Chaper 9

Her first day of classes began immediately after the assembly. Seeing the disciples scurrying to and fro reminded her of her past university days.

Basic Qi Manipulation was her first stop. She sat through it diligently, trying to suppress her internal eyerolls. The elderly instructor droned on about basic qi pathways and absorption techniques, concepts Mingyue had intuitively grasped from the jade slip hours after transmigration. It felt like “Basic Anatomy 101 for people who can already perform brain surgery.” She practiced the prescribed movements, subtly adjusting the flow, noticing how her dual roots resonated differently, almost like two distinct frequencies in a single signal.

Next was Introduction to Sect Etiquette, a formal, almost theatrical affair in a grand hall. Mingyue found herself endlessly amused by the rigid bows, the convoluted titles, and the intricate hierarchy. Her internal monologue provided a running commentary: Ah, the Dao of Bureaucracy. Always the same, no matter what the realm. At least here, they don’t make you fill out six forms in triplicate just to get a pen.

Her final morning class, Common Spiritual Herbs, was a different story. This was her element. The instructor presented various plants, detailing their appearances and basic uses. Mingyue absorbed every word, her modern botanical knowledge seamlessly blending with the jade slip’s insights. When the instructor faltered on a minor point about a rare variant, Mingyue’s hand shot up. “Excuse me, Elder, but isn’t the spirit of the Frostbloom root more stable if harvested just before the first frost, not after, to prevent cellular breakdown?” The Elder blinked, then nodded slowly, a surprised gleam in his eye. A few of her classmates turned to stare.

In the afternoon, after a meager lunch, Mingyue and a small group of other new disciples gathered for their first mission briefing. The task was simple, a rite of passage for all new recruits: gather specific common spirit herbs from Spirit Herb Peak.

“Remember, integrity in harvesting! Do not damage the roots!” the mission elder warned, his voice bored.

Mingyue, equipped with a simple digging tool and a coarse cloth bag, joined Li Mei, her nervous bunkmate. Li Mei wrung her hands. “Oh, Mingyue, I’m so worried! What if I pick the wrong ones? What if I miss the quota?”

“Relax, Li Mei,” Mingyue said, her eyes already scanning the rocky slopes of Spirit Herb Peak. “It’s just botany. Think of it as a treasure hunt.”

She proved exceptionally adept. While others fumbled, struggling to distinguish similar-looking plants, Mingyue moved with quiet efficiency. Her modern knowledge of flora, combined with the subtle energy signatures she could now sense from the jade slip, made identifying the correct herbs almost instantaneous. She would gently loosen the soil, carefully extract the roots, and tuck them into her bag. Seriously, no sterile gloves? No proper sealing for freshness? This is like doing field surgery with a butter knife. She mentally lamented the lack of proper tools, but her bag was filling quickly.

Suddenly, a series of agitated squeaks emanated from a cluster of flowering bushes. A small, furry creature, with glowing antennae and a territorial chirp, darted out, baring tiny fangs. “A Spirit Squirrel!” Li Mei shrieked, cowering.

Mingyue rolled her eyes. “Oh, for heaven’s sake. It’s just protecting its stash.” She deftly scooped up a pebble, flicked her wrist, and sent it spinning to ricochet off a nearby rock. The squirrel, startled by the unexpected redirection, scampered away in confusion. “See? Minimal force, maximum effect. Now, where were we?”

They successfully completed the mission, Li Mei beaming with relief as her bag, thanks to Mingyue’s quiet guidance, was full. Back at the mission hall, the elder at the counter barely looked up as they handed over their bundles.

“One Contribution Point for successful completion,” he stated dryly, tapping Mingyue’s new sect token to update her point total.

Mingyue stared at the number “1”, then her eyes darted to the Contribution Point exchange rate list displayed prominently on the wall.

Basic Qi Cultivation Manual (Advanced): 50 points Low-grade Qi Recovery Pill: 10 points Private Meditation Chamber (1 hour): 5 points Room Upgrade (1 month): 100 points Mid-grade Spirit Stone (currency): 20 points

“Are you kidding me?” she muttered, the words barely audible. “One point?! For a full afternoon of work? This is worse than getting paid in exposure.” The cost of resources was exorbitant. If a basic qi pill cost ten points, how many paltry herb-gathering missions would it take to even buy one? Her face fell. The grind was going to be real.

“How can I earn more points?” she asked the elder, her voice a low, determined rumble.

The elder, surprised by her directness, finally looked up, a flicker of something in his tired eyes. “There are various means, young one. You may sell items you craft—pills, spirit weapons, refined herbs—back to the sect’s Treasure Pavilion, though the exchange rate is… adjusted. You may also trade directly with other disciples, if they find value in your wares. More complex missions yield greater rewards, but they require higher cultivation and approval.” He waved a dismissive hand. “For now, focus on your foundational training.”

As dusk settled, casting long shadows across the sect grounds, Mingyue discreetly made her way to Jiang Feng’s secluded residence. The isolated pavilion, tucked away in a quiet, verdant corner of the sect, was surrounded by a subtle array that shimmered faintly, masking its presence. It was serene, elegant, and a stark contrast to her noisy, crowded dorm.

She found him in the main chamber, meditating, a faint aura of spiritual energy swirling around him. He opened his eyes as she entered, his midnight blue gaze, flecked with gold, acknowledging her presence.

“Rough day?” he murmured, a hint of amusement in his tone.

“You have no idea,” Mingyue sighed, collapsing onto a nearby cushion. “Apparently, a full afternoon of manual labor is worth one single measly point. Do you know how many herb missions I’d have to do to get a room upgrade? Or even a decent cultivation manual?” She pulled out a small, prepared meal she’d managed to secure, a bland but nutritious broth and some steamed buns. “I figured you’d be tired of the infirmary sludge. I’ll make you something better tomorrow, just because you’re a god doesn’t mean you have to suffer through tasteless sludge.”

She performed a thorough medical check-up, her diagnostic pad humming softly as she scanned his spiritual fluctuations. “Physically, you’re healing remarkably well,” she confirmed, noting the almost complete closure of his wounds. “But your qi flow is still… agitated. Like a river trying to flow through a constricted pipe. We need to work on regulating that.” She recommended specific qi regulation exercises, blending her modern understanding of systemic balance with the meridian pathways she’d learned from the jade slip.

Jiang Feng listened intently. “Your insight into the pathways of qi, though… unconventional, is surprisingly effective.” He paused. “I require specific materials for the next phase of my recovery. Ancient spirit iron, imbued with dormant fire essence, and moonpetal dew that gathers only under a specific astral alignment.” He then described a few other, equally rare, items. “These would aid in refining my essence. They may be found in the sect’s deeper missions, or perhaps traded for.” He also subtly hinted at a more advanced qi cultivation method, suitable for her new dual root, that he had anonymously “obtained” for her.

“So, you want me to go on a scavenger hunt for your magical ingredients? And trade my non-existent points for them?” Mingyue quipped, but her mind was already calculating. These sounded like high-point missions, exactly what she needed. “You know, for a man who claims to be recovering, you’re making me do all the legwork.”

He merely gave her a subtle, knowing smirk.

She then pulled out the egg. It continued to emit its soft, internal glow. “This little guy’s still just chilling. Any insights?”

Jiang Feng’s gaze softened almost imperceptibly as he looked at the egg. “It requires constant warmth, and a steady, pure supply of spiritual energy,” he advised, his voice surprisingly gentle. “A furnace would provide both. Perhaps a low-grade pill furnace.”

Mingyue nodded, tucking the egg away. “A pill furnace, huh? Another item for the shopping list. This sect life is going to be expensive.”

She returned to her noisy dorm, the stark contrast with Jiang Feng’s serene pavilion highlighting the vast disparity between her public and secret lives. She reviewed her class schedule, the meager points from her first mission, and the exorbitant cost of resources. She began to formulate a strategy for accumulating points more efficiently. Her dual spiritual roots (flame for alchemy, ice for control/precision) and her existing talents in forging and healing aligned well with the Alchemy Peak and Forger’s Mountain. Her goal to cook for Jiang Feng also gave her another mission – earning points to acquire proper ingredients.

Her immediate goals were clear: earn points, secure resources, gain more cultivation knowledge, and continue to aid Jiang Feng’s recovery. Long-term: advance to Inner Disciple, escape the bunk beds, and perhaps unravel the mysteries of this world. This new adventure was truly beginning.