Unless one obtains pills or spirit stones and uses their power to convert into spiritual energy, the time required can be greatly shortened. This is also why the competition within the sect is so fierce—because every month, the outer sect distributes pills.

“The strong get stronger, the weak get weaker. Is this how the Kao Shan Sect cultivates its inner disciples... But this method is unreasonable, and far too bloody. No wonder Senior Brother Miller said that years ago, this sect was called the Demon Sect of Zhao State.” Ethan Brooks fell silent.

That morning, just as dawn was breaking, Ethan Brooks sat cross-legged on his bed. He did not possess astonishing talent, but he had a strong will. Even at night, he did not give up meditating and breathing exercises. At this moment, the sect’s bell rang out, its sound lingering in the air as Ethan Brooks opened his eyes.

“This bell...” Ethan Brooks’s eyes narrowed, faintly guessing something. His expression showed a trace of excitement. As he got up and left his room, he saw many fellow disciples around him, all immediately looking invigorated and hurrying off into the distance.

“The bell has rung—it's time for the distribution of spirit stones and pills.”

“It should be today.” As the bell echoed, more people rushed out. Not just here, but throughout the entire outer sect, almost all the outer sect disciples were doing the same.

“Pill distribution day.” Ethan Brooks took a deep breath and, along with the crowd, ran a few steps. Soon, they arrived at the central plaza of the outer sect. This plaza was extremely vast, surrounded by nine dragon-carved stone pillars emitting dazzling light. At the very front, a ten-zhang-square platform was spread atop a stone pillar, shrouded in multicolored clouds, with indistinct figures hidden within, making them appear hazy.

There were over a hundred outer sect disciples present, all wearing green robes, quietly discussing among themselves while occasionally glancing up at the cloud-shrouded platform atop the stone pillar.

At this moment, the clouds on the platform parted slightly, revealing clear figures. There stood an elderly man in a golden robe, his face marked with spots, but his expression was naturally imposing, his eyes sharp as lightning. Beside him stood a man and a woman, both dressed in silver. The man was exceptionally handsome, his expression calm and upright. As for the woman, the moment Ethan Brooks saw her clearly, his eyes contracted.

This woman was the very person who had captured him from Daqing Mountain three months ago.

Chapter 0005: This Child Is Not Bad

“It’s actually Uncle Master Turner personally distributing the pills, and Senior Sister Foster and Senior Brother Sullivan are both inner sect disciples. They rarely appear, but this time they’ve come too. Could it be that there will be a special pill distribution this time?”

“That must be it. Look, Senior Brother Cooper from the outer sect is here. He’s the second strongest in the outer sect, at the fifth level of Qi Condensation. If he reaches the seventh level, he can automatically become an inner sect disciple. Too bad Senior Brother Henry Smith isn’t here.”

“With Senior Brother Henry Smith’s talent, he wouldn’t care about these pills at all. When he joined the Kao Shan Sect, it caused quite a stir among the sect leader and elders. If Senior Brother Smith hadn’t insisted on entering the inner sect by his own ability, he would already be the third inner sect disciple by now.”

“Heh, there’s going to be a good show this time. Every special pill distributed has a twelve-hour seal period. Every hour, the pill emits a glow to guide people to fight for it. During this time, it can’t be consumed. Even if you run away with the pill, you probably can’t hide for twelve hours.”

Ethan Brooks listened to the discussions of his fellow disciples. Although it was his first time participating in such an event, he knew that every outer sect pill distribution was a key moment for competition. Over the past half month, he had witnessed many fights, and even deaths.

Especially since this time there seemed to be a special pill distribution, the competition would surely be even fiercer.

Ethan Brooks remained silent, thinking to himself that he was only at the first level of Qi Condensation, so this so-called special pill would never fall to him. But as he looked at the greedy faces all around, Ethan Brooks gained a deeper understanding of the phrase “the law of the jungle.”

“Silence!” The golden-robed elder on the platform spoke calmly. His voice was not loud, but when it rang out, it was like rolling thunder shaking the heavens and earth, causing all the cultivators below to tremble in spirit, their ears buzzing. Ethan Brooks felt it even more so, taking quite a while to recover.

“I am David Turner. Today is pill distribution. Each of you will receive one Condensing Spirit Pill and half a spirit stone.” David Turner waved his right hand, and instantly, over a hundred pills and spirit stones scattered, each one landing perfectly in front of every person. Ethan Brooks gazed at the pill and spirit stone floating before him, the rich medicinal fragrance intoxicating. This was the first time Ethan Brooks had ever seen a pill, and also his first time seeing a spirit stone.

The spirit stone was only the size of a fingernail, crystal clear and translucent, making one want to lose themselves just by looking at it.

His heart immediately began to race. These pills and spirit stones must be worth a fortune. Without hesitation, Ethan Brooks grabbed them. Just as he was about to swallow the pill, he noticed that no one else around him was doing so. His heart stirred, and he looked at the pill in his hand. There was a layer of light on it, with a faint, strange mark.

“And then there is this... Drought Spirit Pill.” As Ethan Brooks was examining the pill in his hand, David Turner’s voice continued from the high platform. In his hand, a purple pill appeared.

The moment this pill appeared, the entire plaza was filled with a wave of medicinal fragrance. Ethan Brooks took a breath and immediately felt a trace more spiritual energy within his body, realizing that this pill was anything but ordinary.

“It’s actually... the Drought Spirit Pill!”