Chapter 204: Sect Recruitment

Entering the Heavenly Secret Treasure Vault involves one's consciousness, with the physical body remaining outside. After activating the 息果核 with spiritual power, the experience was strikingly similar. Unlike the Heavenly Secret Treasure Vault, this current sensation felt more real, as if he were truly standing there, with everything indistinguishable from the outside world.

Lu Ye first attempted to sense his physical body, and upon confirming he could, he felt reassured enough to observe his surroundings.

He was in a small, empty room with nothing in it.

After searching the room for a moment and confirming it was empty, he approached a door—the only one in the room—with no idea where it led.

Lu Ye placed his hand on the door, intending to open it with a gentle push.

But then, a line of characters appeared on the door, distorted like water ripples. Focusing his gaze, he saw it read: "To enter the Mirage Realm, 50 Merit Points are required."

Lu Ye paused, the meaning clear: entering through this door would cost 50 Merit Points, a significant price.

To put it in perspective, his Mountain-Cleaving Saber only cost 138 Merit Points.

A high price often implies significant rewards. If the entrance fee alone was 50 Merit Points, what treasures could be hidden behind this door? Remembering what Li Baxian and Feng Yuechan had mentioned, Lu Ye secretly hoped that behind this door lay a spirit vein capable of producing various high-grade and supreme-grade spirit stones.

With that thought, Lu Ye pushed the door forcefully. The battlefield mark on the back of his hand warmed slightly. Lu Ye didn't check, assuming it was the deduction of Merit Points, a sensation he was familiar with from purchasing items in the Heavenly Secret Treasure Vault.

Pushing the door open, Lu Ye stepped out, and what he saw made him freeze in place.

Moments later, Lu Ye regained consciousness. A needle-like pain pierced his mind, almost unbearable.

Shui Yuan, who had been standing nearby, quickly asked, "Are you alright?"

Lu Ye shook his head, feeling as if his brain was rattling inside his skull.

"What is this 息果核 for?" Shui Yuan asked, her curiosity piqued by his appearance, as if he had just fought and lost a battle.

Lu Ye then recounted his previous experience. Shui Yuan's eyes widened in surprise: "The 息果核 has such a use? Let me see."

Taking the 息果核 from Lu Ye's hand, she sat down cross-legged, holding the core as spiritual power surged within her.

Lu Ye stood by and waited. As time passed, the stinging pain in his head slowly faded, though a lingering discomfort remained.

After a full hour, Shui Yuan exhaled softly and opened her eyes, her face a little pale. Handing the 息果核 back to Lu Ye, she said with a hint of fatigue, "This is a valuable item. If used properly, it can quickly enhance your combat skills. However, it's very taxing on your mind, so be careful not to injure yourself."

"Understood." Lu Ye carefully put away the 息果核. Although the previous experience hadn't been pleasant—he could even say 50 Merit Points were wasted—he now recognized the true value of this 息果核.

Just as his Second Senior Sister had said, if this item was used effectively, it could rapidly improve his combat skills, which was precisely what he needed most right now.

More importantly, this item was not bound to an owner; anyone could use it. This implied that as long as one had enough Merit Points, they could use it to hone their skills, which was its true value.

"Oh, right, Senior Sister," he began. "Regarding what you mentioned last time about the sect recruiting new members and rogue cultivators joining, it seems the rogue cultivators in the market have already heard some news and are asking questions."

Shui Yuan replied, "Now that you are the Garrison Defender, you can make your own decisions on these matters. There's no need to ask for my permission."

"Aren't you afraid I'll mess up the sect?"

Shui Yuan smiled, "The sect was already on the verge of being delisted. It's only thanks to you that it barely retained its Ninth-Grade status. So, you can do whatever you want."

"Understood." Lu Ye nodded. With his Second Senior Sister's approval, he felt no burden whatsoever.

Bidding farewell to Shui Yuan, Lu Ye used the Heavenly Secret Pillar to enter the sect's garrison. He sent out a few messages, and soon Hua Ci and the others gathered, lining up in front of him.

Lu Ye looked at the few faces before him and began, "Currently, it's just a few of us in the sect. Looking across the entire Nine Provinces, our Crimson Blood Sect is likely unique; no other sect has fewer members than us. For the sect to develop, we must first ensure the number of disciples. More people mean a future for the sect. Therefore, I've decided to recruit more disciples for our sect. Who agrees and who opposes?"

Yi Yi immediately raised a hand enthusiastically, "I agree!" Amber, squatting beside him, let out a "woof" in agreement.

Lu Ye cast a look of approval in her direction.

As Yi Yi's best playmate, Ruan Lingyu naturally raised both hands in agreement, and the quiet Kong Niu also raised one hand.

Pairs of eyes turned to Hua Ci, who said helplessly, "You're the Garrison Defender; you can decide these matters yourself. Why call us here?"

"No, that won't do," Lu Ye replied. "Although I'm the Garrison Defender, the sect belongs to everyone. I can't run it like a dictatorship. And... Fellow Daoist Hua Ci, please adjust your attitude."

Hua Ci looked bewildered. "What did I do?" she asked.

Lu Ye looked at her seriously. "I am the Garrison Defender, but don't forget, you are the Deputy Defender. The mark on the back of your hand is that of the Crimson Blood Sect. With this mark, you must share the sect's honor and disgrace, contribute ideas and efforts to its development, and alleviate my burdens as the Garrison Defender."

Hua Ci thought seriously for a moment, then nodded. "You have a point. I'm used to being so carefree at Ying Mountain that I haven't adapted to my new identity yet."

"That attitude is excellent!" Lu Ye gave her an approving look. "It seems everyone has no objections. In that case, the sect's recruitment officially begins now! Deputy Defender Hua Ci, please quickly devise a charter and a recruitment plan. Many rogue cultivators in the market will want to join our sect, but the Crimson Blood Sect is not open to just anyone; there need to be certain requirements. As for the specific requirements, let's discuss them together. Any other questions?"

Hua Ci looked at him suspiciously. "Yes," she said.

"Speak!"

"I'll handle the recruitment. What will you be doing?"

Lu Ye said, "As the Garrison Defender of this sect and its representative to the outside world, my task is arduous. I need to raise my cultivation level as quickly as possible. Otherwise, when other garrisons' defenders are all at the Seventh-Layer Realm, and ours is only at the Sixth, it won't reflect well on us."

The group looked at him skeptically.

As if he didn't notice their skepticism, Lu Ye asserted in a low voice, "Since no one has any more questions, let's disband! Everyone, get moving quickly; let's be efficient. Time waits for no one!"

While Hua Ci and the others gathered to discuss recruitment, Lu Ye went to the cultivation rooms, not to cultivate as he had claimed, but to set up spirit-gathering patterns in each of them.

Currently, Hua Ci and the others each had their own cultivation rooms. Within these rooms, in addition to the inherent spirit-gathering arrays, Lu Ye had also constructed spirit-gathering patterns on three of the walls. This dual approach would significantly enhance cultivation efficiency.

With only a few people in the sect at present, these exclusive cultivation rooms were sufficient. However, once the sect recruited more members and numerous rogue cultivators joined, they would certainly not be enough.

The sect was currently recruiting rogue cultivators, whose talents were generally not outstanding, resulting in low cultivation efficiency. To help them grow quickly, spirit-gathering patterns were the optimal solution.

For a sect to become powerful, it couldn't rely on just one or a few individuals; its overall strength had to improve.

For the Crimson Blood Sect to develop, it needed to focus on these fundamental cultivation facilities, and this was a problem Lu Ye could solve.

While Lu Ye was setting up spirit-gathering patterns in the cultivation rooms, Hua Ci and the others discussed the recruitment standards and charter. In just half a day, the general standards were established. Lu Ye reviewed them and found no major issues, but to be safe, he still asked Hua Ci and the others to consult Senior Sister Shui Yuan.

A day later, in the garrison's market, Ruan Lingyu skipped cheerfully into the marketplace. The rogue cultivators, seeing her, greeted her warmly and even slipped treats into her hands.

Lingyu often visited this area, so she was quite familiar with the rogue cultivators in the market. Everyone also knew she was a Crimson Blood Sect disciple, which naturally made their interactions polite.

At the market's entrance stood a notice board, previously erected by the market's rogue cultivators. It displayed various miscellaneous notices: some for acquiring herbs and plants, others seeking companions for expeditions, and so on.

Lingyu went directly to the notice board, took a notice from her storage bag, and posted it.

A female cultivator, seeing this, chuckled, "Little Lingyu, what are you posting? Have you lost something?"

"Lingyu lost something?"

"What did she lose? Let's all help look for it."

The nearby rogue cultivators buzzed with activity.

"I didn't lose anything. It's our Crimson Blood Sect's recruitment notice," Lingyu said, meticulously pasting the notice.

The female cultivator chuckled, "Oh, it's a Crimson Blood Sect recruitment notice..." She suddenly realized something, quickly leaned closer to the notice board to read it intently, and after just two glances, she rushed off towards the Heavenly Secret Hall.

At the same time, rogue cultivators came scrambling from all directions, and Ruan Lingyu was instantly pushed aside.

"The Crimson Blood Sect is recruiting!" someone exclaimed excitedly. The news spread like wildfire, from one person to ten, then ten to a hundred, and the entire market quickly erupted in a frenzy.

At this very moment, in front of the garrison's Heavenly Secret Hall, Hua Ci sat behind a table with a small booklet in front of her. Kong Niu sat at another table, also with a small booklet, while Yi Yi was positioned on the other side.

Chen Yu stood nearby, grinning foolishly. As the market's manager and the cultivator with the highest cultivation level in the entire market, he was naturally the first to be registered; the first line on the first page of Hua Ci's booklet detailed his background, name, and cultivation level. Standing there now, he was partly helping to maintain order, and partly using his familiarity with the rogue cultivators to help vet information.

After only a brief wait, cultivators could be seen rushing frantically from the market towards them.

The first to arrive was the female cultivator who had spoken with Lingyu. Breathlessly, she reached the table and eagerly asked, "Do we sign up here?"