissions, Xu Chunniang finally found two that she could undertake and that offered a decent amount of Contribution Points.

"Cultivate herbs, for a term of five years. You must cultivate at least 300 low-grade herbs annually. Upon completion, you will receive eighty Contribution Points. For every additional five herbs cultivated, one Contribution Point will be awarded; the reverse applies for shortfalls."

"Plant spirit rice, for a term of five years. You must submit 800 jin of spirit rice annually. Upon completion, you will receive thirty Contribution Points. For every ten jin short, one Contribution Point will be deducted."

Xu Chunniang pondered for a moment. The first commission was to cultivate herbs. Completing the task annually would yield eighty Contribution Points, with more rewards for more effort, potentially leading to an annual income of over a hundred Spirit Stones.

The second commission, cultivating spirit rice, offered thirty Contribution Points annually, with any surplus spirit rice belonging entirely to her!

Although the sect's internal purchase price for spirit rice was half that of the market town, with two catties of spirit rice only worth one Spirit Stone, if the yield could increase by two hundred catties, it would bring in one hundred Spirit Stones.

Combined with the Contribution Points from the sect, her annual income could reach one hundred and thirty!

Xu Chunniang's heart fluttered. 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 wouldn't sell the spirit rice to the market town at a higher price, it was naturally because sect rules explicitly prohibited disciples cultivating spirit rice from selling it privately.

Private sales of more than ten catties of spirit rice would incur corresponding penalties.

Xu Chunniang could understand the sect's reasoning. Firstly, the spirit fields and grounds were provided by the sect, and disciples were only responsible for cultivation. Secondly, many resources within the sect were offered to disciples at cost price.

For example, Grain Abstinence Pills were sold internally at the sect for one Spirit Stone for two bottles, but in Green Mountain Town, they were sold for an astonishing three Spirit Stones per bottle.

Furthermore, low-grade Sorcery, which could be copied at the Merit Pavilion for only five Spirit Stones, was valued at dozens of Spirit Stones in the market town.

From this, it was evident that sect disciples enjoyed more benefits, albeit indirectly.

Walking to the management office of the Commission Hall, Xu Chunniang presented her Disciple Token. "Please help me register to accept the spirit rice cultivation commission."

Next would be the stage of undertaking commissions.

Thanks to fellow Daoist Hong, Hong, Hong Jie for the tip, and fellow Daoists Happy ☆ Star, Xin Lian, and linlin655 for their monthly ticket support!