After a moment of silence, Senior Zhou announced the punishment for those who failed their quotas. "Everyone who failed their quotas this week will have their quotas doubled for the rest of the month. Moreover, you will only be allowed one meal a day—breakfast. Lastly, your access to the cultivation technique will also be restricted for this week." "What?! So we can’t cultivate for an entire week?!" someone exclaimed after hearing the final punishment. "That’s what I said, no?" Senior Zhou responded. "Fail your quotas again and I’ll turn that week into a month. Of course, I’ll also increase your quotas again. If you fail your quotas for a third time, I’ll restrict your ability to cultivate for an entire year. After that, you will no longer be allowed to continue working in the Bamboo Forest, and we’ll have you executed for being insubordinate." Those who had failed to meet their quotas the previous week stood in stunned silence, inwardly regretting their arrogance. Many of them had considered themselves too proud to bother with mundane tasks, and now they were paying the price for their complacency. Some had been so preoccupied with trying to memorize the cultivation technique as quickly as possible that they completely overlooked the quotas. However, the punishment served as a stark reminder, ensuring that nobody would dare to forget them again. "As for those of you who have met your quotas," Senior Zhou continued, "your quotas will remain unchanged for the rest of this month. Moreover, you’ll all be given ten points, which you can use to purchase items. If you want more information on this subject, you can visit the shop." "That’s all I have to say. I’ll see you all here again next week." Senior Zhou turned around and walked away. Once Senior Zhou left completely, the participants began complaining openly. "Fuck! What kind of shitty trial is this?! What does chopping bamboo and gathering water have anything to do with the Immortal Monastery?! This shit is a fucking scam!" "Right?! Why the hell am I being treated like a servant?! I am an Immortal!" "H-hey! My cultivation technique is gone! It was in my pocket just moments ago!" someone suddenly realized their cultivation technique had disappeared. "Y-you’re right! Mine is gone, as well!" While the crowd grumbled and complained about their situation, Yuan and Lan Yingying quietly slipped away, wasting no time as they set out to start working on their quotas again. "What do you think we’ll be able to buy with the points?" Lan Yingying asked as she swung her axe. "Hard to say. We can check out the shop afterward." "Okay." After chopping and delivering their first bamboo, Yuan and Lan Yingying noticed that significantly more people had joined in, busy working to fulfill their quotas. Noticing the increased activity, Yuan and Lan Yingying decided to move to a quieter area with fewer people. Since this was a trial and everyone was ultimately competing against each other, they wanted to avoid any unnecessary confrontations. Furthermore, Yuan was keen on keeping his ability to cultivate a secret for as long as possible. After delivering their fifth bamboo, Yuan and Lan Yingying decided to call it a day and made their way to the shop. The shop was a modest, single-story building with a plain interior. Inside, there was only one worker present—a young man who seemed to be in charge. "Hello, can you tell me what I can purchase with my points?" Yuan approached the young man and asked. "I’ve got everything you could possibly need," the young man said with a confident smile. "From food and medicine to cultivation resources—if you’ve got the points, I’ve got the goods." "Then do you have something that can increase my talents?" "Of course." The young man swiftly retrieved a thin book and placed it on the counter in front of them. Read exclusive content at freewebnovel "Take a look," he said with a casual gesture. Yuan opened the book and scanned its contents. It was filled with an array of treasures, each one more impressive than the last. Flipping through the pages, he recognized a few notable names, such as the Translucent Dew of Flawlessness and other renowned talent-boosting items. However, his excitement quickly turned to disbelief as he noticed their ridiculous prices, many costing points in the millions. Even the cheapest treasure listed required tens of thousands of points. Yuan closed the book shortly after and handed it back to the young man. "How much does a meal cost?" he then asked. "Something similar to what they give at the cafeteria." "A cafeteria meal would cost you a single point. Of course, there are more luxurious options available, but they’ll cost you more." Although two meals a day were just enough for now, Yuan was certain that his appetite would increase as his cultivation progressed. "Is there anything else we can use points for? Besides buying items." The young man showed a profound smile and said, "Of course. You can buy ’privileges’ with points. For example, you can purchase a day or even a week of quotas so that you won’t need to do them for that time. Or, you can increase the spiritual energy in a specific area for a certain amount of time." "Oh?" Yuan raised his eyebrows after hearing this. "In that case, how much would it cost to increase the spiritual energy in my home? Let’s say for a day." "Ten points a day." Yuan narrowed his eyes thoughtfully, already considering whether he should spend points to purchase a day of increased spiritual energy and test how much it could enhance his cultivation progress. A few moments later, Yuan nodded and said, "Alright, let me purchase a day of increased spiritual energy at my home, building 423." "Very well. I have deducted 10 points from you, ID.423, Xiao Yang. Your home, building 423, will have increased spiritual energy for 24 hours. When would you like to use this privilege?" "How long can I save it for?" "As long as you want." "Then I’ll use it right after dinner." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞 "Understood. I will activate your privilege an hour after dinner hour ends," said the young man. "Thanks." Yuan and Lan Yingying left the store shortly after.