"What? Removing a name from the Red Gold Jade Register costs seven hundred Spirit Stones?"

In the Human Resources Hall, Gu Yuan put down the Spirit Tea in his hand, looking at Qiu Mingshan in shock.

Seven hundred Spirit Stones are enough to buy a Top-Grade Dharma Artifact and an additional High-Grade Dharma Artifact.

An ordinary Qi Refining Ninth Layer cultivator, without any additional sources of income, might not be able to produce that many Spirit Stones all at once.

This price is too expensive.

"Junior Brother Gu, this is the Red Gold Jade Register, the ’military register’ of the Daoist School’s expedition. Once a name is on it, you must participate in three battles before the name can be removed."

"Even a disciple from a Noble Family cannot act on a whim. This is a strict Daoist Academy Decree. It’s already remarkable that I can find a way to help you remove your name."

Qiu Mingshan took a sip of Spirit Tea, saying helplessly.

"Isn’t there another method?"

Gu Yuan asked further.

"No, the only way is like before, you must render a meritorious service to the Daoist School and gain special privileges to remove the name. But this is more complicated than last time, and the academy is very strict. Without seven hundred Spirit Stones, it cannot be done."

Qiu Mingshan shook his head.

Upon hearing this, Gu Yuan couldn’t help but sigh.

He currently has more than a thousand Spirit Stones, enough resources to cultivate to the Qi Refining Eighth Layer. There is no need to participate in this enlistment; he can just cultivate peacefully in the Daoist School.

After all, once enlisted, there is always some risk.

He’s no longer the impoverished, new disciple of a small sect, so there’s no need to take risks in everything.

The Old Ape was worried about exactly this point, which is why he anxiously asked Gu Yuan in the cave.

At that time, to ease the Old Ape’s worry, Gu Yuan had spoken very casually, but in his heart, he wasn’t completely assured. Hence, he came to ask Qiu Mingshan.

However, Qiu Mingshan’s answer left him with mixed feelings.

The good news is that it’s possible to remove the name, but the bad news is that the cost is exorbitant.

Even after receiving half of a Spirit Stone Ore Vein, Gu Yuan only has fifteen hundred Spirit Stones. Excluding the expenses for cultivating the Heaven-Revealing Spirit Eye and Peach Blossom Sword Seal, he only has thirteen hundred Spirit Stones left.

If he removes the name and spends seven hundred Spirit Stones, he’ll be left with only six hundred Spirit Stones. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

This amount is a bit tight if he wants to cultivate to the Qi Refining Eighth Layer without worry. He might have to venture out to seek opportunities.

Such being the case, it might be even more troublesome.

At this thought, Gu Yuan could only let out a long sigh: "It seems I have to embark on this journey."

He was unwilling to enlist, not out of fear, but simply not wanting his life to be disrupted.

When cultivating the Peach Blossom Sword Seal, he had already prepared for both possibilities.

"Does Junior Brother not want to enlist, perhaps due to some unspeakable difficulties?"

"As far as I know, this enlistment is quite significant; Junior Brother would do well to participate."

Qiu Mingshan put down his Spirit Tea and suddenly said.

"There are no unspeakable difficulties; it’s just that under the protection of the Ascendant, I’ve acquired some resources and want some peace and stability."

Gu Yuan’s relationship with Qiu Mingshan was rather subtle, so he did not hide his wealth, instead showing a small ’shock’ to maintain his persona.

As expected, upon hearing Gu Yuan’s words, Qiu Mingshan displayed an envious expression.

Taking advantage of the moment, Gu Yuan also asked, "Senior Brother mentioned that this enlistment is markedly different. Is there something clandestine about it?"

Qiu Mingshan sighed and responded, "Isn’t it because of the matter of the Ten Great Daoists?"

"Ten Great Daoists?"

Gu Yuan learned about this period in the Scripture Pavilion, but wasn’t clear about the details, so he listened closely.

"That’s right, the Ten Great Daoists, also known as the Ten Great True Inheritance. Every so often, the Daoist School would initiate the Ten Great True Inheritance competition, accelerating the internal competition to select exceptionally talented and decisive disciples, to continue enhancing the school’s prestige."

"After all, only with a rushing current can one raise a Flood Dragon and fierce beast."

"The competition for the Ten Great True Inheritance is extremely fierce, but the benefits are equally astonishing."

"Just upon the Spirit Meridian alone, there are special privileges. One can be allocated a Tier Three Spirit Island for solitary cultivation."

"More than that, everything produced on the Spirit Island belongs to the True Inheritance disciple."

"If managed well, just relying on this island, one can accumulate the resources needed to break through to Golden Core."

Qiu Mingshan’s gaze was full of longing.

A Tier Three Spirit Island, that’s an island capable of supporting Golden Core cultivation. Living as a Qi Refining cultivator on it, isn’t it like a Celestial Palace?

The number of precious rare beasts, spirit flowers, and exotic herbs this kind of Spirit Island could nurture is unimaginable, not to mention the income of Spirit Stones.

Gu Yuan was also amazed.

He knew the Daoist School was ever-wealthy, but such generosity was indeed astounding.

Having ten Tier Three Spirit Islands available, the foundation is exceptionally grand.

"Haha, Junior Brother, don’t aim too high. Break through to Foundation Establishment first!"

"Without Foundation Establishment, you don’t even qualify to compete for the True Inheritance."

"As for this enlistment’s importance, it merely shares similarities with the rewards of the Ten Great True Inheritance and seems to have some hidden implications."

Seeing Gu Yuan’s shocked expression, Qiu Mingshan couldn’t help but laugh.

"Could there also be a Spirit Island reward?"

Gu Yuan asked excitedly.

But before coming to the Human Resources Hall, he had already visited the Hidden Flood Dragon Institute, and it seemed that they hadn’t mentioned such a reward.

"No, no, not even with the deep foundation of the Daoist School could they award Spirit Islands during the Qi Refining Stage."

"But it’s not far off. Junior Brother should know the destination of this enlistment task, right?"

Qiu Mingshan shook his head with a laugh.

"According to what the Hidden Flood Dragon Institute said, this enlistment is to head to Wave Mountain, south of the Red Moon River, to eliminate the Demon Race and reclaim the Spirit Mountain."

"All spoils during the expedition belong to the Daoist School’s disciples."

Gu Yuan replied.

"Exactly. All spoils belong to the Daoist School’s disciples."

"But this is only the apparent reward. This enlistment also has additional benefits, likely to be disclosed by Junior Martial Uncle Zhou upon departure, though Noble Families are mostly aware and I am informing Junior Brother ahead."

"Wave Mountain is precipitous and steep, with one hundred and eight peaks, each inhabited by various large and small Demon Races."

"These Demon Races are mere vassals of the Jade Water Fire-Eyed Ape clan, not excessively powerful, only having nascent spiritual wisdom."

"But Wave Mountain is truly a Tier One High-grade Spirit Mountain, rich with a wide variety of spirit flowers and exotic herbs."

"The Daoist School decrees that whoever claims a peak and subdues the demon beast shall own the rights to that peak’s output, with all its produce belonging to themselves, lasting until after Foundation Establishment."

"These mountain tops, albeit not vast, are absolutely bountiful, the key advantage being their endurance to support Qi Refining Stage cultivation."

"Such rewards mirror those of the True Inheritance, don’t they?"

"As long as you have the means, you can directly claim a peak and possess resources others can hardly match."

"Though Spirit Stones are good, they don’t bring the satisfaction of Spiritual Lands. The Daoist School’s greatest foundation lies in its abundant, enduring Spirit Meridians and mineral mountains, since only these immovable assets can sustain countless disciples."

"The Daoist School targeting the Jade Water Fire-Eyed Ape clan is just for these Spirit Mountain ore veins, isn’t it?"

"Just this one Wave Mountain can nurture one hundred and eight elite disciples, so why not?"