"First place, Yun Qianyue. Disciple benefit: 30 Contribution Points. Ranking bonus: 300 Contribution Points. Total: 330 Contribution Points."

"Second place, Li Feng. Disciple benefit: 30 Contribution Points. Ranking bonus: 250 Contribution Points. Total: 280 Contribution Points."

...

"Tenth place, Gao Yuan. Disciple benefit: 30 Contribution Points. Ranking bonus: 50 Contribution Points. Total: 80 Contribution Points."

Presumably to encourage competition among the disciples, the Steward distributing the Contribution Points announced the amounts awarded to the top ten.

Upon hearing the number of Contribution Points the top ten received, nearly everyone turned green with envy.

"First place actually gets 330 Contribution Points?!"

When Fang Han saw the number of Contribution Points first place received, he practically started drooling.

One Contribution Point could be exchanged for a Peiyuan Pill, which was worth twenty taels of silver. By that calculation, 330 Contribution Points were worth a grand total of 6,600 taels of silver.

’If I could achieve a rank like that, it would only take two months for my Owned Wealth to surpass ten thousand taels of silver. Then I could unlock the Level 4 Amplification for one of my Talents.’

He was now truly witnessing the immense wealth of the Qingxuan Sect. 𝒻𝓇𝑒𝘦𝘸𝑒𝒷𝓃ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝒸ℴ𝘮

Unfortunately, his current rank was a mere sixty-ninth. He was only at the Early Stage of Ninth Grade, and there were many disciples above him at the Middle Stage or even the Late Stage of Ninth Grade.

Forget about raising his rank to first place; even breaking into the top ten was not something he could accomplish in a short time.

For the time being, he couldn’t hope to gain Contribution Points through his rank.

After that, the Steward didn’t announce the amounts, since everyone else received the same thirty Contribution Points.

Soon, it was Fang Han’s turn.

He stepped forward and presented his Identity Jade Token. A Steward took it and placed the Jade Token on a device that resembled an inkstone. The device flashed with a faint light, and the Steward said:

"Thirty Contribution Points recorded."

The Steward then added,

"If you wish to switch to a Middle Grade Cultivation Technique, you can take this Jade Token to the Library Pavilion on the mountainside to claim one."

"Thank you, Steward."

Fang Han glanced at the inkstone-like device. This was the third object he had seen that didn’t seem like a product of this Martial Arts World.

Not daring to linger, he took back the Jade Token, offered his thanks respectfully, and stepped away.

He channeled a wisp of Inner Qi into the Jade Token. It glowed faintly, revealing the number "30."

After all the Contribution Points had been distributed, Elder Chen addressed them one last time.

"On the first and fifteenth of every month, the Inheritance Hall will hold lessons. I hope you all will cherish the opportunity. The path of Cultivation values perseverance above all. You are dismissed."

Everyone bowed and then dispersed in small groups.

Some headed in the direction of the Library Pavilion, clearly eager to exchange for a Middle Grade Cultivation Technique.

Others chose to return directly to their rooms.

Fang Han followed the crowd back to his room, closed the door, and slid the bolt shut.

He first walked quickly to his bedside, bent down, and retrieved a heavy wooden box from a hidden spot under the bed.

Opening the lid, he saw ten gold ingots lying safely inside, shining with a tempting luster.

He breathed a sigh of relief. Before, when he was with Patriarch Fang Lingyuan, a Seventh Grade Martial Artist with a keen Spiritual Sense, he hadn’t dared to make the gold disappear. Now that he was alone, he could finally relax.

’System Panel.’

As he thought the words, a translucent screen of light quietly unfolded before him.

[Host: Fang Han]

[Root Bone Talent Amplification: 8x (Level 4 Amplification requires 10,000 silver)]

[Swordsmanship Talent Amplification: 8x (Level 4 Amplification requires 10,000 silver)]

[Stepping Talent Amplification: 8x (Level 4 Amplification requires 10,000 silver)]

[Owned Wealth: 832 silver]

Without further hesitation, Fang Han placed his hand on the gold and focused his thoughts.

’Deposit!’

The gold in the wooden box vanished instantly, and the numbers on the system panel jumped.

[Owned Wealth: 10,832 silver]

Seeing his wealth value break past five digits, a fiery glint flashed in Fang Han’s eyes.

Without a shred of hesitation, his mind immediately locked onto the "Level 4 Amplification" option next to [Root Bone Talent Amplification].

’Activate the Level 4 Amplification for my Root Bone Talent!’

The moment the thought formed, the text on the panel rippled and refreshed.

[Root Bone Talent Amplification: 16x (Level 5 Amplification requires 100,000 silver)]

’A sixteenfold Root Bone Talent Amplification!’

Fang Han couldn’t help but clench his fists, an indescribable excitement coursing through him.

Even at eightfold amplification, his Root Bone Talent had been absurdly powerful.

Before the Inner Qi Realm, he could advance a realm every one or two months; breakthroughs were as easy as drinking water.

It wasn’t until he reached the Inner Qi Realm, where the difficulty of advancing realms increased sharply, that he failed to maintain that incredible rate of improvement.

Now that his Root Bone Talent amplification had doubled to sixteenfold, he couldn’t even imagine how strong his Root Bone Talent had become.

Even among the top ten of the Sub-Branch, there were probably few who could compare with his Root Bone Talent.

Even Yun Qianyue, who ranked first, might not necessarily have a higher Root Bone Talent than him.

He couldn’t wait to feel what kind of cultivation speed a sixteenfold Root Bone Talent amplification would bring.

However, he forced himself to hold back. There were more important things to do right now.

He suppressed his surging emotions and shoved the empty wooden box back into its hiding place under the bed.

After straightening his green Disciple’s Robe, he pushed open the door and walked out.

Following the directions given by the guiding disciple earlier, he headed straight out of the Sub-Branch toward the Library Pavilion on the mountainside of Qingxuan Mountain.

This more important matter was, of course, to exchange his current Low Grade Inner Qi Technique for a higher-grade one—a Middle Grade Internal Qi Technique!

Within the Qingxuan Sect, halls and pavilions were scattered elegantly, and ancient trees lined the paths, reaching for the sky. It was like a paradise.

Fang Han’s gaze swept over the scenery, feeling as if he were in one of the expensive tourist attractions from his previous life.

Not long after Fang Han left the Sub-Branch area and stepped onto the stone path leading to the Library Pavilion, two figures quietly emerged from the shadows of a leafy ancient tree by the path.

One of them was none other than the Qingxuan Sect disciple Zhao Qianjun, the one who had accepted a huge bribe from Lin Yaotian.

He was dressed in a green, cloud-patterned robe, his face holding the reserved and indifferent air of a Sect Disciple, but his sharp eyes were fixed on Fang Han’s retreating figure.

The other person wore the simple gray clothes of a servant. He was short and had a plain face, the type you wouldn’t look at twice in a crowd.

"Memorize this person’s face. From now on, whenever he leaves the Sub-Branch, report to me immediately."

Zhao Qianjun instructed the gray-clothed servant.

"Yes, Senior Brother Zhao!"

The servant was slightly hunched over, his face a mixture of eagerness to please and apprehension.

His name was Li Shan, a servant in the Sub-Branch, and an informant Zhao Qianjun had bribed with silver.

Zhao Qianjun needed to focus on his own Cultivation and couldn’t possibly watch Fang Han all the time, so he could only spend some money to plant a pawn among the low-level servants of the Sub-Branch.

"Report any abnormalities immediately. You’ll be well-rewarded. And remember, keep your mouth shut."

Zhao Qianjun nodded slightly and casually tossed Li Shan a heavy silver ingot, his voice devoid of warmth.

"Don’t worry, Senior Brother Zhao! This humble one understands. My lips are sealed!"

Li Shan caught the silver, his face instantly breaking into a fawning smile as he nodded and bowed repeatedly.

Zhao Qianjun didn’t spare him another glance. His gaze returned to the direction where Fang Han had disappeared, and deep in his eyes, a bone-chilling killing intent flashed and vanished, perfectly concealed.

’After Fang Han has his "accident," this servant who knows the details will have to be silenced too. After all, only the dead can truly keep secrets.’

Li Shan didn’t notice Zhao Qianjun’s momentary killing intent. Delighted with his reward, he was completely unaware that he had already taken a step into the gates of hell.

...

Continuing on his way and following the signs, Fang Han soon arrived before a magnificent, seven-story ancient pagoda.

The pagoda was built from some unknown, dark green material and exuded an ancient, weathered aura. A giant plaque hung above the entrance, inscribed with large, flamboyant calligraphy that read: "Library Pavilion."

Disciples were coming and going in front of the pavilion, but all were very quiet, creating a solemn and dignified atmosphere. Fang Han straightened his clothes and stepped inside.

The space on the first floor was extremely spacious, lined with towering bookshelves holding a sea of ancient texts.

Many disciples were sitting quietly in the reading areas, either engrossed in their books or exchanging hushed words.

According to the guiding disciple, the first floor mostly contained miscellaneous books like basic Cultivation Techniques, insights on the Martial Dao, geographical records, and biographies, all of which were free for any disciple to read.

Fang Han didn’t linger on the first floor, instead taking the wide wooden staircase up to the second floor.

Unlike the first floor, the entrance to the second floor was guarded by disciples.

According to the guiding disciple, the second floor housed Low Grade Cultivation Techniques and Low Grade Martial Techniques.

Borrowing them required spending Contribution Points, though not many—usually around ten points were enough to borrow a Low Grade Cultivation Technique or a Low Grade Martial Technique.

Without stopping on the second floor, Fang Han, his goal clear, went directly to the third.

At the entrance to the third floor, a long counter blocked the path to the inner collection.

Behind the counter sat a stern-faced, middle-aged man wearing a Steward’s Robe.

His aura was profound, indicating his Cultivation was not weak. He was holding a scroll and reading it intently.

Hearing footsteps, he looked up and calmly gazed at Fang Han.

Seeing that the visitor was a new face, he pointed a finger at the countertop.

Fang Han followed his finger and saw two extremely thick books placed side by side on the counter.

Their covers were dark blue and dark red, respectively. The titles read, "Qingxuan Martial Vault: Middle Grade Martial Technique Summary" and "Qingxuan Martial Vault: Middle Grade Internal Qi Technique Summary."

"If you wish to borrow a Middle Grade Cultivation Technique, first search through these summaries. When you’ve chosen one, note its name and number, tell me, and I will retrieve it for you," the middle-aged Steward said, his voice flat and emotionless.

"Yes."

Fang Han replied respectfully.

His purpose in coming was precisely for a Middle Grade Internal Qi Technique, so he reached directly for the dark red book, the "Middle Grade Internal Qi Technique Summary."

The book was heavy in his hands. Opening it, he found detailed descriptions of all the Middle Grade Internal Qi Techniques stored in the pavilion.

This included the technique’s name, its elemental affinity, cultivation characteristics, a review of its strengths and weaknesses, its general difficulty, and so on.

And there were actually several hundred Middle Grade Internal Qi Techniques.

’There are actually hundreds of them!’

Fang Han sighed inwardly.

In the outside world, any single Middle Grade Internal Qi Technique would be enough to make a power like the Fang Family fight to the death over it, treating it as a family heirloom.

To this day, the Fang Family had still not managed to obtain a single Middle Grade Internal Qi Technique.

He never would have imagined that the Qingxuan Sect’s collection of Middle Grade Internal Qi Techniques numbered in the hundreds.

The Qingxuan Sect truly lived up to its reputation as a transcendent power that dominated the region.

Fang Han calmed his mind and began to carefully flip through the pages. He only had one chance, so he had to choose the Middle Grade Internal Qi Technique that was most suitable for him.