The Chongming Sect Rules began with a brief introduction to the sect's origins. The old woman had already mentioned that when he paid his respects to the founder, so Pei Ling skipped straight past it. Next came a rundown of the benefits offered to Outer Sect disciples.
Besides the things they could collect from the General Affairs Hall, they were allowed to choose one skill to learn for free outside their cultivation. Weapon forging, alchemy, Talisman Drawing, Spiritual Plant Care, beast taming... They only had to attend classes at the corresponding peaks.
As for cultivation methods, Outer Sect disciples practiced the Bone Forging Art, which was no different from the one passed down through the Pei Family. The only difference was that every half month, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator would visit each peak to lecture on difficult and crucial points. They could simply go to the summit to listen.
The peak he was currently on was called Huaiyin Peak, one of the Outer Sect's many peaks. Each peak had an Affairs Hall responsible for its daily operations.
Aside from arranging accommodations, the Affairs Hall also housed the Hall of Many Laws, which held the many cultivation methods the Chongming Sect had prepared for Outer Sect disciples. The Bone Forging Art was among them, but apart from that, everything else had to be purchased with Spirit Stones.
There was also the Hundred Treasures Pavilion, which stocked Talisman Tools, talismans, pills, and other items needed for cultivation and fighting. In addition to Spirit Stones, disciples could trade finished goods or materials after having them appraised.
The last was the Spirit Gathering Array. When the peak was built, an Inner Sect elder skilled in formations had personally set it up. Making use of Huaiyin Peak's terrain, it reached up to the stars and drew upon the Earth Vein below. Without interfering with the disciples' normal cultivation, it gathered as much spiritual energy from heaven and earth as possible. It was unquestionably the finest cultivation ground on the entire peak.
However, the Sect Rules warned that the cost of using it was exorbitant and advised against regular use. It was best saved for times when one was on the verge of a breakthrough.
Pei Ling skimmed through the pages at a glance and finally reached the main body of the Sect Rules.
He took a deep breath, gazing at the page with eager anticipation. In black and white, the rules began bluntly: "Disciples of this sect are strictly forbidden from fighting among themselves. If they violate this rule, the one who struck first will be fined regardless of the reason. Servant Disciples will be fined a minimum of thirty Low-grade Spirit Stones, up to a maximum of one hundred, depending on the circumstances; Outer Sect disciples, a minimum of one hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones, up to a maximum of three hundred; Inner Sect disciples, a minimum of thirty Mid-grade Spirit Stones, up to a maximum of one hundred..."
"You get fined Spirit Stones just for striking first? They don't even ask why?" Pei Ling's heart lurched with belated fear. Damn, if I'd known, I wouldn't have touched that woman. What if she reports me?
He hurried on. The Sect Rules laid out in exhaustive detail the penalties for everyday offenses like picking fights, stealing, and insults, with every fine payable in Spirit Stones. At last, he reached the main event: "If a disciple maims a fellow sect member, Servant Disciples will be fined a minimum of two hundred Low-grade Spirit Stones, up to a maximum of five hundred, depending on the circumstances; Outer Sect disciples, a minimum of two thousand Low-grade Spirit Stones, up to a maximum of five thousand; Inner Sect disciples..."
Pei Ling's expression changed. "They only fine you Spirit Stones? No other punishment???"
The farther he read, the paler he grew. Not only could maiming a fellow disciple be settled with Spirit Stones, but even killing one merely increased the fine.
They had even thoughtfully extended the payment deadlines: minor offenses had to be paid off within ten days, maiming within a month, and killing within three months. Once the fine was paid, the matter was considered closed.
In short, the Sacred Sect did have an abundance of rules, covering every detail. But as long as you had Spirit Stones—enough Spirit Stones—any violation of the Sect Rules could be settled with money!
The only real punishment was failing to pay the fine before the deadline.
Only then did the Chongming Sect drop its greedy, money-grubbing act and reveal the true ways of a demonic giant: ordinary bodies went to Spirit Return and Plant Peak to be turned into fertilizer; the sturdier ones became auxiliary materials at Weapon Forging Peak. Their blood essence... souls... internal organs... Everything was put to good use, ensuring the Sacred Sect never took a loss.
"Fuck..." The sense of security Pei Ling had felt when he first received the Sect Rules vanished without a trace, replaced by deep dread. Now he understood why the old woman had advised him to be careful in the sect, given his background. He didn't have a single Spirit Stone on him!
By the Chongming Sect's rules, he didn't even have the right to curse at anyone. After all, insulting a fellow Outer Sect disciple came with a fine starting at three Low-grade Spirit Stones.
With trembling hands, Pei Ling closed the Sect Rules. Thinking back to all the stories he'd heard about the Chongming Sect's brutal disciples, he suddenly wondered if their habit of wiping out entire clans and slaughtering everyone for three thousand miles wasn't because Demonic Skills made them cruel, short-tempered, and quick to anger, but because they were broke!
So they could just find an excuse to wipe out a family and rake in the spoils.
After all, under these hellish rules, getting their hands on Spirit Stones had to be their top priority!
Just as Pei Ling's heart raced with fear, he heard movement outside. He quickly stood and went to the window. The restriction opened, and three men of varying heights entered together. They exchanged a glance with him through the window. The shortest one frowned slightly. "Who are you? Why are you here?"
"Cheng An!" The man in the middle grabbed his shoulder. His gaze passed over the Aversion to Life Saber near Pei Ling, and his pupils contracted. He signaled to his companion to stay calm, then smiled at Pei Ling. "May I ask who you are, junior brother?"
"Greetings, senior brothers." Pei Ling steadied himself and clasped his hands. "My name is Pei Ling. I'm a newly admitted Outer Sect disciple."
"Pei Ling?" The man looked surprised. "It's not the time of year for new disciples to enter the sect. How did you get in?"
He then introduced himself. "My name is Li Siguan. I'm at Qi Refining Layer 4."
He pointed to the two companions at his sides, one tall and one short, and introduced them as Zhou Yi and Miao Chengan. They were at Qi Refining Layer 4 and Qi Refining Layer 5, respectively.
Seeing that they seemed friendly enough, Pei Ling relaxed a little. "It was arranged by Senior Brother Zheng Jingshan, an Inner Sect Pulse Master. Earlier, True Disciple Fairy Li went to Luquan City on a mission with Senior Brother Zheng and my cousin, Pei Hong Nian. They happened to run into me and brought me to the Sacred Sect. My entry into the Sacred Sect was also arranged by Senior Brother Zheng."
"I understand. It's about Elder Luo's matter." Li Siguan's eyes flickered at the mention of it, and he exchanged a look with Zhou Yi. Miao Chengan, however, blurted out, "Fairy Li is one thing, but that good-for-nothing Zheng Jingshan thinks he's fit to lay his hands on the Nascent Soul Method?"
Pei Ling froze. Zheng Jingshan's standing in the Chongming Sect seemed quite different from what he had imagined.
"Don't take offense, junior brother. Chengan has an older brother by blood in the Inner Sect, one of the Thirteen Meridians' Pulse Masters alongside Senior Brother Zheng. They've always had some friction." Li Siguan noticed his expression and smiled reassuringly. "Chengan is young and hotheaded. His mouth runs ahead of his mind. Please don't take his words to heart."
"Don't worry, senior brother. I'm not one to gossip." Only then did Pei Ling relax. Li Siguan continued, "You've just arrived, junior brother. Is there anything you need help with? To be frank, my grandfather is one of the Outer Sect elders, Li Ping. When it comes to ordinary matters, big or small, here on Huaiyin Peak, he can settle them with a word."
Zhou Yi chimed in as well. "My cousin is one of the True Disciples. Since you know Fairy Li, you're one of us from now on."
As Pei Ling listened, a thought stirred in his mind. Were these two testing how close he was to Fairy Li?
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