Although Shen Qingyue exchanged Spirit Stone for 10 points of Affection.
But the price for this Affection is a bit too high.
Although Shen Qingyue is a direct disciple, she can only earn a maximum of one hundred Low-Grade Spirit Stone per month.
Based on the current Affection ratio, at least Wu Bai Low-Grade Spirit Stone would be needed.
Shen Qingyue has no other source of Spirit Stone; all the Spirit Stone she receives are distributed by the sect.
Wu Bai Spirit Stone, that's five months.
But the sect competition is starting in three months, and there simply isn't enough time.
Should we borrow it from someone else?
However, Shen Qingyue rarely left her cave dwelling and had a very ordinary relationship with her fellow disciples.
It seems difficult to borrow Spirit Stone.
Besides, everyone wants to achieve a good ranking in the sect competition three months from now, so borrowing Spirit Stone at this time is almost impossible.
so!
"So, we still need physical contact?"
[Ding, host, you should be bolder. Now that you're friends, holding hands is perfectly normal, right?]
"Is it normal to hold hands?" Shen Qingyue blinked.
[Ding! The system activation is right in front of you. How will you know if you'll succeed if you don't try? You can slowly increase your Affection later, but activating the system is the most important thing right now!]
"Yes, activate the system first!"
Thinking of this, Shen Qingyue took a deep breath and looked up at Ling Yi again.
Ling Yi was fiddling with the storage bag at that moment.
This is the first time Ling Yi has obtained this thing. As expected of something from the Immortal Cultivation Realm, it is truly amazing.
Although the storage bag is only the size of a palm, it contains the space of a room.
However, unlike in the novel, time does not stand still inside the storage bag.
Time inside the storage bag flows at the same rate as time outside.
Air can flow in and out between the switches.
If food or other items are left inside, they will still spoil over time.
But Ling Yi was already very content.
I got a storage bag for free, what else can I say?
Ling Yi is now more interested in studying the Ice Heart Art. Ling Yi is currently lacking insights into cultivation techniques to improve his Blood Demon Divine Art.
If you can't cultivate immortality on your own, you can try to find a different path.
Moreover, after last night's deductions, Ling Yi had gained some insights and direction.
Right now, what Ling Yi lacks most is a cultivation technique.
" Ling Yi!"
"Hmm?" Ling Yi looked at Shen Qingyue.
Strange, why is this girl blushing? Could she be thinking about something weird?
"Now that we're friends, holding hands shouldn't be a problem, right?" Shen Qingyue's voice was very low.
If Ling Yi hadn't had exceptional hearing, he probably wouldn't have been able to hear Shen Qingyue's voice.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes!" Shen Qingyue nodded.
"Can you tell me why?" Ling Yi was extremely curious.
Yesterday's Mengli, today's Shen Qingyue.
A sect leader's daughter, and a personal disciple.
Logically speaking, they should have no connection whatsoever with him, a newly arrived menial disciple.
One of them climbs into their own bed, while the other wants to be friends with them.
This is truly bizarre.
But Ling Yi didn't sense any malice from them.
He is now at the Great Heavenly Master level, having reached the stage of Dao Comprehension, and his Perception of others is extremely keen.
"I... I can't say!" Shen Qingyue shook her head.
The existence of the system cannot be revealed, but she doesn't know how to explain it. Even if she makes up a reason, given Ling Yi's intelligence, it probably won't fool her.
Well then, just like the system said, sincerity is the ultimate weapon; tell the truth.
"Let me guess, is physical contact with me good for you?"
"Yes!" Shen Qingyue's eyes lit up, and she nodded quickly.
Is it because of my special physical condition?
Shen Qingyue shook her head. "I don't know!"
It's not that we can't say, but that we don't know, which makes it even more interesting.
"Who told you to do this?!"
"You can't tell!"
"That person is from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect?"
"No!"
"Are they from another sect?"
"No, don't guess, you definitely won't be able to guess," Shen Qingyue said, shaking her head.
So, he's not human!
"Could you please stop asking?" Shen Qingyue said, almost pleadingly.
The system had already warned her that its existence must never be revealed, not even by guessing it; otherwise, the binding would be severed.
Ling Yi knew that this was probably Shen Qingyue's Limit.
She smiled slightly and said, "Alright, then I won't ask anymore. Holding my hand isn't out of the question, but you'll have to add Spirit Stone!"
Shen Qingyue said, somewhat speechless, "This also requires Spirit Stone?"
I, Shen Qingyue, the most beautiful disciple of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect, actually have to pay Spirit Stone just to hold hands with someone?
But I endured it in order to activate the system.
"I'm out of Spirit Stone right now; I can only give them to you next month."
"If you don't have Spirit Stone, cultivation techniques will do. There are no restrictions on grade or type, as long as it's a cultivation technique."
I don't have any right now, can I have them tomorrow?
"I'll be leaving the sect for a while tomorrow, but I might be able to return soon enough if I become strong enough."
Ling Yi is going out for a trial with Mengli tomorrow!
Mengli is the sect leader's daughter, making her easier to exploit compared to Shen Qingyue. Moreover, given her carefree and innocent nature, she's even easier to fool.
"As a menial disciple, you shouldn't be allowed to leave the sect," Shen Qingyue asked, puzzled.
Immediately afterwards, she thought of someone she had just met, the daughter of the boss, Mengli.
Could it be that Mengli is also here to see Ling Yi?
There is indeed such a rule in the sect: menial disciples cannot leave the sect unless they can successfully defeat an outer disciple in the sect's grand competition and be promoted to an outer disciple.
Even after being promoted to the outer sect, one cannot leave the sect at will. If there is a reason for leaving, one needs to apply through multiple channels and have someone act as guarantor.
In short, it's very troublesome.
Only inner disciples are qualified to leave the sect on their own, but each time they leave, they must register, explaining the reason for leaving, their return time, and so on.
Of course, sect rules are for ordinary disciples.
For some privileged individuals, rules are naturally of little use.
Take Mengli for example!
Should I tell Shen Qingyue that Mengli came looking for me and even crawled into my bed?
The two women arrived at roughly the same time, one after the other, so their purposes must have been similar.
It's unclear whether they were aware of each other's existence.
If they don't know, that would be interesting.
"That's right. Last night at 9 PM, Senior Sister Mengli came looking for me. She knew my martial arts cultivation level, so she asked me to be her bodyguard when she went out for training."
Shen Qingyue frowned. She arrived at Hai Shi (9-11 PM) last night, but didn't leave until Mao Shi (5-7 AM) this morning. She stayed at Ling Yi's place all night!
Isn't Mengli afraid that if this gets out, it will damage her reputation?
Or is it...?
"Do you know Junior Sister Mengli?" Shen Qingyue asked.
Ling Yi shook his head, looking puzzled, and said, "That's the problem. Senior Sister Mengli has never had any interaction with her."
"Last night, I was so exhausted from studying the cultivation technique that I fell into a deep sleep. When I woke up, I found that Senior Sister Mengli was sleeping right next to my bed."
"The key point is, he's still holding my hand, and just like you, saying all sorts of strange things."
Finally, they gave me some Spirit Stone, saying it was a reward for my protecting her during the trial.
"Senior Sister Shen, you know the difference in our social status; I dare not disobey!"
Shen Qingyue frowned, and the middle of her eyebrows wrinkled into the character "Chuan".
"Never seen anything like it. A handshake, Spirit Stone, trial protection, a system... Does this Junior Sister Mengli also have a system like me?"
[Ding, Host, I cannot be certain; I need to get closer to the other party to find out. However, I am certain that in this world, there are indeed not just one, but seven systems that existed at the same time as me.]