239: Chapter 239 The Turbulent Events at the Spirit Herb Garden

A seemingly shrewd and capable managing monk received them.

"From today on, you are Outer Sect Disciples of our Wuxiang Temple." The managing monk said expressionlessly, his voice carrying a hint of condescending arrogance. "These are your identity tokens, Outer Sect Disciple uniforms, and a copy of the 'Outer Sect Disciple Handbook'. Keep them well."

With a wave of his hand, ten neatly folded cyan monk robes and ten thin booklets appeared out of thin air before everyone.

"In the Outer Sect, everything is determined by contribution points." The managing monk pointed to a massive jade wall and said in an indifferent tone, "If you want to exchange for Cultivation Techniques, Medicinal Pills, Magical Artifacts, or even seek guidance from an Elder, you need contribution points. The only way to obtain contribution points is to complete tasks issued by the Sect."

"Additionally, I must remind you of one thing." His voice suddenly turned cold. "According to Sect rules, every Outer Sect Disciple must pay ten contribution points to the Sect each month as 'fees' for cultivating here. If you fail to pay for three consecutive months, you will be stripped of your Outer Sect Disciple status, demoted back to a Menial Laborer, or even directly expelled from the Sect!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the new Disciples, who had just been immersed in the joy of promotion, all had their expressions change slightly.

Ten contribution points every month!

This was like a sharp sword hanging over their heads, forcing them to tirelessly earn contribution points, not daring to slack off in the slightest.

"Alright, that's the rule." The managing monk seemed satisfied with their reaction and waved his hand impatiently. "Your first basic task is to go to the Spiritual Plant Garden at the back mountain and collect one hundred stalks of 'azure spirit grass'. After completing it, you can come to me to exchange for ten contribution points. Go now, don't stand here getting in the way."

After saying this, he ignored them and went back to handling his own affairs.

Everyone looked at each other. Although they were somewhat dissatisfied with the managing monk's attitude, they dared not say anything and could only silently take their uniforms and booklets before leaving the Logistics Hall.

"This managing monk, what a big ego!" Tianxin said indignantly.

"With strength, naturally comes an ego." Gao Feng's reaction was very calm. As he flipped through the 'Outer Sect Disciple Handbook' in his hand, he said, "What we need to do now is to familiarize ourselves with the rules here as quickly as possible and then survive."

He quickly found the information he wanted from the small booklet.

The competition in the Outer Sect was far more brutal than he had imagined.

The acquisition of contribution points was closely related to the Cultivator's own strength and expertise.

Like Tianxin, who was a Talisman Cultivator, or other Spell Cultivators skilled in Alchemy or Artifact Refining, they could take on tasks with higher technical requirements, such as drawing basic Talismans or assisting in Alchemy. Although these tasks had certain thresholds, the rewards were relatively generous, making it much easier to earn contribution points.

Whereas for Body Refining Cultivators like Gao Feng, their situation was much more awkward.

Because they lacked ranged attacks and Spell means, most of the tasks they could accept were menial labor with meager rewards, such as collecting Spiritual Plants, chopping wood, carrying water, or mining in the mountains. These tasks were arduous, yet the contribution points earned were pitifully low; just maintaining the "minimum consumption" of ten points per month required them to give their all.

In the long run, the gap between Spell Cultivators and Body Refining Cultivators would only widen, creating a vicious cycle.

"This... this is too unfair!" After reading it, Tianxin couldn't help but feel indignant on Gao Feng's behalf.

"There is nothing unfair about it." Gao Feng's gaze remained calm. "The world is just like this; the strong take all, and the weak can only be eliminated. What we need to do now is to complete the task as soon as possible and get our first batch of contribution points."

The two changed into the cyan Outer Sect Disciple uniforms and, following the map's guidance, soon arrived at a vast Spiritual Plant Garden located on the back mountain.

Inside the garden, large patches of lush, green azure spirit grass emitting faint Spiritual Qi were planted, and many Outer Sect Disciples were bending over, working diligently among them.

However, the atmosphere here was not as harmonious as one might imagine.

Gao Feng keenly noticed that at the entrance of the Spiritual Plant Garden, several burly Outer Sect Disciples were gathered together, looking at every Disciple entering or leaving the garden with ill-intentioned gazes.

They were like a group of thugs entrenched on a main thoroughfare, making everyone who passed by feel a sense of unease.

Gao Feng and Tianxin ignored them and walked straight into the Spiritual Plant Garden to start collecting azure spirit grass.

Just as they had collected a dozen stalks of azure spirit grass and were preparing to put them into their medicine basket, a discordant voice rang out behind them.

"Hey, you two newcomers, do you know the rules?"

Gao Feng turned back to look and saw a burly youth with a face full of flabby flesh, accompanied by two followers, walking towards them with a sinister smile.

This person was named Tiger Zhao, a Cultivator at the Qi Refining Second Layer, and was a well-known "local tyrant" in the area around this Spiritual Plant Garden.

"What rules?" Gao Feng frowned slightly. This familiar scene reminded him of Zhang Biao, whom he had encountered back in the Menial Laborer courtyard.

It seemed that no matter what level, this kind of bullying of newcomers was common.

"Rules?" A tall and thin follower behind Tiger Zhao let out a strange laugh and pointed at the medicine basket in Gao Feng and Tianxin's hands. "The rule is that anyone who collects in this Spiritual Plant Garden must pay a 'toll' to Brother Tiger! Hand over half of the azure spirit grass you've collected, and Brother Tiger will ensure you are safe and sound here. Otherwise..."

He shook his sand-pot-sized fist, the threatening implication self-evident.

Tianxin was instantly so angry her little face turned red. "You... how can you do this! This is a task assigned to us by the Sect!"

"Task?" Tiger Zhao sneered, as if he had heard some huge joke. "Little girl, it seems you haven't figured out the survival Law of the Outer Sect yet. Here, the Sect's rules are rules, but our Brother Tiger's rules are also rules! If you're sensible, hand it over obediently to avoid physical suffering!"

They had sized up that Gao Feng and Tianxin were newcomers, and Gao Feng looked like just a Body Refining Cultivator with no future, so naturally, they wanted to come up and extort a sum.

Gao Feng shielded Tianxin behind him, his gaze gradually turning cold.

He originally didn't want to cause trouble, but trouble always came knocking on his door.

"What if we don't hand it over?" Gao Feng's voice was calm without a ripple.

"Not hand it over?" Tiger Zhao's eyes narrowed, flickering with dangerous light. "Kid, it seems you're ungrateful! I've already inquired; you only passed the trial because you were lucky enough to latch onto this little girl! A Body Refining trash who only knows how to use brute force, and you dare to act tough in front of me?"

"Get him! Break his legs! Let him know what the rules are!"

Following Tiger Zhao's order, his two followers immediately sneered and lunged at Gao Feng from the left and right!

One of them pinched a Spell seal, and several cyan wind blades appeared out of thin air, whistling towards Gao Feng's face!

The other unleashed a Flying Sword, which turned into a stream of light and stabbed directly at Gao Feng's chest!

They were both Spell Cultivators, and dealing with a Body Refining Cultivator who they thought was clumsy in his movements was, in their opinion, a sure thing!

The surrounding Disciples who were collecting Spiritual Plants stopped their work upon seeing this scene and retreated far away, watching with gloating or numb eyes.

Clearly, this kind of thing had not happened for the first time here.

Facing the Spell attacks coming from the left and right, there was not a hint of panic on Gao Feng's face.

He didn't even take out the wood-chopping axe he always carried with him.

Just at the moment when the wind blades and the Flying Sword were about to reach him, his body moved!

He did not choose to resist head-on, nor did he choose to dodge. Instead, with a speed that completely exceeded everyone's imagination, he advanced instead of retreating and actively met them!

He stomped his feet hard, and his whole body, like a cannonball fired from a chamber, instantly passed through the tiny gap between the wind blades and the Flying Sword!

"What?!"

The pupils of the two followers who launched the attack shrank sharply, and expressions of disbelief appeared on their faces!

Their attacks had actually missed?!

Before they could react, Gao Feng's figure had already appeared in front of them like a ghost!

"Too slow."

Gao Feng spat out these three words indifferently.

Immediately, his seemingly plain and unremarkable fists struck out like lightning to the left and right!

"Bang! Bang!"

Two dull thuds rang out almost simultaneously!

The two followers felt an irresistible, terrifying force coming from their chests. Their protective Spiritual Qi instantly shattered, and they were sent flying backward as if struck by a high-speed Yao Beast, spitting blood and crashing heavily to the ground, completely losing their combat effectiveness!

One punch each!

Clean and neat!

This sudden scene plunged the entire Spiritual Plant Garden into a deathly silence!

Everyone's faces were filled with shock and disbelief!

Especially Tiger Zhao; the sinister smile on his face completely froze, replaced by endless horror!

This... is this really the speed and strength a Body Refining Cultivator can possess?!

His two Qi Refining Second Layer companions couldn't even take a single punch from the opponent?!

"You... who exactly are you?!" A hint of tremor entered Tiger Zhao's voice.

Gao Feng did not answer him but slowly turned around. His deep eyes were like two bottomless cold pools, coldly staring at him.

Stared at by this gaze, Tiger Zhao felt a bone-chilling coldness shoot straight from the soles of his feet to his crown, making his hair stand on end!

He finally realized that he had likely kicked an iron plate this time!

"Mis... misunderstanding! Junior Brother, this is all a misunderstanding!" Tiger Zhao squeezed out a smile that was uglier than crying and waved his hands repeatedly.

"A misunderstanding?" Gao Feng approached him step by step, each step seeming to tread on his heart. "I seem to have heard someone wanting to break my legs just now?"

"No, no, no! Junior Brother, you misheard! I... I meant that we get to know each other through a fight, I wanted to make friends with Junior Brother!" Tiger Zhao retreated in fear, cold sweat soaking his back.

However, Gao Feng did not give him any chance at all.