"From next month onwards, all inner disciples will have their monthly stipends increased, outer disciples' contributions will be reduced, and their contribution point exchange rates will also be lowered."
Su Luo declared this with great gusto.
She explained to the two stewards, Wang and Liu, that the original monthly stipends for inner disciples were five hundred thousand spirit coins and three bottles of fifth-grade or higher elixirs. This would now be changed to one million spirit coins per person, along with five bottles of fifth-grade or higher elixirs.
All stewards' benefits would be doubled, and the six elders would receive two million spirit coins each, with other necessities to be taken as needed.
As for the outer disciples...
"Take half of these special gems and include them in the contribution point exchange. Announce it later. Oh, and Uncle Wang, how many contribution points did outer disciples need to exchange for these resources before?"
Steward Wang brought over a booklet, which clearly recorded the exchange details for various resources.
Su Luo glanced at it. A second-grade spirit grass required five contribution points, a third-grade spirit grass twenty contribution points. A third-grade elixir cost eighty contribution points, and ordinary gems were a thousand contribution points each...
It seemed that contribution points in Qingxutian were quite valuable!
Without much further thought, Su Luo quickly set the new exchange rates. Upon discussing it with the two stewards, they were both stunned: "T-this is all acceptable? Nephew Su Luo, this will result in very high expenditures for the Resource Hall each month."
Su Luo's decision had truly shocked them.
Su Luo replied, "I hope that after this change, outer disciples can also obtain more resources, cultivate faster, and thus increase their motivation for tasks and the sect's cohesion."
Her hope was to thoroughly transform Qingxutian into a sect worthy of being called the foremost sect in the world!
"Nephew Su Luo, I understand you are also thinking of the sect, but the monthly expenses will be at least over twenty million, not including elixirs, weapons, and so on. The Resource Hall is under immense pressure. Once this precedent is set, it will be difficult to scale back later."
Steward Wang, while appreciating Su Luo's consideration for the sect, still reminded her.
He didn't know where Su Luo had obtained so many gems, but the operation of the Resource Hall was a long-term matter. Even though there were now so many gems, could this be sustained?
Su Luo smiled slightly, "Don't worry, Uncle Wang. I will cover all the resources needed by Qingxutian. There will only be more in the future, never insufficient. I have a way."
Seeing her confidence, and having witnessed Su Luo's recent performance, Steward Wang and Steward Liu could only refrain from further dissuasion.
Considering the time, there were only two days left until the next month. Su Luo decided to have the two stewards help her prepare the inner disciples' monthly stipends, which she would personally deliver to Second Senior Brother and Xiao Guo later.
"Alright, we will also announce this news shortly," Steward Liu said, glancing at Steward Wang. The two of them suppressed their excitement. They knew that before long, Qingxutian would be the talk of the town.
...
Qingxutian had no less than tens of thousands of outer disciples.
This did not even include members from the various branches in different countries, making it unequivocally the foremost sect on the Xuanhuang Continent.
Lin Yao had arrived at Qingxutian three years ago.
He came from an ordinary small family, but ever since becoming an outer disciple of Qingxutian, his entire family had prospered. His sister had even married a prince of a third-tier nation, and his whole family took pride in him.
But only Lin Yao knew the immense pressure he bore.
Every day, he had to cultivate and undertake sect missions. Even tending to those ten acres of spirit fields consumed a significant amount of his time.
However, he was exceptionally diligent. At the young age of just over twenty, his cultivation had progressed from the seventh stage of Profound Master to the eighth stage of Profound Heavenly Master. In the past, how could he have cultivated so quickly?
Lin Yao had taken excellent care of the spirit fields. After submitting the Fragrant Jade Spirit Grain yesterday, he had finally accumulated another three thousand sect contribution points and intended to go to the Resource Hall to exchange for a suitable magical artifact.
As soon as he stepped out, he heard people discussing, and quite a few were rushing towards the Resource Hall.
"Have you heard? The Resource Hall has new rules. Hurry up and go see!"
"What, they changed the rules? Are they going to increase the contributions?"
Lin Yao frowned. This was not good. Could it be that Qingxutian, like the Tiangang Sect and the Blood Sword Hall, was going to increase the contributions for outer disciples? Otherwise, why would they change the rules after hundreds of years, and precisely now?
He worried that the three thousand contribution points he had painstakingly saved might not be enough to exchange for what he wanted.
Other outer disciples were also worried, saying as they walked, "I went to Yuxu City the day before yesterday and heard that the Tiangang Sect had changed its rules. Their disciples had to contribute one-third more, and their cultivation resources were halved. I laughed at them then. Could it be our Qingxutian's turn now?"
Cultivation resources were the most important thing. Otherwise, why would so many people want to join major sects?
Only major sects possessed more spirit coins, gems, and magical artifacts. Lesser sects simply did not have those powerful unique cultivation techniques. Before joining Qingxutian, many outer disciples had never even seen gems. If the Resource Hall truly changed its rules, it would inevitably affect their cultivation, and the consequences would be severe.
"Hurry and go see. This is a big deal!"
Lin Yao became worried and hurried towards the Resource Hall with the crowd.
Along the way, he saw many outer disciples who had come after hearing the news. Even the foremost outer disciple, Senior Brother Qin Yuanshu, whose cultivation had reached the sixth stage of Venerable, had arrived.
Qin Yuanshu was different from the average outer disciples of Qingxutian. He was the ninth prince, most beloved by the emperor of Beichen Kingdom, a second-tier nation. His status was noble, and his cultivation was not insignificant. Even the elders usually regarded him with special attention.
At this moment, hundreds of outer disciples were gathered in the Resource Hall, and more were continuously arriving.
Lin Yao, like other outer disciples, followed behind Qin Yuanshu. Watching the two stewards in charge of the Resource Hall, his heart grew anxious, and an ominous premonition deepened.
"Steward Liu, I heard the Resource Hall is changing its rules. Is that true?" Qin Yuanshu directly voiced the doubts of all the outer disciples. Although he had some suspicions, he still maintained his composure.
Steward Liu stroked his mustache and nodded, "Indeed, this was just announced by your Senior Sister Su Luo."
Steward Wang said solemnly, "Now that nephew Su Luo is in charge of the Resource Hall, these rule changes were also proposed by her. We considered her suggestions and found them very necessary..."
"Wait, the two stewards."
Qin Yuanshu interrupted them and said displeasuredly, "I did hear that the sect had a new inner disciple join, and I know she has been appointed as the person in charge of the Resource Hall by several elders after less than a month since joining Qingxutian. However, her arbitrarily changing the rules, which concerns the interests of everyone in Qingxutian, is perhaps not appropriate?"
The outer disciples immediately erupted in shouts: "Yes, why should this Senior Sister Su change the rules as soon as she arrives?"
"Has she considered us outer disciples?"
"She is an inner disciple and lacks for resources, but what about us outer disciples? Not only do we have to do strenuous sect missions, but we also have to cultivate. How can we compare to her? It's too overbearing for her to change the rules with a single word!"
"When the Senior Brother was here, he never shortchanged us."
A clamor arose in the Resource Hall, with everyone indignant.