“Today's ceremony is to welcome the future geniuses of our sect,” he said with slightly over-the-top enthusiasm. “Four people! Ha! In this one year, we're getting as many geniuses as we've had in the last twenty years!”

  It was certainly unusual. May wondered if there was a reason for this, or if it was just a coincidence.

  Suddenly, Minnie spoke up: “May, can you stop spacing out? You look weird...”

  May suddenly came to her senses and realized that some of the older people were indeed looking at her unfavorably. She had unfortunately been thinking too much and not paying attention to the situation she was in.

  An Fuqi gestured animatedly as he began to talk about many things. These were thanks, congratulations, and other uninteresting things that resembled a typical performance of this type. In short, he talked about absolutely nothing.

  “Oh, right! We don't have that much time! After all, we have a lot to do! Let's move on to what you're probably waiting for the most!” He suddenly changed the subject and smiled at them. “As you probably know, when geniuses enter the academy, custom dictates that they can ask the sect leader for one thing, so maybe...”

  “Hold on, Elder An!” An older man with brown hair streaked with gray, betraying his age, suddenly interrupted him. “I think there's an issue... that was decided without any consultation with us!”

  To May's complete surprise, An Fuqi's facial expression changed completely. From a cheerful and silly child, she felt fear as his expression darkened. For a moment, she could have been fooled, but she knew that despite his appearance, he was actually an old monster of unknown age.

  “Oh, really? Elder Shuguang Gong, although I don't particularly want to hear what you have to say, go ahead. Say what you have in mind.” He said with unusual seriousness, which was in stark contrast to his earlier behavior.

  “Watch your tone,” he replied in a cold voice, then coughed twice and said, “I think there has been a violation of the old rules of our sect, written down by the first leader.”

  Elder Shuguang's gaze fell on May, who already sensed trouble.

  She had heard of him before. The Yun estate had made sure she had the most important basic information about the sect.

  Shuguang Gong was the second oldest person in the sect after the leader himself. He was also his complete opposite. After the previous leader's death, he was the second candidate, but he did not ultimately become the leader.

  As you might guess, this made him adversely inclined toward Xinsu, the current leader, but nothing could be done against him, as his loyalty to the sect was undeniable.

  The controversy surrounding him stemmed from something else. He was known as an opponent of change. He did not like the fact that outsiders were being accepted into the sect, his aversion to mages was well known, and he considered the Outer Court to be an unnecessary expense that brought no benefits.

  His conservative views gained support among older members of the sect, but at the same time aroused opposition from younger generation and supporters of reform.

  I think I know what he means...

  “Really? Then I'm all ears,” he said, crossing his arms and making no attempt to hide his obvious abhorrence of him.

  “According to the rules, only descendants of cultivators from the Inner Court have the right to join Cloud Academy directly. Not to mention the celebration, where the leader himself will display his privilege in the form of assistance at the beginning of their cultivation journey,” he said, weighing each word carefully. “This rule exists for an important reason. Safety.”

  “The descendants of the Inner Court... The residents of the Outer Court were originally from the Inner Court, so they meet the rules.”

  “Ha! What a joke. The Outer Court is a dumping ground. The failures of the Inner Court who are sent there because they don't meet the expected standards of the Inner Court.” He replied angrily. “They are not true descendants of the Inner Court.”

  “May Shang, who is present here, has reached the sixth stage of Qi Refinement in what you call a ‘dumping ground’. This time, I will warn you: watch your tone!” He hissed with a frown. “To have her participate in the Outer Court tournament would be an humiliation for our entire sect!”

  “That's your opinion. The fact is, however, that you broke the rules by allowing her to enter this place,” he replied calmly. “It is unacceptable, even if you did it in good faith.”

  “Enough!” Elder Ze Yun suddenly interrupted them. “Arguing on this occasion and in front of guests? Have you no shame?”

  Shuguang Gong smiled mockingly.

  “Oh, really? However, from what I've heard, it was you, Elder Yun, who came up with the idea of this invitation,” he said, baring his teeth in a visible grin. “Everyone here also knows that she was a guest at your estate. I dare say that your violation of the law stems from the fact that you are trying to give an unfair advantage to the one you support.”

  “Absurd. It is true that I requested May Shang's inclusion in the celebration, but I did so because she deserves to be here.”

  “Oh, come on, because I think...”

  “Ze Yun was right about one thing. Arguing on this occasion is humiliating.” A woman May didn't know interrupted him.

  Looking at her quickly, she noticed that she had no right ear and realized who she was.

  She was one of two women in the position of High Elder. Her name was Xuan Jiang. She was formations grandmaster and was known for living in seclusion and for her general neutrality. She was generally one of the most liked Elders in the sect because of her non-confrontational nature and endless willingness to help others.

  Shuguang Gong paused for a moment, knowing that he could not say anything bad about her. She was known for not taking sides. This also made many people respect her greatly. Everyone waited to hear what she would say.

  “Let's just vote. Old laws can be changed with the consent of a majority of the High Elders or the sect leader himself.”

  Shuguang Gong smiled. “Sounds good to me,” he said, glancing at An Fuqi, who sighed.

  “So be it,” he replied reluctantly. He wasn't sure how this would end.

  Ze Yun and he himself would certainly be in favor, but the rest...

  “Who is in favor of admitting May Shang, the cultivator from the Outer Court, raise your hand,” said Xuan Jiang.

  May froze. Only three people.

  Ze Yun, for obvious reasons. An Fuqi. And Wo Shi Hao had decided to stand up for her. It was nice, but she didn't have a majority.

  So I came here for nothing?!

  “Ha! Three in favor, four against, one absent! No majority, which means that under current law, May Shang cannot participate in this celebration!”

  Xuan Jiang suddenly spoke up: “Three against. I didn't vote in favor, but not because I'm against it, but because I abstained.”

  Shuguang Gong snorted and rolled his eyes. “All right, it doesn't change anything anyway. So, three people in favor, three people against, one person abstained, and one person absent!”Suddenly, the fat man also spoke up. “By the way, I also abstained from voting.”

  This time, he seemed irritated. “Fine, it doesn't change anything, Fei Wuji!”

  Fei Wuji was mainly known for being a womanizer.

  Hmm, so only two people were against it...

  The last person didn't shout that he had also abstained, but that was no surprise. He was a well-known friend of Shuguang Gong. He was known as the Blade of Wivern. His real name was Shen Baoxu. He was similar to Shuguang, but a dozen times worse than him.

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  “As I said, it doesn't change anything, because without a majority...”

  “I allow May Shang to participate.” With that short sentence, the matter was settled.

  It was the leader of the Xinsu Yun sect.

  Shuguang fell silent. His expression was indifferent, but he was certainly furious. However, he just bowed his head and sat down in his seat.

  …Couldn't he do so right away?

  An Fuqi could barely contain his laughter, but he continued with the ceremony.

  “Well then!” An Fuqi clapped his hands, his earlier tension vanishing in an instant. “Let’s proceed! The Sect Leader himself will now grant each of you one wish, so listen carefully!”

  The sect leader rose from his seat. Despite his elder age, he was still a powerhouse that everyone had to reckon with.

  “As Elder An Fuqi explained, I will listen to your requests, and as long as they are reasonable, I will try to fulfill them,” he said in a loud voice, and no one in the room dared to even breathe.

  There was a brief pause among the children. May knew she definitely didn’t want to go first.

  To be honest, I only recently found out that there would be such an opportunity. I have thought about what I want, but ultimately I am not sure. I kind of want to just ask for money, but I don't know if that's appropriate. In the current situation, it would be best to wait and see what the others ask for.

  Especially considering that there were people in the room who were hostile towards her. She didn't want to give them any more reasons to loathe her.

  Yifan stepped forward. All eyes were on him. May wasn't particularly surprised that he went first.

  “Honorable Sect Leader. Your humble servant, Yifan Wu, bows before your majesty!” He said, bowing extremely low.

  May thought it was a bit exaggerated.

  “That's enough. There's no need to bow so low. Tell me, what do you desire?”

  He swallowed.

  “Leader, if possible, I would like to receive the ability of the former leader. Windy Soul Guidance,” he said with a slight fear in his voice. “I know I am asking for a lot, but I believe this ability fits well with my clan's technique, Primordial Phantom Weapons.”

  The leader fell into thought. “You are indeed asking for a lot. However, I agree to your request. You will have to make a sacred promise, though. This technique will be for you alone, and you will not be able to spread it.”

  The boy was delighted and quickly bowed his head. “Thank you very much, leader! I will certainly not disappoint you and will use this skill for the glory of our sect.”

  The leader simply nodded and motioned for him to step back.

  Windy Soul Guidance? I've never heard of it. He must have thought about it a lot before. Hey Minnie, can you show me this skill?

  As long as she knew the name, she could theoretically check everything, even if she didn't intend to buy it.

  What?! Three million!

  May saw a C-rank skill for the first time.

  It was created by Lin Yun, hmm... I wonder what she thinks about it.

  May quickly understood why he wanted this skill. Fighting him before, she had experienced Primordial Phantom Weapons. They were invisible weapons made of Qi. And if he learned this skill, he wouldn't have to concentrate on attacking, since the weapons he created would attack his opponents on their own, and he could do something completely different in the meantime. May quivered at the very thought.

  However, even if he received it, he would not immediately learn it...

  When May purchased a skill from the system, she immediately understood it completely. In reality, however, it was different and required a lot of hard work. So even if he received this skill, it would take him a long time to master it.

  But three million... Eh, it's a shame I can't sell skills to the system. If I could, I would take the same thing and sell it. Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way.

  The system only bought physical things. It didn't care about knowledge or the details of techniques.

  The boy stepped back and smiled to himself. He got exactly what he wanted.

  Now there were only three of them left. No one came forward.

  There was silence. May was beginning to feel uneasy. Fortunately, Peng Chen stepped forward.

  “I’m listening, boy, what is your wish?”

  “Esteemed leader,” he said, bowing low. “I need something, but I don’t know if it’s even possible or obtainable.”

  “Tell me what you want, and I'll see what I can do.”

  “I... I need a technique, or an item... Or basically anything that would allow me to reduce the Qi energy in my body... Permanently. I don't mean temporarily getting rid of Qi, as is the case after using it, but the total amount that the body is capable of absorbing.”

  Hmm?

  The leader narrowed his eyes and shook his head. “I'm sorry. As cultivation progresses, the amount of Qi that can be accumulated in the body increases. It cannot be reduced. It is only possible to damage the meridians and completely block the accumulation of Qi, but that's not what you mean, is it?” He said, still thinking deeply about the boy's request.

  “No...” He replied regretfully. “Is it even possible...?”

  "I'm afraid not... It's as if you wanted to no longer be able to read. You can look away, pretend to not understand, but your body remembers. All methods would only be temporary. You could only gouge out your eyes, or in your case, destroy your meridians. When we begin to cultivate, our body's ability to absorb Qi increases, but it's a path of no return."

  “I see... In that case, thank you for confirmation, leader. I don't need anything else.” He began to back away.

  “Are you sure you don't want anything else? You haven't asked for anything.”

  “The leader's words and wisdom were enough.”

  Xinsu shook his head. “No. That's not enough. Hmm, I know.” Suddenly, a bookcase appeared behind him! May couldn't believe her eyes.

  The leader took out one of the books with a red cover and threw it at Peng. He caught it and opened it to the first page.

  “Wait, leader... This is...”

  “Something that will be useful to you.”

  Peng smiled and bowed low. Then he closed the book and returned to his previous place.

  May wondered what kind of book it was, but now was not the time for questions.

  It's a strange request, but I feel like there's something to it. They have some kind of hidden secret. Minnie?

  “I'll tell you if you pay me.”

  Then forget it.

  May knew Minnie would name some absurd price, especially since the twins were stronger than her.

  But well... I guess I can go now? I think I know what I'm going to ask for...

  May was about to step forward, but Zu Chen unexpectedly forestalled her. She walked past indifferently and bowed without enthusiasm. She didn't even offer the typical ceremonial greeting to the leader. The Elders looked at her coldly.

  “Respected Zu Chen, what is your wish?”

  There was a brief pause. The leader decided to encourage her. “Go ahead.”

  “Well, yes. I would like a small... No. A large plot of land on the outskirts of the sect, preferably away from people. But I would like it to be a relatively safe place. Preferably nothing stronger than an Archbeast.”

  “Uhmm...”

  “In addition, I want to live away from the world of cultivation. I want the sect to leave me alone and let me live in solitude, away from society and its worries. I want to lead a peaceful life and live off the land.”

  “However, what if...”

  “It would also be nice if the plot had fertile soil. Preferably near a lake. And away from the mountains. I've had enough of them. Hmmm... Well, that's going to be rather difficult in our sect. But something like that.” She said, thinking about something. “Yes... But the most important thing is that the sect will have nothing to do with me! That's my wish. I don't want to be a cultivator. The rest is just a bonus.”

  Everyone was stunned. Even May knew it was absurdly out of line! Besides, since when was she so talkative!

  I hope she doesn't get killed for betraying the sect's values or something...?

  May didn't understand her. Zu Chen wasn't stupid. She didn't know her very well, but she knew that she must have realized how her request sounded. She must have known.

  Everyone fell silent. Most of the sect elders looked at her with anger. Shuguang Gong was the most agitated. Zu Yun also looked at her with immense ire. In such a simple way, she had made enemies of almost the entire sect elite. Except perhaps for An Fuqi, who was trying hard not to laugh.

  Was that her goal?

  “No,” the leader replied briefly.

  “I thought so.” She sighed. “In that case, I want the money.”

  The looks she received were still wrathful, but in this case, her request was much more appropriate, which was quite amusing.

  “30,000 [mu].”

  “So that's how much my life is worth?” she replied.

  This time, Shuguang Gong couldn't take it anymore and slammed his fist on the table. May didn't know that someone could be so red in real life.

  “You must be kidding us! How dare you behave like this!” he shouted, pounding his fist on the table. “You shouldn't get anything! Who do you think you are? You should get thirty lashes! And stripped of all your privileges.”

  Xuan Jiang grabbed him by the sleeve. “Enough. Zu Chen, back off and don't make your situation worse. I think you've already gotten what you were after.

  With an indifferent expression on her face, Zu Chen stepped back as if nothing had happened.

  What was that?

  She wasn't the only one who was confused. Yifan turned pale throughout the shouting in the room, but Peng reacted the worst, appearing to be on the verge of tears. He seemed to be the one who understood the least what had just happened.

  There was a moment of silence. Suddenly, all eyes turned to May. She swallowed hard.

  Well, yes... Now it's my turn. I'm last. However, after what just happened, I don't think I could ask for anything worse.

  The situation in the room was still tense. May calmly stepped forward. She consoled herself with the thought that thanks to Zu Chen, it didn't matter what she asked for.

  “Dear leader...” she said, bowing as she had been taught. Then she said uncertainly, “I... I would like to be exempt from taxes.”

  There was silence. It lasted. And lasted. May wondered if she had just made a huge mistake, as everyone looked at her with cold eyes.