Special Adjustments

Just then, an elderly-faced elder said mildly, "That's normal too."

"That's normal?"

The elderly-faced elder said in a deep voice, "That little beast's evil is nothing. If he were more evil, he could refine those bandits into the Myriad Soul Banner, command their souls, then imprison that woman for harvesting and replenishment—or perhaps... forget it, I won't mention the rest. In any case, that would be evil with a long reach. A shortsighted little beast like him is hardly interesting."

As soon as he finished speaking, everyone fell silent.

Every elder's expression turned strange...

So who exactly was the abnormal one?

After the trial ended, everyone at Kite Plaza dispersed.

This year's disciple trial had unusually lacked any spectacle. Quite a few Inner Sect disciples had thought it would be a pity, but Ning Ri had appeared...

At least now they had plenty of entertainment to talk about after returning.

As for Ning Ri, the protagonist of it all, he followed the other trial-takers who had passed the disciple trial to their dormitories—

[Golden Osmanthus Garden]!

All the trial-takers had been assigned to live in Golden Osmanthus Garden.

Before Golden Osmanthus Garden stood a massive boulder, bearing the three large vermilion characters, Golden Osmanthus Garden. The group stood side by side beside the boulder.

At the same time, they received their Disciple Tokens and disciple robes.

The disciple robes were green overall.

Holding the clothes as he stood in line, Ning Ri felt as though he were attending military training.

The disciple robes were ordinary, but the Disciple Token was not.

The Disciple Token had a very distinctive design. Holding it in his hand, Ning Ri felt that it was about the size of a phone.

It was a rectangular pale-pink plaque, its corners rounded off so that it did not cut into his hand.

Ning Ri felt it looked even more like a phone.

On the back of the Disciple Token were the slightly raised characters Heaven Defying Sect. They were strangely addictive to touch, giving one the feeling that one could not stop. Ning Ri thought this thing was perfect for fidgeting with.

On its front were the two large characters Ning Ri, surrounded by engraved runes.

After learning artifact refining, Ning Ri knew that these runes could be activated by infusing them with spiritual power.

Looking at the Disciple Token, he thought, Has anyone made a phone case... no, a token case? I want to change its skin.

Meanwhile.

Standing before them was Elder Zhou Hai, the elder in charge of subtitles. He swept his gaze over the crowd and said in a deep voice:

"Next, you will cultivate in the Outer Sect. The Pillars of Cultivation Pavilion has cultivation arts available for exchange, and the Heavenly Heart Pavilion has cultivation pills and cultivation resources available for exchange—but the prerequisite is that you have Contribution Points!"

At this point, Zhou Hai raised the token in his hand and said, "The Disciple Token has many functions. One of them is helping you accept missions. Only by completing sect missions can you earn Contribution Points."

"Also, there will be a free class once every three days, covering cultivation, pill refining, artifact refining, formations... and so on. The courses are repeated and are all basic introductory classes. If you do not understand the first time, you can attend again. As for more advanced material, you will need to seek it out yourself at the Pillars of Cultivation Pavilion."

"Additionally, if there is anything about cultivation that you cannot figure out, you can come find me at the Pillars of Cultivation Pavilion. You can talk with me or with other elders. Every disciple has three free hours of Dao Discussion. After those three hours, if you want to speak privately with me or another elder, you must pay Contribution Points."

"For anything else you do not understand, just ask your Disciple Token!"

"Once you reach the Foundation Establishment realm, you can receive the Inner Sect trial. Pass it, and you can join the Inner Sect."

After briefly explaining the daily life of an Outer Sect disciple, Zhou Hai asked, "Do you have any other questions?"

Everyone said, "No!"

Zhou Hai nodded, then said, "Ning Ri, stay behind. The rest of you may return first."

At those words, everyone's gazes drifted toward Ning Ri, but they quickly looked away and turned to enter Golden Osmanthus Garden.

They all knew that a "peerless genius" like Ning Ri would definitely receive the most attention.

Once only Ning Ri and Zhou Hai remained before the entrance to Golden Osmanthus Garden, Zhou Hai stepped forward and said, "Others can reach Foundation Establishment through ordinary cultivation and enter the Inner Sect, but your situation is somewhat special."

"So the sect has made special adjustments for your situation."

Hearing this, Ning Ri could not help asking curiously, "May I ask, Elder Zhou, what sort of special adjustments?"

Zhou Hai said, "The sect knows... forget it, I won't pretend anymore. It was actually just me."

Ning Ri said, "Uh..."

Zhou Hai continued, "I know your aptitude is too poor. Even reaching the Third Stage Qi Refining was cultivation gained through 'luck.'"

"Precisely because of that, I told the others that asking you to cultivate step by step in the Outer Sect until Foundation Establishment would be making things too difficult for you."

Ning Ri said nothing and merely nodded silently.

That was indeed true!

Without cheating, all he could do for the rest of his life was practice blade techniques. Foundation Establishment? What Foundation Establishment?

It would already be good enough if he could live out this life normally.

Zhou Hai said, "So, we discussed two options."

"The first option is to make an exception and allow you to enter the Inner Sect early."

"The second option is for us to search for pills that can alter your aptitude, help you repair it, then let you rely on your own strength to break through to Foundation Establishment and enter the Inner Sect."

Upon hearing Zhou Hai's words, Ning Ri did not rush to choose. Instead, he first expressed his gratitude. "Many thanks to Elder Zhou and the other elders for worrying over this disciple. This disciple will never forget the elders' concern."

At this, several elders watching in secret showed a trace of satisfaction in their eyes.

A normal person might have immediately begun choosing between the first and second options.

Ning Ri expressing his gratitude first showed, firstly, good breeding, and secondly, cleverness. His mind turned quickly enough for him to immediately realize the essence of the matter.

Zhou Hai smiled and said, "There is no need for thanks. Since we occupy the position of elders, it is only right that we consider the disciples under our care."

"Then which one do you wish to choose?"

Ning Ri asked, "This disciple dares to ask: if I choose either of these options, what must I give up?"

Zhou Hai said, "Contribution Points."

"Considering that you currently have no Contribution Points at all, you can only owe them."

"You will owe less for the former and more for the latter."

"You must repay them within three hundred years from the day you break through to Foundation Establishment."

"However, these Contribution Points carry no interest. Other elders require interest when advancing Contribution Points, but you do not."

Ning Ri understood.

No interest meant no interest.

This was a three-hundred-year interest-free student loan specially approved by the Heaven Defying Sect!

To Ning Ri, this was already incredibly heartwarming!

Other sects had not even intended to take him, yet the Heaven Defying Sect had not only given him a chance, but also approved an interest-free loan for him...

Zhou Hai said, "And in fact, no Outer Sect disciple in the Heaven Defying Sect can receive an advance on Contribution Points—but you can."

"This is the preferential treatment we are giving you!"