The place where outer sect disciples registered was called the Personnel Hall.
The name gave Su Ji a strangely familiar feeling.
Perhaps it was because of the early hour.
The hall was quiet and deserted, with only a slightly plump attendant disciple dozing off on a long desk, a trail of drool hanging from the corner of his mouth—an unsightly sight.
Su Ji stepped forward and lightly tapped the desk.
"Senior Brother?"
The attendant disciple jolted awake, rubbing his bleary eyes and wiping away the drool with a displeased expression.
He glanced at Su Ji, then at the servant disciple robes he wore.
"Do you know the rules?"
Su Ji’s heart skipped a beat.
Rules? What rules?
He quickly ran through the servant disciple’s memories but found nothing about any special customs for registration.
Seeing Su Ji hesitate, the attendant disciple’s face darkened with impatience.
He placed his hand on the desk, rubbing his thumb slowly against his middle and index fingers while muttering under his breath.
"Ah, the ink for writing got on my hand… what a bother…"
Alright then.
If Su Ji still didn’t understand after this, then his twenty years in Great Xia would have been wasted.
So even the cultivation world had its own version of "greasing the wheels"?
This… this was just too authentic.
A perfect replica of Great Xia’s "cultural essence"?
The problem was, Su Ji was currently penniless. Aside from a single Blood-Coagulation Pill, what could he possibly bribe with?
Ah, right.
He’d just have to ask Su Jiu for some "start-up funds" later.
Rich lady, feed me, please.
Embarrassing?
Not at all!
Wanting to eat but being unable to—that was the real shame!
But as the saying went, it was easier to deal with the King of Hell than his underlings.
If he offended this senior brother today, who knew what kind of trouble he might stir up later?
Though inwardly disdainful, Su Ji plastered a smile on his face.
"Senior Brother, this junior has just broken through to Qi Refining. Such joyous news naturally calls for sharing with you."
Then, his expression turned troubled.
"However, this junior is dull-witted and had to exhaust all his resources just to reach this point. How about this—give me two days, and once I’m better off, I’ll gladly offer three low-grade spirit stones to celebrate with you!"
The attendant disciple’s expression softened slightly.
He leisurely withdrew his hand.
"Hmm, you’ve got the right attitude. And I’m not one to take without giving."
Lowering his voice, he flashed a meaningful smile.
"When the time comes, I’ll give you some of our Love-Longing Sect’s specialties—a little gift to celebrate your official entry into the immortal path."
Little did the plump attendant know that his offhand remark would later become the "root of all evil" in Great Xia.
Su Ji pondered briefly.
Love-Longing Sect’s specialties?
What kind of proper "specialties" could this place possibly have?
Suppressing his curiosity, he refrained from asking further, wary of saying too much.
Better to ask Su Jiu later—she was the reliable source.
Seeing Su Ji so compliant, the attendant disciple swiftly processed his paperwork and handed him a blank jade slip.
"Alright, you know the procedure, right? Head to the Contribution Hall and wait for someone to pick up the task. Cooperate with them, then bring the ‘Spiritual Root Pouch’ back here to collect your outer sect disciple token."
"Many thanks for your guidance, Senior Brother."
Su Ji clasped his hands in farewell and headed toward the Contribution Hall as instructed.
...
Meanwhile.
Wang San stormed out of another room, his face ashen.
His steps were unsteady, his forehead slick with cold sweat—as if he had just narrowly escaped the gates of hell.
So close!
Just a little more… and he would have bid farewell to his lifelong companion!
What kind of damned sect was this?!
The price of becoming an outer sect disciple was… castration?!
Leaning against the wall, Wang San panted heavily, his eyes filled with lingering fear and burning fury.
If not for his heaven-blessed destiny—awakening the divine skill [A Gentleman Hides His Tools] at the critical moment, allowing him to retract his "great weapon" into his abdomen and feign being born a eunuch…
He would already be a broken man!
"Just wait… all of you, just wait…"
Gritting his teeth, Wang San seethed with humiliation, engraving this disgrace deep into his heart.
He was the true transmigrator, the chosen one!
These natives would pay for what they had done today!
After calming himself, he straightened his robes and headed toward the Contribution Hall.
First, he’d leave a scathing review for that perverted senior sister who had spent an eternity groping around his crotch before looking disappointed.
As Wang San immersed his divine sense into the jade wall to browse the task list, a newly posted mission caught his eye.
[Task: Remove the useless spiritual roots of newly promoted outer sect disciple Su Ji.]
[Reward: 20 Contribution Points]
[Requirement: One Foundation Establishment cultivator or two late-stage Qi Refining cultivators.]
Su Ji?
Wang San froze momentarily before a twisted grin spread across his face.
Just yesterday, he had inquired about the name—that servant disciple who had kept a fairy-like junior sister in his room for half a day!
Karma! This was pure karma!
Jealousy burned in Wang San’s chest as a vicious idea took root.
He would take this task!
He would personally…
Extending his divine sense toward the task, he attempted to accept it.
[Insufficient cultivation. Unable to accept.]
The jade wall displayed a line of cold, unfeeling text.
Wang San’s smile stiffened.
He had forgotten—he had only just broken through to Qi Refining himself and didn’t meet the requirements.
But this minor setback was quickly overshadowed by overwhelming schadenfreude.
Fine, so he couldn’t take it.
Didn’t matter. Su Ji’s fate was already sealed.
"Heh… hehehe…"
Wang San chuckled darkly, his laughter dripping with malicious glee.
It wasn’t like Su Ji also had a heaven-blessed destiny like [A Gentleman Hides His Tools], right?
So what if the guy had his fun for a moment?
In the end, he’d still end up less than a man!
Truly, he—Wang San—was the only one favored by destiny!
The true protagonist of this world could only be him!
When he checked the task again, it had already been accepted.
Who had such quick fingers?
[Operator: Su Jiu]
Wang San: ???
Unfair!
Why was it that when Su Ji was involved, the one taking the task was that perverted senior sister?!
There was definitely foul play here!
No way would Su Jiu actually go through with it for Su Ji.
He had to report this!
But wait…
Su Ji, that freeloading bastard…
If Su Jiu could take the task alone, that meant she was at least at Foundation Establishment.
Reporting her might backfire, and he could end up burned instead…
Was he really going to just watch as Su Ji… stood tall like…?
Suddenly, Wang San’s eyes lit up.
He had an idea.
From now on, he would use his spiritual roots to absorb spiritual energy and expel the useless turbid qi.
Then, he’d provoke the senior and junior sisters.
For those with lower cultivation, he’d release it onto their drying clothes and bedding.
For those with higher cultivation, he’d stealthily leave it at their doorsteps.
Eventually, the entire sect would be in an uproar.
A great investigation would surely be launched.
Who dared to cultivate so carelessly, leaving traces everywhere?!
No matter how hard they thought, they’d never suspect him—Wang San, the audacious one who hid his tools.
And Su Ji would become the perfect scapegoat, left speechless in the face of accusations!
Truly, the strong didn’t complain about their environment.
Even a white-tier destiny could be played masterfully!