At the Marquis of Northcloud's Secondary Residence.
Everyone sat in the Banquet Hall.
Compared to the packed hall of before, only half as many people remained.
As for where the other half had gone...
There was no need to think too hard about that.
"We were able to slay the Evil Fiends and stamp out the Demon Calamity so quickly thanks to everyone here. Allow me to offer you a toast!" The Marquis of Northcloud raised his cup with a hearty laugh.
"You're too kind, my lord!"
"We only did our duty."
Everyone raised their cups in response.
After setting down his cup.
The Marquis of Northcloud said, "Every sect suffered losses fighting the Demon Calamity, and some even lost Outer Astral Realm cultivators. Since you contributed to Northcloud Prefecture, I will not leave those losses uncompensated.
"Northcloud Prefecture will compensate every Sect that suffered casualties in proportion to its losses.
"Any Sect that lost an Outer Astral Realm cultivator will receive three Astral Qi Pills."
"You are most generous, my lord!"
Everyone voiced their agreement again, though some inwardly scoffed.
Astral Qi Pill.
Put plainly, they helped cultivators comprehend astral qi faster.
With good luck, three Astral Qi Pills could help three True Martial Third Level cultivators break through to the True Martial Fourth Level, the Inner Astral Realm.
With bad luck...
All three pills might produce only one Inner Astral Realm cultivator, or none at all.
As for advancing from Inner Astral to Outer Astral, Astral Qi Pills were completely useless.
Trading an Outer Astral Realm cultivator for three Astral Qi Pills was a loss no matter how one looked at it.
Still.
None of those present felt particularly strongly about it.
The Sects that had lost Outer Astral Realm cultivators were no longer in the Banquet Hall.