Chapter 18

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

The beginning of the sect rules gave a brief introduction of the sect’s background. The old lady mentioned this previously, so Pei Ling skipped it and read about the benefits of being an outer sect disciple.

Apart from the things he received from the General Affairs Hall, he could also choose a technique for free during his cultivation. For example, artifacts forging, pill refinement, talisman drawing, spirit herbs, beast taming, etc. He would need to attend those classes at the corresponding mountain peak.

As for the cultivation techniques, the outer sect disciples also cultivated the Bone Forging Art, which was no different from the ones passed down from the Pei family’s ancestors. It was just that every half a month, there would be a Foundation Establishment cultivator explaining the key pointers of cultivating in the various peaks. When the time came, disciples could attend and listen.

He was currently on a mountain called Shady Sophora Peak, one of the outer sect’s peaks. Every peak had a Hall of Residence in charge of their operations.

In addition to arranging for accommodation, the Hall of Residence also had a Magic Pavilion that hid many cultivation techniques and Dharma spells that the Deep Sea Sect had prepared for outer sect disciples. The Bone Forging Art was also among them, but other than that, everything else required spirit stones to purchase.

There was also the Hundred Treasures Pavilion. It provided talisman artifacts, talismans, pills, etc., for cultivation and fighting purposes all year round. In addition to collecting spirit stones, disciples could also use the finished products or materials to trade after valuation.

The last was the Spirit Gathering Array Formation. It was set up by an elder who was good at array formations in the inner sect during the construction of the mountain. With the help of the terrain of Shady Sophora Peak, it could connect with the stars and link to the earth. Under the premise that it did not affect the normal cultivation of the disciples, the spiritual energy of Heaven and Earth was gathered to the greatest extent. It was the ideal cultivation destination in the mountains.

However, the sect rules reminded that the cost of this place was high, and it was not recommended for daily use. It was better to use it during a breakthrough.

Pei Ling scanned through it and finally saw the main contents of the sect rules.

He took a deep breath and read with anticipation. The words were in black and white. “Our sect strictly prohibits private fights between disciples. Violation of this rule, no matter the reason, will result in a fine for the one who makes the first move. Depending on the situation, labor disciples will be fined not less than 30 low-grade spirit stones, up to 100; outer sect disciples will be fined not less than 100 low-grade spirit stones, up to 300; inner sect disciples will be fined not less than 30 middle-grade spirit stones, up to 100…”

“The punishment is spirit stones just by making a move? Regardless of the reason?” Pei Ling immediately felt a lingering fear. “Holy shit, if I had known earlier, I would never have touched that girl. She wouldn’t have reported me, would she?”

He hurriedly looked down and saw that the sect’s rules were incredibly detailed, stipulating some daily punishments like finding trouble, stealing, insulting, and so on. They could all resolve with spirit stones. In the end, the highlight came. “In the case when the attacked disciple gets handicapped. Depending on the situation, labor disciples will be fined not less than 200 low-grade spirit stones, up to 500; outer sect disciples will be fined not less than 2,000 low-grade spirit stones, up to 5,000; inner sect disciples…”

Pei Ling’s expression could not help but change. “The only punishment is to pay up spirit stones? There are no other punishments?”

Subsequently, his face turned paler the more he read. Not only could the matter of a fellow crippled disciple be resolved by spirit stones, but even killing a fellow disciple would only increase the fine.

The rules even relaxed the deadline for paying the fine: You have to pay up for small matters within ten days; within a month if you crippled someone; as for causing death, such things would become settled after you pay the fine within three months.

In short, the Holy Sect did have many detailed rules and regulations. However, as long as you had enough spirit stones, any violation could become resolved simply with spirit stones!

The only real punishment was if one could not pay the fine after the deadline.

It was until then that the Deep Sea Sect finally changed their greedy attitude, revealing the style of a true powerhouse of the demonic path: those with ordinary physical bodies would turn into fertilizer at the Spirit Plant Peak; those with powerful physical bodies would become supplementary material for the Weapon Forging Peak; their blood essence, soul, internal organs, etc. Everything was arranged to perfection to ensure that the Holy Sect would not suffer a loss.

“What the f*ck…” The sense of security that Pei Ling had when he first received the sect rules vanished into thin air. What replaced it was a deep sense of fear. He finally understood why the old lady had advised him to be careful in the sect. He did not even have a single spirit stone!

According to the rules, he did not even have the right to scold anyone. After all, an outer sect disciple could only curse at their fellow sect disciple for the price of at least three low-grade spirit stones.

Closing the book with trembling hands, Pei Ling thought of the various cruel acts of the Deep Sea Sect disciples he had heard of in the past. He suddenly suspected that the reason why those disciples went on massacres was not that they became ferocious and irritable from cultivating the devil arts, but because they had no money!

Therefore, they find an excuse before destroying a family for looting.

After all, under these kinds of rules, obtaining spirit stones had to be the top priority!

Just as Pei Ling’s heart palpitated, there was movement outside. He hurriedly stood up and walked to the window to take a look. He saw the restrictions unlocked, and three people of different heights entered together. They saw each other through the window, and the shortest one frowned slightly. “Who are you? Why are you here?”

“Cheng An!” The person in the middle pressed down on his shoulder, his gaze sweeping past the Life-Extinguishing Blade not far from Pei Ling. His pupils contracted while he indicated for his companion to calm down. He smiled at Pei Ling and said, “May I ask who this junior brother is?”

“Greetings, Senior Brothers.” Pei Ling composed himself and cupped his fists. “I’m Pei Ling, a new outer sect disciple.”

“Pei Ling?” That person was a little surprised. “Now isn’t the time for new disciples to come in. How did you get in?”

He introduced himself, “I’m Li Siguang, currently at the fourth level of Qi Refinement.”

He then pointed at his two companions, one tall and one short. “They are Zhou Yi and Miao Cheng’an, and their cultivation levels are at the fourth level of Qi Refinement and the fifth level of Qi Refinement.”

Pei Ling saw that their attitudes were still considered calm and felt slightly at ease. He said, “It was the arrangement of the inner sect master, Senior Brother Zheng Jingshan. Previously, the core disciple, Fairy Li, brought Senior Brother Zheng and my brother, Pei Hongnian, to Deer Spring City for a mission. After I happened to see them, they brought me to the Holy Sect. It was also under Senior Brother Zheng’s arrangement that I entered the Holy Sect.”

“Oh, I know. It’s about Elder Luo.” When Li Siguang heard this, his gaze flickered. He exchanged glances with Zhou Yi, but Miao Cheng’an blurted out, “But Fairy Li is one thing, but why is that trash Zheng Jingshan worthy of the method to become a Nascent Soul?”

Pei Ling could not help but be startled. Zheng Jingshan’s status in the Deep Sea Sect seemed to be different from what he imagined?

“Junior Brother, please don’t blame us. Cheng An has an elder brother who is also in the inner sect. He’s one of the 13 faction leaders of the inner sect like Senior Brother Zheng, and they have always had some conflicts.” Li Siguang noticed Pei Ling’s expression as he smiled to comfort him, “Cheng An is young and impulsive, and he doesn’t mean what he says. Junior Brother, please don’t take it to heart.”

“Senior Brother, don’t worry. I’m not a person who likes to talk too much.” Pei Ling was relieved, and he heard Li Siguang say, “Junior Brother has just arrived. I wonder if there are any inconveniences? Let me be honest, my grandfather, Li Ping, is one of the outer sect elders. From top to bottom of this Shady Sophora Peak, he can settle small matters with a word.”

Zhou Yi added, “My sister is one of the core disciples. Since Junior Brother is familiar with Fairy Li, you will be one of us from here onwards.”

Pei Ling’s heart palpitated.. These two seemed to be probing his relationship with Fairy Li?