Back within the secure, if humble, walls of his hut, Lin Fan contemplated his System Points. 1545. A respectable sum earned through impressive feats at the market and in the Silent Woods. The urge to immediately pour it all into the lottery's dazzling wheel was potent. Forty draws had yielded incredible results earlier; fifteen more could bring anything – a life-saving skill, a powerful artifact, perhaps even something related to the locked Spirit-Sealed Ironwood Box.
Yet, a measure of caution tempered his excitement. While his progress felt meteoric, he was still only in the fifth layer of Qi Refinement within a vast and dangerous world. Relying solely on the luck of the draw felt risky. Keeping a reserve of System Points seemed prudent – for future, potentially more expensive system functions like Identification, or perhaps for emergency use if such a feature existed. Furthermore, maybe saving points until he reached a higher cultivation base, like Foundation Establishment, would unlock a higher tier of lottery prizes altogether.
He needed balance. A taste of the lottery's potential now, but with resources held back.
"System," Lin Fan decided after a moment of internal debate, "Perform ten standard Lottery Draws."
[Acknowledged. 10x Qi Refinement Lottery Draws initiated. Deducting 1000 System Points.]
[Current System Points: 1545 - 1000 = 545]
The familiar wheel of light spun before his mental eye, flashing rapidly through myriad symbols before spitting out rewards in quick succession. Items materialized on the floor around him, though the pile was considerably smaller than after the forty-draw spree.
DING!
[Congratulations! You have drawn: 'Basic Appraisal' (Utility Skill - Auto Mastered)]
[Congratulations! You have drawn: 'Bottle of 3x Spirit Recovery Pills' (Mid-Grade Consumable)]
[Congratulations! You have drawn: 'Reinforced Leather Vest' (Low-Grade Defensive Gear)]
[Congratulations! You have drawn: 'Pouch of Iron Sand' (Common Training Material)]
[Congratulations! You have drawn: 'Sturdy Climbing Rope' (50 meters)]
[Congratulations! You have drawn: 'Minor Sharpness Talisman' (x2)]
[Congratulations! You have drawn: 'Guide to Common Spiritual Herbs (Vol. 1)']
[Congratulations! You have drawn: 'Preserved rations' (Equivalent to 3 days supply)]
[Congratulations! You have drawn: 'Chunk of Star Iron Ore Fragment' (Uncommon Material)]
[Congratulations! You have drawn: 'Worn Training Manual - Basic Spear Techniques']
Ten draws, ten items. Lin Fan quickly assessed the haul. No earth-shattering techniques or weapons this time, but several decidedly useful acquisitions.
The Basic Appraisal skill immediately integrated into his knowledge. It wasn't like the powerful System Identification function; this was a simple Qi technique. By channeling a small amount of Qi into an object, he could get a basic reading – its common name, primary material, general quality (mundane, low-grade spiritual, etc.), and any obvious simple enchantments. It wouldn't reveal hidden functions, penetrate seals, or identify truly rare or high-grade items, but it was perfect for quickly assessing common materials, basic equipment, or beast cores without spending precious System Points.
The Spirit Recovery Pills were also a welcome surprise. While Qi pills restored physical energy and cultivation power, these were specifically designed to alleviate mental fatigue and restore spiritual sense energy, often depleted after intense concentration, using complex techniques, or resisting mental/spiritual attacks like the Alpha's howl. Having three of these was excellent insurance.
Then there was the Reinforced Leather Vest. It was simple, dark leather, obviously treated and hardened, with faint reinforcement runes stitched into the lining. It felt sturdy. As a Low-Grade defensive item, it wouldn't stop a truly powerful blow, but it would offer significant protection against glancing hits, stray projectiles, or basic beast attacks, working in concert with his Iron Skin Art. He quickly donned it under his outer robe; it was surprisingly light and didn't impede his movement.
The rest were minor: common training materials, rope, basic talismans, preserved food, a fragment of uncommon ore, a basic herb guide, and a spear manual he had no use for. Useful perhaps for trading or mundane needs, but not exciting. Still, three solid hits out of ten draws felt like a decent return.
He tested the Basic Appraisal skill immediately. He picked up the rusty dagger he'd bought from the old man. Channeling Qi into it, feedback entered his mind: [Item: Ancient Steel Dagger Fragment. Material: High-Carbon Steel (Degraded). Quality: Mundane (Residual Chill Detected - Unknown Origin). Age: Estimated 500+ Years.] Interesting confirmation of its age and mundane material, but the chill remained a mystery beyond the skill's capability. He tried it on the bone amulet: [Item: Carved Bone Amulet. Material: Unknown Beast Bone. Quality: Mundane (Unusual Density). Age: Unknown.] Again, basic information, no hidden function revealed. It confirmed the skill's limitations compared to the System ID he used on the box.
With his new gear equipped and skill integrated, Lin Fan felt even more prepared. He had 545 System Points remaining – a comfortable buffer. His gaze fell upon his disciple token, where his newly acquired 80 Contribution Points were now registered.
80 points. It sounded decent after one task, but he recalled seeing the exchange lists in the Contribution Hall. A month's supply of standard Qi Gathering Pills might cost 20-30 CP. Access to a slightly better-than-average training room for a day could be 50 CP. A copy of a more advanced (but still standard issue) sect Qi Refinement technique manual? Perhaps 300-500 CP. Entry into certain resource-rich sect-controlled zones? Thousands of points.
His 80 points were, frankly, pitifully small in the grand scheme of sect progression. To access anything truly meaningful offered by the sect itself – better standard resources, specific knowledge, qualification for advanced assessments – he needed far more.
While the system provided him with unbelievable power and resources outside the sect structure, integrating and potentially exploiting the sect's own system required playing by its rules, at least partially. And the currency for that was Contribution Points.
His next objective became clear. He needed to accumulate CP, and quickly. Aiming for a substantial initial goal, perhaps 1000 CP, seemed appropriate. That amount might grant him access to something genuinely useful within the Outer Sect's offerings, or at least give him a better understanding of the sect's internal economy.
This meant tackling more tasks, likely more challenging ones than the Shadowfang hunt, or perhaps finding tasks that offered unusually high CP rewards. It would require him to be active, visible, and continually demonstrate capability. Which, conveniently, also aligned with potentially earning more System Points through reactions.
He looked out the window slit of his hut. Night had fully fallen, the moon casting silvery light over the quiet courtyard. The Contribution Hall would likely remain open for a few more hours, but heading out again immediately felt overly eager. Rest, proper rest, was also part of cultivation.
He would return to the Contribution Hall tomorrow morning, armed with his 'Excellent' rating, his enhanced skills, his new armor, and a clear goal: the rapid accumulation of Contribution Points.
Lin Fan sat down on his mat, closing his eyes not for cultivation this time, but for genuine rest, his mind already formulating strategies for navigating the sect's task system. The path ahead was clear: leverage system power to dominate sect tasks, earn Contribution Points, unlock sect resources, and continue growing stronger, all while waiting for the right moment for the next big squander.