Chapter Twelve: The Hall of Missions

Pill Cultivation Chapter, initial contribution value is twenty. Lin Xiaobao placed the Frost and Snow Token on the page, and the ten inscribed on the token immediately changed to thirty. After putting away the token, Lin Xiaobao continued to study the contents of the Pill Cultivation Chapter.

Within this page, besides recording the origin of alchemy, there were detailed descriptions of various medicinal herbs—their appearances, properties, effects—and, at the end, simple methods for cultivating a few basic materials. Clearly, this was to allow disciples who could only access this page to earn contribution points by growing herbs.

“The people of this world truly possess extraordinary bodies!” Just as Lin Xiaobao was about to open the third page, Old Mo’s voice sounded in his mind.

“To earn a word of praise from Old Mo, the ancestors of the Frost and Snow Pavilion must have done countless good deeds to accumulate such fortune!” Lin Xiaobao promptly flattered him. If he had harbored any doubts about these two mysterious elders before, witnessing Old Wu open the Frost and Snow Primer with such ease had dispelled them entirely.

But this time, his flattery missed its mark. Old Mo snorted, “Praise? For what? They can even misinterpret these simple herbs, and the pills they concoct haven’t killed them—if not for their robust bodies, what else could it be?”

With that, Old Mo pointed out each of the mistakes recorded in the Frost and Snow Primer. Although Lin Xiaobao had no way of knowing who was right or wrong, he instinctively trusted that Old Mo could not be mistaken.

After another round of masterful flattery, which finally put Old Mo in good spirits, Lin Xiaobao opened the third page of the Frost and Snow Primer, just as he had expected.

The third page was the Formation Cultivation Chapter. What surprised Lin Xiaobao was that it required forty contribution points. He hurriedly deposited it into the Frost and Snow Token and began to read carefully.

Compared to the previous two pages, this one was far more detailed. It covered the origins of formations, the materials needed to inscribe them, their basic principles, and even instructions for drawing a few simple talisman scripts.

While Lin Xiaobao was reading with great interest, Old Wu became displeased. “If you want your future formations to be unable to trap even pigs, then by all means, study the formations recorded here.”

Lin Xiaobao tensed, instantly realizing his mistake. He hurried to appease Old Wu with a mixture of flattery and reassurance, resolving then and there never again to study anything related to formations or alchemy, lest he offend these two ancestors.

“I think I should go to the Task Hall first and earn some contribution points to exchange for cultivation resources,” Lin Xiaobao quickly changed the subject.

“In any case, you still need to rest and can’t cultivate your spiritual power for now. A stroll is no harm,” the two elders agreed. Due to Lin Xiaobao’s constitution, without sufficient resources he could only cultivate spiritual power and nothing else.

The Frost and Snow Token had long since imprinted the entire map of the Frost and Snow Pavilion into Lin Xiaobao’s mind. Filled with excitement, he set off straight for the Task Hall.

Even with Lin Xiaobao’s exceptional stamina, it took him more than an hour to run from his so-called Number Two Quarters to the Task Hall.

Inside the Task Hall, a young girl in yellow sat in the center of the spacious hall. Though dressed plainly, her natural grace could not be concealed, especially her lively, sparkling eyes that seemed always to be scheming some mischief.

From her clothing, Lin Xiaobao immediately recognized her as a formal disciple and stepped forward. “Disciple Lin Xiaobao greets Senior Sister.”

The girl glanced up at him, a flash of surprise in her eyes. “You’re an outer disciple?”

“Yes,” he replied. Is this girl new? Can’t she tell from my robes?

“Didn’t they just distribute the Frost and Snow Primer today? How can you be here so soon?” she muttered softly, her lips barely moving, so quietly that Lin Xiaobao couldn’t quite catch her words. Regaining her composure, she looked at him and said, “Hand me your Frost and Snow Token. If you want to exchange something, check for yourself over there.”

After handing her his token, Lin Xiaobao immediately went to the counter to see what his seventy contribution points could buy.

“Oh?” When the girl saw the seventy printed on his token, her hands visibly trembled. Her eyes sparkled with interest as she thought, This fellow is intriguing—seems sneaking out today won’t be boring after all...

A single stalk of seven-leaf grass required five contribution points; ten seeds cost one. A marigold plant was six points, nine seeds two points...

As Lin Xiaobao examined the contribution costs for various resources, he suddenly realized that seventy points were not as much as he had thought.

“Where did you get so many contribution points just after joining?” Just as Lin Xiaobao was about to consult the two elders, the girl patted him on the shoulder from behind.

After confirming that she hadn’t discovered the secret within his body, Lin Xiaobao replied, “Don’t you receive initial contribution points for opening the Frost and Snow Primer?”

“So, you’ve already opened three pages of the Frost and Snow Primer in such a short time?” Though she had expected as much, the girl was still somewhat shocked. To open three pages in so little time was nothing short of miraculous—and even thinking about it was intimidating.

“Yes, is there a problem?” Lin Xiaobao’s brow furrowed. He found this attendant’s questions a tad excessive.

“No problem, carry on…” As she spoke, the girl flicked her right hand, a black shadow shooting onto Lin Xiaobao’s waist and sticking to his clothes—almost impossible to detect without careful scrutiny.

Seven-leaf grass, longevity chrysanthemum, pineleaf algae… Old Mo rattled off a long list of herbs, instructing Lin Xiaobao to exchange only for seeds. Then Old Wu mentioned cinnabar, wolf-hair brushes, yellow paper, and other materials needed for drawing formations.

Although the list was long, since he was only getting seeds and the basic materials for drawing formations, the prices were quite low. Even so, after tallying up, Lin Xiaobao’s seventy contribution points dwindled to just two. Only now did he realize that cultivation was indeed a costly endeavor.

“You’re exchanging for so much all at once?” the girl asked in confusion. At this stage, most would either exchange for better techniques or finished medicinal ingredients. But Lin Xiaobao only wanted seeds and the most basic formation materials, and in such variety.

“Is there a problem?” Lin Xiaobao knew there was no way to explain.

“No problem, I’m just curious. Can you tell me why you’re exchanging for all this at once?” she pressed on.

Lin Xiaobao shrugged. “Naturally, to cultivate the herbs and draw talismans for more contribution points.”

“I suggest you exchange for a little first and test your skills. Don’t blow all your contribution points at once—or you’ll have to do hard labor to earn more, and that won’t be easy,” the girl advised kindly.

“How will I know if I don’t try?” Lin Xiaobao replied with an air of confidence.

“Very well.” The girl waved her hand, and another female disciple came out from the back, quickly preparing the requested items according to Lin Xiaobao’s list.

When Lin Xiaobao retrieved his items and Frost and Snow Token, seeing the number two remaining, he sighed softly, packed up, and hurried back to his quarters.

No one knew what the assessment a year from now would be like, but Lin Xiaobao was well aware that there were few like him among this year’s new arrivals—those who had never cultivated before. If he did not seize the time now, a year later, he might have no choice but to pack up and leave.