“Have you looked through the spells in the storage pouch junior?” “This Disciple has indeed looked through the spells and started practicing the flame snake spell a bit.” “And how much progress have made on the Flame Snake spell?” “This disciple requests permission to attempt to cast a flame snake.” The Great Elder nodded indifferently and thought 'If he can manifest the illusory form of a flame snake in a couple of breath's worth of time...that would mean his perception is pretty good for an outer disciple.'

Having received permission, he began casting the flame snake spell. Within five seconds of time, a two finger thick, fore-arm long flame snake manifested before him which he directed towards the ground nearby. The spell was cast successfully, and caused a small charred depression on the ground. The great elder muttered, “Good Enough.” but inwardly he was very irritated at Brother Zhu. 'He snatched a great talent right under my nose. Not only is his talent in body refining good, he also has great luck and perception comparable to gold grade talents.'

'If only his Qi talent could keep up with his perception...he could have joined our sect as an inner disciple and received careful nurturing. But no. Brother Zhu had to spoil him with loads of spirit wine and is on his way to turn this little fatty into an eccentric drunk troublemaker like him. Brother Zhu really did pick up a diamond in the pigsty this time.'

The Great Elder then grabbed Fang Hao's collar and teleported him outside a mansion-complex. He then addressed the little fatty, “ This is the Assignment Hall of the inner disciple's peak you will be staying. Follow me inside.” He then walked into the assignment hall, which was largely empty. The wizened old man managing the assignment hall noticed the elder and greeted him with all respect and reverence due to the Great Elder. The inner disciples in the assignment hall too repeated his greeting when they realized who had appeared.

The Great Elder nodded indifferently and approached the manager of the Assignment Hall and said, “From Today, he is an inner disciple on this peak. He already has a storage pouch and the basic spells. Provide him with rest of the things for a new inner disciple and explain the basics.” “Of course, Great Elder.” The great elder then addressed Fang Hao and said,

“Cultivate hard now. Remember that you are not to undertake any missions outside the safe zone of the sect or participate in life and death arena matches or duels till you learn the third spell of your cultivation method. When you do so, the first thing you will do is ask the manager here to notify myself, Great Elder Shi. You will keep receiving your spirit wine weekly as before along with a few extra pills from me.”

Fang Hao cupped his hands and bowed deeply to express his gratitude, “This junior thanks the great elder from the bottom of his heart. This junior swears to bey Great Elder's instructions wholeheartedly.” The grand elder nodded satisfied, and left the assignment hall. The manager was all smiles as he gave Fang Hao a bunch of stuff and started explaining their utility to him.

First he gave Fang Hao a necklace with a silver medallion like amulet to Fang Hao. Fang Hao was told to bind the amulet with blood and was explained that the medallion served a variety of functions. It was a proof of his identity as an inner disciple, and kept track of his contribution points, privileges, duties etc. It would also act as a key to his selected residence. In case of his death, the amulet's twin would shatter and the sect would be informed of his last track-able location.

Next, he was handed something which looked like a gray marble bracelet and a crude dark-brown wooden short sword. He was told that these two were the lowest grade magic tools. The marble bracelet was a defensive magic tool which could generate a barrier almost instantly when activated. However, it would only need his Qi for activation and no other spell-casting actions. It wasn't too strong, but still the strength of the barrier was largely related to the proficiency of the Qi barrier spell.

Similarly, the wooden sword was one of the most basic offensive magic tools. It could be used by pouring Qi in it and it would generate wind blades. The power of the generated Wind blades would be largely dependent upon the proficiency of his Wind Blade spell. To refine these tools, he would just have to simply bind them with a drop of his Qi infused blood. Next he was handed a few sets of silver-colored inner disciple robes and a jade slip. He was told that he would have to wear the inner disciple robes from now on, and that the jade slip had detailed set of rules for inner disciples.

The manger however did touch upon the major rules for him then and there. Largely it was the same as outer disciples. They were:

Be Loyal to the sect and to never leak any of the cultivation, spell, and technique scriptures without authorization.

Not to kill or permanently cripple fellow disciples outside the arena, and not to intrude into their dwellings without permission.

To complete one's obligations to the sect.

The obligations of inner disciples differed greatly from outer disciples however. Instead of compulsory chores, they had to ear at least 50 contribution points per year by doing missions/fighting in the arena. As long as the disciple fulfilled these obligations, he would receive an additional 30 contribution points per year. So an inner disciple would earn a minimum of 80 contribution points per year if he performed the bare minimum amount of missions. A new inner disciple had a relaxation of 1 year to the compulsory requirement of earning 50 contribution points per year, and received the 30 contribution points free for the first year.

And contribution points were the currency for inner disciples. Contribution points could be exchanged for a variety of things ranging from spells and cultivation manuals to alchemical pills and magic tools to spirit stones and various sundries.