"If everyone bends the rules, whatâs the point of sect regulations?"
The female cultivator mocked, rolling her eyes at Lou Yi.
âDamn it!â
Lou Yi had no choice, knowing that continuing the conversation would only shame himself further, so he refrained from trying.
Actually, he had one more item he could exchange.
That would be Bone Decay Grass, which could be used to enhance his poison talent.
But since this talent was practically useless, Lou Yi naturally wouldnât waste his hard-earned contribution points on it.
âIâll have to go back to Disciple Peak first and see if You Qingyi or Rong Xuejian have any ideas.â Lou Yi thought helplessly.
Among the outer disciples of the Corpse-Driving Sect, only these two were somewhat familiar to him.
Just as Lou Yi was about to leave, after fruitlessly negotiating with the female cultivator at the counter, a male disciple who had been waiting in line stepped forward.
Upon seeing this person, the female cultivator who had just been cold-faced to Lou Yi suddenly squeezed out a smile, as if she was performing a face-changing trick from Sichuan operaâtruly amazing.
"Oh, isnât it Senior Brother Chou? Long time no see!"
"I just completed a task, it took longer than expected, so I havenât had the chance to visit Junior Sister Qian for a while," the male disciple replied warmly.
"What do you want to exchange for?"
"Letâs start with one Dragon Mint."
Just as the words were spoken, Lou Yi, who was almost at the door, suddenly stopped in his tracks.
He turned to look.
There he saw the newly arrived male disciple, wearing a dark blue Daoist robe, tall and handsome, with a gentle expression, appearing to be about twenty years old.
The male disciple, referred to as âSenior Brother Chou,â mumbled to himself, "I happen to need a Fasting Pill to give to my junior sister. If someone could help me exchange for it now, how great that would be."
Lou Yiâs mouth curled into a slight smile; this Senior Brother Chou was quite a character.
He moved to another wooden counter labeled âElixirsâ and asked a different female cultivator for the exchange catalog.
This one was much more polite compared to the previous âJunior Sister Qian.â
The elixir exchange catalog was also a yellow paper booklet. When opened, it was initially blank, but words gradually appeared on the pages:
A Low Grade Qi Absorption Pill can reduce an Early Stage of Qi Cultivation discipleâs arduous cultivation by one to three days, can only be taken once every two days to avoid harming the meridians... Available for Early Stage of Qi Cultivation, ten pills per bottle, ten contribution points.
A Low Grade Rejuvenation Pill, quickly restores a cultivatorâs spiritual power, capable of restoring eighty percent in thirty breaths at the Qi Cultivation First Level, fifty percent at the Second Level, and thirty percent at the Third Level.
Can only be taken once in a short time... Available for Early Stage of Qi Cultivation, one pill for eight contribution points.
A Low Grade Fasting Pill, provides fasting for ten days, however, may cause Qi-blood depletion... Available for Early Stage of Qi Cultivation, one pill for ten contribution points.
...
A Mid-grade Rejuvenation Pill, rapidly restores a cultivatorâs spiritual power, capable of restoring seventy percent in thirty breaths at the Qi Cultivation Fourth Level... Available for Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation, one pill for thirty contribution points.
A Spirit Nourishing Pill, nourishes the meridians, repairs hidden injuries... Available for Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation, one pill for fifty contribution points.
Lou Yi opened the exchange catalog and casually flipped through it, boosting his knowledge of the Immortal Dao.
Simultaneously, he spent his only ten contribution points to exchange for a Fasting Pill.
After exchanging for the Fasting Pill, Lou Yi quietly waited for that Senior Brother Chou.
This Senior Brother Chouâs dark blue Daoist robe indicated he was a true disciple of the sect, at the late-stage of Qi Refining.
He was handsome, with well-defined features, and on his right cheek to the neck area, there were seven moles almost forming a straight line, which was quite distinctive.
Observing him closely, Lou Yiâs heart tensed.
The manâs aura was calm and seemed ordinary.
But with senses far superior to an average person, Lou Yi could feel the unfathomable depth underpinning this peace, poised to erupt with astonishing force when unleashed.
No other Qi Cultivation stage cultivator in the Corpse-Driving Sect had ever given him such a feeling, not even the stewards from previous evaluations.
Lou Yi knew that the likes of Steward Wen and Steward Kong were filled by true disciples without hopes of advancement, many of whom had already reached the Peak of Qi Cultivation.
Yet this Senior Brother Chou seemed evidently stronger than them, and not by just a little.
Lou Yi heard Senior Brother Chou say, "Junior Sister Qian, I also need a pound of red mercury, three Awakenings Grass, and two five-hundred-year-old Spirit Ginseng..."
Then handed over a small black cloth bag, making Lou Yi quite envious, knowing it was a storage bag.
After developing divine sense, he had tried opening the storage bag of the Daoist woman who once hunted him by the river.
But failed, having to think of other ways thereafter.
"A total of six hundred and fifty-three contribution points." The previously harsh female cultivator, called Junior Sister Qian, smiled and handed the storage bag and disciple token back to Senior Brother Chou.
Without even checking, Senior Brother Chou took back the storage bag.
Seeing such trust, Junior Sister Qianâs smile grew even warmer.
Senior Brother Chou turned and approached Lou Yi: "This Junior Brother, I noticed your Qi-blood is impressive, far exceeding that of a mortal martial artist, reminding me of an old acquaintance..."
His eyes revealed a reminiscent look.
He then produced a green spirit plant with serrated leaves in his hand.
Lou Yi similarly handed over the elixir bottle containing the Fasting Pill.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Chou!" Lou Yi slightly bowed in gratitude.
"It was no trouble at all." Qiu Shaojie waved it off with a smile.
The pair didnât converse much, each going their separate ways.
Back at Disciple Peak, Lou Yi discovered that Rong Xuejian had moved to the peak, not far from his own place.
"Brother Rong, do you happen to know someone called âSenior Brother Chouâ?" Lou Yi described the senior brotherâs appearance, especially the seven moles on his right cheek.
"Seven moles, then it must be Qiu Shaojie, no mistake." Rong Xuejianâs face grew serious, "This guy is no ordinary figure, becoming a true disciple in just five yearsâthe fastest in the history of the Corpse-Driving Sect.
Itâs said he can break through to Foundation Establishment but suppresses his cultivation for more accumulation, planning for higher breakthroughs in the future.
If thereâs anyone in the sect who might achieve a Golden Core in the future, he would surely be one of them.
Heâs even regarded as the most promising after the Sect Leader himself!"
"Oh?" Lou Yi didnât expect that the Senior Brother Chou who had casually helped him was so powerful.
Moreover, from his actions and words, he wasnât someone who only focused on cultivation and was highly self-centered; his emotional intelligence was exceptionally high.
Compared to him, the female cultivator at the counter whom Qiu Shaojie called âJunior Sister Qianâ seemed rather lacking.
"That female cultivatorâs name is Qian Ruiqin, her family has elders who are sect elders, which is why she acts so arrogantly. Many people have suffered her barbs and had to endure." Rong Xuejian mentioned the female cultivator with the surname Qian, showing a peculiar expression, "Working at the Spirit Medicine Hall is a cushy job, those who get in usually have significant backgrounds."
"I didnât expect such things to exist in an immortal sect." Lou Yi only shook his head after hearing this.
"Cultivators are no different from mortals; they have emotions and desires, interests at play, theyâre not immortals yet." Rong Xuejian laughed.
Returning to his cave, Lou Yi took out the Dragon Mint he had just obtained.
He looked at the Attribute Panel under cultivation techniques and pressed the â+â sign next to Immortal Dao Root Technique:
Profound Yin Technique (Entry-Level 0/200+Dragon Mint) â Profound Yin Technique (Proficient 0/1000+Moonlight Dew)
...