Isn't This a Game? Why Are You All Cultivating for Real!

Chapter 62: Chapter 62: What Kind of Mother Are You?

Even if it were possible in the future, Song Jiulai didn’t dare to even think about it.

Having too many people was always a problem.

To control so many people, so many players, and guarantee that no problems arose, she would have to wait until she was at least in the Nascent Soul Stage.

She had to reach that legendary state where a single sweep of her Divine Sense could leave low-grade Cultivators gasping for air. Only then could she guarantee order within the Sect.

Of course, she couldn’t do it all by herself. She planned on observing these talented individuals to see who was reliable enough to help her manage the Sect down the line.

Right now, Song Jiulai’s greatest advantage was the system’s absolute authority over the players. If any problems arose, it could just kick them out directly.

That alone was enough to prevent any major chaos.

Her main fear was running into some unhinged player who would go and provoke a High-level Cultivator. If that ever happened, the system would have to nip it in the bud immediately.

[Ding! Following this version update, the explorable area for players has been expanded to include the First Mountain. Players may now choose to either continue with the Spirit Field tasks or venture to the First Mountain to train.]

[A new mandatory novice quest has been added to the Sect. To unlock the point exchange feature, players must first contribute twenty low-grade spirit stones. (Spirit Stones obtained as rewards from the novice Spirit Field tasks do not count toward this contribution.)]

’If I don’t set a threshold, making exchanges will be too easy.’

Every player had to hand over twenty low-grade spirit stones, a cost that the players hadn’t been expecting.

The combined earnings of Song Jiulai and the players for an entire month had all gone toward this tax.

Fortunately, it was only once a year.

But some of these players were just complete slackers.

Ever since they joined, they’ve done literally nothing but plant Spirit Grass.

Song Jiulai was already planning to recruit new disciples to expand and strengthen the Sect. Since she hadn’t screened anyone during the initial recruitment, she couldn’t be too demanding, but it was definitely time to start setting some conditions.

’Besides, there are plenty more new players on the way.’

The players had mixed reactions to the new version and update.

"Open Beta Version 1.001? Why do I have a bad feeling about this?"

"What kind of version update starts with 1.001...? How long are they planning to keep this open beta running?"

"We’re already in the open beta, so what happens to the people who join after the official launch?"

"Who cares? By then, I’ll definitely be at the Golden Core Stage. I’ll beat those newbies until they’re screaming for mercy."

"And you get a sense of accomplishment from bullying newbies?"

"I do."

...

Hearing the system announcement wasn’t particularly shocking, though.

Ever since they started playing the open beta, given the Sect’s circumstances, they had already suspected the official launch was a long way off.

Plus, since this was an open beta with no wipes, it was anyone’s guess if there would even be an official launch.

If the game really did launch officially and all the players from the real world flooded in, the Sect Master probably wouldn’t be able to support them all.

Chen Miaomiao, however, was interested in the Immortal Sacrifice Ceremony. "Is that the one our senior brother told us about?"

A Wu had also vaguely mentioned a few things about the Immortal Sacrifice Ceremony, and since the players spent a lot of time in Wang’an County, they had pieced together some information.

The Ten Thousand Immortals Sect’s Immortal Sacrifice Ceremony was supposed to be a grand affair, yet there was no sign of it in their Wang’an County.

They already knew that many Cultivators would be heading to Liu Xian City, the city nearest to them, but it was impossible for them to go.

It was too far, and the journey was dangerous.

That was the domain of High-level Cultivators. Small fry like them in the Qi Refinement Realm would just be ignored if they went. They weren’t from a Major Sect and had no money; they’d only be met with contempt.

Besides, even if they wanted to go, they didn’t have the means.

"I guess so." Zhou Xiao was also quite interested in the Immortal Sacrifice Ceremony, but there wasn’t much information available. A hint of envy crept into his voice. "A Major Sect, huh... I wonder how big it is. The sky must be filled with flying Cultivators."

"That’s not right," Chen Miaomiao suddenly interjected. "I read in a travelogue about the Yunzhou Continent that Major Sects like that have very strict rules. Flying is forbidden within the Sect City."

Zhou Xiao was surprised. "When did you read that?"

Chen Miaomiao replied, "I sometimes come across travelogues like that when I go down the mountain. Some are made up, but others are written by mortals who have actually lived in a Sect City."

Zhou Xiao and the others nodded in understanding.

While the players were discussing the Immortal Sacrifice Ceremony, Song Jiulai received a notification. The Sect had met the requirement of having ten disciples reach the Qi Refining Middle Stage, and the rewards were being distributed.

The rewards were so generous they made Song Jiulai’s eyes go wide.

[Congratulations! The Longevity Sect now has ten disciples at the Qi Refining Mid-stage. Your Sect is thriving. The following rewards have been issued.]

[Sect Master’s Personal Reward: One scroll of the Intermediate Palm Thunder Cultivation Technique. Sect-wide Reward: 100 scrolls of Basic Palm Thunder. (This mental method can only be cultivated starting from the Qi Refining Mid-stage.)]

[100 scrolls of the Secret Technique for Crafting Jiezidai. 100 scrolls of the Secret Method of Cultivating Spiritual Grass and Spirit Liquid. 100 scrolls of the Secret Technique for Raising Demon Beasts.]

[The base quantity is 100 scrolls for each. The Sect Master may later choose to recall the scrolls or copy the Cultivation Techniques herself.]

[New Quest: Generous rewards imply a more arduous task. Lead the Sect to produce ten disciples at the Foundation Establishment Stage within six months.]

[Energy Pool is now sufficient. Recruitment slots increased by 30.]

Song Jiulai: "..."

She sucked in a sharp breath and pinched the spot beneath her nose.

’I can’t believe it! The system, that old miser, is actually being this generous! Holy crap, Palm Thunder! That’s a High-level Technique, one you can use all the way to the Golden Core Stage!’

Palm Thunder was one of the highest-level mental methods available to low-level Cultivators on the Yunzhou Continent.

One could start practicing it during the Qi Refinement Realm; the Intermediate version was for the Foundation Establishment Stage, and the advanced version was for the Golden Core Stage.

Moreover, on the Yunzhou Continent, just as it was perceived on Blue Star, Thunder Skills were effective against all sorts of evil and demonic forces. For instance, they had a natural suppressive effect on many demon beasts.

Some demon beasts could resist fire, water, and ice, but almost none could defend against Thunder Skills.

And it had even given her her own personal scroll for the Intermediate-level mental method.

At least she could start studying it while she was still in the Qi Refinement Realm.

Besides, scrolls were different from ordinary mental methods.

Most mental methods on the Yunzhou Continent were recorded on ordinary jade slips, which were single-use. Once you cultivated the technique and absorbed the information, the slip was destroyed.

A ’scroll,’ however, meant it was recorded on a much higher-grade Jade Scroll. It wasn’t single-use; after you finished cultivating from it, you could pass it on to someone else.

In any other Sect, this would be considered an heirloom, one of their most treasured inheritances.

And the system had given her 100 of them!

Of course, the system had also stated this was a one-time distribution, meant to be saved for new disciples who joined later.

But once Song Jiulai’s own Level was high enough, she could just copy the Cultivation Technique herself, so she didn’t need to worry about running out.

Furthermore, a single copy of Basic Palm Thunder sold on the open market for as much as ten Mid-grade Spirit Stones. This even more advanced version of hers could fetch over thirty.

’Can you even imagine?!’

’It’s like the system just handed me a mountain of money!!’

Song Jiulai couldn’t help but gulp. ’Not all the players can cultivate this yet,’ she thought, scheming. ’I could just line my own pockets first and sell a few of them...’

[Ding! All rewarded mental methods are forbidden from being sold or gifted to anyone outside the Sect. If the Sect Master violates this rule, she will be struck by lightning. If a player violates this rule, their account will be terminated on the spot.]

Song Jiulai: "..."

She cleared her throat. "What are you getting so worked up about? I wasn’t thinking anything of the sort. That’s slander!"

’As long as I didn’t say it out loud, I don’t have to admit to anything.’

The system clicked its tongue. "Could you try acting like a decent human being? These were meant as rewards for the players. You’re the Sect Master and you’re already thinking about selling them? What kind of mother are you?"

Song Jiulai: "..."