108: Zhenwu Pavilion's methods

Jiang Lan understood.

“So, all those places are occupied by demons?”

“That’s right.” Old Man Huang showed an expression of ‘a teachable Disciple’, “Most of them are demon territories, and a small portion might be uninhabited areas. As for what they’re specifically like, even I don’t know.”

As Jiang Lan listened, a look of longing appeared in his eyes.

In his eyes, how could those be mere demon territories?

Those places were clearly inexhaustible treasuries.

Each and every demon was a mountain of lifespan.

Seeing Jiang Lan’s expression, Old Man Huang’s eyes flickered, and he asked with some hesitation:

“Kid, you’re not thinking of going to those places to kill demons, are you?”

Jiang Lan shook his head.

He certainly wanted to, but it was just a thought.

Even people who could draw the map of Chihong Province couldn’t enter those places, so Jiang Lan didn’t think he could.

“Let me tell you, even if you have such thoughts, extinguish them early. Most of those who drew this map are Core Formation Cultivators. You, who haven’t even reached Mortal Shedding, take one wrong step, and you won’t even know how you died.”

Jiang Lan nodded.

“I understand.”

“Alright, I won’t say more.” Old Man Huang said, “Since you’ve decided to join my Zhenwu Pavilion, then go downstairs and have him make you a token.

“From now on, you are a member of Zhenwu Pavilion. If you want to accept missions, any Zhenwu Pavilion branch will do. Once your contribution reaches ten thousand, you can become a Core Disciple of my Zhenwu Pavilion, and someone will naturally contact you then.

“Oh, and when you go downstairs, have him record nine hundred… no, one thousand contribution points for you.”

Jiang Lan was stunned at the words.

“Why is that?”

Previously, Old Man Huang said there were only three ways to earn contribution.

But he hadn’t done any of them, so why would he be given contribution?

Old Man Huang heard him and said unhurriedly:

“What do you think bringing you up here was for? You are, for better or worse, a Peak Gathering Yuan, just one step away from entering Mortal Shedding. You can’t be called powerful, but in this backwater, you’re not weak. My Zhenwu Pavilion naturally won’t put a Martial Artist like you on the same level as those who just pay money.

“This contribution is a small benefit Zhenwu Pavilion is giving you.”

Jiang Lan suddenly understood, then cupped his fists in thanks.

“Thank you, Old Man Huang.”

“Go on.” Old Man Huang waved his hand.

Jiang Lan turned and pushed the door to go downstairs.

His conversation with Old Man Huang this time had been very beneficial.

Not only that, but he also learned many things he didn’t know before.

For example, the distribution of demons.

Originally, he thought demons just emerged in twos and threes from the mountains.

But now it seemed that was not the case at all.

In fact, two-thirds of the entire Chihong Province map was occupied by demons.

Even if the map wasn’t 100% accurate, and there were some deserted deep-sea no-man’s lands, even if the demon-occupied areas were halved again, they would still occupy at least one-third of Chihong Province.

At the stairwell, Jiang Lan stopped, a thoughtful expression on his face.

He had firmly memorized that map.

Great Yan was located in the northwest corner of the map.

The closest blank area was south of Great Yan, past six small countries, and then about half a small country’s distance further.

Some ideas also popped into his mind.

When he returned this time, he would first ask Yao Banxian if he had any containers that could hold souls.

If he did, he would go with Bao Jing to get some more lifespan.

If not, he planned to set off, cross the six countries, and take a look at that blank area.

However, Jiang Lan also knew his limits; he certainly wouldn’t go deep, only intending to check out the border areas.

After all, near demon territories, there were definitely more demons than in places like Great Yan.

Once the number of demons increased, his opportunities to gain lifespan would naturally also increase.

It was certainly dangerous.

But Jiang Lan believed that danger and opportunity coexisted.

Of course, all of this was just a preliminary idea. As for what to actually do, he still had to return to Great Yan first and see Yao Banxian before deciding.

Coming back to his senses, Jiang Lan walked towards the first floor.

The middle-aged man was still sitting behind the long table. Seeing Jiang Lan come downstairs, he stood up.

Jiang Lan walked to the table and said:

“Excuse me, please make me a token.”

“Alright.” The middle-aged man readily agreed, “Brother, what’s your name?”

“Jiang Lan.” Jiang Lan said, “The Jiang as in river…”

“Good name! Is it Lan as in surging waves?”

Jiang Lan: “…”

You said those four words, none of them seem to fit, do they?

But surprisingly, it didn’t sound like there was anything wrong with it.

Jiang Lan nodded.

The middle-aged man rummaged through the table for a while and took out a blank square token.

The token was entirely black-grey, looking like iron but not quite.

Just as Jiang Lan was wondering how to deal with this blank token, the man took out a chisel from beside him.

He struck the token a few times with a ‘clang, clang’, and Jiang Lan’s name quickly appeared on the token.

It looked quite good.

The man looked up, “How much contribution did Steward Huang say to give you?”

“One thousand.”

The middle-aged man picked up the chisel again.

“Clang, clang, clang…”

In just two or three breaths, two more characters appeared below Jiang Lan’s name.

‘One Thousand’

Jiang Lan’s eyelids twitched a few times.

No, isn’t this a bit too hasty?

So, hitting the token a few times counts as contribution?

Jiang Lan couldn’t help but ask:

“Wouldn’t someone fake it this way?”

The middle-aged man looked up and smiled, “How could that be?”

After speaking, he took out a seal and pressed it firmly onto the two characters ‘One Thousand’ on the token.

Slight indentations immediately appeared on the token.

The middle-aged man continued, “Without Zhenwu Pavilion’s seal, it doesn’t count. Moreover, the origin of all contribution is recorded. No one would risk faking it, and even if they did, it would be seen through at a glance.”

Saying this, the man placed the token on the table, then took out a blank small booklet, wrote a passage in it with a pen, and then took out another seal, dipped it in ink, and stamped it on the booklet.

After everything was done, the middle-aged man took the token and the booklet together and handed them to Jiang Lan.

Jiang Lan took them and opened the booklet, seeing written inside: ‘Peak Gathering Yuan enters the Pavilion, awarded one thousand contribution.’

A red mark was also stamped on it.

Not only that, but Jiang Lan could also feel a mysterious Qi on that mark.

Seeing this, Jiang Lan understood.

This should be Zhenwu Pavilion’s method.

One could only say, it truly lived up to its name as a major Sect. In a world where information transfer basically relied on walking, to be able to come up with such a method was truly impressive.

Jiang Lan raised an eyebrow.

It seemed that this continent was different from the Xuanhuan novels he had read before.

Although the Realms were the same, there were many other differences.

For example, there were no Spirit Stones, Spiritual Veins, or similar things.

And the methods of transmitting and storing information were also very primitive.

It was completely unlike those Xuanhuan novels where a Sect token, once blood-bonded, could record all sorts of information, including contribution.

Logical!