Martial Saint with Passives

Now, seeing this junior brother who had once undergone Dissipating Energy actually break through without a peep, the three of them were filled with a whirlwind of emotions.

There was envy, mixed with a certain indescribable bitterness.

However, after their discussion, everyone came back to their senses and came forward to congratulate him.

He was a junior brother from the same courtyard, after all. Maintaining a good relationship might prove useful in the future!

At the same time, the ever-cold and aloof Second Senior Sister, Lin Bihe, who paid no mind to her surroundings, lifted her eyelids slightly, her gaze pausing on Jiang Che for a moment.

But she quickly retracted her gaze, her face still holding its usual imperturbable expression.

To her, a fellow disciple who had just entered the Bone Forging Realm was nothing particularly worthy of attention.

As one of the "Four Great Celestial Pride" among the Sect’s disciples, her goals were far beyond what these people could imagine!

Afterward, Jiang Che went directly into the inner chamber for a private audience with his master, Xu Qingshan.

Xu Qingshan was sitting upright on a meditation cushion, eyes closed and breath steady.

Sensing someone enter, he opened his eyes and swept a casual glance over them.

However, upon sensing the sharp aura emanating from Jiang Che, an imperceptible flicker of surprise flashed through Xu Qingshan’s otherwise tranquil eyes.

He nodded, his tone carrying a rare note of approval. "Oh? You’ve broken through? Not bad. To reach the Bone Forging Realm so quickly after undergoing Dissipating Energy shows that your affinity with this Cultivation Technique is extremely high, and your temperament is also first-rate."

Yet deep in his heart, he let out a silent sigh.

’Such a pity. With such an affinity, if Dissipating Skill hadn’t damaged his foundation, his future achievements would be far greater than this.’

Still, managing to enter the Bone Forging Realm was a good thing, all in all.

He casually took out a Small Jade Bottle and tossed it to Jiang Che.

"These are a few Essence Stabilizing Pills. Take them to solidify your Realm."

"Thank you, Master!" Jiang Che replied, respectfully accepting the Elixir Pills.

His master had given him this type of Elixir Pill the last time he’d undergone Dissipating Skill.

After taking it, he had discovered that while its effects were not as good as the Primordial Marrow Pill, it was still extraordinary, slightly better even than Top Grade Exotic Beast Meat.

A wave of warmth spread through his heart.

Upon exiting the main hall, he saw that Xiao Mingqian was already waiting outside.

He clapped Jiang Che’s shoulder enthusiastically. "Junior Brother Jiang, now that you’ve entered the Bone Forging Realm, you’re qualified to apply to be a Steward, according to Sect rules! This is a good thing; the benefits are far better than those for an ordinary Inner Courtyard Disciple. Come, I’ll take you to the Internal Affairs Hall!"

Jiang Che quickly cupped his fist. "Thank you, Eldest Senior Brother!"

"What’s with the formalities? Right, let me tell you about the Steward positions, so you can make an informed decision later."

As Xiao Mingqian led Jiang Che away, he explained in detail, "As for being a Steward, there are a few different options."

"The first is managing the Sect’s shops and properties in the city. You get to build a lot of connections, and..." Xiao Mingqian smiled. "The ’perks’ are the most plentiful. However, it comes with many social obligations and you get bogged down in mundane affairs. It’s hard to focus on your cultivation."

The path of cultivation is extremely expensive, so it was a tacit understanding that Stewards would skim a little off the top. Therefore, Xiao Mingqian didn’t beat around the bush.

Besides, as long as the skimming was reasonable, the Sect wouldn’t be too strict.

But the moment Jiang Che heard he would have to deal with all sorts of people, he immediately shook his head. "That won’t work. It’s too draining. I just want to focus on my training."

"The second option," Xiao Mingqian continued, "is to stay within the Sect, responsible for daily patrols and guard duty. It’s near the main gate, so it’s quiet, safe, and nothing major ever happens. But the perks are slim; you’ll have to rely purely on your monthly stipend."

Jiang Che was actually quite pleased with this option. ’It’s near the main gate, so it’s safer. And I’d have time for cultivation.’

As for Cultivation Resources, he wasn’t in particularly short supply right now.

"And the third option," Xiao Mingqian paused, "is to go out and guard the Sect’s properties. For example, places like the Mining Area, medicinal mountains, forests, and fisheries. These places are usually more remote, but the perks are also good, and it’s generally quite peaceful. However..." He lowered his voice. "Sometimes you run into a bit of trouble, like harassment from Black Beasts, or attacks by members of the Demon Sect. It’s like what happened at the Golden Leaf Forest last time—there’s a slight risk."

Jiang Che nodded. He just so happened to have been caught up in that incident at the Golden Leaf Forest.

That time had been manageable; there were only two of them, and they had barely broken through to the Bone Forging Realm.

If he were to encounter Demon Sect members of a higher Realm next time, it would be a disaster.

So, if he had a choice, he didn’t plan on going to a risky place like that again.

"The last option," Xiao Mingqian continued, "is to become a Manager at one of the branches in the counties below. The power you’d have is immense, and the perks are the most generous, but you have to be at least a senior Steward, with enough strength and prestige. You’re not there yet, so don’t even think about it."

Then, Xiao Mingqian began to go over the specific benefits.

He said with a smile, "Once you become a Steward, the monthly stipend is at least five hundred taels of gold! If you do well, a thousand taels is common! And that’s not even counting the monthly allocation of Elixir Pills, Top Grade Exotic Beast Meat, and other such Cultivation Resources. More importantly, the Stewards are the reserves for the Sect’s management layer. If you do well, you might even be promoted to Elder in the future!"

Jiang Che smiled and nodded along, but in his heart, he saw things clearly.

’The benefits are good, but getting more also means taking on greater responsibility and being tied more tightly to the Sect.’

’If the Sect runs into trouble, it would be difficult to get away.’

’Besides, dealing with mundane affairs all day, where would I find the time to focus on my training?’

He truly had no great enthusiasm for becoming a Sect official and climbing the ranks.

He understood. In this world, the most important thing was one’s own strength.

With strength, you could have anything!

For now, however, that generous stipend and those resources were indeed what he needed.

He also noticed that Eldest Senior Brother Xiao Mingqian’s attitude was much warmer and more cordial than before, even carrying a hint that he now saw Jiang Che as a peer.