It's coins now. You can't earn coins for free accept via friend invite.
You can get 3 or 4 fast pass coupons to unlock chapters permanently via check in and votes. The store sometimes allows the points to be used for fast passes.
They still boast a large catalog of free originals and machine translations. You've got nothing to loose to try those out.
One thing is certain. Webnovel has changed, and continues to. Like any business keen to keep running in the future.