Steadily Upgrading Everything!
Chapter 51: Can we go get our prizes now?

Chapter 51: Can we go get our prizes now?

After Benneca’s departure, a heavy silence settled in John’s cottage.

He stood near the door for a while, staring at the spot where she had just been, then quietly locked it behind him and stumbled back to bed.

The weight of everything, the trial, the assassination attempt, the soul-burning backlash of the Qi pill, and now Benneca’s probing, crashed down on him.

As soon as his head hit the pillow, sleep took him like a crashing tide.

Next Morning

"Hey sleepyhead! Come out already!"

A loud voice broke through the veil of dreams, dragging John back to the waking world.

His eyes opened groggily, a frown already forming on his face.

He rolled off the bed, still in a daze, and opened the door with half-lidded eyes.

Outside in the small garden stood Riara, arms crossed, a bright smirk on her face.

She was wearing the newly issued Blue Cauldron Sect robe, its deep azure fabric embroidered with cloud patterns and a silver cauldron emblem on the chest.

She looked every bit like a proud sect disciple... though still entirely herself.

"Come on, we’re going to claim our prizes," she said, pointing a finger at him as if giving a royal command.

John rubbed his eyes and yawned. "Yeah... let me take a bath first."

He started to turn back inside, but before he could shut the door, Riara barged in.

"Wait!" she cried. "What kind of host doesn’t even invite his guest inside?"

She walked past him with a huff and made herself comfortable in his living room, glancing around at the pill room and small herbal garden visible through the back window.

"Hmph. Not bad for a countryside hick," she muttered, admiring the alchemy arrays with subtle approval.

John, too sleepy to argue, just nodded and dragged himself into the bathing room.

By the time he came out, his hair damp, fresh robes tied neatly, Riara had already poured herself a cup of tea from his kitchen and was lounging like she owned the place.

John stared at her blankly. "Comfortable?"

"Very," she said with a grin, then stood up. "Let’s go. If Caros is still sleeping, I’ll kill him."

A short while later

They walked along the beautifully paved spirit-stone paths that wound through the outer sect compound.

The sect’s vastness revealed itself with each step, towering bamboo forests, tranquil koi ponds, other disciples sparring in martial fields or tending herb gardens.

Qi hung thick in the air, enriching every breath.

As they approached Caros’s cottage, a familiar voice greeted them.

"You’re late."

Caros was already outside, wearing the same blue sect robe as them.

His robe was slightly untidy, as if he hadn’t quite figured out how to wear it properly.

His hair was damp and swept back, and a spirit sword hung casually at his waist.

"What the hell, you’re actually ready?" Riara said, genuinely surprised.

"Unlike some people, I don’t sleep through the next era." Caros smirked. "Let me guess, John didn’t even brush his hair, and you drank his tea."

"Shut it," Riara snapped, but not unkindly.

John just shook his head. "Can we go get our prizes now?"

Soon, the trio reached the Depository Hall.

The Depository Hall was a massive, square pavilion built from polished blackstone and jade tiles.

A massive cauldron emblem was carved into the center of its dome, and glowing formations pulsed across its surface.

Two tall golden doors stood open at the entrance, with two elders seated beside them, each emitting a terrifying spiritual pressure.

Inside, long rows of shelves made from spirit wood lined the walls, stacked with scrolls, jade slips, bottles of pills, alchemical formulas, and weapons sealed in crystal cases.

Dozens of disciples wandered the halls, browsing under the guidance of blue-robed assistants.

John took in the sheer scale of it all, this was no simple reward station.

This was a treasury of knowledge and power.

The three of them entered the Depository Hall after handing their reward tokens to the waiting Blue Cauldron Sect elders.

As per the rules, John and Caros were each allowed to select one Fighting Technique and one Grade Five pill formula, while Riara, who had secured fiftieth position, could only choose a single pill formula as her reward.

The moment they passed through the inner archway of the building, they were greeted by the scent of old paper, alchemical herbs, and faintly glowing formations etched onto the floor and walls.

Towering shelves lined with jade slips, scrolls, and leather-bound books reached high above them.

Rows of glowing spirit lanterns illuminated the wide marble aisles between shelves, casting a serene yet reverent light across the hall.

It felt more like a sacred temple than a mere library.

Almost instinctively, the trio split apart, each moving in different directions like children loosed in a treasure vault.

John made his way down the left aisle where martial techniques were stored.

His gaze wandered over dozens of skill titles etched in gold across black leather bindings, Heaven-Piercing Palm, Dragon’s Tail Counter, Wind-Step Whirl, and more. However, none truly resonated with his instincts.

After nearly an hour of searching and rejecting several techniques, his fingers brushed over a small violet-bound book nestled between larger tomes.

Pulling it out, he read the name:

"Lightning Bull Kicks."

It sounded odd at first, but the description on the slip attached to it quickly caught his attention. "A kicking technique that harnesses thunder-type spiritual energy. At full mastery, it allows the user to dash at near-lightning speed, leaving behind afterimages and arcs of electric light. Ideal for those with agile footwork and a need for speed-based combat."

John’s eyes lit up. "My speed is already decent thanks to my training, but if I can master this... I might become the fastest in my entire realm." He tucked the book securely into his robe, satisfied with the choice.

Next, he made his way upstairs to the second floor, where the pill formulas were kept.

Compared to the first floor, this level was even more strictly arranged.

A faint medicinal scent hung in the air, and dozens of elegant glass cases displayed sealed scrolls and jade slips.

Each item had a small slip of parchment hanging beside it, summarizing the effects, grade, and key ingredients of the pill inside.

John scanned through dozens:

"Happy Days Pill – induces a euphoric state, relieving mental fatigue and improving morale."

He raised a brow. "So it just... makes you happy? That’s not gonna help me survive a deadly encounter," he murmured, setting it aside with a shake of his head.

He moved on.

Another hour passed in slow deliberation before his eyes caught a pale-green scroll encased in a silver glyph-sealed box.

The slip read, "Breath of Thousand Petals Pill, When consumed, the user’s aura, scent, and spiritual fluctuations are masked completely. Even peak Core Formation Realm cultivators will find it difficult to detect the user for up to ten minutes."

John inhaled sharply. "This... this could save my life someday." With how powerful beings like Benneca or Crimson were, a pill like this could be the difference between death and escape.

Without hesitation, he picked it up and proceeded to the elder stationed at the counter.

The elder gave him a brief nod and placed his hands over the book and scroll.

With a few flickering runes, the seals were lifted, and the items became the official property of the disciple.

John quickly stowed them into his spatial bag.

He glanced around.

Caros and Riara were still deep in their search.

With time to spare, he wandered out of the building, stretching slightly as he walked through the clean stone paths of the sect grounds.

Just then, his eyes fell on something unexpected, a restaurant tucked into the side of a long hallway of shops run by the sect.

It had an old, wooden sign that read "Fragrant Cloud Pavilion", and the aroma of freshly cooked spiritual beast meat wafted from it.

"A restaurant inside a sect?" he murmured, surprised.

The Blue Cauldron Sect really was on another level.

With a wide smile forming on his face, he strolled toward it and stepped inside.

A few disciples sat at tables, eating quietly or chatting with their friends.

The atmosphere was warm, relaxing, and filled with soft light from spirit lanterns hanging from the ceiling.

He sat down and waved to a young servant disciple in gray robes. "One plate of roasted spirit deer, and a jug of cloud-fogged tea," he ordered.

As he leaned back in his chair, the tension of the last few days finally began to leave his shoulders.

A soft sigh escaped his lips. "Finally... I get a moment to breathe."

Before long, the waiter returned.

In his hands was a large wooden tray, and he moved with careful precision as he placed the dishes in front of John.

"Here you go, senior," the boy said with a respectful bow. "Roasted spirit deer glazed in cloud-peach reduction with crispy spirit leaf garnish... and your cloud-fogged tea."

John looked down at the food and blinked. The presentation alone surprised him.

The deer meat glistened under a slight sheen of reddish-golden glaze, and steam rose from it in gentle wisps.

Small green leaves, fried to a delicate crisp, were scattered along the edge of the plate.

The tea, on the other hand, sat in a translucent jade cup.

A thick mist swirled inside it like miniature clouds trapped in glass.

"...This doesn’t look like food from a sect," John muttered, impressed.

With a growl from his stomach, he picked up the provided chopsticks and lifted a slice of the roasted meat.

The moment it entered his mouth, his eyes widened.

"What the...?"

The outer layer was crispy with a slight sweetness from the glaze, but the inside was soft, juicy and tender, almost melting on his tongue.

The subtle flavor of spiritual herbs danced behind the richness of the meat, making his body feel lighter with each chew.

He quickly took another bite. And then another.

"Holy crap... this is heavenly."

Even the garnishing leaves added a faint bitterness that balanced the sweetness, and they crackled in his mouth like spiritual firecrackers.

He poured himself a small cup of the cloud-fogged tea and took a sip. Instantly, his breath cooled, and he felt a strange clarity settle in his mind.

It wasn’t just refreshing, it cleared his senses.

"This isn’t just food... it’s low-tier cultivation aid," John realized, pausing only to take another bite. "No wonder they charge so much."

He glanced at the prices on the wall again and laughed softly. "If I ever open a sect... I’m stealing this chef."

As he ate, a couple of outer sect disciples at a nearby table glanced over at him.

"New one?" one of them whispered.

"Must be. He’s got that ’first time eating real food in weeks’ look," the other replied with a smirk.

John ignored them.

He wasn’t about to let anyone ruin his first proper meal in days, no dry rations, no roasted beasts over a wild campfire.

Just perfectly cooked spirit meat, warm tea, and the faint sounds of clinking dishes and casual conversation all around.

By the time he finished the last bite, he sat back with a sigh of pure satisfaction.

"For this alone," he muttered, rubbing his stomach, "joining the Blue Cauldron Sect was worth it."

He raised his cup again and took one final sip, savoring the cool mist before placing it gently on the table.