Jian continued his stride, ignoring the whispers and curses trailing behind him, until he reached the Outer Court Treasury.
The Treasury was much like the outer library—organized into levels of access, though less about knowledge and more about resources.
Here, everything was straightforward: as long as you had the points, the item was yours. No questions asked, no restrictions.
Stepping through the wide bronze doors, Jian was met with the scent of aged parchment and polished wood. Rows of shelves stretched across the hall, glowing faintly under spiritual light emanated by some of the treasure on display, each shelf lined with scrolls, manuals, herbs, and artifacts sealed within jade cases.
Behind the front desk sat a man who looked to be in his late thirties. His black robe carried the faint emblem of the sect's outer court, and his expression was the kind of practiced indifference born from years of routine.
Jian approached with steady steps.
"Can I get the Treasury list?" he asked calmly.
The man gave him a short glance before sliding a thick book across the polished counter. "Here. Browse and mark what you want."
Jian accepted the book, its cover heavy with layered seals. Flipping it open, his eyes scanned line after line of carefully inscribed items—basic cultivation manuals, spirit-gathering pills, talismans, beast hides, low-grade weapons, and even a few rare herbs tucked between pages.
His fingers brushed lightly over the entries as his mind worked quickly. He didn't have the luxury of wasting points, every choice had to matter.
A faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips as he began marking selections.
Jian flipped through the treasury catalog with deliberate patience, his eyes narrowing slightly as he scanned each page.
The book wasn't just a list—it was a window into the sect's priorities.
Most of the early pages were filled with low-grade manuals and trinkets, things meant to keep outer disciples content but never truly powerful.
Not wasting time he skimmed past them quickly.
"Spirit-Gathering Pill, 50 points."
Cheap and common. He marked it. No cultivator survived without replenishment.
"Basic Qi Circulation Manual, 200 points."
Useless to him. His foundation was already sharper than most outer court disciples, taking this would be utterly useless to him. He turned the page.
Then he paused.
"Herbal Compendium: Volume I, 500 points."
His eyes lingered. Knowledge was more valuable than most weapons. butvthis was also utterly useless to him as he has studied about any known medicine or pill as that was his niche in his previous life as Yu Jian.
Further down, a glint of interest sparked in his gaze.
"Refined Beast Hide, low-grade spiritual material, 300 points."
Perfect for crafting protective talismans. Jian tapped the entry lightly and marked it down.
He turned another page. Weapons. Swords, sabers, spears—standard stock, all low-grade spirit weapons. He almost closed the section until his eyes caught a modest entry near the bottom:
"Soulsteel Needle Set, 1,200 points."
His lips curved faintly. They looked ordinary, but he knew their true value. Needles were not for brute strength—they were tools of precision, of control. Exactly the kind of weapon that matched his fingers. Even if he was going to train using a weapon he was still going to use his knowledge of medicine. He marked it without hesitation.
By the time he reached the end of the catalog, Jian leaned back slightly, tallying the cost in his mind. He had more than enough points to afford these, but he forced himself to stop there. Spending too much at once would be reckless—attention was already on him, and he needed to keep some cards hidden.
He closed the book and slid it back across the counter.
"These," he said simply.
The middle-aged steward raised a brow as he scanned Jian's selections, perhaps expecting him to splurge wildly after earning such a windfall of points as he could see his points were recently earned.
Instead, the boy's choices were sharp, practical, and—if one looked closely—dangerously well-thought.
"Total comes to 1,550 points," the steward said flatly. "Do you want them delivered to your quarters or will you carry them?"
"I'll take them now," Jian replied. His tone was steady, giving nothing away, but in his heart he knew each of these items wasn't just a purchase, they were investments toward building his strength.
Carrying the weight of his newly purchased items, he left the Treasury and made his way toward his quarters. The corridor stretched ahead in quiet stillness, yet from the corner of his eye, he caught the faintest flicker of movement.
In his prime, when his cultivation had been sharp and honed for infiltration, such things would never escape him. Now, weakened as he was, his senses were dulled—but not dead. He knew when eyes lingered too long, when footsteps pressed too carefully against the earth.
He did not break stride. Instead, he walked as though unaware, his pace calm, his shoulders loose, each step deliberate. Only when he reached a secluded bend, where shadows gathered thick against the stone walls, did he halt.
Turning slightly, his gaze cut toward the hidden presence. His voice came low, even, carrying a weight that belied his current cultivation.
"You should have a very good reason," he said, eyes narrowing, "for tailing me all day."
Seeing that her position had been compromised, Fei Ling stepped out of the shadows. trying so hard to act calm, but was betrayed by the continuous nervous twitch of her lips.
"Ehm…" she stuttered, fumbling for words as though she had swallowed something sharp. "I–I… I like you. After seeing the display of your technique earlier, I… I felt I should come and tell you to court me."
Her cheeks flushed a bright red as her eyes darted from side to side, scanning the pathway to ensure no one else was watching.
It was a flimsy lie. One so obvious that Jian almost laughed aloud. Instead, a sly smile curved his lips.
"So…" he mused, his voice dripping with mockery. "You would choose to be the partner of me—a helper fucker?"
His chuckle was low, mocking yet dangerous. He didn't believe her for a moment, but he was curious. Curious to see just how far this little fox in front of him was willing to go.
Fei Ling's fingers clenched at her robe, but she forced her expression into one of shy determination as this will enable her get more intel about Jian.
Jian tilted his head toward the path leading to his quarters. "If that's the case… then follow me."
The words were casual, yet they struck like a hammer. For the first time, Fei Ling's heart skipped. She hadn't expected him to play along. Worse still, she couldn't turn away now—not without raising suspicion.
So she lowered her head and obeyed, her mind racing with schemes even as her feet carried her closer into his territory.
Jian, however, walked with the calm confidence of someone who already held the upper hand. In his heart, he laughed manically. Let's see, Fei Ling What you're up to.