Chapter 1896: Generous Starter Benefits

Being associated with both the indigenous and ascended factions was a double-edged sword. While it had its advantages, it also brought complications. Fence-sitters have always been looked down upon, and delaying a choice of allegiance could also lead to difficulties. After all, conflict is inherent wherever people gather.

As mere Nascent Soul cultivators, Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan dared not offend either faction.

"Your cultivation levels are too low," Song Yiming stated gravely. "For now, you will be stationed on Xuanling Island. As for the cultivation techniques you practice, we can impart Nascent Soul-stage cultivation methods to you. The necessary merit points will be deferred; you can repay them by completing tasks once your cultivation improves."

Song Yiming added, "Zhenhai Palace doesn't provide cultivation techniques for free." His approach was entirely reasonable, logical, and lawful, leaving no room for criticism.

Xuanling Island's remote location, far from Zhenhai Palace's main headquarters, could help them avoid many unnecessary problems. If they were to be settled at the headquarters, conflicts might erupt again at any time.

Lin Tianlong and Chen Yueying exchanged glances, then bowed respectfully, saying in unison, "Sect Leader Senior Brother's judgment is clear."

"Many thanks, Senior Song, Senior Chen, and Senior Lin," Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan quickly said, their expressions respectful.

Regardless, having a place to call their own, they finally felt a sense of stability.

"Sect Leader Senior Brother, the Hall of Stewards is under my supervision," Chen Yueying offered. "I will take them there and ensure everything is handled according to regulations."

Chen Yueying actively volunteered.

Song Yiming nodded. "Take them there," he said. "Ensure they are properly settled."

Chen Yueying acknowledged his instructions, then departed with Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan. Lin Tianlong also took his leave.

Outside the Ancestral Hall, Chen Yueying flicked her sleeve, and a crimson fire cloud, several meters in size, soared out.

The three stepped onto it, and Chen Yueying performed a hand seal. The crimson fire cloud then carried them high into the sky.

Fifteen minutes later, the crimson fire cloud descended in front of a colossal, nine-angled tower, which pulsed with blue light. The tower, hundreds of meters tall, emanated terrifying spiritual energy fluctuations, and many Zhenhai Palace disciples were seen entering and exiting.

As soon as they landed, a burly, middle-aged man quickly emerged.

The man had well-defined features, bright, piercing eyes, and an air of competence.

"Disciple pays respects to Master," the middle-aged man said, bowing respectfully with a reverent expression.

"Fang Ming," Chen Yueying instructed, "these are new disciples who have ascended from the lower realms. Sect Leader Senior Brother has assigned them to Xuanling Island. Please process their paperwork and help them familiarize themselves with the Xuanyang Realm. Once they are accustomed to the realm, then you can send them to Xuanling Island."

With her instructions given, Chen Yueying performed a hand seal, and the crimson fire cloud carried her high into the sky.

"I am Wang Changsheng, and this is my wife, Wang Ruyan," Wang Changsheng said courteously. "We appreciate your trouble, Senior Brother Fang." As they were now dependent on others, they could only follow Zhenhai Palace's arrangements.

It was truly a comfort to find shelter under such a powerful entity. Zhenhai Palace was proving to be an excellent patron. Before arriving in Xuanyang Realm, Wang Changsheng had anticipated they would live as rogue cultivators, hunting demonic beasts for survival or working for other forces, much like their initial struggles in the South Sea where they were unfamiliar with the territory and had to hunt for sustenance.

He hadn't expected that immediately upon arriving in Xuanyang Realm, they would become affiliated with Zhenhai Palace, gaining access to both cultivation techniques and spiritual lands.

"Ah, so you are Junior Brother Wang and Junior Sister Wang," Fang Ming said with a smile. "Please follow me; I'll handle your paperwork." He then led them into the nine-angled colossal tower.

The tower walls were inscribed with patterns depicting the subjugation of demons and monsters. There was also a topographical map showing islands and landmasses, which appeared to be a map of Zhenhai Palace's jurisdiction.

Upon reaching the fifteenth floor, they found a spacious and brightly lit hall. A corpulent man in yellow robes sat beside a square jade table, which held a stack of spiritual tea, two plates of snacks, and a solid blue jade stone.

Behind the man was a solid blue stone wall, flickering with runes.

A clear and pleasant female voice emanated from the blue jade stone: "A year ago, the Beastmen attacked thirty-six cities on our human border, resulting in numerous casualties among human cultivators. The Amorous Young Master and others arrived, slaying two Void Refinement stage Beastmen, which led to their retreat."

"Junior Brother Fang, are these two new disciples?" the man in yellow robes chuckled. "Their cultivation levels seem a bit low!"

"They ascended from the lower realms," Fang Ming explained. "Sect Leader Senior Uncle and Master instructed me to settle them properly, so I brought them here to receive their benefits."

The existence of factions fostered competition, which led to progress and, to some extent, helped prevent corruption.

"Ascended from the lower realms?" A flicker of surprise crossed the man in yellow robes' eyes. He took another look at Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan before saying nothing more.

He stood up, took out a light blue token, and gently waved it towards the stone wall behind him. Two blue lights vanished into the wall, and two blue storage rings flew out.

"According to regulations," the man in yellow robes said slowly, tossing the two storage rings to Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan, "each ascended cultivator is entitled to a one-time grant of one million spirit stones, two spiritual treasures, one hundred thousand merit points, one bottle each of Profound Heart Pills, Cloud Sea Pills, and Dust Cleansing Pills, two sets of Heavenly Sea Cloud Robes, one residence, fifty thousand mu of spiritual fields, and one fourth-rank spirit beast for transport. You can go to the Myriad Beast Hall to choose a transport spirit beast, or if you prefer not to have one, you can exchange it for other cultivation resources."

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan were stunned. Was the treatment for ascended cultivators truly this generous? It far exceeded anything they had imagined.

"Senior Brother Huang," Fang Ming said with a frown, deliberately emphasizing the word "properly," "Sect Leader Senior Uncle specifically instructed us to settle them *properly* by giving them two extra bottles of Dust Cleansing Pills and two additional spiritual treasures."

The inclusion or omission of that single word, "properly," made a significant difference.

The man in yellow robes frowned and pondered for a moment. Then, with a single hand, he waved it towards the stone wall, causing four porcelain bottles and two exquisite blue jade boxes to fly out.

"Each of you will receive two additional bottles of Dust Cleansing Pills and one more spiritual treasure," the man in yellow robes said with a frown. "Any more than that, and I won't be able to account for it."

Fang Ming's expression softened, and he instructed Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan to accept the items.

"If the items are satisfactory," the man in yellow robes instructed, "take out your identification tokens and acknowledge them with a drop of blood. From now on, you will use these tokens to enter and exit the main headquarters."

Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan each took a light blue token from their storage rings. The characters "Zhenhai" were inscribed on the front, indicating they were Zhenhai Palace identification tokens.

They dripped their blood onto the tokens in front of him to bind them, then left with Fang Ming.

After leaving the Hall of Stewards, Fang Ming released a colossal, pure white crane. "Junior Brother Wang, Junior Sister Wang, you must be tired," he said. "I'll arrange a place for you to rest for a while before we proceed."

After speaking, Fang Ming leaped onto the white crane's back, with Wang Changsheng and Wang Ruyan quickly following suit.

A clear bird cry echoed as the white crane gently flapped its wings and soared into the sky.

Fifteen minutes later, the white crane appeared above a small valley surrounded on three sides by mountains. The valley was obscured by thick fog, making it impossible to discern what lay within.

Fang Ming took out a blue token and gently waved it towards the valley below. A blue light shot out, and the thick fog churned violently before suddenly vanishing.