In the blink of an eye, the thirty-day deadline arrived.
Jiang Yunya held Chu Mo's wrist. After examining him carefully, he nodded in satisfaction and said, "You must have succeeded in Qi Refining some time ago? Your talent is quite good."
Chu Mo calmed the thin trickle of true qi within him and replied, his face pale, "It was all thanks to your guidance, senior brother."
[Character information] Player: Chu Mo Level: 1 Cultivation method: "Zhou Tian Qi-Gathering Method"
Thanks to Wang Quan's selfless contribution, Chu Mo had smoothly reached the Qi Refining First Layer twenty days earlier, successfully becoming a cultivator. His player level had also risen to 1.
The deaths of Wang Quan and the others had caused not the slightest ripple, as though the three had never existed. The explanation he had painstakingly prepared had gone unused.
Li Erhei stole a cautious glance at Chu Mo. Ever since Wang Quan and the other two disappeared, he had suspected Chu Mo of secretly killing them. He had been so frightened that he could neither eat nor sleep properly, terrified that Chu Mo would turn on him someday.
Yet the other man had made no move at all. That feeling of death looming just beyond his doorstep kept his nerves stretched taut, nearly driving him mad.
Only upon seeing Jiang Yunya again today did he relax. Surely Chu Mo couldn't kill him right in front of a senior brother from the sect?
Jiang Yunya paid no attention to the dark-faced man's emotions and simply laid a hand on his wrist. A moment later, he frowned slightly. "You haven't broken through?"
A look of shame crossed Li Erhei's face, and he awkwardly forced a smile. "I'm sorry, Senior Brother Jiang. I'm just a little short. Give me a few more days, and I'll definitely break through."
"No need."
Jiang Yunya shook his head and flicked a streak of white light from his finger. A thumb-sized hole instantly appeared in the dark-faced man's head. He fell to the ground with a thud, his smile frozen on his face forever.
A wisp of gray vapor then rose from the corpse. Before Chu Mo could examine it closely, it turned into a streak of gray light and vanished. He vaguely caught a glimpse of that "Disciple Register."
"Mortal bodies are filthy. Only their souls have any value," Jiang Yunya said indifferently.
"So this is a soul?" Chu Mo murmured.
He had seen no souls when he killed Wang Quan and Shao Ling. This seemed to be a special ability he had gained only after entering Qi Refining.
"You're quite promising, junior brother." Jiang Yunya was very pleased with Chu Mo. He had good talent, and the Duo'e Sect needed precisely that kind of person.
With a light sweep of his robe, Li Erhei's corpse scattered like dust and smoke, leaving no trace. He turned to Chu Mo with a faint smile. "Come with me."
Chu Mo silently followed him out of the courtyard, which might well have witnessed a great deal of bloodshed.
Outside lay a winding path. Morning light spilled through the thin mist, lending the place an even more immortal air.
Jiang Yunya walked at an unhurried pace, speaking as he went. "The sect's selection process is like great waves sifting sand. Those unable to enter Qi Refining within thirty days have poor talent.
Continuing to cultivate would only waste their mortal lifespans. Better to switch to the Soul Path early. With the Darkworld Grotto-Scenery Banner, it counts as a stroke of good fortune for them.
"Your talent is good. You should devote yourself to cultivation and never grow complacent or slack."
Chu Mo promptly answered in a low voice, "Thank you for your advice, senior brother."
Before long, the mist ahead thinned a little, revealing a clearing. Seven or eight people were already standing there, men and women alike, all disciples who had entered the sect alongside Chu Mo.
Some were still shaken, fear lurking in their expressions; some were cold and guarded, sizing up the newcomers; others wore traces of excitement and arrogance they could barely suppress.
At Jiang Yunya's arrival, everyone immediately composed themselves and stood respectfully with their hands at their sides. No one dared make a sound. Chu Mo silently took his place at the back of the group, feeling several gazes sweep over him before quickly shifting away.
Jiang Yunya surveyed them and nodded slightly. "Not bad. Nine people actually passed this time."
He took a "Cotton Cloud" from his sleeve and tossed it into the air. The "Cotton Cloud" swelled in the breeze, transforming into a vast auspicious cloud.
Jiang Yunya leaped onto the Spirit Cloud. "Get on. I'll take you to the library."
No one dared delay, and they immediately followed him up. Chu Mo felt something soft beneath his feet, as though he were stepping on cotton, yet it became firm when he pressed down slightly. It was rather wondrous.
The Spirit Cloud carried them among the many immortal peaks. About an incense stick's worth of time later, it descended toward a huge pavilion nestled among ancient trees.
The pavilion was built entirely from a dark-colored spiritual timber, its sweeping eaves and interlocking brackets lending it a magnificent air. A massive plaque hung above the entrance, bearing three large characters-Scripture Repository.
Jiang Yunya landed first, and the Spirit Cloud shrank and slipped back into his sleeve. He led the nine disciples through the doors and called to the old man behind the desk by the entrance:
"Senior Brother Li, nine people passed from this batch. They've come to collect their identity tokens and choose cultivation methods."
The old man wore hemp robes, his face covered in wrinkles. He looked to be in his forties, but his eyes remained bright and piercing, giving him quite the air of a master.
[Level 9 · Duo'e Sect Grunt]
Chu Mo silently lowered his head and grumbled inwardly, Looks like not every Scripture Repository has a hidden master sweeping the floors.
Upon seeing Jiang Yunya, the wrinkles on the old man's face immediately bunched into a chrysanthemum. He smiled and said, "Ah, Junior Brother Jiang. I've had everything ready for you."
As he spoke, he tossed out nine dark-gold tokens, each landing precisely in someone's hand.
Chu Mo gripped his token. It felt slightly cool and was made of something neither metal nor wood. The front was engraved with the words "Duwe," while the back bore intricate cloud patterns.
The cloud patterns shifted several times before forming the words "Chu Mo." At the same time, information entered his mind, explaining the token's basic uses-proof of identity, accepting missions, simple messaging, and so on.
Before the disciples could marvel at this, the old man waved again, and three floating bamboo scrolls appeared out of thin air before them.
"Dawncloud One-Qi Profound Cavern Scripture," "Myriad Forms Treasure Body Art," and "Black Serpent Molting True Heart Scripture."
"The Zhou Tian Qi-Gathering Method is merely a method for gathering and ingesting qi. According to sect rules, once disciples officially enter Qi Refining, they may choose one of these three primary cultivation methods to practice."
With his hands behind his back, the old man narrowed his eyes and surveyed the nine people before him. "Mortal, spirit, true, profound-cultivation methods are divided into four ranks with three grades each, making twelve levels.
"These three methods are all high-grade spirit methods, carefully selected for you by the sect. They are sufficient to support a cultivator all the way to Foundation Establishment."
Chu Mo reached out to touch the bamboo scrolls, and three pieces of information entered his mind simultaneously.
["Dawncloud One-Qi Profound Cavern Scripture": Provides an unbroken flow of true qi during magical combat. At the perfection of Qi Refining, grants an additional ten-percent chance of achieving Foundation Establishment.] ["Myriad Forms Treasure Body Art": Absorbs the vital essence of myriad forms to temper flesh, blood, and marrow, offering the benefits of concurrent body cultivation. At minor attainment, the entire body brims with Numinous Vitality, and the flesh and bones rival high-grade Spirit materials.] ["Black Serpent Molting True Heart Scripture": Emulates the ancient black serpent, shedding the old and taking in the new. Can harvest others' vital energy to nourish oneself, allowing rapid advancement, but requires cultivation cauldrons as auxiliaries.]
Looking at the nine somewhat excited disciples, the old man changed tack. "Of course, they aren't free. Each cultivation method costs one hundred Spell Coins."
One hundred Spell Coins!
The number made everyone suck in a breath. They had only just entered the sect and were penniless. Where could they possibly find such an enormous sum?
Seeing this, Jiang Yunya gave them a warm smile and said:
"Junior brothers and sisters, you must have heard him. One hundred Spell Coins is neither a great deal nor a trifling sum. I understand your difficulties, but there's no need to worry."
He turned his palm over, and an exquisite jade talisman appeared in his hand, engraved with an elegant character meaning "mound."
"To help our fellow disciples through their difficulties, our Upper Mound Commerce Association has introduced a cultivation loan service. We offer cultivation method loans, magical artifact loans, formation loans, pill loans...
"I'm willing to act as guarantor and help each of you borrow one hundred Spell Coins for a cultivation method, with a term of one year." He paused briefly, his smile deepening.
"Of course, the association needs to keep operating, so there's a negligible amount of interest. Under the association's rules, daily interest is one percent, payable along with the principal.
"In other words, if you borrow one hundred Spell Coins, you need to pay one Spell Coin each day. Interest stops accruing when you've repaid the principal in full. Of course, if you can't repay it all at once, you may pay the interest first and defer the principal."
Chu Mo's expression went through a spectacular change. Isn't this loan-sharking? The single Spell Coin he had left would cover only one day's interest. This was daylight robbery.
Jiang Yunya seemed to have anticipated everyone's reaction and continued unhurriedly:
"Cultivation methods are the foundation of cultivation. Without one, even the finest talent is useless.
"You needn't worry about being unable to repay it. If all else fails, a cultivator's body is a treasure too. You could always sell your body and switch to soul cultivation."
Everyone's expression changed drastically at his words. Some were shocked, some hesitant, and some despairing.
Jiang Yunya patted Chu Mo's shoulder and said with a laugh, "Hahaha, just joking."
Their tension did not ease. Given the Duo'e Sect's way of doing things, they hardly dared treat it as a real joke.
"Hmph. A little interest has frightened you this badly."
The old man, who had remained silent all this while, suddenly spoke. "What are you afraid of? There are plenty of missions within the sect where you can earn Spell Coins.
"Especially missions involving Otherworldly Conquest. With good luck, earning hundreds or even thousands in a single outing is no problem."
"Otherworldly Conquest?!"