Chapter 36 - The Sect’s Foundations
Benton had a Sect Point burning a metaphorical hole in his pocket. Yang Xiu achieving Mastery with her archery technique had gained him two, pushing him to his twenty-first total gained. His ten percent rule meant he could use one to increase his personal power.
He hadn’t wanted to make a move while the harvesters had been present just in case any of them caught on to his unusual advancement, but with them departed, he could pull the trigger while he and the siblings walked to the orphanage.
There were three choices. One, he could increase his spiritual cultivation, keeping him barely ahead of the siblings. That option was the simplest. Power in the cultivation world was measured primarily by realm. The sooner he could get to Foundation Establishment and then to Golden Core and then to Nascent Soul, the better. Any other choice would have to be an obvious and immediately needed upgrade to compete.
Two, he could increase his body cultivation. That option was the dark horse, but thinking about the issue in regards to the benefits for Yang Ru had made Benton consider his own. The two points he’d already invested made him stronger, faster, and tougher. That advancement was one of the reasons he was able to take on the rank three spirit beast. On the other hand, another point spent on his spiritual cultivation would put him very close to the high Qi Gathering realm, on a more equal footing with beasts of that rank. And there was no obvious and immediate need for him increasing his toughness. He felt confident he and the siblings could deal with rank threes, and it was unlikely he’d be facing a rank four soon.
Without dying, at any rate. If one of those showed up, their only option was to run away with all due haste.
Three, he could acquire the Analyze skill. That option was a staple cheat of transmigrators, and on the surface, it felt like a no-brainer to get it. If it worked like he hoped, it would allow him to scan objects just like he was able to scan people. That information would be invaluable for determining what to buy on his upcoming shopping trip and for finding spirit plants in the wild.
But he wasn’t planning on becoming a merchant. Sure, until his sect was established, such activities fell on him, but long term, his sect members would handle that kind of thing. Besides, Su’s memories filled him with enough knowledge to get by. It felt more and more like Analyze was a nice to have kind of ability, not a must have.
Benton sighed. Increasing his cultivation wasn’t as exciting as gaining a new ability, but it was the right call. He navigated to the appropriate menus and invested the sect point.
Sect Name:Not ChosenSect Members:0Disciples:13Sect Points:36Shop Points:17Host Cultivation:Qi Gathering - Minor Realm SixQi Available:40Host Body Cultivation:Bronze - Minor Realm TwoHost Techniques:Basic Spear Combat - Large Success Basic Archery - Large SuccessMenus:[Cultivation Method][Technique][Quest][Perk][Advancement][Shop - LOCKED]
Ah. That was the stuff. Leveling up felt good. The increase in dantian size. Generally feeling stronger, faster, better, more vigorous. He’d come a long way from that achy sixty-year-old back on Earth.
“Senior Brother,” Yang Xiu said, “did something happen?”
“You sensed my spiritual energy shift?”