Chapter 23: Escape

Hearing him saying to empty the place, the fifth elder's look became solemn. He looked at Punya and said, "There are a few dozen clan members inside, is it really necessary to empty the place?" Punya just nodded his head and said "Also prepare some good heritage stones." The solemn-looking fifth elder looked at Punya with confusion at first then his expression became shocked and then excited. Looks like there will be something good he thought. After listening to the clan leader and going through emotional changes he headed for the receptionist hall and shouted "Listen up brats, time's up for today. Leave now and you can continue tomorrow from where you started. I'll refund the contribution points you have spent." Hearing the first line the clan members looked disgruntled, after all making someone leave in the midst of a study session when you are paying for it will make anyone unhappy. But listening to the last line made them very happy. They have saved a few contribution points. Those points don't come easy. And it's not like they could have refuted elder. In here the fifth elder is king. Anything he says goes. Some who had saved quite a few contribution points even chanted Long live the Fifth Elder. Hearing this the fifth elder just shook his head.

After the few dozen clan members left Skill pavilion the fifth elder ordered deacons and other workers there to leave and not to bother him. Punya didn't want to be seen so he just hid behind a tree using concealment skill. There was nothing wrong with being seen but after the fifth elder suddenly closed the Skill pavilion and if he was seen nearby people would speculate something had happened and he would be bothered by elders and deacons all night. He just wanted to sleep peacefully after having such a hectic day. After everyone left, he came from behind the tree and went to the pavilion. He became a little nostalgic when he entered through the door. He missed those simple days when he just came here and read. Seeing him standing in a daze, the fifth elder said "Why are you standing there like an idiot? Come on now tell me why did you make me close the pavilion? And what good things have you gotten?" Hearing this Punya told the fifth elder about the inheritance he had gained from Amrit. He told that supreme elders had gained some inheritances when they went out and these three years they have been compiling these inheritances and removing harmful ones among them. He did not mention Amrit, the top-tier inheritances, or the martial skill. Hearing about the inheritances could lead up to second grade high tier, the fifth elder's face lit up with joy.

Taking out several empty heritage stones from his storage ring, he impatiently handed them to Punya and asked him to engrave the inheritances. The position of Skill pavilion elder in the Rijal clan was somewhat bittersweet. They can read everything from the first to the fourth floor but they cannot practice the cultivation techniques and martial arts without the permission of the clan leader or they have to pay with contribution points. So hearing about new inheritances it was normal for the bookworm elder. For him, it meant new knowledge and a better time pass. He had almost finished reading everything in the pavilion. Looking at the fifth elder's child who was about to get candy like look, Punya took out jade slips one by one and began copying them to the heritage stones. The heritage stone was a naturally formed material similar to jade, functioning like jade slips, and capable of imparting the knowledge it contained within for thousands of times. The jade slips on the other hand had limited capacity, completely disappearing after a few uses. Although they were easier to find than heritage stones, for large clans they were not efficient. For example, the one-time use jade slips used in the clan were the lowest form of jade slips found commonly in the wilderness.

Legend has it there exists higher grades of heritage stones capable of containing insights within them saving time for comprehension. But for a small clan like Rijal's, it was merely a legend. They had plenty of low-grade heritage stones and a few mid-grade heritage stones. So the heritage stones are changed every few decades. After copying the inheritances to heritage stones, the jade slips turned to ashes. It happens when you are copying everything rather than engraving them with spirit power. He took the heritage stones and went upstairs to the fourth floor. Making space and labeling the auxiliary arts, he turned to the fifth elder who was looking at the heritage stones with sparkling eyes "I have copied all the inheritances I had, you should read them and classify the grade and tier and add to the existing heritage stones. I am going to sleep."

Saying this Punya turned towards the door and went home. While the fifth elder was reeling on the newfound knowledge he would soon get to read, he suddenly came to his senses. He realized he would have to read all the heritage stones and memorize them. It would be even better if he could comprehend them before engraving them to different heritage stones according to their grade and tier. It was not as easy as copying from jade slip. He now knew why Punya escaped hastily. The knowledge in the heritage stones couldn't be read by others without contribution points. Only he and Punya were allowed to do that. To read, engrave, and to merge everything will take him about a week of tedious work. He gnashed his teeth in anger "Don't let me see you again brat or I will let you know my fury." Cursing the clan leader for a few minutes, the fifth elder went to do his work diligently. First, he will start adding the low-tier inheritance and gradually work his way up.

Outside the pavilion, Punya was looking at the five-storied building and sneering "Sucks to be you, old man. I will see how many hairs will remain on your head when you are finished." "Hahaha this is just a little payback" Punya laughed out loud while walking towards his house.

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