The Azure Nether Courtyard atop Purple Sky Peak lay nestled in a sea of clouds, its spirit spring chiming softly amid the rustle of pines. Han Li pushed open the gate in the bamboo fence, crystal-core spiritual power swirling in his palm as he turned every weed in the courtyard into spiritual fertilizer-a habit he had developed when he first arrived at the Star Palace. He always liked to keep his lodgings neat and orderly. Zi Ling followed him, her plain silver hairpin swaying gently. The lingering power of the Star-Illusion Maze Formation condensed into several pale silver stalks of Star-Pattern Grass in the corners of the courtyard, capable of both purifying the air and warning them of intruders.
"Here is the resource list for core disciples." Zi Ling took out a jade slip and swept her spiritual sense over it, her clear voice ringing through the courtyard. "One hundred middle-grade spirit stones each month, a bottle of third-grade Qi-Gathering Pills, one low-grade artifact, the Flowing Cloud Shuttle, and access to the third floor of the Cultivation Manual Pavilion's Scripture Repository-you can read works such as the Star Palace Formation Canon, Essentials of Pill Dao, and Artifact Pattern Compendium."
Han Li accepted the jade slip, and the system interface appeared at the same time:
[Core disciple resource package bound. Currently available: 300 middle-grade spirit stones (first quarter), Qi-Gathering Pill ×30, Flowing Cloud Shuttle (low-grade flying artifact, speed +30%), access to the third floor of the Scripture Repository (29 days remaining).]
He tapped "Flowing Cloud Shuttle" with a fingertip, and the phantom image of a palm-sized silver shuttle appeared. Its body was covered in star patterns; it was a Star Palace Standard Flying Artifact.
"Let's go to the Artifact Pavilion first and choose a weapon that suits me." Han