The Qingfeng Sect managed Sect Contribution points quite strictly, always prohibiting private transfers or gifts between disciples.

The only exception was when a True Disciple needed to redeem a Foundation Establishment Pill.

The Sect Contribution system was established to evaluate each disciple’s contributions and to circulate cultivation resources among the members, with the Sect acting as the intermediary.

On a deeper level, the Sect’s High-Tier Cultivators leeched off this very system.

Starting with the managers, they received a meager annual stipend. Once one reached the level of a Steward, it became quite substantial.

As for the Foundation Establishment Elders, they received a thousand Sect Contribution points every year without having to do anything at all. If they took on other duties, they would receive an even greater stipend.

This was all because only High-Tier Cultivators could defend the Spirit Lands suitable for cultivation, protect the rich Ore Veins, and guard the Medicine Gardens where rare Spirit Grass grew...

Since True Disciples were handpicked to be the next generation of Foundation Establishment Cultivators, how could the Sect possibly erect a barrier at the critical moment of their breakthrough? Making them waste precious time slowly accumulating Sect Contribution points would be completely backward.

Even a True Disciple from a poor background would have plenty of fellow sect members willing to sponsor them in hopes of building a good relationship.

Even if they failed to reach Foundation Establishment, they could still slowly repay the debt of Sect Contribution points with their Qi Refining Great Perfection cultivation.

’Elder Peng already offered to lend me Spirit Stones last time, so he probably wouldn’t refuse to loan me three or four thousand Sect Contribution points... And Elder Pei said he was going to give me a Low-Grade Spiritual Artifact. His intention to curry favor is so obvious that if I went to him and asked, I could surely get one or two thousand points... As for Hall Master Liang, that’s hard to say. I’ve only met him once...’

Bai Zichen began to calculate which Elders he could borrow from to cover his shortfall of 8,300 Sect Contribution points.

’I’ll go see Elder Peng first since I know him best and sound him out.’

When he stepped out of his Quiet Chamber, he found Su Lie and the others crowded together by the Moon-Locking Pool. Luo Qi was lying on the ground, his condition unknown.

"What happened?"

Bai Zichen demanded, looking at Cai Heng, who was running around like a headless chicken.

"Senior Brother Bai, just a moment ago, Mo Changfei rushed over with two others. Junior Brother Luo saw them fleeing in a panic and about to trample the two-acre Spirit Field we planted, so he stepped forward to block them. Who would have thought Mo Changfei would summon a Magical Artifact and strike a fatal blow... Then they fled like madmen. By the time we chased after them, we only caught a glimpse of their backs."

Cai Heng’s eyes were red-rimmed. The group was extremely close, like sworn siblings.

"Are you sure it was Mo Changfei?"

Bai Zichen stepped forward and took Luo Qi’s wrist. As he injected a sliver of Magical Power, he discovered the man’s internal organs had been pulverized by a heavy blow. He was only clinging to a thread of life because of the Magical Power still lingering in his cultivator’s body.

In truth, he was beyond saving—no different from a dead man.

Su Lie stepped forward. "It was definitely the Inner Sect Disciple, Mo Changfei. He always wears a flame-red robe; he’s very conspicuous. The two with him were also Mo Family disciples who are always with him, following his lead."

"Go to the Law Enforcement Hall, request an audience with Elder Zhang in my name, and report what happened here. Cai Heng, you go to the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall and bring back a disciple skilled in the healing arts."

After giving his orders, Bai Zichen mounted his sword and rose into the sky. He extended his Divine Sense to its maximum range, searching for any trace of Mo Changfei and his companions.

’Has Mo Changfei gone mad? To attack and kill a fellow sect member right here in the Sect... Even though Luo Qi was only a servant disciple, this crime is as serious as betraying the Sect! At the very, very least, his cultivation would be crippled and he’d be imprisoned until death!’

Bai Zichen couldn’t understand Mo Changfei’s motive. Even if his bloodline made him impulsive and short-tempered, it shouldn’t have been enough to make him lose his mind and commit such a colossal blunder.

He followed the trail until he was outside the perimeter of the Sect Grand Array. Only then did he spot a red dot a thousand feet away, darting through the forest.

"Mo Changfei! You murdered a fellow disciple! Did you really think you could just get away with it?"

Bai Zichen swept his sword in an arc. The Ink Jade Sword Light fanned out across a vast area, covering hundreds of feet in every direction.

The red-robed cultivator produced a bronze mirror and held it before his chest, blocking the Sword Light. The surrounding trees and bushes were not so lucky, and countless were sliced to pieces.

The man had unnervingly red pupils and a look of pure panic on his face. Despite his twisted features, one could still make out his handsome face. It was none other than Mo Changfei.

Bai Zichen wasn’t surprised that his Sword Light was blocked. With such a wide area of effect, its power was naturally diluted. He had only intended to force the three of them to a halt.

Mo Changfei offered no explanation. He pulled out a Talisman that ignited without flame, transforming into a massive red bird. Its brilliant plumage scattered a dazzling light.

The fire patterns on its wings and back formed two distinct, intricate sigils. With a flap of its wings, a surging heatwave billowed out. The great red bird vaguely resembled the legendary Fire Phoenix.

Bai Zichen retreated two steps, raising his Red Cover Treasure Pearl Umbrella. Two Flying Swords landed in his hands, and his expression grew grim.

The great red bird was radiating the aura of a Tier Two Demon Beast, posing an immense threat to him.

"Bai Zichen, just you wait! The Mo Family will fight its way back here sooner or later!"

Mo Changfei leaped onto the great red bird, shooting Bai Zichen a venomous glare before abandoning his two family members on the spot.

A streak of red light flashed. With a single beat of its wings, the great red bird was already a thousand feet away.

In the blink of an eye, it vanished from sight, moving several times faster than his own top speed using Sword Control.

’It’s a phantom summoned by a Tier Two Talisman. It only has the power of flight, no other Tier Two abilities...’

Bai Zichen’s Sword Light pinned the two Mo Family Cultivators in place as he stared for a long time in the direction Mo Changfei had fled.

A Tier Two Talisman designed specifically for escape was truly effective. Carrying one was like having an extra life-saving trump card.

But only someone like Mo Changfei, the most outstanding heir of the Fire Phoenix Mo Family’s Direct Lineage, would be qualified to carry such a Life-Saving Talisman. Each one was incredibly valuable and, crucially, required the Essence Blood of a Mo Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator to create.

’His behavior is bizarre. He murdered a fellow disciple within the Sect... then used his ultimate trump card to flee without a single word. Even if he escapes back to the Mo Family, how can he possibly evade the Sect’s judgment?’

Bai Zichen used his True Inheritance Token to send a signal, relaying his position to the Sect Elders.

’And what he said... did it mean the Mo Family is leaving Black Mountain? What could have happened so suddenly to make them abandon a homeland they’ve occupied for centuries...?’

About fifteen minutes later, several Flying Ships landed, and a group of cultivators from the Law Enforcement Hall emerged.

...

「At the border of Black Mountain County and Hejian County.」

A streak of Demon Light arrived with the speed of a lightning bolt. An ancient crone landed just outside the Spirit Stone Ore Vein.

The crone glanced at the Array protecting the Spirit Stone Ore Vein and let out two sinister cackles. She tipped over a black bottle in her hand, and a torrent of foul, stinking Hei Shui gushed out.

It seemed endless, forming a vast marshland in a short time that completely enveloped the Spirit Stone Ore Vein. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

Any living thing—plants on the ground, fleeing animals—that touched the filthy Hei Shui dissolved instantly, washed away without a trace.

A thick yellow light rose up before the Spirit Stone Ore Vein. Within the light, a Sea of Sand churned endlessly, managing to hold back the rising tide of filthy Hei Shui.

Seven Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Qingfeng Sect were controlling the Tier Two Top-Grade Ten Thousand Miles Yellow Sand Formation, yet they were on high alert as if facing a formidable army, not daring to relax for an instant.

"Granny Ghost! How dare the Ghost Spirit Sect send a Core Formation True Man to invade Black Mountain County! Aren’t they afraid we’ll follow suit and have our own Ancestor strike deep into their territory?"

Mingluan’s face fell in horror. Fortunately, they had prepared for the worst-case scenario before departing. With the help of the Array, the seven Foundation Establishment Elders could just barely hold their ground.

Granny Ghost was one of the Ghost Spirit Sect’s True Men, an Early-Stage Core Formation cultivator. No one knew her real name; this was simply the title she was known by throughout the Cultivation Realm.

"Don’t panic, Junior Brothers!" the stout man in the lead said in a deep voice. "I’ve already sent word to the Sect. As long as we can hold out for a few days, reinforcements will surely arrive. That Granny Ghost won’t dare to stay here for long!"

He was right. Setting aside the more than one hundred Qi Refining disciples, losing seven Foundation Establishment Elders would mean the Qingfeng Sect had lost twenty percent of its Elders in one fell swoop. It would be a devastating blow, one the Sect could not possibly ignore.