Chapter 51: The Rules of the Inner Sect

The tranquility of her new residence did not last long.

On the second day after becoming Elder Luoyun’s registered disciple, a cold transmission talisman pierced through the courtyard’s ward and hovered before Bai Yue’ning. The talisman bore only two words: “Come see me.” It was Elder Luoyun’s voice, as emotionless as ever.

Bai Yue’ning dared not delay. After a brief preparation, she followed the path indicated by the steward disciple the previous day and made her way to Luoyun Peak.

Luoyun Peak was tucked away in a secluded corner of the inner sect’s mountain range. Compared to the bustling prosperity of other spiritual peaks, this place seemed particularly quiet and remote. The mountain path wound its way upward, and the spiritual energy grew ever purer and sharper, carrying a chill that seemed to keep all at a distance.

At the summit, there were no grand halls—only a few simple bamboo cottages, shrouded year-round in a faint, lingering mist.

Bai Yue’ning stopped before the largest cottage and respectfully announced herself. “Disciple Bai Yue’ning requests an audience with Master.”

“Enter.” The cold voice sounded from within.

She pushed open the door. The bamboo cottage was sparsely furnished: a table, a chair, a single meditation cushion. The bare walls were unadorned, save for an ancient bronze incense burner in the corner, from which a wisp of calming fragrance wafted gently upward.

Elder Luoyun, as always, wore moon-white Daoist robes and sat upon the cushion, as if she had never moved at all. She offered no pleasantries, but instead tossed over a pale blue jade slip.

“‘Foundations of Qi Refining,’ Inner Sect Advanced Volume.”

“What the outer sect cultivates is a crude, abridged version. This one touches upon the essence of refining qi, solidifies the foundation, tempers spiritual power. It is most suitable for your current stage.”

Bai Yue’ning accepted the jade slip. A mere brush of her spiritual sense revealed the vast and profound knowledge within, far beyond any outer sect technique. Not only were the pathways for circulating energy more intricate and mysterious, but the explanations for concentrating spiritual force and opening meridians were incisive and thorough.

“Thank you, Master, for your guidance,” she said, bowing with heartfelt sincerity.

Elder Luoyun nodded slightly and continued, “Should you have questions regarding cultivation, you may seek me at the Stone Forest behind the mountain on the seventh day of each month.”

“For matters unrelated to cultivation, handle them yourself. Unless it is a matter of life and death, do not disturb me.”

Her words were concise to the extreme, drawing a clear line between master and disciple—she would answer questions, but not meddle in affairs.

With that, Elder Luoyun closed her eyes once more, her aura merging with the austere bamboo cottage, paying the outside world no further heed.

Bai Yue’ning knew this was a dismissal. She bowed once more and quietly withdrew.

Standing atop the tranquil Luoyun Peak, she gripped the jade slip in her hand. Her master was indeed as the rumors claimed—aloof, cold, and sparing of words.

Yet for some reason, this clean, non-intrusive manner of interaction put her at ease.

Once a month for guidance was more than enough.

What mattered most now was to acquaint herself with the inner sect, secure resources, and swiftly grow stronger.

She did not descend the mountain immediately, but instead made her way to the inner sect’s Steward Hall.

This place was grander by far than the outer sect, bustling with inner sect disciples whose auras were anything but ordinary.

At the center of the great hall, several enormous spirit jade screens continuously refreshed with all manner of information—chiefly sect tasks and the exchange catalog.

Bai Yue’ning paused to study the lists. The tasks posted here were leagues apart from those of the outer sect. The beasts to be hunted were at least peak rank-one, even rank-two. The herbs to be gathered grew in perilous places or were fiercely guarded by powerful creatures. There were even tasks involving the exploration of ruins, assisting in the refinement of complex elixirs, guarding merchant convoys, and more. The contribution point rewards were generous—several hundred or even over a thousand per task—but the dangers increased exponentially.

The exchange catalog dazzled her. Low and mid-grade spiritual artifacts were displayed in abundance, along with all manner of talismans and elixirs of extraordinary effect. There were even Foundation Building Pills, essential for breakthroughs—though the staggering contribution point prices would make most disciples shrink away in despair.

Beyond these, there were opportunities to rent high-grade cultivation abodes, attend elders’ lectures, or earn access to special secret realms—all of which demanded a great deal of contribution points.

“Tsk… this is outright robbery!”

A faint but much clearer voice grumbled in her mind.

Ye Ming, evidently roused by the daunting price lists, sounded more alert than before.

“A single Barrier-Breaking Pill costs five thousand points? Why not just rob us! And those so-called Class B abodes—three hundred points a month? That’s worse than a black market!”

Though his voice was still weak, the fact that he could stay awake and complain meant his recovery was going well.

Bai Yue’ning felt a little reassured and replied, “Such is cultivation in the inner sect. The resources are better, and so is the competition.”

“Competition? I’d call it a contest of wealth!” Ye Ming grumbled in dissatisfaction. “Hurry up and look for a quick-money job—no, a quick contribution point job! Otherwise, the two of us will be left with nothing but wind to eat.”

Bai Yue’ning continued scanning the lists.

She noticed that inner sect disciples were also required to earn a minimum amount of contribution points each month; failure meant their rations would be halved, and it could even impede their promotions or access to certain cultivation privileges.

The pressure was far greater than in the outer sect.

Snatches of conversation from other disciples drifted by.

“I heard Senior Brother Wang of Ziyun Peak took on a mission to clear out the Fire Scorpion nest and earned fifteen hundred points!”

“Impressive! But I also heard they lost two people on that job…”

“The Pill Hall is offering a long-term buy for the venom of the Azure-Blood Spirit Toad. The price is good, but those things are a pain to catch…”

“Look, the contribution rankings just updated! The numbers at the top—those people are monsters…”

Every word revealed the inner sect’s fierce competitiveness and the disciples’ insatiable hunger for contribution points.

Bai Yue’ning watched in silence, her mind growing ever clearer.

The inner sect was a larger, fiercer arena.

Here, effort was meaningless. Results were all that mattered.

To gain resources, one had to fight, to strive, even to gamble.

Although she was Elder Luoyun’s registered disciple, it was clear her master would offer no extra assistance. Everything depended on her own efforts.

“A mission… What about that one for collecting ‘Frost-Patterned Grass’? The contribution points look decent…” Ye Ming had already begun fulfilling his “advisory” role, trying to sift through the dense array of tasks.

Bai Yue’ning did not decide at once.

She was new to the inner sect, her strength still lacking, and Ye Ming had not yet fully recovered. It would be unwise to rashly take on high-difficulty assignments.

“Let’s go back first,” she said to Ye Ming in her mind. “Familiarize myself with the technique, stabilize my realm, and gather more information before moving forward.”

“All right, all right… You’re the handler, you decide…” Ye Ming muttered, his voice fading as if poring over the task lists had drained much of his energy.

“Remember… find me something good to eat…” His voice dwindled to a whisper and he slipped into a state of quiet recuperation.

Bai Yue’ning cast a final glance at the dazzling numbers on the contribution rankings and the perilous, opportunity-laden missions, then turned and left the Steward Hall.

Returning to her elegant courtyard, she activated the wards.

All the noise and competition of the outside world seemed, for the moment, shut out.

She sat cross-legged on the jade meditation cushion in her quiet chamber and drew out the jade slip containing the advanced volume of ‘Foundations of Qi Refining,’ immersing her mind within.

More intricate and obscure energy channels, ever finer control over spiritual power, deeper methods for tempering the meridians and acupoints—all pointed to one truth: the road of cultivation in the inner sect was only just beginning.

She inhaled a deep breath of the dense, vibrant spiritual energy, and closed her eyes.

The most urgent task was to grow stronger.

To grow stronger, as quickly as possible.