The return journey was a stark contrast to the tense, methodical tracking hours earlier. With the Shadowfang Wolf Alpha defeated and its core secured, Lin Fan fully unleashed his enhanced Wind Step Technique. He became a near-invisible blur streaking through the Silent Woods, the dense trees and gloomy undergrowth flashing past. The hour-and-a-half journey into Sector Gamma was reversed in less than forty minutes, the efficiency of his movement technique conserving Qi remarkably well, leaving him far from exhausted despite the earlier battle.
He emerged from the wilderness gate just as the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and purple. The main Outer Sect grounds were bathed in the softer light of dusk, and lamps were beginning to flicker to life along the main pathways. The number of disciples out and about had lessened, but the Contribution Hall remained relatively busy.
Lin Fan headed straight there, ignoring the few lingering stares that followed his passage. He walked with the quiet confidence of someone who had just faced death and emerged victorious.
Inside the Contribution Hall, the evening crowd was thinner but still substantial. He bypassed the Task Acceptance counters and went directly to the 'Task Submission' area. He found the same tired-looking female clerk he'd registered with earlier that afternoon.
She looked up as he approached, a flicker of recognition in her eyes, perhaps surprised to see him back so soon. "Disciple Lin Fan? Reporting back already?"
"Task completed," Lin Fan stated simply, placing his disciple token and the validated task token for the Shadowfang Wolf hunt onto the counter.
The clerk blinked. "Completed? Disciple Lin, you accepted this task less than half a day ago. The journey to Sector Gamma alone..." Her voice trailed off as she saw the calm certainty in his eyes. She picked up the task token, her expression shifting to professional neutrality, though tinged with skepticism. "Proof of Alpha elimination is required."
Lin Fan reached into his Mid-Grade Storage Ring. With a thought, the Shadowfang Wolf Alpha's Beast Core materialized in his hand. He placed it gently on the counter.
The core pulsed with a faint, dark light, significantly larger and more potent than the cores typically seen from beasts hunted by Outer Sect disciples. Its energy signature screamed 'near-sixth layer'. The clerk's professional mask finally cracked. Her eyes widened, staring first at the core, then at Lin Fan, then back at the core.
"This... this is..." she stammered, carefully picking it up. She channeled a wisp of her own Qi (likely sixth or seventh layer) into it for verification. She nodded slowly, confirming its authenticity and power level. "An Alpha core... peak fifth layer, pushing sixth... Remarkable."
Her exclamation, though kept relatively low, attracted the attention of several disciples waiting nearby. They craned their necks, catching sight of the impressive beast core on the counter. Whispers erupted instantly.
"Is that... the Shadowfang Alpha core?" "He finished that urgent task already?" "Alone? But he's only fifth layer!" "Impossible! That Alpha injured Senior Brother Jian's team just yesterday!" "Look at the size of that core!"
The clerk ignored the murmurs, though a flush crept up her neck. She meticulously completed the submission process in the sect records. "Task 'Eliminate Shadowfang Wolf Pack Leader' confirmed completed by Disciple Lin Fan. Time: Less than one day. Urgency condition met."
She looked at Lin Fan with newfound respect, perhaps even a hint of apprehension. "Reward issued: 80 Contribution Points." She tapped a command, and Lin Fan felt a subtle notification within his disciple token, confirming the points had been credited. "Bonus reward: 50 Low-Grade Spirit Stones." She counted out the stones from a drawer and pushed the small pile towards him.
Lin Fan glanced at the Spirit Stones, then simply waved his hand, and they vanished directly into his storage ring, an act of casual acceptance that spoke volumes about his indifference to such a sum.
DING![Detected significant positive reputation shift and emotional reactions due to Host's demonstrated capability and task completion speed.][Triggered emotions: Shock (Clerk + Onlookers, +180 Points), Disbelief (+220 Points), Envy (+150 Points), Admiration (+100 Points), Respect (+80 Points)][System Points earned: 730][Current System Points: 815 + 730 = 1545]
Over 700 points just for turning in the mission! Lin Fan noted with satisfaction. Successfully completing challenging tasks and impressing others was clearly another viable path to earning points, supplementing outright squandering.
"Excellent work, Disciple Lin Fan," the clerk said formally, handing back his disciple token. "Your capability is commendable."
Lin Fan gave a slight nod of acknowledgement, retrieved his token, and turned to leave. The whispers followed him, louder now, filled with speculation about his true strength and background. He had not only completed a difficult task far faster than expected but had done so solo, shattering the expectations for a fifth layer disciple. His name would undoubtedly circulate even more widely through the Outer Sect now.
He walked back towards his hut under the light of the newly risen moon and the flickering sect lamps. The exertion of the fight and the rapid travel had taken a toll, despite his quick recovery rate thanks to the Nine Cycles Refining Art. His Qi reserves were perhaps only half full.
Back in the familiar quiet of his hut, he secured the door. First order of business: recovery and consolidation. He sat down, manifesting a handful of Mid-Grade Spirit Stones – no need for High-Grade ones now, stable recovery was key. He also popped one of the Enhanced Qi Gathering Pills from his lottery winnings into his mouth.
Closing his eyes, he began circulating Qi according to the Nine Cycles method. The pure energy from the pill and the stones flowed into him, rapidly replenishing his Dantian, soothing the minor aches from the battle, and further solidifying his fifth layer foundation.
An hour later, he felt completely refreshed, his Qi reserves full, his body and mind calm. He checked his status mentally. 80 Contribution Points – a modest start, but necessary. 1545 System Points – a much healthier amount, enough for fifteen lottery draws.
The temptation to immediately spend the points on the lottery was strong. Fifteen draws could yield more skills, better gear, perhaps something truly game-changing. Or... he could save them. Accumulate more points through further tasks or perhaps another calculated display of wealth, aiming for higher-tier draws later, or saving for potentially expensive system functions that might unlock in the future.
He pulled up the Lottery Draw interface, the dazzling wheel beckoning him. Fifteen chances... what treasures might await? Or what duds?
He hovered on the decision, the thrill of the gamble warring with prudent resource management. What was the next step on the path of the Infinite Squandering Cultivator?