Chương 76: Chapter 75: The Day of Gains!

Could a direct disciple's benefits be given away? Now that's a win! Ye Chen felt a rare sense of joy, a smile spreading across his face. Seeing this, Elder Chen could only shake his head. To be this happy just because no one could steal his resources? The weakest direct disciple in history was truly beyond help. However, Ye Chen's status as a direct disciple would likely not last long. Elder Chen couldn't resist adding, "While the direct disciple title is honorable, it comes with great pressure.

If your performance is subpar, it could even be revoked. For example, direct disciples must participate in the sect's Grand Tournament. If you rank at the bottom for three consecutive years, your status will be revoked.

"Direct disciples enjoy all these sect resources, but they must contribute in return. You'll be assigned the most challenging and dangerous tasks in the sect, ones that no one else dares to take on. At least one task each year. If you fail to meet expectations in two consecutive tasks, you'll be disqualified.

"For tasks that concern the sect's reputation or safety, direct disciples are expected to lead the charge. So, if you feel that your strength isn't enough, it might be better to remain a regular disciple." Elder Chen continued to explain the pros and cons of being a direct disciple. Ye Chen understood well. Indeed, the position of a direct disciple was prestigious, with high rewards. But it also came with higher risks. For geniuses, this wasn't much of an issue. They could quickly convert resources into strength.

But for someone like him, who wasn't a genius, it could be dangerous. He could end up dead from a sect task too dangerous to handle. However, while Ye Chen may not be a natural genius, he had the system. By sending all the benefits of being a direct disciple to the system, he could receive exponential feedback in return. This efficiency would surpass even that of a genius. Maintaining the position of a direct disciple? That wouldn't be difficult at all. So Ye Chen wasn't worried in the slightest.

"Thank you for your advice, Elder Chen! I won't disappoint Master." Ye Chen smiled and thanked him, appreciating the elder's well-intentioned words. Elder Chen shook his head with a hint of exasperation, then turned and left, his figure floating away. The attendants, however, remained behind, diligently handling Ye Chen's paperwork and internal matters. They prepared a residence for him, explained all the necessary protocols, and even delivered his monthly allowance, which was the standard one for direct disciples.

Ye Chen received one mid-grade spirit stone and thirty top-grade pills every month. Just this allocation alone was enough to showcase Green Cloud Sect's generosity. Once the attendants took their leave, Lu Jing and Lin Ke'er entered the residence to begin unpacking. Ye Chen stood before his new dwelling, gazing up at the skies where spirit birds flew, feeling a deep sense of tranquility. He had finally made it into Green Cloud Sect.

Tomorrow, he would explore the sect's halls and see what kind of surprises the senior sisters might bring. Master's hundred-fold feedback was undoubtedly impressive. But his master, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, required things Ye Chen simply could not provide. Even if he barely managed to scrape together some spirit stones to buy what he needed, the hundred-fold return would be of little use to him in his current state. So, while he still intended to please his master, that time was not now.

He would wait until he reached Foundation Establishment himself. Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. For now, his greatest need was a senior sister who could provide high feedback within the Qi Refining stage. Even if he couldn't find one right away, at least Sun Ruoxin had also entered Green Cloud Sect. She could provide him with a reliable fifteen-fold return. So, Ye Chen wasn't in a rush. Before tomorrow, he had other, more pressing matters to attend to.

Turning back, Ye Chen caught sight of Lu Jing and Lin Ke'er busily tidying up the residence. After enduring so much for so long, it was finally time to indulge. Lu Jing, dressed in a long skirt, was bent over arranging the bedding. Her figure, in that moment, reminded Ye Chen of a perfect crescent moon. Meanwhile, Lin Ke'er was using a cleaning spell to dust off the walls, the wind tousling her long hair.

Her face, as she worked, held a cool, innocent beauty, like the face of a first love, breathtaking and ethereal. Which one should he choose? Any normal man would undoubtedly hesitate at such a moment. But Ye Chen didn't. Children make choices. Adults take it all. Ye Chen strode into his new residence, closing the door behind him with a wave of his hand. A moment later, the startled voices of Lu Jing and Lin Ke'er came from within the room, followed by a shift in tone that soon grew unmistakably intimate.

The tension that had built up from Ye Chen's earlier restraint, from his feelings of frustration and longing, had finally found release. For the two women who had been left in an ambiguous state, this was the moment they had unknowingly awaited.... Meanwhile, at the bamboo pavilion atop Sword Peak, Gu Yunyun reclined on a bamboo bed, her stunning, curvaceous form cast in the soft glow of starlight streaming through the window. Beside her, a green flying sword rested, humming faintly in the still night air.

She gazed upward at the sky, where an invisible force of starlight descended, like threads of energy weaving through the vastness above. The moonlight reflected off her elegant silhouette, accentuating the exquisite curves of her figure, now more pronounced due to her reclining posture. This was a secret technique she had acquired; an ability to draw the power of starlight, using it to nurture both her sword and herself. As she channeled the starry energy, her thoughts wandered, lost in contemplation.

Her mind turned to Ye Chen, her newest disciple. Her dissatisfaction with him was undeniable. The debt of life she had owed was paid off with just a single title: "direct disciple." That alone, in her eyes, was more than enough. Yet the boy's talent was dismal, truly subpar. There was a rule within the sect: A peak master could only take one direct disciple in their lifetime. Any additional disciples would be considered normal disciples and would not receive the privileges of a direct disciple.

This rule made Gu Yunyun's feelings toward Ye Chen conflicted. On one hand, she saw no potential in him, no drive to teach or guide him. On the other, she couldn't entirely ignore him, for his connection to a benefactor meant she had to at least give him a chance. Unable to suppress her curiosity, Gu Yunyun extended her divine sense toward Ye Chen's residence, hoping to discern if he was diligently cultivating. Perhaps, if he showed effort, she might consider offering some guidance.

After all, a little support could lead him to break through to Foundation Establishment. But as soon as her divine sense reached his dwelling and she heard the peculiar sounds coming from within, her senses immediately recoiled. Her face flushed a deep crimson, and her beautiful features hardened with dismay. With a light huff, she muttered to herself, "That child cannot be taught."

The very first day in the sect, and instead of focusing on cultivation, planning his future, or nurturing his spirit, he was indulging in such frivolous pursuits. And it wasn't just the sounds of two people, but three! Her direct disciple was truly hopeless. Gu Yunyun, once so indifferent and distant, found herself no longer wishing to lend him a helping hand.

She had been alone since the start of her cultivation journey, and while she had heard of such things, this was the first time she had actually encountered it. Her emotions were in disarray, and in a moment of weakness, she reached into her storage ring and pulled out a wine gourd. With a swift motion, she drank deeply, perhaps too hastily. Some of the wine dribbled from her chin, tracing a delicate path down her slender neck, flowing silently into the neckline of her robes, unnoticed.

Time seemed to stretch on indefinitely as Gu Yunyun, unable to resist, once again extended her divine sense. The moment her consciousness touched the distant residence, a wave of crimson bloomed on her fair face.

"An hour has passed...."

"Two hours have passed...."

"How is it still going on?"

"The sky is nearly bright…."

"Is he not going to sleep?" Gu Yunyun felt a mix of embarrassment and curiosity. Despite his lack of talent, Ye Chen's physical body seemed unexpectedly strong. Her thoughts wandered as the situation unfolded before her. The longer she observed, the more fascinated she became. Eventually, the faintest light appeared on the horizon, and with it, the sounds from Ye Chen's dwelling ceased. Gu Yunyun, still blushing, awkwardly withdrew her divine sense.

There was a mix of discomfort and, to her surprise, a feeling of satisfaction she hadn't anticipated.