55: resource deduction

Finally, it was his turn.

Lin Ye handed his identity token into the window.

The one responsible for distributing resources was an Inner Sect Disciple who looked quite shrewd. He took Lin Ye's token, and when he saw the words “Lin Ye,” a complex expression flashed in his shrewd eyes.

He subconsciously glanced towards the main hall's entrance, as if he feared something.

Then, he took the token, reluctantly swiped it on the registration jade slip, and turned around. From the dazzling array of resources behind him, he took down a small, even somewhat shriveled Storage Pouch and threw it onto the counter.

His actions were full of perfunctory nonchalance, and his tone was extremely cold: “Here, yours. New Disciple, lowest rank. Remember to work hard next month.”

Around him, several Disciples who had not yet left stretched their necks subconsciously when they saw this scene.

Lin Ye did not speak. He calmly picked up the Storage Pouch and swept his Divine Sense lightly inside.

Immediately, for the first time, a cold, sharp light flashed deep within his always calm eyes.

Inside that small Storage Pouch, there lay, all alone... ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones.

A bottle containing three dark-colored, impure, and lowest-grade Qi Condensation Medicinal Pills.

And... that was it.

This was... an Inner Sect Disciple's monthly Cultivation resources?

Lin Ye's heart sank instantly.

This meager amount, let alone compared to the Geniuses ranked higher, wasn't much more than the monthly allowance of even the elite Outer Sect Disciples!

He slowly raised his head, his calm eyes looking at the shrewd Disciple behind the window, who was avoiding his gaze and dared not meet his eyes.

“Senior Brother,” his voice was still calm, “as far as I know, even a newly promoted Inner Sect Disciple of the lowest rank should receive thirty Low-Grade Spirit Stones and a bottle of ten Medium Grade Qi Condensation Medicinal Pills monthly. I wonder... why is it that when it comes to me, there is only this much left?”

That shrewd Disciple felt a chill in his heart from Lin Ye's calm gaze, but remembering Han Meng's overbearing face, he still bit the bullet and said impatiently: “Why so many questions! Sect resources are tight, this month, there's only this much! If you have the ability, go complain to the Karma Elder! If not, then just take it and scram, don't delay the Senior Brothers behind you!”

His words were spoken with righteous indignation, yet he was outwardly fierce but inwardly timid.

Lin Ye quietly looked at him for a moment, not saying another word of nonsense.

He silently put the shriveled Storage Pouch back into his embrace.

Then, he calmly nodded to that Disciple.

“Thank you, Senior Brother.”

After speaking, he turned around and, amidst the sympathetic and mocking gazes of those around him, calmly walked out of the Merit Hall's main entrance, step by step.

Watching his thin yet stubborn back, the main hall once again erupted in uncontrollable discussion.

“See? This is the consequence of offending Senior Brother Han Meng!”

“How miserable! With these meager resources, let alone Cultivating, it's probably not even enough to maintain the most basic Spiritual Qi circulation in his Immortal Cave, right?”

“Now, his ‘Genius’ title is probably going to become a complete joke!”

...Walking on the mountain path back to Black Rock Peak, Lin Ye's face still held that calm, unruffled expression.

But his hands, hidden beneath his sleeves, were already clenched tightly into fists!

He opened his hand, looking at the few cold Low-Grade Spirit Stones emitting a faint Spiritual Light in his palm. Su Qingyue's cold words from last night echoed in his ears once more.

“This place is a cradle for Geniuses... and Hell for the mediocre.”

“Everything must be fought for, snatched, with strength!”

He now finally experienced firsthand the bloody cruelty contained within those words!

Without strength, without background, you can't even keep your most basic share of resources! Others can unscrupulously take what should belong to you from your hands! And you, you don't even have the right to resist!

“Han Meng...”

Lin Ye silently whispered the name in his heart.

He knew that from today onwards, there was no longer any room for maneuver between him and this ninth-ranked Inner Sect Disciple!

Returning to that desolate Immortal Cave that belonged only to him, the stone door closed with a “rumble.”

Lin Ye poured his pathetic resources onto the cold stone bed.

Ten Low-Grade Spirit Stones, three inferior Qi Condensation Medicinal Pills.

With a thought, he brought up the System panel, looking at the six idle tasks running simultaneously, and quickly calculated in his mind.

“The Golden Bell Shield and Iron Sand Palm are Body Refining Cultivation Techniques, consuming one's own vital Qi and blood. Spirit Stones and Medicinal Pills have little effect on them. But the Wind Control Art and Wind Chasing Sword Technique are Profound Rank Cultivation Techniques, requiring a huge amount of Spiritual Qi! And Aura Simulation and Breath Concealment Art also need spiritual power to maintain their operation...”

He discovered a fatal problem.

Although the System's idle Cultivation saved him time in comprehending Cultivation Techniques, the law of conservation of energy seemed to apply in this world as well. The higher the grade of the Cultivation Technique, the more terrifying the System's extraction of his own spiritual power and vital Qi and blood when simulating Cultivation in the background!

Without enough external resources to supplement him, his body simply couldn't support such high-intensity multi-threaded idle Cultivation!

“These meager resources... are a drop in the bucket!”

Han Meng's move of pulling the rug from under him was truly vicious! He intended to fundamentally and completely stifle his path to becoming stronger!

Without resources, his idle Cultivation efficiency would be greatly reduced, and he might even fall into stagnation due to overdrawing his body! In the Inner Sect ranking a month later, he would undoubtedly be at the bottom.

Anger solves nothing.

He must find a way to quickly acquire resources, a way to break free from this resource predicament... a path to breakthrough!