### Chapter 126: The Sect Master
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Silence.
Silence.
He Song kept his eyes down, but his mind was already racing with speculation.
It seemed that True Person Clear Moon and the previous **True Person Mountain Sage** truly did not get along.
Otherwise, True Person Clear Moon wouldn't have driven the spirit boat away before the other could even finish speaking.
However, with so little information, He Song couldn't deduce much.
He just hadn't expected that as soon as they set foot in the Earth Sect, a minor incident would arise.
"The Earth Sect doesn't seem like a paradise on earth. Now that I'm joining the sect, I should be cautious and watch my words."
"As for this matter, I can investigate it later. The grudges between Foundation Establishment experts likely have little to do with a Qi Refining cultivator like me."
After a thoughtful glance at True Person Clear Moon, He Song quickly lowered his head and stopped overthinking.
After a long silence.
The spirit boat finally landed outside the Earth Sect's mountain gate after flying for another short while.
Flying was prohibited within the Earth Sect's mountain gate. Only outside the gate could one use light-based travel or spirit boats.
As the spirit boat touched down.
The six of them stepped off the boat.
"Pinger, Shuangshuang, take my token and go to the outer sect elder. Explain the situation and have these two junior disciples officially join the Earth Sect. I will take Junior Brother Meng to meet the Sect Master."
After handing a token to Chu Shuangshuang, True Person Clear Moon led the way forward.
Before leaving, Meng Guan gave He Song and Wei Fan a reassuring look, then followed her.
A Foundation Establishment expert joining the Earth Sect naturally required an audience with the Sect Master.
However, for Qi Refining cultivators like He Song and Wei Fan, meeting the Sect Master wasn't so easy.
Joining the Earth Sect as outer sect disciples only required going through a simple process.
With a token from a Foundation Establishment expert and a clear explanation, the matter could be settled quickly.
"Junior Brother He, Junior Brother Wei, please follow us."
After True Person Clear Moon and Meng Guan left, Pinger smiled warmly, her beautiful eyes resting on He Song as she spoke.
Being able to call He Song "Junior Brother" made her quite happy.
Meeting a friend she had known since their humble beginnings in the Earth Sect also brought her joy.
With these two reasons combined, it was no wonder her smile never faded.
"Then we'll trouble the two of you."
He Song cupped his hands toward Pinger and Chu Shuangshuang, expressing his gratitude without addressing her as "Senior Sister."
Over the past few days, they had grown familiar, and Pinger had long been acquainted with He Song. Naturally, He Song understood why she was so happy.
But titles like "Senior Sister" and "Junior Brother" couldn't be used casually.
Until he officially became a disciple of the Earth Sect, he couldn't fulfill Pinger's wish.
Seeing this, Pinger didn't press further. Still smiling, she led the way, guiding He Song and Wei Fan to the outer sect elder.
Using True Person Clear Moon's token, they successfully had He Song and Wei Fan's names added to the list of Earth Sect outer sect disciples.
With their identities confirmed.
He Song and Wei Fan naturally received the standard items given to every outer sect disciple of the Earth Sect.
A storage bag.
A communication talisman.
Five hundred spirit stones.
Three bottles of pills.
Twelve packets of Jade Powder.
A mid-grade robe.
A token to activate the courtyard's formation.
After collecting their items, the four of them walked toward the assigned courtyard while chatting.
Through their conversation, He Song learned about the various uses of these items.
The storage bag was a large one, with an internal space at least ten times larger than the small storage bags that cost a hundred spirit stones.
However, in the Earth Sect, the large storage bag was simply called a storage bag.
The small storage bags, which cost a hundred spirit stones, were referred to as inferior storage bags. Their small space made them almost unusable.
The communication talisman.
This was a jade piece about the size of a palm.
The jade was covered in intricate patterns and hollow inside, allowing it to be opened.
After connecting with another communication talisman, the two parties could communicate through the talismans.
By placing a piece of paper or another small item inside the jade and focusing their thoughts, they could send it to the other person's communication talisman.
When the recipient opened their talisman and retrieved the item, they could read the message or see the object.
However, the communication talisman was small and could only transmit tiny items.
It also required spirit stones to function.
In the outside world, communication talismans were expensive and typically only used by Foundation Establishment experts.
Ordinary Qi Refining cultivators, like He Song in the past, could only use basic communication spells.
As for the five hundred spirit stones.
This was the annual stipend for outer sect disciples of the Earth Sect.
The three bottles of pills were also part of the stipend.
They were Condensing Qi Pills, high-grade pills used to enhance cultivation for those in the late stages of Qi Refining.
The twelve packets of Jade Powder were also part of the stipend. They were essential for Qi Refining cultivators practicing the Earth Scripture, as they accelerated cultivation speed.
They were expensive.
In the outside world, one packet of Jade Powder cost a hundred spirit stones and lasted only a month.
It was something the Earth Sect had developed specifically to generate spirit stones.
As for the mid-grade robe, it was the standard outer sect disciple robe. Aside from signifying their identity, it also had defensive capabilities, making it quite remarkable.
Finally, the courtyard formation control token was a key given to every outer sect disciple.
With this token, they could activate the formations in their courtyard.
Each outer sect disciple's courtyard had three formations.
The Five Elements Formation, which combined offense and defense.
The Maze Formation, which prevented others from spying.
The Spirit Gathering Formation, which concentrated spiritual energy for cultivation.
These three formations were all recorded in the introductory texts on formations.
He Song had already learned them, but he hadn't expected that what he had worked so hard to master was standard for every outer sect disciple's courtyard in the Earth Sect.
Upon learning this, He Song fell silent.
Indeed.
Unless one became a sect disciple, it was impossible to imagine just how good the treatment was.
Five hundred spirit stones annually.
Three bottles of Condensing Qi Pills annually.
Twelve packets of Jade Powder annually.
Combined, these items amounted to nearly two thousand spirit stones in expenses each year.
Although the cost of producing the Jade Powder and Condensing Qi Pills might not be that high, purchasing them in the outside world would require real spirit stones.
Even at cost price, these items would still amount to at least a thousand spirit stones.
In addition, new disciples were given a mid-grade robe, a communication talisman, and a storage bag.
Even the small courtyard they were assigned came equipped with three formations.
Such luxurious cultivation benefits were something only a Golden Core Sect like the Earth Sect could provide.
Other Foundation Establishment families or smaller sects would never be able to match this.
However, even as He Song marveled at this, his heart remained calm.
All these things.
If he wanted them.
He could obtain them.
As a formation master, his ability to earn spirit stones wouldn't be slower than that of an Earth Sect disciple—it might even be faster.
But now that he was in the Earth Sect and had become an outer sect disciple, he had access to the sect's spells, cultivation arts, and more.
As long as he could learn more advanced spells and cultivation arts, his ability to gather resources would become even more formidable.
Perhaps, he could enjoy the generous annual stipend of an Earth Sect disciple while also using his formation skills to earn even more cultivation resources.
With both combined.
He Song couldn't even imagine how fast his cultivation speed would become.
Perhaps, it would surpass even those outer sect disciples who had lived in the Earth Sect their entire lives, focusing solely on cultivation.
(End of Chapter)
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