Chapter Seventeen: The Faction Store
Chen Qi nodded, tearing into the meat with gusto, washing down its richness with hearty swigs of wine. For a time, the two of them were utterly carefree. After several rounds of drinks, Chen Qi seized the moment while Sun Ruohai was drunken but not yet fully lost to it, and quickly asked:
“Brother Sun, what do you think of the solo evaluation? I’m planning to try it tomorrow.”
Sun Ruohai let out a long, boozy belch and set his cup down with a thud. “Don’t get me started, it makes me angry just thinking about it! I wanted to sign up for it myself, to climb from a menial disciple step by step. Who would have guessed my grandfather made me an outer sect disciple directly.”
Emboldened by wine, he turned his grievances on Elder Sun. “I was so afraid people would think I only got by on connections. I never once slacked in my cultivation, but in the end, I still lost to you.”
With that, Sun Ruohai was overcome by emotion and burst into tears.
Chen Qi hastily comforted him, raising his own cup in a toast. “I only scraped by with half a move. Brother Sun, at your age and with your talent, you’re sure to make it to the inner sect one day. When you rise to glory, don’t forget about me!”
Sun Ruohai was soon smiling through his tears, slapping Chen Qi on the shoulder, then thumping his own chest and promising, “Don’t worry, brother. If I ever become Sect Master of Cloudsea Sect, you’ll be the Grand Elder. Anyone who objects, I’ll cut them down myself!”
Watching the usually proud and reticent Sun Ruohai now laughing and crying like a madman, Chen Qi could only marvel at the intoxicating power of wine.
He took a bold swig, letting the liquor soak his collar, then focused all his attention on Sun Ruohai. Sun Ruohai, caught between laughter and tears, now resembled a performing monkey, babbling loudly but incoherently.
Chen Qi looked at him with a pang of sympathy, thinking of so many children back on Earth. Compared to the past, they enjoyed material abundance and better living conditions, yet bore immense psychological pressure. Parents, eager for their children to excel, poured all their hopes and their own dissatisfactions onto their offspring. They wanted them to achieve academically, have special talents, bring pride to the family. Most importantly, everyone insisted that children of this era were happy. Occasional depression or suicide? All chalked up to emotional immaturity—just isolated incidents...
Who would have thought that even the grandson of an elder like Sun Ruohai would be under so much pressure, yet unable to ascend the mountain? Truly, everyone in this world has their own troubles; it’s just that when people meet, they put on a cheerful face.
“You don’t know what I’m thinking, do you?”
A lyric flashed through Chen Qi’s mind, and he realized he too was drunk. But unlike the inebriated and raving Sun Ruohai, Chen Qi preferred to brood, becoming quieter.
“Yes, I do have better self-control than most,” he thought to himself.
The rush of liquor surged within him, and after that, Chen Qi remembered nothing more...
The next day, the blinding sunlight forced Chen Qi’s eyes open. He slowly stood, brushing dust from himself, only to find his menial disciple’s robe was in tatters, blood stains marking his body.
He was stunned for a moment, trying to recall what had happened, but nothing came to mind. Turning to look at Sun Ruohai, he saw that Sun’s once neat, pale blue outer disciple uniform was now just as shredded.
Awakened by the sounds of Chen Qi moving, Sun Ruohai, with a martial artist’s vigilance, slowly came to. He stared at Chen Qi for a while, then at his own attire, and finally met Chen Qi’s gaze.
The two stood in silence for a moment, understanding passing between them without a word, before going their separate ways.
Chen Qi had taken only a few steps when Sun Ruohai called out from behind, “Brother Chen, I wish you success in becoming an outer sect disciple!”
Chen Qi turned and grinned, “I’ll take that blessing, Brother Sun.”
Then the two went their separate ways.
Chen Qi did not go straight to the Hall of Trials for the outer sect evaluation. Instead, he first collected a new set of menial disciple robes. When he heard that he’d have to pay contribution points for another replacement, his face darkened, cursing the steward of the Discipline Hall under his breath.
Once dressed in fresh, clean clothes, Chen Qi opened the Cloudsea Sect’s faction store, needing some motivation to earn contribution points.
He sorted by contribution points from lowest to highest.
He saw Elder Sun’s “Pinecloud Elixir”—30 points.
He saw the standard green-tier outer sect weapon—50 points.
He saw white-tier sect skill manuals, ranging from 40 to 80 points.
Excited, Chen Qi scrolled down, curious to see what treasures the faction store might hold. Perhaps because his access was limited, the best he could view were blue-tier skill scrolls.
“Crimson Cloud Slash”
Origin: Azure Star Continent
Rarity: Blue
Type: Active Skill Scroll
Requirements: Constitution 15, Agility 10, Strength 14
Skill Effect: Consumes 15 MP and 5% of current HP, infuses blood energy into the current weapon, unleashing a slash of blood energy that deals 10 + Constitution × 1.4 + Strength × 1.2 damage. (Cooldown: 1 minute)
Rating: 155
Description: The signature martial art of Cloudsea Sect’s outer disciples, created by Master Crimson Cloud. The more vigorous the user’s blood energy, the more powerful the technique. Mastered, it can cleave gold and shatter stone. Suitable for first-tier contract warriors or chosen ones.
Price: 1880 universal points
If Chen Qi was right, this must be the technique Sun Ruohai had practiced at night and the very move Brother Ao had used to win his match when Chen Qi first witnessed an outer disciple duel.
Chen Qi had coveted this skill for some time. He desperately needed a high-damage, proactive attack—his current Blood Energy Shock was simply not enough.
Besides, Chen Qi mused, “Who wouldn’t love a blade that emits a crimson glow?”
He calculated: if he could land this blow, and ignoring the enemy’s defense, it would deal a full 48 points of damage—and that was just at level 1.
He estimated the Scarlet-Striped Wild Boar King’s health—probably just over 200. Meaning, if he landed a critical hit on its weak spot, it would be left half-dead in a single strike!
He glanced at the price—250 contribution points. Chen Qi pondered it for a moment, then continued browsing other items.
Soon, his eyes locked onto a token.
“Cloudsea Sword Seal”
Origin: Azure Star Continent
Rarity: Blue
Type: Consumable
Requirement: Strength 10
Effect: Crush the sword seal to unleash a sword energy wave from an inner force expert straight ahead, dealing 60-130 damage.
Rating: 132
Description: A life-saving token bestowed by Cloudsea Sect elders. Sealed within is the energy of an inner force master—using it in a critical moment can turn the tide. An essential tool for survival and last-ditch counterattacks.
Price: 1560 universal points