Deduct 1 for merit. I am really not a child of luck.

Chapter 115 A gift from Yan Nanfeng! A valuable spiritual vein!

Although this Qingshan Sect disciple was dressed in a green shirt like the other disciples, his expression was similar to that of a street salesman.

"Let me introduce myself. My name is Diao Youcai. You can call me Xiao Diao, or you can call me..." He smiled at Lin Mo:

"This junior brother, is he a recent ascensionist? Let me guess, he has been in the Enlightenment Cliff for two years, or three years? I think he must have a certain understanding of the sect!"

Lin Mo nodded obediently: "Hello, Senior Brother Diao, but forget about the Immortal Learning Loan."

After saying that, he wanted to go to the front counter of the Trial Pavilion.

Diao Youcai laughed:
"Hehe, Junior Brother, you are so ignorant. Do you really think that seeking immortality is just about drinking immortal dew and eating spiritual energy?"

"To tell you the truth, cultivating immortality is very expensive!"

After saying that, he looked at Lin Mo's indifferent glance, which was filled with an expression of "Keep talking, if you believe a single word of mine, I'm a pig."

Diao Youcai was not angry at all, he just pulled his sleeve and walked towards the front counter:
"Come, come, you are a freshman, you must accept the trial mission. I am the receptionist at the front counter. I will explain to you how to 'seek immortality' after entering Qingshan Sect!"

The counter also handles loans part-time?

So is this the Trial Pavilion or a bank?
Lin Mo raised his eyes and confirmed that it was indeed written on the counter that it was the Trial Pavilion Reception Desk, then followed him to the counter.

"Don't worry, this is Qingshan Sect, can I sell you out?"

Diao Youcai looked at his vigilant expression, smiled and said.

The more you say this, the more worried I become!
Lin Mo chuckled in his heart, but when he saw the Qingshan Sect disciples around him also delivering tasks at the counter, he felt a little relieved.

Diao Youcai jumped into the counter, pushed the advertisement of Xianxue Loan aside, and said:

"Since you want to enroll, I will first explain to you the enrollment process of our Qingshan Sect."

"Come on, come on, come closer to the counter to trigger the enrollment mission."

As he finished speaking, a system prompt actually flashed in time:

[Ding! Your status as a pre-enrolled disciple of Qingshan Sect has been confirmed. Do you want to officially receive your status as a disciple and trigger the sect's novice trial mission? ]

Lin Mo's mind moved, and he clicked the [Yes] option.

[Ding! The road to immortality is long, the way of nature follows nature, the sword points to the sky, Qingshan Sect welcomes you to join! ]

[Congratulations on obtaining the status of Qingshan Sect disciple. Target disciple level: Menial worker (lower). Please work hard to complete the following trial tasks to upgrade:]

[1. Explore the sect (main line): trigger ten teleportation points, reward: contribution points*10]

[2. Collect basic resources (branch 1): Spirit Stone, Black Iron, Refined Gold, etc. Reward: Get rewards of equal value based on the number of resources delivered]

[3. Learn basic spells (branch 2): Go to the Sutra Library to receive three basic spells.]

[4. Build a cave (branch 3): Select an address to build a cave]

[5. Open the Sword Arena (branch 4)...]

【…】

In addition to the main exploration mission, a total of ten side quests of varying sizes pop up.

"so much!?"

Lin Mo's pupils dilated slightly.

Diao Youcai chuckled and said, "Our Qingshan clan is a big clan with great wealth. It is very reasonable for the clan's trial tasks to be a little more than 100 million."

"Then how long will it take to finish all this?" Lin Mo said speechlessly.

He now began to doubt whether what Zhuang Weiwan said about completing the novice trial in one month was reasonable.

Not to mention other side quests, just the most basic main quest of running through the map, if you can't take the fairy boat, it will probably take a long time just to run through the map with your legs to trigger the teleportation point.

Not to mention resource collection, basic spells, and cave site selection...

There’s no way it can be completed in this month!
Diao Youcai shrugged and said:
"Generally speaking, the novice trial mission is not difficult. If you are quick, it will take one or two months, or if you are slow, it will take three to five months to complete."

"Some time ago, a fierce man came and completed the trial mission in less than a week, obtained the status of outer disciple in two weeks, and even made it to the Liangyu Ranking!"

Lin Mo's eyes lit up and he asked, "Is that person called Chu Wange?"

"Do you know her?" Diao Youcai asked first, then slapped his forehead, "That's right, that's right, she's the top scholar on the Immortal Ranking this year, who doesn't know her?"

"But how can an ordinary disciple compare with a genius of that level!? Since you are an 'old student' of Wudao Cliff, you should also know this. The gap between geniuses is greater than the gap between geniuses and mediocre people!"

You seem to have misunderstood something?
Lin Mo chuckled, but didn't bother to explain that he was a freshman. Instead, he asked, "Brother, are there any shortcuts to these novice tasks?"

Diao Youcai smiled:

"Of course there is. Spending money can save a lot of steps. For example, the step of collecting basic resources can be saved directly. Also, building a cave can be completed earlier."

"This way, Junior Brother, you can save a lot of steps and step into the path of immortality earlier than other servants!"

At this point, he moved the Xianxue loan that he had just pushed aside again:
"So, do you want to learn about the Immortal Learning Loan? You only need to borrow one thousand low-grade spirit stones, and you can be promoted to an outer disciple one step earlier than other freshmen!"

Lin Mo: “…”

Seeing that he still didn't speak, Diao Youcai smiled and said:

"It seems that Junior Brother still doesn't understand the severity of the cultivation world. Let me tell you a number. Most cultivators need to spend at least 30,000 low-grade spirit stones to advance from the foundation-building stage to the golden elixir stage!"

Thirty thousand low-grade spirit stones is...

Hiss~! Nearly 8 billion Mortal World Currency!
Lin Mo was shocked by this number.

In fact, thirty thousand low-grade spirit stones are definitely not something you can buy in the mortal world just because you want to.

If one really wants to collect so many low-grade spirit stones, the unit price will increase, at least to over 10 billion.

Even though he already knew that seeking immortality was inseparable from the four elements of "wealth, law, companion and land", he still could not have imagined that it would take so many spirit stones just to go from the foundation-building stage to the golden elixir stage.

Seeing him like this, Diao Youcai continued to add:

"This is still considered economical. If you want to get on any list, such as the Liangyu List or the Sword Arena ranking, or want to get event settlement rewards, don't even mention 30,000 low-grade spirit stones..."

"Oh, fifty or eighty thousand may not be enough!"

After saying that, he looked Lin Mo up and down again and said with a smile:

"From what I see from Junior Brother, he is probably not some second-generation immortal, but a genius from the mortal world."

"Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to mock you. I am also from the mortal world, so I naturally understand the difficulties faced by ordinary people like us."

"One step slow, every step slow, look at that sweeper over there..."

Lin Mo followed his instructions and looked towards the door.

However, he was not a cleaner sweeping the floor with a broom, but a disciple who was cleaning the bluestone road using spells similar to dust removal.

"Having three spiritual roots, he would be considered a genius in the mortal world, but I have been practicing for two years and still haven't found a master!"

Diao Youcai sighed and said:

"There are many such menial disciples. They haven't even completed their mission to follow their master, so they can only do these low-income menial tasks in exchange for contribution points."

"The Qingshan Sect has many good things, but the threshold for becoming a disciple is also high."

"What about top-grade elixirs, insights, ranking activities, cave aura... Which one doesn't require contribution points and spirit stones?"

The more Lin Mo listened, the heavier his mood became.

When Diao Youcai placed all these things in front of him, he realized that the so-called seeking immortality was much more realistic than he had imagined.

If a beginner disciple wants to complete the final task of learning from his master, he needs to be promoted to a senior servant.

To be promoted from a lower-level errand disciple to a higher-level errand disciple, one needs a full 1,000 contribution points.

It may not seem like much, but if you add up the tasks that show the benefits on the panel, it may only be around 100 points. If you want to get a full 1,000 points, you need to repeat some of the novice tasks.

Time consuming and low yield.

As Diao Youcai said, spending money to purchase basic resources and exchanging them for contribution points is indeed a shortcut.

But if you are not a second-generation immortal, or do not have strong financial resources and connections to support you, apart from slowly spending time doing these low-yield novice tasks, the only option left is to take the immortal student loan.

"Junior brother, if you are penniless, hehe, you will have a hard time moving forward not only in Qingshan Sect, but also in the entire Lingxu Realm!"

Diao Youcai said with a smile: "Why don't you borrow a little money and save a lot of money? When you are promoted to an outer disciple, the contribution points and spirit stones will come in like a flood."

Are you painting a pie for me?

Lin Mo chuckled in his heart, but asked calmly:

"Brother Diao, are there any secrets to these novice trial tasks? For example, how can I earn contribution points faster?"

"Didn't you say that Chu Wange completed the trial mission in just one week? How did she do it?"

Diao Youcai glanced at him and said:

"You want to compare yourself to Chu Wange? You're dreaming! He's a recommended student. I heard that he was given a 2nd-level spiritual vein and contribution points upon entering the academy."

"With contribution points, these novice tasks are just a matter of going through the process, so they will be completed faster naturally."

Wait! One thousand contribution points...

I think I was here too?

Lin Mo's eyes lit up, and he suddenly remembered the big gift package that Yan Nanfeng had promised when he was recruiting students.

It not only includes the cultivation lucky bag, but also spirit veins and contribution points.

It seems that Yan Nanfeng also knows about the trial tasks after entering the school, so in order to save the time of the recommended students in becoming apprentices, he proposed to give away 1,000 contribution points?
I see……

Lin Mo suddenly realized that if he just went through the process, it might not take much time.

No wonder Zhuang Weiwan said she would be faster. After all, she was also a recommended student, so she naturally knew about contribution value...

Seeing that he didn't say anything, Diao Youcai thought he was considering taking out a loan, so he took advantage of the situation and said:

"Junior brother, just listen to my advice. We are not recommended students. We don't have spiritual veins or connections. Wouldn't it be more convenient and easier to get a loan?"

"How about this, Senior Brother, I'll make a promise to you. If you take out a loan from us, I'll introduce you to a master for free. How about that?"

"Of course, whether you can succeed depends on your ability. There is no guarantee."

Lin Mo came back to his senses, looked at him calmly, and said lightly: "Senior Brother Diao, I want to ask you something."

"Whatever it is, just tell me." Diao Youcai patted his chest and said, "As long as it's about the Qingshan Sect, I will tell you everything I know!"

Lin Mo smiled and said, "It's actually quite simple. I just want to ask where I can get the 'gift package' for recommended students?"

"Isn't it just a recommended student? I..." Diao Youcai paused and suddenly widened his eyes: "What did you say!?"

……

A few minutes later--

[Ding! Confirm your identity and receive a gift from Yan Nanfeng.]

[Ding! Sect contribution points*1000 have been obtained. ]

[Ding! Received sect reward: Cultivation lucky bag.]

[Ding! Sect reward obtained: 2 level 1 small medium-quality spiritual vein. Please choose a location within the sect.]

As the transfer notifications sounded, Diao Youcai's eyes widened behind the counter. He couldn't help swallowing and it took him a long time to come back to his senses:

"Why didn't you tell me earlier that you were a recommended student?"

All the rewards were stored by Yan Nanfeng in the front cabinet of the Trial Pavilion, waiting for Lin Mo to claim them.

He shrugged and said in an "innocent" tone: "You didn't ask me!"

"..." Diao Youcai held his forehead with his hand, sighed and said:
"Okay, okay, I was blind to the truth. It turns out that Junior Brother is the most talented among the freshmen this year. I was just being self-indulgent."

For ordinary freshmen in the Taoist academy, every step is difficult.

Just the step of being promoted from a menial disciple to an outer disciple would take one to three years.

But the Taoist Academy has two completely different attitudes towards these talented students.

The reason is very simple. These people had already been reserved as disciples by some bigwigs in the sect.

The so-called novice trial mission is just to complete the process of the Heavenly Dao system.

It usually takes one or two months to complete the process and become a disciple.

Some, like Chu Wange, who are faster, can reach the level of making the list in just half a month. The speed is simply terrifying!
"But that's not right. You have contribution points, but why do you also have a spiritual vein?"

Diao Youcai said with some surprise.

Lin Mo asked in confusion: "Aren't there all recommended students?"

"How can it be!"

Diao Youcai widened his eyes and said:

"Even though our Qingshan Sect occupies a large fourth-order spiritual vein, not everyone can be allocated a spiritual vein. Even the top scorers on the Immortal List may not be allocated a spiritual vein."

"And if a small 2nd-level mid-grade spirit vein is fully developed, it will be worth at least low-grade spirit stones."

"It's enough resources to support a genius to advance to the Golden Core Stage!"

It was not until this moment that Lin Mo finally understood the importance of spiritual veins.

It turns out that what Yan Nanfeng said at the beginning about letting him work ten years less was actually true.

Moreover, spiritual veins are also a rare resource within the sect.

Although disciples can be purchased with contribution points, the number available each year is limited and the price is expensive, which is not affordable for ordinary people.

Even a genius like Zhuang Weiwan, who has a natural spiritual root, currently does not have a spiritual vein of his own.

As for ordinary Taoist disciples, let alone them.

Diao Youcai looked at Lin Mo curiously:

"It is really rare that this year's Immortal Examination has two spiritual veins. This has never happened before."

You don't understand, this is the package price...

Lin Mo silently gave a thumbs up to the "freeloader" in his heart.

It is said that there has been no news since the freeloader monster entered the sect. It turns out that he was trying to get on the Liang Yu List.

"Forget it, it's not important anymore!"

Diao Youcai waved his hand and said:

"Junior brother actually has a spiritual vein, then things will be much simpler. All we need to do is borrow some money from me for renovation and find a construction team to build the cave. Whether it's cultivation or rushing to the top of the list, it will be super fast!"

So there’s no way around taking out a loan, right?
Lin Mo was speechless in his heart.

At the same time, the steamed bun frog above his head also croaked twice, which was very appropriate.

　It’s a 4K long chapter, so I’ll take half a chapter off to sort out the detailed outline.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)