"How much do we need to contribute?"
The first Outer Disciple who complained asked unwillingly.
"This matter concerns all of us! There are seven of us from 'Yaxiang Garden,' each of us contributes ten Spirit Stones, totaling seventy Spirit Stones!"
Yue Zhouwang gritted his teeth and reported a number.
Everyone was taken aback, it was already their monthly income.
"Don't be stingy! If the 'Law Enforcement Hall' arrives with a verdict, we might be severely punished, even lose our current positions! If we get assigned to a dangerous task, haha..."
Yue Zhouwang said, then sneered and fell silent.
"Alright! We have no better option."
The Outer Disciples present reluctantly opened their "Storage Bags" and started taking out Spirit Stones.
As for the two who weren't present, Yue Zhouwang directly paid for them.
A quarter of an hour later, the dishes from the kitchen were served on the table.
Yue Zhouwang and the others returned to the private room.
After a few rounds of drinks and tasting various dishes, Yue Zhouwang looked at Ma Xingyuan and smiled, "Junior Martial Brother Ma, will you go outside and get a pot of tea?"
Ma Xingyuan was stunned, he knew they had something to discuss with Li Yunjing.
They didn't want him to know the specifics.
Understanding the hint, he immediately stood up, nodded, and prepared to leave.
However, Li Yunjing's voice forced him to halt.
Li Yunjing looked at Yue Zhouwang and the others and said, "Ma Xingyuan is a brother I've met in the Sect, speak freely, don't hide anything from him."
"Master Li is truly considerate!"
Hearing Li Yunjing's words, Ma Xingyuan felt touched and sat back down.
The others smiled awkwardly.
"Haha! This is our little gesture, please have some tea, Young Master Li."
Yue Zhouwang had no choice but to take out a "Storage Bag" from his sleeve and place it in front of Li Yunjing.
Li Yunjing lightly responded and took a long moment before picking up the "Storage Bag." He opened it and swept his Divine Sense inside, checking the amount—seventy Low Grade Spirit Stones!
Yue Zhouwang, Wang Yun, and the others stared at Li Yunjing, trying to read his expression.
Li Yunjing chuckled lightly and then tossed the "Storage Bag" back onto the table.
Yue Zhouwang and the others were stunned, then their faces turned dark. Not satisfied?
You're just a Servant Disciple, with Contribution Points and Spirit Stones, it's enough for you to earn within a year!
Regarding Li Yunjing's attitude, the Outer Disciples were very displeased.
But considering Li Yunjing's status, they dared not express their anger.
"Fu Chao is my friend!"
"We stand on equal ground. Now you expect me to lower myself for your petty matters and beg him for help?"
"For a mere seventy Low Grade Spirit Stones?"
Li Yunjing sneered at everyone, his voice icy.
Facing a group of Outer Disciples with higher cultivation levels, Li Yunjing didn't indulge their bad habits at all!
This scolding changed the atmosphere at the table.
A group of Outer Disciples remained silent, their faces showing embarrassment.
The room fell silent before Li Yunjing finally said, "Two thousand Spirit Stones! This is the bottom line! Agree, then hand over the Spirit Stones, disagree, then forget it ever happened!"
Yue Zhouwang, Wang Yun, and the others gasped.
This Young Master Li is ruthless!
Two thousand Spirit Stones, that's almost three hundred Spirit Stones per person!
If we disregard the gray income, that's their three years' salary!
Of course, Shenxiao Dao Sect doesn't distribute all as Spirit Stones, they also issue Contribution Points.
The amount of Contribution Points is higher than Spirit Stones.
These issued Spirit Stones are enough to cover the cultivators' regular cultivation expenses.
Not meant to be used as currency.
Because in Shenxiao Dao Sect, Contribution Points mean everything; anything can be exchanged and traded with Contribution Points.
If trading outside the Sect, Contribution Points can be exchanged for Spirit Stones, ensuring cultivators can handle external affairs without disruption.
Sect cultivators prefer using Contribution Points because within the Sect, cultivation realm common goods can be bought, often at favorable prices—a great value!
Some even actively purchase Contribution Points, buying resources from the Sect's shops to sell in the cultivation realm for profit.
So, despite Yue Zhouwang, Wang Yun, and the others appearing pitiful, they are just hiding their real wealth!
These old hands have profited extensively over the years in 'Yaxiang Garden.'
They just kept a low profile. Imagine, 'Yaxiang Garden' serves tens of thousands of meals daily.
If each meal includes embezzling a bowl of Spirit Rice, that's tens of thousands of bowls daily.
This alone, selling tens of thousands of bowls of Spirit Rice in the cultivation realm, is a substantial amount of Spirit Stones!
And 'Yaxiang Garden' has more opportunities beyond just Spirit Rice.
Their fear of 'Law Enforcement Hall' lies precisely in their corruption.
Merely brawling is no big deal.
It wouldn't severely hurt them.
But if the 'Law Enforcement Hall' investigates further, they will surely uncover these deceptions, and they would be finished!
They dare not seek help from higher-ups because they fear disclosure of their corruption!
Higher Steward would definitely punish them severely! The wealth accumulated over the years would be at risk!
Thus, Yue Zhouwang, Wang Yun turned to Li Yunjing for help.
They saw Li Yunjing as young, with low cultivation, probably inexperienced.
Saying some nice words, hosting a banquet, and offering some Spirit Stones, expecting the matter to be resolved.
But now, it is clear they miscalculated.
The young master of a cultivation clan is indeed no fool!
This young master won't be easily placated!
He demands 2000 Spirit Stones!
They exchanged glances, and Yue Zhouwang reluctantly said, "Young Master Li, we're short on Spirit Stones, how about giving you 2000 Contribution Points instead?"
They had no choice but to agree to the harsh condition.
Li Yunjing's expression remained calm, lightly nodding, and threw his Identity Token onto the table.
Ma Xingyuan beside him was stunned, his mouth agape.
Just casually demanding 2000 Spirit Stones, so grandiose!
He's been in the Cultivation Realm for seven or eight years with less than 100 Spirit Stones on him!
Comparison truly is dispiriting!