The Sect Master’s Generosity and a Peculiar Disciple

“No need for formalities. You are all inner sect elites, and I will cover the cost of all your healing pills. Additionally, each of you will receive five thousand spirit stones and five hours of access to the Library Pavilion.”

Such generous rewards brought smiles to everyone’s faces. Being severely injured was well worth it now!

“Furthermore, present your remaining tokens. Whoever possesses the most will become a core disciple, and the sect will cultivate them vigorously.”

At the mention of tokens, few could produce any, and those who did only had one or two. Among them, the tall young man’s lips curled into a smirk; he seemed to have sustained no injuries at all. He proudly produced a stack of tokens, declaring, “I haven’t lost a single one.”

The Sect Master nodded, his gaze curiously sweeping over Luo Yingkong. “You are Li Yuan’s disciple, aren’t you? You truly are quite unique.”

Luo Yingkong felt her cultivation laid bare, every secret exposed, which made her deeply uncomfortable. Thankfully, she hadn’t brought Jiaofeng or the Corrupting Butterflies, or there might have been trouble.

“This disciple, Luo Yingkong, greets the Sect Master. All my tokens are here.” She bowed her head, producing a stack of paper tokens that was noticeably thicker than the tall young man’s.

With the core disciple position all but confirmed, the young man cried out indignantly, “How could you have so many? That’s not fair!”

Li Yao, standing nearby, shot him a glare. “Tokens are allocated according to cultivation level. It’s perfectly normal for someone at tenth-layer Qi Condensation to receive ten tokens. Moreover, according to the movements on the Star-Gazing Compass, your route consistently avoided other participants. You should have been disqualified.”

At this, the young man immediately fell silent. Surrounding him were gazes of disdain. Many of them had been injured, diligently caring for the participants to prevent fatalities, yet this fellow had simply hidden.

Embarrassed, the young man angrily retorted, “What about her? A seventh-layer Qi Condensation cultivator, how could she be allocated so many tokens?”

No sooner had the words left his mouth than the examiner, who had suffered a leg injury from the Blazefiend, quickly transmitted a message. “Junior Brother, calm down. Her Qi Condensation is at its peak, and her cultivation method is unfathomable. Even ten of me wouldn’t be her match.”

The young man paused, then said nothing further.

“You may all leave. Luo Yingkong, stay behind,” the Sect Master instructed.

“Yes!”

****

Once everyone had departed, only the Sect Master and Luo Yingkong remained in the room. The middle-aged man slowly settled into his chair and began, “Seventeenth-layer Qi Condensation, truly peculiar. In my thousands of years of life, I have only encountered two such individuals. One met his demise, and the other has already become a Core Formation cultivator. I imagine you are also extraordinary. Feel free to state any needs you have.”

“This disciple requires nothing else, only some Foundation Establishment Pills.”

“Foundation Establishment Pills?” The Sect Master looked up, seemingly lost in thought for a moment before speaking. “You certainly need quite a few Foundation Establishment Pills. No wonder Li Yuan and Li Yao have been asking me about them lately. I presume they were collecting them for you?”

Luo Yingkong did not refute him. This matter could be seen through at a glance, befitting someone who had lived for a millennium.

“Very well, I still have ten Foundation Establishment Pills here. Take them all. Should you encounter any difficulties in the future, simply leave a message at my cave abode. You may also view the first to sixth floors of the Library Pavilion for two hours free each day.”

“Many thanks, Sect Master. This disciple will not fail to live up to your high expectations.” Luo Yingkong cupped her fist in a bow. She had not expected the Sect Master to be so generous, offering ten pills at once. With these, she had finally accumulated enough.

“Take these Foundation Establishment Pills. You can collect the other items from the Affairs Hall.” The Sect Master tossed her a wooden box.

Without even looking, Luo Yingkong thanked him. “Then this disciple will take her leave.”

After she exited, another figure appeared in the pavilion. He wore a black bamboo hat, his face obscured.

“Fellow Daoist Yin, what do you make of this girl?” the Sect Master slowly asked.

“She clearly possesses some skill, capable of defeating a Blazefiend. Besides killing Senior Uncle Zhang, I haven’t detected any other malicious intent. We should observe her for a while longer.”

“Hmm…” The Sect Master nodded. “You mentioned earlier that a Qi Condensation cultivator wanted to join our sect?”

“Indeed. This is Old Monster Jun’s disciple, and their relationship is quite close. It would be unwise to offend him lightly. What harm is there in granting him a core disciple position?”

At the mention of Old Monster Jun, the Sect Master’s expression subtly shifted. The most feared entities were not the great sects, but these reclusive old monsters.

****

“Miss Luo, what did the Sect Master say to you?” As soon as she stepped out, she encountered Li Yao, who had been waiting by the door.

“Thanks to Brother Li, the Sect Master gave me some Foundation Establishment Pills.”

“The ones I gave you weren’t enough? Why does Miss Luo need so many Foundation Establishment Pills?”

Li Yao was unaware of Luo Yingkong’s seventeenth-layer Qi Condensation. After chatting for a while, the two parted ways.

“That’s the gist of it. This Luo will be entering seclusion for a period. Brother Li, let’s meet again another day.”

****

After bidding him farewell, Luo Yingkong found the examiner she had helped previously and requested the five hundred spirit stones for the pill. Content, she then made her way to the Affairs Hall. Just as she was about to enter, a familiar face appeared.

“Junzhu! What are you doing here?!”

It was the stout young man. Judging by his attire and the token hanging from his waist, he was actually a core disciple! His cultivation was at the sixth layer of Qi Condensation.

“Junior Sister Yingkong, long time no see! You even look younger.” Junzhu smiled, not at all surprised to see Luo Yingkong, as his master had long known she was at Hidden Forest Mountain.

“Let’s not talk about that for now. Junzhu, didn’t you have no spiritual root?”

“Hehe, the old man created a pseudo spiritual root for me, allowing me to join the sect for training. I just accepted a mission, interested in coming along?”

A spiritual root could be created… Luo Yingkong was momentarily stunned. She had read about spiritual root transplantation, but this was new.

“This Luo must enter seclusion for a while. I was hoping you could assist me with something…”

“Helping is no problem! Luo Tao’s sister is my sister. Just say the word.” Junzhu agreed easily.

“My seclusion might be somewhat long, and I won’t be able to care for some of my spirit insects. I thought you might have a talent for raising them…”

“You mean those two little butterflies? Easy! Leave them to me.”

“I don’t have them on me. How about you accompany me to my cave abode?”

****

Luo Yingkong first collected her five thousand spirit stones. She returned her Library Pavilion token and exchanged it for another five thousand spirit stones. Afterward, the elder gave her a set of black robes and a core disciple token. Luo Yingkong continued to wear her original black robe, as any other garments would simply tear once she used the Jade Bone Heart Scripture.

Junzhu followed Luo Yingkong to her cave abode. When he saw the cave filled with butterflies, his eyelids twitched. This was clearly more than just two butterflies.

“I’ll entrust these butterflies to you.”

Having already made his promise, Junzhu couldn’t back out. He patted his chest. “Don’t worry, I’ve raised more spirit insects than this. Just leave it to me.”

“These Corrupting Butterflies have always been fed spirit herbs by me, so they’re quite picky. They won’t eat ordinary bait. I’ll leave all the spirit herbs in my medicinal garden to you to feed them.”

Upon hearing this, Junzhu almost turned to leave, but seeing the thousands of herbs in the garden, he assented. “Junior Sister Yingkong truly is wealthy. To feed them all spirit herbs… even my master wouldn’t be so extravagant.”

Luo Yingkong used the Mad Soul Art to soothe the butterflies and commanded them to follow Junzhu, who stored them in his spirit insect pouch.

“I still have a mission, so I won’t chat any longer. I wish Junior Sister a successful seclusion.” Junzhu collected the spirit herbs and butterflies and departed.

The place quieted once more. Luo Yingkong checked on Jiaofeng; he was still in seclusion. She then hurried to Li Yuan’s place, giving him seventy thousand spirit stones to procure seven more Foundation Establishment Pills.

The ten from the Sect Master, five from Li Yao, and these seven made a total of twenty-two pills. Luo Yingkong refused to believe she couldn’t break through with this many.

Three days later, Luo Yingkong’s cave abode arrays were fully activated. She increased the efficiency of the Spirit Gathering Formation, filling the interior with dense spiritual energy. Jiaofeng sensed the shift but remained in his own seclusion.

Inside the Thousand Mechanisms Tower, Luo Yingkong consumed a Foundation Establishment Pill and began to refine it.