Book Pavilion.

After adding another tally with his brush, Bubai lowered it over the tray, bringing his other hand over. He pointed his fingers like a gun at the brush, summoning a thin stream of water using the Fingertip water technique.

With water flowing from his fingertips like a running faucet, he calmly washed the brush as he did with his hands, his gaze involuntarily drifting to his reflection below...

Even after the technique came to an end, his gaze remained fixed on the watery black ink in the tray below, the fluctuations of its surface reflecting the turmoil in his heart.

Closing his eyes briefly, he turned his attention elsewhere…

When he opened them again, his hands were steady, allowing him to gently dry the brush before stowing it away.

Shifting his gaze to the paper on the table, he counted the tally marks – organized in groups of fourteen.

This was his method to keep track of the days, with each group representing a week.

Amidst the pervasive darkness, it was really, really difficult to keep track of time and day... nearly impossible without tools.

His reliance was the hourglass on Granny Shu's desk. Flipped every twelve hours, it allowed him to roughly estimate the passing days.

It was one of the reasons he diligently came to work because here, he could acquire a rough sense of time – a concept that aided in maintaining his mental stability.

While his mysterious green Qi could keep him sober and shield his mind against negative effects, it couldn't alleviate his internal turmoil and psychological struggles. This remained a burden he bore alone and one he vented when necessary.

Front Desk.

Once again, Bubai cast a glance at the hourglass when he returned the supplies.

Calculating the time, he bowed slightly towards Granny Shu. “Disciple Bubai would like to make a request for a couple of days off.”

Even without inspecting his submitted task, Granny Shu wore a satisfied smile as she nodded. “Yes, you’ve been working hard lately, young Bubai. I understand the darkness is really taxing on you young ones. Go on, take a couple days off to rest if needed.”

“Disciple Bubai thanks Shu Po Po for her understanding.”

Stepping out from the Book Pavilion, Bubai furrowed his brows slightly. “Shu Po Po seems to be rather happy lately.”

How could he tell? Well, even when he requested days off, this time she didn't even request him to make up for the work.

Bubai's mind briefly lingered on this before moving on. Who knows what these eccentric cultivators really think.

He only needs to worry about his own affairs.

In fact, he only took time off because he estimated it was about time for WeiWei to pay a visit. Requesting more days off was merely an uncertainty about the accuracy of his day tracking.

Well, he was confident it fell within these upcoming days.

“Ha... if it isn’t enough, just request more, until…” After slipping on his dirty outfit, Bubai stepped out from the shadowy corner, “For now, let’s go take a walk in the market…”

West District. Twin Towers Plaza.

Bubai's scrutinizing gaze swept across the stalls that lined the now rather quiet plaza.

Though there were still plenty, the once lively marketplace now housed fewer stalls, and the exuberant hawking had given way to suppressed whispers reminiscent of the hushed exchanges in Ling City's black market - minus the suspicious get-ups.

The atmosphere here had definitely become much more subdued during these somber times.

While there were undoubtedly higher profits at times like these, the risks of trading in such tumultuous chaos were equally apparent.

With the imposing presence of the Law Enforcement Hall in the background, the unspoken rule prevailed: while disciples might not resort to murdering another fellow disciple, lost or damaged goods would definitely not come back.

Well, there are always those who are confident…

Bubai, for one, found it surprising that he hadn't fallen victim to robbery thus far.

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Admittedly, he didn’t have much to lose in the first place because he had strategically safeguarded the bulk of his assets in his concealed storage space, leaving only essential items to blindside those who could peek into his storage pouch with their spiritual senses.

Then again, the likelihood of sect disciples becoming the victim of criminal acts remained notably low.

The reason? Well, everyone within the sect had access to more favorable choices as “outlets”.

So, the crime rate remained rather low, at least… between members of the same class.

Nevertheless, this was a demonic sect. So, one must always remain wary. Strength was the ultimate right, and those lacking in might had to resort to alternative methods to sidestep conflicts.

For Bubai, his unsightly attire - his old handyman's outfit that he wore as a farmer, most likely played a role in ensuring his safety thus far. Always dress for the occasion.

Traversing the plaza with a calm gait, Bubai scoured the various stalls in search of specific herbs.

His quest was driven by the need for materials listed in the skin paste and the unusual mask preservation prescriptions – formulas that had took a lot of bargaining to wheedle out from the mysterious old shopkeeper’s hands.

“One strand of black sheep wool, three blades of death grass, a string of earth root, a leaf of mourning mint, wurmwood stem...”

A rather strange set of materials, but according to the old shopkeeper, these herbs and materials were readily available in mortal stores.

Nonetheless, Bubai had wisely stockpiled supplies, sufficient for several months, in anticipation of his incognito mode in the mortal realm.

He was glad he had the foresight because an unexpected series of unfortunate events had thrown him off course.

To put the nail in the coffin, the power of plot had even thrown him into the confines of a sect which had a stringent control over its food and spiritual plants.

Fortunately, the sect management was well aware that it was too much of a hassle to control every single herb flowing through the hands of their disciples.

Thus, they had adapted a rather conservative model, concentrating their control on the source and primary materials of each formula.

Therefore, non-crucial herbs, including mortal ones, may still circulated in the market, and it wasn’t impossible to acquire the materials he needed, just that acquiring them was a bit tedious and rather time-consuming.

In stark contrast to the fertile territories of the Cloud Sword Sect, the desert's mortal tribes don’t grow much here, let alone herbs.

On the other hand, the sect's farms predominantly nurtured spiritual plants, leaving little room for the cultivation of mortal herbs.

Though the herbs Bubai sought weren't subject to strict control, it was still very rare for them to show up in the market.

During his prior market research expeditions, he only collected a handful of sets, mostly of inferior quality and some even damaged.

After a month, he retraced his steps through the plaza, managing to secure some individual herbs, barely assembling a complete set.

Now, his stockpile would suffice for the next three months, even factoring in the estimated consumption during his mask-switching activities.

However, he still had to diligently prepare more whenever he could… for his future masks.

Taking advantage of the decreased popularity of certain resources, he also acquired a small portion required for his subsequent plans. Not finding any more wares that interest him, Bubai was prepared to head back and brew his concoctions.

However, Bubai abruptly halted mid-step, captivated by a sudden burst of brightness piercing through the sect's prevailing darkness.

Oh lord, could it be… the long-absent sun is finally returning?!

However, disappointment swiftly replaced his optimism as his sharp eyesight discerned the persistent sandstorm still raging above the sect.

The radiance didn’t come from outside. Instead, it originated from…

“Light! It’s from the outer sect!”

“Someone is establishing a foundation!”

“Go! Go take a look!”

Joining the fervent tide of nearby disciples, Bubai swiftly rushed towards the outer edges of the plaza. With nimble footwork, he ascended the sandstone buildings with ease, positioning himself to gaze towards the outer sect. There, an intense brilliance captured his attention.

Squinting against the radiant glow, he observed the illusory image manifesting in the distant outer sect.

It took the form of an illusory plant, reminiscent of a dandelion, yet with a unique twist - the white seeds were congregating towards the stem instead of dispersing, as if time was rewinding.

This is… a celestial phenomenon, a hallmark of successful breakthroughs in the higher realms of cultivation!

The stronger the foundation, the grander the phenomenon.

While the books had mentioned that Golden Core breakthroughs could evoke signs spanning entire districts or even the entire sect, the spectacle Bubai was currently witnessing was confined to a smaller, local area.

This was common for Foundation Establishment.

Even so, this was a significant sign that couldn’t be missed, easily visible when one climbed the buildings.

As the breakthrough vision gradually dissipated, returning the sect to its prior darkness, the excited chatter of those around him became increasingly audible.

“That is… the Seed of Pleasure method?”

“Yah, that size probably won’t lose out to some of the geniuses of the sect.”

“Ah, another freak to look out for. Better keep your women hidden.”

“What are you talking about? This is the best time to make a new friend. Hehehe.”

Descending from the building with a thoughtful frown, Bubai reflected on the spectacle he had just witnessed.

He had heard about Foundation Establishment phenomena from Xiao Lan and read about them in books, but this was the first time he had personally observed one.

Seeing truly was believing, and he hadn't anticipated that even a phenomenon of this seemingly "small" scale would garner such widespread attention.

Don’t underestimate the celestial signs of Foundation Establishment because not all of them were as modest as this one.

According to the texts, there were instances of grander heavenly recognition that rivaled those of Golden Core breakthroughs! These were the true evildoers and the core of each sect, enough to send the elders running, eager to accept a new disciple!

As for this newcomer, he didn’t have that fortune.

This experience served as a reminder for Bubai. He realized that unless he wanted to formally inform the sect of his promotion, careful planning would be necessary.

His golden finger was a blessing, but who knows what celestial phenomenon it would use to parade his promotion.

Yet, given his current circumstances, such an exemplary celestial phenomenon may not be a good thing for him.

A tall tree may catch more wind, but it would also be the prime target for lightning strikes.

This fact held true even in an orthodox sect, and he had never forgotten… he was in a demonic sect.