My Scales Can Make Equivalent Exchange
Chapter 332 - 320 Substantial Unexpected Gains_2

Chapter 332: Chapter 320 Substantial Unexpected Gains_2

The Paper Cutting Technique was a militaristic Tao Law, which when used to craft disposable paper figures, was quite simple and did not necessarily require materials.

However, to craft paper figures that could be used longer-term, without deteriorating and reusable, was not an easy task. It was considered to be a special form of artifact and talisman.

It also took quite a bit of material.

In his spare time, he would wander around the Taoist Fantasy, where he keenly felt that a full-scale war was now almost inevitable, based on the information he heard.

Several days later, the team that had been dispatched to the North for negotiations returned to the Main Peak.

As expected, the Sect had directly announced to various factions that they were officially declaring war on the Bone Soul Sect.

The entire Wanyu Sect started to operate like a well-oiled war machine.

Those rushing to the northern border battlefield, those accepting various resource collection tasks, started their tasks according to their assigned roles.

In just a few days, Wang Zijia clearly felt the change in the atmosphere of the whole Outer Sect. He took advantage of any free time he had each day to meditate in the Illusion to ensure that his information was not outdated.

······

One morning, as usual, Wang Zijia got up, practiced his boxing in the Biyi Court, and had breakfast with Xiang Feifei.

"During this period, we in the clan who can accept tasks should accept some long-term tasks. Even if you need to use my name to pull some strings, it’s fine, as long as you can take on a task," Wang Zijia suddenly said while having breakfast.

Xiang Feifei paused her eating, looked up at Wang Zijia, and replied, "Great Uncle has mentioned this too, he told the younger generation in the clan to accept tasks like defending a place as soon as possible."

Wang Zijia nodded, saying, "Although it’s possible that it will be all for naught, it’s better to be prepared in advance rather than just going with the flow."

"But their thinking is wrong, don’t think about hiding. It’s better to directly accept some war-related peripheral tasks in advance, like resource handling, escorting, etc."

"In case the war lasts a long time, or enters a white-hot stage, these tasks will continue to exist, but the tasks to hide in the defense may not necessarily."

"Yes, I understand, I will pass the message to the clan!" Xiang Feifei hesitated before adding, "I’m about to perform the sacrificial wine ceremony!"

Indeed, Wang Zijia knew this even better than Xiang Feifei.

After all, without his quiet guidance, there was no way she could have gone from being a medium-grade spiritual rooted child in the middle stage to a great completion in the later stages within two years, let alone delve into three talismans.

If he didn’t want to change the nature of their relationship, he could have made her progress even faster. He could have asked her to buy the Explosive Spirit Pill directly, instead of instructing her to buy Cultivating Yuan Pill and then occasionally helping her to exchange poison.

But that was something only Bai Qian could do, not Xiang Feifei.

Because he didn’t want Xiang Feifei to become his underling, without individuality in his presence.

Although he was clear about it, Wang Zijia still pretended he was surprised and asked, "Oh, really?"

"Yes! Ever since I started living with you, I feel that my cultivation has quickened." Xiang Feifei looked at Wang Zijia and gave him a sweet smile.

"That’s for sure!" Wang Zijia showed a satisfied expression, then with a suggestive look in his eyes, he said, "Now that you’ve benefited from me, why not return the favor? I remember that it’s been several days since we wandered through the peach forest at white peach peak!"

Xiang Feifei’s face flushed immediately, and she glanced stealthily at the servants behind her. The servants acted as if they hadn’t heard anything, and Xiang Feifei heaved a sigh of relief.

"Ding!"

Before Xiang Feifei could respond, the task alert sounded on Wang Zijia’s identity card.

The two stared at each other, realizing that any task coming their way in the last few days would likely not be favorable.

Under the scrutiny of others, Wang Zijia activated the light screen on his identity card.

"Notice: Tao Child Wang Zijia, due to certain reasons, you are required to select your own opening vein task. Please proceed immediately to the Etiquette Institute Main Branch to pick up your task from the dean."

"It’s your opening vein task?" Xiang Feifei was stunned when she saw the notification on the light screen. "Why do you need to go the Etiquette Institute to collect it?"

Wang Zijia nodded. Although he was somewhat concerned, he was relieved upon recalling that he was to go to the Etiquette Institute instead of the Task Court or the Secular Courtyard. Remembering that the Yue Family would not likely interfere at such a crucial time, he felt slightly more relaxed.

If it had been the Task Court, it would most probably have been war-related tasks in the recent days. The tasks from the Secular Courtyard could have been more of a rip-off.

He could heave a sigh of relief if it was the Artifact and Symbol Institutes or the Administrative Office. After all, the Three Sects or the Gu Family either held power or were affiliated units.

But going to the Etiquette Institute... really puzzled Wang Zijia. Considering the recent happenings - could it be something diplomatic?

"I don’t know either, but I’ll understand once I go and see!"

Wang Zijia quickly finished his breakfast in a few bites, and under the worried gazes of several women, he transformed into a blood-colored streamer, heading straight for the main office of the Artifact Academy at the foot of Qifeng Mountain.

······

"Good morning, Martial Uncle Wang!"

After landing from the flight zone, every disciple he encountered greeted him enthusiastically.

"Good morning, Brother Wang!" A woman in her twenties seemed to be waiting specifically for Wang Zijia. Upon seeing Wang Zijia, she immediately said, "This way, please. At this time, the dean should be practicing the zither."

Wang Zijia nodded and followed her, passing through the assembly of halls towards the dean’s residence.

This wasn’t Wang Zijia’s first visit to the Etiquette Institute, and his impression was not bad.

At least the Dean of the Etiquette Institute, Xu Yuyu, a sound cultivator, seemed excellent to him. Whether it was personal cultivation or how he handled affairs, he lived up to the distinguished reputation of the Etiquette Institute.

Though the Etiquette Institute might not be the richest, it was one of the best starting points for those with ambitions towards the inner courtyards.

After all, the distinctiveness of the Etiquette Institute was not just for show - sometimes it represented the face of Wanyu Sect.

In the eyes of high-level cultivators who paid much attention to appearances, this was an excellent starting point.

Among the twelve courtyards:

The institutes of Pill, Tool, Array, and Symbol were most advantageous for individual career prospects;

The Dao Law Court, Task Court, and Law Enforcement Team were most suitable for cultivators with strong combat abilities to develop;

Those who were more practical could go to the Task Court and Law Enforcement Team, while academic-oriented cultivators would be better off in the Dao Law Court.

The Spirit Child Institute and the Secular Courtyard were the largest, with lots of benefits, but their prospects weren’t promising;

Among them, though the Spirit Child Institute yielded fewer benefits, its prospects were slightly better since it could lead to a position in the Education Department under the Scripture Pavilion,

On the contrary, while the Secular Courtyard was abundant with resources, its prospects were not so promising, yet it was extremely suitable for clans to nurture geniuses.

The Etiquette Institute, which was responsible for etiquette and diplomacy, and the Administrative Office, which was in charge of disciple promotion and material changes, had the most prestigious reputations;

Among them, the Administrative Office could also gain considerable profits, while the Etiquette Institute had an even higher reputation.

Finally, there was the Internal Affairs Hall. Everyone disliked it because its main function was internal review, specifically targeting its own people.

But even though it was disliked and it did things quietly, this hall had the most authority. It could interfere and manage anything.

Everyone avoided it and found it a headache.

Of course, you wouldn’t normally see the people of this hall. But when you did, you probably faced some significant issues.

You would either be taken to the Demon Suppressing Tower for a cup of tea or be sent to various front-line battlefields to receive several rounds of free tour coupons.

······

Shortly after, the two of them arrived at Dean Xu Yuyu’s residence and entered the so-called ’Zither Room’ where he practiced.

Actually, calling it a Zither Room might not be accurate, it was a small bamboo grove beside a lake.

"Ding dong······"

Xu Yuyu was calmly playing the zither in the central pavilion of the lake. A light spiritual aura pervaded the area, and the surrounding spiritual energy danced with the melody.

With the morning sun just rising, the spirit bamboos by the lake gently swaying, and a man with an aura of immortality calmly playing the zither in the central pavilion, this poetic painting-like scene made Xu Yuyu look extraordinarily engrossed.

Probably only a place like the Etiquette Institute could afford to use such a massive plot of land at the foot of Qifeng Mountain, in the main campus, to create such a ’Zither Room’!

This was indeed prestigious enough! Absolutely top-tier!

It was clear that Xu Yuyu must have been a show-off when he was young. Well, he was still quite ostentatious now!

The senior sister who brought Wang Zijia here stopped at the door and didn’t go any further, signaling Wang Zijia to enter by himself.