“And above all, watch with vigilant eyes everything around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places.”

Inside the Treasury Hall, Qai inquired about books that list varieties of herbs and their uses.

“We don't keep such records here. This is the Treasury Hall, not the archives. Try the pill alchemy hall in the West mountain. But I doubt you will be able to enter its peak. You should understand that we have rules in the sect.”

“I understand, senior.”

Apparently, when Qai went to the first floor of the Treasury Hall, he already knew what cultivation manual to pick—something related to the use of daggers.

Surprisingly, he found plenty.

But time was limited so he had to choose rashly. Eventually, he simply based his choice on instinct—and, of course, on the cover inscription of the manual.

‘Sky Piercing Dagger.’

With the short amount of time, he really had to rely on the manual’s names.

Even if Old Bu once told him not to by awed by the cultivation names, there was nothing he could do—he still found this world’s naming sense out of ordinary.

And it was only after he made his choice that Qai asked the Treasury Hall official about some books related to herbs.

“Let this senior give you some advice. Unless you have someone you know among the inner disciples, don't ever enter the West mountain. So if I were you, try your luck in the Maple City down south to just purchase what you're looking for.”

“Thank you for the pointers, senior. I’ll keep that in mind.”

According to the sect rules, an outer disciple was mandatorily required to surrender a portion of his or her produce every year. But that didn't prohibit one to sell herbs, grains or whatever, anytime in exchange for Contribution Points.

In return, Contribution Points could be used to purchase different privileges available in the sect, like borrowing another manual, entry to the cultivation pagoda, purchasing a new treasure personally refined by sect elders, and many others.

Of course, Qai could also use them, if he had any, to enter the said Pill Alchemy archives. But the sect official didn't bother to tell him about it believing that Qai—as a new outer disciple—wouldn’t have any Contribution Points.

‘I guess I’ll have to delay that book for now.’

Qai had plenty of other things to do lined up for him.

He had those 3 Jade slips to study apart from the manual. And of course, he also needed to know how to refine treasures. For some reason, he couldn't ask Shu Liang about it—nor he had the guts to ask the Treasury Hall official of any records about it.

His reason told him that such knowledge was pretty basic and asking for it would make him appear even more stupid. And the worse possible outcome from it would be that he become the object of bullying once other disciples heard of it.

‘There's also official Fatty Liu, I can bribe him with few beast cores. But I can't trust that he wouldn't reveal it to anyone.’

Qai shook his head and recalled the words of the inner disciples how it really was a struggle in the sect as outer disciples.

Even the resources distribution of 1 Qi Condensation Pill, 1 Spirit Pill, and 3 Spirit Stones only happened every quarter. It was already good fortune that Qai received his share of Spirit Stones from Shu Liang.

‘It would be a waste to use it early, but perhaps it's about time to collect Elder Li’s favor.’

And so before he went back to his valley, Qai decided to proceed to the North mountains.

To go there, however, the shortest route should have been to cross the Ancestral Peak. But since it was a restricted area, he would have to pass through the foot of West mountain before he could reach the North Peak.

Once again, from below the foot of West mountain, he could see in the sky Foundation Establishment disciples in streaks of light.

At any right, they never bothered to pay Qai any attention. In their eyes, Qai was a mere ant destined to be stepped upon.

Literally, from their view atop their flying swords, Qai’s image would really look like a walking bug.

Meanwhile, Qai’s feeling never got tired from amazement just by looking at the individuals flying in the sky.

He was originally born in a different world so it was unordinary for him to see people capable of flying—and they were not just one or two but thousands. And the most mesmerizing about it was that it was an achievement possible to anyone as long as he had the aptitude and talent for cultivation.

It took Qai literally a while before he arrived at the gates of the North Mountain. Once there, a masked cultivator in the great circle of Foundation Establishment stage suddenly appeared right before him and stopped his steps.

“Junior, this is the North mountain. What business do you have here?”

Qai was surprised at the other’s sudden appearance.

He inquisitively looked at the masked cultivator and from the guidance which he received before, he instantly made a vague guess that the cultivator was either a core disciple or a hidden elite guard.

And from the way the cultivator masked himself, he more likely belonged to the second group.

“Se.. senior!”

Qai cupped his hands in salute as he stammered.

“I dropped by to see Elder Li as I have a personal matter to address to him.”

The masked cultivator simply nodded but didn’t immediately allow Qai to enter. Instead, he pulled a Jade slip then placed it before his glabella. He seemed to murmur some words then after he was done, he threw the Jade slip in the air.

After a time it took to burn a stick of an incense, another Jade slip came streaking towards their direction.

The masked cultivator, did the same thing by placing it right before his glabella—Spiritual Sense fluctuating—then turned to face Qai.

Qai remembered this action since Old Bu did the same when the latter taught him his main cultivation technique. Then, he was enlightened of what to do with his the 3 Jade slips back in his stone house.

‘I guess that’s the easiest way to read the content of a Jade slip.’

“This way.”

Qai nodded in gratitude and silently followed. He didn’t make a single mistake in order not to offend the masked cultivator.

Before he knew it, the two of them appeared before a misty covered area. And when it cleared, a scenic view bared Qai’s vision then the masked cultivator disappeared.

“Hahaha, Little Qai. I guess I know what you’re here for. Come, come. I don’t intend to renege on my promise. What can I do for you?”

Qai didn’t waste the elder’s time and immediately humbly told his purpose.

“Esteemed elder, you must have recalled that Old Bu awarded one of his flying swords with me. I understand that I need Spiritual Sense to use it, but I value knowledge more than anything else. And I’m already researching how to erase another’s marks and refine treasures this early.”

“Hahaha, I knew you’re a smart individual. This is such a trifling matter. Are you sure you want to use the favor I owe you on this?”

Qai was a bit surprised but he had already considered it beforehand so he decisively nodded in response.

“Good! I’ll tell you how it is done but after this, you can only rely on yourself to survive in the sect.”

The elder then informed him the several methods to refine a treasure.

He also explained in general that high-level cultivators can even put several restrictions on treasures in order to fully lock them to themselves—some could even put a spiritual link on them. But of course, teaching such a method was too early for Qai to learn.

“Branding is a common thing. Every cultivator should have a method or two. But by continuously pouring in one’s Spiritual Sense to put a brand in a treasure, another’s marking can be simultaneously erased. It’s just like overpowering one’s brand with another.”

‘So that’s how it is.’