Chapter 72: Borrowing Points

Seeing Ye Qingchen standing motionless, the disciple in charge of distributing tasks couldn’t help but sneer.

"What’s the matter? Hesitating? Frankly, I don’t recommend that new Outer Sect Disciples like you take this task. Spiritual Medicine Purification is something only a Provisional Alchemist can do, and it’s extremely difficult for an ordinary person to succeed! I’ve seen plenty of Outer Sect Disciples like you try to earn points through Spiritual Medicine Purification. Ninety-nine percent of them come full of confidence and leave in disappointment, wasting their points for nothing!"

Ye Qingchen scratched the back of his head and gave a dry laugh. "Senior Brother, I’m not hesitating, I just don’t have enough points. Could you make an exception? Let me take the Spiritual Medicine Purification task first. Once I turn in the purified Spiritual Medicine for points, you can deduct the cost from my earnings."

"What? You want to take it on credit?" The disciple in charge of tasks was taken aback, then his face filled with exasperation. "You don’t have any points, yet you still want to take this task? Do you think the Qingyun Sect is a charity? If everyone could get things on credit, what would be the point of having rules! Get lost if you don’t have points, and stop wasting my time!"

He had seen poor disciples before, but he had never met one like Ye Qingchen—not only poor but also shameless enough to ask for credit.

With a helpless expression, Ye Qingchen decided to try one last thing. He turned and called out to the disciples in the line behind him. "Everyone, I am Ye Qingchen, an Outer Sect Disciple. Might I borrow some Sect points? Once I complete my task, I will certainly return the full amount with interest!"

"Ye Qingchen? You’re the Ye Qingchen who killed an Inner Sect Disciple a few days ago!" quite a few people in the line exclaimed.

"Indeed, I am!" Ye Qingchen nodded, his eyes lighting up. "I only need to borrow three hundred points. It’s not much. I’m in a bind and would appreciate your help!"

It seems I have some reputation in the Qingyun Sect after all. Maybe I can borrow the Sect points! As long as I can start the Spiritual Medicine Purification, the rate of earning points will be extremely high. I’m confident I can earn enough to buy a Breakthrough Pill within three days!

"No way!"

"A newcomer wants to earn points purifying Spiritual Medicine? He must be dreaming!"

"Lending him points would be like throwing them away. Absolutely not!"

The disciples in the line behind him all shook their heads. Not a single person was willing to lend him points.

Ye Qingchen was stunned.

Am I really that unreliable?

"Are you taking a task or not? If not, hurry up and get lost! Stop hogging the line!" someone from behind urged him.

Utterly disappointed, Ye Qingchen left the line and turned to leave.

"Junior Brother Ye Qingchen!"

Just then, a pleasantly surprised voice called out. Ye Qingchen looked up to see an Inner Sect Disciple smiling at him. It was none other than Wang Qiang, the very disciple who had guided him when he first joined the Sect. Behind him stood a group of five or six men and women.

A woman in a fiery red outfit at the front of the group sized Ye Qingchen up with her large, blinking eyes. She leaned in close and giggled charmingly. "Senior Brother Wang Qiang, is this the Junior Brother Ye Qingchen you told us about? He’s not only talented but also quite handsome!"

The young woman had a high-bridged nose and ink-black hair draped casually over her shoulders. She was as eye-catching as a walking flame. Her gaze toward Ye Qingchen was so aggressive it was as if she could eat him whole. It was the first time Ye Qingchen had ever met such a bold and unrestrained girl, and he instinctively took a step back.

"Hong Yan, Ye Qingchen just joined the Sect. You’ll scare him like this!" Wang Qiang said, waving a hand at her.

"Tch, it’s not like I’m going to eat him!" Hong Yan shook her head with a chuckle, though she did take a step back.

Ye Qingchen cupped his hands and smiled at Wang Qiang. "Greetings, Senior Brother Wang Qiang!"

"Leaving so soon? You don’t look too happy. Did you run into some trouble?" Wang Qiang asked curiously.

"I wanted to borrow some Sect points to accept a task, but no one was willing to lend me any," Ye Qingchen replied truthfully.

Before Wang Qiang could speak, Hong Yan, who had just stepped back, took two steps forward, once again getting close to Ye Qingchen. Her breath warmed his face as she spoke. "Why bother others for something as trivial as borrowing Sect points? Just ask your big sister here! How about one thousand Sect points? Is that enough?"

Hearing this, Ye Qingchen’s eyes lit up with immense surprise. "Enough! That’s more than enough!"

Hong Yan plucked the Identity Token right from Ye Qingchen’s robes. "I’ll transfer it to you right now! However, we have one condition. After you’re done here, you must join us for a Secret Realm task. You have to make the trip with us!"

Hearing Hong Yan’s words, the faces of those behind her lit up with delight. The Secret Realm task they had accepted happened to require an Outer Sect Disciple to accompany them, and Ye Qingchen was undoubtedly the perfect choice.

"A Secret Realm task? How dangerous is it?" Ye Qingchen frowned.

"Don’t worry, it’s not very difficult, just a bit troublesome. The Secret Realm requires an Outer Sect Disciple to be present. Besides, there are several of us! We’ll definitely protect you!" Hong Yan patted her ample chest and declared with conviction.

Seeing Wang Qiang nod in agreement, Ye Qingchen hesitated no longer. "Alright! I agree to join you for the Secret Realm task!"

"Excellent!" Hong Yan snapped her fingers and swiped Ye Qingchen’s Identity Token with her own. Instantly, one thousand Sect points were transferred to his account.

"Thank you, Senior Sister Hong Yan! As soon as I finish the Spiritual Medicine Purification and get out of the Alchemy Room, I’ll be sure to repay your Sect points!" Ye Qingchen said gratefully as he took back his Identity Token.

"What? Spiritual Medicine Purification!"

"You’re a Provisional Alchemist?"

Wang Qiang and Hong Yan stared at Ye Qingchen, their faces filled with astonishment.

Ye Qingchen waved his hand in embarrassment. "I’m not a Provisional Alchemist. To be honest, I’ve never even performed Alchemy before. Today will be my first attempt!"

Wang Qiang was speechless.

Hong Yan was speechless.

How reckless! That was a thousand Sect points down the drain.

After getting back in line, it was soon Ye Qingchen’s turn again. He walked up to the task distribution window. "Senior brother, I want to take the Spiritual Medicine Purification task for two hours!" With that, he handed over his Identity Token.

The disciple distributing tasks glanced up and frowned. "You again? Didn’t I tell you not to waste my time if you don’t have enough points?" He had been busy and hadn’t noticed the exchange between Ye Qingchen and Hong Yan.

"I have enough Sect points now," Ye Qingchen stated coldly.

The disciple looked skeptical. He placed Ye Qingchen’s Identity Token into a slot in the Formation. A light flashed, and the display showed a balance of one thousand two hundred Sect points.

"Alchemy Room Six on the first floor. Here’s the key. There’s a Formation inside that lets you exchange for Spirit Grass and extend your time." After deducting eight hundred points, the disciple handed a key to Ye Qingchen. As he watched Ye Qingchen walk into Alchemy Room Six, a sneer formed on his lips. That kid Ye Qingchen really wouldn’t give up until he hit a wall. To think he actually borrowed Sect points for a Spiritual Medicine Purification task. He was guaranteed to suffer a total loss.