Projection of the Heavens: I prove my immortality through slaughter.

Inside the bamboo hut, the furnishings were extremely simple: a bed, a table, and a futon—nothing more, exuding a sense of returning to nature. However, the moment Lin Xuan stepped inside, he felt every pore on his body involuntarily open up. The pure spiritual energy permeating the air was almost condensed into an invisible mist; each breath felt like drinking from a sweet, clear spring, refreshing and invigorating, far surpassing the simple treehouse he had in the Qinglan Mountains, and leaving the polluted and thin spiritual energy environment of the refugee settlement far behind! This was the foundation of a sect; even a mere elder's peak on the edge of the outer sect's area possessed a cultivation environment far exceeding the imagination of independent cultivators.

He did not immediately immerse himself in cultivation despite the superior environment. The better the environment, the more cautious he needed to be. He first took out the storage bag given to him by his master, Mo Yuan.

His divine sense probed inside, revealing a surprisingly spacious interior, several times larger than the inferior storage bag he had obtained from the scarred cultivator, a testament to the sect's resources. The items inside were neatly arranged: several sets of standard blue robes for outer disciples of the Qingyun Sect, cool and silky to the touch, exceptionally supple, clearly infused with some kind of low-grade spirit silk. Not only were they comfortable to wear, but they also provided basic protection and a lasting dust-cleaning effect, far superior to his coarse linen clothes. A palm-sized, warm and translucent blue jade tablet bore the two characters "Qingyun" in ancient seal script on the front, exuding a powerful aura, while the back bore the four smaller but clear characters "Outer Sect · Lin Xuan." This was his identification in this realm, and his means of movement within the sect.

Besides these, there was a small pile of neatly stacked, gleaming low-grade spirit stones—a quick glance revealed over a hundred! This was almost double his entire fortune, earned through countless battles hunting demonic beasts and retaliating against his enemies! Presumably, this was a combination of the extra reward for the top spot in the selection and the initial allowance for the elder's registered disciple. There were also several white jade porcelain bottles labeled "Qi Gathering Pill" and "Yuan Cultivation Pill." Uncorking them and taking a sniff, the fragrance was pure, the pills round and smooth—clearly a grade higher than the ordinary goods circulating in the market.

Finally, there is a seemingly ordinary jade slip that carries a wealth of information.

Lin Xuan gently placed the jade slip on his forehead, concentrated his mind, and instantly, a large amount of well-organized information flowed into his mind like a gentle stream, yet he did not feel any swelling or pain, which showed that the person who made the jade slip had extremely high spiritual cultivation.

"Complete Rules of Qingyun Sect", "Code of Conduct and Rights and Obligations of Outer Disciples", "Detailed Explanation of Sect Territory and Marking of Forbidden Areas", "Illustrated Catalogue and Habits of Common First to Third-Tier Spirit Herbs and Monsters", "Complete Guide to Basic Spells (Applicable to Qi Refining Stage)"... The content is all-encompassing and meticulous, as if a magnificent and detailed scroll of the orthodox cultivation world is slowly unfolding before him, pointing out the direction and boundaries for him, a former "wild" independent cultivator.

He first calmed down and carefully studied the "Clan Rules" and "Disciples' Guidelines".

The Qingyun Sect has a strict hierarchy and clear rules. From top to bottom, it is divided into the Sect Master, Peak Masters, Inner and Outer Sect Elders, Core Disciples, Inner Sect Disciples, Outer Sect Disciples, and a large number of miscellaneous disciples. Outer Sect Disciples are not carefree after entering the sect; they must complete certain sect tasks to accumulate "contribution points." These points are the sect's hard currency, used to exchange for more advanced cultivation techniques, high-quality elixirs, powerful magic weapons, and even the precious opportunity to listen to lectures and guidance from Foundation Establishment Masters and Golden Core Elders. The sect also conducts annual assessments. Those who fail repeatedly or whose contribution points consistently fall below the standard risk being demoted to miscellaneous disciples or even having their cultivation abolished and being expelled from the sect.

"Contribution points..." Lin Xuan memorized these two words. In this place, the importance of this item, to some extent, even surpassed that of spirit stones.

He then browsed through the "Detailed Explanation of the Sect's Territory." The Qingyun Sect occupies a vast area, with towering peaks. Xianyun Peak, the secluded cultivation place of Elder Mo Yuan, the Transmission of Skills Elder, is located at the border of the sect's core area and outer sect area. It is rich in spiritual energy and holds a transcendent status; ordinary outer sect disciples are not allowed to enter without being summoned. The main activity and cultivation areas for outer sect disciples are distributed across numerous external affairs peaks, the Transmission of Skills Hall, the Discipline Hall, the Mission Hall, and the market areas established within the sect.

The Mission Hall is his primary location for acquiring contribution points. The sect's market, on the other hand, far surpasses the chaotic, small market outside in terms of scale and the quality of its goods; it's said that treasures even Foundation Establishment cultivators might occasionally find there.

After digesting this basic information, Lin Xuan changed into a brand-new blue robe. The robe fit him perfectly, highlighting his increasingly tall and upright figure. He looked less disheveled and world-weary than before, and more refined and otherworldly, befitting a disciple of a sect. However, his deep, well-like eyes remained calm, revealing little emotion, making it difficult to fathom his inner thoughts.

He carefully hung the cyan jade pendant, which represented his status and some privileges, on his waist, and pushed open the door to go out.

Standing atop Xianyun Peak, gazing into the distance, one sees a sea of ​​clouds churning below, like waves crashing against the shore. Countless verdant peaks peek out from within the clouds, like sharp swords piercing the sky. Pavilions, towers, and flying eaves appear and disappear amidst the mist, while streaks of light of various colors or steady beams of light can be seen, like shooting stars, moving orderly between the peaks, creating a bustling and vibrant scene of immortal life.

"I need to familiarize myself with the environment as soon as possible. Contribution points are also essential for cultivation." Lin Xuan made up his mind. "Let's go to the mission hall first."

He discerned the direction, his stellar spiritual energy stirred slightly, and he activated his Wind Control Technique, instantly becoming as light and agile as a swallow. He traversed the steep mountain steps and winding mountain paths, heading towards the mission hall clearly marked on the jade slip map. As a disciple personally acknowledged by Elder Mo, he had the right of way to pass through most non-restricted areas within the sect, and his journey was unimpeded.

Along the way, he encountered many outer sect disciples who were also dressed in green robes. When these disciples saw him coming down from the direction of Xianyun Peak, and felt the special faint light emanating from the token at his waist that was different from that of ordinary outer sect disciples (this was explained in detail in the jade slip), they all showed surprise. They slowed down and stepped aside to make way for him. Their eyes were filled with curiosity, scrutiny and a hint of barely perceptible awe. No one dared to step forward to speak to him casually, and no one dared to stop him.

Lin Xuan could clearly feel the invisible yet real difference in rank and the convenience brought by status. This was one of the benefits of having a powerful backer.

The Mission Hall is situated atop a mountain peak dedicated to handling outer sect affairs. The hall is magnificent, bustling with activity, and disciples come and go in a constant stream, creating a vibrant atmosphere. The interior is incredibly spacious, with countless jade tablets, each shimmering with different colored lights, hanging densely on the walls like stars in the night sky. Each tablet is imprinted with different mission details and corresponding contribution point rewards.

[Gather ten 10-year-old Qingxin Grass stalks, in perfect condition. Reward: 5 Contribution Points.] [Hunt down a mid-tier Tier 1 demon beast, the "Fire Fox," and obtain its complete pelt. Bring back the evidence. Reward: 15 Contribution Points.] [Assist the alchemy room steward in managing the earth fire. Requires pure fire-attribute spiritual power for three consecutive days. Reward: 30 Contribution Points.] [Guard the Northern Foothills Herb Garden for one month. Requires mastery of wood-type nourishing minor spells to ensure the growth of spiritual herbs. Reward: 50 Contribution Points.]

The tasks are varied, with different levels of difficulty and time required, and the rewards naturally vary as well. According to the jade slip, the theoretical exchange ratio between contribution points and low-grade spirit stones is roughly one to one, but many rare resources and high-level cultivation techniques within the sect often only recognize contribution points, making spirit stones difficult to purchase.

Lin Xuan calmly scanned the numerous mission tokens, not rushing to accept those missions that offered lucrative rewards but were clearly time-consuming, dangerous, or required specific skills. Having just entered the sect, his foundation was not yet stable. What he needed most at the moment was not to rush to show off, but a relatively stable transitional environment that would allow him to conceal his secrets and provide ample time for cultivation.

Finally, his gaze fell on the jade tablet with the mission message: "Guard the Northern Foothills Herb Garden for One Month".

The Northern Foothills Herb Garden is located on the northernmost edge of the sect's jurisdiction, beyond which lies the depths of the continuous Azure Mist Mountains, making its location extremely remote. Because it lies at the edge of a spiritual vein, the spiritual energy is relatively thin, and the garden mainly cultivates low-grade spiritual herbs such as "Blood-Coagulating Grass" and "Qi-Gathering Flower," which are of little value. Therefore, the contribution point reward for this task is low, and the requirement for the guardian to be proficient in wood-type magic to maintain the vitality of the herbs makes the work tedious, resulting in very few people accepting the task, and the spiritual light on the jade token appears somewhat dim.

However, all these conditions were perfect for Lin Xuan. Seclusion meant tranquility, minimizing unnecessary attention and disturbance. Guarding the herb garden was a light task, allowing him ample free time for cultivation. As for the requirements of wood-type magic… although he primarily cultivated the domineering and pure "Star River Qi Refining Technique," with his far superior divine sense compared to others of his level and his profound understanding of the nature of energy, simulating the gentle nourishing effect of wood-type spiritual power was a piece of cake.

He walked straight to the counter of the disciple in charge of registration and task distribution, handed over his identity token, and said calmly, "Senior brother, thank you for your trouble. I will take on the task of guarding the North Foothills Medicinal Garden."

The disciple in charge took the token and habitually scanned it with his divine sense. When he sensed the unique mark and the words "Registered Disciple" on the token, a hint of undisguised surprise flashed across his face, and his attitude instantly became respectful, even with a touch of flattery: "So it's Junior Brother Lin! My apologies for not recognizing you! But... this Northern Foothills Herb Garden is located in a remote area with thin spiritual energy, the tasks are quite tedious, and the contribution points are really not many. With your status, Junior Brother, are you sure you want to accept such a task?" His words carried a hint of reminder, as if he felt that this newly promoted "connected person" was somewhat out of touch with the ways of the world.

"It's alright, a quiet place is perfect for cultivation, so I'll choose this mission." Lin Xuan's tone was calm, yet carried an undeniable certainty.

"Alright, alright, since Junior Brother has made up his mind, I will handle it for you now." Seeing this, the disciple in charge said no more and quickly completed the handover procedures, handing over a token that controlled the simple early warning and protection array around the herb garden to Lin Xuan, and explaining in detail the specific location of the herb garden, daily precautions, and the relevant procedures for the handover one month later.

After completing the formalities, Lin Xuan did not linger in the noisy hall any longer. He put away the token, turned around, and left, heading straight for the Northern Foothills Herb Garden located on the edge of the sect.

As the records stated, the further north they went, the fewer disciples they encountered, and the more primitive and desolate the surrounding scenery became. The concentration of spiritual energy in the air decreased at a perceptible rate. After traveling for about half an hour, a medicinal garden, roughly enclosed by a low fence of spiritual wood, quietly nestled in a sheltered mountain valley. The garden was neatly divided into dozens of plots of varying sizes, and the spiritual herbs planted there were indeed of low quality, growing only so-so, indicating a lack of careful tending.

Beside the herb garden, there was only a simple stone house built of bluestone, with a low lintel. This was the temporary residence of the successive guards.

Lin Xuan took out the array token, infused it with a wisp of spiritual power, and the token flashed with a faint light. A subtle ripple appeared above the seemingly ordinary fence in front of him, then disappeared. He stepped inside, first pushing open the wooden door of the stone house. A faint smell of mildew and dust rushed out. The tables, chairs, and beds inside were covered with a thin layer of dust, and there were even some cobwebs in the corners. Clearly, no one had visited this place since the previous guard left.

He didn't care about this. Starlight energy flowed between his fingertips, and he casually used several improved versions of the "Dust Purification Technique." Like an invisible breeze, it swept through every corner of the room. In no time, the stone house was bright and clean, completely renewed, and even the air became fresh.

He then walked to the edge of the herb field, his gaze sweeping over the slightly wilted spiritual herbs. He had never cultivated any orthodox wood-type techniques, but with a slight thought, he began to try. He manipulated the stellar spiritual power within his dantian, using its attribute-less yet all-encompassing nature to simulate the spiritual power fluctuations and operation of the lowest-level wood-type spell, "Spring Breeze and Rain Technique."

A soft, pale green light, brimming with vitality, subtly emanated from his fingertips, like the gentlest drizzle of early spring, silently falling upon the slightly parched medicinal field. A miraculous scene unfolded: the previously listless herbs, as if parched by rain, unfurled their leaves at a visible speed, regaining their vibrant green color, and the faint spiritual light emanating from the plants seemed to solidify slightly.

The effect is even more significant and gentle than the authentic "Spring Breeze and Rain Technique" performed by many disciples who specialize in wood-type techniques! This is the mysterious bonus brought about by the high-level nature of stellar spiritual power when simulating various attributes.

After completing this first step of routine maintenance, Lin Xuan returned to the spotless stone house and sat cross-legged on the only futon there.

Outside the window lay the silent, verdant mountains and the medicinal garden that he had just brought to life. Inside, he was alone, with this small world of his own.

Here, there is no enviable rich spiritual energy at the summit of Xianyun Peak, nor the seemingly gentle yet unfathomably deep protective gaze of Elder Mo, but there is what he values ​​and needs most right now—absolute freedom and rare tranquility.

He slowly closed his eyes, his mind sinking into his dantian. The vortex of energy formed by countless starlight began to rotate slowly and faster, like an eternal nebula in the universe. It absorbed the power of the stars that fell from the sky and was imperceptible to ordinary people, and also absorbed the spiritual energy of heaven and earth in this area, which was much thinner than in the core area.

Upon entering Qingyun Sect, he did not rush to integrate into the seemingly prosperous but actually turbulent sect vortex. Instead, he chose this remote corner that was forgotten by most people.

Hibernation is not out of fear, but to accumulate strength and wait for the wind that will eventually rise and take flight.