After being subjected to multiple tests concerning his memory, the ruckus of Zhang Wei's awakening subsided, giving him a chance to finally pose some questions that he desperately needed to be answered in order to satiate his curiosity.

"So can you finally tell me about what happened after everyone started rushing towards Lin Fan like bees to honey?!

"Or if we successfully got into the outer sect?"

After Zhang Wei asked his questions with a tense expression, Tan Lin spoke up and answered,

"To answer your first question, it's quite simple."

After saying his first sentence, Tan Lin passed for a second as if he was taking a moment to recall the scene, then said with excitement,

"Wipeout! Complete domination! Carnage!"

Tan Lin took a few quick breaths, then continued with fervour,

"No matter who it was, old or young, big or small, they all stood no chance.

"Whoooosh, bang, pow!

"A few punches was all it took before every enemy was battered and bruised!

"Some got it especially rough with some bones being broken, such as Steward Qin and some famous old-generation slaves.

"I'll tell you now!

"After Lin Fan was finished with them all, he calmly looted a few of the bodies and then fashionably strutted off to god knows where!

"After he left, the whole place was deathly silent!

"Damn it, I've been in this shithole for longer than Lin Fan yet I've not even got a fraction of his coolness!"

After Tan Lin stopped talking for a bit, Jin Feng took the opportunity to speak up and said,

"As for whether we made it into the outer sect or not?"

Jin Feng smiled and said,

"We-"

*Bang!*

Just as he was about to answer, the sound of the wooden door being slammed open resounded within the room.

A series of footsteps made tapping noises as the people who were entering walked in.

As Zhang Wei and the rest looked over in the direction of the doorway, they raised their eyebrows as they saw the person at the forefront of the group of five people- Including him.

The reason they were shocked was natural, as the person donned a light blue robe which had a small diamond shape embroidered on it at the chest.

It was an outer disciple!

A true disciple of the sect!

Looking at the man who looked only a few years older than them, had a clean handsome face, and gave off a noble air, the rest couldn't help but feel a bit jealous.

To servants like them, outer disciples represented the hopes and dreams they once had.

They were lofty existences which would only converse with servants if they were ordering them about or scolding them.

It was thoroughly known to each and every servant who had been here for some time, that one should never argue or refute an outer disciple lest they wished to enter the cycle of reincarnation.

Looking at the surprised expressions on the boys' faces, the outer disciple smiled and said,

"Let me answer that question for you, Junior Brother Zhang.

"As your opponents were all unable to continue fighting due to some...unforeseen circumstances, you have all been deemed victors and took second to sixth place.

"So yes. Congratulations, you have all made it into the outer sect."

Hearing his words, Zhang Wei let out a deep sigh of relief and felt like tearing up from joy!

Yes!!!

I knew taking the risk was the correct choice!

Although there were some bumps and humps along the way, I can now finally see a clear path for me to get stronger in this dangerous world!

Ignoring Zhang Wei's moment of happiness, the outer disciple continued,

"Since the seventh to tenth place are vacant... due to unforeseen circumstances, therefore the people from eleventh to fourteenth have been moved up and therefore there will be ten of you joining the sect this time.

"I've gathered you all into one place since I want to tell you that you have one day remaining to pack up all your personal belongings for the dorms before we meet and move to the outer sect."

As the outer disciple mentioned belongings, a flash of realisation hit Zhang Wei.

R-Rich...I'm rich!

My bet has paid off!

A whole three hundred and seventy-two coppers on a 1.1:7 betting ratio!

That's around two and a half thousand coppers straight to my pockets.

However, just as Zhang Wei was rejoicing a thought appeared in his mind that brought about some worry,

Wait, my debtor is probably on his deathbed right now.

So where am I going to get my money?!

S-Surely I can get it somehow.

Should I ask this outer disciple, surely it's in some rule book that bets have to be followed.

Maybe he can help me out here.

"Umm, sir-"

Before being able to finish his words, the outer disciple cut in and introduced himself.

"Just call me Senior Brother Qin."

"Ehhh... Senior Brother Qin, I have an issue which I was hoping I could ask for help with."

After Zhang Wei nervously spat out these words, Senior Brother Qin nodded and said with a smile,

"Go on."

After a small gulp, Zhang Wei continued and said,

"I bet all my belongings on Lin Fan and would like to ask if there was any way I could redeem my winnings.

"Is there any insurance for this sort of thing in the sect?"

Hearing Zhang Wei's words, Senior Brother Qin's eyebrows raised slightly and he looked at Zhang Wei strangely for a moment.

After that, Senior Brother Qin said inquisitively,

"If you don't mind, could you tell me what kind of assets you bet with?"

Hearing that this senior brother wasn't flat-out saying it was impossible, some hope arose in Zhang Wei's heart as he replied excitedly,

"I had bet three hundred and seventy-two copper coins on Lin Fan, on a 1.1:7 ratio."

As Zhang Wei finished his words, Senior Brother Qin let out a small laugh then sighed and shook his head as if he heard something incredibly stupid, then replied,

"It's my fault for overlooking that you are not acquainted with common knowledge about the world of cultivators.

"To put it simply, in the end, mortal coins are just that. Mortal.

"With coins like that, you are able to purchase mundane luxuries, however, anything related to assisting your cultivation and almost all future transactions will be made using spirit stones.

"I won't spoil things, but you'll soon realise that any form of currency outwith these things called spirit stones are completely non-essential.

"Also, anything that would require mortal currency is supplied by the sect, such as normal food and water, hence you won't even need them.

Senior Brother Qin then paused for a moment, smirked, then said meaningfully,

"However, if junior brother still insists on wanting it back then I'm sure most servants would be more than willing to cover your losses."

After saying, that Senior Brother Qin exited the room without a second thought, leaving behind the group of ex-servants he brought.

Most of the group decided to also promptly leave, presumably to gather whatever belongings they have.

Except one.

A boy, with black hair, striking blue eyes and a facial structure that made him look very much like a certain protagonist, excitedly rushed over to the bedside where Zhang Wei was resting.

It was Fan Lin!

Watching him approach the bed, the others looked over at him curiously wondering what he was doing.

Fan Lin spoke out before anyone else could, and said with a wide smile on his face,

"Sir Zhang, I've come to show my sincerity in wanting to know more about my 'curse'!

"I know you said that the time would come when you would reveal everything, but my raging curiosity has taken the best of me!

"Oh, I apologize for my rudeness as I've not introduced myself!

"My name is Fan Lin, and I come from..."

While Fan Lin started to maunder on about his entire life story, Zhang Wei's friends all huddled together and discussed,

"Who is this guy, Brother Zhang's sneaky link?"

"Could very well be, I always used to wonder why that guy was never eager in joining our grand plan of slipping into the maid quarters and chatting up some beauties."

"If that's really the case here, then so be it.

"A brother's a brother, regardless of preferences!"

"Mhm, I agree. As long as he stays a connoisseur of roast chicken, nothing changes."

"Oi, aren't we jumping to conclusions here?

"This guy is probably just an acquaintance, he literally just introduced himself!"

"Tch, Zi Hua you dumbass!

"How could a bastard like Zhang Wei ever make other friends except from us?!"

Whilst all this commotion was happening around him, the centre of all this was laid down on the bed, brutally berating himself inside his head.

You damn idiot Zhang Wei!

How many xianxia novels actually use coins as it's the main currency throughout the story?

Like almost none!

Fuck!

From what that senior brother said, these copper coins are basically useless!

And it seems like I could probably get them by extorting a few servant friends, but in a world where random MCs pop up and hidden dangers are everywhere, why would I ever court death like that?!

Just as Zhang Wei was going to move on and try to forget the whole thing, Fan Lin mentioned something that made Zhang Wei's face light up.

"...I know it's useless now, but with the knowledge from the 'scripture', I was able to find the general whereabouts of the betting ring leader, Hou Tei's, secret safe.

"In the 'scripture', it was mentioned that the righteous protagonist did not want to touch such filthy and meagre money as it would be a stain to his name, therefore he left it behind to help fund the damages caused or something like that.

"It didn't go into much detail, but apparently the bad guy had kept it hidden away and nothing came of it.

"Anyways, I thought that to show my sincerity, if you'd like, I could help get your money back in full."

As if he were a beacon of hope, Zhang Wei gazed upwards at Fan Lin with dilated pupils and an anticipate expression on his face.

Hahaha, that case definitely holds something good that I can take!

Furthermore, if I go ahead and contribute a bit of the copper in it as per the 'protagonist's' intentions, wouldn't I be doing a task befitting a background character?

Oh Fan Lin, you truly are my golden goose sent from the heavens!

"I'll accept your sincerity, Fan Lin!

"And you don't need to stick to calling me something as rigid as Sir Zhang, just Brother Zhang is fine!"

After speaking the Fan Lin, Zhang Wei turned to the group of four and said,

"I'd like to make it clear I am attracted to women, and that you bastards need to mind your own business!

"This is a good friend of mine that I've made recently, and if any of you dare to disrespect him then I'll show you what the fourth stage of Foundation Establishment means!"

After hearing Zhang Wei's posturing, the four of them shook their heads unimpressed and Tan Lin cheekily said,

"You may have been more intimidating before, but knowing that you've probably seen and eaten more floor than an average earthworm does in its lifetime, I can't take you seriously.

"So sorry Brother, but you're forever going to be Earthworm Zhang to me, no matter how high your cultivation is!"

"..."

...

After bantering for a while, Zhang Wei decided to split up with his four friends, and travel together with Fan Lin towards the secret safe's location.

Unexpectedly, it was located in a rather open spot.

Inside the wall of one of the canteen's freezers.

It made sense as Hei Tou was said to be quite a large-boned individual, so it wouldn't be that strange for him to go about and check the quality of some of the foods he would eat once in a while.

As they looked around for a while, they soon found a slightly loose brick in the wall.

As they removed the brick, a small metal box was revealed behind it.

Zhang Wei the one that decided to take the box in his hands, then as he opened it his eyes widened.

Inside the box was a single ring, however, this ring was not a normal ring.

It was a spatial ring.

Commonly found in xianxia, a spatial ring is a magical piece of equipment which allows one to place a large number of objects within the ring due to its space dao marks, spatial magic that was put on it or something of the sort.

As his finger touched the ring, a weird sort of connection seemed to form between the ring and his conscience.

As he focused more on this connection, a vivid image appeared in his mind that seemed to portray the ring's contents.

The more he realised how this thing worked the more shocked he was!

So cool!

With just a thought I can move objects from my hand to the ring's space and vice versa!

Not only that, the size of the space within the ring can definitely hold at least three or four elephants!

Just thinking about it, how much easier school would've been with this ring?

Instead of having to lob around a bunch of textbooks everywhere in a bag, you could just have this bad boy here chill on your finger and you'd still be set!

"Hey, Brother Zhang?

"What's the verdict, is there anything good in there?"

Hearing Fan Lin's voice, Zhang Wei snapped out of his daze and quickly focused on the contents of the ring.

As he fully clocked the sheer amount of wealth contained, Zhang Wei's eyes couldn't help but tremble.

"We're rich, Brother Fan!

"...Or that's what I'd like to say but if what that senior brother told us is true then I guess we aren't so rich.

"The number of copper coins amounts to tens of thousands, there are a few shiny rocks I suspect to be spirit stones, a couple of books and remnant pages of paper I've not checked yet, and a few miscellaneous objects."

"How would you like to split thi-"

"You know I don't want any of that, Brother Zhang."

Fan Lin cut Zhang Wei off, looked him dead in the eye and began saying in a deathly solemn tone,

"I've shown my sincerity and will allow you to do whatever you want with that ring and its contents, however, now that I've done my part...

"...You tell me all you know about that 'book' which has ruined my life!"

Huh, so it's finally come to this.

...