Chapter 31

Chapter Thirty-Two: Paying the Public Grain

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Chen Mo and Helian Huowu agreed to go together to pay the public grain. The journey was not far, and the two quickly arrived, without even breaking a sweat. According to the clan rules, one mu of spirit field required the payment of thirty pounds of low-grade spirit rice as the designated tax. This ancient tradition and rule were considered very natural. Without the protection of the clan, who could produce with peace of mind?

Arriving at the town center's spirit rice tax collection point, a middle-aged steward, about forty years old and slightly plump, was overseeing the tax collection. Due to the large number of people, they had set up seven or eight booths to collect the taxes. Chen Mo and Helian Huowu casually chose one and queued up to pay. After half an incense stick, they had paid the year's spirit rice. After receiving the tax payment voucher, Chen Mo paid an additional forty pounds of low-grade spirit rice.

Paying extra spirit rice, of course, was to gain family contribution points. The slightly plump steward smiled and said, "Chen Mo, right? That's a total of forty contribution points. Take these badges, which are engraved with your name. Even if you drop them, others can't use them."

After collecting the contribution badges, Chen Mo and Helian Huowu entered the family pharmacy. This was a pharmacy opened by the Chen clan in the town, operating both internally and externally. For clan members, they could use contribution points to exchange for various herbs or finished elixirs.

Of course, if contribution points were insufficient, they could also use gold to purchase. However, within the clan, to encourage loyalty and a sense of belonging among members, using contribution points to purchase was much more cost-effective.

Moreover, some tight or high-end spirit medicines were limited to clan members exchanging with contribution points.

Contribution points had many uses besides exchanging for spirit elixirs and medicines. For example, learning a certain cultivation technique or mystic skill within the clan, or inviting a mystic skill expert to teach and guide you. Even if you had enough contribution points, you could apply to compete for the position of clan leader when the current leader's term was up.

Chen Mo and Helian Huowu had also discussed the uses of contribution points. Neither of them currently lacked mystic skills, as the saying goes, "too much is hard to digest." Instead of spending contribution points to exchange for ordinary cultivation techniques and mystic skills, it was better to focus on improving their existing mystic skills, refining and practicing them to reach higher realms.

Only by solidifying the foundation could they achieve twice the result with half the effort when cultivating advanced mystic skills, and unleash their power. Currently, both of them had recently advanced to the middle stage of the Spirit Disciple realm, and their priority was to quickly break through to the high stage of the Spirit Disciple realm, laying a solid foundation for the final breakthrough to the Spirit Master realm.

The 'Little Spirit Gathering Pill' was a non-grade elixir very suitable for Spirit Disciples, belonging to the auxiliary cultivation category. It was sold externally for ten taels of gold, but could be exchanged for one pill with three contribution points.

As a direct descendant of the Chen clan, Chen Mo could receive one 'Little Spirit Gathering Pill,' two taels of gold, some ordinary blood-activating and stasis-dissolving pills, and three teaching sessions for free each month.

Unfortunately, Chen Mo had not broken through to the middle stage of the Spirit Disciple realm for two whole years. He was deemed to have insufficient talent and had his clan support revoked, causing him even more trouble in his cultivation.

Helian Huowu, being a foster daughter not admitted to the ancestral hall, had a status equivalent to an external disciple, with half the support. Even so, she would squeeze out half of her meager resources to support Chen Mo. Although Chen Mo did not mention it, he silently remembered it in his heart.

Cultivation was an extremely resource-intensive endeavor. Chen Mo did not blame the clan; no clan could waste so many resources on someone with no future. Now that he had sufficient contribution points, Chen Mo exchanged for ten 'Little Spirit Gathering Pills,' giving five to Helian Huowu. They were placed in a jade bottle, heavy and delightful.

"Big, Big Brother, I, I don't need so many. Two pills are enough for me..." When they were dividing the pills in a corner of the pharmacy, Helian Huowu hurriedly waved her hands, refusing: "I don't like using elixirs for cultivation."

How could Chen Mo not know her intentions? He said seriously, "Dance, listen to me. In three months, it will be the annual clan competition. We must shine in this competition. Your talent is good, and with some effort, you might reach the high stage of the Spirit Disciple realm. At thirteen years old, if you can make it into the top ten of the clan competition, you will definitely be recognized as a genius disciple and receive focused cultivation from the clan, with many more resources each month."

"But, Big Brother, you also need to..." Helian Huowu hesitated.

"Don't worry, in three months, I will definitely be in the top ten of the clan competition," Chen Mo said confidently. "I will reclaim the resources and honor I lost, doubled. Dance, listen to me, we will both enter the top ten." At his current age, if he could make it into the top ten, he would be recognized as an elite disciple, receiving twice the resources of ordinary bloodline disciples each month.

His calm and confident demeanor made Helian Huowu's eyes flicker, and she believed him without hesitation, nodding obediently.

"Boastful!" A mocking and disdainful voice sounded behind them.

Chen Mo turned around and saw the person, a surge of anger rising in his heart, but he quickly composed himself and looked at the person. The speaker was dressed in brocade, followed by several lackeys, looking about sixteen or seventeen years old, with a face full of anger.

Before reaching Chen Mo, he continued, "If even a waste can make it into the top ten of the clan competition, wouldn't it be a laughingstock to outsiders?" His words were clearly sarcastic and sharp.

The lackeys laughed loudly, completely disregarding Chen Mo's feelings.

"Cousin Chen Hui, please be more respectful, to avoid hurting harmony," Helian Huowu stepped forward, raised her chin, and stared at the person.

Chen Hui was Chen Ye's cousin, and the two were close. After entering the small cave heaven, Chen Ye never returned. According to rumors, the two had a fierce struggle before the cave entrance closed, but no one knew how Chen Ye died.

He never imagined that Chen Mo would kill Chen Ye. But since the struggle caused Chen Ye to miss the opportunity to come out, his hatred for Chen Mo increased even more, almost to the point of enmity.

"Sister Huowu, with your talent and strength, making it into the top ten is reasonable. But this waste, tsk tsk, can he still have such delusions?" Chen Hui looked at Chen Mo with disdain, his words revealing his true intentions.

Chen Mo, having lived two lives and experienced several life-and-death struggles in the small cave heaven, had a much more mature and composed mindset. For Chen Hui's provocations, he could not be stirred in the slightest, and said calmly, "Dance, let's go to the market, no need to argue with such people."

He took Helian Huowu and turned to leave.

Seeing such a waste dare to ignore him, Chen Hui was instantly enraged and stepped forward, "Waste, where are you going?"

He condensed his five fingers into a faint green claw shadow, fiercely grabbing at Chen Mo's shoulder. It was clearly the Eagle Claw technique, and the degree of condensation showed that he had practiced it quite diligently, reaching the initial stage.

If he grabbed Chen Mo, his shoulder would be left with several bloody holes.

"Big Brother, be careful," Helian Huowu called out softly, about to block, but was held back by Chen Mo.

Chen Mo raised his eyebrows, moved his front foot back, and drew a half-circle on the ground with his toes, like willow fluff floating, evading the claw with overflowing power. His eyes were cold and calm.

Before Chen Hui could react, Chen Mo stomped his right foot forcefully, and the stone floor exploded with a loud bang, sending a wave of invisible shockwaves that made the ground tremble. Chen Hui's feet wobbled, his stance broken, and he lost his footing.

At the same time, Chen Mo's shoulder, like a mountain hammer, struck Chen Hui. Chen Hui only managed to block with his arms, but due to his lack of footing, he was thrown away like a broken sack.

He crashed into the counter, which shattered instantly, sending splinters flying, and he spat out blood uncontrollably.

Everyone was stunned, not expecting the always-wasted Chen Mo to be so powerful and domineering. One move of the Vajra Shake was so fierce and overbearing. It must be an illusion, this must be an illusion. Chen Hui must have been careless and caught off guard by Chen Mo.

"I am a waste, so what are you?" Chen Mo said calmly.

"You!" Chen Hui leaped up, his face red with anger, and pounced on Chen Mo again, like an eagle diving for a rabbit, instantly creating seven or eight green claw shadows that enveloped Chen Mo.

Chen Mo, with his hands behind his back, remained calm, his body moving like willow fluff in the wind, dodging the claw shadows that narrowly missed his green robe.

The scene was breathtaking, and everyone realized that it wasn't Chen Hui's carelessness, but Chen Mo's sudden improvement. His movements were agile and graceful, clearly grasping a hint of the essence.

Being made a fool of, Chen Hui was even more embarrassed, his face twisted with anger, and he prepared to use his ultimate move to kill Chen Mo and save face.

A deep voice interrupted, "Chen Hui, are you done yet?"

The voice seemed to carry a hint of magic, making Chen Hui stop immediately and turn with a fawning smile, "Young Clan Leader, why are you here?"

The person who arrived had his hands behind his back, a fair face, and neatly combed black hair, dressed in brocade and jade, with a composed and handsome appearance. He was about sixteen or seventeen years old, and from his demeanor and attire, he was clearly a wealthy young man. However, he lacked the arrogance and arrogance of the rich, instead exuding a sense of righteousness, making people feel good.

The person was Chen Xuan, the son of the Chen clan's clan leader, who had already reached the peak of the high stage of the Spirit Disciple realm at sixteen or seventeen, just one step away from becoming a Spirit Master.

Chen Xuan ignored his fawning and turned to look at Chen Mo. He was well aware that with Chen Mo's strength, if he used his full power, he could easily kill the inexperienced Chen Hui.

Then, he turned his gaze to Helian Huowu, his black eyes gleaming.

With his hands behind his back, he turned to Chen Hui and scolded, "Chen Hui, you're not a child anymore. Don't you know that using force in clan affairs is taboo? Use this energy to practice at home. If you want to fight, the clan competition in three months will be enough for you."

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