Chapter 635: Chapter 301 Senior Brother You
Humans are equal.
But shadows are not the same.
A shadow is a resource.
Qi Xiaojin, upon joining the sect, was at the very bottom among the official disciples.
Among these lowest-ranked disciples, some had lingered at the bottom for years without improving their strength due to the quality of their shadows. Thus, they would seize the shadows of new disciples to help them advance and move up.
Without a shadow, or with a poor-quality shadow, considering the cultivation techniques of the Black Withered Saint Sect, one’s cultivation progress cannot be compared to others, and they would only gradually fade into obscurity, or even be expelled from the sect due to their low ranking.
Senior disciples would take the shadows of new disciples, but wouldn’t do so ruthlessly; otherwise, the sect, which turns a blind eye to such matters, would impose a penalty.
Thus, it became an unspoken rule that after seizing a new shadow, they would give their poor-quality shadow to the new junior brothers and sisters.
Progress of new disciples would be hindered by these inferior shadows, wasting their time until they themselves became senior disciples, and then they would seize high-quality shadows from the next generation of new disciples. This had seemingly become an industrial chain, a cycle.
At first, Qi Xiaojin did not understand the way of the Black Withered Saint Sect.
Only later did she realize that, in some sense, the Love Heart Powder was similar to this cultivation method.
It’s as if feeding Love Heart Powder to someone forcibly turns them into one’s own "shadow."
And the ultimate devouring of cultivation level takes this cruelty to the extreme!
The Heartless Daoist... Heartless, a Daoist!
In turbulent times only such monsters could emerge from the harsh environment of the Black Withered Saint Sect.
"Whoever makes a move, I will obtain the shadow I desire; everything relies on one’s own ability."
Qi Xiaojin did not accept the invitation.
She had her own plans and did not need to collaborate with anyone.
However, this clearly angered Junior Sister Gua.
Her face darkening, she watched Qi Xiaojin leave with murderous intent flashing in her eyes.
The Black Withered Saint Sect, though a Holy Land, also had fierce competition for internal resources, not quite the honorable and upright sects, somewhat lying between righteousness and wickedness.
The control over lower disciples wasn’t very strict; resources were placed there for everyone to compete for based on their abilities.
The only limits were the various classes of disciples like outer sect disciples, new disciples, inner sect disciples, direct disciples, etc., clearly defining the levels of strength.
For example, the recent competition for shadow resources was specifically prepared for this batch of lowest-ranked new disciples; only grey-clothed new disciples had the right to compete.
Higher-ranking individuals, despite their strength, were not eligible to vie for this generous resource.
This was the greatest degree of fairness offered by the sect.
Within a certain range of strength, resources were bestowed, and those who stood out could continue to receive more resources.
Qi Xiaojin had the lineage of the Holy Maiden, and with Heartless Daoist, plus some strategies left by players from forums in her past life. By utilizing her relationship with the Holy Maiden, taking advantage of the Black Withered Saint Sect’s bird mounts for travel, and carefully choosing mission locations, her strength was bound to advance leaps and bounds, leaving everyone far behind.
"Become stronger, then prepare for the next Spirit Swapping!"
"If a dog doesn’t obey, then change for another dog!"
Spirit swapping, in a way, reduces lifespan, after all, the erosion of the spirit is irreversible. Once it reaches its limit without changing to a stronger spirit, one would be devoured.
Thus, for a Believer, the number of times they can swap spirits in their lifetime is fixed.
Talent determines the lower limit, and opportunity sets the upper limit.
However, ultimately, one can foresee a bleak future.
Death’s endpoint lies there; every spirit swap is a step closer to the end.
But... the situation has changed, she can no longer comply with the plan step by step, allowing the erosion to reach its peak before swapping for a stronger spirit. The pressing reality forces her to swap spirits and escalate cultivation to reach a stronger realm before the erosion reaches its limit!
"Everything, it’s all worth it."
"I will pave a grand path for Fang Yu!"
...
Boom boom boom!!
Birdless Peak shakes again.
This is the twenty-eighth time this month.
The guards at Birdless Peak turned towards it.
"Switched from the sect’s prison to the forbidden Birdless Peak, what kind of monster is being held there?"
Beneath Birdless Peak, a heavily sealed place.
A woman, bound by hundreds of chains, is confined and suppressed in a dark, sunless chamber.
Her clothes are tattered, her eyes blood-red, her face covered with flesh tumors like disfigurement; occasionally, blood-colored small bugs would burrow out from the skin on her face, then burrow back into her body.
Her left and right arms are fiery red blades, not human arms.
As the woman roars to the sky and desperately shakes her body.
Clang clang clang!!
The whole chamber echoes with the clanging sound of iron chains.
Simultaneously.
The iron chains activate the array, which connects to the suppressing peak.
Boom boom boom!!
Birdless Peak shakes again.
Once the shaking stops, Lian Xiaoya takes deep breaths and slowly raises her head.
Her disheveled hair reveals her blood-red eyes, flickering with insane murderous intent.
"Soon... it’s almost time!"
"Sister, just wait a little longer..."
"I’m about to... get out!!"
...
Tianyuan Town, Stormwind Tower.
"Ms. Zhuo Xueer."
Fang Yu bows.
He has basically mastered the Spring Bud Skill; what’s left is the day-to-day practice to reach the proficiency that pops up in system notifications.