Elder Meng cast a glance at Yang Kai, noting his expectant yet nervous expression, and cautiously opened the package, squinting to see inside.
The item was the size of a bowl, dark red, resembling both a mushroom and a lingzhi, with an extraordinary appearance that suggested it was a rare treasure.
"Ahem... ahem..." Elder Meng couldn't help but cough lightly.
Yang Kai looked at him anxiously and asked in a soft voice, "What is this?"
Elder Meng gave him a peculiar look and, instead of answering, inquired, "Where did you find this?"
"In a cave, guarded by a first-level demonic beast. I had to kill it to retrieve this," Yang Kai explained, feeling somewhat aggrieved.
Elder Meng's heart skipped a beat. "You encountered a demonic beast? Didn't I tell you not to go too deep?"
"I didn't go deep. I don't know why it was at the outskirts of Black Wind Mountain," Yang Kai replied, feeling wronged.
Elder Meng sighed, thinking that Yang Kai must have fought hard against the beast, which explained his current state. Given Yang Kai's strength, battling a demonic beast, even a first-level one, wouldn't have been easy.
Poor boy, enduring so much hardship at such a young age, running around Black Wind Mountain for three days to earn a mere sixteen contribution points, and even risking his life against a demonic beast. If he knew that this item was... it would be too heartbreaking.
Forget it, I'll do a good deed for once, consider it accumulating virtue.
Yang Kai waited anxiously as Elder Meng examined the item, not receiving an answer. Just as he was about to ask again, Elder Meng took a sip of tea, smacked his lips, and forced a smile. "You're quite lucky!"
Hearing this, Yang Kai's heart settled. He had been worried that this item would be worthless, which would have been a huge joke.
"Elder Meng, what is this exactly? How many contribution points is it worth?" Yang Kai asked eagerly, rubbing his hands together.
"Well... this is called Blood Lingzhi! It's a rare herb, categorized as... just as Elder Meng was about to say 'mortal grade,' he saw the disappointment on Yang Kai's face and quickly corrected himself, "No, no, it's earth-grade low-quality! Yes, earth-grade low-quality! No doubt about it!"
His tone was so firm that even Elder Meng almost believed it himself.
"Earth-grade low-quality?" Yang Kai was pleasantly surprised. "Elder Meng, are you sure?"
Elder Meng straightened his face. "Nonsense! I've examined countless herbs in my life, developing sharp eyes. How could I be wrong?"
"How many contribution points is it worth?" Yang Kai only cared about this.
"I'll give you twenty points."
"That's it?" Yang Kai was slightly disappointed. He had expected something of this grade to be worth at least several dozen points.
"That's quite a lot, young man." Elder Meng thought to himself that it was a free gift, so he couldn't give too much. But outwardly, he found an excuse, "Although this Blood Lingzhi is indeed earth-grade low-quality, it's small and not very old, so it's only worth twenty points."
"Oh." Yang Kai didn't argue and readily agreed. "Then twenty points it is."
Elder Meng nodded and recorded it.
This trip to the mountains, aside from the Three-Leaf Remnant Soul Flower and Withered Wood Grass he needed, had earned him a total of thirty-six contribution points. Adding the points he had saved, he now had forty-eight contribution points. Yang Kai felt quite affluent.
However, while collecting herbs in the mountains could earn contribution points, it also delayed his training and relied on luck, making it somewhat counterproductive. Although he was eager, Yang Kai decided that it wasn't worth spending so much time on this.
The purpose of accumulating contribution points was for training, and Yang Kai understood the importance of prioritizing. He didn't let this gain go to his head.
He had quite a few Three-Leaf Remnant Soul Flowers, having gathered three or four dozen in that cave. But the Withered Wood Grass was scarce, with only five or six stalks. If he intended to use it for training, it wouldn't be enough. He would need to exchange some at the Contribution Hall to be fully prepared.
With this decision made, Yang Kai said, "Elder Meng, I'd like ten stalks of Withered Wood Grass."
Elder Meng gave him a curious look, wondering what he needed them for, but didn't ask. He leisurely said, "Ten stalks of mortal-grade low-quality herb, ten contribution points. Are you sure you want them?"
Yang Kai frowned, puzzled. "Didn't you say earlier that two herbs are worth one contribution point?"
"Buying and selling prices are different," Elder Meng explained with a sly smile. "The sect sets these prices, not me. The Contribution Hall clearly marks all goods and doesn't cheat anyone. I'm just here to oversee things. How else do you think the sect supports three thousand disciples?"
Yang Kai was stunned but realized it made sense. Even businesses aim to make a profit. How could the vast Lingxiao Pavilion survive without some methods? Although there was a hint of profiteering, no one forced anyone to buy or sell.
"So, do you still want the Withered Wood Grass?" Elder Meng asked, seeing Yang Kai's reluctance.
"I do," Yang Kai gritted his teeth. Sooner or later, he would need it, and since he didn't want to collect herbs in the mountains, he had no choice but to buy it here.
Elder Meng went to the back and soon returned with ten stalks of Withered Wood Grass. Yang Kai checked them and Elder Meng recorded the transaction.
"Hmph!" Yang Kai, feeling a bit cheated, left with the herbs.
"Come again," Elder Meng called cheerfully from behind.
To be scammed again? Yang Kai finally understood why Elder Meng was called a skinflint.
Yang Kai hurriedly left the Contribution Hall. As he reached the door, someone walked in, and they nearly collided.
Both reacted quickly, stopping in their tracks, while a faint fragrance filled the air.
Looking up, Yang Kai saw a pair of eyes as bright as the moon staring at him. The person's face was obscured by a veil.
It was a woman. Though her face was hidden, her skin suggested she was young, likely a senior sister.
Yang Kai nodded apologetically and stepped aside to let her in.
The woman hesitated, her ears turning red, and her gaze avoided his.
This made Yang Kai think she was quite shy. He quickly averted his eyes to avoid offending her.
Xia Ning Chang was mortified.
She never expected to run into Yang Kai at the Contribution Hall. Seeing his face reminded her of...
And his...
Her face flushed, and her ears burned. She hurried into the hall, not daring to lift her head.
Yang Kai found it amusing. It wasn't often he saw such a timid girl. Although many female disciples in Lingxiao Pavilion were generally more straightforward, she was blushing just from a glance, no wonder she wore a veil.
This senior sister was rather endearing. But why did her scent seem so familiar, as if he had smelled it somewhere before?