Chapter 10

Han Xiaoshu did not agree to Xu Ruo Yan's request; it wasn't because he was trying to be a good person.

Rather, he had too many secrets on him. If she discovered any of the oddities, she might turn around and sell him out to the sect.

That would be a loss.

Now that he had secrets, he was wary of everyone.

...

Sitting cross-legged, Han Xiaoshu recalled everything that had happened over the past few days.

Although Senior Brother Wen from the Reception Hall had told them they didn't need to practice for the time being, it wasn't necessary for him, Han Xiaoshu. He relied on the simulator to level up his spirit veins.

After an hour of cultivation, he had accumulated 24 spirit points.

24 spirit points were of no use to him now, and he didn't plan to allocate them to the Wood Spirit Vein. He intended to save them and see what to do after tomorrow.

He scanned the current interface of the simulator, which showed the following:

Spirit Vein Rank

- Gold Spirit Vein: No required spirit points (0/50) +

- Wood Spirit Vein: Impure, Rank 3, Required spirit points (0/400) +

- Water Spirit Vein: No required spirit points (0/50) +

- Fire Spirit Vein: No required spirit points (0/50) +

- Earth Spirit Vein: No required spirit points (0/50) +

Cultivation Techniques

- Basic Cultivation Technique

Spirit Points: 24

...

With what Senior Brother Wang said yesterday when they went up the mountain, Han Xiaoshu didn't dare to allocate spirit points to other spirit veins rashly.

Now, Rank 3 of the Wood Spirit Vein seemed sufficient.

Moreover, according to the internal classification of the sect, spirit veins were divided into upper, middle, and lower grades.

But his simulator seemed to have a more detailed classification, dividing the upper, middle, and lower grades into 9 ranks.

- Ranks 1-3 correspond to the lower grade

- Ranks 4-5 correspond to the middle grade

- Ranks 6-9 correspond to the upper grade

Han Xiaoshu looked at the simulator's interface, pondering.

Regarding cultivation techniques, the Basic Cultivation Technique was the only one he knew.

Running the cultivation technique would consume his sense of fullness, which was actually his physical strength.

When his physical strength was insufficient to support a full cycle of the cultivation technique, the name of the technique on the interface would dim.

Only when the requirements were met could it be run.

This prevented him from running the cultivation technique and exhausting himself to death, as he had initially thought.

However, there was a downside. If he ran the technique in an unsafe place, his physical strength would decrease, leaving him in a weakened state, making him vulnerable to others.

Therefore, he needed to be cautious and respectful when cultivating in the future.

Now, there was another issue: how should he proceed with his cultivation path?

He was an abnormal awakener and didn't know how others advanced their spirit vein ranks or the difficulty involved.

Moreover, the spirit vein rank reflected one's potential, which was not fixed as in the novels from his previous life. Here, potential could be improved.

Potential affected one's cultivation progress, and that was all the information Han Xiaoshu had for now.

Of course, this wasn't entirely correct, and he needed to understand more over time.

Thinking about it, Han Xiaoshu decided not to think too much more, put aside his doubts, and waited for the next day to come.

...

The next morning, when Han Xiaoshu opened the door, Xu Ruo Yan was already waiting outside with toiletries and breakfast prepared.

Perhaps because of what happened yesterday, her face was still a bit flushed.

She stood to the side, waiting for Han Xiaoshu to finish washing up, then carried the basin away without daring to speak to him.

With nothing else to do, Han Xiaoshu decided to go out and explore. After being brought here by Senior Brother Wen yesterday, he hadn't had a chance to look around properly.

Han Xiaoshu glanced at the closed door of the chubby boy's room and didn't knock, but went out alone.

When Han Xiaoshu arrived at the Reception Hall, he found that only Senior Brother Wen was sitting in meditation in the hall.

Han Xiaoshu didn't disturb him and looked around the Reception Hall.

The Reception Hall was large, with a huge statue in the center. In front of it was a large tripod, from which incense smoke wafted.

The statue was of an elderly man with a sage-like appearance, sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed, nothing particularly special about it.

Senior Brother Wen was meditating on the right side of the statue, and opposite him was a stone tablet, smooth and blank on its front.

"I advise you not to go out. The other disciples will be returning soon, and we will be gathering shortly.

At that time, the outer sect elders will be present, and you should stay in your room and wait."

Just as Han Xiaoshu was about to step out of the hall, Senior Brother Wen opened his eyes and said to him. After that, he closed his eyes and continued meditating.

Han Xiaoshu awkwardly put down his foot, said goodbye to Senior Brother Wen, and returned to his room.

Back in the room, Han Xiaoshu thought for a moment and called Xu Ruo Yan to ask about the outer sect.

She had been in the outer sect for a few years and should know more than he did.

...

"Ruo Yan, you said there are many people in the outer sect, but why haven't I seen anyone in the past two days? There are only us new disciples."

When Xu Ruo Yan arrived, Han Xiaoshu had her sit down and asked.

Yesterday, he noticed that the area around the Reception Hall was empty, with no one around. He had heard from Chu Jinxuan that the outer sect had tens of thousands of people, but where were they?

"Oh, it's like this. Every year around this time, most of the outer sect disciples, except for those who stay to welcome new disciples, participate in trials.

Those who are close to breaking through will go to their caves in the back mountain to meditate." Xu Ruo Yan answered Han Xiaoshu's question honestly.

"Trials?"

"Yes, in the outer sect, like you, the sect doesn't provide unlimited cultivation resources. Initially, you just need to cultivate.

But once you reach the middle stage, you need to go out and complete tasks. At the Reception Hall, there is a stone tablet where various tasks are posted. Completing tasks earns you resources and contributions.

Resources can be used to enhance your strength or exchange for treasures, while contributions can be used to exchange for cultivation techniques at the Technique Hall."

This time, Xu Ruo Yan explained in detail, as she had been there for two years and was familiar with many things.

"Oh, I see. Do you know about the cultivation realms?"

"I'm not sure. I'm just a servant and don't know much about cultivation. I can only handle some trivial matters for you." Xu Ruo Yan's voice seemed to drop a bit.

"Don't worry, as long as you stay by my side, no one will bully you." Han Xiaoshu said softly.

He said this because Xu Ruo Yan reminded him of his sister from his previous life, a reserved girl.

"Thank you, Young Master."

Han Xiaoshu's voice was not loud, but to Xu Ruo Yan, it sounded like an important promise.

The atmosphere became a bit awkward, and both of them, being at the age of budding emotions, plus the warm bed incident from yesterday, didn't know what to say.

Seeing the atmosphere heading in an uncontrollable direction, Han Xiaoshu cleared his throat and tried to tell a cold joke to ease the tension.

He didn't care if Xu Ruo Yan understood cold jokes in this world, but it was better than sitting in silence.

Just as he was about to speak, he heard two consecutive bell sounds.

"All new disciples, please gather at the Reception Square."

The voice echoed in his ears.

"Young Master, you should go to the gathering. I'll go back first." Xu Ruo Yan also heard the bell and the loud voice, and hurriedly left the room.

Han Xiaoshu also went out and saw the chubby boy already waiting at the door. Others were also coming out and heading to the square.

...

When Han Xiaoshu and the chubby boy followed the crowd to the square,

By the time they arrived, there were already five or six hundred people, including many of the thirty-odd from last night.

At the entrance of the Reception Hall stood a middle-aged man, with Senior Brother Wen on one side.

Both had their hands behind their backs, waiting for everyone to gather.