"How could that be? This mask suits you perfectly, Little Junior Brother. With it, your cultivation will advance by leaps and bounds. Soon, you'll be able to dominate the outer sect, and even breaking through to the fourth level of true qi and becoming an inner sect disciple might only take a year or two..."

Big Rat Spirit said with a grin, constantly urging Henry Clark to accept the mask.

"That's right, Little Junior Brother, why not take it back first and try it out for a few days? If it really doesn't work, just bring it back and Senior Brother will exchange it for you!"

Another person beside him chimed in, looking very agreeable.

"Since all three Senior Brother say so, then I'll choose this one!"

Henry Clark deliberately pretended to hesitate, then picked up the mask.

"Of course, I'll record it right away..."

Big Rat Spirit was extremely straightforward, quickly picking out a blank jade token from a pile and swiftly imprinting a spiritual mark inside: "Gengzi year, eleventh month, first day... Outer sect disciple Henry Clark receives... one low-grade magical artifact..."

Chapter 10: Penniless

Big Rat Spirit didn't know what this mask was called, and couldn't just write down a made-up name, so as usual, whenever he didn't know the name, he simply wrote "low-grade magical artifact." After recording it, he placed the jade token on the shelf, making it official. His expression darkened, and he said with a forced smile, "This Little Junior Brother, congratulations on choosing a treasure. You may leave now!"

Henry Clark turned the mask over and over, pretending to be confused, and said, "You're not tricking me, are you?"

Big Rat Spirit's face fell, and he barked, "Nonsense! You've already chosen your artifact and it's been recorded. There's no going back!"

"But... you just said that if I wasn't satisfied, I could bring it back and exchange it..."

Henry Clark opened his mouth wide, as if frightened by them.

"Exchange? Well, it's not impossible—it all depends on your performance then!"

Big Rat Spirit sneered, his eyes glinting coldly, laughing to himself.

It wasn't like no one had ever come to exchange before. Many disciples who had suffered heavy losses at their hands would come begging afterward, willingly offering up all their valuables in hopes of being allowed to exchange for another artifact.

Through this method, they had gained countless benefits.

They wrote "low-grade magical artifact" on the jade token, not only because they didn't know the mask's name, but also to prepare for when Henry Clark might come back, so they could extort him.

After all, the record only said "one low-grade magical artifact." At worst, they could just swap it for another low-grade artifact. But if the name and features of the treasure were clearly written, it wouldn't be so easy to manipulate, since the sect had its own rules.

"Alright then, I'll take it!"

Henry Clark acted as if he'd made up his mind, stuffed the mask into his robe, and turned to leave.

Big Rat Spirit and the two Junior Brother looked at each other, then suddenly burst out laughing.

"He actually picked such a thing, and the kid acts like he got some great treasure..."

"Heh, after offending us Fellow Brothers, does he really think he'll get anything good? Dream on!"

"Hmph, just wait until he wants to exchange it—I'll skin him alive!"

The Fat Preacher who had been waiting outside saw Henry Clark come out and hurried over to see what artifact he had chosen.

Henry Clark handed him the mask. Fat Preacher turned it over and over in his hands, suspiciously asking, "What is this thing?"

The mask looked a bit old, with some damage on it, and really didn't seem like anything valuable.

Henry Clark snatched it back. "What do you know? This is definitely something good. Come on, take me to see the place where I'll be cultivating!"

Seeing his confidence, Fat Preacher didn't say anything more and led the way to the cultivation area arranged by the sect. As they walked, he introduced the sights of the sect to Henry Clark. Since he worked in the miscellaneous affairs office and ran errands everywhere, he was quite familiar with the sect. Although he wasn't well regarded, he interacted with many people and always had plenty of gossip to share.

"Junior Brother, look, that place is Qingyin Valley, where the female disciples live. Outside the valley is a clear pool where the junior sisters often bathe. To prevent unsavory disciples from peeping, the elders have set up a spiritual mist around the pool, sealing it off all year round. But this mist isn't always there—if you're persistent and keep watch on that hilltop for ten days or half a month, eventually the mist will clear. There was once a Senior Brother who saw the female disciples bathing there and talked about it for half a month afterward..."

"That green cliff over there is where Elder Songgu gives his lectures. He is a legendary figure in our Qingyun Sect, with profound power but a kind demeanor. Even outer sect disciples like us, when we greet him, he always responds with a smile. Every year on the Double Ninth Festival, Elder Songyan gives a lecture here. Sometimes he talks about things to watch out for in cultivation, sometimes about the principles of magic. So many disciples come to listen, from the true disciples down to the outer sect, all hoping for a seat but rarely getting one..."