The deacon lightly coughed, "Elder Wu, I brought a new inner sect disciple for registration."
"Hmph!"
Wu Huairen snorted from his nose, clearly displeased at being interrupted during his moment of pleasure.
Wu Huairen got up from the bamboo chair and glanced at the two, noticing Shen Mo.
Shen Mo casually glanced at his life panel.
[Name: Wu Huairen.]
[Realm: Peak of the Foundation Establishment Stage.]
[Fate: Wealthy Merchant's Son, Earth Spirit Body, Business Acumen, Average Luck.]
[Destiny: Three years later, dies of exhaustion during a field battle.]
[Recent Opportunity: Ten days later, while gathering aphrodisiac herbs, stumbles upon a demonic beast graveyard in Mountain, obtaining twenty-one second-tier demon crystals and three third-tier demon crystals.]
"You... why do you look familiar to me?" Wu Huairen asked with a slight frown.
The deacon quickly responded, "This is Shen Mo from the outer sect, once the top disciple there. He mysteriously fell victim to a blood-dispersing poison, which destroyed his foundation. However, he has recently resumed his cultivation."
"Just now, he defeated inner sect disciple Lei Xiaojun and has thereby become an inner sect disciple himself."
Wu Huairen's eyes flickered, "Oh? A foundation ruined by blood-dispersing poison, yet still recoverable? Boy, how did you manage that?"
Shen Mo directly answered, "Elder, I was fortunate enough to find a Marrow Cleansing Pill, which allowed me to rebuild my foundation."
Wu Huairen exclaimed in surprise, "A Marrow Cleansing Pill? You found such a profound-grade pill? Where did you find it?"
Shen Mo casually made up a story.
Wu Huairen smirked, "Your luck is indeed good! However, even if you rebuild your foundation, your future achievements will still be limited."
"Wait here, I'll get the inner sect disciple rewards for you."
He walked towards the backyard storeroom.
After a while, he returned with some items.
Wu Huairen handed over a dark green disciple robe, "This is the inner sect disciple robe, made from silkworm silk. It's warm in winter and cool in summer, and it also repels insects. The first set is free, but if it gets damaged, you'll need thirty-five low-grade spirit stones to buy a new one from me."
Then, he handed over a brand-new token, "This is the inner sect disciple token, symbolizing your status."
Finally, he gave a cloth bag to Shen Mo, "Inside the bag are eighty low-grade spirit stones."
After speaking, Wu Huairen waved his hand dismissively, "Alright, you have all the items. Now leave, I'm very busy."
Shen Mo frowned, "Eighty low-grade spirit stones? Isn't it supposed to be one hundred?"
Wu Huairen said indifferently, "The number of spirit stones is variable."
"Exceptional talents can receive up to one hundred fifty stones."
"If you're merely mediocre, you get fifty."
"After all, cultivation resources are limited. Instead of wasting spirit stones on mediocrities, it's better to concentrate them on geniuses."
"Shen Mo, as a member of Qingxuan Sect, you should always consider the sect's best interests, right?"
Shen Mo's frown deepened.
Nonsense.
His words sounded noble, but it was clear he had pocketed the stones.
The deacon quickly tugged on Shen Mo's sleeve and hastily interjected, "Thank you, Elder Wu. I'll take Shen Mo to choose his quarters now."
"Yes, go quickly." Wu Huairen lay back down on the bamboo chair, continuing to grope the two female disciples.
The deacon pulled Shen Mo away in a hurry.
Wu Huairen watched them leave and snorted.
He believed he could see through Shen Mo's future.
A damaged foundation, even if repaired, couldn't change the fact that it had been damaged.
In the future, even if he exhausted his potential, the best he could achieve was the peak of the Qi Condensation Stage.
Giving spirit stones to such a person was a waste.
Those twenty spirit stones were better kept in Wu Huairen's hands.
Only then could they be put to good use!
After leaving the pavilion, the deacon quickly lowered his voice, "Junior Brother Shen, don't get angry. We can't afford to provoke Wu Huairen."
Shen Mo exhaled a breath of turbid air, "I just didn't expect him to dare to skimp on the rewards for inner sect disciples. This will surely dishearten many who have just become inner sect disciples."
The deacon sighed helplessly, "He's very shrewd. If it were Senior Brother Xiao Fan coming to receive the inner sect disciple rewards, he might even give Xiao Fan some extra treasures for free. He treats people differently based on their status."
"These matters are beyond our control as small figures."
"Come on, I'll take you to choose your residence."
"Many inner sect disciples, after exhausting their potential, choose to become deacons and have gone to Qingshan City, Xishan City, and Gufeng City for their duties. Their residences are now vacant."
Shen Mo nodded.
Those three cities were under Qingxuan Sect's control.
Many disciples who went there as deacons were also helping the sect expand its influence.
Before long, Shen Mo picked a residence.
It had a small pool and a cedar tree inside.
"This will do," Shen Mo said with satisfaction.
The deacon added, "Do you have any valuable items in your outer sect residence? I can have someone move them here for you. Now that you are an inner sect disciple, just a wave of your hand will make many outer sect disciples eager to help."
Shen Mo shook his head, "No, there's nothing important there. Thank you for your kind offer, Senior Brother."
The deacon waved it off, "No need to be polite. In the future, if you achieve success, I'll rely on you to look after me."
Shen Mo cupped his hands in thanks, and the two bid farewell.
So far, Shen Mo hadn't encountered many decent people in Qingxuan Sect.
This deacon senior brother was barely considered one.
After the deacon left, Shen Mo closed the door and smiled.
"Becoming an inner sect disciple really does come with many benefits."
"Tomorrow, I'll head to Yinfen Mountain to find that demonic beast graveyard and take all the demon crystals."
"Daring to fleece me, I'll take all your wool!" Shen Mo thought coldly of Wu Huairen's methods of skimming rewards from inner sect disciples.
"But tonight, I have another important task."
Shen Mo began to prepare.
...
As night deepened.
Lei Xiaojun, Liu Yuefeng, and Gao Peng quietly left Qingxuan Sect, using a small path under the cover of darkness.
After walking briskly for more than ten miles, far from Qingxuan Sect, Lei Xiaojun finally breathed a sigh of relief.
Liu Yuefeng, seeing his demeanor, laughed, "Xiaojun, don't worry so much. With the two of us protecting you, you'll be safe."
Gao Peng also nodded repeatedly, "There's no way Shen Mo could know you left the sect tonight. Rest assured."
Lei Xiaojun looked at his two friends and nodded bitterly, "I hope so... but I still feel uneasy. It's a feeling I've never had before."
"By the way, Xiaojun, when will you give us what you promised?" Liu Yuefeng couldn't hold back and asked in a low voice.
Lei Xiaojun looked deeply at them, remained silent for a moment, then said, "I keep my word. As long as you escort me to Qingshan City, I will definitely give you the Thunder Spirit Pill and the Earth Spirit Pill."
The Thunder Spirit Pill and Earth Spirit Pill were top-grade yellow level pills that could slightly enhance thunder and earth spirit roots.
This would speed up the cultivation of thunder and earth attribute techniques and martial skills.
Increasing spirit roots a little was equivalent to saving a few days of cultivation.
Every cultivator strives to improve their spirit roots.
Therefore, the Thunder Spirit Pill and Earth Spirit Pill were very expensive.
Each pill cost at least five hundred low-grade spirit stones.
Though Liu Yuefeng and Gao Peng were family scions, their families didn't only have the two of them. Many resources had to be earned by themselves.
Lei Xiaojun's offer of the Thunder Spirit Pill and Earth Spirit Pill was the reason they were willing to escort him to Qingshan City.
Otherwise, they would have only escorted him out of Qingxuan Sect, considering it their utmost effort.
After all, Lei Xiaojun's dantian was destroyed. Without a miraculous pill to repair his dantian, it was nearly impossible for him to recover to the Qi Condensation Stage.
Such a "friend" no longer held much value.
Liu Yuefeng chuckled dryly, "Xiaojun, don't worry. We're still friends! But you know, even brothers have to settle accounts clearly."
Gao Peng quickly agreed, "Exactly, exactly."