The air in the dining hall was somewhat oppressive. The newly recruited disciples were eating with their heads down and necks hunched, not daring to make a sound.
Who can guarantee that another burst of lightning wouldn't fall on them if anybody made a noise? Although no written warnings were visible in the hall, they didn't dare to risk it.
Han Xuhan was sitting at a corner table accompanying several disciples he had just gotten acquainted with. They were his fellow brothers and sisters in crime.
All of them had been forced to deposit that tribute fee in the Archives Pavilion. The senior disciple guiding the new recruits had separated their group from the rest, labeling them as habitual troublemakers. Naturally, nobody wanted to share a table with them.
Although his fellow tablemates were feeling ashamed and humiliated due to the abrupt ostracization, Han Xuhan was too thick-skinned to care. He wolfed down his meal while examining his system.
He had completed two quests in a row, accumulating substantial rewards. Now he needed to know what those rewards could be used for. This was undoubtedly the most important attribute of any golden finger!
[Survival System ]
[ Host Body: Unique ]
[ Survival Points: 50 ]
[ Survival Tokens: Available ]
The availability of Survival Tokens was the only significant change after the completion of the quests. As Han Xuhan focused on that word, a simple drop-down menu appeared beneath the slot.
[ Bronze Survival Token: 25 Points ]
[ Silver Survival Token: 50 Points ]
[ Golden Survival Token: 100 Points ]
[ Platinum Survival Token: 500 Points ]
"Is that it?"
Describing what he felt as disappointment would be an understatement. He had been looking forward to a glamorous shop showcasing earth-shattering cultivation techniques and divine treasures; not this vague token system and whatever its use was.
But even as he nearly shed a tear and mentally begged his system to prove its awesomeness, his system remained unmoved. Unable to elicit any explanations from it, he decided to purchase a token with the points he had.
[ Congratulations to the host for purchasing your first Bronze Grade Survival Token. As a token of the lowest quality, it is capable of automatically triggering host's perception of imminent hidden mortal danger. It is an essential tool for surviving the brutal world of cultivation! ]
[ Detected that this was host's first token purchase. After assessing the host's current condition, the system has determined the host qualified for a refund. Issuing points...]
[ +25 Survival Points ]
"...Huh? After assessing my condition, it thinks that I qualify for refunds?" Han Xuhan was caught off guard. Those 25 Survival Points carried the aura of a handout.
Did this system just insult him indirectly?
Did the begging work?
....Awesome!
Instead of feeling insulted, Han Xuhan became jubilant. The force of his chewing doubled! From now on, he would beg and grovel on the ground every day if that's what it took for his golden finger to issue more rewards!
Honor, self-respect, and honesty? He didn't have those characteristics even on Earth. How could someone embodying those become a successful politician? Absurd!
Seeing that the Survival Points Counter had returned to 50 Points, Han Xuhan thought for a moment and made another purchase. It wasn't as if these points had any other use.
Besides, he wanted to see how useful the higher grade tokens were. Since the Bronze Token gave him an automatic hunch against hidden dangers, what ability could the Silver Token provide?
...And maybe the system would refund it again?
[ Congratulations to the host for purchasing your first Silver Grade Survival Token. As a token with considerable influence on reality, it can help you make important choices through gut feelings, guiding you to beneficial paths and evading pitfalls. It can be used automatically or actively. This token can be triggered 3 times. ]
This time, Han Xuhan was ready for the disappointment. And the lackluster description did make him feel that. His only solace was the fact that he could use the token thrice.
"System, my benefactor, how about another refund? Look at me, don't I qualify for it? I'm so weak and pitiful..."
But this time, his system refused to respond. After trying several begging tactics for a few more minutes, Han Xuhan's tragic countenance disappeared in a flash and his focus fell on his dinner table.
Hmm? Why is there so much food on my side?
Looking around, he realized that everyone around him was giving him sympathetic looks. He connected the dots in his mind and figured what was going on.
His tragic expression while eating had given them the impression that he hadn't eaten food this good in a while. So they had quietly pushed the plates towards him.
Another person in his shoes would have been embarrassed. But Han Xuhan grabbed from every plate, unabashed. He had to get his money's worth... Oh well, it wasn't even his money.
After cleaning up, the group of new recruits was taken to a massive, flattened area at the center of numerous mountains. The fog and the dying rays of the golden sun formed a mysterious veil over the field, leaving them directionally confused.
"What are we doing here?" Someone asked the guide, who had been silently observing the foggy sky.
"Waiting," she simply said. Not daring to disturb her further, they waited in silence. What they were waiting for became clear a while later, when several silhouettes appeared in the fog from all four directions.
One by one, more than a dozen senior disciples garbed in the official uniform of Crimson Snow Sect walked out of the fog and surrounded their group. Eventually, the guide broke the silence.
"You've been informed earlier that your applications were being processed. While you were having dinner, your primary allocation was decided through lotteries.
"Each senior disciple you see around you represents a mountain peak of the sect. Now, they'll call out the names of those who have been allotted a residence in their mountain, and you'll be guided by them to your new homes."
As soon as she finished explaining, a senior disciple stepped forward and shouted,
"Representing Unbreakable Frost Mountain! Wang Hao, Bai Ren, Zhang Wei, Liu Feiyang..."
As he called out the names, the disciples broke out of the crowd and went over to his side obediently. Ten disciples in total had been allotted to this mountain.
"Representing Posion Frost Mountain! Chu Yue, Meng Chao, Jun Xie..."
"Representing Serene Snowfall Mountain! Yan Jing..."
"Representing Steel Searing Heaven Peak! Li Changsheng..."
Han Xuhan listened to these names attentively. He knew that some characters like Xuanyuan Zhou were hiding among the masses. They would definitely have exceptional names.
Unfortunately, he had read far too many Xianxia novels, and his brain had been burnt so horridly from skimming that other than some surnames like Wang, Ming, Li, and Chu, everything else started getting filtered out of his head.
For some reason, his name never came up. Perhaps it was because he had registered late. Eventually, it was the turn of the last senior disciple. There was no more suspense as to which mountain peak he'd be called to.
And truth be told, Han Xuhan couldn't help but cheer up. This senior was the prettiest lady he had seen since arriving in this world. She was probably in her early twenties, and she had that mature grace that most girls around his age lacked.
She scanned the six remaining disciples standing at the center and a corner of her mouth curled up faintly.
"Don't make me go through these meaningless motions, brats," she said, gesturing at them to follow her.
At this moment, Han Xuhan felt a gentle palm landing on his shoulder. He turned around and discovered Xuanyuan Zhou standing uncomfortably close to him with a playful smirk on her face.
"What a coincidence, Attendant Xuhan. Looks like we're going to live on the same mountain! It'll be pretty convenient for you to serve me this way, won't it? Hehehe~"