After the prizes were distributed, the outer sect competition was still not over.
Elder Ze Xuan cleared his throat, attracting the attention of everyone. Well, that alone might not have attracted the attention of everyone, but the crushing pressure he exuded sure did.
After ensuring that he had everyone's attention, Elder Ze Xuan continued, "All of the thirteen disciples who have won will be given a jade stone. Those who want to become inner sect disciples should gather here with all of your jade stones. Those who do not can only become an inner sect disciple in the next competition."
Ning took the jade stone handed by the Elder. It was smooth, green in color, and seemed like nothing special besides being a bit heavy.
"Truly, the security is way too lax." Ning once again confirmed that the sect probably didn't care much about security.
The only requirement to enter the inner sect was the jade stone, and glancing at the stone itself, there was no numbering or carving. Inserting Qi into the stone didn't produce any changes either. It was a plain old stone. It could only ever hope to gain a fraction of the power possessed by the mighty pebble of pig smiting.
Joking aside, Ning's lips twitched slightly, feeling the 'care' of the sect towards the outer sect disciples.
To prevent someone from entering the inner sect was easy; they just needed to take away one's jade stone, and that's it. This was only useful for the lower-ranking disciples, as high-ranking ones were too recognizable. Of course, unless an elder was purposefully making things difficult...
'It truly seems like a 'master' plan that could happen.' Ning's eyes trailed the 'protagonist' among us.
Well, seeing that the competition was over, Ning didn't return to his cave immediately.
[Eyes of the Hawk]
His eyes darted, searching for a figure, the bookie.
Ning's acute vision soon caught a thin disciple who was busy dismantling his booth in a hurry, but it was already too late.
Ning quickly arrived near the booth.
"What'cha doin'?" As if in an episode of a spy platypus, Ning asked with an extremely gentle smile.
"W-wha?" The bookie, obviously startled by the sudden interruption, shouted loudly, parts of the booth falling down in the process.
"Be careful, Brother." Ning helped pick up the fallen material and handed it to the bookie with a bright smile.
Seeing that smile, the bookie felt a chill go up his spine.
He coughed slightly and spoke with reluctance, "If it isn't the future inner sect disciple, Brother Ning. I was just going to present you with the spirit stones from the bet..."
Hearing that, Ning's smile widened, not quite reaching his narrowed eyes. "Is that so? I trust you, brother."
The guy was clearly planning to run, but since he was caught, he had no choice but to cough up the spirit stones.
"Here, Brother Ning. You earned a total of 430 spirit stones." Since he could not escape, the bookie finally gave up and handed the spirit stones.
He was feeling heart-wrenching pain, but couldn't do anything anymore seeing that he was caught.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
As for trying to fight? Who are you kidding? Why offend an inner sect disciple for just 400 spirit stones?
If it was a lot more than that, then the bookie would have some sinister thoughts, but it was not worth it currently.
Seeing the multitude of expressions on the bookie's face, Ning could guess some of his thoughts, but he did not think too much.
Obtaining another huge sack filled with spirit stones, he was happy.
Truly betting on the protagonist was the right move.
Similarly, from this moment on, Ning also decided to continue this practice. After all, not only would the odds always be stacked against the protagonist leading to greater gains, but he could also show his support in this way. It was a limited edition infinite money glitch that he could abuse with almost no cost.
As for whether there would be more tournaments coming up? Ning never worried about that for a single moment. This was a cultivation world in essence, and no matter what tournaments were the norm here.
Of course, while Ning's thoughts turned quickly, he also helped the bookie collect the material. After everything was collected, the bookie sighed at the end, then suddenly praised Ning, "As expected of a future inner sect disciple. Brother's insight is totally different from ours. Who would have thought that the tra- no, Xiao Fan would win the competition."
"I just got lucky," Ning said modestly, counting the spirit stones he had obtained. Stones good. Stones make monke brain happy.
Finally, after confirming the amount, he closed the sack and said to the disciple beside him, "Thanks, brother. Tell me when you open another gambling booth."
The bookie awkwardly nodded and hurriedly started to dismantle the booth again.
...
Ning found an opportune moment when Fatty Li was alone and bid him goodbye after giving him the location of the bookie. He was not worried that Fatty Li would be cheated with the protagonist's presence.
There was no need to stick around and find out what comes of the protagonist. Moreover, he had a very important thing to do.
Ning walked straight toward the Exchange Hall, his steps particularly light and free.
The Exchange Hall was located at the cusp of the inner sect and the outer sect. The purchase one could make within was also limited by one's rank. It was a massive building and was decorated much more gorgeously than the other halls, with golden carvings.
Overall, it gave the feeling of extravagance.
With great familiarity, Ning walked toward the receptionist. Since most of the disciples were in the arena, the exchange hall was not packed. Well, it was not packed most of the time considering the prices.
"Excuse me, I would like to purchase the lowest-grade space pouch."
Space pouches were also divided into various grades. After all, would it be a cultivation world if everything was not divided into various tiers?
In the exchange list, the highest grade was only a mid-grade space pouch, and that cost around 100 mid-grade spirit stones. One mid-grade stone was about a thousand low-grade spirit stones. However, this conversion rate also varied greatly due to the rarity of mid-grade spirit stones.
The spirit mines that the Pure Qi sect had control over were only of subpar quality, after all. So, mid-grade stones were rarely traded in the outer sect. At least, Ning has never seen one, besides hearing the tales about them.
With his current financial capacity, Ning only had the capacity to purchase the lowest grade.
The receptionist took out a small black pouch and handed it to Ning, saying, "That would be 600 spirit stones. Also, to bind the space pouch, please drop your blood in the pouch."
"Thanks." Ning paid the amount, and he finally got the space pouch.
...
Inside his cave, Ning used a clean needle to extract some blood. For this, he not only sterilized the needle but also used his Pure Qi to make sure it was safe. After all, he never got the whole "bite the flesh of your fingers to bleed" trope from the novels and animes.
Ning was not going to take chances and die from infection after coming to this mystical world, okay?
Ning dropped his blood on the space pouch and felt a kind of mental connection with it. It was somewhat weird but not uncomfortable. Opening and closing the pouch was as simple as flicking a switch.
The space inside the pouch was around 30 cubic feet. It was not big by any means, but it was enough for the current him.
Ning brought out the sack filled with spirit stones and inserted Qi into the space pouch. Suddenly, the sack disappeared into thin air.
Again, with a thought, it reappeared. Disappear, appear. Disappear, appear. Disappear, reappear.
It's magic... Your lizard 'arry... wait.
Let's not go there.
Personally, Ning was quite fascinated by this. Well, anyone who has ever read a cultivation novel would be curious about the legendary spatial ring, or in this case, the space pouch.
The space pouch was just a downgraded version of the spatial ring. The space pouch didn't create a separate independent space for the object; rather, it was engraved with various formations related to storage.
Because of this, Ning needed to use 10 low-grade spirit stones each month to keep the formation running. After all, the formation requires energy or spiritual Qi to run.
"It suddenly seems a lot less mystical now..."