Monthly Quota

The next afternoon was when all Outer Disciples received their monthly quotas. These included both gold coins and Spirit Stones.

Ouyang Li woke up late this day. He wasn't too excited about the event, and he didn't like the feeling of waiting.

However, he was astounded to discover that, through the night, his cultivation had actually climbed even higher and he has reached the 4th stage of the Qi Gathering Realm!

"Isn't it a bit too quick?" He wondered while quickly putting on his green Outer Disciple robe. Then, he took a few bites of some demonic meat. It had so much Spiritual Energy that it filled his stomach for the rest of the day.

By the time he reached the Central Area of the Outer Sect, the square was already filled to the brim. There were almost three hundred green-robed disciples gathered there. They consisted of almost all Outer Sect members.

Those who achieved the 4th stage of the Qi Gathering Realm before the age of thirty years were eligible to apply for a promotion to enter the Inner Court. Theoretically, it was worth it because Inner Sect resources were much more abundant.

However, Ouyang Li thought that it would be better to stay in the Outer Sect for a bit longer. At least, until he has reached the 5th or even the 6th stage of the Qi Gathering Realm. This way, he would be safer.

"After all, my progress should correspond to my talent. Unreasonably fast growth must be explained by fortuitous opportunities, and those can only be encountered, not sought. Now, if I suddenly revealed my cultivation today, I'm afraid that I'd only be courting death!"

Soon, a baby-faced man appeared on the small stage above the square. His young-looking appearance was quite misleading. It was the silver robe that clearly indicated that he was an Elder.

To receive such a high position, one needed to complete all seven stages of the Qi Gathering Realm and then break through to the Immortal Foundation Realm.

Only one in ten cultivators was able to reach such a height. It was also then that their bodies fundamentally changed. After taking this step, their lifespan would be lengthened, and they could live up to two hundred years!

There were a few red-robed Stewards following behind the silver-clad Elder. They soon opened a small storage area adjacent to the Myriad Treasures Hall. Then, a few boxes were taken out. Someone opened their lids and presented the chests before the silver-clad man.

They were all filled with small, oval stones. Although the stones looked transparent, sun rays made them look as if they were glowing! At this sight, Outer Disciples quietly formed two straight lines waiting for their turn to receive their share.

"As always, those with low-grade Spiritual Roots would receive three Spirit Stones, whereas those with medium-grade roots would receive five. As for high-graded talents... well…" The Elder hesitated while slowly looking around. "It seems that none of them arrived this early…" He stated indifferently after a moment.

It was clear that he wasn't surprised by this. High-grade Spiritual Roots were rare and Elders could easily identify the prodigies lucky to be born with them.

The queue quickly proceeded forward. The majority of people only had low-grade talent. Only less than fifty disciples were eligible to stand in the shorter line.

As they were forced to wait for their turn, naturally, they also started to talk among themselves.

"Have you already heard? After we receive our monthly quota, there is going to be an arena fight! Senior brother Yue and senior sister Wei are going to fight to their deaths!

Suddenly, many gasps and sharp inhales sounded. Even Ouyang Li focused his attention on their voices.

"It's not that surprising. After all, senior brother Yue is said to have sacrificed senior Wei's little sister. What a cruel man."

"Shut up! What do you even know?"

"Heavens! What happened that so many deaths occurred during this mission of theirs? It seems as if they were targeted by someone!"

"Supposedly, they were trapped by the two seniors from the diabolical linage. There were also a few low-level unorthodox cultivators involved. I say it's all thanks to brother Yue's rationality that they even managed to come back alive.

"Who knows what really happened there? We have no right to judge them. Anyway, I'm so glad that they both waited until we received our Spirit Stones. This way, we can at least bet on the outcome!"

"Madman! Haven't you lost your last month's quota on a similar gamble? How are you going to progress if you continue to make so many reckless choices?"

"How I envy their strength…" murmured another disciple.

"Yes, senior Wei and senior Yue are truly powerful!"

"That's a matter of course! They are both at the 6th stage of the Qi Gathering Realm. Rumor has it that the one who survives the battle would use the resources of the loser to reach the 7th stage!"

"You mean that they would become our new Stewards?" Asked a small, petite girl.

"Don't spout nonsense! Those who dare to take Steward position are all failed Inner Court disciples! They have probably reached the age of sixty, and they don't have any other choice. The only alternative is to leave the sect. Such people... they have little chance to progress. They can only toil for the sect, hoping that before they reach the end of their lifespans, Grand Elders would loan them one or two Foundation Establishment Pills."

"And then, they would have to spend another century working hard just to pay it off. Stewards are simply too pitiful!" Mocked another voice.

Suddenly, strange silence filled the square.

"Hush! Don't you have any common sense? You don't even know whether or not the silver-clad Elder presiding over the stage was a steward before! Food can be eaten indiscriminately. However, words must not be spoken carelessly!" One of the older disciples whispered frantically.

"Exactly! Watch your tone, brother. Even if you want to die, don't drag us with you!" Echoed a few other students.

Finally, someone couldn't stop themselves from making one more biting remark.

"Besides, are you, an Outer Disciple, any better than us? Most of us won't be able enter the Inner Court, not to mention becoming Hair Disciples. At least, senior brother Yue and senior sister Wei still stand a chance. What about you?"

"Yeah, you are also queuing in the long line. The way I see it, people like you would probably stay in the Outer Sect for as long as possible. And why? Just to collect a few measly Spirit Stones for cultivation! Looking at your strength, as a cultivator at the 1st stage of the Qi Gathering Realm, you are not powerful enough to even start a cultivation clan!"

"What do you know? I'm from the Yellow Mountain's Gou family! Both our patriarch and the clan head are at the late stages of the Qi Gathering Realm!"

"Oh? Who would have thought that such an ancient clan would come to produce such a stupid scion! I bet that you come from the outer branches of the family!"

"Yeah, they must have sent you here just to collect some resources for them!" Laughed yet another disciple.

At this point, Ouyang Li stopped listening to their conversation. Soon, it was going to be his turn to go up the stage and collect the Spirit Stones.

"Still, an arena fight is worth taking a look at." He murmured quietly.

After all, Ouyang Li had no idea how powerful immortal cultivators were at the late stages of the Qi Gathering Realm.

It didn't take long and he too entered the wooden stage.

After he gave his token to the Elder, the character 'Outer' suddenly flashed with green light. It didn't look too bright, though. The brightness signified that the grade of his Spiritual Roots was relatively low.

"Everything checks out! Take the stones and move away quickly." It was an old Steward that stated these words. "There are still many more disciples waiting for their turn."

Soon, he had received three Spirit Stones, and a bag of coins was pushed into his hands. He was then forced to leave.

Ouyang Li felt quite a few greedy looks directed at him by the other disciples. However, he had nothing to fear.

Only once was he forced to give up some of his resources, and that was during his first month in this world. Now, he should be one of the most powerful among Outer Disciples.

He then headed toward the Arena Theater. It was an ancient-looking amphitheater. It was easily able to accommodate more than a thousand viewers.

There were many beautiful girls walking between the rows there. Every one of them was trying to coax poor disciples into gambling.

Suddenly, remembering his conversation with the Sage Pavilion Elder, Ouyang Li came up with an idea. He walked up to a small box accepting bets and quickly forced his way to the front.

"I want to bet exactly the same as steward Lin" He spoke to one of the people responsible for collecting Spirit Stones and giving out the receipts. "Is this possible?"

After all, steward Lin was supposed to be a fortune-teller. Ouyang Li was really curious whether astrology was really a scam in this world too.

"Well, that man is forbidden from placing bids with a value higher than ten Spirit Stones. He's been way too lucky. Wait, are you here to make a bet on his behalf?" Suddenly, his eyes narrowed. "No, you can't make a bet here" He shook his head. "After all, I'm unable to determine whether he sent you here or if you've come on your own initiative. So, go away."

"Maybe it's his new strategy?" Suggested another disciple working in the booth. "Boss, come here quickly! There is a boy who wants to bet the same as that old jinx!"

"Which old jinx?" Repeated a muffled voice from behind the wall.

"You know, steward Lin!"

"It's impossible! Does he even know who Seward Lin bet on? All bets are secret unless someone is willing to openly disclose them As for the exact battle conditions, they can only be proposed by us. So, kindly tell this boy to get the fuck out!"

"You've heard the boss, kid. You'd better try your luck next time".

The disciple working behind the counter smiled apologetically.

Ouyang Li shrugged his shoulders and left. Deep down, however, he was a bit annoyed. Could it be that there really was such a thing as fortune-telling? After all, this world had sword-flying immortal and demonic beasts! Who knew what else was possible?

"Well, even if it's a real deal, I don't have to go to this steward Lin. I've never even heard about the problem of being too water-attributed. So, I guess I can ignore it for now. Nevertheless... I should probably do some research later on. For some reason I don't find that Sage Pavilion Elder to be… well, trustworthy enough."

He sighed deeply and focused his attention on the stage below. As luck would have it, senior brother Yue and senior sister Wei were already getting ready to fight. Their duel was just about to start!