Chapter 135: Chapter 134: Sect Rules, Waiting in Line for Pills

Lu Zhao stepped into the Merit Hall. He took a light sniff, and the tranquil aroma of Spiritual Sandalwood calmed the impatience in his heart.

He stood before the counter and gently placed the Black Token signifying his status as an Outer Sect Steward onto the mirror-like surface.

"Outer Sect Steward Lu Zhao, here to submit Spirit Stones and Merit to get in line for a Foundation Establishment Pill." His voice was steady, betraying no emotion.

The Steward on duty behind the counter was a sharp-featured, middle-aged man at the Qi Cultivation Ninth Layer. He had been looking somewhat nonchalant, but his expression erupted with unconcealable shock, envy, and even a faint trace of jealousy when he heard Lu Zhao’s purpose.

He jerked his head up to look at Lu Zhao, his gaze practically scraping across Lu Zhao’s young face. His lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, it all dissolved into a sigh laden with complex emotions. "Junior Brother... you truly are... capable." His tone held surprise at Lu Zhao’s ability to gather such a huge amount of Spirit Stones and Merit, as well as a hint of resentment. ’Why him?’

Lu Zhao’s eyelids drooped slightly, his expression indifferent, as if the other man’s burning gaze and complicated feelings were nothing more than a light breeze brushing over stone. "Brother, you flatter me. It was just a stroke of luck. Please inform the proper authorities."

The Steward was taken aback by Lu Zhao’s indifference. His expression stiffened for a moment before he quickly suppressed his turbulent emotions and forced a smile. "Junior Brother, please wait a moment. This matter requires Junior Master Han’s personal attention. Please, follow me." He took the Token and turned to lead the way, his steps revealing a subtle, hidden urgency.

After passing through several corridors, they arrived at a more secluded side hall. The hall’s doors were shut tight, carved with complex Array Runes that isolated the inside from the out. The Steward stopped and said to Lu Zhao in a low voice, "Junior Brother Lu, please wait here while I go in to report to Junior Master Han." He took a deep breath, straightened his robes, then carefully pushed open a corner of the door, slipped inside, and gently closed it behind him.

Lu Zhao stood outside the door, his heart as still as water, silently counting the passing time. About a quarter of an hour later, a gentle and serene man’s voice, like the chime of fine Warm Jade, sounded from within the hall. "Come in."

Lu Zhao pushed the door open and entered.

The scene inside the hall was completely different from the austerity of the General Affairs Hall. This was an elegantly appointed Quiet Chamber. Several landscape ink paintings with a sense of profound distance hung on the four walls. In a corner, a bronze crane-shaped censer billowed delicate, fragrant green smoke that mingled with the fresh scent of Spirit Tea.

A thick, snow-white velvet carpet covered the floor. A wide purple sandalwood desk was placed by the window, with ink, brushes, and paper arranged neatly upon it. Beside them sat a pot of "Concentration Orchid" with lush, verdant leaves.

However, when Lu Zhao’s gaze fell upon the person seated behind the desk, even with the tenacity of his will, forged across two lifetimes, he couldn’t help but be slightly taken aback.

It was a young man dressed in a Moon White Daoist Robe, appearing to be no more than twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old. He was in the middle of writing something with a brush and looked up at the sound.

A face—a nearly perfect face.

His brows were like distant mountains touched with ink, slanting up toward his temples with a hint of cool aloofness. His eyes were like stars reflected in a Cold Pool, deep and bright. His nose was straight, his lips the pale color of a freshly bloomed cherry blossom, and the line of his jaw was smooth and elegant.

His skin was so fair it was almost translucent, completely flawless. His ink-black hair was loosely tied up with a simple Cyan Jade Hairpin, a few stray strands falling beside his cheeks, adding a touch of lazy nonchalance to his appearance.

Across his two lifetimes, Lu Zhao had seen countless handsome men and beautiful women, but he had never witnessed such a face. This was not a mortal beauty, but one that carried an otherworldly, ethereal air. His mere presence made the elegant Quiet Chamber seem to dim in comparison.

But Lu Zhao’s daze lasted only for a moment. He immediately lowered his gaze and bowed. "Disciple Lu Zhao pays his respects to Junior Master Han," he said, his voice as steady as ever. ’So this is the Merit Hall’s Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Han Qingyuan,’ he realized.

Han Qingyuan put down his jade pen. His eyes swept over Lu Zhao, his gaze serene yet carrying a power that seemed to see right through people. He paid no mind to Lu Zhao’s momentary lapse and his gentle voice sounded again, "The Spirit Stones and Merit, have you prepared them all?"

"Reporting to Junior Master, they are all prepared," Lu Zhao answered respectfully.

Han Qingyuan nodded slightly. "According to Sect rules, when a disciple submits Spirit Stones and Merit in exchange for a place in line for a Foundation Establishment Pill, there must be at least two Foundation Establishment Cultivators present to bear witness. This is to prevent any errors and to ensure fairness."

"I have already sent a message to Junior Sister Yangg; she will be here shortly." He paused, then added, "Once your submission is complete, your place in the queue will be locked. In the future, only you, in person, can collect the Foundation Establishment Pill with your Identity Token. If your turn comes but for some reason you cannot collect the Pill immediately, you may also have it temporarily stored in the Sect’s Pill Storage and retrieve it when you are able."

Lu Zhao’s heart stirred upon hearing this. ’This storage policy is quite thoughtful. It saves disciples a lot of trouble.’ He immediately bowed again, his tone sincere. "This disciple understands. Thank you for the Sect’s consideration, and thank you, Junior Master Han, for the guidance."

Just as Lu Zhao’s voice fell, the door to the Quiet Chamber was gently pushed open. A woman in a goose-yellow, palace-style long dress walked in. She appeared to be in her twenties, with a beautiful face and a graceful figure. The faint Spiritual Pressure emanating from her revealed that she, too, was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

The moment she entered, her gaze landed directly on Han Qingyuan. The cool expression on her face instantly blossomed into a bright smile, and her voice was as crisp and pleasant as a warbler’s song. "Brother Han, we meet again! After our shift today, how about we go check out that new ’Cloud Robe Pavilion’ in Bixia Marketplace? I heard they just got a new shipment of Celestial Silkworm Silk fabric..."

She walked with a light step directly to the side of the desk, seemingly not noticing Lu Zhao standing below.

Han Qingyuan was clearly accustomed to such situations. His expression remained gentle and serene as he calmly interrupted her, "Junior Sister Yangg, business first. Let’s handle the procedures for Nephew Lu here." He gestured toward Lu Zhao.

Only then did the Female Cultivator Yangg seem to notice Lu Zhao’s existence. Her eyes swept over him casually, tinged with annoyance at being interrupted. However, out of respect for Han Qingyuan, she simply pursed her lips, said no more, and stood to the side.

Han Qingyuan turned his gaze back to Lu Zhao. "Nephew Lu, take out the Spirit Stones and Merit."

"Yes, Junior Master," Lu Zhao replied. "This disciple intends to submit seven thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones and three hundred Merit." He untied the Storage Bag from his waist, took out his Identity Token from his robes, and presented both with two hands.

Han Qingyuan took the Token. A faint Spirit Light flickered at his fingertip as he lightly tapped a specific Rune on the back of the Token. Its surface immediately glowed, displaying the Merit Points stored within.

After confirming there was no mistake, he extended his Divine Sense into the Storage Bag Lu Zhao had offered. The bag’s opening widened slightly, revealing a small mountain of Lower Grade Spirit Stones shimmering with a moist luster. Han Qingyuan’s Divine Sense swept over them, confirming the quantity was exact.

"The amount is correct," Han Qingyuan nodded. He picked up a "Sealing Spirit Box" about a foot square, carved entirely from some kind of Warm and Smooth White Jade and covered in restrictive Runes. He formed a hand seal for a Technique, and the box’s lid slid open silently. A suction force emerged, pulling all seven thousand Spirit Stones from the Storage Bag into the box.

He then closed the lid. The Runes on the box’s body lit up in sequence, finally coalescing into a complex sealing mark that completely isolated the aura of the Spirit Stones.

Having done all this, Han Qingyuan placed the Sealing Spirit Box on the desk and said to Lu Zhao, "Based on the amount of Spirit Stones and Merit you’ve submitted, combined with the situation in previous years and the current queue, it is estimated that you will have to wait about seven to eight years for your turn for a Foundation Establishment Pill."

"However, this is just a standard estimate. The actual time may be affected by factors such as the number of Pills refined that year and the exchange situation with other disciples, so it might be slightly earlier or later. But," he added in a firm tone, "you will definitely get the Foundation Establishment Pill in five years at the earliest, and ten years at the latest."

His gaze swept over Lu Zhao, then to the Female Cultivator Yangg and the Steward who had brought Lu Zhao in. His voice, though gentle, carried an unquestionable authority. "It is an ironclad rule of the Sect. All who know today that Nephew Lu has come to queue for a Foundation Establishment Pill must make a Heart Demon Oath not to leak this information in any form. Violators will suffer a backlash from their Heart Demon."

As his voice fell, Han Qingyuan was the first to raise his right hand. He condensed a drop of Essence Blood on his fingertip, pressed it to the center of his brow, and declared in a solemn voice, "I, Han Qingyuan, swear on my Heart Demon that I will never reveal the matter of Lu Zhao queuing for a Foundation Establishment Pill to any uninvolved person. If I break this vow, may my Heart Demon devour my Soul and my Cultivation be destroyed!"

Following his oath, an invisible fluctuation of Dao Rhyme flowed through the Quiet Chamber.

Immediately after, although the Female Cultivator Yangg was somewhat reluctant, she followed suit and made the same Heart Demon Oath. The Steward who had led the way was even more solemn, not daring to show the slightest hesitation as he also gravely made the vow.

The power of the three oaths intertwined and eventually settled, but the binding force was now deeply branded upon the Spiritual Souls of the three individuals.

"It is done." Han Qingyuan handed Lu Zhao’s Identity Token back to him. "Your place in the queue has been recorded, and an induction mark has been placed within the Token. You need only wait for the good news."

"Thank you, Junior Master Han. Thank you, Junior Master Yangg. And I’ve troubled you, Brother." Lu Zhao accepted the Token, bowed again, and then quietly exited the elegant Quiet Chamber.

Leaving the Merit Hall, Lu Zhao walked down the path, clutching his Token, his feelings exceptionally complex.

The Spirit Stones he had accumulated in his Storage Bag over many years were cleared out in a single day, leaving him with just over a thousand. Although he knew it was necessary, he still felt an emptiness inside, a sense of melancholy loss.

However, the importance the Sect placed on the Foundation Establishment Pill and the strictness of the exchange process helped him relax slightly.

This exchange for the Foundation Establishment Pill also showed that while the Sect’s rules were cold, they still took care of the disciples. Everything from Junior Master Han’s gentle guidance to the mandatory restraint of the Heart Demon Oath was a testament to this.

Moreover, this order also had a human touch, clearly favoring Qi Cultivation Disciples. This made him feel emotional and instilled in him a slightly stronger sense of belonging to the Bixia Sect.

Finally, the five-to-ten-year waiting period was like a narrow gate to the future. Beyond it lay the infinite possibilities of the great path of Foundation Establishment. It caused a ripple, one he might call ’anticipation,’ to spread across the silent surface of his Heart Lake.

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