"This is your Identity Jade Token. It’s also your Sect Contribution Token."

The Steward explained expressionlessly.

"You can use Contribution Points to exchange for any and all resources within the Sect, such as Cultivation Techniques, Elixirs, and Weapons. They can be obtained by completing Sect missions, turning in rare materials, and the like."

"Additionally, Contribution Points can be transferred between Jade Tokens, making it convenient for transactions."

’They can be transferred between each other?’

Fang Han was stunned.

The Jade Token’s functions, especially its ability to display and transfer values, seemed completely out of place in this Martial Arts World. It was far more reminiscent of some kind of electronic device from his previous life.

After the Martial Arts Stele, this was the second item to give him that impression.

’Another new disciple, awestruck by the token!’

Seeing Fang Han’s surprise, the disciple guiding him couldn’t help but crack a small smile.

Every year he served as a guide, there were always new disciples who were astonished by the miraculous nature of the Jade Token, just as he expected.

He wasn’t surprised in the least. He recalled being just as astonished by the token’s miraculous abilities when he had first joined the Sect.

"Senior brother," Fang Han couldn’t help but ask the guiding disciple, "do you have any idea where such a miraculous Jade Token comes from? How are they made?"

"I don’t know either. Rumor has it they’ve been around since the Sect’s founding. Their exact origin is a mystery."

The guiding disciple replied, shaking his head.

Once the paperwork was complete, the disciple led Fang Han onward. They passed through several corridors before arriving at a cluster of buildings at the foot of the mountain.

The buildings in this area were imposing, mostly built from neatly arranged blocks of bluestone. The environment was quiet and secluded. A massive boulder stood at the entrance, upon which two large, archaic words were carved: "Zi Sub-Branch."

’Zi Sub-Branch?’

Fang Han found the name a bit strange.

"The Qingxuan Sect is enormous. For ease of management, the Disciple Residences and cultivation areas are divided into twelve major branches, named after the twelve Earthly Branches."

"New disciples are assigned to a branch on a yearly rotation. This year, it happens to be the ’Zi’ Sub-Branch’s turn. Barring any special circumstances, you will live here from now on."

The guiding disciple seemed to notice his confusion and offered an explanation.

Fang Han realized what he meant. ’So they’re ordered according to the Earthly Branches.’

The disciple led Fang Han to a row of connected houses and assigned him a room.

He pushed the door open and stepped inside. It wasn’t the large, communal sleeping hall he had imagined, but a private suite.

Just inside was a small living room furnished with a simple table and chairs. Beyond that was a bedroom with a bed and a wardrobe.

It was clean, tidy, and fully equipped, which surprisingly reminded Fang Han of the bachelor apartment he had in his past life.

"This is your residence. Servant disciples will come to clean it at a scheduled time each day. Facilities like the dining hall and public bathhouse are marked with signs within the branch; you can find them on your own."

After explaining the basics, the disciple said,

"Go ahead and put down your luggage and change into your Disciple’s Robe. Afterward, I’ll take you to the central training ground of the Zi Sub-Branch. All of today’s new disciples will be gathering there to await an address from an Elder."

Fang Han did as instructed, quickly stowing his belongings and changing into the cyan, cloud-patterned Disciple’s Robe.

Since the robes were distributed by size, it fit him quite well, lending him a heroic air.

He went outside and followed the disciple to a vast training ground in the center of the Zi Sub-Branch.

By this time, seventy or eighty people had already gathered on the training ground. They were all dressed in brand-new cyan robes, some clustered in small groups and chatting quietly, others standing alone in silence.

Fang Han’s gaze swept across the crowd, and he soon spotted a familiar figure—Wang Meng.

She was standing alone in a corner, her cool gaze sweeping dispassionately over her surroundings.

She noticed Fang Han, too. A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes, but it was gone in an instant. Her gaze moved away indifferently, showing no intention of coming over to say hello.

Fang Han had no intention of striking up a conversation either. Their relationship was already awkward, and at this point, they were no different from strangers.

"Fang Han?"

Just then, a voice tinged with surprise sounded from his side.

Fang Han turned his head to see a tall, handsome youth with a hint of an untamed look watching him. It was Xiao Chen, the same person he had fought in Liangshui City.

"It really is you."

Xiao Chen drew closer, sizing up Fang Han with a complicated expression.

"I saw your name on the list yesterday but thought it was just someone else with the same name. I didn’t expect you to catch up from behind, break through to the Inner Qi Realm, and pass the assessment."

There wasn’t much animosity in his voice; instead, it held the tone of someone who had met a worthy rival.

The reason he had been able to pass the assessment was largely thanks to the immense pressure from his fight with Fang Han, so he bore no grudge against him for the injuries he’d sustained.

"Brother Xiao Chen, it’s a pleasure."

Since Xiao Chen showed no hostility, Fang Han certainly wasn’t going to. He had no desire to make enemies wherever he went, to have the whole world against him.

As for why he hadn’t spotted Xiao Chen during the assessment, it wasn’t surprising. Over a thousand people had participated, so it was impossible for him to have noticed everyone.

After exchanging a few brief words, they each found a spot and stood there.

As time passed, more and more people filled the training ground, their numbers soon exceeding a hundred.

"That’s strange. Only a hundred people passed the assessment, so how come there are clearly more than a hundred people here?"

Someone noticed the anomaly and started murmuring to others.

"What’s so strange about that? In addition to the hundred who got in through the assessment, there are another ten who were directly recommended by Sect Elders, or by disciples and families who have made special contributions. They get to join without needing to be assessed. Those people don’t have ordinary backgrounds."

A disciple nearby, who seemed to have some inside knowledge, whispered.

"That’s not fair! We went through hell and back to get in, and they just..."

The comment immediately caused a small stir, and some began to complain in low voices.

Before the person could finish, another cut them off.

"Fair? Is there such a thing as absolute fairness in this world? Don’t tell me you enjoy the same treatment back in your family as any common member does."

"Since you get to enjoy preferential treatment, why shouldn’t others be allowed to enjoy it in the Sect?"

Others’ eyes glinted as they began to scan the crowd, searching for those ten "special disciples" and hoping to befriend them.

Just as the discussions on the training ground were growing louder and the atmosphere was becoming awkward, an invisible pressure suddenly descended.

An elderly man with a gaunt face and eyes like lightning, dressed in the cyan robes of an Elder, walked slowly onto the training ground. He was surrounded by several Stewards who all possessed profound auras.

The once-noisy field fell utterly silent in an instant.

The gazes of all the new disciples—filled with a mixture of reverence, curiosity, and nervousness—snapped to focus on the Elder.

The Elder’s face was lean, and his gaze, though serene, carried a natural authority.

He slowly swept his gaze over the assembly, scrutinizing every new disciple.

After a moment, he finally spoke in a deep voice. It was not loud, yet it carried clearly to everyone’s ears.

"My surname is Chen, and I have the honor of serving as the Sub-Dean of the Zi Sub-Branch. Today, you all enter our Qingxuan Sect. You must abide by its rules and cultivate diligently without pause. I will now inform you of the three entry benefits for new disciples."

All the new disciples grew expectant. They had endured countless hardships to join the Qingxuan Sect precisely because, as the supreme power within Qingyang County, it was known to offer outstanding benefits.