After I exited the forest, I had to walk about 10 minutes to arrive back at the sect entrance. As I got closer, I could see, sure enough, what I suspected about tax collectors is true.
There looked to be 4 in total, with 2 lazing off to the side, lying on the stage beside the entrance, and the other 2 administering another lesson to an unfortunate soul that must have not wanted to pay the tax. Their laughter echoed as they easily dodged the feeble attempts to resist. Their words filled with mockery for the lower realm practitioner who dared to stand against them.
Even though I felt a bit bad for the guy, I'm not dumb enough to try to help, even if there weren't the other 2 lying on the stage. One accusation from this group, and you can get executed. I'll just bide my time and play with them for a bit longer. I just stood about 10 feet behind and waited my turn.
After a minute or so, they got bored and walked over to me, grinning maliciously. "You owe 70% of your hunted stones."
I held out the 3 grade 1 stones. "I got 3 stones." I made sure to say this with a silly grin that said how proud I was of such a record-breaking achievement.
"Oh really, that's soooo good!" They were obviously mocking, but let's keep playing the terrible hunter.
I nodded excitedly. "So 70% is like 2 of them, right?" Well, 70% is 2 + a sliver, but you can't make a sliver.
"Mmhm." One of them grabbed my bag and rudely dumped the contents on the ground and started feeling the lining of the bag, but of course, found nothing. The other one started feeling the pockets of my robe, but he also found nothing.
They snatched 2 of the stones I was still holding out with dissatisfied faces that said how disappointed they were that I wasn't hiding anything for them to beat me up over.
I picked up my stuff that was scattered on the ground and put it back in my bag, then walked back into the sect. After going up the stairs, I looked around to see if anything had changed. Nothing changed; everything is the same, as expected.
I made my way back to my home to drop off my stuff while avoiding others and decided to go to the resource hall to collect my grade 3 stones for my stage advancements. As I made my way to the resource hall, I avoided all the shady people and wondered if they would take my grade 3 stones also. I think it's not improbable, so I'll have to devour them in the resource hall if I want them to make it to the library.
After reaching the resource hall, I entered and changed to mimic the peak stage as soon as the door closed, then went to the desk. There were only a few other people in the building, and they were all looking at the shelves of herbs, pills, or weapons.
Upon reaching the desk, I was greeted by the receptionist, a blond guy looking to be in his 50s but probably older due to the extended life span of his core formation realm. I told him I had reached the peak stage of astral refinement and would like to pick up the grade 3 stones for my stage advancements. He pulled out a very thick book and asked for my name, which I provided. After flipping through it for a minute, he congratulated me on my 2 advancements and handed me the 2 grade 3 stones.
I thanked him as I clasped them in my hands behind my back and walked to the herbs. My plan was to play as if I'm looking for something to buy until I finish devouring them, then maybe buy something that costs a grade 1 stone to explain my reason for going into the resource hall to anyone waiting outside and leave for the library.
As I was waiting to finish devouring the stones, my hatred for Kedron grew. This guy, in addition to beating me up and taking my things, is making me waste time devouring the stones and waste a stone purchasing something else I don't need, only to walk a block and recreate them! All so he doesn't get to steal them.
After a short while, I finished and picked out some random black flower, paid at the counter, and left. Contrary to what I had imagined, no one stopped me. I don't know if they weren't around or if they saw the cheap herb between my fingers and just didn't care.
I once again made my way to the library. I had decided to see what they had for stealth techniques, as that would help me start playing with Kedron's goons. Maybe something to make me invisible or hiding in the shadows, I don't know.
After entering, I went to the desk where the same kind lady was working and asked about stealth or concealment techniques. I didn't think these would be suspicious to ask for considering they could be used while hunting. She thought for a moment and left. I really gotta praise this lady's memory; she seems to have every technique in this giant library as well as the cost and information about them memorized to the point she can recommend the best ones to each person.
After a few minutes, she returned with 2 books both costing a grade 3 stone each. One was for concealing the astral energy aura that each astral energy practitioner has that allows others to determine their stage and realm. The second was for concealing the body. Of course, if your opponent was too much of a higher level than you, they would both be useless.
Since I already have to mimic the astral energy aura to even have one, I can just stop to get rid of it, making the first technique useless to me. However, the second is exactly what I'm looking for.
I told her I have more grade 3 stones to spend and asked if she had a better version of the second technique; however, she didn't. I then told her I wanted a weapon technique, maybe for a sword or a dagger. I know I want a dagger technique since I already have the sword manual but can't use it yet, but I don't necessarily want her to know I already decided I want stealth and dagger techniques. Maybe I'm just being paranoid, but when I start making people disappear, it's better to be safe than sorry.
After she brought a technique for each, I spent a few minutes asking about them and of course chose the dagger one. After paying, I left and headed home, planning to practice non-stop until the inter-sect competition.