The only time I had ever been this excited was when I had been accepted into Harvard. I remembered that day clearly. Sitting in front of my computer with bated breath, waiting for the site to reload and show me my results. Upon seeing I had been accepted, I had let out such a loud scream that the neighbors came running, asking if everything was fine.
That notification about ‘Gaslight Points’ changed everything. Without waiting for a single second more, I opened my status page to check it out.
THE GASLIGHT SYSTEM
Name: Huo Kai
Bone-Age: 16
Gender: Male
Constitution: NA
Spiritual Roots: High grade Tetra-elemental roots
Bloodline: NA
Cultivation: 9th circle of Body-Tempering (800/1000)
Stats:
· Talent: 9
· Will: 14
· Intelligence: 11
· Luck: 3
Gaslight Points (GP): 1000 *
Shop: Reach Qi Condensation to unlock
Skills: Earth Shaking Vajra Leg (100/1000), Stone Splitting Palm (300/1000)
Fate: ???
For the first time since coming into this world, I tried to study my status properly. The name of the system was somewhat self-explanatory, but I would have to explore it more to figure out its nuances.
As far as I could find, the only change on my status screen was the ‘Gaslight Points’. Where it was previously zero, I now had a whopping thousand of them. I clicked the asterix next to the points, hoping it would give me a rundown on how I had earned them.
INTRODUCTION TO GASLIGHT POINTS
Congratulations Host! You have earned your first ever Gaslight Points. Keep up the good work.
· 500 GP earned for successfully bluffing against a person at the same cultivation level.
· 500 GP earned for your first time gaslighting in this world.
Gaslight Points are the resource used by the system whenever you want to buy something from the system shop. GP can be earned by successfully gaslighting someone, bluffing your way out of predicaments, or anything else that stands for the code of the system provided to you. Earn as many GP as you can to reach Godhood faster.
Note: The System Shop will be available once you reach Qi Condensation.
Leaning against the wall my bed was attached to, I let out a breath. This was great, I thought. Earning more GP would allow me to buy stuff from the shop, which means I could cultivate faster. The system was weirdly insistent that I reach Godhood, but I’m sure it was just some motivation.
The next step is to reach Qi Condensation as soon as I can, I decided. From there I can figure out what to do next. Its best to take things slowly when there are so many unknown factors involved.
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I flopped back onto my bed, and closed my eyes, hoping I would not sleep past sunrise. It would not be good if I was late on the first day. In a few seconds, exhaustion overtook me, and I drifted off into a dreamless sleep.
***
A loud commotion roused me from my coma. For a few seconds, I was wondering what I was doing at my college, when the events of the last day came back to me. So it was not a dream, I sighed. I cleaned myself up in a few minutes and changed into the sect robes that had been provided to me. I had to admit, they looked good on me.
I walked out of the door trying to find the ones who were making such a ruckus at such an ungodly hour. As far as I could tell, there was still time before the sun rose. A few rows down from my cottage, two guys were giving it their all fighting each other, shouting obscenities in between their moves.
Interested in how the techniques of this world worked, I watched from afar. Due to our low realms, we were only able to use the strength of our bodies to fight each other. But that did not mean the techniques were not dangerous . Looking closely, I realised that whenever someone was going to use a technique, their body entered a state of harmony. Movements that might have been impossible to execute with a normal human’s body were carried out effortlessly.
Eventually, one of the guys yielded, and sulked back down to one of the higher numbered cottages. Looks like he had been the challenger.
Glancing at the sky, I decided that I should start making my way to the square where we were yesterday. It was better to be early than to be late after all.
My body ached as I tried to make it follow my orders. My legs especially were killing me. I had exerted them more than I thought yesterday. Bringing up my left arm to eye level, I surveyed it. Gone was the piece of flesh that had been attached to my elbow. It actually looked like an arm now. It still throbbed with pain, but nothing compared to yesterday.
My legs soon brought me to the square, as the first rays of light brightened the sky. A few other disciples were already there, evidently having gotten up earlier. A few more minutes later, the rest of the disciples had also gathered. No one had wanted to be late, it seemed.
Just as a ray of light hit the sect gate, Elder Gong appeared in the square magically. There was a senior disciple behind him, although Gong Huan was nowhere to be seen.
That privileged bastard must be sleeping in, I grumbled internally. Makes sense that he would not associate with the rest of us plebeians now.
Elder Gong waited for a minute to see if everyone had arrived, then spoke softly, “Good. It seems that you are all here. The first step on the path of cultivation is being disciplined. Only when the mind and body are disciplined can one achieve immortality.”
“Now that you are all settled in, you must be made familiar with the rules of the sect,” he expressed sternly. “Anyone who fails to follow these rules will be punished accordingly.”
Elder Gong waved the senior disciple forward. Materializing a scroll out of nowhere, he started reading from it in a loud voice, “Rule One: Your loyalty should be first and foremost to your sect. Anything else comes second. Rule Two: Outer disciples are not allowed to go out of the sect except for missions. Inner disciples may leave whenever they want, but they must provide a sufficient reason for it. Lastly, anyone who betrays the sect will be given a punishment so unimaginable that they would wish for death.” At that, he rolled up the scroll and made it disappear. I suspected some sort of storage device.
The disciples were all twittering nervously at the severity of the warnings. They probably had never been placed under such harsh rules before. As my eyes were roaming around the crowd, they fell upon the girl who was my neighbor. She did not seem nervous like the rest. In fact, her face said she expected something like this.
Looking at Elder Gong, he too seemed to have noticed her peculiarity, as he was surreptitiously glancing at her out of the corner of his eyes. My brain that was a law student’s immediately started to come up with some theories, before I shut them down.
I am here to survive, I said to myself. There was no need to involve myself in some kind of plot. My life was going to be difficult enough already with Gong Huan and Gong Men after me, even if he hadn’t made any moves yet.
Once all the disciples had quietened once more, Elder Gong moved forward and said, “Now that you have settled into the sect, it is time to explain what you can use sect points for. They are a form of currency that you can use to exchange for resources inside the sect. Be it pills, weapons, cultivation manuals, techniques, or time to cultivate in the Qi-abundant areas of the sect, everything has a price.”
The faces of all the disciples perked up at this declaration. Even Snobby Girl looked a little interested. Elder Gong smiled a small smile at this and continued, “The inner disciples are going to receive a monthly stipend of 100 sect points until they reach Qi-Condensation, after which it will increase to 500 points. Outer disciples do not get a stipend until they reach Qi-Condensation, which is a 100 points. When one reaches Foundation Establishment is when they are considered a true inner disciple. At that point, all are equal, and only the Elders and Sect Master are above them.”
Those who were declared inner disciples yesterday night had looks of joy upon their faces, while the outer disciples were resigned to their fate. Only a few had determination in their eyes. I took note of them, feeling that they were the ones who would actually rise to Foundation Establishment.
While I was deep in my thoughts, a disciple at the front asked Elder Gong, “And what about personal disciples Elder Gong? What do they get?”
My interest piqued, I looked towards the one who had asked the question and just grinned. It was Lackey #1. So Gong Huan had instructed him to build his reputation among the new disciples. A nice play all things considered, but the truly smart ones wouldn’t fall for it, I thought, looking at a few select disciples.
Elder Gong ran a hand through his beard, then replied, “Personal disciples are different from you all. They get unlimited access to the sect resources, as they are people who have the talent to rise to Gold Core one day. Thus the sect spares no effort to nurture them.”
Many disciples were immediately dejected upon learning of the gap between them and Gong Huan. Seeing their faces, Elder Gong hurriedly said, “But it’s not as if just talent determines where you end up. If you put enough hard work, even you can reach Gold Core one day.” It was an admirable effort, but the damage was already done.
To these young, impressionable minds, learning of the disparity would just demotivate them. Only the strong willed would take these words as a challenge and spur themselves further.
Which is what he aimed for, I concluded, as I looked at Elder Gong’s cold, calculating eyes. That old bastard wanted to separate the weak willed from the ones with real determination. I shuddered in relief, congratulating myself on not trying to look into whatever plot was going on around Snobby Girl. If I had to compete with monsters like these, I may as well hang myself now.
Once all the disciples had mustered neutral looks on their faces again, Elder Gong stated, “As new disciples of the sect, you will be allowed to choose one Qi-Condensation level cultivation method from the Scroll Hall for free. Remember, this only applies for your first manual. You need to pay sect points for the Foundation Establishment level manuals, or if you want to change your method to another one in the middle. Disciple Song here will lead you to the Scroll Hall now.” The senior disciple called Song stepped forward.
“Remember,” Elder Gong warned us, “Your immortal path depends upon your cultivation method. So choose wisely.” He turned with a swish of his robes and flew off into the sky, leaving us a bit stunned with the sudden departure.
Elder Disciple Song called out to us, “Follow me now. The Scroll Hall is a bit of a ways from here.”
The excitement of the disciples was palpable. Getting their hands on a cultivation method for free was something they had never imagined. I was excited too, but for different reasons. Sure, starting my cultivation for free was a great thing, but I knew something that the others didn’t.
After all, isn’t it true of every xianxia that the main character discovers some broken cultivation method in the sect library? I couldn’t wait to find that tattered old book that was lying under the thousands of other manuals with flashy sounding names.