As soon as the Pavilion Master finished speaking, the crowd began to murmur.

  “You will reside in the dormitory quarters. It had been closed due to certain circumstances, but it has been refurbished for this occasion. Rooms will be assigned by lottery.”

  A lottery box materialized in midair.

  We began drawing lots according to the order of our entry.

  Naturally, I was last.

  This method was unfamiliar, leaving me slightly flustered.

  But without background interference, it might actually be better.

  It was left purely to luck.

  There were three hundred rooms in total.

  With a trembling heart, I lifted the final lot.

  Number 150.

  Exactly the middle.

  Those who had drawn their numbers rushed off in a swarm.

  “Shall we go as well?”

  Senior Brother Yang Dongwu suggested.

  ***

  The dormitory stood not far from the Spiritual Agriculture Pavilion.

  “I had no idea there was a dormitory here.”

  “Nor did I. So this was the dormitory.”

  It was a two-story hall lined with rooms.

  Each door bore a number.

  I entered my assigned room and inspected the interior.

  On one wall were written the dormitory regulations.

  I read them carefully, line by line.

  It was my first time living in a dormitory—half nervousness, half anticipation.

  The room resembled the former duty chamber, split in half.

  The common area was gone, leaving only a cultivation room and a bedroom.

  Though somewhat narrow, satisfaction was far higher.

  The greatest advantage was having it to myself.

  Security was quite strict.

  Each room had a spiritual energy detection formation installed.

  If anyone entered, an alarm would sound.

  To enter another’s room required the owner to be present.

  That meant I need not worry about anyone intruding while I was inside the Subspace Ring.

  That pleased me the most.

  After checking all security measures, I installed additional Formation Plates from my previous residence.

  Only with double and triple safeguards could I feel at ease.

  As I unpacked, a faint chirping sound came from outside.

  With my divine sense, I detected a Message Transmission slip sent by Senior Brother Yang Dongwu.

  Granting it entry, it glowed and appeared before me.

  [If you are done settling in, come out. Let us dine together and discuss what lies ahead.]

  Concise and welcome.

  I checked the room once more.

  Everything was arranged for swift escape if necessary.

  Then I headed to the dining hall with my seniors.

  The hall lay across from the dormitory quarters—conveniently close.

  “We may choose either one meal per day or one Bigu Pill,” Senior Brother Yang Dongwu said.

  With more people, meals had been reduced.

  Still, providing a Bigu Pill meant we would not starve.

  Dinner consisted of grilled demon beast meat and stir-fried vegetables.

  Simple, yet decent.

  After eating, we drank tea.

  “I was assigned Room 78. Truly the worst.”

  Senior Brother Yang Dongwu grumbled.

  “Oh? Are there good and bad rooms?”

  My ears perked.

  Was my room good or bad?

  He sighed.

  “Of course. Middle rooms are the worst. Surrounded on all sides, spiritual energy gathers less, and even with formations, loss is inevitable.”

  Senior Brother Ling Xuan sighed as well.

  “I am similar. The second floor is slightly better than the first, but I have Room 280.”

  Both looked at me with envy.

  The best spots, they said, were Room 1 and the corner rooms.

  With open sides, they were larger and allowed freer circulation of heaven and earth spiritual energy.

  Only one neighboring room meant fewer disturbances.

  Though soundproof formations existed, merely knowing someone was beside you was unpleasant.

  Indeed.

  For someone with many secrets like me, even more so.

  With my shoulders practically swelling with pride, I returned to my room.

  Though there was no major news today, I intended to dine with them daily to maintain camaraderie.

  I had come here not for cultivation alone, but for spiritual herbs, cultivation methods, and Dao Arts.

  Before war erupted, I needed to secure resources.

  Whether that would be possible worried me.

  Missions would resume tomorrow.

  I had to move swiftly.

  After entering my room, I followed my usual departure routine.

  My analog security measures were still in use.

  They had proven effective during the Qingluo Exchange Gathering.

  After confirming security, I entered the cultivation chamber, closed the door, and sat cross-legged.

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  I hung the “In Cultivation” plaque outside.

  With it in place, any Message Transmission slips would return to sender.

  The dormitory guidelines were quite practical.

  If anything occurred, a general alarm would sound anyway.

  I liked not having to remain as tense as before.

  Still, caution was always necessary.

  Just as I prepared to cultivate before entering the Subspace Ring, a system notification sounded.

  [The Flowing Residue Formation Plate developed by the user has received great acclaim.

  Reputation has increased.

  Increased reputation converted into experience points.

  Level increased.

  ...Current achievements impose a limit on further level increases.

  As compensation, a previously locked function has been unlocked.]

  Reputation?

  My heart stirred.

  I had reached the highest level attainable at Qi Refinement Stage 9.

  Unable to level further, it granted a reward instead.

  What function had been unlocked?

  Curious, I immediately entered the Subspace Ring.

  It was more convenient to converse with the system there.

  Baixuan, tending the spiritual herb field, approached.

  I raised a hand to stop him.

  The system came first.

  “What function has been unlocked?”

  [Calculating reward based on experience. Approximately thirty minutes required.]

  Tsk. That should have been mentioned earlier.

  Baixuan must have felt awkward.

  Shaking my head, I looked at him.

  The gloom between his brows had lightened considerably.

  Likely due to the two corpses lying on the grass.

  “My apologies. I had something to consider. I am fine now.”

  “Please, Benefactor, do not apologize. You have freed me from the Ghost Dao and even avenged my grievance. I can never repay such kindness. Please accept my bow.”

  He prostrated himself.

  Ahem, I had not done it for this, but it felt good nonetheless.

  Though I had heard the story before, many questions remained.

  “You said you and that man were like brothers?”

  Baixuan’s handsome face darkened.

  “Yes. Coveting the modified formula of the Juandan I created by accident, he killed me and led my entire clan to annihilation.”

  By accident?

  Like intending to create a heart medicine and ending up with something akin to… a certain blue pill?

  “You mentioned he was an illegitimate child forced upon your clan?”

  “Yes. Nearly forced. We did our best. Once grown, we arranged for him to work at the pill workshop, but he refused. He wished to enter the Heavenly Palace as an inner disciple.”

  Ambition far exceeding ability.

  “He possessed a Four Spiritual Root aptitude. How could he harbor such dreams?”

  Baixuan replied immediately.

  “Our clan possessed a Direct Command Token. It was bestowed by the Heavenly Palace in exchange for a pill formula. They promised to accept one descendant as a disciple in the future. But lacking suitable talent, we merely kept it.”

  He spoke without hesitation, though it was a family secret.

  My suspicion deepened.

  What did that have to do with that scoundrel?

  Had he been planted for that token?

  Baixuan sighed.

  “He believed that, as the illegitimate son of a Heavenly Palace Pavilion Master, our clan ought to surrender it to him. From there, resentment was born.”

  Madman.

  If he wished to enter the Heavenly Palace, he should have clung to his father’s robes.

  Why direct his arrows elsewhere?

  “My grandfather even secured him a house on Central Street.”

  “…The very house where I lived?”

  Baixuan nodded.

  “Yes. He paid no rent, yet complained we did not purchase it under his name.”

  Indeed, villains operated on entirely different logic.

  Forced into another’s household, coveting the Direct Command Token, and demanding property besides.

  The trifecta of madness.

  “He lured me to that house, killed me, then sought his father. His father coveted our wealth and exterminated my clan.”

  Flames seemed to flicker in Baixuan’s eyes as he stared at the corpse.

  “Even those at the pill workshop were not spared. They framed them as Demonic spies so no bodies could be claimed. After becoming a ghost, I tried to locate my family’s remains, but I could not leave the place of death.”

  Under such grievance, forsaking reincarnation to become a ghost was understandable.

  In a city brimming with spiritual energy, a lone ghost could scarcely move.

  “After my family perished, the house was confiscated by Qingliu City.”

  Ah. So that was how it came into my hands.

  Baixuan looked despondent.

  “Even now, there is no way to retrieve my family’s bodies. All else is resolved—only that remains.”

  I smiled faintly.

  “That has already been resolved. I questioned him. When time permits, I shall recover them.”

  Baixuan’s face lit up.

  “Truly, Benefactor? Thank you!”

  After smiling at him, I turned to business.

  I began searching the corpse more thoroughly.

  I had inspected the storage pouch before, but not the entire body.

  I had rushed then, fearing awakening.

  Now, I examined calmly.

  Stripped the clothing.

  Scanned with divine sense and spiritual power.

  Front, back, sides—

  Indecent perhaps, but necessary.

  Yet nothing was detected.

  Tsk. Poor wretch.

  A Foundation Establishment cultivator and Demonic spy—my expectations had been high.

  At least he should have carried the Direct Command Token.

  Had he already offered it to the Demonic side?

  If so, another spy would infiltrate the Heavenly Palace.

  A sigh escaped me.

  Resigned, I turned to the son’s storage pouch when something caught my eye.

  The jade ring set aside seemed unusual.

  Why would a man wear such a large jade ring?

  Could it be—?

  I picked it up and examined it again.

  Yet divine sense and spiritual power revealed nothing.

  Perhaps I had imagined it.

  Then the system notification sounded.

  [Reward calculation complete.

  Choose one of two functions.

  First: Instantly identify the name and effects of any spiritual herb encountered.

  Second: Forcefully open any storage pouch or storage ring regardless of realm.

  Which do you choose?]

  My hands trembled.

  Both were extraordinary.

  I asked cautiously,

  “If I accumulate experience again at the level cap, will similar choices appear?”

  […Yes.]

  Then there was no reason to hesitate.

  Spiritual herbs I could handle were currently limited.

  But forced opening—

  I chose the second function.

  With it, I would not suffer as before.

  Interrogating a cultivator of higher realm while keeping him alive—never again.

  Thankfully he had only been Foundation Establishment.

  Higher, and I dared not imagine.

  [Second function unlocked.

  Force open current storage ring? Cost: 30 points.]

  My eyes widened.

  It truly was a storage ring?

  Had my realm been too low to perceive it?

  I nodded at once.

  Of course I would open it!

  [Opening storage ring.]

  Spiritual energy, previously undetectable, now faintly radiated.

  Focusing my mind, I sensed the contents.

  With pounding heart, I checked.

  A jade token emitting clear light caught my eye.

  When I retrieved it, Baixuan cried out.

  “That is the Direct Command Token! So it was there. I have no need for it—please, Benefactor, use it. Allow me to repay even a fraction of your kindness.”

  I accepted without hesitation.

  Ahem. A fair reward.

  With it, changing identities would be far easier.

  My mood soared.

  No spirit stones remained—likely expended in our battle.

  But the next item erased all disappointment.

  A black-glimmering bracelet.

  Hands trembling, I examined it.

  At a glance, I knew.

  A Dharma Treasure.

  Closing my eyes, I infused spiritual power.

  Even discerning its function drained me rapidly.

  Gravity manipulation?

  Though low-grade among Dharma Treasures, it was still one.

  Worth thousands of mid-grade spirit stones.

  To think the 18th Pavilion Master had never used it before dying.

  Within my formations, even sustaining mid-grade spirit stones had been impossible for him.

  Had he gone all-out from the start, he might not have fallen so pitifully.

  Thus one must always fight with full strength.

  I reaffirmed my creed.

  Safety first. Never complacent.

  Regrettably, that was all within the ring.

  Greed beyond that would be excessive.

  Baixuan then asked tensely,

  “Benefactor, was there perhaps a jade slip containing our pill formula?”

  “A jade slip? I saw none.”

  Disappointment was evident on his face.

  “Is it a family inheritance?”

  “Yes… It bore a forbidden formation—neither copyable nor readable. He must have already submitted it to his superiors.”

  What a pity.

  To have earned a Direct Command Token from the Heavenly Palace, theirs had been a notable Alchemy clan.

  Suppressing regret, I searched the son’s storage pouch.

  Then I froze.

  “This bastard… he was bolder than I thought.”

  Within the pouch lay a jade slip—

  And a Foundation Establishment Pill.