Chapter 78: Reward Exchange

【July Harvest Rank 1: Xu Jin, 16,974 taels】

【July Harvest Rank 2: Wang Weisheng, 11,763 taels】

【July Harvest Rank 3: Yu Xianghua, 10,359 taels】

The massive light screen projected by starlight displayed the top fifty harvest rankings along both sides of the Training Hall.

Gasps and murmurs erupted everywhere.

Many disciples instinctively turned to look at Senior Brother Wang Weisheng.

Even Yu Xianghua, Zhang Ming, Zhang Han, and others looked stunned—none had expected Senior Brother Wang Weisheng’s seven-month streak as top harvester to be broken so abruptly.

By a newly initiated disciple who had only just succeeded in Star Pointing less than a month ago.

Following this came skepticism.

Endless doubt.

Xu Jin’s harvest amount was terrifying.

Not only did it shatter Senior Brother Wang Weisheng’s seven-month consecutive top harvest record, it also set a new ten-year high for the Dao Academy.

Even within the academy’s hundred-year harvest records, it ranked among the top ten.

Extremely impressive.

More importantly, this harvest amount was achieved by Xu Jin, a newly initiated disciple at the Meal Mist Fifth Layer.

If this harvest had been achieved by Wang Weisheng, Zhang Han, Yu Xianghua, Zhang Ming, or other veteran prodigies, no one would have questioned it.

Many harbored doubts.

But most kept their skepticism to themselves.

No one dared step forward to question the authenticity of Xu Jin’s harvest.

This was announced personally by Headmaster Dong Zhao.

It meant Headmaster Dong Zhao had personally confirmed it.

If true, didn’t this mean Xu Jin was a prodigy?

Even if not due to personal strength, he must possess extraordinary advantages elsewhere—such as his Emblem, for instance.

When Headmaster Dong Zhao himself had already spoken out, to question a prodigy like Xu Jin would be foolish.

So while most were deeply puzzled, no one dared ask.

Eventually, Senior Brother Wang Weisheng, whose top harvest streak had just been broken, could no longer stay silent.

He had to ask, had to understand—otherwise, his spirit would never settle.

“Headmaster, esteemed instructors, when I was in the Outer Court, I heard Zheng Jiaoxi count Xu Jin’s total harvest at 10,974 taels—how did it suddenly become 16,974 taels? I’m confused,” Senior Brother Wang Weisheng stepped forward and asked.

He did not question the authenticity of the harvest, but simply presented the factual discrepancy.

He still had the bearing of a Senior Brother.

Other disciples also looked puzzled, with some voicing agreement.

They shared the same confusion.

On the high platform of the Training Hall, Headmaster Dong Zhao glanced at Supervisor Tian Zhang.

Supervisor Tian Zhang stepped forward and declared firmly, “During the July Harvest, numerous Blood God Cult demons appeared, causing casualties among our academy disciples. Among them, Xu Jin slew one Blood God Cult demon at Meal Mist Seventh Layer and one at Meal Mist Sixth Layer, and captured one Meal Mist Seventh Layer demon alive.

At Xu Jin’s own request, these kills were not counted as regular harvest, but as special harvest: one Meal Mist Seventh Layer demon slain counted as 1,400 taels special harvest; one Meal Mist Sixth Layer demon slain counted as 1,200 taels special harvest; one Meal Mist Seventh Layer demon captured alive counted as 3,400 taels special harvest—totaling an additional 6,000 taels of special harvest.”

As soon as Supervisor Tian Zhang finished speaking, every disciple’s gaze shifted instantly and locked onto Xu Jin.

All kinds of expressions appeared.

Envy, jealousy, and even admiration.

Wang Weisheng, Yu Xianghua, and others also stared at Xu Jin—some envious, others resigned.

In their view, Xu Jin had simply been incredibly lucky.

If they had encountered Blood God Cult demons, they too could have slain them—Meal Mist Sixth and Seventh Layer demons were nothing unusual; who hadn’t killed such foes?

They’d simply never encountered them.

But among them all, only Second Senior Brother Zhang Han thought differently.

Only those who had faced Blood God Cult demons understood their cunning, treachery, and cruelty.

Otherwise, they wouldn’t be called Blood God Cult demons.

Zhang Han himself was proof: with his strength, he could kill one Meal Mist Seventh Layer demon, even two.

But in truth, had Xu Jin not intervened, he would have lost his life.

Blood God Cult demons were not merely about cultivation levels—he must remain extremely vigilant from now on.

“Do any of you have further questions regarding this month’s mountain harvest?

If so, ask now—I, Headmaster, will answer each one!

Mountain harvest is one of the foundational pillars of our Jinshan Dao Academy, built on fairness and justice—any doubt must be answered.” Headmaster Dong Zhao declared loudly.

All disciples shook their heads—no further questions.

The academy’s harvest amounts were all calculated via Star-Picking Tokens; problems were exceedingly rare.

“If there are no further doubts, you are dismissed. You’ve worked hard—proceed to the External Affairs Hall to claim your rewards.

Also, tomorrow is a day off!”

With that, Headmaster Dong Zhao stepped on starlight and vanished into the sky.

Below, Xu Jin was overjoyed.

He had just been planning to visit Ning Yuchan tonight to request leave—tomorrow, July 14, was the day his sister completed her first month of work and returned home; he had to go back.

Unexpectedly, tomorrow was a holiday—perfect. After dismissal, senior disciples from previous years simply returned to rest, not rushing to claim rewards.

Only the newly Star-Pointed disciples of this spring hurried toward the External Affairs Hall to claim their rewards.

Why? Because they were poor.

Cultivation consumed too much. The academy’s monthly stipend was substantial compared to ordinary people, but utterly insufficient for cultivation.

Excluding Xu Jin, most people’s harvests were still quite good.

For example, Qiao Ruonan harvested 1,063 taels; after deducting the academy’s baseline requirement and cut, she still netted over four hundred taels.

Fang Xing, Hong Gang, Sha Youtian, Song Ye—all members of Xu’s squad—each harvested roughly 1,000 to 1,500 taels; after claiming rewards, their cultivation would surge for a period.

To Xu Jin’s surprise, Qian Xiaohu had harvested 2,673 taels.

That amount was nearly enough to break into the top hundred harvesters.

“Xiaohu, how did you get such a high harvest? Did you get lucky?” Song Ye asked as they walked.

“Lucky? No such thing—I just dared to go where others wouldn’t, didn’t mind getting dirty, wasn’t afraid of bugs, and headed straight for mountain crevices, cliff faces, or swamps—anywhere filthy or terrifying, I went.

Especially places with lots of dead beasts—smelly, crawling with insects, no one else went there, but I did—and my harvest was decent.

Of course, always within the academy’s mapped safe zones,” Qian Xiaohu grinned sheepishly.

Hearing this, Xu Jin smiled.

Everyone had their own thoughts and fortune.

Qian Xiaohu’s approach was truly hardworking—and not the kind of hardship most would choose.

Xu Jin calculated: Qian Xiaohu had netted at least 1,400 taels—enough to be considered a massive income, sufficient to fuel his rapid cultivation for a while.

The External Affairs Hall was crowded, but those ahead were settled quickly; soon, it was Xu Jin’s turn.

The clerk, upon hearing Xu Jin’s name, immediately invited him into the inner chamber, saying he should wait a moment—his reward would be calculated and issued personally by the Hall Master.

Not long after, a stout middle-aged fat man stormed into the inner chamber like a gust of wind.

Xu Jin quickly bowed, “Greetings, Hall Master Zeng.”

The External Affairs Hall Master’s surname was Zeng, name Shi; Xu Jin had met him only once before.

At first he hadn’t paid attention, but now that his understanding of Jinshan Dao Academy had deepened, he realized: in his past life, this Hall Master Zeng Shi would have been the head of a county or city’s Finance Bureau.

He was undoubtedly a trusted confidant of Headmaster Dong Zhao.

Though his name was obscure, his influence within Jinshan Dao Academy must be considerable.

“Hah! Truly a man of outstanding bearing and radiant spirit!”

Before speaking, Zeng Shi laughed and praised, “Anyone who achieves the top single-month harvest has always been among Jinshan Dao Academy’s elite prodigies—and will surely become pillars of our great Chen Guo.

Moreover, you, at Meal Mist Fifth Layer, slew Blood God Cult demons—your combat prowess is extraordinary.

You are sharp, decisive, and resolute.”

»

Xu Jin felt his forced smile was nearly worn out.

This man was too good at flattery—over a dozen compliments, each different.

He flattered Xu Jin so much that Xu Jin didn’t know how to respond.

“Hall Master, you flatter me too much.”

“Hahahaha!”

Zeng Shi laughed heartily, grabbing Xu Jin with his thick (fat) hand and pulling him to a long table nearby, “Come, let me calculate your reward properly.”

“Thank you, Hall Master.” Finally, the real matter began—and Xu Jin wanted to wash his hands.

“Your total harvest is 16,974 taels. First, deduct 2,000 taels: 200 taels for the academy’s baseline requirement, and 1,800 taels as the academy’s fifty percent cut—you receive 900 taels.

Of the remaining 14,974 taels, the academy takes twenty percent—you receive 11,980 taels. Add the previous 900 taels, your total payout is 12,880 taels. If this is acceptable, sign here.” Zeng Shi said.

“No problem.”

“Do you want silver notes, or shall we convert it into Star-Picking Light?” Zeng Shi asked again.

“You still have a One-Star Star-Picking Token, right? One hundred taels buys one strand of Star-Picking Light,” Zeng Shi said.

“Then let’s use banknotes instead.”

“Alright, has your Star-Picking Token been activated?” Zeng Shuo asked.

“I’m at the fifth level of Meal of Mist, and it hasn’t been activated yet,” Xu Jin said.

Previously, Xu Jin had already asked Ning Yuchan: the public area information of the Star-Picking Token could be known only by the individual himself.

But once you enter a main building, those with higher authorization could view the information inside that building.

In other words, if Xu Jin chose to enter the Chen Guo Dao Academy, then the information within the academy would become visible to others, but the public area information would remain unknown unless Xu Jin disclosed it himself.

“Hmm, since it’s not activated, you can’t directly transfer funds within the academy—you’ll need to use your Star-Picking Token to transfer for me.”

Then Xu Jin handed his Star-Picking Token to Zeng Shuo; a flash of starlight passed over Zeng Shuo’s token, and Zeng Shuo immediately returned Xu Jin’s token.

“Done.”

Including the starlight you were previously rewarded, once your Star-Picking Token is activated, it should contain 150 strands of starlight.”

“Also, after activation, you should enter the Chen Guo Dao Academy immediately, submit your information for recording, then come to the Foreign Affairs Office,” Zeng Shuo said patiently.

One minute later, Zeng Shuo handed Xu Jin a thick stack of banknotes—some worth a thousand taels each, others a hundred taels each.

In an instant, Xu Jin felt a great sense of security.

He had money now.

After completing the banknote handover, Zeng Shuo brushed his finger across the Star-Picking Token; a flash of starlight projected a luminous screen before Xu Jin.

“Xu Jin, you ranked first in acquisition—you may choose one first-rank Star Weapon!”

“Star Weapons are divided into five categories: weapons, footwear, armor, shields, and special items. Each category contains varying numbers of types, totaling five categories and twenty-six items—all here. You may choose one.”

(End of Chapter)