Wu Guang arrived at the entrance brief moments before the time. The restaurant was indeed close to the manor, to be exact it was on the east side of the Central Plaza, basically facing the walls of the manor across it.

It was a three-story building built in the same style as most of the buildings on the main street. The lower, stone floor looked unadorned and simple, but the two wood floors above were lacquered in red and gold, while the roof was covered with golden-colored tiles.

At the entrance, there were no guards, but when he entered, he was met up by a servant dressed neatly in bright colors and asked of the purpose for his visit

"I was cited here by Head Administrator Zhi, my name is Wu Guang"

"Oh, Young Master Guang. Lord Head Administrator has just arrived, let me direct you to his room"

Passing through the packed tavern-like first floor, they ascended the stairs to the second floor. This floor was more adorned than the first one and had only a few tables separated by paper curtains and potted plants. The servant did not stop here and led Wu Guang to the 3rd floor, which was a corridor with several doors on the sides. Each door was tightly shut and nothing could be heard from behind them.

Arriving at a door with several boars engraved on it, the servant gently knocked. After some moments, the door slowly opened and while bowing, the servant motioned for Wu Guang to enter.

This room wasn't very big, being only about ten feet from wall to wall. A large window was located opposite the door, while a low table and several cushions were located in the center. Sitting on one of them, was Zhi Kang, who he had seen several days ago.

Zhi Kang was dressed in white scholar robes, and his long white hair was loose. After Wu Guang entered, he motioned for the servant to leave.

Wu Guang came closer and with a light bow and cupped fists said

"Greetings Uncle Zhi"

"No need to be so formal, sit down" Zhi Kang nodded in response to the greeting

When Wu Guang sat down, after a brief pause Zhi Kang started speaking

"I have spoken several times with Palace Master Chen during the last two days, he told me that you intend to join the Three Hills Sect?"

"Yes Uncle"

"I see. The reason why I have called you here was to discuss several things, but I needed to confirm your intention of entering the cultivation path beforehand" Seeing that Wu Guang was listening attentively, he continued

"As I know, cultivation is a risky and also expensive path. Although you come from a noble family, after the incident there were no money or resources found on the site. As for the manor and the other property they are frozen by the Coast Hill City Manor until you turn sixteen and come to claim them. Also, several rumors that I have heard from passing merchants say that the manor was already occupied by someone.

I am your official guardian, and they didn't even inform me of this, which signifies that it will be hard to reclaim. I am not trying to discourage you, but it seems that your start will be very low"

"I understand Uncle. But wealth can be obtained, while an opportunity like joining the sect is rare"

"I know, that's why as the last alive member of the Zhi family from which your mother comes and considering that I have no children or family to care about, I want to help you at least a bit.

I have saved some money over time. I want to give it to you as funds for your days in the sect"

"Uncle, although I am very thankful, I don't think it would be right for me to accept"

"I was not asking you, I am giving it to you. It isn't much, but at least you should be able to acquire everything you need before reaching the sect, and have some for a rainy day"

"Thank you, Uncle" In his previous life as Bai Qi, although he was a person who always did what he wanted, he always retained a moral code. And seeing that Wu Guang's Uncle, who wasn't really close to the former wanted to give part of his personal wealth, made him truly grateful.

"Good, now with that out of the way. Let's ask the restaurant servants to bring in the food. While we eat, please tell me about what have you learned over the last season while training under Master Shu"

Later, when the food was finished and Wu Guang had recounted some of the customs and living off the Wildlands clans, Zhi Kang passed him a small bag. This bag contained ten gold coins, a hundred silver coins, and five shards of spirit crystal. Seeing the amount, Wu Guang wanted to refuse again, but Zhi Kang stopped him while saying

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"Don't worry youngster. Although it is a steep sum for most, I am the head administrator of the city"

Wu Guang knew that his uncle was known as an extremely honest person, and even considering that he perceived a gold coin every fortnight as salary, this sum was not steep, it was simply enormous. A hundred silver was equal to ten gold while a shard of spirit crystal is valued ten gold each. Although no one in their sane mind would make a trade like that, as the crystals were the only payment method accepted in the cultivator world and were far more rare than gold. So basically, Wu Guang just received almost six years of the Head Administrator salary.

Seeing that Wu Guang still had doubts on his face, Zhi Kang stood up and said

"You should go to the shops while they are open, you are leaving tomorrow, aren't you?

Now take care, don't worry about the money and go. I wish you luck, and if you become a famous cultivator it will be enough for me that you just don't forget that you come from not only from the Wu but also the Zhi family".

Standing up, Wu Guang deeply bowed and before leaving the room said

"Thank you again, Uncle. I will definitively reach the pinnacle of cultivation and definitively not forget who I am or who I was"

Although the last words were a bit strange, Zhi Kang did not pay attention, as only Wu Guang knew what he meant with them.

After leaving the restaurant, Wu Guand decided to follow Zhi Kang's advice and buy everything he would need for his daily life, after all, all that he had at the moment was provided by Ji Yong on Elder Chen's instruction.

Walking the main street and sometimes entering the side alleys, he bought a bag, daily necessities, and several changes of clothes similar to the one he was dressed in. He spent 7 silver coins in total for this.

With that done, he decided to visit one of the herbs and medicine shops nearby and try to find anything useful for him. Most of the stock in such shops was made of non-spiritual herbs, useful only for relieving some common pains and aches, so he was very surprised to find several minor spiritual herbs laying on one of the side counters amongst the normal ones.

After looking around, he quickly understood the situation. This plant, looking like an immature bulb colored in yellow and dark brown was useful to treat any kind of rash or skin damage. Seemingly neither the owner of the store or the people in the city knew of the additional effects the spiritual two-colored bulb had and sold it alongside the normal bulbs.

Wu Guang, from his past memories, knew that if it grew in a qi rich environment, the bulb would achieve minor spirituality and gain several effects very useful for cultivators, and although it was considered a common plant that every plane connected to the Astral Road had, it still was popular even in some middle-level planes.

The effect was simple, if one made a paste and applied all of it over the body before absorbing qi through the skin, it would penetrate the body and both purify and slightly expand the pores. Used correctly, it would even slightly improve the natural absorption of qi.

Without showing any interest, Wu Guang called one of the servants waiting for the clients to order. He quickly made up an excuse of being sent to buy two-colored bulbs for his employer and to avoid explaining why would he buy only the ones that had spirituality, he actually bought several normal ones. After he paid 13 silver coins and received a bag with 10 spiritual and 16 normal two-colored bulbs. The spiritual ones were considered to be a bit more effective, and their price was 20% higher, but with some bargaining, he bought them at an equal price.

With nothing else being of interest in the store he left and started walking towards the tower. He arrived with no incidents and quickly searched for Ji Yong, asking him for a mortar and pestle. When they were brought to him, he gave Ji Yong the normal two-colored bulbs explaining he got them as part of a deal and as he had no use for them, he intended to donate them to the Tower warehouse.

Later that night, before going to sleep, Wu Guang applied half of the paste he made, and activating the 'Chaotic Gathering' reached the first effect successfully. As the other effect can be reached after a second application, he stored the remaining paste into a bottle he got from the kitchen, to apply it some days later and achieve the improvement in absorption.

Finishing this, he quickly went to the bath to clean himself from the paste remains. Returning to his room, he fell asleep quickly after checking that he had done all that he could for tomorrow, the day they would leave the city.