2: Retreat from the clan

Creak!

The door opened, and a wretched-looking young man with a long face and a mustache stood outside.

"Something the matter?"

Zhang Daobai stared expressionlessly into Li Dashu's eyes, asking in a cold tone.

Seeing Zhang Daobai's cold attitude, a flicker of anger flashed in the depths of Li Dashu's eyes, but the smile on his face didn't change at all.

"I heard you're leaving the Sect tomorrow. We've been neighbors for so many years, seeing each other all the time, so I came to ask what time you're leaving tomorrow so I can see you off."

Li Dashu's tone was filled with regret and reluctance, as if there were a deep friendship between him and Zhang Daobai.

See me off?

Heh!

Listening to Li Dashu's words, Zhang Daobai couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

Over the years, in order to be promoted to the Outer Sect, Zhang Daobai was either doing utility tasks or cultivating at home; he simply had no time to make friends.

Now, someone he had barely spoken a few words to normally suddenly comes to the door saying he wants to see him off—even a fool could see this was ill-intentioned.

"No need, it's not like this is some honorable matter," Zhang Daobai refused directly without even thinking.

"Alright then, if that's the case, forget it. I wish you a safe journey."

Hearing this, Li Dashu seemed to have expected it. He didn't show much regret; instead, he raised his hand and lightly patted Zhang Daobai's shoulder in blessing.

After speaking, Li Dashu turned and left, but the moment he turned around, the friendly look in his eyes instantly became cold and sinister.

After watching Li Dashu's retreating back, Zhang Daobai turned to look at the shoulder Li Dashu had just patted.

After several careful inspections, Zhang Daobai indeed found a faint fluctuation of spiritual power where Li Dashu had patted him.

Seeing this, a cold light flashed in Zhang Daobai's eyes, but he quickly withdrew his gaze as if he hadn't discovered anything.

After counting his assets in the room, Zhang Daobai walked out and headed toward the Utility Hall.

Along the way, Zhang Daobai felt many obscure gazes landing on him—greed, ridicule, pity... Zhang Daobai ignored them and soon arrived straight at the Utility Hall.

The Utility Hall was the place that managed all the Utility Disciples of the Sect. In the past, Zhang Daobai often came here to look for suitable utility tasks.

Inside the task hall, many Utility Disciples were gathered in front of a wall that seemed to be carved from white jade, seriously searching for suitable tasks.

"Sigh~ why is it always tasks like farming, weeding, shoveling manure, and cleaning every day?"

"Heh! With our meager cultivation, what else can we do if not these tasks?"

"Hey! I see this task of following an Outer Sect Disciple out to hunt Yao Beasts has quite high contribution points. Why hasn't anyone chosen it?"

"Heh, that's specially reserved for you. Hurry up and take it!"

"Yeah, this task is specially for newcomers like you who just entered the Sect. Take it quickly, or it'll be gone in a moment."

"That's right! That's right!"

"..."

Watching the crowd teasing the fool with playful eyes, Zhang Daobai couldn't help but feel a bit speechless.

However, he didn't intend to speak up and warn that fool. After all, at a time like this, anyone who spoke up to warn him would also be a fool.

Before processing the Sect withdrawal procedures, Zhang Daobai had one more thing to do, which was to exchange all his remaining contribution points for cultivation resources.

The contribution point exchange area, like the task hall, also had a white jade wall, but there were not many people here.

After Zhang Daobai arrived, he familiarly pressed his identity token against the white jade wall.

The next second, rows of text appeared on the white jade wall next to the identity token.

qi nurturing pill — Two contribution points per pill

bigu pill — One contribution point for two pills

Blazing Fire Talisman — One contribution point per sheet

...The value of Cloud Sword Sect's contribution points was slightly higher than Spirit Stones. For example, a qi nurturing pill that cost two contribution points would cost at least three to four Spirit Stones outside.

Zhang Daobai looked at his remaining two hundred-plus contribution points, and after pondering for a while, he began the exchange.

qi nurturing pills, a necessity for auxiliary cultivation, get some. Blazing Fire Talismans, wind movement talismans, Wood Vine Talismans, Breath Concealing Talismans... indispensable for fighting, scheming, and escaping, get a few of each!

After spending most of his contribution points, Zhang Daobai finally fixed his gaze on a special kind of Talisman.

spirit bird talisman — Ten contribution points per sheet

Why was this spirit bird talisman considered special?

As the name suggests, after using a spirit bird talisman, it would transform into a large bird composed of spiritual power.

But other than being able to fly, this spiritual power bird had no combat strength at all. It could even be broken by a casual strike from an ordinary person.

As for why such a useless Talisman was so expensive?

It was mainly because this spirit bird talisman was a genuine Tier 2 Talisman. Although it was useless, the production cost was high.

Generally, only Tier 1 Perfection Talisman masters would draw spirit bird talismans to practice their Talisman techniques when trying to Breakthrough to become a Tier 2 Talisman master.

After exchanging for one spirit bird talisman, Zhang Daobai's contribution points were essentially zeroed out.

After taking back his identity token, Zhang Daobai turned and went to the nearby extraction window.

Soon, the staff inside handed out a cyan Storage Pouch embroidered with white clouds and immortal swords from the window.

This Storage Pouch was exchanged by Zhang Daobai for fifty contribution points. The space inside was only about ten cubic meters, and everything else was packed inside.

After checking his items, Zhang Daobai went up to the second floor and arrived at the Utility Disciple Registration Office.

Both Utility Disciples newly entering the Sect and those leaving the Sect would have their identities registered or canceled here.

The door to the room was not closed. As soon as Zhang Daobai reached the door, the white-haired old steward sitting behind the desk looked up at him.

"Leaving the Sect?"

The old steward asked after sizing him up with a calm gaze.

"Yes," Zhang Daobai walked to the desk and nodded.

"Identity token."

The old steward said as he took a blue-covered booklet and a pen from the side.

The withdrawal procedure was not complicated. After returning the identity token and completing the registration, Zhang Daobai had officially left the Cloud Sword Sect.

"You must leave the Sect within tomorrow, otherwise, you will bear the consequences yourself."

After completing the withdrawal procedure, the old steward reminded him in a cold tone.

"Understood," Zhang Daobai nodded after looking at his identity token with a complex gaze.

Just as Zhang Daobai turned to leave, the old steward seemed to suddenly think of something and looked up, saying, "There is a Cloud Vessel heading to Yunan City tomorrow morning. If you want to take it, go to the Cloud Ascension Platform early and wait."

"Thank you for the reminder, Elder," Zhang Daobai turned and thanked the old steward upon hearing this.

The old steward didn't say much more. After his gaze lingered on Zhang Daobai's shoulder for a split second, he lowered his head and continued with his work.

Seeing this, Zhang Daobai turned and walked out of the room.