Three Great Outer Sect Benefits

Manager Chen, too, gave the techniques in Xiao Chen's hand a thoughtful glance, but said nothing.

After receiving the techniques, it was time to choose their courtyards.

Outer Sect Disciples received a total of three Great Sect benefits.

The first was the freedom to choose a suitable set of techniques. Moreover, as their cultivation broke through in the future, they could also receive the corresponding advanced techniques.

This meant they would not need to be like Rogue Cultivators, seeking out new techniques anew with every breakthrough.

The second was that they could choose an unoccupied small courtyard within the Branch Academy as their residence.

They no longer had to crowd several people into one room like Chore Disciples, but could have a home all to themselves.

The third was the right to receive one Low-Grade Magic Item for free, as a treasure to protect their path.

Although these uniformly forged magic items had relatively mediocre quality in order to guarantee quantity, and might not necessarily suit the cultivator himself,

one had to know that even the most ordinary Low-Grade Magic Item was worth over a hundred Spirit Stones.

With the average Outer Sect Disciple receiving three Spirit Stones a month, that was equivalent to more than three years of monthly stipends.

Before advancing to become Inner Sect Disciples, most Outer Sect Disciples used the sect's standardized magic items. They could not bear to casually replace them with those far more expensive Custom Magic Tools.

There were not many vacant houses left in Branch 2. Xiao Chen chose a small courtyard in the southeast corner.

Next came One Hour of free time, allowing them to return to their original residences, pack up anything useful, and bring it over.

Jiang Sixuan chose a small courtyard on the south side, but instead of going straight to arrange it, she sought out Xiao Chen.

"Senior Brother Xiao, when we return later, it will be time to choose magic items. New disciples can forgo the standardized mass-produced magic items and buy better Custom Magic Tools at a discounted price."

"Not only are they much cheaper this way, but the magic item you receive will also be more suitable. It counts as a hidden benefit."

"I've still saved up some Spirit Stones. If you need Spirit Stones later, just say the word."

There was actually such a deal?

Xiao Chen committed the information to memory and shook his head. "Thank you for the reminder, Junior Sister, but I've also saved up a little."

Jiang Sixuan smiled faintly, then turned and left.

A Chore Disciple could only earn one Spirit Stone a month. Even if he spent nothing for three years, he would have no more than thirty-six Spirit Stones.

When the time came, Xiao Chen would understand that such a small amount of savings was merely a drop in the bucket before a raging fire.

Then, whether he had truly been forced to choose Yellow-grade Technique due to a lack of resources, or whether there was another reason, would naturally become clear.

Xiao Chen actually had nothing worth moving. Chore Disciples had no tables, chairs, or furniture to begin with.

Still, since Jiang Sixuan had reminded him that he would need Spirit Stones later, he returned to Chore Peak, hid somewhere deserted, and took out all Two Hundred Spirit Stones from his slacking-off reward.

Afterward, he made a trip to the Merit Hall and withdrew the thirty-five Spirit Stones he had saved up as well, stuffing them all into his clothes.

Though Spirit Stones were not large, there were so many of them that they nearly would not fit.

"If only I had a Storage Bag."

Unfortunately, Storage Artifacts were also magic items. Only after becoming an Inner Sect Disciple would the sect bestow a free Storage Bag.

When he returned to the Branch Academy with his bulging stash of Spirit Stones, Manager Chen was already waiting at the courtyard gate.

His gaze swept over Xiao Chen's chest. "Oh, are you planning to exchange for a magic item yourself? If so, go to the Merit Hall first and choose a style you like."

The Li Fire Sect's Merit Hall was not only responsible for calculating and distributing disciples' monthly stipends.

Taking Sect Missions and exchanging for sect treasures also fell within its scope of responsibility.

Returning to the Merit Hall, Xiao Chen explained his purpose. The senior brother on duty led him into the inner hall and began introducing the various Custom Magic Tools.

"Since Junior Brother Xiao has a Wood Spiritual Root, I recommend this Ebony Flag. Its flagpole is made from thousand-year ebony wood, while the Banner Surface is embroidered with the Dark Gold Serpent Pattern, forming a poison pattern. The reverse is embroidered with the Dark Cloud Pattern, forming a fog pattern. With a wave, Poisonous Fog spreads everywhere, winning through the unexpected."

Xiao Chen glanced at it. This Ebony Flag was priced at one hundred and eighty Spirit Stones, still within an acceptable range.

He had already asked about it. If he gave up the Standard Flying Sword uniformly issued by the sect, he could receive a discount of a full one hundred Spirit Stones.

That meant he could consider any magic item priced below three hundred Spirit Stones.

"May I ask, Senior Brother, whether you have any better recommendations?"

"Oh? In that case, Junior Brother, take a look at this Azure Gourd. It contains a strand of Azure Wood Spiritual Energy that can evolve into an Azure Wood Divine General. Not only can you command the Divine General in battle, but it also has room to improve in the future."

It was actually a summoning-type magic item!

Xiao Chen's interest was immediately piqued. Such magic items were not common.

He first glanced at the label below. Sure enough, this gourd had originally been a Mid-Grade Magic Tool, worth eight hundred Spirit Stones.

However, the gourd had been damaged in its last battle.

Of its original three Divine Generals, only one remained, and its power had fallen to the 6th level of Qi Refining.

At its current price of two hundred and eighty Spirit Stones, it was somewhat expensive, so it had sat there for two and a half years without selling.

Xiao Chen's eyes lit up. This magic item was exactly to his liking.

Now, he only needed to spend one hundred and eighty Spirit Stones to buy the Azure Gourd, making it exceptionally cost-effective.

If he could gather the appropriate materials in the future and repair the damage, the Azure Gourd could rise once more into a Mid-Grade Magic Tool.

More importantly, what the Azure Gourd truly cultivated was that strand of Azure Wood Spiritual Energy.

If he could comprehend the Azure Wood Spiritual Energy while cultivating his techniques, it would provide at least some benefit and speed up his cultivation. It was killing two birds with one stone.

"I'll take the Azure Gourd. Please wait a moment, Senior Brother. Our manager will be here shortly."

"Of course, of course. Since Junior Brother Xiao has made his choice, come over here and pay the full one hundred and eighty Spirit Stones first. You can complete the remaining procedures afterward."

Hearing that Xiao Chen was willing to purchase the Azure Gourd, the senior brother on duty also breathed a sigh of relief.

Most disciples could not afford Custom Magic Tools, while the few wealthy disciples usually had plans of their own.

The Azure Gourd had sat here unsold for so long. Today, it had finally gotten rid of a pest.

As a result, he found Xiao Chen a little more pleasing to the eye.

Not only did he settle the magic item registration in advance, but he also kindly reminded him, "I heard that repairing this gourd requires gathering Azure Wood Spiritual Liquid."

"Our sect's stores do not have it for the time being. If Junior Brother is interested in the future, visit the Hundred Treasures Pavilion in the marketplace and ask around. They auctioned off Azure Wood Spiritual Liquid once eight years ago."

Xiao Chen clasped his hands in thanks. "Thank you for the reminder, Senior Brother."

As they spoke, Chief Chen also brought Ye Fei and Jiang Sixuan to the Merit Hall to select magic items.

The moment Jiang Sixuan entered, she saw the Azure Gourd hanging at Xiao Chen's waist, and a flash of surprise immediately passed through her beautiful eyes.

As a member of the Jiang Family, she had heard of the Azure Gourd before coming here. If not for the fact that a Fire Attribute magic item had yet to be chosen, the Azure Gourd would have been one of her cost-effective alternatives as well.

For Xiao Chen to have the means to obtain the Azure Gourd meant that he was absolutely not an ordinary Rogue Cultivator too poor to afford Spirit Stones for cultivation.

If that was the case, then passing over Mysterious-grade techniques only to choose Yellow-grade Technique was truly thought-provoking.

Jiang Sixuan quietly glanced at Xiao Chen and began making plans for that evening's banquet.

Since she could not see through him herself, she would call her elder brother over to help probe him.