Chapter 63 - 25: Top Five Outstanding Products of Comedy

After rejecting several plans, Xiang Qi suddenly slapped her forehead, "How could I forget! You're still a new disciple at the Immortal Institute!" New disciples at the Immortal Institute are special. Before the unified initial trials of the Immortal Alliance, they can't be considered disciples of any sect. However, once admitted into the Immortal Institute, they are considered members of the Immortal Alliance and possess exceptionally high talent and potential. Before these disciples receive support from their sects, the Immortal Alliance ensures they have the best cultivation conditions. This means that Immortal Institute disciples receive various preferential treatments from the Immortal Alliance, the most generous of which are tasks that "award Merit." For example, six months later, the Immortal Institute will have a monthly test, the top ten of which will receive one Merit. Moreover, in the annual year-end test, the top hundred will each receive a Merit, with the top ten sharing ten Merits. Wang Qi also remembered this now. However, even the cheapest book on the list, "Soul Theory of Calculator," required fifteen Merits. Even if he came first every month, he still had to wait six months to gather enough Merits. Xiang Qi shook her head, "Actually, there are some special Merit trials specifically tailored for Immortal Institute disciples." Wang Qi was surprised, "How come I didn't know about this?" Xiang Qi sighed, "You must not have paid attention, right... Your instructor definitely mentioned it!" Wang Qi scratched his head and grinned sheepishly, "The course material is just too simple; it's hard not to fall asleep!" Xiang Qi angrily said, "And you're proud of yourself?" Wang Qi offered a smile, "Please enlighten me, senior sister, what is in these trials?" Xiang Qi didn't waste any words and explained, "These trials are of two kinds: one for combat and one for exploration." "The combat type is relatively simple, mainly of two sorts. The most common is to defeat a Demon Beast of the same realm one-on-one in front of an Immortal Alliance Inspector. I remember that there are more than sixty types of Demon Beasts to choose from in this trial, all with representative attack methods. In other words, this trial can be done over sixty times, earning one Merit per time. The other is to have a Foundation Establishment Cultivator or higher lead a team and survive in a special trial area for a day. During this period, unless it's a matter of life and death, the leading Foundation Establishment Cultivator will not intervene. If you survive, it earns a Merit. Attempting to kill a number of Demon Beasts in the trials also earns Merits, and the awared Merits are based on the actual situation." "The exploration type is more numerous, but mostly it involves Grandmasters' collecting, sorting, and calculating experimental data. Other tasks include some field surveys." Wang Qi asked, "Since the Immortal Alliance prioritizes the pursuit of the Dao, does that mean there are more Merits available in exploration-type trials?" Xiang Qi replied, "Yes and no. Theoretically, exploration-type trials do yield Merits faster, but this 'fast' is not something everyone can achieve." "How so?" "Such trials often involve the most tedious sorting and calculations, not only mentally demanding but also requiring a high level of proficiency in mathematics. If you calculate incorrectly, you earn no Merit. Field surveys might sound engaging, but they are backbreaking and exhausting, and your collected data must also be accurate. For most new disciples, they neither have the skill nor the temperament for this work, so they might prefer fighting Demon Beasts, as that ensures a clear cut result for effort." Wang Qi pondered for a moment. He was not afraid of combat, but the innate abilities of the Demon Clan were superior to those of the Human Clan, making it generally impossible for Human Clan cultivators to defeat them without mastering several spells and martial skills first. Although the Divine Skills he was cultivating were indeed unparalleled mental methods, it still required several months to fully comprehend the benefits these mental methods offered. If he really wanted to quickly earn Merit, the exploration-based trials were his only way out. Seeing his expression, Xiang Qi asked in surprise, "Are you really in such a hurry?" Wang Qi nodded, "Well, it's a man thing, we're all in a hurry." "I feel like you're steering the conversation off-topic." Xiang Qi shook her head in resignation, "Since you've decided to take on these trials, you should ask Su Junyu about it." Wang Qi was shocked, "That joker?" Xiang Qi said, "Aren't you friends?" Wang Qi nodded, "Because we're friends, I'm surprised! It's hard to imagine that guy who hibernates in the warehouse all day also has a side that actively participates in work-study programs! And isn't he inherently wealthy? It's cliché—this wealthy young master working hard to woo a girl from a humble background." Xiang Qi pressed her temples, "What exactly do you think the True Inheritors are?" Wang Qi scratched his head, "There are so many True Inheritors; surely it's possible for one of them to be a joker?" "I admit, that rich guy does appear to be... 'a joker,' is that the word?" Xiang Qi explained helplessly, "But he's more than just that." "Isn't he still a joker..." "That's not the point... his identity as a True Inheritor of Wanfa Sect is well-deserved. His actions today, his status, are all built up step-by-step from years ago." As she spoke, Xiang Qi's expression became serious, "Don't underestimate any True Disciple. Do you know how many exploration-type trials he took at the Immortal Institute?" Wang Qi did not answer that question but instead gave a disdainful look, "Senior sister, it's too obvious when you praise yourself." "Cough cough." Xiang Qi averted her gaze, "That wasn't the point." "So, how many did he actually do?" Xiang Qi shook her head, "I don't know the specifics..." "Ah?" "But after graduation, he had ample Merit for a long time. While at the Institute, he never hesitated to exchange his Merit for items, which is why our classmates called him the Rich Dead Guy." Wang Qi pondered for a moment, "So Merit can really buy anything... even inflatable dolls?" After all, the needs of a recluse are simple. But, joking aside, although Wang Qi questioned Su Junyu's character, he trusted his professional skills—look at how shrewdly he plays cards, not something an ordinary person can do. The next day at noon, Wang Qi approached Su Junyu. When Su Junyu learned of Wang Qi's purpose, he was a bit surprised, "Are you short on Merit or something?" Wang Qi explained his reasons again. After convincing Su Junyu of Xi Baiche's guidance, the True Inheritor of Wanfa Sect's eyes changed. He affectionately hooked Wang Qi's shoulder, "Brother, you say..." Wang Qi knew this guy's nature too well and immediately took out the paper Xi Baiche had left behind, "Want it?" Su Junyu nodded so forcibly his shadow almost stayed behind, "Senior Xi's authentic work! The authentic work of the Master of Calculation!" "Okay then! When I've accumulated enough Merit to exchange for all the books on this list, it's yours—on the condition that you must help out." Su Junyu nodded, "Deal." As he spoke, his expression suddenly became very serious, "Alright, put away my collectible now." Wang Qi complained, "What 'yours'? It's still mine until the task is done!" "Just a matter of time." Su Junyu's expression grew solemn, "Since we're aiming to quickly earn Merit through the new disciple trials... let me think of the most reasonable plan. Within three days, gather four other newly entered disciples at the Qi Cultivation Stage."