Fang Hao joined a queue for a nearby information counter and patiently waited a couple of hours. When his turn came, a tired and exhausted looking inner disciple asked in a monotonic puppet-like voice, “What do you wish to know, fellow apprentice-brother?”

“Fellow apprentice-brother, I would like to inquire where I can exchange m contribution points for a Foundation Establishment Cultivation Manual and Foundation Establishment Pills.” Fang Hao politely inquired.

The exhausted looking inner disciple just sighed and said, “Fellow apprentice-brother, inquiries regarding Foundation Establishment Manuals and Pills are dealt with on the next floor. Just be sure that you are at the peak of Qi Condensation or the formation will not allow you entry.” pointing at a nearby arch.

Fang Hao thanked him briefly with a genuine smile on his face as he was raging inwardly. 'Damn it. Wasted two whole hours just to be told to queue up somewhere else. First the Great Elder brushes me off cheaply, and then I waste a couple of hours standing in a queue just to meet a hussy little bitch who doesn't answer me. Would it have killed him to elaborate a bit more than “Go through te arch and ask someone else there.” Today just isn't my day.' grumbled Fang Hao internally as he approached the indicated Arch. Al he could see on the other side of the arch was a grayish shadow. He decisively stepped through the arch and appeared elsewhere. It still looked like the Interior of the skill pavilion but filled with golden robed Core Disciples.

A few of the core disciples glanced at him nonchalantly, and Fang Hao had felt a series of prickling sensations on the back of his neck. He smiled and bowed to the probing gazes politely before he felt the pressure ease on him. 'Is this supposed to be the so-called spiritual sense scan? If ti is, then looks like the sect is full of voyeurs. An inner disciple enters and they feel the need to gang up and investigate me. Sheesh.' Fang Hao lamented internally but outwardly he was meek as a mouse as he made his way to the information counter, which was thankfully empty..

A skinny looking middle-aged man in golden robes and reddish blotches over his face saw Fang Hao approach and gave him a grin. The grin was more frightening than reassuring as it caused the already ugly Core Disciple to appear even uglier. Fang Hao approached him cautiously and subserviently bowed and greeted his Senior Apprentice Brother. The ugly looking middle-aged Core Disciple just flicked his sleeve dismissively and said in a surprisingly soothing voice,

“No need to be so polite little fatty. You reached here means you are at the peak of Qi Condensation; just a step from Foundation Establishment. If the heavens will it, you will soon be my peer; a fellow Core Disciple. Just Call me Brother Wu.”

“Then I, Fang Hao will not be polite and request Senior Brother Wu to enlighten me about a few matters.” Fang Hao said in a more informal, but still respectful manner.

“Naturally, naturally. You will need a cultivation manual and Foundation Establishment Pills for a breakthrough. Now the pills are pretty standardized and the ones available to you will cost around 12,000 contribution points. Theoretically one pill should be enough for a breakthrough but I recommend keeping 3 to 4 before an attempt; or at the very least two.”

“Cultivation Manuals for Foundation Establishment are quite varied though. It can cost anywhere from 15,000 contribution points to around 80,000 contribution points. Keep in mind that the most expensive Cultivation manual is not necessarily the most suited manual for a disciple especially if compatibility with spirit roots are lacking. A list of cultivation manuals open for exchange along with their brief description is available for 4000 contribution points. A test for determining the dominant spirit roots is available for 6000 contribution points. So what will it be, little fatty?”

'A test is worth 6000 points eh? Well at least I got a bit more out of the Grand Elder. Four Thousand Contribution Points seems like a rip off for the catalog alone. Oh, well …' mused Fang Hao for a bit before he requested Senior Brother Wu the catalog of cultivation techniques.

Senior Brother Wu asked Fang Hao for his inner disciple token, from which his contribution points was deducted. He then handed him a book which was looked like it made out of palm leaves and instructed Fang Hao to bind it with blood. After Fang Hao did so, the good-natured core disciple reminded Fang Hao.

“Remember little fatty, even if the description of a cultivation technique looks enticing, it might not be the best for you if its incompatible with our spirit roots. If a cultivation method isn't compatible with your spirit roots, it will take too long to cultivate and your peers will leave you behind. Being a bit more powerful against a similar leveled cultivator won't matter much if your cultivation speed causes you to lose decades of your life. Also, only you will be able to read that book; the book will also disintegrate in a month's time.”

Fang Hao tossed the book in his storage pouch, clasped his hands and sincerely thanked the ugly-yet-friendly middle-aged core disciple before leaving the scripture pavilion and waited for a few hours before a transport arrived. While he was waiting, he occasionally saw flashes of gold streak through the air and stop near the foot of the hill before making their way up to the scripture pavilion.

'Looks like Core Disciples are allowed to fly in this region of the sect, other than directly above the scripture pavilion. I bet the blue grass is to blame for this!' thought Fang Hao as he turned his suspicious gaze to the blue grass which covered most of the hill holding the scripture pavilion. Soon his transport arrived which was a giant ladybug with huge creepy compound eyes.