Free Web NovelChapter 329: Chapter 135: Noble Clans and Humble Gates, Dragon Gate Martial Trial, 10,000 Contribution Points
Yang Jing reined in his thoughts and continued to explore the mountain, familiarizing himself with his new surroundings. Along the way, he encountered many Xuanzhen Sect disciples from various peaks. Most of them wore the blue robes of Outer Sect Disciples and traveled in pairs or small groups, either heading to Cultivation Sites or to exchange for supplies, their expressions varied.
The white-robed Inner Sect Disciples, however, were a much rarer sight. He would occasionally glimpse one or two in the distance, always hurrying along. Most of them remained on their respective peaks, engrossed in bitter cultivation, and rarely wandered about. They were clearly far more dedicated to their training.
As he walked and observed, he occasionally approached friendly-looking Outer Sect Disciples to quietly ask for directions to the Steward Main Hall. The matter of his contribution points was constantly on his mind.
Within the Xuanzhen Sect, contribution points were the very foundation of survival. Food, clothing, shelter, transportation, and even Cultivation Resources all required them. It was nearly impossible to get by without contribution points. He planned to exchange his ten thousand taels of silver for ten thousand contribution points to cover his initial cultivation and living expenses for now.
Ten thousand contribution points seemed like a large sum, but when Yang Jing passed by the sect’s dining hall, he made a point to go inside. After seeing the meal prices posted on the wall, he had a much clearer picture.
A single, ordinary meal of Exotic Beast Meat cost nearly one hundred taels of silver, and if one wanted a disciple from the dining hall to deliver it, there was an additional fee.
By that calculation, three meals a day alone would cost two to three hundred taels of silver. Ten thousand contribution points wouldn’t last long at all. He knew he would need to find a way to earn more, and soon.
Of course, these were just the prices for Outer Sect Disciples. Within the Xuanzhen Sect, the treatment and costs varied drastically depending on a disciple’s rank.
Based on what Yang Jing had just observed in the dining hall, an Inner Sect Disciple could enjoy the same Exotic Beast Meat meal for just thirty taels of silver, while an Outer Sect Disciple had to pay over eighty. The difference was enormous.
Clearly, as a disciple’s status rose, the Xuanzhen Sect adjusted its prices to provide more favorable treatment. This only strengthened his resolve to enter the Inner Sect as soon as possible.
Following the directions he’d received, Yang Jing walked along, passing through several mountain paths before finally arriving outside the Steward Main Hall.
The hall was located on the Main Peak of Fushan Island. Its structure was grand and imposing, with blue bricks, black tiles, and vermilion pillars that exuded a solemn and dignified aura. The plaza out front was wide and clean, bustling with a constant stream of disciples coming and going.
The Main Peak not only housed the Steward Main Hall but was also where the Sect Leader of Xuanzhen Sect resided and handled the sect’s affairs. The entire area exuded the solemn gravity befitting the heart of the sect.
Yang Jing stepped into the Steward Main Hall. The interior was spacious and bright, with towering pillars and a floor of smooth bluestone slabs that gave off a cool, weighty feeling.
The disciples moving about all wore solemn expressions as they headed to different sections. The hall was divided by numerous counters for various functions. Yang Jing’s gaze swept the room, and he quickly found the counter labeled "Contribution Point Exchange," heading straight for it.
Behind the counter sat a middle-aged man in a dark blue Deacon’s Robe. With a calm expression, he was looking down and organizing a ledger on the desk. He only looked up slowly when he noticed someone approaching.
Yang Jing stopped and bowed slightly. He then took a pre-prepared stack of silver notes from his robes—ten in total, each with a face value of one thousand taels. After stacking them neatly, he respectfully placed them on the counter. "Steward," he said, "this disciple wishes to exchange these for ten thousand contribution points."
The middle-aged Steward took the silver notes and carefully verified the amount. After confirming it was correct, he looked up at Yang Jing and asked, "Name, affiliated peak, and status. State them for the record."
Yang Jing quickly replied, "Disciple Yang Jing, affiliated with Lingxi Peak. I am an Outer Sect Disciple who just joined yesterday."
Hearing this, the Steward picked up his brush and quickly recorded the information in the ledger, the tip making a faint scratching sound on the paper. A moment later, the registration was complete.
Once the information was recorded, the middle-aged Steward took out a lustrous white jade token from a drawer. It was small and exquisite, about the size of his palm.
After a few quick actions, the middle-aged Steward held the jade token in his palm. Yang Jing’s gaze was drawn to it.
The front of the jade token was engraved with the words "Xuanzhen Sect," while the back clearly bore Yang Jing’s name. A faint glow wreathed its edges.
He handed the jade token to Yang Jing and explained, "This is your Contribution Points Jade Token. A small amount of vital energy is sealed inside. The token itself prevents the flow of vital energy between the inside and outside, and it has a small Array carved within it. This Array monitors the density of the vital energy inside the token in real-time and converts it into text on the surface, which is your contribution point balance.
"The denser the vital energy inside the token, the more contribution points it will display. The sparser the energy, the lower the balance. For daily purchases, you just need to present the token, and someone will activate the Array to automatically deduct the corresponding amount of vital energy."
Yang Jing reached out for the jade token. It felt cool and smooth to the touch, and he could faintly sense the weak flow of vital energy within it. Sure enough, the words "Ten Thousand" were clearly visible on the front, making it very intuitive.
He marveled inwardly. ’This jade token is incredible. This convenient payment method is a bit like the mobile payments from my past life. You don’t need to carry around silver taels; a single token can handle all your expenses.’
Yang Jing quickly bowed to the middle-aged Steward. "Thank you for the explanation, Steward. This disciple understands."
The middle-aged Steward gave a faint grunt of acknowledgment and lowered his head, returning to his other tasks.
With that, Yang Jing gripped the jade token tightly and left the Steward Main Hall.
Outside the main hall, sunlight washed over him with a faint warmth. He decided to take the opportunity to wander aimlessly around Fushan Island.
His mood today was completely different from when he had first set foot on the island. Yesterday, he had been full of anxiety, uncertain whether he could successfully join the Xuanzhen Sect.
Now that he had successfully entered the sect and become an Outer Sect Disciple of Lingxi Peak, a great weight was lifted from his heart. He felt much more relaxed, and even the passing scenery seemed particularly beautiful.
His wandering brought him to the edge of Fushan Island, where he stopped. He was right beside a vast, boundless body of water: Hidden Dragon Lake, the largest lake in Jintai Prefecture.
Fushan Island rested quietly in the middle of the lake.
The lake’s surface shimmered as the cold winter wind swept over it, creating fine ripples. In the distance, shrouded in mist, he could vaguely make out the massive silhouette of Jintai Prefecture City on the opposite shore. The sprawling, majestic city was but a hazy outline due to the vast distance.
He stood silently by the lake for a moment, letting the wind wash over him, then turned and started walking back toward his peak.
Halfway back, however, his feet stopped of their own accord at the base of Yunxi Peak. He looked up at the mist-shrouded summit, his thoughts turning to Sun Ningxiang.
But on second thought, he reconsidered. ’Senior Sister just joined Yunxi Peak yesterday; she probably hasn’t even fully settled in yet. Not many people would know who she is. If I go asking about her rashly, I might not get any information and just seem presumptuous.’
Yang Jing hesitated at the base of Yunxi Peak for a moment, but in the end, he simply shook his head and turned to leave.
’I should wait a few more days,’ he thought. ’Once I have a better understanding of the Xuanzhen Sect and Senior Sister has settled in at Yunxi Peak, I’ll find a chance to visit. That would be much more prudent.’
