Information Sharing

After reserving a table Johnny ordered more than thirty dishes in a single stroke. Then went ahead and order four more dishes of monster meat.

While they were waiting for the lunch Johnny started the discussion he ended earlier.

Following a long story, it took him more than twenty minutes to explain everything to Daniel.

"So the hunting area is the place where Feather Birds usually build their nest? And newly joined members go hunt those birds to make easy money, is that right?" Daniel asked again to confirm.

"Yes! That's the idea but don't forget Feather Birds are not any simple birds. They are borderline monsters. Their meat holds traces of Qi which is very beneficial to new cultivators. So juniors like us can hunt them for meat or sell them for gold." Johnny pointed out why the hunting area is important.

"Is that why both groups are fighting for it?" Daniel understood the reason for the previous fight.

"Yes! If it was any other place of hunting then it doesn't matter. But now it became a source of income for us. Also, we have no other ways to earn money at this time" Johnny explained why it is important for them to hold on to that area.

"What about the other Fourth Grade talents like us? And what about the Fifth Grade talents, how are they making their living?" Daniel had a guess on those people but he still asked for confirmation.

Johnny leaned closer and said, "The people of that cadre will be recruited by families one way or another. So there is no need for them to fight for this little Gold. As for others, they either leaned towards Fifth Grade talents or look for other opportunities like us"

At this time Bell interjected, "Do you know why sect is ignoring our difficulties?"

"This is a preliminary test for everyone! If someone can't take care of such simple issues under such a safe environment and start cultivation successfully then how is one qualified to step into the dangerous cultivation path?" Daniel guessed what the sect is doing.

"Yes! Daniel is right! Sect like ours doesn't spend resources on weak-minded people. So they leave everyone in this uncharted territory and force them to find their way by using all the tools at their disposal. Only those who step into Refining Realm are considered as true cultivator by the sect." Johnny nodded to Daniel's statement and further explained things to Bell.

Upon hearing that, Bell put on a thoughtful expression and asked, "Then what about those who successfully cultivated. How will they earn their money?"

"Sect itself releases thousands of tasks for the cultivators every day. Once someone completes the task they will be rewarded accordingly. In fact, there are a million ways for the cultivators of the Refining Realm to earn money besides the sect tasks. Also don't forget, Gold does not hold much value in cultivator's eyes they mostly use 'Spirit Stones' for transactions." Johnny gave some info into the life of an early cultivator.

"Is that the reason why we don't see the Refining Realm cultivators in the sect?" This time Daniel had a question for Johnny.

"It is one of the reasons! You should know that cultivation is all about the race against time. In the initial stages, every day and every hour counts. Once they miss the optimal breakthrough age then their cultivation realm stagnates and they will eventually be out of the race. You can see thousands of people like that working in the administrative department of the sect." Johnny cautioned Daniel about the future.

After hearing all that Daniel put up a serious face and asked, "Before you continue, mind mentioning the price i have to pay for the next information?"

Johnny wanted to deny all but looking at the serious face of Daniel he put out what he had in mind all along.

"Initially I wanted you three to join my group. But later Lloyd told me, you both have Fourth Grade talent so I had to drop the idea. I know you will not work under someone with the same qualification, especially when we are still not true cultivators. So I am inviting you to work with my group to hunt the feathered birds." Johnny did put on airs but asked Daniel on an equal footing.

"Why ask me there are more than thirty people with similar talent recruited this year? And doesn't your family own this restaurant? Why don't you use your family forces?" Daniel does not believe his charisma is enough to get such a quota.

Johnny put up a helpless smile and shook his head "When did I say my family owns this restaurant? Look at me, do I look like that? I only said my family operates the restaurant. There is a big difference between the two. Also, the relationship between us is very distant to ask for any help!"

Then he looked at Daniel and said in a brotherly tone, "Brother Daniel! You and I are similar in many ways. So I want to be friends with you. Also, your skills will be very useful during hunting."

"All that aside why should I join you?" Daniel wanted to know why he is telling him this.

Johnny put up a faint smile and said, "I will give you a reason! You must have felt the lack of knowledge at every turn during this time in the sect right?"

Daniel asked in puzzlement "Yes! Are you saying this bird hunting is related to our cultivation?"

"Yes! It is related. I can only tell you the details only after you agree to join in the hunt." Johnny is also not willing to share the core information without a promise.

Daniel thought for a few minutes and then said, "Fine! I will join in this hunt but you must tell me everything you know about the initial stage of cultivation"

Johnny laughed out loud and said "I know you will agree to it! Here is all the information needed up until breaking through the Early Stage of the Refining Realm. Once you finish this, you will thank me for the invitation"

Daniel simply took the old leather book from Johnny and put it in his robes safely.

By the time they finished their conversation all the food had been served on the table.

Without much hesitation and shyness, everyone pick up the food of their choice and started eating heartily.

After an hour everything on the table is cleaned to the bottom.

Johnny wanted to continue the conversation but everyone is more eager to cultivate so he had to end the lunch.

After Johnny paid the bill of fifty gold, everyone left the restaurant through the main door and picked their way home after a simple goodbye.

Daniel also wants to ingest the Qi from the monster meat so turned towards his residency.

Bell and Lloyd separated from Daniel after reaching their meeting corner.

After returning to the residency Daniel locked the door and went to the meditating room for cultivation.

Taking a deep breath Daniel started practicing the 'Ascension Mantra' with concentration.

Immediately the Qi started flowing from the abdominal area to all parts of the body. This Qi is ten times larger in magnitude and twice as pure when cultivating normally.

With this Qi, the rate at which the meridians are crystallized is tripled.

For a full half an hour, Daniel sat there to completely absorb the Qi that came from the food.

"I have absorbed more than thirty percent Qi present in the meat. This is ten times more than when I ate the meat for the first time. It shows how important the Mantras are for the cultivation" Daniel remembered the bear meat he ate during the journey.

After calming his mood Daniel took out the book Johnny gave him just this afternoon.

Although the book does not have many pages the information it holds for new beginners is very important.

Initially, Daniel read the book with a calm expression but as he progressed through the pages his expression turned serious. Finally after an incense stick of time when he finished the book his face turned ugly.

"They really intended to kill all the noobs from poor backgrounds!" Daniel is a little shocked to see how every newly joined person is pushed onto a path of no return.