Chapter 9: Storage Slot

"Grand Elder, you devoted yourself to cultivation, yet for the safety of our sect, you emerged from seclusion to eliminate our enemies. Such great kindness cannot be repaid.

This unworthy junior Zhou Yun, leading all disciples, presents you with spiritual fruits and spiritual wine to express our filial devotion."

Before the Elder Hall.

The long table was filled with precious spiritual fruits and spiritual wine.

The Sect Master led everyone from Qingxuan Sect in a respectful bow.

Then they rose, all looking expectantly at the grand doors of the Elder Hall.

They hoped that mysterious figure would appear again to accept their respectful offerings.

However, they waited for quite a while without any response.

***

In the real world.

He Zhi looked at the popup window before him, his face showing delight.

[Qingxuan Sect has offered you spiritual fruits and spiritual wine. Do you accept?]

[Accept/Decline]

Just as the Sect Master and the others had bowed, this window had appeared on He Zhi's screen.

At that moment, He Zhi discovered an astonishing change in the game on his screen!

The screen was now displaying game UI!

Storage Slot!

This was a game feature He Zhi was very familiar with—players could store obtained items in it.

Earlier with just the popup, He Zhi couldn't be certain.

Now he was completely sure—this was a game, a computer game that could connect to a real cultivation world!

"This... I thought it was just a space-time portal, but it really is a game? Truly Pocket Cultivation?"

He Zhi's heart surged with excitement.

He Zhi's access to the cultivation world relied on this computer game called [Pocket Cultivation].

However, this game had no UI whatsoever, and he couldn't find any gameplay mechanics.

It seemed to be merely a portal connecting to the cultivation world, not a traditional game in any sense.

But now, He Zhi was seeing game UI on the screen—the Storage Slot.

The implications of this were enormous.

He Zhi made his living through games, and this brought him back to his area of expertise.

The various features and systems in games were incredibly convenient.

Previously, when He Zhi wanted to do something in the cultivation world, he had to stick his arm or even his head through the screen to operate manually.

The posture was awkward and very troublesome.

But now with the game system, everything was much simpler.

Just like this...

After thinking for a moment, He Zhi moved his mouse and clicked [Accept].

"It seems the Grand Elder is currently in cultivation. He just eliminated the enemy with one strike, so he must have expended considerable energy.

We shouldn't disturb him. Let's go back!"

At that moment, the Sect Master spoke in a low voice, preparing to dismiss everyone.

This so-called respectful offering was just for show. The Sect Master never expected anyone to actually come collect the offerings.

It was just to reassure the disciples.

"I suppose that's all we can do."

"I really wanted to see the Grand Elder appear in person..."

"But we can't disturb the Grand Elder's cultivation. We'll have to wait for another time."

Hearing this, the disciples were disappointed, but the Sect Master's explanation was reasonable.

So they all stood up one by one.

"Sigh, I really don't know how long I can keep up this deception.

I hope Jiang Rong can grow quickly and support Qingxuan Sect."

The Sect Master and the five Foundation Establishment cultivators all sighed inwardly, then prepared to step forward and collect the spiritual fruits and wine.

Just then, something unexpected happened.

The spiritual fruits and wine on the table began emitting a faint clear light.

The light flickered briefly, and they vanished without a trace, as if they had never existed.

"This..."

The Sect Master and the Foundation Establishment cultivators were stunned.

Who took the offerings?

Could it be that the mysterious senior hadn't left and had accepted the offerings, agreeing to become their Qingxuan Sect's Grand Elder?

Or could it be that the nonsense the Sect Master had made up earlier was actually true?

The Grand Elder wasn't dead?

In that instant, the Sect Master and the others' minds raced with thoughts—surprised, delighted, and somewhat afraid.

"Wonderful! The Grand Elder accepted the offerings!"

"Did you see that? Just now those spiritual fruits and wine vanished into thin air!"

"What kind of technique is that? Could it be the legendary spatial divine ability? Simply incredible!"

"It must be! I've heard that at the Nascent Soul realm, one can touch the power of space and teleport instantly. Since the Grand Elder has achieved False Nascent Soul, he possesses part of the Nascent Soul's might, so his methods are so unfathomable!"

While the Sect Master and the others were still pondering, the other disciples were all extremely excited.

"Alright!"

After a while, the Sect Master finally snapped out of it and spoke to stop the disciples' commotion.

"The Grand Elder has accepted the offerings, you all saw it!"

"Haha, spatial divine ability! The Grand Elder actually knows spatial divine abilities! He truly has achieved False Nascent Soul. Doesn't this make him invincible among Core Formation cultivators?"

"However, though the Grand Elder accepted the offerings, he didn't appear. It seems he's at a critical moment in his cultivation and took a moment to collect the offerings to put our minds at ease."

"We can't be inconsiderate and make noise here, disturbing the Grand Elder."

"Everyone go back! Cultivate diligently. With the Grand Elder here, no petty villain can threaten our Qingxuan Sect."

The Sect Master also laughed heartily twice, then quickly lowered his voice to dismiss the disciples.

"Yes, Sect Master!"

Hearing this, the excited disciples immediately fell silent.

They bowed respectfully toward the doors of the Elder Hall, then turned to leave.

As they walked, they kept looking back, their expressions excited, practically floating as they walked.

Having a powerful backer felt great!

Having just experienced a life-and-death crisis, they felt this most deeply.

"Grand Elder, this disciple dares not disturb your cultivation, so I'll take my leave..."

The Sect Master also bowed respectfully toward the Elder Hall doors, then pulled the Foundation Establishment cultivators along as they left together.

***

Ten minutes later.

The Sect Master and the five Foundation Establishment cultivators wore troubled expressions.

"What is the background of that mysterious senior? What does he mean?"

"Could it really be that our Grand Elder achieved False Nascent Soul? That can't be, right?"

This was what troubled them.

He Zhi was mysterious and powerful, appearing and disappearing without a trace. Now that he had accepted their offerings to become Grand Elder, they didn't know if this was a blessing or a curse.

Jiang Rong beside them didn't have as many concerns as the Sect Master and the others. She just felt happy—with this mysterious senior around, Qingxuan Sect would be safe.

She felt immense curiosity about that "mysterious senior" in her heart.

"I did give them quite a shock, but my accepting the offerings should be a good thing for their Qingxuan Sect."

***

Outside the screen, He Zhi watched the Sect Master and the others' troubled expressions with a slight smile.

Then his gaze shifted to the Storage Slot!

He Zhi took a light breath and clicked it open.

A window popped up, displaying a virtual space with spiritual fruits and wine neatly arranged inside.

It was quite similar to a typical game inventory.

He Zhi reached his hand in and pulled out a crystal-clear spiritual fruit from the screen.

He really could take it out!

* * *

Proofreader & Editor: Fat Goose 🪶