Inside the Inner Affairs Hall, a faint silence fell. The outstanding descendants of the many cultivation families all turned their gazes toward the Bamboo Slip Token in Qi Chuan's palm, their eyes filled with both surprise and envy.
The words "Tier 1 High-grade" inscribed upon it meant that Qi Chuan had successfully drawn a cave mansion with a Tier 1 High-grade Ling Mai.
Meanwhile, everyone else had only drawn Tier 1 Mid-grade ones.
This person's luck was far too good, wasn't it?
Which cultivation family was he from?
The Qi Family?
"That person seems to be a prodigy of the Qi Family?"
On the other side, Ye Liang looked toward Qi Chuan, a faint glimmer flickering in the depths of his eyes.
Everyone present came from cultivation families, and there were connections between those families. Thus, they generally knew which family each person belonged to, though they could not know precisely who everyone was.
For example, quite a few people recognized someone like Ye Liang, who possessed exceptional talent and a considerable reputation.
But someone like Qi Chuan had previously been unknown, only to suddenly seize an Inner Sect Quota. Even his own clan had been caught off guard, much less outsiders. Therefore, there was no way to learn much about him; they basically only knew that he came from the Qi Family, but not his exact identity.
"He should merely be someone with good luck, who happened to draw a Tier 1 High-grade Cave Mansion."
After glancing at the Bamboo Slip Token in Qi Chuan's hand, Ye Liang narrowed his eyes and withdrew his gaze. He did not think much of it.
A Tier 1 High-grade Cave Mansion was indeed better than a Tier 1 Mid-grade Cave Mansion.
However, the most important thing in cultivation was still one's Spiritual Root.
He possessed a Top Three Grades Spiritual Root. Among the cultivation families present, a Spiritual Root of that caliber was practically the best. Moreover, he had been born into the Ye Family and lacked no resources whatsoever, so he could entirely disregard the minor factor of cave mansion Spiritual Qi.
Besides, although the other party looked younger than him, he could vaguely sense that the other's Cultivation Realm was likely inferior to his own.
The other party was already beneath him now. With his Spiritual Root, the gap between them would only grow wider in the future.
"I am only sixteen this year, yet I have already reached the Qi Refining Fifth Layer. Once I reach the Late Qi Refining Stage and a vacancy opens among the Wind Moon Sect's True Disciples, I will certainly fight for a True Disciple Quota. These so-called prodigies from cultivation families are only at the third or fourth layer. I should never have placed them in my eyes to begin with, much less cared about the difference of a mere Tier 1 Cave Mansion."
With that thought, Ye Liang completely set aside the faint trace of unease in his heart.
"I never expected that I would draw a Tier 1 High-grade Cave Mansion?"
Qi Chuan looked at the Bamboo Slip Token in his palm, genuinely surprised.
He had originally thought that all Inner Sect Disciples could only draw Tier 1 Mid-grade Cave Mansions.
Unexpectedly, the Red Dots within that Sand Table Magic Item had likely represented Tier 1 High-grade Cave Mansions. It was simply that the chances of drawing them were too low, which was why those before him had only drawn Tier 1 Mid-grade Cave Mansions from the Blue Dots.
"This Tier 1 High-grade Cave Mansion is truly excellent. It should be able to increase my cultivation speed by quite a bit!"
Back in Red Maple Valley, the residence on Second Master's Independent Peak was probably only an ordinary Tier 1 Low Grade Ling Mai at best.
Furthermore, within Red Maple Valley, let alone a Tier 1 High-grade Cave Mansion, even a Tier 1 Mid-grade Cave Mansion could only be enjoyed by Elders in the Late Qi Refining Stage.
As for a Tier 1 High-grade Cave Mansion, in the entire Qi Family, perhaps only the Qi Family Patriarch, Qi Wuyou, possessed one.
And now, the moment he entered the Wind Moon Sect, he had obtained cultivation conditions equivalent to those of the Qi Family Patriarch.
Qi Chuan immediately returned the Bamboo Slip Token to the Inner Affairs Hall Elder, Zhao Jing. Zhao Jing then rubbed the token between both hands, and a ray of light flew out from it, landing upon a Red Dot atop a certain mountain within the Sand Table Magic Item. That place was presumably where Qi Chuan's Cave Mansion was located.
Qi Chuan then received a Cave Mansion Token as well.
When Qi Chuan obtained this Tier 1 High-grade Cave Mansion Token, he could sense several somewhat fervent gazes coming from around him.
Clearly, even these prodigies of cultivation families deeply coveted a cave mansion with a Tier 1 High-grade Ling Mai.
After all, the Spirit Lands of these cultivation families were generally only of the Tier 1 High-grade level, while quite a few were even merely Tier 1 Mid-grade. Even if these people were their clans' prized prodigies, the residences allocated to them within their families would not be of particularly high quality.
Qi Chuan paid no attention to those gazes. He simply focused on the arrangements Zhao Jing, the Inner Affairs Hall Elder, would make next.
After assigning cave mansions to everyone, Zhao Jing began making arrangements for several other matters.
After listening carefully, Qi Chuan gained a general understanding of cultivation after becoming part of the Wind Moon Sect's Inner Sect.
Upon entering the Inner Sect, aside from providing a decent cave mansion, the Wind Moon Sect would also grant a fixed annual stipend of fifty Low-grade Spirit Stones.
However, there were also certain requirements. Each year, one had to complete at least three Sect Missions. Completing missions likewise earned rewards such as Sect Contribution Points.
If one did not wish to complete Sect Missions for some reason, one could submit resources to be exempted, though the cost would likely be considerable.
However, certain missions forcibly assigned by the sect could not be waived.
Moreover, entering the Wind Moon Sect's Inner Sect was not a matter of once and for all.
Before the age of thirty, if one's cultivation base had not reached the Late Qi Refining Stage, one would be demoted to an Outer Disciple, become a steward and be sent to manage the sect's properties outside its grounds, or even be dismissed outright.
If one advanced to the Late Qi Refining Stage before turning thirty, one could remain in the Inner Sect until the age of fifty.
These rules kept the Wind Moon Sect's Inner Sect Disciples at a fixed scale.
As for advancing from the Inner Sect to become a True Disciple, one would need a vacancy among the True Disciples.
The Wind Moon Sect had Twelve True Disciples. For a True Disciple position to become vacant, either a True Disciple had to advance into the Foundation Establishment Realm and become a Wind Moon Sect Elder,
or a True Disciple had to lose his seat for various reasons.
When that happened and a vacancy arose, the Wind Moon Sect would conduct a True Disciple Selection within the Inner Sect to fill it.
"Looking at it this way, becoming a True Disciple is not something that can be rushed."
Qi Chuan pondered inwardly.
"Fortunately, my current realm is still far too low. I am nowhere near the point where I could become a True Disciple. In any case, I should take it slowly. With the Hundredfold Critical Hit, becoming a True Disciple, or even reaching Foundation Establishment, will not be a problem."
After thinking for a moment, Qi Chuan felt somewhat relieved.
He possessed a Golden Finger. While he should still fight for the things worth fighting for, there was ultimately no need for him to be too anxious.
Unlike other cultivators, who, even with excellent talent, had to fight and had to contend. Once certain things were missed, they would never return, leaving them with nothing but talent as they remained trapped at some bottleneck for a lifetime, filled with regret until the end.
"Alright, I have said everything that needed to be said. You may now head to your respective cave mansions. Just remember not to forget to take part in Sect Missions."
After the Inner Affairs Hall Elder gave several more reminders, he waved his hand and dismissed the crowd.
Qi Chuan and the many youngsters from cultivation families then followed the location information recorded within their Cave Mansion Tokens and headed toward their respective cave mansions.
When Qi Chuan left the Inner Affairs Hall and Inner Affairs Peak, he had acquired several more items besides his Cave Mansion Token, such as a Wind Moon Sect Inner Sect Token and Wind Moon Sect Inner Sect Disciple Robes.
As for Magic Artifacts, Spirit Stones, Talismans, and the like—sorry, the Wind Moon Sect had basically given him nothing at all.
Even the annual stipend of fifty Low-grade Spirit Stones for Inner Sect Disciples could only be collected after an entire year had passed.
"It seems that after entering the Inner Sect, all resources still have to be earned through one's own efforts. The most important benefit of joining the Wind Moon Sect's Inner Sect is likely the advantage brought by this status. Those who know how to work it can leverage this status alone into many things."
"As for me, with the Golden Finger, there is no need for too much pointless maneuvering. I just need to work diligently, step by step."
Shaking his head, Qi Chuan arrived at a picturesque mountain indicated by his Cave Mansion Token. Following a small path, he reached the edge of a cliff. There was a small open space beside the cliff, while his Tier 1 High-grade Cave Mansion had been carved out not far away.
Qi Chuan walked to the cliff's edge and looked into the distance. Below lay the boundless waters of Wind Moon Lake, blanketed in white mist. Farther away, he could see the outline of a Giant Mountain.
It was Moon Shadow Mountain, one of the renowned Wind Spirit Mountain and Moon Shadow Mountain of the Wind Moon Sect.
"I heard that True Sword Master Xuanjian resides upon that Moon Shadow Mountain?"
Qi Chuan raised his eyes toward the summit of Moon Shadow Mountain. After staring for a moment, he withdrew his gaze and looked once more at the white mist over the lake below.
"All I can say is that the scenery is exceptionally beautiful. This Cave Mansion is first-rate, whether in terms of its surroundings and views or its Spiritual Qi Concentration."
"It is just a bit taxing on the feet whenever I need to go out. The Wind Moon Sect seems a little too large, doesn't it?"
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