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On the third day after entering the sect, all new disciples could collect their benefits from the Mission Hall. For disciples who had been in the sect for over a year, they were required to take on tasks from the Mission Hall to earn points. These points could be exchanged for spirit stones, resources, and other rewards.

This one-year period was essentially the sect giving its disciples time to grow.

It was Qin Shu's first time visiting the Mission Hall. He Xin pointed to another nearby building and said, "The Mission Hall and the Transmission Hall are right next to each other. Once you achieve Qi induction, you can go straight there."

Qin Shu: "???"

This place was entirely unfamiliar to her. She was sure she had never been here before.

But if this was the Transmission Hall, then what was the place she went to yesterday?!

Qin Shu was filled with doubt. If she had gone to the wrong place, how could she explain the hand seals and basic sword techniques she had learned?

Despite the flood of questions in her mind, Qin Shu could only suppress her curiosity for now.

The book had mentioned that people who were overly straightforward and blurted out everything they thought often didn't survive beyond three chapters.

Following He Xin into the Mission Hall, Qin Shu saw that the senior sister in charge instructed them to place their tokens on a rune. Immediately, a tray appeared in front of them containing their allocated items.

Ten lower-grade spirit stones, a bottle of Spirit-Replenishing Pills, and another bottle of Cleansing Dust Pills.

He Xin picked up her share and exclaimed, "Huh?" She looked up in surprise and asked, "Senior Sister, why is there an extra bottle?"

Shu Ying smiled and explained, "The extra bottle is the Cleansing Dust Pills. Other sects don't have this; it's a benefit provided by our Dan Sect's ancestor for new disciples. Before reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, taking these Cleansing Dust Pills has the effect of cleansing impurities and refining the body, aiding in future cultivation."

Only the Dan Sect could be so generous. Each bottle contained three Cleansing Dust Pills, and just one pill could be sold for twenty lower-grade spirit stones.

However, as outer sect disciples with poor aptitude, such a treasure was hard to come by. Only a fool would trade it for spirit stones.

Qin Shu imitated He Xin's actions and collected her share.

Gripping the porcelain bottle tightly, Qin Shu felt a surge of excitement. She overheard He Xin asking, "Senior Sister, will taking these Cleansing Dust Pills increase our spiritual root value?"

Hearing this, Qin Shu perked up her ears.

Shu Ying shook her head. "No, the spiritual root value cannot be changed. However, since you ate grains and food in the mortal world, your bodies are filled with impurities, which makes it harder to connect with spiritual energy. The purpose of these pills is to remove impurities and help you absorb spiritual energy more efficiently."

He Xin's enthusiasm visibly deflated, and Qin Shu also sighed internally.

But she quickly rationalized it. If there really were pills that could enhance spiritual root values, even by a single point, they would be priceless treasures—not something casually handed out.

For disciples like them, whose spiritual root values were low, adding one or two points might not seem like a big deal. But for that prodigy disciple with a fire spiritual root value of ninety-nine, an additional point could elevate them to a heaven-grade spiritual root, enabling rapid progress in cultivation.

Qin Shu admitted she felt a little bitter and silently vowed to herself: One day, she would also obtain some heavenly treasure to enhance her spiritual root value. Since fate had granted her a second life, she refused to remain a waste—she had to fight for herself.

After collecting their benefits, the two of them went for breakfast. Qin Shu even grabbed two extra steamed buns and some spiritual fruits.

Seeing this, He Xin curiously asked, "Didn't you eat enough?"

Qin Shu smiled and replied, "Going back and forth for meals every day is a waste of time. I'm saving some for the afternoon."

He Xin, being just a young girl, couldn't imagine someone working so hard that they'd skip meals.

But she quickly understood and nodded solemnly. "You're right; it is a waste of time. I'll go grab two more buns too and try to hold out until I achieve Qi induction."

Qin Shu: "..."

She looked at the two steamed buns in her hand and suddenly felt they might not be enough.

"If only the sect provided fasting pills," Qin Shu mumbled softly.

He Xin returned with four steamed buns and overheard this. She chuckled and said, "We have spirit stones. In five days, there'll be a market gathering, and someone will definitely be selling them."

Qin Shu nodded and parted ways with He Xin.

However, instead of returning, Qin Shu climbed the mountain steps again. She wanted to revisit the so-called Transmission Hall that Rui Ming had taken her to yesterday. Could she really have gone to the wrong place?

This time, however, she was stopped halfway up the stairs.

"Who goes there!" Two figures dressed in blue appeared on the steps, holding magical weapons.

Qin Shu froze and instinctively stepped back. She clasped her hands and said, "Senior Brothers, I am an outer sect disciple named Qin Shu. I just happened to pass by..."

Before she could finish, she was interrupted. "This is a forbidden area of the Dan Sect. No one may pass without the sect master's token!"

Realizing their stern tone, Qin Shu quickly retreated two more steps and bowed respectfully. "I'll leave now, I'll leave now."

As she spoke, she hurriedly turned and left, fearing they might realize she had previously entered the forbidden area.

By now, she understood what had happened. The place Rui Ming had taken her to yesterday wasn't the Transmission Hall at all—it must have been the wrong location.

But Qin Shu didn't blame Rui Ming for the mistake. After all, the seal she had learned there was indeed a powerful technique.

It's just that, for now, she had no right or reason to use it.

Returning to her quarters, Qin Shu fetched two buckets of cold water to prepare. Sitting cross-legged, she poured one Cleansing Dust Pill from the porcelain bottle.

The pill emitted a faint medicinal fragrance, though it didn't smell as good as the mysterious pills she had obtained before.

Qin Shu tilted her head back and swallowed the pill, which dissolved instantly in her mouth.

A faint herbal aroma spread through her body, nourishing her internal organs. Her body absorbed the nutrients eagerly, like parched soil soaking up rainwater.

Qin Shu felt her muscles and bones stretch inch by inch. The flow of spiritual energy in her dantian became smoother, though the issue of insufficient spiritual energy remained unresolved.

Suddenly, the euphoric sensation stopped abruptly. It felt like scratching an itch through a barrier—just as she started to feel relief, the effect disappeared.

Frowning, Qin Shu swallowed another pill and continued meditating. After consuming all three pills, she exhaled deeply and opened her eyes, her gaze sharp and determined.

Now she understood why the sect had given each disciple exactly three pills—it was all calculated.

As she moved, she noticed debris falling from her face.

Frowning, she brushed her skin, causing more flakes to fall.

Only then did she look at her arm and saw her skin covered with a hard, grayish layer, exuding an indescribable stench, as if it had been fermenting in a garbage heap for weeks.

"These pills shouldn't be called Cleansing Dust Pills—they should be called Dust-Producing Pills instead," Qin Shu muttered. She jumped off the mat, stripping off her clothes as she lamented.