"Excuse me, sir, how do we earn contributions?"
"You can exchange herbs for them, or hunt demonic beasts. The city has a special mission board where tasks are posted, and you'll earn corresponding contribution points upon completion."
Fan Ting picked up his token. "The tokens in your hands are symbols of your identity. The wooden tokens you hold have ten contribution points. Your food, clothing, shelter, and transportation all require contribution points. When your contributions reach zero, you cannot survive in Wuji City and must return to the Land of Nothingness!"
The crowd gasped. They had gone to great lengths to enter Wuji City, and to be driven out in just a couple of days? Wouldn't all the hardships they endured be in vain?
"Thank you, sir," Xiao Man said with a smile. "Su Dan Fiction Network."
Fan Ting watched the group's retreating backs. He beckoned, and a guard appeared beside him. "Follow them and see where they're going, especially the young leader."
"Yes, sir."
Fan Ting turned back, his gaze fixed on the Dragon Spirit Bamboo in the ice box. A peculiar gleam flickered in his eyes. Those who could obtain the Dragon Spirit Bamboo must not only possess considerable skill but also be intimately familiar with poisons. That young man named Xiao Qin seemed to be adept at using poisons and was cunning. Such a person, if they could be won over, would be a great asset.
What also intrigued him was his desire to know who exactly had obtained the Dragon Spirit Bamboo and how. After all, even he couldn't guarantee a safe return from Yangming Valley.
"Sir, what is it?"
"Put the things away and return to the City Lord's Mansion," Fan Ting said slowly. "The City Lord should be quite pleased to get ten stalks of Dragon Spirit Bamboo at once."
"Yes, sir."
Xiao Man stopped after walking a considerable distance. "From now on, we need to split up."
"Sect Leader, why should we split up?"
"Because a large group is a bigger target," Xiao Man said softly, scanning the distance. "Although we've successfully entered Wuji City, it's not without its conflicts. Travel in groups of a few, try not to be alone, and do your best to gather more information."
"Sect Leader, will anyone in Wuji City be hostile towards us?" Li Kun inquired. They had always thought of Wuji City as paradise. After entering, it was indeed different from the Land of Nothingness. It was prosperous and peaceful, the air was fresh, and every pore felt comfortable. He even felt as if he had arrived in paradise.
"If my guess is correct, the people here harbor prejudices against those from the Land of Nothingness. You must act with caution, try not to get into conflicts, and protect your contribution points. Don't cause trouble, but don't be afraid of trouble either. And most importantly, avoid direct confrontation."
Poisonous Lady's eyes lit up as she instantly understood Xiao Man's meaning: avoid direct confrontation, but striking from behind was an option!
"Sect Leader, I want to follow you!" Shan Yun said without hesitation.
"No," Xiao Man refused. "The people from the City Lord's Mansion are likely watching me, and staying by my side is very dangerous. My skills are only enough for self-preservation. Moreover, you might be safer if I'm not around you."
"Sect Leader, are you abandoning us?"
"It's not abandoning, but a temporary separation to gather information. To survive here, you must first understand the rules. Having just entered Wuji City with no prior knowledge, we are easily trapped by others. In Wuji City, you can only trust your companions by your side."
"Sect Leader, we can't attract attention, nor can we be alone. Traveling in pairs is the best combination."
"Yes, that's true. Shan Yun, you go with Poisonous Lady. Xi Wen, Zhou Yan, each take one person. Qi Hong and Li Kun form a pair. Xiang Jian, you'll come with me. Disperse."
"Yes, Sect Leader."
"Sect Leader, someone is following us," Xiang Jian whispered, his peripheral vision catching a glimpse of someone behind them.
"I know," Xiao Man said lazily. "Now that we're in Wuji City, I'm no longer the Sect Leader. You can call me Xiao Qin."
Xiang Jian smiled. "Alright, you're the master, you call the shots."
"If my guess is correct, someone will attack us tonight," a deep, shadowy glint appeared in Xiao Man's eyes. They didn't understand Wuji City yet. She wasn't wandering aimlessly with Xiang Jian; she was familiarizing herself with the city's layout.
"Wuji City is neither too large nor too small. The seven major sects select disciples from Wuji City. Those who perform exceptionally well are sent to the seven major sects by the City Lord of Wuji City in exchange for corresponding benefits," Xiang Jian explained to Xiao Man in a low voice.
"Do you belong to one of the seven major sects?"
A flicker of pain crossed Xiang Jian's face. "Can I not say?"
"If you don't want to say, then don't. Tell me about the seven major sects," Xiao Man changed the subject.
"The seven major sects are the Azure Wolf Sect, the Immortal Crane Sect, the Spirit Snake Sect, the Blazing Sun Sect, the Five Poisons Sect, the Thousand Mechanisms Sect, and the Hundred Herbs Hall," Xiang Jian's voice was devoid of any fluctuation. "Among the seven major sects, the Azure Wolf Sect focuses on strength, the Immortal Crane Sect on speed, the Spirit Snake Sect on swordsmanship, the Blazing Sun Sect on talismans and formations, the Five Poisons Sect on poison techniques, the Thousand Mechanisms Sect on weaponry, and the Hundred Herbs Hall on alchemy. For you, apart from the Azure Wolf Sect, the others are quite suitable."
"What are your plans next?" Xiao Man inquired.
Xiang Jian held his sword and said, "I am your subordinate, so naturally, I will follow you. Besides, you haven't learned to guide qi into your body yet, nor do you know how to cultivate. I must teach you the method of guiding qi into your body. After guiding qi into your body, you need to learn a suitable cultivation technique. Once you reach the Foundation Establishment stage, you can practice martial skills. A good martial skill can even allow you to challenge opponents of higher levels."
"How do I guide qi into my body?" Xiao Man asked. After entering Wuji City, she always felt a warmth pervading her body, a sensation she had never experienced before, as if something in the air was desperately trying to enter her.
"You should have already sensed it. After entering Wuji City, didn't you feel your body become much lighter, as if every pore was breathing? Spiritual energy is actively drilling into your body, but without the ability to refine qi, possessing abundant spiritual energy is useless. What you need now is to find a quiet place, guide qi into your body, and transform spiritual energy into true qi."
"What's the use of transforming spiritual energy into true qi?"
"If you can successfully transform spiritual energy into true qi for cultivation, you will have entered the Qi Refining stage, stepping onto the threshold of cultivation and becoming an initial-level cultivator," Xiang Jian looked at Xiao Man. "I see you have good talent and will likely be able to learn my cultivation technique. Ordinary people who cannot guide qi into their bodies will remain ordinary their entire lives. Only by successfully guiding qi into your body and entering the Qi Refining stage can you touch the threshold of cultivation."