Chapter 20: Contribution Points

This time going down the mountain, unburdened, He Pingsheng’s physical strength posed no issue.

About an hour later, he descended from Xiuzhu Peak.

The Grand Void Gate’s mountain gate lay beneath these mountains.

Though there were no spiritual veins outside, the air’s spiritual energy was extremely thin, yet the terrain was quite open; a great river wound around the mountains at their base, carving a vast river valley plain on the southern foothills.

Across the river lay a human settlement that, after centuries of development, had become a small town.

This small town was the location of the Grand Void Gate’s outer gate.

The outer gate was a mix of all kinds—scholars, merchants, monks, and rogues.

It was said that centuries ago, this place had merely been a temporary shelter for low-level cultivators; later, countless outer gate disciples formed spiritual partnerships, settled here, and multiplied their descendants.

Most of these descendants of the immortal outer gate were ordinary mortals without spiritual roots.

Over time, this became a small human village.

Whether mortal or low-level disciple at Qi Refining levels one, two, or three, all fell under the unified management of the Grand Void Gate’s outer gate.

He Pingsheng was no exception.

His parents had both been low-level outer gate disciples; though they died early and everything they left behind was looted by low-level cultivators in the town, his home still stood.

It was a modest courtyard.

There were trees and flower beds in it!

Though small, it was exquisite.

He Pingsheng took out his key, unlocked the rusted iron lock, and stepped into his small courtyard.

During the past half-year away, the courtyard had grown thick with grass.

Passing through the courtyard, He Pingsheng arrived at the door of the eastern wing, opened it, and stepped inside.

This was the house where he had grown up.

From now on, he would have to rely on himself!

After placing his personal clothing and the Treasure Basin, He Pingsheng locked the door and headed toward the town’s [Outer Gate Grand Hall].

The Outer Gate Grand Hall managed the entire outer region.

Inside were clerical Elders and numerous disciples.

Though He Pingsheng had left Xiuzhu Peak, he still needed to survive at the outer gate—food, drink, toiletries, and daily consumption were unavoidable, so he remained dependent on the Grand Void Gate.

He entered the Outer Gate Grand Hall!

Inside was very spacious.

And because dozens of luminous pearls hung from the ceiling, the hall was brightly lit, even radiant.

People came and went, bustling with activity.

On the right wall was an array, its surface glowing, with rolling lines of text.

“Guard of Huoyun Peak’s Teleportation Array: 50 contribution points per month; requires Qi Refining level three!”

“Guanyun Peak needs six disciples to tend spiritual fields: 200 contribution points per month; requires Qi Refining level four or higher, primary spiritual root must be Wood, proficient in Wood-element spells!”

“Tongtian Peak’s Scripture Library urgently needs two guards: 100 contribution points per month; requires Qi Refining level four or higher, light duties!”

“Grand Void Gate Trading Hall needs two outer gate disciples: Qi Refining level five or higher, must be female cultivators; 200 contribution points per month!”

…

He Pingsheng glanced at them.

These were jobs specifically for outer gate disciples with cultivation.

The pay was generous!

This contribution point system could be exchanged not only for rice, oil, salt, and firewood, but held tremendous value.

Simply put, casually spending ten points could buy a cultivator’s yearly supply of rice at the Outer Gate Grand Hall.

Remaining contribution points could be used to acquire cultivation resources—elixirs, cultivation techniques, and more!

Unfortunately, these were not meant for He Pingsheng.

Because he wasn’t even an outer gate disciple—he was merely an ordinary laborer.

Laborer tasks were listed on the left wall.

The left wall looked identical to the right—same array-generated glow, same rolling text.

But the content was vastly different.

“Laborer: Chop wood; complete monthly quota to earn 4 contribution points!”

“Carry water; complete monthly quota to earn 8 contribution points.”

“Till fields; complete annual quota to earn 120 contribution points!”

…

Clearly, these tasks suited He Pingsheng.

Was he to become a laborer disciple again?

He Pingsheng looked at the tasks on both walls, shook his head, and walked straight to the front desk.

“What do you want?” A disciple wearing the outer gate’s signature robe looked at He Pingsheng with arrogance.

He Pingsheng ignored his attitude and pulled out a red card from his pocket. “Please check how many contribution points remain on this card.”

He had worked on Xiuzhu Peak only briefly—his contribution points must be few.

But it didn’t matter; his parents had left him some before they passed.

He had never used these points, so he didn’t know how many there were.

The disciple glanced at He Pingsheng’s card, then frowned in surprise. “What’s your name?”

He Pingsheng said: “He Pingsheng.”

“Where did you get this card? You’re so young—how could it hold so many contribution points?”

He Pingsheng replied: “My parents were both outer gate disciples.”

At this, the outer gate cultivator’s attitude flipped a full 180 degrees—he smiled warmly. “Ah, I see… Young brother, your card holds a total of one thousand six hundred and eighty-six points!”

He Pingsheng was slightly startled!

So much?

If used solely for living expenses, these points would cover his food and drink for life.

After all, a mortal needed at most twenty points per year for food and drink alone.

One thousand six hundred points—enough for decades.

He Pingsheng spent a few contribution points to buy daily necessities in the hall, then returned to his small courtyard.

No one paid him any attention.

He put everything away.

In the afternoon, He Pingsheng took some items to the nearby mountain, paid respects to Hao Yun, then dug up the buried objects near Hao Yun’s grave.

Two axes!

Two porcelain jars!

Two books!

One advantage of the outer gate was that no one ever checked anyone anywhere.

Back home, He Pingsheng still felt uneasy, so he reburied the two jade jars underground.

The two axes and the cultivation techniques he carried with him.

Even if discovered, these items wouldn’t cost him his life.

After all, my parents were outer gate disciples—I own a [Basic Breathing and Qi Absorption Method] and [Thirty…

For the following period, He Pingsheng kept to himself, practicing the Basic Breathing and Qi Absorption Method daily.

Hoping to draw spiritual energy into his body, complete one full cycle, and break through to Qi Refining level one.

Of course, the spiritual energy here at the outer gate was extremely thin.

But it had little effect on his cultivation.

After all, he was not yet at the stage of absorbing spiritual energy—he merely needed to complete one full cycle.